Yes, that’s absolutely true, and I do that almost every day! It’s sad to see them dwindling. The Howard is condos, the Granada long gone, the Bryn Mawr shuttered, the Uptown too, the Riviera diminished, the Mode gone. You would also have seen the Argmore (a liquor store) and the Julian (gone), perhaps the Co-Ed, the Sheridan, the Deluxe and i’m probably forgetting some.
They were about 3-5 minutes away from each other. But you’re right that they were the only ones around showing art/indie after the theatres inside woodfield closed and before Streets of Woodfield open. They certainly showed plenty of first-run action and the like too. Incidentally the electronic box office sign from Rolling Meadows now leans against an escalator at Streets of Woodfield, partly hidden and doing nothing. Not sure why they salvaged that…
The main auditorium is intact; the additional screens are behind the theater. It is much as you remember it, perhaps a bit better, perhaps a bit worse for the wear.
I don’t think it really was about that. It was open right up til Victory Gardens announced their purchase, and they had been investigating it for a long time. And the ownership shuffle probably didn’t help, but that was largely a matter of bankruptcies. Granted, VG has seemingly done very little renovating so far (funding?). It’s good to see it in the hands of someone who will use it rather than tear it down, even if their plan isn’t totally ideal. It should at least look better.
I went to the Terminal I site the other day and 3306 and 3308 are both entrances to the same store which would be in the old theatre space. Therefore the Terminal I and Metro/Metropolitan must be one and the same. It’s now a Korean discount store called “Shoes New York”. There is a good deal of attractive terracotta work remaining, albeit badly damaged. The theatre is faintly visible in the distance of this picture (Is it just me, or do the stores across the street seem to lack interiors?). Incidentally, and rather ironically, the Terminal II was likely torn down to make way for the rebuilt Kimball terminal (1974) for which it was named and from which it likely had drawn much of its business.
Looks pretty much the same, except the box office window looks absent. I wonder why they changed the name? Cheverly seems more sensible than “Publick”… it’s certainly not ‘olde tyme’ style in the least.
“As Hope and Byrne toured, they added more comedy to the act. When Hope found that he had a knack as a master of ceremonies, the act split, and Hope was booked as an "M.C.” at the Stratford Theater in Chicago in an engagement that would be seminal to his career. A master of ceremonies is a host, the link between the performance and the audience-providing continuity between scenes or acts by telling jokes, introducing performers, and assuring that the entertainment does not stop even if delays occurred backstage. Hope was such a success as a master of ceremonies in this Chicago engagement that his initial two-week booking was extended to six months.“
-http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/bobhope/vaude.html which also features a larger version of the photo displayed here, and an ad
Certainly Paul must have some credibility if he’s been able to be involved in so many projects. A google search shows a number of different projects, and doesn’t neccessarily paint a flattering picture, but certainly there must be something more to the stories.
Address was 680 Lee. The former lobby is still intact. Also interesting to note that the current facade is not the original lobby; when built around 1915 it had a plainer, single story storefront. I believe the street was widened in the 1920s necessitating a new lobby, or it may have merely been a matter of modernization. The house was very long and narrow.
“We are excited to bring this antique chandelier from the Capitol to the nation�s capitol and its celebrated Uptown Theatre, which is such a historic and well-loved landmark for the area”
I think Bruce must be mistaken about the order of names- the photographs linked to on this entry prove that it opened as the Columbia (during construction, during for example), and was later the Adelphi (as in this 1927 view), before being renamed the Clark.
The 1911 Loop Street Address Renumeration Guide shows the address of the theatre entrance to be 11 N Clark and the hotel 15 N Clark. It’s not unusual for a theatre to take on the address of the building its part of, for example, the listed address for the Shubert/Majestic isn’t really accurate, so that’s likely what happened here.
I’d like to thank Bruce for all his important contributions to chicago film exhibition over the years. Although i’m too young to have experienced them, I can appreciate that he played quite an important role.
Yes, that’s absolutely true, and I do that almost every day! It’s sad to see them dwindling. The Howard is condos, the Granada long gone, the Bryn Mawr shuttered, the Uptown too, the Riviera diminished, the Mode gone. You would also have seen the Argmore (a liquor store) and the Julian (gone), perhaps the Co-Ed, the Sheridan, the Deluxe and i’m probably forgetting some.
