I am surprised that nothing has been mentioned about this in the media here in Chicago…when the vertical marquee was taken down and its replacement put up, the major papers here and the tv news had several reports on it. I wonder what era the new marquee will harken back to, the one that was just removed, the large one from the 40s-60s or the simpler, smaller one from the 20s? It also appears from the second photograph that the terra cotta on the upper levels of the facade is being restored. Menutia, was the second photo taken from the State-Lake/WLS-TV Building across the street?
See the link below of a 1963 grand re-opening brochure for the Coral, which includes black & white illustrations, photos and details about the theater.
Paul, unfortunately, the UCLA site doesn’t allow for linking to the entire photo collection page, only to one of the photographs of the theaters at a time. (I wish I’d have tried checking this out first before I posted a bunch of links!) However, if you want to check out their S. Charles Lee collection, which is spectacular, the website link is: http://digital.library.ucla.edu/sclee/
The fact that this theater wasn’t all that far from the AMC Cantera 30, a ridiculously large 30-screener in the neighboring city of Warrenville, which opened just a few years ago, was perhaps one of the main reasons. Also, in my opinion, the Rice Lake Cinemas were set back a ways from the main road (Butterfield), with restaurants and their respective parking lots in a row in front of the side road leading to this theater.
Dan, you also may want to try contacting the Portage Park Chamber of Commerce:
4805 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago IL 60641, (773) 777-2020
(Sorry couldn’t find an email address/website for them)
Aaron, the 900 N. Michigan theaters closed about a year ago, and I thought I read somewhere that a fitness center was opening in the building. The 600 N. Michigan Theaters are still open. Its size and a large megaplex opening downtown (the River East 21) last year were a couple of reasons why this theater was closed (the McClurg Court, just down the street from the River East, was shuttered for similar reasons).
Aaron, I believe the Woodfield theater opened in the 70s, probably late 70s, because it replaced an indoor ice skating rink that was original to the shopping center. After the indoor theaters closed (shortly after the outdoor set of theaters outside the mall closed and were later demolished for retail), the space where the indoor Woodfield theater was located was converted into a theme restaurant which was very short-lived. Not sure what’s in the space today, I think it’s been replaced by more stores.
Note: Cinema Treasures is not affiliated with this theater. If you have a question about a recent ticket purchase or need to contact theater management, please contact the theater directly.
Larry, not sure when it was torn down, but it appears to have closed in the 60s, and a search on that address brings up a jewelery store at that address currently.
Aaron, even before the McClurg was closed, there was a party interested in converting the theater into a performing arts venue, either with three auditoriums, or restoring the original single auditorium, but it apparently has fallen through, and there has really been no word about the McClurg since its closing this past summer. With the River East 21 so close by and a number of performing arts and stage venues already in the city, many of which are underused or dark for long stretches, it wouldn’t make economic sense that the McClurg would reopen as a movie theater or performing arts venue at this point.
Here is a link to a photograph dated 1932 showing Randolph Street from State Street, with the original towering marquees of the United Artists (left) and Oriental (right) Theatres. Sadly, none of the buildings shown in this photograph are still standing today, except the Oriental.
Here is a link to a photograph dated 1932 of Randolph Street, showing the original marquees of the Oriental (right) and United Artists (left). Sadly, none of the buildings shown in this photo stand today, except for the Oriental Theatre.
Unfortunately, the Golf Glen doesn’t look like it’s been cleaned or fixed up since the 80s either, at least the last time I was there in January of 2002, to see “The Mothman Prophecies”, it was really scuzzy. This was probably right after it was reopened by Village Theatres, so perhaps they’ve made some improvements since then. A section of the lobby carpeting was missing, the seats in the auditorium I was in were once red, but were more like blackish red they were so dirty, and worst of all, the men’s restroom door in the lobby was off altogether, but fortunately you couldn’t see all the way in.
I am surprised that nothing has been mentioned about this in the media here in Chicago…when the vertical marquee was taken down and its replacement put up, the major papers here and the tv news had several reports on it. I wonder what era the new marquee will harken back to, the one that was just removed, the large one from the 40s-60s or the simpler, smaller one from the 20s? It also appears from the second photograph that the terra cotta on the upper levels of the facade is being restored. Menutia, was the second photo taken from the State-Lake/WLS-TV Building across the street?
