Backstage Tour Of Tivoli Theatre Returns To Downers Grove

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — If you missed a chance to take a tour of the backstage area of the historic Tivoli Theatre, you'll be glad to know that the popular event is returning in July. Atlas Obscura Society is hosting the tour on July 13 and will spotlight some of the unique features of the Tivioli (did someone say "secret passageway?") one of the first theatres of its kind in the United States.

Those who attend the tour will watch a short presentation about the history of the Tivoli Theatre and of film in the United States. Following the presentation, a tour guide will take visitors into some of the Tivoli's most VIP spots, including up into the projection booth and down into a secret passage that leads to the Tivoli Bowl.

When the Tivoli was built in 1928, it was the second theatre in the United States that was designed to show films in which the actors spoke. Since then, it has become a beloved spot for locals and for history and film buffs who want to check out one of the few remaining single-screen movie theatres near Chicago.

The backstage tour of Tivoli Theatre is part of Atlas Obscura Society's ongoing 2019 Focus on Film Series, which traces the history of film stock from its start in 1889 with the Eastman Kodak company to the current ways it's used and researched.

What: Backstage Tour of Tivoli Theatre hosted by Atlas Obscura Society

When: July 13 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Where: Tivoli Theatre, 5021 Highland Ave., Downers Grove

How much: $20; Advance tickets only