This is currently the Ambassadors for Christ Church. They have done a beautiful restoration of the building both inside and outside. All the original features retained!
Now the message says that both the web page and the theatre itself are under renovation. The webpage has a link to the Chicago park’s District calendar which indicates the next event at the Virginia will be at the end of December 2010, so it looks like this renovation will be a fairly quick one.
Detailed restoration plans for the theatre have been released; the restoration will include a complete restoration of the WurliTzer and replication of the original console. http://www.cr-atos.org
The closest cinema to the Delman and Almeda is the Brown Auditorium at the Museum of Natural history but that’s probably not it. Somewhat to the north and east are the Park (Delman Street), the Sunset at 1711 McGowan, the Dowling on Bowling Street and the French Quarter (although I can’t get any info on that one)
Quite a bit of progress – they’ve virtually completed restoration phases I through III, and have completed some parts of Phases 4 and 5. Quite a job too. Some of the pre-restoration photos show the auditorium with the roof, ceiling and part of the auditorium wallks completely gone – looks like a two-level outdoor theatre! But a lot hsa been done since then and their plan calls for complete restoration/recreation of the archictural details.
From the photos above, it looks like there was a fire at the Paramount in 1980, and the current Google photo shows that the auditorium has been razed, wiuth the lobby portion remaining (with marquee) as a retail store.
Interesting trying to find the theatre on the Google aerial photos. Their website says they’re located at the intersection of Smythe & Seymour, but the address Cinematreasures has is 884 Granville, two blocks over!
Well, the original entrance is at 884 Granville, and that takes one through a VERY long lobby, all the way to the other side of the block and over a service street, into the main building on the next block. Patrons then enter the main lobby and turn left into the auditorium. If they turn right, they go out to Smythe Street through a new entrance added onto the side of the lobby.
According to the official website (october 2010), the main auditorium currently seats 1,683, while the new auditoria in the alley space all seat either 50 or 60.
One unique thing about the Loew’s Jersey is it is by far the largest remaining Movie Palace with ALL of the following:
Regular showings of silent films…
With live theatre organ accompaniment
with original organ (actully a twin of the original)
Other unique features:
Most of the original plaster walls and decor have never been repainted
Many of the original draperies remain
It is also by far the largest entirely volunteer-run theatre in the country
The best place for people who love both silent films and the theatre organ. You get both here.
I am looking forward for the fire escapes to be repaired at which point the balcony can be reopened. The web page indicated some time ago they were beginning to reinstall the refurbished balcony seats. Once regular concerts can be held and sold to the full 3,000+ capacity that will bring in revenue to speed up restoration. Ir has really come a long way over the past few years; the “zorro” presentation was excellent (Yay to Chris Elliott, the Organist), and their was a very large crowd for the show.
Very strange. I checked the Google Maps aerial photo of the Majestic. The roof looks intact over the entire building. There is what looks like a large skylight over the stage, and what might be a small hole above the projection booth area.
Another article. The renovation was completed in 2003 and Creative Alliance has been hosting events there ever since. Here’s an article about the renovation.
Google Maps 2010 shows the Payless Shoe Store is still there. Given the size of the lobby portion of the building, I would not be surprised if the store is just in the lobby portion with the auditorium vacant, possibly being used for storage, but I can’t be sure. The store looks very well maintained.
The Google maps photo shows an empty lot. Status should be changed to “demolished”.
This is now the church for the House of Prayer, Church of God in Christ.
This is now the Israel Methodist Community Church.
This is currently the Ambassadors for Christ Church. They have done a beautiful restoration of the building both inside and outside. All the original features retained!
Now the message says that both the web page and the theatre itself are under renovation. The webpage has a link to the Chicago park’s District calendar which indicates the next event at the Virginia will be at the end of December 2010, so it looks like this renovation will be a fairly quick one.