Henry Miller’s Theatre is now closed, awaiting demolition. See the following article:
View link
See the link below of a 1963 grand re-opening brochure for the Coral, which includes black & white illustrations, photos and details about the theater.
http://www.lib.oak-lawn.il.us/documents3/coral.htm
Paul, unfortunately, the UCLA site doesn’t allow for linking to the entire photo collection page, only to one of the photographs of the theaters at a time. (I wish I’d have tried checking this out first before I posted a bunch of links!) However, if you want to check out their S. Charles Lee collection, which is spectacular, the website link is:
http://digital.library.ucla.edu/sclee/
Here is a link to photographs of this theater from UCLA Library Special Collections Department.
The fact that this theater wasn’t all that far from the AMC Cantera 30, a ridiculously large 30-screener in the neighboring city of Warrenville, which opened just a few years ago, was perhaps one of the main reasons. Also, in my opinion, the Rice Lake Cinemas were set back a ways from the main road (Butterfield), with restaurants and their respective parking lots in a row in front of the side road leading to this theater.
Here is a link to a photo of part of the facade the original Ziegfeld Theatre.
Dan, you also may want to try contacting the Portage Park Chamber of Commerce:
4805 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago IL 60641, (773) 777-2020
(Sorry couldn’t find an email address/website for them)
Aaron, the 900 N. Michigan theaters closed about a year ago, and I thought I read somewhere that a fitness center was opening in the building. The 600 N. Michigan Theaters are still open. Its size and a large megaplex opening downtown (the River East 21) last year were a couple of reasons why this theater was closed (the McClurg Court, just down the street from the River East, was shuttered for similar reasons).
Aaron, I believe the Woodfield theater opened in the 70s, probably late 70s, because it replaced an indoor ice skating rink that was original to the shopping center. After the indoor theaters closed (shortly after the outdoor set of theaters outside the mall closed and were later demolished for retail), the space where the indoor Woodfield theater was located was converted into a theme restaurant which was very short-lived. Not sure what’s in the space today, I think it’s been replaced by more stores.
The website for the Coronado Theatre is:
http://www.friendsofthecoronado.com/
Julie-call the theater—-see this note below—–
Note: Cinema Treasures is not affiliated with this theater. If you have a question about a recent ticket purchase or need to contact theater management, please contact the theater directly.
The new website for the Arcada is at:
http://www.arcadatheatre.com
Larry, not sure when it was torn down, but it appears to have closed in the 60s, and a search on that address brings up a jewelery store at that address currently.
Aaron, even before the McClurg was closed, there was a party interested in converting the theater into a performing arts venue, either with three auditoriums, or restoring the original single auditorium, but it apparently has fallen through, and there has really been no word about the McClurg since its closing this past summer. With the River East 21 so close by and a number of performing arts and stage venues already in the city, many of which are underused or dark for long stretches, it wouldn’t make economic sense that the McClurg would reopen as a movie theater or performing arts venue at this point.
The website for the Chakeres Theatres chain is:
http://www.chakerestheatres.com
Here is a link to some photographs taken in 1975 during the Trans-Lux’s demolition. From the Library of Congress.
This theater was also named the Ben-Hur at some point, either when it first opened, or during the late 10s to early 20s.
Sorry, added the wrong link above. Here is the correct link for the photo of the Woodlawn.
http://206.103.49.193/cta/htm/cta0193.htm
Here is a link to a photograph dated 1932 showing Randolph Street from State Street, with the original towering marquees of the United Artists (left) and Oriental (right) Theatres. Sadly, none of the buildings shown in this photograph are still standing today, except the Oriental.
Here is a link to a photograph dated 1932 of Randolph Street, showing the original marquees of the Oriental (right) and United Artists (left). Sadly, none of the buildings shown in this photo stand today, except for the Oriental Theatre.
The Woodlawn’s marquee and Art Deco facade can be seen in the middle of this 1953 photograph showing a street car on 63rd Street under the “L” tracks.
The exterior of the Southtown is partially visible in this circa-1940s photograph of a street car going down 63rd Street past the theater.
Unfortunately, the Golf Glen doesn’t look like it’s been cleaned or fixed up since the 80s either, at least the last time I was there in January of 2002, to see “The Mothman Prophecies”, it was really scuzzy. This was probably right after it was reopened by Village Theatres, so perhaps they’ve made some improvements since then. A section of the lobby carpeting was missing, the seats in the auditorium I was in were once red, but were more like blackish red they were so dirty, and worst of all, the men’s restroom door in the lobby was off altogether, but fortunately you couldn’t see all the way in.
A circa-1940s photograph of the Art Moderne-style auditorium of Hyattsville can be seen at this link. From the Library of Congress.