'Stagestruck City' traces roots of Chicago theater

CHICAGO (WLS) -- From grand stages to lively storefronts, Chicago's strong theater scene is known around the world. "Stagestruck City" traces the theater community's roots.

Chicago theater was booming from 1860 until 1931, which is when the Goodman Theatre was forced to close its doors during the Depression.

"What was available for people for amusement back at that time, there was no radio, there was no television, there were no movies so live entertainment was really it," Martha Briggs, Newberry curator, said.

In Chicago, live entertainment ranged from highbrow Shakespeare to lowbrow Vaudeville and all that's in between.

The Pekin Theatre on South Michigan Avenue made history with an entirely black cast in 1905. Hull House, located on South Halsted, launched plays for the working class while the Grand Opera House opened "The Wizard of Oz" in 1902 before it went to Broadway.

"By 1900 there were 30 theaters in Chicago so that's pretty amazing," Briggs said.

The Goodman Theatre is named after Kenneth Sawyer Goodman, whose family wanted him to run a lumber empire. But he wanted to be a playwright and the theater is his legacy.

Stagestruck City is at the Newberry Library, 60 West Walton Street, through December 31, 2015.