Paradise Theater
231 N. Pulaski Road,
Chicago,
IL
60624
231 N. Pulaski Road,
Chicago,
IL
60624
41 people
favorited this theater
Showing 51 - 75 of 344 comments
I am very familiar with the boroughs as I have lived here my whole life. Scott is right that the Bronx and Brooklyn did experience similar slides, BUT they are now booming. What changed? The simplest answer has to be the public perception of safety. When people feel safe they walk outside; especially at night. In a dense city like NY it results in a lot of activity which leads to stores and restaurants staying open later. Almost all retail removed those ugly metal grates as safety improved. People were no longer afraid of the subways. NY has the best police department in the country and they have seen to it that the gang problem that most other cities have is not very big here. The perception of safety is everything; especially when you are trying to get people to attend an entertainment venue. Today, there are very few neighborhoods in the city that I wouldn’t feel comfortable walking around.
I am really amazed how NY Loews wonder theaters are all still standing and all with a bright future it seems. In Chicago this is not the case. Our beautiful and if not more stunning than Ny’s movie palaces are long gone and never had a chance. Our West Side was just as beautiful as any in NY: the Bronx, Brookyln etc. Why did these neighborhoods not slide down as ours did? It has to be the powers in charge. Why did the west side and south side home to many movie palaces turn into such slums? I would love to have some answers!
Scott, excellent thought. I’ll have to go to the Uptown page and see what you wrote. That could be the twist. Buy it so nobody else will.
Hard to believe it has been three years. Well they certaintly aren’t running it into the ground. They are making necessary repairs and for security. I guess the Riv must be doing good busuness. It has been alive & well for a very long time. Sure wish we were talking about our beautiful Paradise booking live shows. Of course one would be taking their life into their hands to attend one of these shows even if the place was around today. I am hearing scary stories on the economy and I think entertainment could be very much affected or the way people get it. Who would ever believe property values so very much down and the price of gasoline very much up!
Scott,the ecomony might be the salvation for the Uptown and other movie palaces. They are having trouble filling those mega shows except for really big acts. That is why the Chicago will be used more
often. eg. Willie Nelson lately, Janet Jackson. Glen Beck etc. The 4000 seat house is more managable and being located in major downtown locations is a big plus. I hope it doesn’t compete with a newly re-opened Uptown. Then I ask myself. why would Jam buy it if not to use it?
LuisV, I wasn’t aware that the Loew’s Kings project had begun. Good for them. 200 events are sure alot. I don’t even think our Chicago theater which was just recently bought by Radio City is doing that many, though I see it being used more in the last couple of months. Certain shows would do well but would also compete with the Chicago. It has the L stops and some parking, but the real problem is the questionable safety if you are going to attract mainstream groups. It is not in a pretty place.
I know absolutely nothing about the neighborhood around the Uptown other than what posters above have provided. I do, however, know about the neighborhood surrounding the Loew’s Kings in Brooklyn which is now undergoing a $70MM renovation in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn after being abandoned for over 30 years. The Kings, along with the Uptown, is one of the two most spectacular of the unrenovated theaters remaining in the US, but not for long. The theater renovation is well underway. They expect that this theater will have around 200 events yearly. Interestingly, there is no subway in the immediate vicinity though there is one about a half mile away and though there is some parking it is not as much as would be liked. Nonetheless, this theater thrived when it opened way back when with these same limitations and it is expected it will do so again. Crime, though an issue in the past, is no longer one as crime rates continue to decline, as they have in virtually all areas of New York. The “perception” of crime is critical. People need to feel safe and for the most part in New York they do. That will be a challenge for the Uptown, but it is a challenge that must be taken. We simply cannot allow a theater like the Uptown to be lost to us. Especially in a city like Chicago that has such a history of architectural greatness. Keep up the fight!
I do believe the Uptown will play rock shows like the Riv. The mainstream shows I believe are not in the future. I would be very causious attending a night performance with the parking and the neighborhood as they are today. You are right Scott, this is not Times Square and never will be. I wish them (Jam) all the luck in the world. There was no community involvement about the Paradise closing. After all, the attendence was sparse at best. As far as the Marbro, my relatives that still lived there thought it would close eventually due to the crime and the dowward trend of Madison/Pulaski area. I do think you are 100% correct. If it wasn’t closed and torn down, the fires would have got her. I never thought it would ever close. Of couse I am a dreamer!!!!!
There is safety in numbers. The Uptown would be a catalyst in bringing more people at night and therefore make it safer. It is what happened in Times Square as The New Amsterdam and The Victory started bring a new kind of people to 42nd Street and the rest is history.
Scott, there was no outcry from any public offical that I can recall. I was a couple of years on you and all I thought my entertainment choices were being scaled back and besides I loved the wonder of the Paradise. But I guess I wasn’t that too upset because I always had my Marbro. The people that were “upset” with the passing of the Paradise were mostly the older crowd and my dad of course. People that took their first date there etc. Many people in that area never saw anything like it! Which is to really say something since most of them thought it until their last breath. Might be good news for the Uptown………. Last Sunday the Chicago Tribune & Sun-times had pictures of the Uptown saying Mayor-elect Rahm is interested in community arts & music venues. The Uptown was mentioned and I believe this will be the closest it will come in years to be fullfilled. With tax breaks etc. and grants we might get to see it all come to be. Get a copy of the Chicago Tribune Sunday.
