An independent cinema from 1929 that has survived as one of Chicago's finest movie houses, the Music Box shows arthouse, foreign, and independent films alongside classic revivals. The interior is the main attraction: twinkling fiber-optic stars on the ceiling, painted clouds, Moorish architectural details, and original organ pipes that are played live before special screenings.
The annual Music Box Massacre (horror films through the night in October) and the Noir City festival are Chicago cinema events. The programming reflects the neighbourhood — adventurous, literary, Chicago-independent — and the two screening rooms (original 800-seat main hall and a smaller studio) are always well-maintained. Southport Avenue; L Brown Line to Southport.