The Davis Theater

What The Davis Theater does

The Davis Theater is an independent art house cinema located at 4614 N Lincoln Ave in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood. Originally built in 1918 as the Pershing Theater for vaudeville and silent films, it was converted to talkies and renamed in the 1930s, then restored and reopened in January 2016 as a community-centered cinema venue and historical landmark. The theater operates three auditoriums with approximately 552 total seats (Theater 1: 135 seats; Theater 3: 141 seats; Tom Fencl Memorial Theater: 276 seats) and programs a mix of first-run new releases, repertory classics, digital restorations, filmmaker Q&As, and curated series such as Spotlight on Women, Not Quite Midnight, Big Screen Classics, and Staff Picks.

The business generates revenue through six primary streams: ticket sales (matinee $9, evening $12 adult, $9 senior/student/child), food and beverage concessions including the on-site Sojourn Cocktail Lounge, an annual membership program ($50 single, $90 dual) offering discounts and reciprocal benefits via Art House Convergence, private theater rentals ($800–$2,750 depending on day and auditorium), the Analog subscription video rental program (over 1,500 titles in partnership with Terror Vision Records), and digital gift cards. The technology stack is conventional—standard projection, seat selection, and accessibility systems—with no proprietary software platform. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via a physical box office and online ticketing, with marketing concentrated on the website, email newsletter, and organic social channels (Instagram, Letterboxd, Bluesky). The company is privately held with 18 employees and no disclosed funding, revenue, or ownership structure.

Name

The Davis Theater

Legal name

Davis Theater

Website

https://davistheater.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1918

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Davis Theater is a privately held, independent art house cinema in Chicago's Lincoln Square, operating three screens (~552 seats) with curated first-run and repertory programming, an annual membership program, private event rentals, and an on-site lounge and video rental subscription.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Cinema / Art House Theater

NAICS

Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131), Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent & Art-house Cinemas (MPADAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Screenings & Venue Rentals (Corporate, Parties) (MPADAKAJ), Special Event Screenings & Pop-up Cinemas (MPADAKAE)

Keywords

• Independent cinema screenings
• Art house film programming
• Private theater rentals
• Cinema membership program
• Analog video rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from ticket sales for movie screenings and special events. Standard pricing varies by time of day (matinee vs evening) and customer type (adult, senior, student, child).
2. Concessions: Food and beverage sales including popcorn, drinks, and Sojourn Cocktail Lounge offerings. Members receive 15% discount.
3. Annual Memberships: Annual membership program offering $2 off tickets, 15% concession discounts, early ticket access, birthday freebies, and access to Art House Convergence's Visiting Members Program. Single membership $50/year, Dual membership $90/year.
4. Theater Rentals: Private screening rentals for corporate events, birthday parties, and team building. Theater 1 (135 seats) and Theater 3 (141 seats) range from $800-$1,500 for 2.5 hours depending on day. Tom Fencl Memorial Theater (276 seats) ranges from $1,800-$2,750.
5. Analog Video Rentals: Subscription-based video rental program in partnership with Terror Vision Records, offering over 1500 DVDs, Blu Rays, and VHS tapes. Membership provides unlimited rentals.
6. Gift Cards: Digital gift cards available for purchase as gifts for movies and concessions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Davis Theater operates as an independent art house cinema with three auditoriums (approximately 552 seats total) screening first-run independent releases, repertory classics, and curated film series alongside special events, filmmaker Q&As, and themed screenings. The core offering is supplemented by concession sales, an on-site bar (Sojourn Cocktail Lounge), an annual membership program, private theater rentals, gift cards, and a subscription-based video rental service (Analog) in partnership with Terror Vision Records.

