Biograph Theater Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Biograph Theater. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Chicago Crime and Mob Bus Tour
• Chicago Night Crimes Tour by Bus
• Haunted Chicago Booze and Boos Ghost Walking Tour
• Windy City Ghosts: Hauntings of Chicago Walking Tour
• Chicago's Original Gangster Tour by Bus

It’s not currently possible to visit the Biograph Theater. The historic Chicago landmark remained an active theater, hosting performances by the Victory Gardens Theater, until 2022. While performances are on hiatus, it’s still possible to pass the landmark on ghost- and gangster-themed Chicago tours, which start around US$30 per person.

The Biograph Theater was constructed in 1914 and is one of the oldest remaining movie houses of its kind in the Windy City. The theater is best known as the place where gangster and bank robber John Dillinger was shot dead by police after attending a performance in 1934.

The Biograph Theater was designed by architect Samuel N. Crowen in a Classical Revival style. Although it was later renovated in 2004, the theater’s beloved features—including its old-fashioned marquee—were preserved. The Biograph Theater is now on the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated Chicago Landmark.

Yes, there are other attractions near the Biograph Theater that you can explore while in the area. Among the highlights is Lincoln Park, which also comprises the Lincoln Park Conservatory and Lincoln Park Zoo. If you’re after another performing arts venue, the Apollo Theater Chicago is adjacent.

Yes, the Biograph Theater is accessible by public transportation. The theater is located in the heart of Chicago’s popular Lincoln Park neighborhood, and is just a few minutes away from the Fullerton L stop, served by the Brown, Purple, and Red lines. Bus routes also stop nearby.