Correction for 2001 photo
They were about 3-5 minutes away from each other. But you’re right that they were the only ones around showing art/indie after the theatres inside woodfield closed and before Streets of Woodfield open. They certainly showed plenty of first-run action and the like too. Incidentally the electronic box office sign from Rolling Meadows now leans against an escalator at Streets of Woodfield, partly hidden and doing nothing. Not sure why they salvaged that…
Also wondering what the facade looks like without the marquee… Was anything under it?
What does the interior look like? Was it really gutted previously, and if so why?
It’s a warehouse for Tile Outlet which is just down the street. Here is a photo of the facade being changed.
Here is a photo of the Roseland building. Here is a partial view of the lobby entrance.
The main auditorium is intact; the additional screens are behind the theater. It is much as you remember it, perhaps a bit better, perhaps a bit worse for the wear.
I don’t think it really was about that. It was open right up til Victory Gardens announced their purchase, and they had been investigating it for a long time. And the ownership shuffle probably didn’t help, but that was largely a matter of bankruptcies. Granted, VG has seemingly done very little renovating so far (funding?). It’s good to see it in the hands of someone who will use it rather than tear it down, even if their plan isn’t totally ideal. It should at least look better.
No, i’m from Des Plaines. I just get around a lot.
I went to the Terminal I site the other day and 3306 and 3308 are both entrances to the same store which would be in the old theatre space. Therefore the Terminal I and Metro/Metropolitan must be one and the same. It’s now a Korean discount store called “Shoes New York”. There is a good deal of attractive terracotta work remaining, albeit badly damaged. The theatre is faintly visible in the distance of this picture (Is it just me, or do the stores across the street seem to lack interiors?). Incidentally, and rather ironically, the Terminal II was likely torn down to make way for the rebuilt Kimball terminal (1974) for which it was named and from which it likely had drawn much of its business.
Looks pretty much the same, except the box office window looks absent. I wonder why they changed the name? Cheverly seems more sensible than “Publick”… it’s certainly not ‘olde tyme’ style in the least.
Updated photo link: View link
the updated link to the 1940s photo is View link
The updated link to Bryan’s Apr 23, 2004 postcard is View link
Yeah, they’re the same boards that say “Congress Theatre”, actually, it’s embossed through.
My mistake.
“As Hope and Byrne toured, they added more comedy to the act. When Hope found that he had a knack as a master of ceremonies, the act split, and Hope was booked as an "M.C.” at the Stratford Theater in Chicago in an engagement that would be seminal to his career. A master of ceremonies is a host, the link between the performance and the audience-providing continuity between scenes or acts by telling jokes, introducing performers, and assuring that the entertainment does not stop even if delays occurred backstage. Hope was such a success as a master of ceremonies in this Chicago engagement that his initial two-week booking was extended to six months.“
-http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/bobhope/vaude.html which also features a larger version of the photo displayed here, and an ad
It was also once known as the teatro juan fernandez
Does anybody know if the original name of the Mode (Keystone) had a relation to Keystone studios? Likewise for Biograph, Vitagraph
I have photos chronicling the demolition of the Mode. Email me if you want them.
Certainly Paul must have some credibility if he’s been able to be involved in so many projects. A google search shows a number of different projects, and doesn’t neccessarily paint a flattering picture, but certainly there must be something more to the stories.
Address was 680 Lee. The former lobby is still intact. Also interesting to note that the current facade is not the original lobby; when built around 1915 it had a plainer, single story storefront. I believe the street was widened in the 1920s necessitating a new lobby, or it may have merely been a matter of modernization. The house was very long and narrow.
“We are excited to bring this antique chandelier from the Capitol to the nation�s capitol and its celebrated Uptown Theatre, which is such a historic and well-loved landmark for the area”
So excited they forgot how to spell capital?
I think Bruce must be mistaken about the order of names- the photographs linked to on this entry prove that it opened as the Columbia (during construction, during for example), and was later the Adelphi (as in this 1927 view), before being renamed the Clark.
The 1911 Loop Street Address Renumeration Guide shows the address of the theatre entrance to be 11 N Clark and the hotel 15 N Clark. It’s not unusual for a theatre to take on the address of the building its part of, for example, the listed address for the Shubert/Majestic isn’t really accurate, so that’s likely what happened here.
I’d like to thank Bruce for all his important contributions to chicago film exhibition over the years. Although i’m too young to have experienced them, I can appreciate that he played quite an important role.