The historic Portage Theatre, located on the northwest side of Chicago, is the home for The Silent Film Society of Chicago. Designed by architect Henry Newhouse, the theatre opened on December 11, 1920 with 1,938 seats as part of the Ascher Brothers theatre chain. Pre-dating the advent of America's movie palaces, the Portage Theatre's magaphone-shaped auditorium features a formal beaux-arts opera house design. When the theatre was taken over  by Balaban and Katz in 1940, its marquee, entrance lobby and foyer were redecorated in a sleek, streamlined art deco style to complement its new art deco neighbors -- the monolithic Sears department store and the five-story Klee Brothers building. In the 1980s, the theatre underwent a dramatic change when a wall was constructed down the middle of the existing auditorium resulting in two oddly-shaped cinemas. After a five-year period of darkness, the theatre has reopened to its original shape, and has been refurbished and restored to its 1920s splendor. In 2008, the Portage Theater stood in as the interior of the Biograph Theater for Universal's feature film, Public Enemies, starring Johnny Depp. The Silent Film Society of Chicago is pleased to be part of the exciting revitalization of the Portage Theater.

The Portage Theater is also home to the Magnificent Portage Grande Cinema Organ, which has been undergoing an extensive rehabilitation under the guidance of the Silent Film Society. Since its debut in 2009, the instrument has been a hit with silent film audiences. However, its rehabilitation is still a work in progress and is far from completion. The next phase of the project is the re-installation of sound effect traps and pipework as funds allow.