no rocket science here, loews decided years ago the norridge didn’t bring in enough business to warrant multi-screen investment in digital projection, and from that point on they just wanted to phase the place out quietly
exact same thing happened a year or so ago w/ piper’s alley theatres
corporate execs. ask themselves “are we going to pay for new digital projectors on all these screens?” for each of their theatre properties and not in every case does the answer come back affirmative. especially when the underlying real-estate might have some pretty good value for other commercial ventures
quite a contrast to 3 decades ago or so when harlem avenue was so congested with cars turning into the norridge theatre parking lot on a friday/saturday night
oldest double-feature that comes to mind i saw at the norridge’s from early ‘70s – EXECUTIVE ACTION / RETURN OF A MAN CALLED HORSE
there’re 2 definitive 8x10 BW photos of the ROYAL THEATRE—from 1958 and maybe 5 yrs later. they’re both on file for anybody to reference at the Chicago History Museum; i just saw them myself and will make request to allow them to appear here leading-off this CT theatre listing, where you might say they rightfully belong.
The earlier one is just as i remember it down to the admission prices seen.
there’re 2 fine 8x10 B&W HARDING THEATRE photos i stumbled across over the Memorial Day wknd thanks to my wife Claire’s help, in the files of the so-called Chicago History Museum, or as anyone with a proper sense of history would say Chicago Historical Society (history per se does not get remodeled). One image’s from 1961, the other just prior to demolition in 1963, both from out in front of the bldg on Milwaukee Ave showing the full vertical sign & marquee. The 1961 shows marquee lettering advertising a food catering operation, which tells me even by that year films had ceased.
With any luck and proper overtures too at least one of those images will lead-off this CT Theatre listing before long
Ald. John Arena wants to block use of Portage Theatre by a religious organization because, in his words, local restaurants won’t be able to get liquor licenses with a church nearby.
Repeat, BECAUSE LOCAL RESTAURANTS WON’T BE ABLE TO GET LIQUOR LICENSES WITH A CHURCH NEARBY
if this ain’t rolling-on-the-floor-laughing material i don’t know what is
the religious organization needn’t worry, with enemies like this who needs friends
i see now. so theatre’s like the ALEX at that critical time could stay upon longer hours but only if they contributed to their power needs with their own on-site generators
so many theatres in the same newspaper ad i referenced for the ALEX post above specify long hours – either 10:00 a.m. or 1:30 pm continuous shows to midnight
i walk past the (former) ALVIN THEATRE a couple times a year, when me & wife Claire get a yearning for a slice at Hoosier Mama’s Pie bakery right next door. recall last year (2011) people there talking ALVIN building was on the market
to me it’s particularly satisfying the see the central park theatre from outside on the west face which is open to view
why, it’s just common brick? the black fire escapes, leading off several emergency exits at various levels, all stand in fine shape and each and every incandescent bulb at the door bays remain constantly illumnated. a typical but very good urban vista in my opinion you might agree if you saw it in person. gives one some impression the building remains open for business as usual, movie theatre that is
brits cast as romans in SPARTACUS and other hollywood biblical epics had plenty precedent by then, just look at BEN-HUR
an omission in my post yesterday, obvious considering Tony Curtis' recent passing, was that lovely Jean Simmons (herself a brit) left us early in 2010
lastly i forgot to mention this was one of 2 films i saw around the same time w/ Woody Strode who really impressed me, the other title being THE LAST VOYAGE
brits cast as romans in SPARTACUS as and other hollywood biblical epics had plenty precedent by then, just look at BEN-HUR
an omission in my post yesterday, obvious considering Tony Curtis' recent passing, was that lovely Jean Simmons (herself a brit) left us early in 2010
lastly i forgot to mention this was one of 2 films i saw around the same time w/ Woody Strode who really impressed me, the other title being THE LAST VOYAGE
alex north’s SPARTACUS musical score is exquisite to listen to all on its own, as i’ve done for awhile
amusing to me how the late mr curtis was around to re-loop his dialogue for the restored ‘oysters vs clams’ sequence some 30 years later, but to do sir lawrence who had since passed, he recommends anthony hopkins
and actress jean simmons is so beautiful
little is said about fired director anthony mann’s footage
in a half doz. or so previous posts i described a stroll south on milwaukee ave circa ‘30s-'40s my late father took to see what’s playing at shows in the 'hood
now walk the other way, back in time headed north on milwaukee ave
starting w/ the OAK theatre at armitage/western, another 2 blks the CONGRESS which’s the biggest, continuing on milwaukee on our left’s the RIO (aka MARS) just before the Logan Square monument and ‘L’ terminal. Passing that in short order first the LOGAN then the HARDING also on the left. So far that’s 2 miles out on milwaukee ave which i think’s as far as dad normally ventured, finishing with
the DALE and little NITA across the street from one-another
what an abundant selection he had. today only the LOGAN can one count on, the CONGRESS still stands but for the occasional rock show (not sure part of the NITA bldg’s extant)
saw BAD TIMING: A SENSUAL OBSESSION at Cinema. it’s a 1980 film but doesn’t appear on above list so it must’ve played in ‘81.
