The story also made the local NBC news last night. But being it’s only a 20 year old theater, they couldn’t really pump up the history any. As I mentioned before, as vibrant as that area still is, there is no reason a well run operation can’t create as well as fill the need. With 4 screens they could split the fare with 1st & art house films. Just needs a lot of freshening up, and a new attitude.
The story also made the local NBC news last night. But being it’s only a 20 year old theater, they couldn’t really pump up the history any. As I mentioned before, as vibrant as that area still is, there is no reason a well run operation can’t create as well as fill the need. With 4 screens they could split the fare with 1st & art house films. Just needs a lot of freshening up, and a new attitude.
Just going from memory, a few things I saw here in the last 20 years. Dragged to “Priscilla Queen Of The Desert”, by a date I could never say no to. But often had to carry her home. “Dangerous Liasons” which I can’t even spell apparently. A re-release of “Basic Instinct”. I think need to pick better girls. And maybe a 1st run of “Singles”. Which pretty much sums up more than the theater, I’d say. Hope it gets some caring new owners who heed my advice in my older posts.
David Gray’s “Life In Slow Motion” tour played the Hammersmith in 2006. Just happened to catch the venue’s name on his “Hospital Food” live performance on YouTube. Not much of the Hammersmith, other than darkly lit stage shots.
Thanks for the clarification. I must have been reading the split screen version of “The Chelsea Girls” history. There’s some site called WarholStars.org , which has the film also at a place called the Cinema Rendezvous on 12/01/66. But I think following the Regency’s run. After some deal was cut with a group called the Art Guild, who ran a small chain of theaters.
Well, I can’t believe that this topic never came up, but let’s give the Regency Theatre what is probably it’s most famous 15 minutes. I was watching some long documentary called “Andy Warhol’s Factory People”. Which chronicled the revolving door of characters & projects that passed through the artist’s New York loft in the `60’s. Bizarre, in-house films were apparently just one aspect of that. Turns out Warhol’s film “The Chelsea Girls” not only played at the Regency, but premiered there as well. In the piece I caught a nighttime shot of the Regency, ablaze with that film’s title on the marquee. Perhaps Warhol’s influence or the Regency’s proximity to his loft aided in it’s use as a venue for the film.
Similar, but limited to the shaking of that bank of seats only.
I posted over on the United Artists page about experiencing “Earthquake” with Sensurround when it came out. The UA had to hang mesh netting high up towards the ceiling to catch falling plaster shortly after the film opened.
My late father said Smell-O-Vision was tried at the Michael Todd on Dearborn I believe. But that people became ill when the artificial pipe smoke scent was pumped in for one scene.
Dean Richards of WGN TV did a piece on the Muvico 18 this morning. The theater has added a bank of seats equipped with “D-Box”. A film activated motion device that rocks the bank of seats along with the action on the screen. Like a flight/driving simulator or interactive space shuttle experience of sorts. The feature is reservation only, and appeared to be limited to a small amount of seats. Special prints of the films encoded to work with the equipment are needed. The upcoming “Pirates” sequel is one that is scheduled. So it’s obviously not limited to planes or cars.
There is currently some roof top mounted scaffolding above The Vic’s East elevation. Visible from the “L” tracks, it might be for restoration work to the coping stones around the roof’s perimeter. Or possibly to haul up materials for the roof itself. Either way, great to see maintenance is ongoing.
Saw a picture of the Garden Theatre in a recent Retirement Magazine. It was included in an article full of accolades about Winter Garden as a premiere retirement city. It stated that the theater had been restored, which I first thought was a typo for remodeled. Since the exterior didn’t look too much like something from the 30's. But after seeing the various pictures posted, and the disaster it looked like in the late80’s, I’d say they did a fantastic job. The only detail I would have changed, was installing the two adjacent storefront doors at either end of their respective window treatments. Like the 1949 picture above seems to have them situated. Might have been overlooked, or not consistent with current codes.
Note the absence of cars. Mayor Byrne’s only mistake while in office, the State Street Mall. Looks like some of the old six sided paving blocks laying on the right.
Incidentally, Howard Kaylan was in attendance at the premiere & answered audience questions. He thanked the Bloor staff & the press for their reception on his official website.
Sometime in 2008, The Bloor held the premiere of “My Dinner With Jimi”. A film by Howard Kaylan, lead singer of `60’s folk rock group The Turtles. The film chronicled the night in London he met Jimi Hendrix & The Beatles.
I can only assume that the Norshore was likely a free standing structure. Unlike the Howard, which was incorporated into a much larger building that included apartments, offices and street level retail space. I agree the Norshore looked like a beautiful building that by all means should have been saved and re-purposed.
Since the Paradise appears to have had the same owners, and met it’s fate 4 years before the Norshore did, I guess the land was viewed as the better money maker. After the theater’s lived out their usefulness.
I have a sneaking suspicion that the fix was in on the Granada.
