Save the Portage Theater

02/24/2026

It seems like an eternity but it's only been a year since we saw the warm smile and heard the beautiful music of Dennis Wolkowicz, aka Jay Warren. He is missed.

04/27/2025

Steps toward some change and improvements, we hope:

An attorney for the potential buyer said his client wants to return the Portage Theater to its roots as a movie theater. But before the sale can go through, the theater's back taxes must be redeemed.

04/02/2025

JAY WARREN TRIBUTE
https://facebook.com/events/s/silent-movie-night/1121571376436874/

03/21/2025

A court-appointed receiver may soon be responsible for the safety and security of the Portage.

Attorneys said Thursday the theater's owners filed a motion to withdraw from the property. Community leaders said they feel like plans to restore the theater are "back at square one."

03/13/2025

Memories with Jay Warren:

03/05/2025

Block Club Chicago notes Dennis's contributions:

Northwest Siders are mourning the loss of the accomplished photoplay organist who founded the Silent Film Society of Chicago and was instrumental in getting the Portage Theater landmarked.

03/04/2025

Remembering Dennis:

Mr. Wolkowicz, who played under the stage name Jay Warren because it was easier to pronounce, first tried his hand at accompanying silent films after hearing another guy perform and thinking, "I can do it better than that."

02/26/2025

REMEMBERING DENNIS WOLKOWICZ
"Jay Warren," Chicago's Foremost Theatre Organist

Dennis J. Wolkowicz better known as “Jay Warren”, 74, loving husband of Linda Stagner; devoted brother of Kenneth (Sharon) Wolkowicz; cherished uncle of Kirstin (Michael) Finneran and Kerilyn (Frank) Johnson; treasured great-uncle of Sean Finneran; and adoring cat dad of Ms. Emma.

“His passion was silent films,” his wife Linda Stagner said. “As a kid … he’d watch them. He thought they were cool.” “He played the accordion like all good Polish boys” but eventually learned the organ and in the mid-1980s he gave his first performance at the former Gateway Theater inside the Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave., in Jefferson Park. Wolkowicz helped manage the theater for 18 years.

The theater included a 17-rank (sets of pipes) pipe organ that Wolkowicz had acquired, with most of the pipe sets coming from a church, Stagner said. Each organized set produces a different sound. He used the name “Jay Warren” when he performed because of the difficulty some had pronouncing his last name, Stagner said.

The pipes were later removed from Copernicus, and there were plans to have them installed in the Portage Theater, 4050 N. Milwaukee Ave., which Wolkowicz along with business partners started operating in the mid-2000s, but plans for the organ’s installation there did not materialize, and the now-closed theater was sold in 2012.

Wolkowicz was the founder of the Silent Film Society of Chicago, and he performed at theaters, churches and other locations, including City News Cafe, 4018 N. Cicero Ave. He was about to head to the cafe on Sunday, but he passed away a short time before the scheduled performance.

Stagner said that Wolkowicz, a Gordon Tech graduate, had a strong passion for Six Corners, where the film society has its office. He grew up not far from Six Corners, living his entire life in the same house.

Visitation for Jay will be on Sunday, March 2, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Kolbus-John V. May Funeral Home, 6857 W. Higgins Ave., Chicago, IL. Funeral Prayers will be on Monday, March 3, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home with procession to follow to St. John Cantius for Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. Interment to follow at Elmwood Cemetery, River Grove, IL.

Flowers appreciated but if one chooses to, you may make a donation in Jay's memory to The Silent Film Society of Chicago.

https://www.legacy.com/funeral-homes/obituaries/name/dennis-wolkowicz-obituary?pid=208611812&v=b

02/26/2025

A GREAT LOSS
Friends, our No. 1 guy has passed away. There's no describing the loss of Dennis Wolkowicz (Jay Warren). He was the heart and soul of the Portage, the Gateway and the Silent Film Society of Chicago.

His generosity of spirit knew no bounds. And his humor and storytelling were legendary.

Our thoughts are with his partner Linda, his family and his friends.

We will share more information about memorial services for Dennis when they become available. Please raise a toast tonight and thank him for all that he did to bring joy into our lives through his art and ingenuity.

https://nadignewspapers.com/silent-film-organist-dennis-wolkowicz-known-professionally-as-jay-warren-passes-away-at-74/

02/26/2025

11/07/2024

GOOD NEWS: Theatre Historical Society of America is back and the new issue of Marquee magazine has been sent to members. Please consider joining us now to receive both the Fall and Winter issues.

The 2024 Winter issue includes a Castro Theater Update, nationwide Newsreel Updates, and “Who’s Celebrating 100 years?” Members can expect four colorful issues in 2025, Including a Q1 2025 photo-packed edition focusing on the Boston THSA Conclave.
Join Today: https://historictheatres.org/membership/