also saw there Wilder’s FEDORA
the before and after picture’s have to be the most astonishing contrast ever in real estate development over just a couple years. The Cinema little arthouse theatre on Chicago Ave at Michigan = the before. then the after = an enormous skyscraper constructed on its former site. can you imagine the difference in property taxes for the same address?
mikey2:
no the senior home parking lot is not the right place
the exact LUNA theatre bldg site was in fact where the walgreens building is now. mind you i said walgreens building, not walgreens parking lot. the building per se is at the southwest corner of belmont and keating, and that’s just where the luna once stood
p.s.: the alleyway behind cicero used to go fully to belmont (between the luna theatre and the luna lounge mentioned above) but when walgreens opened and built their parking lot they gobbled up that end of the alley, unfair to their neighbors and the public in general
spectacular house if there but once, 1984, saw Ron Howards' SPLASH!
i can only imagine seeing a 3-strip cinerama print there of WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE BROS. GRIMM if one from the original release remain, since unlike the other 3-strips that one was print dye-transfer IB Technicolor
the theatre is mentioned by name in the first line on the lyric to HAMPSTEAD INCIDENT, the closing song off of the popular MELLOW YELLOW album by DONOVAN, circa late 1966 – early ‘67.
Yeah we just heard that from (co) owner Chris Ritter, “the money isn’t there”.
BOOO says my friend Claire, who’d wanted to catch “The Best Church Of God” show there and is now limited to this coming (Easter) wknd before they lock the doors for good, and is doubtful about making.
no rocket science here, loews decided years ago the norridge didn’t bring in enough business to warrant multi-screen investment in digital projection, and from that point on they just wanted to phase the place out quietly
exact same thing happened a year or so ago w/ piper’s alley theatres
corporate execs. ask themselves “are we going to pay for new digital projectors on all these screens?” for each of their theatre properties and not in every case does the answer come back affirmative. especially when the underlying real-estate might have some pretty good value for other commercial ventures
quite a contrast to 3 decades ago or so when harlem avenue was so congested with cars turning into the norridge theatre parking lot on a friday/saturday night
oldest double-feature that comes to mind i saw at the norridge’s from early ‘70s – EXECUTIVE ACTION / RETURN OF A MAN CALLED HORSE
there’re 2 definitive 8x10 BW photos of the ROYAL THEATRE—from 1958 and maybe 5 yrs later. they’re both on file for anybody to reference at the Chicago History Museum; i just saw them myself and will make request to allow them to appear here leading-off this CT theatre listing, where you might say they rightfully belong.
The earlier one is just as i remember it down to the admission prices seen.
there’re 2 fine 8x10 B&W HARDING THEATRE photos i stumbled across over the Memorial Day wknd thanks to my wife Claire’s help, in the files of the so-called Chicago History Museum, or as anyone with a proper sense of history would say Chicago Historical Society (history per se does not get remodeled). One image’s from 1961, the other just prior to demolition in 1963, both from out in front of the bldg on Milwaukee Ave showing the full vertical sign & marquee. The 1961 shows marquee lettering advertising a food catering operation, which tells me even by that year films had ceased.
With any luck and proper overtures too at least one of those images will lead-off this CT Theatre listing before long
enjoy one, that’s what the city has landmark designation for
Ald. John Arena wants to block use of Portage Theatre by a religious organization because, in his words, local restaurants won’t be able to get liquor licenses with a church nearby.
Repeat, BECAUSE LOCAL RESTAURANTS WON’T BE ABLE TO GET LIQUOR LICENSES WITH A CHURCH NEARBY
if this ain’t rolling-on-the-floor-laughing material i don’t know what is
the religious organization needn’t worry, with enemies like this who needs friends
i see now. so theatre’s like the ALEX at that critical time could stay upon longer hours but only if they contributed to their power needs with their own on-site generators
so many theatres in the same newspaper ad i referenced for the ALEX post above specify long hours – either 10:00 a.m. or 1:30 pm continuous shows to midnight
my kind of showtimes
i walk past the (former) ALVIN THEATRE a couple times a year, when me & wife Claire get a yearning for a slice at Hoosier Mama’s Pie bakery right next door. recall last year (2011) people there talking ALVIN building was on the market
even today no movie theatre does,
though would you patronize a theatre that advertised: “Our Digital Projectors are Windmill powered!”
a 1946 Chicago newspaper theatre listing contains an ad for the ALEX THEATRE, showing a line there that reads:
“WE MAKE OUR OWN POWER!”
