Tickets for Friday and Saturday are the normal price of $5. Sunday is 25 cents. The Herald has issued a correction on this. For more information, visit www.dptheater.org
Give me a break, Challenger. Nobody’s going to give huge chunks of cash until they’re sure it will go into the building. Why would they? If the Friends had ownership of the building, sure. You act as though the only potential audience is those who are so dedicated that they will turn out to a rally. That’s a ludicrous assertion. And 5 stories of condos is in fact rather small. It’s clear that you won’t listen to reason.
I’m pretty sure they’re independent. The present theatres really should have their own listing, they’re not really at all related to the old one. Also, i’m 99% certain that the 1941 theatre was a completely new building. It opened on Jan 1, 1942. The blacklight murals in the auditorium originally were one of Zeus riding a chariot and a Zodiac chart of the heavens. The 1925 building itself replaced the earlier Arlington Hall on the same site, where movies and dances had been.
There seem to have been three Fargo Theatres in the area. The others are listed here as the Geneva which is clearly a sister theatre to this, and the (New) Fargo. As of 1930, the Geneva theatre had been renamed, this was known as Fargo, and the one in DeKalb was known as the New Fargo. All were owned by the Polka Brothers circuit of Maywood at the time, along with the El Tovar, Deerpath, Pickwick, and Des Plaines. In 1923 they also owned the New Maywood, Yale, and Melrose Park.
Box office grosses do not tell the whole story; all that says is that good films do not always gross the highest. The industry has changed. There are certainly many great films being made, they just do not recieve the same kind of box office recognition. Theaterat says “Movie stars had CLASS”. But hearing the real stories of their lives bears out the facts otherwise. The studio system was in place to censor their behavior. It was set up to create the illusion of class. The magazines always did their best to glamourize. It’s changed; now we hear all about indiscretions.
I can’t really understand the opposition to a 5 story condo. That’s quite small as far as condos go, and the effect on neighbors is really pretty minimal. I should know, I live on a block of single family homes next to a block of condos.
Here is a wide view of the Masonic Temple from the Detroit Publishing collection. In the foreground, where Marshall Field’s now stands, is the Adler & Sullivan-designed Central Music Hall, their first design together and one of the city’s largest theaters. This is captioned as a hall in the Temple; perhaps this is the theater. If not, it was likely similar in appearance.
Richard-
I hadn’t seen your message. That is an unusal problem. If there are a number of photos, I would suggest first putting them in a .zip compressed file. Then use a service like www.yousendit.com to host the file, and send an e-mail with the link. I would guess it would be a problem with the attachments. Did I send you my Mode photos?
Did anyone notice the gallery link on the page Bryan Posted in february? There are some cool historical views, like one from the 60s and an original rendering showing what it would have looked like with its extensive stud lighting, now all removed, working, as well as its original marquee and domes (the two-dome style seems to have been very popular around 1917). Also shows the lobby, which I think is a shoe store now. Not sure if the decoration is still there. Does anyone know what was originally above the lobby? The original plans indicate empty space.
Like I said, I have seen very recent photos of the building, I think that the auditorium is, sadly, too damaged to come back. This is a shame, because it looks like this would otherwise be one of the most unique neighborhood theaters. Also, usually plaster that has been heavily water damaged (as often happens in theatres) literally disintegrates. Even in some of the pre-triplexing photos I posted earlier some water damage is evident, and judging from reports that the basement was flooded, I can’t say chances for survival look good. It’s a crying shame, certainly, but at least some of it lives on.
This opened in mid-1981, was known as Town ‘N Country Theaters until aquired by Cineplex, facade remodelings on the mall were in 1992, and closed mid-January 2001. It is set to be torn down and replaced by a Dick’s Sporting Goods shortly.
Also notable is that a homemade bomb was discovered atop the roof during a showing of Last Temptation of Christ in 1988. Article Here
If the city owns it, shouldn’t they be the ones responsible for maintaining it until they decide what to do?
Tickets for Friday and Saturday are the normal price of $5. Sunday is 25 cents. The Herald has issued a correction on this. For more information, visit www.dptheater.org
Give me a break, Challenger. Nobody’s going to give huge chunks of cash until they’re sure it will go into the building. Why would they? If the Friends had ownership of the building, sure. You act as though the only potential audience is those who are so dedicated that they will turn out to a rally. That’s a ludicrous assertion. And 5 stories of condos is in fact rather small. It’s clear that you won’t listen to reason.