Loyola long wanted it gone, and upwards was the direction the land would give them the best return ion their money
Coincidentally the Howard Bowl (neon sign) that follows the Paradise marquee clip, was the place that was built on the former site of the Norshore Theatre. Which has it’s own CT page.
That bowling alley has also now since been torn down.
One would think the State Of Washington would offer alternative fund raising avenues, after shutting down the plan theater owners came up with. There must be some mixed use funding available, incorporating use by one of the nearby schools or something.
Just caught a brief pan of the old Paradise marquee in a YouTube clip called “Vintage Chicago Signs Part 3”. A series of 1940’s promotional pieces about outdoor billboards. “Poster signs” as they call them.
I posted a blurb about the Telegraph Drive-In over on CT’s Miracle Mile Drive-In (Toledo) page. I believe it was prior to the Telegraph getting it’s own CT page, because of the dates and I’d searched for this by name first.
Just ran across an old Chicago Tribune Magazine dated April 25, 1993, which has an article about the Uptown Theatre called “Sleeping Beauty”.(Pages 16-18)
Tribune Photographer Charles Osgood included 9 pictures and wrote the piece as well. It cites 1983 as the year it was boarded up.
Though `81 I believe was still the year of the actual closure.
The front page of the magazine has a line at the bottom that reads:
“A movie palace in search of a happy ending.”
After another 18 years on top of those first 12, how true.
Well this must be a first.
This February The Oriental will be hosting the upcoming Chicago mayoral debates and telecasting them live on ABC Channel 7.
It will be interesting to see if they do any exterior or interior panoramic shots to showcase the theatre.
Someone needs to snap a pic of the marquee advertising this event if they do so.
The Congress made the news this morning. Apparently Chuck Berry collapsed and had to be helped off stage during his show last night. But returned later to a thinning crowd.
At 84, he had supposedly done 2 New Years shows the night before in New York.
One story has him being checked out by paramedics before the Congress show. Only to fall ill during it as well.
He left in a limo though, not an ambulance.
There is a local group that offers Haunted Chicago tours of some sort. Might even be called that.
I know that the former Iroquois site & the original Chicago Historical Society (later Limelight/now Excalibur), is on their tour. The latter being where bodies were brought after the Eastland disaster.
The story also made the local NBC news last night. But being it’s only a 20 year old theater, they couldn’t really pump up the history any.
As I mentioned before, as vibrant as that area still is, there is no reason a well run operation can’t create as well as fill the need. With 4 screens they could split the fare with 1st & art house films. Just needs a lot of freshening up, and a new attitude.
The story also made the local NBC news last night. But being it’s only a 20 year old theater, they couldn’t really pump up the history any.
As I mentioned before, as vibrant as that area still is, there is no reason a well run operation can’t create as well as fill the need. With 4 screens they could split the fare with 1st & art house films. Just needs a lot of freshening up, and a new attitude.
Just going from memory, a few things I saw here in the last 20 years. Dragged to “Priscilla Queen Of The Desert”, by a date I could never say no to. But often had to carry her home. “Dangerous Liasons” which I can’t even spell apparently. A re-release of “Basic Instinct”. I think need to pick better girls. And maybe a 1st run of “Singles”. Which pretty much sums up more than the theater, I’d say. Hope it gets some caring new owners who heed my advice in my older posts.
Sonny & Cher appeared at the Valencia during a press junket in the `60’s.
David Gray’s “Life In Slow Motion” tour played the Hammersmith in 2006. Just happened to catch the venue’s name on his “Hospital Food” live performance on YouTube. Not much of the Hammersmith, other than darkly lit stage shots.
Thanks for the clarification. I must have been reading the split screen version of “The Chelsea Girls” history. There’s some site called WarholStars.org , which has the film also at a place called the Cinema Rendezvous on 12/01/66. But I think following the Regency’s run. After some deal was cut with a group called the Art Guild, who ran a small chain of theaters.
Well, I can’t believe that this topic never came up, but let’s give the Regency Theatre what is probably it’s most famous 15 minutes. I was watching some long documentary called “Andy Warhol’s Factory People”. Which chronicled the revolving door of characters & projects that passed through the artist’s New York loft in the `60’s. Bizarre, in-house films were apparently just one aspect of that.
Turns out Warhol’s film “The Chelsea Girls” not only played at the Regency, but premiered there as well. In the piece I caught a nighttime shot of the Regency, ablaze with that film’s title on the marquee. Perhaps Warhol’s influence or the Regency’s proximity to his loft aided in it’s use as a venue for the film.
Similar, but limited to the shaking of that bank of seats only.
I posted over on the United Artists page about experiencing “Earthquake” with Sensurround when it came out. The UA had to hang mesh netting high up towards the ceiling to catch falling plaster shortly after the film opened.