somebody have an idea just what this means? no other theatre in that local movie listing makes such claim
a 1946 Chicago newspaper movie listing contains a listing for SCHINDLERS, and the location shown in teeny-tiny ad print is ‘Milwaukee & Huron’
to me it’s particularly satisfying the see the central park theatre from outside on the west face which is open to view
why, it’s just common brick? the black fire escapes, leading off several emergency exits at various levels, all stand in fine shape and each and every incandescent bulb at the door bays remain constantly illumnated. a typical but very good urban vista in my opinion you might agree if you saw it in person. gives one some impression the building remains open for business as usual, movie theatre that is
(excuse my inadvertant double key entry above)
brits cast as romans in SPARTACUS and other hollywood biblical epics had plenty precedent by then, just look at BEN-HUR
an omission in my post yesterday, obvious considering Tony Curtis' recent passing, was that lovely Jean Simmons (herself a brit) left us early in 2010
lastly i forgot to mention this was one of 2 films i saw around the same time w/ Woody Strode who really impressed me, the other title being THE LAST VOYAGE
brits cast as romans in SPARTACUS as and other hollywood biblical epics had plenty precedent by then, just look at BEN-HUR
an omission in my post yesterday, obvious considering Tony Curtis' recent passing, was that lovely Jean Simmons (herself a brit) left us early in 2010
lastly i forgot to mention this was one of 2 films i saw around the same time w/ Woody Strode who really impressed me, the other title being THE LAST VOYAGE
alex north’s SPARTACUS musical score is exquisite to listen to all on its own, as i’ve done for awhile
amusing to me how the late mr curtis was around to re-loop his dialogue for the restored ‘oysters vs clams’ sequence some 30 years later, but to do sir lawrence who had since passed, he recommends anthony hopkins
and actress jean simmons is so beautiful
little is said about fired director anthony mann’s footage
hello from the bhs (bucktown historical society)
in a half doz. or so previous posts i described a stroll south on milwaukee ave circa ‘30s-'40s my late father took to see what’s playing at shows in the 'hood
now walk the other way, back in time headed north on milwaukee ave
starting w/ the OAK theatre at armitage/western, another 2 blks the CONGRESS which’s the biggest, continuing on milwaukee on our left’s the RIO (aka MARS) just before the Logan Square monument and ‘L’ terminal. Passing that in short order first the LOGAN then the HARDING also on the left. So far that’s 2 miles out on milwaukee ave which i think’s as far as dad normally ventured, finishing with
the DALE and little NITA across the street from one-another
what an abundant selection he had. today only the LOGAN can one count on, the CONGRESS still stands but for the occasional rock show (not sure part of the NITA bldg’s extant)
saw BAD TIMING: A SENSUAL OBSESSION at Cinema. it’s a 1980 film but doesn’t appear on above list so it must’ve played in ‘81.
also saw there Wilder’s FEDORA
the before and after picture’s have to be the most astonishing contrast ever in real estate development over just a couple years. The Cinema little arthouse theatre on Chicago Ave at Michigan = the before. then the after = an enormous skyscraper constructed on its former site. can you imagine the difference in property taxes for the same address?
FYI (not a plug)
LAKESHORE THEATRE available for lease by the Kudan Group
i was here in the gateway just the other wknd for a show
jackasses don’t even have an ordinary water fountain anymore
mikey2:
no the senior home parking lot is not the right place
the exact LUNA theatre bldg site was in fact where the walgreens building is now. mind you i said walgreens building, not walgreens parking lot. the building per se is at the southwest corner of belmont and keating, and that’s just where the luna once stood
p.s.: the alleyway behind cicero used to go fully to belmont (between the luna theatre and the luna lounge mentioned above) but when walgreens opened and built their parking lot they gobbled up that end of the alley, unfair to their neighbors and the public in general
ok, but i’m a little surprised re. HTWWW in IB 3-strip, since so much of it was lensed 70mm and then optically divided
as for this’s cinerama i’d seen a faded eastman panel in the past but that film had re-releases back then
spectacular house if there but once, 1984, saw Ron Howards' SPLASH!
i can only imagine seeing a 3-strip cinerama print there of WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE BROS. GRIMM if one from the original release remain, since unlike the other 3-strips that one was print dye-transfer IB Technicolor
EVERYMAN trivia, a bit dated….
the theatre is mentioned by name in the first line on the lyric to HAMPSTEAD INCIDENT, the closing song off of the popular MELLOW YELLOW album by DONOVAN, circa late 1966 – early ‘67.
aforementioned Chris Ritter
has migrated manager duties a few short miles northward to
the MORSE Theatre (now the MAYNE STAGE)
just thought you’d like to know
Yeah we just heard that from (co) owner Chris Ritter, “the money isn’t there”.
BOOO says my friend Claire, who’d wanted to catch “The Best Church Of God” show there and is now limited to this coming (Easter) wknd before they lock the doors for good, and is doubtful about making.