Product overview

The Davis Theater operates as a three-screen independent cinema in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. The core offering is film exhibition across three auditoriums (Theater 1 with 135 seats, Theater 2 with 276 seats, and Theater 3 with 141 seats), featuring first-run new releases alongside repertory programming through curated film series such as Digital Restoration, Spotlight on Women, Not Quite Midnight, Big Screen Classics, and Staff Picks. The theater supplements its exhibition business with an Annual Membership Program ($50 single/$90 dual annually) offering ticket discounts and concessions benefits, Theater Rentals for private events, the Analog video rental subscription service (in partnership with Terror Vision Records), an on-site bar called Sojourn Cocktail Lounge, gift cards, and recurring special events including Oscarbate blind screenings and CatVideoFest charity screenings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Movie Screenings First-run and repertory film screening programming across three auditoriums (Theater 1 with 135 seats, Tom Fencl Memorial Theater with 276 seats, and Theater 3 with 141 seats), featuring new releases, classic films, special events, and curated film series for general moviegoers.
• Annual Membership Program Annual membership subscription providing ticket discounts, concession discounts, early ticket access, member-exclusive newsletter, free birthday popcorn and fountain drink, and access to Art House Convergence's Visiting Members Program. Single memberships at $50/year and Dual memberships at $90/year.
• Theater Rentals Private theater rental service for corporate events, birthday parties, and team building activities across three auditoriums. Theater 1 (135 seats) and Theater 3 (141 seats) range from $800–$1,500 base for 2.5 hours; Tom Fencl Memorial Theater (276 seats) ranges from $1,800–$2,750 base, with additional fees per extended 30-minute block.
• Analog Video Rental Subscription-based video rental program in partnership with Terror Vision Records, offering over 1,500 DVDs, Blu Rays, and VHS tapes including cult and arthouse titles displayed in the Sojourn lounge space.
• Gift Cards Digital gift cards available for purchase, allowing recipients to redeem them for movie tickets and concessions.
• Sojourn Cocktail Lounge On-site bar and lounge space adjacent to the theater auditoriums, offering concessions and beverages to patrons. Members receive 15% discount. Also hosts the Analog video rental collection on its walls.
• Special Events Curated event programming including premieres, Q&As, filmmaker discussions, blind screenings (Oscarbate series), and themed event programming such as CatVideoFest charity screenings.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Art House ConvergencecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership providing Davis Theater members with access to Art House Convergence's Visiting Members Program, allowing members to receive similar benefits at participating art house theaters across the network.
• Terror Vision RecordscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to operate Analog, a subscription-based video rental program at Davis Theater. Terror Vision's collection of over 1500 DVDs, Blu Rays, and VHS tapes is displayed in the Sojourn bar/lounge space. Members get unlimited rental access.
• Oscarbate Film CollectivecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOscarbate presents the 'Trust Fall' blind screening series at Davis Theater, described as a chaotic film programming collective celebrating independent exhibition. Also presents the 5-Year Anniversary Show.
• Red Door Animal ShelterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCatVideoFest 2026 charity partner. 10% of ticket sales donated to the shelter. kittens available for meet-and-greet on August 8 with donations of food, toys, and supplies welcome.
• Sojourn Cocktail LoungecoreOthersTheater bar/lounge space operated within Davis Theater. Members receive 15% discount at Sojourn. Hosts the Analog video rental collection on its walls.
• Hopewell Brewing CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrewery providing libations for special events including the Trust Fall: The Oscarbate 5-Year Anniversary Show at Davis Theater.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Music Box Theatre: Long-standing independent/art house cinema in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood. Direct competitor for Chicago film enthusiasts, with similar repertory programming, special events, and membership models.
• Gene Siskel Film Center: Chicago's premier art house cinema affiliated with the School of the Art Institute. Direct peer offering curated independent, international, and repertory film programming, plus filmmaker events.
• IFC Center: Independent art house cinema in New York City's Greenwich Village. Comparable in scope to Davis with repertory programming, special events, and a curated membership/community model.
• The Egyptian Theatre: Historic single-venue cinema in various locations (e.g., Hollywood, Boise) operating as heritage art house with curated programming. Closely comparable heritage asset class.
• Coolidge Corner Theatre: Beloved nonprofit independent cinema in Brookline, MA with similar repertory/special event programming, membership program, and community-driven mission. Operates multiple screens comparable in scale to Davis.
• BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music): Major performing arts and film institution in Brooklyn operating multiple screens with curated independent and repertory programming. Comparable mission and curated experience.

Broad incumbents

• Landmark Theatres: Largest art house cinema chain in the U.S., owned by Cohen Media Group. Broad incumbent with comparable curated film programming but operates at chain scale across many cities.
• Laemmle Theatres: Family-owned art house cinema chain in Los Angeles with multiple locations and a similar focus on independent, foreign, and documentary films. Comparable model but at multi-venue scale.
• Alamo Drafthouse Cinema: Major dine-in cinema chain known for curated repertory programming and special events. Overlaps with Davis on event-driven, community-led programming but at national scale.

Others

• Terror Vision Records: Strategic partner to Davis Theater operating the Analog video rental subscription. Adjacent/ecosystem peer in physical media distribution and curation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/davistheater
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/davis-theater

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Davis Theater