This photo shows State and Randolph Streets in 1967. Besides the Oriental, you can see the Woods and United Artists marquees in the background, as well as the Sherman Hotel.
An August 27th, 1960 article in the Chicago Tribune says construction began on the Lawrencewood Shopping Center, and lists its anchor tenants as Goldblatt’s, Kresge’s, and Walgreen Drugs. It talks about a “continuous canopy shelter” with piped in FM music heard in the stores and mall area. The mall was expected to be complete by “late 1962”.
An October 12, 1962 Tribune story says a Red Owl Supermarket, the eleventh in the Chicagoland area, opened at the Lawrencewood Shopping Center including a Dressel bakery.
A Bond’s Store opened at Lawrencewood in March of 1963, according to a March 13th story in the Tribune. It would be the ninth Bond’s in Chicagoland.
Kresge replaced its store at the mall with its Jupiter brand of discount stores in March of 1964, along with a number of other Kresge stores in the Chicago area, a March 8th 1964 story in the Tribune notes.
Ground was broken October 8, 1964 by officials from Kohlberg Theatres, the Lawrencewood Shopping Center and the Village of Niles, for the Lawrencewood Theatre, which would open in January of 1965, according to a short blurb in the Tribune.
“Rogers Park Business Alliance FUNdraiser at the New Mayne Stage
Get a sneak peak at the new Mayne Stage (formerly the Morse Theater) and help a great cause at the same time. The Rogers Park Business Alliance is hosting its Annual FUNdraiser at the Mayne Stage, 1328 W. Morse, TOMORROW, Wednesday, April 28th, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
You will be wined and dined with food from Rogers Park restaurants and complimentary beer and wine. Samba music and dancing by Bossa Tres and an amazing silent auction are also on deck. Tickets are just $75."
MOTION PICTURE OPERATOR ELECTROCTED; ACTORS IN DARK PREVENT RUSH
A severe electrical storm accompanied by high wind and hail marked a path across the south part of Chicago last night…A motion picture operator was electrocuted as he operated his machine at the Langley Hippodrome at Sixty-third street and Langley avenue. James Lovelle, 1127 Winona avenue, motion picture operator, electrocuted…
This photo, which dates to around 1969/70 shows the Shangri-La in the background. You can also see part of the Chicago Theatre vertical sign in the distance.
This former theater has a very similar history and appearance (the double-arched entrance) to another former theater on North Avenue in Humboldt Park, the former Isis/Park Theatre, /theaters/32287/
“ALBANY, Ga. – The new $75,000 Slappey Drive-In Theater opened on the Slappey Drive-Atlanta Highway near here last week. It accomodates 400 cars. L.T. Sheffield is owner, with J.D. Bush as manager”.
Here is a photo of the St. Francis Theatres which I took on Feb. 29th. I am surprised part of the letters are still up on the marquee since it closed almost 10 years ago:
Congrats to Ross, Patrick, Ken, and everyone else who has made this fantastic site what it is today. I can’t believe it has been nearly 10 years since I first came across CT. I was immediately a fan, having discovered David Naylor’s 1987 book, Great American Movie Theaters years before and always wanted to find a place to get current and updated information on these great old movie palaces I’d become so enamored by. I had the privilege of working behind the scenes on CT for a number of years starting not long after I’d discovered the site and loved being a part of such a passionate and committed team during that time, who were (and still are) devoted to the preservation of theatres and the growth and improvement of Cinema Treasures. Though I’ve been away for some time, I look forward to reconnecting with the site and contributing more regularly once again.
According to the Pantagraph dated Feb. 27, 1993, the Eastland Mall Cinema was being closed March 7 by GCC, the last chain to run it after GCC opted not to renew the lease on the three screen house. The article noted also that its closure was almost to the day it opened in 1973.
Completion of the new building at 112 South State street, leased until 1955 to Kitty Kelly Shoes, a New York corportation operating a chain of stores in the east, was announced yesterday. The lessees will open their first Chicago unit Thursday.
The basement and the first floor, which has a twenty foot ceiling, will be used for selling; the upper floors for stock, according to Aldis & Co., who represent the Ledyard Realty trust, the owner.
The building has a year round air conditioning system and is decorated with murals. The new building was designed by Alfred S. Alschuler, Inc.
It occupies the site of the Orpheum theater, Chicago’s first “high price” movie theater (admission being boosted in 1912 from the customary nickel to ten cents).
This photo shows State and Randolph Streets in 1967. Besides the Oriental, you can see the Woods and United Artists marquees in the background, as well as the Sherman Hotel.
An August 27th, 1960 article in the Chicago Tribune says construction began on the Lawrencewood Shopping Center, and lists its anchor tenants as Goldblatt’s, Kresge’s, and Walgreen Drugs. It talks about a “continuous canopy shelter” with piped in FM music heard in the stores and mall area. The mall was expected to be complete by “late 1962”.
An October 12, 1962 Tribune story says a Red Owl Supermarket, the eleventh in the Chicagoland area, opened at the Lawrencewood Shopping Center including a Dressel bakery.
