The actual address for this theater must have been Oak Street, because the address you provided, 15 Circle, is currently the offices for Six Mile Township (and from the Google Street View, that building looks to be pre-1936 itself).
From the Wichita State University website (http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=foundation&p=/SpiritoftheGiftBiographyProject/Biographies/LewisandSelmaMiller/):
Dr. Lewis Miller was born in Washington Court House, Ohio, in 1876. A graduate of Northwestern University, he practiced dentistry in Lincoln, Neb., where he partnered with his brother operating local movie theaters. Dr. Miller and his wife, Selma, moved to Wichita in 1909, building the Princess Theater and the Palace, eventually opening the Miller Theatre in 1922. The Miller was considered to be the showcase of theaters, the “finest west of Chicago,” and was host to live stage shows that included Will Rogers and Charlie Chaplin.
Dr. and Mrs. Miller were devoted patrons of the arts, giving anonymous assistance to art students and programs. An artist herself, Mrs. Miller served on the board of directors of the Wichita Art Association from 1938-1961.
She was quoted as saying, “It is not what you have in worldly goods, but how you use it that counts most.”
Following Dr. Miller’s death in 1969, Wichita State University dedicated the Lewis and Selma Miller Concert Hall in the Duerksen Fine Arts Center in honor of their contribution of both time and means to community art and theater development. Upon Mrs. Miller’s passing in 1972, the Lewis and Selma Miller fund was established through their estate to ensure the development and furtherance of the WSU College of Fine Arts and the Ulrich Museum.
In the 1888 book Chicago:
An Instructive and Entertaining History of a Wonderful City : With a Useful Stranger’s Guide by Rhodes & McClure, under Places of Amusement, a Madison Street Theater is listed as being located, ironically, in the original Inter-Ocean Building, at 85 Madison St., just as the Monroe Theater was built behind the facade of the “new” 1900 Inter-Office building in 1919 after the newspaper vacated that location.
In the 1888 book, Chicago:
An Instructive and Entertaining History of a Wonderful City: With a Useful Stranger’s Guide by Rhodes & McClure, the Criterion Theater is listed under Places of Amusement, with the pre-1909 renumbering address of “274 Sedgwick, corner of Division”. Either this theater, or an older theater with the same same, stood at this address going back to the 1880s.
The Kozy either closed or was closed by July of 1930, per this article from the 7/30/30 Chicago Tribune:
West Coast Man Plans Chain of Chicago Cafes
John H. Leighton, California restauranteur, operating under the name of Leighton Cooperative Industries, has leased the lower part of the four story building at 40 South Clark street, now occupied by the Cozy theater, for twenty years. The moving picture playhouse, which occupies the space formerly used for the first and second floors of the building, will be torn out, and the second floor restored. The west coast restaurant man will then install his second Chicago eating establishment on the two floors. The lot area is 24x81. Between $35,000 and $40,000 will be spent in remodeling the premises into a modern eating place.
It will be operated along new lines, it is claimed, with both self-service and waiters. It will open to the public in about two months. Mr. Leighton opened his first Chicago restaurant a short time ago at 57 East Adams street. He expects to open a chain of twenty-five eating places in Chicago within the next two years, it is stated.
An article dated 9/17/13 from the Chicago Tribune:
New Theater For Clark Street
E.F. Keebler & Co. have leased for John R. Thompson to John Murphy, Patrick Breen, and Peter Kennedy as trustees of the Chicago aerie, No. 19 Fraternal Order of Eagles, the second, third and fourth floors, all being above the store floor, in the building at 40 South Clark street, for 10 years, at a term of $27,000. The premises will be occupied as club and lodge rooms. The first floor has been extensively remodeled and will be occupied for theater purposes by Mr. Thompson.
A December 1927 movie review in the Chicago Tribune for “Streets of Sorrow”, mentions this film is playing at the Rose, but is advertised as being “for men only”, much to the female movie reviewer’s aggravation.
Another fire at the Alcazar, from the Chicago Tribune, dated 2/25/28:
Fire in All-Night Theater Drives 250 to the Street
Fire in the Alcazar theater, an all-night moving picture house at 67 West Madison street, early this morning drove 250 patrons, all men, to the street. The flames were discovered coming through the floor in the middle of the theater, and the patrons hurried for the exits, but there was no panic. The loss was estimated at $1,000.
Chuck, in repsonse to your 11/11/12 post, they apparently do play “classic” films here on ocassion per this page on their site, but it’s primarily used for educational films, both 2D and 3D.
Kelli, the Google street view is from almost two years ago, 7/11. Google doesn’t update those street views very frequently.
While this signage is a big improvement over the ugly brown box that had been there previously, it would’ve been nice if there had been a nod to the theater’s Art Moderne orgins. This signage now looks like this theater opened during the 80s or moreso, the 90s. It’s very suburban looking.
