The renovation is pretty extreme, it appears. I went by today and the lobby was completely gone, although the auditorium was pretty intact, and a huge hole was ripped in the side, presumably for stage doors. It will be very interesting to see the end result.
Apparently, the seating was much greater than that. The theater opened with nearly 2,500 seats, later reduced to about 2,200 when a third balcony was closed off. This is from a December 5, 1949 article detailing its history, including an interior photo. It was indeed torn down for the Kennedy. It was built in 1887.
Architect for the renovated/rebuilt Echo, 1925, was Elmer Behrens. A December 5, 1925 article from the Chicago Tribune describes it as a 750 seat playhouse with a black and silver interior, with ‘several novel electric lighting features". This major renovation, claiming to only use one wall from the old theatre, was no doubt in response to the competition from the Des Plaines Theatre, opened only two months prior to this article. The article also says the Echo would open in late January, only two months from the article’s publishing. The original theatre was built around 1913, in fact, and was looking like the older nickelodeon it was. A retrospective article from the 1980s describes the interior as including a seated allegorical figure on a ceiling mural. The lobby remains intact, for now, although the auditorium was removed in the 1960s. The stage house also still stands, used as architect’s offices for some time. The building is currently under renovation for use as a post office branch. The facade looks nearly the same as it did when it opened, except for modernized storefronts from a 1980s renovation and the removal of 4 lanterns which were atop the roof.
But you could have such a wonderful view of the Kennedy here! Plus two sets of commuter train tracks (obviously the main appeal). I think there are condos going up directly across from the Gateway too, on two different streets. And to further dispute the assertion that Copernicus couldn’t keep running it, i’ll bet they could build condos just in their parking lot to fund any necessary retrofits to the theatre.
Sounds like a copout to me. There are plenty of other former movie theatres like the Vic, Riviera, Congress, Apollo’s 2000, Admiral, etc that remain in operation. They’re probably just trying to make themselves not look like the bad guys for selling it out.
Well, maybe they meant the largest intact NYC theatre? There’s nothing wrong with nitpicking, people come here to learn more about a given building. Accuracy is a good thing.
Well, certainly, Jim. But he’d already posted that on several other pages here. I could see why he’d post it at the Lawford, or eben at the Wheaton (both of which he did), but it looks like it’s here merely because Warshauer posted here once. Posting the same information to a bunch of irreleveant pages…. brings me back to the days we had Michael roaming this site.
Word has it that it’s set to come down soon for condos. It was more than just paint; most of that ornament is hidden behind drywall and the screen, the results of a few unfortunate modernizations. I just purchased that photo moments ago, incidentally.
You sure like the falling bricks example. If the village held on to the property for 5 years, wasn’t it their responsibility to secure the building and spend the few thousand basic tuckpointing would cost?
Address was 118-126 S. Myrtle. Style was Tudor Revival. Chain was Lynch Theaters. Architect was William B. Betts. Firm was Betts & Holcomb. Opened 1927. Seating may have been up to 1,000 with provision for 400 more, according to a May 15, 1927 article from the Chicago Daily Tribune. Some of the same interests behind the Glen theatre were behind this.
Yes, that’s him. I’d suggest doing a google search on “Richard Nickel”. His work often appears in books on Sullivan’s architecture, Chicago architecture, and there is also a great book about Nickel titled “They All Fall Down”. He’s a personal hero of mine.
The demolition photo is perhaps the most famous photo of the Schiller; it was taken by photographer and preservationist Richard Nickel, who devoted his life to documenting Louis Sullivan’s buildings. He later lost his life in this effort when the trading floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange collapsed on him. In the protestors photo above, he is the gentleman whose face is partially obscured by holding up the “Do we dare squander Chicago’s architectual heritage?” sign.
I posted on april 9 links showing the design that ABC is using for their new sidewalk studio out of the old lobby space. It looks really silly, uninspired, and postmodern to me. Granted, the flashy marquee was somewhat out of place too, but deco would look more in place. Maybe if the postmodern design for block 37 goes in, it will look better, but I would agree that the marquee would be more eye-catching and interesting.
At some point in the last week, signs have gone up heralding a re-christening of the theatre as the Nokia (like the cell phone company). I personally have mixed feelings about this- on one hand, I am sad to see it lose the name it has held for most of its years (aside from the Teatro Azteca/Cine Mexico days), but on the other this will likely bring more money into keeping the place up, to bolster the Nokia name. While it is amazingly intact inside, it needs a lot of maintenance. Perhaps it will even recieve a proper marquee again.
What is with you people and your hang-up on referendums? I posted back in mid-June, “Well, for one thing, there IS NO November election. For another, if there were, petitions would be due the first week of July. And even if there were, it would likely be too late.” Petitions for the next filing period cannot even be circulated until a month from now! So, please, enough of your red herrings. There’s no reason why you should expect to be seeing a referendum NOW, and one minute of research would tell you that. You want to see a referendum? What’s stopping you from making one?
Presumably, the proximity of the Rice cinemas at the same time would also have to do with that decision, but I can see why you’d convieniently ignore that.
If it raises awareness of the loss of the great theatre that was once there, it is ultimately good for preservation. WWF’s re-creation of the marquee and arch were a big, unprecedented step, too. Would it be better to not remind people of what has been lost?
According to movie listings, the Bloomingdale 1-4 is now closed.
The renovation is pretty extreme, it appears. I went by today and the lobby was completely gone, although the auditorium was pretty intact, and a huge hole was ripped in the side, presumably for stage doors. It will be very interesting to see the end result.
