Congress Theater

I wonder where Balaban & Katz got the money to buy out two major chains in Chicago in the late 20’s. Lubliner & Trinz and the Marks Bros. Where they both ripe for take over? Or did they have too much debt?

Some great photos in this story about the Congress renovation. http://chicago.curbed.com/archives/2015/01/26/one-last-look-at-the-congress-theater-before-its-big-makeover.php

The Congress Theatre for the last year has been caught up in a legal battle between developer Michael Moyer and event promoters who claimed to have the right of first refusal to purchase the property after its previous owner Eddie Carranza finally gave up his fight with the city and Alderman Proco “Joe” Moreno and decided to sell the historic building. However WBEZ reports that Moyer is set to close on the Congress Theater sometime in the next 60 to 90 days. In a press release, Alderman Moreno revealed that the redevelopment of the theater will also include a small inn and affordable housing units. According to previous estimates, repairs to the Congress Theater could cost up to $20 million and take years to restore. Moyer, who previously redeveloped the downtown Cadillac Palace, will work with Woodhouse Tinucci Architects and W.E. O'Neil Construction on the Congress Theater project. To kick off the beginning of the Congress' new life, Alderman Moreno and New Congress, LLC will hold an open house at the theater on Saturday, January 24 from 1-4pm.

A sale of the Congress is announced, but there are complications—two other entities say they have right of first refusal. WBEZ story here.

New charges. Liquor license in jeopardy:

http://chicagoist.com/2013/01/21/bad_behavior_of_congress_theater_se.php

One of these days Carranza is going to run out of luck.

It’s nice to see the building is going to be renovated. Regarding the Portage: I seriously doubt the seats would be kept. Every converted old theater in the city that I am aware of removed them from the main floor.

I would only be against them taking over the Portage, if they insist on removing the seats. The neighborhood is still a movie going clientele. One of the main reasons there was such opposition to the church. If they remove the seats to make it a concert venue only, it will be the same as if the church had taken it over anyway. There will be no way to run classic films or staged events without seats.

The Congress Theater made the Chicago news today after a young woman, unable to enter the theatre for a concert on New Years' Eve due to lack of proper ID, was the victim of a violent crime. The crime may or may not result in investigations concerning security issues for the venue.

I met the daughter of one of 2 original Congress Theater projectionists, yesterday at my aunt’s nursing home. I’m going to quiz her about stories & maybe some pictures at a later date. Her dad was Fred Galluzzo. The 2nd was a man named Sam, whose last name she couldn’t recall. They used to drop their dad at work, so they could keep the car for the day.

The Congress made the news this morning. Apparently Chuck Berry collapsed and had to be helped off stage during his show last night. But returned later to a thinning crowd.

At 84, he had supposedly done 2 New Years shows the night before in New York.
One story has him being checked out by paramedics before the Congress show. Only to fall ill during it as well.
He left in a limo though, not an ambulance.

View link

Here is another 1982 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/d4b97h

Here is a 1982 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/d6h89o