Lenkom Theatre (Moscow)

 theatre, 1909_construction, object of cultural heritage of federal importance (Russia)

built by Illarion Ivanov-Shiets (1865-1937) in 1907-1908 as the Merchants' Club for Moscow's wealthy elite to display their wealth. Two square towers and classical cornices flank a raised portico with six Ionic columns. The facade of this neo-classical building has some ornamentation, which is repeated in the more abstract and simplified fashion of Style Moderne in the interior. Vladimir Adamovich designed the neo-Empire rear extension in 1912-1914.

In January 1918 anarchists broke into the building, evicted the wealthy merchants and hung their black flags and posters with the inscription 'Anarchy House' on the front of the building. Within several months members of the CHEKA removed the anarchists. Soon afterwards the Soviet Party School was opened here, changing its name in July 1919 to the Sverdlov Communist University. Later the building was used as a cinema, and from 1933 it housed the Theater of Working Youth (TRAM), which in 1936 changed its name to the Lenin Komsomol (or Lenkom) Theater.