One might say the Paradise was our “ROXY” in the fact it was the first of the deluxe houses to be leveled. At the time I couldn’t believe what was happening. How could someone be doing this to “my place”? I would stand across the street and watch in horror as the cranes would swing into the palace of entertainment!
I can only assume that the Norshore was likely a free standing structure. Unlike the Howard, which was incorporated into a much larger building that included apartments, offices and street level retail space. I agree the Norshore looked like a beautiful building that by all means should have been saved and re-purposed.
Since the Paradise appears to have had the same owners, and met it’s fate 4 years before the Norshore did, I guess the land was viewed as the better money maker. After the theater’s lived out their usefulness.
I have a sneaking suspicion that the fix was in on the Granada.
Loyola long wanted it gone, and upwards was the direction the land would give them the best return ion their money
I really never understood why the Norshore theatre was torn down and the dilapidated Howard theatre remained. I know movie attendence was down and the Granada was a mile away, but still the beautiful Norshore was close enough to the northern suburbs that other venues should have been considered. Pershaps a symphony hall or an arts center. It might have even saved the neighborhood! I can’t understand why Loyola didn’t incorporate the Granada into a building for their own usage and rent it out occasionally for live shows. Plenty of parking with their lots. These magnificent buildings come along one in a lifetime.
Thanks for the thanks, and for posting the link.
Coincidentally the Howard Bowl (neon sign) that follows the Paradise marquee clip, was the place that was built on the former site of the Norshore Theatre. Which has it’s own CT page.
That bowling alley has also now since been torn down.
Here’s a direct link for that YouTube clip. The Paradise shows up at about 2:18—all too brief, but impressive.
David, the pix were great. Part 1 & 2 had a few clips of the Marbro, Three Sisters store, Walgreens, OG shores, Berlands Shoes, trolleys going down Pulaski Rd, A&P store and much more… Loved it. Wish there were more. Would love to see more in the 1950’s.. Many thanks..
Thanks David. I will look it up right now and hope to find it!
Just caught a brief pan of the old Paradise marquee in a YouTube clip called “Vintage Chicago Signs Part 3”. A series of 1940’s promotional pieces about outdoor billboards. “Poster signs” as they call them.
Scott, Actually it did look the same as the last time I past by about five years ago. I understand from people that know, the Patio is all cleaned up and repainted just awaiting an occupancy license
from the City of Chicago to re-open their doors. You would think the city would put that matter on a fast-tract to get the many businesses that are closed around there to re-open and get the money flowing again. But again as you mentioned, its not a priority and there must be globs of red tape. Good Luck to them really!!
Scott, the site looks dismal to say the least. It is still used as a storage/dumping ground for industrial equipment. Lots of pipes etc. Next time I pass I will look to find a name on a trailer. Maybe the city owns it for back taxes. Wonder if the basement under the lobby is still there? Speaking of the city, they are dragging “their feet” in issuring the Patio Theatre a license. So the re-opening is put on hold for now.
Scott, the Guyon has scaffoldling around it like something was going to happen to it years ago like you mentioned. But it looks like the money dried up and they just walked away. Well in 20 years since you drove around there, not much has changed. At least the businesses are open and lit up. There was traffic because it was rush hour even though it was dark I didn’t feel I would get in trouble. Actually Lake St. & Pulaski looked far worse and in very sad shape. It is real hard to imagine a glorious movie palace once graced this corner of the world. Oh to ride one of those streetcars again!!
Scott, I wonder where the millions went or what pockets it landed in for the re-hab of the Guyon. It looked like a bomb was dropped on it. I loved the Coronado. I am going to join the orgsn group next time I go. Only $10 a year and they had wonderful coffee & sweets 30 min before the concert. Very well attended I thought from local people on a frigid morning. Well worth the drive and the plaster work was a sensation. Now that you mentioned it, I could see a little Roxy influence. Its a glorious temple and would love to watch a real film on the screen. I went to Loews Jersey site and saw their classic film events and organ programs. Quite impressive. I have to ask next time if the Coronado does film. Hope you can make the Fox next month Scott..
Yesterday, Friday, I was on my way downtown from the western suburbs when the traffic on the Eisenhower was so bad, I decided to take Lake St. I passed the Paradise site and it looked grim. The Guyon Hotel still sits vacant. As I came south to Madison St. I noticed on the side of the building that housed Walgreens on the northeast corner of Madison & Pulaski was the original sign: Madison & Crawford building on the side of the building. Goldblatts is now Payless shoes. I had the car doors locked!!!!!
I loved the Coronado and was happy I finally made it out there. I am planning to go there in May when the Circus Solie will be there for a two day run. I think its May 7-8. I picked up a flyer when I was there. But what I am really looking forward to is visiting the Fox in St. Louis in March. Hope to see you there in March Scott!!
Scott, I have never been to the Coronado or seen a picture of it. I should be quite impressed by your description. Blue uniforms huh.
Wasn’t the B&K ushers dark red or maroon? Was the Coronado ever under the B&K umbrella? I hope March 28 works out.
Scott, I am getting my first look at the Coronado Theater in Rockford this Saturday. CATOE is having a Social there at 10am. I am excited. What is even more exciting, I just learned the St. Louis organ group is having a 4 day tour and concerts with a all-star show on March 28th for the finale at the Fox!I am coming down to see this beauty of a theater! May I buy you a ticket for Monday night? Remeber the final line in “Meet me in St. Louis”… “Right here in our own backyard”……..