(The) Riviera Theatre

4746 N. Racine Ave.

Riviera Theatre, also known as The Riv, was a concert venue built in 1917 and designed by Rapp and Rapp for the Balaban & Katz theatre chain run by A. J. Balaban, his brother Barney Balaban and their partner and brother-in-law, Sam Katz. An example of French Renaissance Revival architecture, The Riv became a private nightclub in 1986, around the time that promoter Tony Bitoy and DJ Andy Moy produced events there. It later became to be known as a venue for popular touring acts.