A Bond’s Store opened at Lawrencewood in March of 1963, according to a March 13th story in the Tribune. It would be the ninth Bond’s in Chicagoland.
Kresge replaced its store at the mall with its Jupiter brand of discount stores in March of 1964, along with a number of other Kresge stores in the Chicago area, a March 8th 1964 story in the Tribune notes.
Ground was broken October 8, 1964 by officials from Kohlberg Theatres, the Lawrencewood Shopping Center and the Village of Niles, for the Lawrencewood Theatre, which would open in January of 1965, according to a short blurb in the Tribune.
From 49th Ward Ald. Joe Moore’s website:
“Rogers Park Business Alliance FUNdraiser at the New Mayne Stage
Get a sneak peak at the new Mayne Stage (formerly the Morse Theater) and help a great cause at the same time. The Rogers Park Business Alliance is hosting its Annual FUNdraiser at the Mayne Stage, 1328 W. Morse, TOMORROW, Wednesday, April 28th, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
You will be wined and dined with food from Rogers Park restaurants and complimentary beer and wine. Samba music and dancing by Bossa Tres and an amazing silent auction are also on deck. Tickets are just $75."
Here is an undated vintage photo of the grand staircase from the Newhouse-designed third incarnation of the McVickers Theatre.
The Chicago Tribune dated 8/22/13:
MOTION PICTURE OPERATOR ELECTROCTED; ACTORS IN DARK PREVENT RUSH
A severe electrical storm accompanied by high wind and hail marked a path across the south part of Chicago last night…A motion picture operator was electrocuted as he operated his machine at the Langley Hippodrome at Sixty-third street and Langley avenue. James Lovelle, 1127 Winona avenue, motion picture operator, electrocuted…
This is a great view of the Dearborn Street facade of the United Artists, circa 1979.
This photo, which dates to around 1969/70 shows the Shangri-La in the background. You can also see part of the Chicago Theatre vertical sign in the distance.
Here’s a recent view of Lincoln Hall:
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This former theater has a very similar history and appearance (the double-arched entrance) to another former theater on North Avenue in Humboldt Park, the former Isis/Park Theatre, /theaters/32287/
A May 27, 1950 blurb in Billboard:
“ALBANY, Ga. – The new $75,000 Slappey Drive-In Theater opened on the Slappey Drive-Atlanta Highway near here last week. It accomodates 400 cars. L.T. Sheffield is owner, with J.D. Bush as manager”.
A 2007 exterior view of the former Sun Sing Theatre:
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A photo I took on Feb. 28th of the former Superba Theatre (now Wasteland) can be seen here:
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Thanks Chuck, you too.
Here is a photo of the St. Francis Theatres which I took on Feb. 29th. I am surprised part of the letters are still up on the marquee since it closed almost 10 years ago:
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Here is a photo of the Market Street Cinema I took Feb. 29th:
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A photo of the Warfield Theatre’s marquee I took Feb. 29th can be seen here:
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A couple photos I took of the Golden Gate Theatre on Feb. 28th can be seen here:
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A couple photos I took of the Orpheum Theatre on Feb. 28th can be seen here:
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A couple of photos I took of the Castro Theatre on Feb 28th can be seen here:
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Here are some photos I took last month of the New Amsterdam’s auditorium before and after seeing a show there.
Here is a view of Radio City Music Hall I took last month.
Congrats to Ross, Patrick, Ken, and everyone else who has made this fantastic site what it is today. I can’t believe it has been nearly 10 years since I first came across CT. I was immediately a fan, having discovered David Naylor’s 1987 book, Great American Movie Theaters years before and always wanted to find a place to get current and updated information on these great old movie palaces I’d become so enamored by. I had the privilege of working behind the scenes on CT for a number of years starting not long after I’d discovered the site and loved being a part of such a passionate and committed team during that time, who were (and still are) devoted to the preservation of theatres and the growth and improvement of Cinema Treasures. Though I’ve been away for some time, I look forward to reconnecting with the site and contributing more regularly once again.
Bryan Krefft
A photo of the marquee and vertical sign of the Oriental which I took yesterday can be seen here:
View link
According to the Pantagraph dated Feb. 27, 1993, the Eastland Mall Cinema was being closed March 7 by GCC, the last chain to run it after GCC opted not to renew the lease on the three screen house. The article noted also that its closure was almost to the day it opened in 1973.
The Sept. 7, 1937 Chicago Tribune:
CHAIN SHOE SHOP WILL OPEN ON ORPHEUM SITE
Completion of the new building at 112 South State street, leased until 1955 to Kitty Kelly Shoes, a New York corportation operating a chain of stores in the east, was announced yesterday. The lessees will open their first Chicago unit Thursday.
The basement and the first floor, which has a twenty foot ceiling, will be used for selling; the upper floors for stock, according to Aldis & Co., who represent the Ledyard Realty trust, the owner.
The building has a year round air conditioning system and is decorated with murals. The new building was designed by Alfred S. Alschuler, Inc.
It occupies the site of the Orpheum theater, Chicago’s first “high price” movie theater (admission being boosted in 1912 from the customary nickel to ten cents).