Preservation Group Lists Five Chicago Movie Houses On Endanged List

btkrefft on September 20, 2004 at 4:18 pm

Here is the article in full—the Tribune requires registration. It also lists the five theaters as all shuttered, which is incorrect. The Uptown, New Regal/Avalon, and Patio are in fact closed, but the Central Park has been used for years now as a church, and the Gateway is regularly used for both live and on-screen events and is owned by the Copernicus Foundation (which, by the way, has recently put the theater up for sale).

Preservation group lists 10 sites as at risk of razing

By Hal Dardick
Tribune staff reporter
Published September 17, 2004

A campus in Evanston, a Prairie School building in River Forest, five Chicago neighborhood theaters and an estate owned by a high-profile convict are on this year’s list of endangered Chicago-area architectural sites, released Thursday.

The Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois' annual Watch List, first rolled out two years ago, focuses on architectural gems in the Chicago area at risk of demolition. It complements the council’s Ten Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois list, said David Bahlman, president of the council.

“These are 10 building types that are threatened, 10 building types that we believe should be preserved for our children, for our grandchildren, for our ancestors as this building was saved for us,” said Joseph Antunovich, chairman of the council, at the beaux-arts Chicago Cultural Center. On this year’s Watch List is the 2400 block of Orrington Avenue in Evanston, site of the former Kendall College campus, which was purchased last year by private developer Smithfield Properties LLC when the college moved.

Although the block is part of the Northeast Evanston Historic District, the council fears the 1907 Wesley Hall and several early 20th-Century private residences on the property could be removed from that district, Bahlman said.

Several buildings owned by Northwestern University were removed from that district when the school paid $700,000 to the city to settle a federal lawsuit filed by the university after the district was created.

“We’re simply encouraging Evanston and the developers to include those historic buildings … rather than taking them down,” Antunovich said.

The River Forest Women’s Club, 526 Ashland Ave., River Forest, also is on the list. It’s a Prairie School building designed in 1913 by William Drummond, the one-time chief draftsman for Frank Lloyd Wright.

The club plans to give the building to the River Forest Park District, which will have to spend between $500,000 and $1 million to use the building, said district executive director Tom Grundin.

The village board of trustees is considering a referendum to raise tax dollars to do the work, but another option on the table is to sell the property for a subdivision, Grundin said.

Also on the list are five Chicago movie theaters that are shuttered, for sale or used sparingly: Central Park Theater, 3535 W. Roosevelt Rd.; Gateway Theater, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave.; New Regal Theater, 1641 E. 79th St.; Patio Theater, 6008 W. Irving Park Rd.; and Uptown Theater, 4816 N. Broadway.

Perhaps the most high-profile property on the list is the 17-acre Becker-Segal Estate, 405 Sheridan Rd., Highland Park, owned by insurance executive Michael Segal, who in June was convicted of racketeering, fraud, embezzlement and other charges.

The house was designed by Howard Van Doren Shaw, the grounds were designed by landscape architect Jens Jensen and the entire property is on the National Register of Historic Places. “The property will probably be seized by the government, the IRS,” Bahlman said.
Copyright © 2004, Chicago Tribune

DrRichardTalsky on September 28, 2004 at 2:16 am

I am engaged in buying, developing and restoring the Uptown Theater. I’m not looking for financial help. I am looking for all other help. I have unique plans to make preserving it in its original form economically possible. Let’s talk: (cell phone) 773-3909-3077 also e-mail: visit my website but not for info on this project:thewowcenter.com You can help, no matter who you are.
Dr. Richard “Dick” Talsky Anything is Possible

rroberts on December 18, 2004 at 5:04 pm

The best way to save old theatres is to use good old fashioned business methodologies! One way is to form public private alliances like we did in some of our theatre projects. This requires the city or county to participate… then get business folks lined up then…get the arts organizations lined up…then get the public excited… then then then… This is a long and carefully orchestrated process. The larger the theatre the more difficult the project. The key question is not “how do we do it,” but “what do we do with the theatre once it is open?” THAT is the real question. Programmming events is the product of marekting, demographics and a very detailed “arts assessment” that includes all parties in the community who present theatre, film, dance, music, television,and the other fine arts! Call us if you want more information. (630) 201-0667