The theater was only part of the building. It actually was the offices of Northwestern National Life, which helped finance the building. They decamped to Loring Park in 1925 for a much more modern building, and when they left, the Auditorium – as it was named – was remodeled for movies and christened the Lyceum.

This view may not seem familiar to modern eyes, since most of these buildings are gone. With one exception: the two-story white-faced building on the right is still around. It's the home of Brit's Pub, among other things, and the rooftop bar is a popular summer spot, as the glossy urban vanity mags say. But that's another story.