Beginning Street Number
708

End Street Number

STREET # SUFFIX

Street Name
N. Milwaukee Avenue

PIN
Local
Within Local District?
No

Local Dist Contrib/Non-Contrib?
NC

Local Landmark?
No

Year

Local Landmark Eligible?
No

Criteria

main image
Photo Id:
MilwaukeeAveN708(1)
Building Details
Building name
Liberty Theater 
Ground Floor Use
Theater 
Upper Floor Use
N/A 
Current Occupant
Liberty Theater 
Zoning
C-1 
Number of Stories
1 
Property Index Number
1116303001 
National Register
NR District Contrib/Non-Contrib
NC 
Within District?
No 
NR Landmark?
No 
Year
 
NR Eligible?
No 
Criteria
 
Alternate Address?
 
General Information
Category
Building 
Condition
Good 
Integrity
Major alterations 
Current Use
Recreation and Culture - theater 
Historic Use
Recreation and Culture - theater 
Secondary Structure
 
NR Second
 
Architectural Description
Architectural Classification
No Style (altered) 
Details
 
Other Year
1968 
Date source
Illinois Digital Archives/ Permit 
Wall Material (Current)
Brick 
Wall Material 2 (Current)
Wood 
Plan
Rectangular 
No of Stories
1 
Roof Type
Flat 
Roof Material
Not Visible 
Foundation
Concrete 
Porch
 
Window Material
Metal 
Window Material 2
 
Window Type
pivot 
Window Configuration
Multi-light 
Significance
 
Historic Features
Part of historic marquee remains over main entrance to theater 
Alterations
Theater extensively altered in 1968--vertical marquee partially removed/covered with vertical wood and wood siding; most windows along side bricked in; replacement front entry doors 
ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS
additional_images
Photo Id:
MilwaukeeAveN708(2)


additional_images
Photo Id:
nmilwaukee708


additional_images
Photo Id:
MilwaukeeAveN708(1920s)


additional_images
Photo Id:
MilwaukeeAveN708(1950s)


additional_images
Photo Id:
MilwaukeeAveN708(1970s)


Historic Information
Old Address (city dir.year
Building Moved?
Moved From
Original Owner
Original Architect
Architect Source
Builder
Surveyor
LR
Surveyor Organization
Ramsey Historic Consultants
Survey Date
May-June 2016
Survey Area
Downtown Libertyville
Permit/Historic Information
Old Address
Date of Construction
Permit Moving Information
Moving Permit #
Date Moved
Original Permit Information
Building Permit #
Date
Building Permit Description
Cost
Original Owner Occupied?
Exterior Alteration Permits
4765 (12/26/1968)--remodel theater front ($25,875.00); 88-655 (10/25/1988)--remodel interior lobby area
Other Permit Information
COA Info
Historic Info
Information included with 1950s photo of Liberty Theatre on Illinois Digital Archives (photo and information provided by Libertyville-Mundelein Historical Society and Cook Memorial Public Library)-- "Located on North Milwaukee and Newberry Avenues, the Liberty Theatre opened its doors on August 27, 1937. The owner, Fred W. Dobe, first polled the community to determine whether or not Libertyville was satisfied with the existing moving picture facilities on the second floor of the Gridley Building. When Mr. Dobe was convinced that the area would support a modern theatre, he proceeded with plans for the building. At the time of its opening, the Liberty was admired for its ultramodern design, 700-seat capacity, parking lots and air conditioning. Actor Marlon Brando was employed as a theatre usher for a short time, when he lived in Libertyville between 1939 and 1941. The marquee on this post card reads, "Cary Grant & Katharine Hepburn in 'Holiday' and Comedy and Latest News."
Other Sources
Historic photograph from the 1950s on Illinois Digital Archives (in collection of Libertyville-Mundelein Historical Society and Cook Memorial Public Library)-- http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/ref/collection/cookmemo11/id/121 http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/cookmemo11/id/1252/rec/1 Assessor's photograph from the 1970s on Illinois Digital Archives (in collection of Libertyville-Mundelein Historical Society and Cook Memorial Public Library): http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/cookmemo11/id/6671/rec/4
Historic Info Compiler
LR
Volunteer