My late father said Smell-O-Vision was tried at the Michael Todd on Dearborn I believe. But that people became ill when the artificial pipe smoke scent was pumped in for one scene.
Dean Richards of WGN TV did a piece on the Muvico 18 this morning. The theater has added a bank of seats equipped with “D-Box”. A film activated motion device that rocks the bank of seats along with the action on the screen. Like a flight/driving simulator or interactive space shuttle experience of sorts. The feature is reservation only, and appeared to be limited to a small amount of seats. Special prints of the films encoded to work with the equipment are needed. The upcoming “Pirates” sequel is one that is scheduled. So it’s obviously not limited to planes or cars.
There is currently some roof top mounted scaffolding above The Vic’s East elevation. Visible from the “L” tracks, it might be for restoration work to the coping stones around the roof’s perimeter. Or possibly to haul up materials for the roof itself. Either way, great to see maintenance is ongoing.
Saw a picture of the Garden Theatre in a recent Retirement Magazine. It was included in an article full of accolades about Winter Garden as a premiere retirement city. It stated that the theater had been restored, which I first thought was a typo for remodeled. Since the exterior didn’t look too much like something from the
30's. But after seeing the various pictures posted, and the disaster it looked like in the late80’s, I’d say they did a fantastic job. The only detail I would have changed, was installing the two adjacent storefront doors at either end of their respective window treatments. Like the 1949 picture above seems to have them situated. Might have been overlooked, or not consistent with current codes.Ah, I stand corrected. I actually did some work for Mayor Byrne. You’d think I’d remember that. Thanks.
Note the absence of cars. Mayor Byrne’s only mistake while in office, the State Street Mall. Looks like some of the old six sided paving blocks laying on the right.
Incidentally, Howard Kaylan was in attendance at the premiere & answered audience questions. He thanked the Bloor staff & the press for their reception on his official website.
Sometime in 2008, The Bloor held the premiere of “My Dinner With Jimi”. A film by Howard Kaylan, lead singer of `60’s folk rock group The Turtles. The film chronicled the night in London he met Jimi Hendrix & The Beatles.
I can only assume that the Norshore was likely a free standing structure. Unlike the Howard, which was incorporated into a much larger building that included apartments, offices and street level retail space. I agree the Norshore looked like a beautiful building that by all means should have been saved and re-purposed.
Since the Paradise appears to have had the same owners, and met it’s fate 4 years before the Norshore did, I guess the land was viewed as the better money maker. After the theater’s lived out their usefulness.
I have a sneaking suspicion that the fix was in on the Granada.
Loyola long wanted it gone, and upwards was the direction the land would give them the best return ion their money
Thanks for the thanks, and for posting the link.
Coincidentally the Howard Bowl (neon sign) that follows the Paradise marquee clip, was the place that was built on the former site of the Norshore Theatre. Which has it’s own CT page.
That bowling alley has also now since been torn down.
One would think the State Of Washington would offer alternative fund raising avenues, after shutting down the plan theater owners came up with. There must be some mixed use funding available, incorporating use by one of the nearby schools or something.
Just caught a brief pan of the old Paradise marquee in a YouTube clip called “Vintage Chicago Signs Part 3”. A series of 1940’s promotional pieces about outdoor billboards. “Poster signs” as they call them.
I just read that the Quad Cinema will soon be hosting the premiere of “Certifiably Jonathan”, a new film about Jonathan Winters.
I posted a blurb about the Telegraph Drive-In over on CT’s Miracle Mile Drive-In (Toledo) page. I believe it was prior to the Telegraph getting it’s own CT page, because of the dates and I’d searched for this by name first.
Just ran across an old Chicago Tribune Magazine dated April 25, 1993, which has an article about the Uptown Theatre called “Sleeping Beauty”.(Pages 16-18)
Tribune Photographer Charles Osgood included 9 pictures and wrote the piece as well. It cites 1983 as the year it was boarded up.
Though `81 I believe was still the year of the actual closure.
The front page of the magazine has a line at the bottom that reads:
“A movie palace in search of a happy ending.”
After another 18 years on top of those first 12, how true.
Well this must be a first.
This February The Oriental will be hosting the upcoming Chicago mayoral debates and telecasting them live on ABC Channel 7.
It will be interesting to see if they do any exterior or interior panoramic shots to showcase the theatre.
Someone needs to snap a pic of the marquee advertising this event if they do so.
The Congress made the news this morning. Apparently Chuck Berry collapsed and had to be helped off stage during his show last night. But returned later to a thinning crowd.
At 84, he had supposedly done 2 New Years shows the night before in New York.
One story has him being checked out by paramedics before the Congress show. Only to fall ill during it as well.
He left in a limo though, not an ambulance.
There is a local group that offers Haunted Chicago tours of some sort. Might even be called that.
I know that the former Iroquois site & the original Chicago Historical Society (later Limelight/now Excalibur), is on their tour. The latter being where bodies were brought after the Eastland disaster.