Carnegie Theatre
1026 N. Rush Street,
Chicago,
IL
60611
1026 N. Rush Street,
Chicago,
IL
60611
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I was at the “Star Wars” event, and it was the first and only time I was ever there. I really wish I had the chance to see more movies there, as it seemed like a very cool theatre.
The Carnegie showed great movies, and always had very hip audiences. I remember sitting in packed houses that roared with laughter at first-run comedies like “Young Frankenstein” and “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” I believe I saw “Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother” there as well. Most memorable, though, was a Charlie Chaplin film festival that went on for several weeks circa 1972. I think they showed one film a week. I didn’t get there to see all of them, but I do remember seeing “Modern Times” and “The Great Dictator.” It was a unique opportunity to see a true comic genius on the big screen.
This was originally a Telenews theatre and was announced under the Telenews name when the building was remodeled to accomodate it in 1939. Dubin & Dubin were architects.
In 1978, Days Of Heaven premiered at the Carnegie. The accoustics were stunning; steam-powered tractors reaping fields of grain boomed across the screen with startling fidelity—scaring the wits out of me and my date. By then, the neighborhood ambience had improved. Around the corner on Walton Street reposed the Magic Pan crepe restaurant with its French countryside ambience, a charming turntable of upside down crepe pans, and a check that allowed me to retain the deed to my car. Alas, the Magic Pan and Carnegie are gone. It’s nearby sister theater, the sweet Esquire on opulent Oak Street, still stands.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail opened in Chicago at this theatre -opening day coconuts were passed out for the first showing, which was attended by Terry Jones and Graham Chapman, who at one point, told the wildly enthusiastic audience, in his best stiff upper lip accent, that “You are being entirely too noisy!”
“The original "Star Wars” trilogy was shown at the Carnegie in early 1985 in 70mm prints and Dolby sound.“
The one-day event was held on March 28, 1985.
The event was held in the following cities:
Chicago: Carnegie
Dallas: Northpark
Denver: Continental
Los Angeles (Hollywood): Egyptian
Los Angeles (Westwood): Avco
New York: Warner Twin
San Francisco: Coronet
Seattle: Cinema 150
Toronto: Uptown
I seem to remember a little 3 step drop to get to the theater doors from the main lobby. The one movie that sticks in my head from this theater is American Pop. Saw it 3 times there!
Did you know that Aliens played here in 1986. I know this because I have Microfilm on it.
I think “ROCKY IV” was the last movie shown there.
The Carnegie was a premiere art house in the 60’s and 70’s. It’s greatest success came with the showing of “A Man and a Woman” which ran an astounding 66 weeks. In the late 60’s the theater closed after a neighboring building caught fire and spread to the Carnegie. Almost 18 months later the theater re-opened. In the 70’s exclusive first run films would also be booked as well. “Young Frankenstein”, “Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother”, and “Silent Movie” had their exclusive Chicago premieres at the Carnegie. Late in its life, after Plitt theaters acquired it, the Carnegie was reduced to showing lousy first run films such as “Def Con 5”.