Here is a link to a photograph from 1928 showing a parade at 63rd and Cottage Grove, with the marquee of the Tivoli visible in the background, and in the foreground, the signage of the neighboring Cinderella Cafe is seen. From the Chicago Daily News collection of the Library of Congress.
Here is a link to a photograph showing the exterior of the Crown in 1909, the year it opened, from the Chicago Daily News collection of the Library of Congress.
Paul, I wish you all the best of luck in getting the Portage open again. I was really excited when I first heard about your plans to reopen the Portage. It was the movie theater of my childhood, along with the Patio. I grew up around the Six Corners area of Portage Park, and when the Portage (then the Patio) closed, even though I no longer live in the area, it was sad to see that happen. Hope the City gets its act together and sees that the reopening of this great old movie house will only benefit the Portage Park neighborhood instead of sitting there vacant like so many storefronts are right now on the streets surrounding the theater (as I’ve noted during recent visits to the neighborhood).
The Harding was built for the Lubliner & Trinz circuit in 1924-5 and opened in October, 1925. It was a “sister” theater to the similarly-sized Congress (1926) and Tower (1926) Theatres, all Lubliner & Trinz houses and all designed by the firm of Friedstein & Co. This trio of large neighborhood houses were acquired by Balaban & Katz in early 1929. The Congress is the only one of the three still surviving today.
The Madison Square opened in 1917 for the Lubliner & Trinz ciruit on Madison Street, between Kilpatrick and Cicero Avenues, in the West Garfield Park neighborhood. The Madison Square closed about 1925, and reopened a couple years later, as the Byrd, by Essaness. It lasted into the mid-50s as a movie house.
Located a 2516 W. Devon Ave. in the West Ridge neighborhood, this building which once house the Cine Theater has been the home of the popular Viceroy of India restaurant for many years now. http://techpalsys.tripod.com/viceroyofindia/
A close up photograph of the Garrick’s arched facade, with its relief busts of famous Germans (the building was originally the Schiller) when it was in situ behind the theater’s marquee can be found here.
This large fragment of the Garrick Theatre was fortunately removed before the theater’s tragic destruction, and is now incorporated into the front entrance of the legendary Second City comedy club on Wells Street.
Bruce, the theater I think you’re thinking of that the Rockettes performed their holiday show at for the last few years was in suburban Rosemont, in the Rosemont Theatre. Last year was their last season there. The Rosemont Theatre isn’t even remotely as large as the Fox or Chicago Theatres.
The Hamlin opened in 1910 in the West Garfield Park neighborhood as a vaudeville house, and was located at Madison Street near Hamlin Boulevard, not far from Garfield Park itself. It didn’t become known as the Alex until around 1940, and remained in operation at least through the 50s.
The Patio contains a 3 manul 18 rank Barton organ that cost $25,000 to install when the movie palace opened in 1927. However, during the 30s, with the death of silent films, the organ fell into disuse until it was restored in 1966 and was rededicated a year later with the late legendary Hal Pearl, longtime organist at the famed Aragon Ballroom, accompanying a silent film and a sing-along to a full house. The Barton was since used for ocassional organ concerts until the Patio’s closing nearly two years ago.
Here’s a link to a circa-1916 photograph of the President on a snowy day from the Chicago Daily News collection of the Library of Congress.
Here is a link to a photograph from 1928 showing a parade at 63rd and Cottage Grove, with the marquee of the Tivoli visible in the background, and in the foreground, the signage of the neighboring Cinderella Cafe is seen. From the Chicago Daily News collection of the Library of Congress.
Here is a link to a photograph showing the exterior of the Crown in 1909, the year it opened, from the Chicago Daily News collection of the Library of Congress.
Here’s a link to a photograph showing the Pastime in 1917, from the Chicago Daily News collection of the Library of Congress.
Here’s a link to a photo showing the construction of the Harding from the Chicago Daily News collection of the Library of Congress.
Paul, I wish you all the best of luck in getting the Portage open again. I was really excited when I first heard about your plans to reopen the Portage. It was the movie theater of my childhood, along with the Patio. I grew up around the Six Corners area of Portage Park, and when the Portage (then the Patio) closed, even though I no longer live in the area, it was sad to see that happen. Hope the City gets its act together and sees that the reopening of this great old movie house will only benefit the Portage Park neighborhood instead of sitting there vacant like so many storefronts are right now on the streets surrounding the theater (as I’ve noted during recent visits to the neighborhood).
The Tiffin opened in 1922 and closed during the 70s.
The Circle opened in 1909 and closed during the 40s.
The Parkway opened in 1910, as the Drury Lane, and sat over 750. It originally featured both vaudeville and other live acts, as well as movies.
The Karlov opened in 1917, originally for the Lynch circuit.
The Harding closed in 1963, and was torn down the following year.
The Harding was built for the Lubliner & Trinz circuit in 1924-5 and opened in October, 1925. It was a “sister” theater to the similarly-sized Congress (1926) and Tower (1926) Theatres, all Lubliner & Trinz houses and all designed by the firm of Friedstein & Co. This trio of large neighborhood houses were acquired by Balaban & Katz in early 1929. The Congress is the only one of the three still surviving today.
The Broadway Strand opened in 1917, and operated into the 60s. It was torn down in 1998.
Sorry, I meant the Alba opened about 1915, and was acquired by the Publix-Balaban & Katz circuit in the early 30s.
The Alamo opened in 1926 and was closed during the early 60s. It has since been razed.
The Armitage opened in 1916 as the Avenue, and was closed by around 1950.
The Madison Square opened in 1917 for the Lubliner & Trinz ciruit on Madison Street, between Kilpatrick and Cicero Avenues, in the West Garfield Park neighborhood. The Madison Square closed about 1925, and reopened a couple years later, as the Byrd, by Essaness. It lasted into the mid-50s as a movie house.
Here is an actual photograph postcard from a slightly later date, with the vertical marquees added.
View link
From the late 40s until it closed, this theater was known as the Kim.
Located a 2516 W. Devon Ave. in the West Ridge neighborhood, this building which once house the Cine Theater has been the home of the popular Viceroy of India restaurant for many years now.
http://techpalsys.tripod.com/viceroyofindia/
A close up photograph of the Garrick’s arched facade, with its relief busts of famous Germans (the building was originally the Schiller) when it was in situ behind the theater’s marquee can be found
here.
This large fragment of the Garrick Theatre was fortunately removed before the theater’s tragic destruction, and is now incorporated into the front entrance of the legendary Second City comedy club on Wells Street.
Bruce, the theater I think you’re thinking of that the Rockettes performed their holiday show at for the last few years was in suburban Rosemont, in the Rosemont Theatre. Last year was their last season there. The Rosemont Theatre isn’t even remotely as large as the Fox or Chicago Theatres.
The Hamlin opened in 1910 in the West Garfield Park neighborhood as a vaudeville house, and was located at Madison Street near Hamlin Boulevard, not far from Garfield Park itself. It didn’t become known as the Alex until around 1940, and remained in operation at least through the 50s.
The Patio contains a 3 manul 18 rank Barton organ that cost $25,000 to install when the movie palace opened in 1927. However, during the 30s, with the death of silent films, the organ fell into disuse until it was restored in 1966 and was rededicated a year later with the late legendary Hal Pearl, longtime organist at the famed Aragon Ballroom, accompanying a silent film and a sing-along to a full house. The Barton was since used for ocassional organ concerts until the Patio’s closing nearly two years ago.
The 3 Penny was originally called the Crest, and that name is still spelled out on the tiles in front of the theater’s main entrance.