According to yesterday’s Chicagoist, the Portage’s owner, Eddie Carranza has a new operator in place for the theater, and the current management has not scheduled new programming beyond mid-April. This comes a week after the Commission On Chicago Landmarks granted landmark status to the Portage.
I found an article from the 8/12/16 edition of Moving Picture World regarding the Strand:
MORRIS' STRAND DESERTS THE STAGE
Morris, Minn. – The films have captured another playhouse built for the legitimate business. The new Strand theater here has been turned over to the projection machine and the screen.
Like many others here, Mr. Naylor’s books were my first glimpse into the world of the movie palace, and through these books, I began my life-long passion for them. I’m very sorry to learn of Mr. Naylor’s passing.
According to this article in the 2/5/13 Chicago Tribune, construction work has now begun on the Star Cinema Grill in Arlington Heights, with an opening date “as soon as mid-May”.
This theater was destroyed by a fire in 1949. From the Nashua Telegraph dated 12/30/1949 (in part):
CONN. THEATER BLOCK RAZED BY $250,000 BLAZE
“Torrington, Conn. Dec. 30 – A general alarm fire destroyed the Alhambra Theater block here early today with a loss estimated by fire officials at $250,000.
The blaze was discovered shortly after 2 AM by Patrolman Anthony Neary, who, while making his rounds, discovered smoke issuing from beneath the door of a shoe repair shop occupying part of the floor of the two-story brick structure.
A tavern and newstand occupied the other ground stores on the ground floor, while second floor rooms were occupied by a Veterans of Foreign Wars post and a CIO Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers local.
Fire Chief Edward F. Goodman expressed the belief that the fire started in the basement. He said it spread with startling rapidity.”
A circ-1940 view of the Atlanta Theatre can be seen here.By this time, the theater was going by the name the Derby Show, a burlesque house. Also, Exchange Place no longer exists. It is now part of Hurt Plaza, after the landmark Hurt Building. The Hurt Plaza Garage, which was built on the site of the theater, has an address of 33 Hurt Plaza.
I find listings for this theater in the Chicago Tribune as far back as June 1915. Jazz Age Chicago had an opening date for the Austin of 1913.
More information on the theater’s reduced “for sale” price can be read here.
The actual address for this theater must have been Oak Street, because the address you provided, 15 Circle, is currently the offices for Six Mile Township (and from the Google Street View, that building looks to be pre-1936 itself).
From the Wichita State University website (http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=foundation&p=/SpiritoftheGiftBiographyProject/Biographies/LewisandSelmaMiller/):
Dr. Lewis Miller was born in Washington Court House, Ohio, in 1876. A graduate of Northwestern University, he practiced dentistry in Lincoln, Neb., where he partnered with his brother operating local movie theaters. Dr. Miller and his wife, Selma, moved to Wichita in 1909, building the Princess Theater and the Palace, eventually opening the Miller Theatre in 1922. The Miller was considered to be the showcase of theaters, the “finest west of Chicago,” and was host to live stage shows that included Will Rogers and Charlie Chaplin.
Dr. and Mrs. Miller were devoted patrons of the arts, giving anonymous assistance to art students and programs. An artist herself, Mrs. Miller served on the board of directors of the Wichita Art Association from 1938-1961.
She was quoted as saying, “It is not what you have in worldly goods, but how you use it that counts most.”
Following Dr. Miller’s death in 1969, Wichita State University dedicated the Lewis and Selma Miller Concert Hall in the Duerksen Fine Arts Center in honor of their contribution of both time and means to community art and theater development. Upon Mrs. Miller’s passing in 1972, the Lewis and Selma Miller fund was established through their estate to ensure the development and furtherance of the WSU College of Fine Arts and the Ulrich Museum.
In the 1888 book Chicago: An Instructive and Entertaining History of a Wonderful City : With a Useful Stranger’s Guide by Rhodes & McClure, under Places of Amusement, a Madison Street Theater is listed as being located, ironically, in the original Inter-Ocean Building, at 85 Madison St., just as the Monroe Theater was built behind the facade of the “new” 1900 Inter-Office building in 1919 after the newspaper vacated that location.
In the 1888 book, Chicago: An Instructive and Entertaining History of a Wonderful City: With a Useful Stranger’s Guide by Rhodes & McClure, the Criterion Theater is listed under Places of Amusement, with the pre-1909 renumbering address of “274 Sedgwick, corner of Division”. Either this theater, or an older theater with the same same, stood at this address going back to the 1880s.
A recent photo of the former Cinema Radio City can be seen here.