Detailed restoration plans for the theatre have been released; the restoration will include a complete restoration of the WurliTzer and replication of the original console. http://www.cr-atos.org
The closest cinema to the Delman and Almeda is the Brown Auditorium at the Museum of Natural history but that’s probably not it. Somewhat to the north and east are the Park (Delman Street), the Sunset at 1711 McGowan, the Dowling on Bowling Street and the French Quarter (although I can’t get any info on that one)
New official website is: http://grandtheatredouglas.org/site/
Quite a bit of progress – they’ve virtually completed restoration phases I through III, and have completed some parts of Phases 4 and 5. Quite a job too. Some of the pre-restoration photos show the auditorium with the roof, ceiling and part of the auditorium wallks completely gone – looks like a two-level outdoor theatre! But a lot hsa been done since then and their plan calls for complete restoration/recreation of the archictural details.
From the photos above, it looks like there was a fire at the Paramount in 1980, and the current Google photo shows that the auditorium has been razed, wiuth the lobby portion remaining (with marquee) as a retail store.
From the google photos and the postcard it looks as if the Rex has been demolished. Replaced by a small single story retail building.
Interesting trying to find the theatre on the Google aerial photos. Their website says they’re located at the intersection of Smythe & Seymour, but the address Cinematreasures has is 884 Granville, two blocks over!
Well, the original entrance is at 884 Granville, and that takes one through a VERY long lobby, all the way to the other side of the block and over a service street, into the main building on the next block. Patrons then enter the main lobby and turn left into the auditorium. If they turn right, they go out to Smythe Street through a new entrance added onto the side of the lobby.
…And a great panorama of the auditorium at the official website top page:
View link
Here are some more auditorium, also from Susan Griffin’s Flickr Photostream:
View link
View link
View link
…and the lobby
View link
View link
View link
View link
The address is 225 Water Street.
The official website (http://www.narrowgaugecinema.net/strand.htm)has a nice photo gallery with interior photos.
The Capitol Theatre now has its own page at /theaters/33971
According to the official website (october 2010), the main auditorium currently seats 1,683, while the new auditoria in the alley space all seat either 50 or 60.
One unique thing about the Loew’s Jersey is it is by far the largest remaining Movie Palace with ALL of the following:
Regular showings of silent films…
With live theatre organ accompaniment
with original organ (actully a twin of the original)
Other unique features:
Most of the original plaster walls and decor have never been repainted
Many of the original draperies remain
It is also by far the largest entirely volunteer-run theatre in the country
The best place for people who love both silent films and the theatre organ. You get both here.
I am looking forward for the fire escapes to be repaired at which point the balcony can be reopened. The web page indicated some time ago they were beginning to reinstall the refurbished balcony seats. Once regular concerts can be held and sold to the full 3,000+ capacity that will bring in revenue to speed up restoration. Ir has really come a long way over the past few years; the “zorro” presentation was excellent (Yay to Chris Elliott, the Organist), and their was a very large crowd for the show.
The website is back up. Latest news is the theatre has been acquired and protected, but it looks like latest updates are from 2009.
According to their website, the $2,000,000 has been completed – new decor, sound system, seating, restored ceiling mural, new concession stand.
Very strange. I checked the Google Maps aerial photo of the Majestic. The roof looks intact over the entire building. There is what looks like a large skylight over the stage, and what might be a small hole above the projection booth area.
From those recent photos it looks like the shelf balcony has been removed.
As of October 2010, the building is still there, with the gate closed, vacant.
Another article. The renovation was completed in 2003 and Creative Alliance has been hosting events there ever since. Here’s an article about the renovation.
http://www.armarani.com/proj_pattersontheatre.html
Their official websaite is:
http://www.creativealliance.org/
Google Maps 2010 shows the Payless Shoe Store is still there. Given the size of the lobby portion of the building, I would not be surprised if the store is just in the lobby portion with the auditorium vacant, possibly being used for storage, but I can’t be sure. The store looks very well maintained.