Here is a view of Milwaukee Avenue in downtown Libertyville during the early 20s showing the original Liberty Theatre, to the right of the old post office building.
Upon doing a bit more digging on the web, it appears that a church is now at this address, according to theWashington Heights website. Whether it’s housed in the theater building or is a new construction, I have no idea.
A late 50s view of Howard Street, showing the exterior of the Howard Theatre can be seen here. The photo was taken from the Howard Street “El” Station.
The Biograph was built in 1914 and as a single-screen theater, sat about 1000. Its architect was Samuel N. Crowen, who would later go on to design the Art Deco-meets neo-Gothic gem, the Willoughby Tower at 8 S. Michigan Avenue, in 1928.
Warren, I found the item about Ella Fitzgeraldhere but I must have interpreted it incorrectly. She wasn’t discovered at the Opera House, but instead as a result of a contest she won there, won a week performing there in 1935. Thanks for pointing this out and for the other corrections on my description.
The following Chicago theaters were part of the Lynch circuit at some point (it appears that Lynch acquired Simansky & Miller’s circuit at an undetermined time):
Crystal (on North Ave.), Famous, Karlov, Milford, Park, Plaisance, Savoy, Tiffin, Windsor
In the suburbs, Lynch operated these theaters in their early years:
Ridge (in Park Ridge), DuPage (in Lombard), Oakwyn (in Berwyn), York (in Elmhurst)
Jim, another Japanese-themed theatre was/is the Redford in Detroit. /theaters/347/
Like the Japanese Garden, the Japanese decor was covered up after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The original decor is, however, in the process of being restored, or may have already been.
Mary, you’ll need to contact the banquet hall directly. Cinema Treasures is not affiliated with the theaters on the site, per the notice at the very bottom of this page. Thanks-
Bryan Krefft
Cinema Treasures
Here is a 1927 postcard view of the LaGrange Theatre and Building (which also housed drugstore).
A vintage postcard view of the El Tovar with its vertical sign can be seen here.
The original Arlington Theater, after its 1940s Moderne remodeling, can be seen in this circa-1953 photo.
The former Academy Theatre can be seen in this 1940s era postcard view.
Here is a (rather large) 1934 photograph of the beautiful exterior of the Deerpath Theatre.
A late 40s postcard exterior view of the Tivoli (and Tivoli Hotel) can be seen here.
Here is a photograph of the Skokie Theater in its original form as the Niles Center Theatre.
Here is a 20s view of the Alcyon with its orignal understated marquee.
Here is a view of Milwaukee Avenue in downtown Libertyville during the early 20s showing the original Liberty Theatre, to the right of the old post office building.
Upon doing a bit more digging on the web, it appears that a church is now at this address, according to theWashington Heights website. Whether it’s housed in the theater building or is a new construction, I have no idea.
Oops, wrong link—here is the photo of the Granada…
A 50s view of Sheridan Road, showing the towering vertical sign of the Granada, can be seen here.
A late 50s view of Howard Street, showing the exterior of the Howard Theatre can be seen here. The photo was taken from the Howard Street “El” Station.
A vintage photo of the interior of the Nortown’s atmospheric auditorium can be seen here.
The Biograph was built in 1914 and as a single-screen theater, sat about 1000. Its architect was Samuel N. Crowen, who would later go on to design the Art Deco-meets neo-Gothic gem, the Willoughby Tower at 8 S. Michigan Avenue, in 1928.
This website refers to the U.S. as its original name being the United States Photoplay…
Warren, I found the item about Ella Fitzgeraldhere but I must have interpreted it incorrectly. She wasn’t discovered at the Opera House, but instead as a result of a contest she won there, won a week performing there in 1935. Thanks for pointing this out and for the other corrections on my description.
The following Chicago theaters were part of the Lynch circuit at some point (it appears that Lynch acquired Simansky & Miller’s circuit at an undetermined time):
Crystal (on North Ave.), Famous, Karlov, Milford, Park, Plaisance, Savoy, Tiffin, Windsor
In the suburbs, Lynch operated these theaters in their early years:
Ridge (in Park Ridge), DuPage (in Lombard), Oakwyn (in Berwyn), York (in Elmhurst)
More information and vintage postcard views of the Empire can be found here.
More information on the former Valencia as well as a more current photo of its facade can be foundhere.
More information on the Hamilton as well a photograph of the theater can be found here.
Jim, another Japanese-themed theatre was/is the Redford in Detroit.
/theaters/347/
Like the Japanese Garden, the Japanese decor was covered up after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The original decor is, however, in the process of being restored, or may have already been.
Mary, you’ll need to contact the banquet hall directly. Cinema Treasures is not affiliated with the theaters on the site, per the notice at the very bottom of this page. Thanks-
Bryan Krefft
Cinema Treasures
Views of the Stanley, both past and current (a parking lot) can be seen here:
http://www.kilduffs.com/SBA.html
Here is a link to a page which shows the photograph mentioned earlier of Gloria Swanson standing in the ruins of the Roxy’s Grand Rotunda:
http://www.atos.org/Pages/Story/renaissance.html