I’m pretty sure they’re independent. The present theatres really should have their own listing, they’re not really at all related to the old one. Also, i’m 99% certain that the 1941 theatre was a completely new building. It opened on Jan 1, 1942. The blacklight murals in the auditorium originally were one of Zeus riding a chariot and a Zodiac chart of the heavens. The 1925 building itself replaced the earlier Arlington Hall on the same site, where movies and dances had been.
The auditorium, at least, is in excellent condition. The lobby has been divided but could be restored.
There seem to have been three Fargo Theatres in the area. The others are listed here as the Geneva which is clearly a sister theatre to this, and the (New) Fargo. As of 1930, the Geneva theatre had been renamed, this was known as Fargo, and the one in DeKalb was known as the New Fargo. All were owned by the Polka Brothers circuit of Maywood at the time, along with the El Tovar, Deerpath, Pickwick, and Des Plaines. In 1923 they also owned the New Maywood, Yale, and Melrose Park.
Also known as New Fargo. Part of the Polka Brothers circuit in the 1930s.
‘DebDupe’, do you even know what an editorial is?
Box office grosses do not tell the whole story; all that says is that good films do not always gross the highest. The industry has changed. There are certainly many great films being made, they just do not recieve the same kind of box office recognition. Theaterat says “Movie stars had CLASS”. But hearing the real stories of their lives bears out the facts otherwise. The studio system was in place to censor their behavior. It was set up to create the illusion of class. The magazines always did their best to glamourize. It’s changed; now we hear all about indiscretions.
I can’t really understand the opposition to a 5 story condo. That’s quite small as far as condos go, and the effect on neighbors is really pretty minimal. I should know, I live on a block of single family homes next to a block of condos.
Here is a 1923 Chicago Daily News photo of the Tivoli
Here is a wide view of the Masonic Temple from the Detroit Publishing collection. In the foreground, where Marshall Field’s now stands, is the Adler & Sullivan-designed Central Music Hall, their first design together and one of the city’s largest theaters. This is captioned as a hall in the Temple; perhaps this is the theater. If not, it was likely similar in appearance.
Looking at pre-restoration photos on cinematour, it looks to me like they followed the same sunburst lines. What looks different to you?
Here is an article from this Sunday’s Tribune about a redevelopment plan at the Ramova
Richard-
I hadn’t seen your message. That is an unusal problem. If there are a number of photos, I would suggest first putting them in a .zip compressed file. Then use a service like www.yousendit.com to host the file, and send an e-mail with the link. I would guess it would be a problem with the attachments. Did I send you my Mode photos?
Did anyone notice the gallery link on the page Bryan Posted in february? There are some cool historical views, like one from the 60s and an original rendering showing what it would have looked like with its extensive stud lighting, now all removed, working, as well as its original marquee and domes (the two-dome style seems to have been very popular around 1917). Also shows the lobby, which I think is a shoe store now. Not sure if the decoration is still there. Does anyone know what was originally above the lobby? The original plans indicate empty space.
Like I said, I have seen very recent photos of the building, I think that the auditorium is, sadly, too damaged to come back. This is a shame, because it looks like this would otherwise be one of the most unique neighborhood theaters. Also, usually plaster that has been heavily water damaged (as often happens in theatres) literally disintegrates. Even in some of the pre-triplexing photos I posted earlier some water damage is evident, and judging from reports that the basement was flooded, I can’t say chances for survival look good. It’s a crying shame, certainly, but at least some of it lives on.
Better that than a pile of water-damaged plaster dust.
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Images of the theater
Here is a photo record showing the theater shortly after its conversion to a bank.
Here is a photo of Mayor Washington presenting a grant to restore the theater in 1987
This opened in mid-1981, was known as Town ‘N Country Theaters until aquired by Cineplex, facade remodelings on the mall were in 1992, and closed mid-January 2001. It is set to be torn down and replaced by a Dick’s Sporting Goods shortly.
Also notable is that a homemade bomb was discovered atop the roof during a showing of Last Temptation of Christ in 1988. Article Here
Here is the new URL for Bryan’s link. This Trib article states that the Mercury was to be replaced by six-screen Cineplex.
http://www.cotillionbanquets.com/home3.htm is the website for the banquet hall
Since when is Yale primarily an undergrad institution?