Apparently, the seating was much greater than that. The theater opened with nearly 2,500 seats, later reduced to about 2,200 when a third balcony was closed off. This is from a December 5, 1949 article detailing its history, including an interior photo. It was indeed torn down for the Kennedy. It was built in 1887.
I guess I must have forgotten to post this earlier – Here is a 1930s photo of the Villard from the Villa Park historical society.
It doesn’t map quite properly on google for some reason. It is/was located on the NW corner of Kenilworth and Myrtle, just off Villa.
Architect for the renovated/rebuilt Echo, 1925, was Elmer Behrens. A December 5, 1925 article from the Chicago Tribune describes it as a 750 seat playhouse with a black and silver interior, with ‘several novel electric lighting features". This major renovation, claiming to only use one wall from the old theatre, was no doubt in response to the competition from the Des Plaines Theatre, opened only two months prior to this article. The article also says the Echo would open in late January, only two months from the article’s publishing. The original theatre was built around 1913, in fact, and was looking like the older nickelodeon it was. A retrospective article from the 1980s describes the interior as including a seated allegorical figure on a ceiling mural. The lobby remains intact, for now, although the auditorium was removed in the 1960s. The stage house also still stands, used as architect’s offices for some time. The building is currently under renovation for use as a post office branch. The facade looks nearly the same as it did when it opened, except for modernized storefronts from a 1980s renovation and the removal of 4 lanterns which were atop the roof.
But you could have such a wonderful view of the Kennedy here! Plus two sets of commuter train tracks (obviously the main appeal). I think there are condos going up directly across from the Gateway too, on two different streets. And to further dispute the assertion that Copernicus couldn’t keep running it, i’ll bet they could build condos just in their parking lot to fund any necessary retrofits to the theatre.
Sounds like a copout to me. There are plenty of other former movie theatres like the Vic, Riviera, Congress, Apollo’s 2000, Admiral, etc that remain in operation. They’re probably just trying to make themselves not look like the bad guys for selling it out.
Well, maybe they meant the largest intact NYC theatre? There’s nothing wrong with nitpicking, people come here to learn more about a given building. Accuracy is a good thing.
Well, certainly, Jim. But he’d already posted that on several other pages here. I could see why he’d post it at the Lawford, or eben at the Wheaton (both of which he did), but it looks like it’s here merely because Warshauer posted here once. Posting the same information to a bunch of irreleveant pages…. brings me back to the days we had Michael roaming this site.
Please, lay off already. People don’t come to these sites to read about Paul Warshauer, they come for the theaters. Keep it relevant, or… go away.
Word has it that it’s set to come down soon for condos. It was more than just paint; most of that ornament is hidden behind drywall and the screen, the results of a few unfortunate modernizations. I just purchased that photo moments ago, incidentally.
That’s from March.
You sure like the falling bricks example. If the village held on to the property for 5 years, wasn’t it their responsibility to secure the building and spend the few thousand basic tuckpointing would cost?
Address was 118-126 S. Myrtle. Style was Tudor Revival. Chain was Lynch Theaters. Architect was William B. Betts. Firm was Betts & Holcomb. Opened 1927. Seating may have been up to 1,000 with provision for 400 more, according to a May 15, 1927 article from the Chicago Daily Tribune. Some of the same interests behind the Glen theatre were behind this.
Yes, that’s him. I’d suggest doing a google search on “Richard Nickel”. His work often appears in books on Sullivan’s architecture, Chicago architecture, and there is also a great book about Nickel titled “They All Fall Down”. He’s a personal hero of mine.
Well, we still have e-mail notification!
The demolition photo is perhaps the most famous photo of the Schiller; it was taken by photographer and preservationist Richard Nickel, who devoted his life to documenting Louis Sullivan’s buildings. He later lost his life in this effort when the trading floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange collapsed on him. In the protestors photo above, he is the gentleman whose face is partially obscured by holding up the “Do we dare squander Chicago’s architectual heritage?” sign.
http://www.thislife.org/dvd/ Here is a pair of photos of the Garrick, one during demolition.
I posted on april 9 links showing the design that ABC is using for their new sidewalk studio out of the old lobby space. It looks really silly, uninspired, and postmodern to me. Granted, the flashy marquee was somewhat out of place too, but deco would look more in place. Maybe if the postmodern design for block 37 goes in, it will look better, but I would agree that the marquee would be more eye-catching and interesting.
At some point in the last week, signs have gone up heralding a re-christening of the theatre as the Nokia (like the cell phone company). I personally have mixed feelings about this- on one hand, I am sad to see it lose the name it has held for most of its years (aside from the Teatro Azteca/Cine Mexico days), but on the other this will likely bring more money into keeping the place up, to bolster the Nokia name. While it is amazingly intact inside, it needs a lot of maintenance. Perhaps it will even recieve a proper marquee again.
Only from State or Federal projects.
What is with you people and your hang-up on referendums? I posted back in mid-June, “Well, for one thing, there IS NO November election. For another, if there were, petitions would be due the first week of July. And even if there were, it would likely be too late.” Petitions for the next filing period cannot even be circulated until a month from now! So, please, enough of your red herrings. There’s no reason why you should expect to be seeing a referendum NOW, and one minute of research would tell you that. You want to see a referendum? What’s stopping you from making one?
Presumably, the proximity of the Rice cinemas at the same time would also have to do with that decision, but I can see why you’d convieniently ignore that.
If it raises awareness of the loss of the great theatre that was once there, it is ultimately good for preservation. WWF’s re-creation of the marquee and arch were a big, unprecedented step, too. Would it be better to not remind people of what has been lost?