The Kozy either closed or was closed by July of 1930, per this article from the 7/30/30 Chicago Tribune:
West Coast Man Plans Chain of Chicago Cafes
John H. Leighton, California restauranteur, operating under the name of Leighton Cooperative Industries, has leased the lower part of the four story building at 40 South Clark street, now occupied by the Cozy theater, for twenty years. The moving picture playhouse, which occupies the space formerly used for the first and second floors of the building, will be torn out, and the second floor restored. The west coast restaurant man will then install his second Chicago eating establishment on the two floors. The lot area is 24x81. Between $35,000 and $40,000 will be spent in remodeling the premises into a modern eating place.
It will be operated along new lines, it is claimed, with both self-service and waiters. It will open to the public in about two months. Mr. Leighton opened his first Chicago restaurant a short time ago at 57 East Adams street. He expects to open a chain of twenty-five eating places in Chicago within the next two years, it is stated.
An article dated 9/17/13 from the Chicago Tribune:
New Theater For Clark Street
E.F. Keebler & Co. have leased for John R. Thompson to John Murphy, Patrick Breen, and Peter Kennedy as trustees of the Chicago aerie, No. 19 Fraternal Order of Eagles, the second, third and fourth floors, all being above the store floor, in the building at 40 South Clark street, for 10 years, at a term of $27,000. The premises will be occupied as club and lodge rooms. The first floor has been extensively remodeled and will be occupied for theater purposes by Mr. Thompson.
A December 1927 movie review in the Chicago Tribune for “Streets of Sorrow”, mentions this film is playing at the Rose, but is advertised as being “for men only”, much to the female movie reviewer’s aggravation.
Another fire at the Alcazar, from the Chicago Tribune, dated 2/25/28:
Fire in All-Night Theater Drives 250 to the Street
Fire in the Alcazar theater, an all-night moving picture house at 67 West Madison street, early this morning drove 250 patrons, all men, to the street. The flames were discovered coming through the floor in the middle of the theater, and the patrons hurried for the exits, but there was no panic. The loss was estimated at $1,000.
A 1980 photo showing the demolition of the Palace can be seen here.
Chuck, in repsonse to your 11/11/12 post, they apparently do play “classic” films here on ocassion per this page on their site, but it’s primarily used for educational films, both 2D and 3D. Kelli, the Google street view is from almost two years ago, 7/11. Google doesn’t update those street views very frequently.
While this signage is a big improvement over the ugly brown box that had been there previously, it would’ve been nice if there had been a nod to the theater’s Art Moderne orgins. This signage now looks like this theater opened during the 80s or moreso, the 90s. It’s very suburban looking.
Here is a photo taken last week of Radio City Music Hall.
According to yesterday’s Chicagoist, the Portage’s owner, Eddie Carranza has a new operator in place for the theater, and the current management has not scheduled new programming beyond mid-April. This comes a week after the Commission On Chicago Landmarks granted landmark status to the Portage.
A current view of the Roxy Theatre can be seen here.
I found an article from the 8/12/16 edition of Moving Picture World regarding the Strand:
MORRIS' STRAND DESERTS THE STAGE
Morris, Minn. – The films have captured another playhouse built for the legitimate business. The new Strand theater here has been turned over to the projection machine and the screen.
Like many others here, Mr. Naylor’s books were my first glimpse into the world of the movie palace, and through these books, I began my life-long passion for them. I’m very sorry to learn of Mr. Naylor’s passing.
According to this article in the 2/5/13 Chicago Tribune, construction work has now begun on the Star Cinema Grill in Arlington Heights, with an opening date “as soon as mid-May”.
This theater was destroyed by a fire in 1949. From the Nashua Telegraph dated 12/30/1949 (in part):
CONN. THEATER BLOCK RAZED BY $250,000 BLAZE “Torrington, Conn. Dec. 30 – A general alarm fire destroyed the Alhambra Theater block here early today with a loss estimated by fire officials at $250,000. The blaze was discovered shortly after 2 AM by Patrolman Anthony Neary, who, while making his rounds, discovered smoke issuing from beneath the door of a shoe repair shop occupying part of the floor of the two-story brick structure. A tavern and newstand occupied the other ground stores on the ground floor, while second floor rooms were occupied by a Veterans of Foreign Wars post and a CIO Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers local. Fire Chief Edward F. Goodman expressed the belief that the fire started in the basement. He said it spread with startling rapidity.”
Here’s a great circa-1945 photograph of the Erlanger (former Palace Music Hall) and RKO Grand Theatres.
A section of the Des Plaines Theater’s auditorium ceiling collapsed forcing the cancellation of shows scheduled this coming weekend at the theater.
A circ-1940 view of the Atlanta Theatre can be seen here.By this time, the theater was going by the name the Derby Show, a burlesque house. Also, Exchange Place no longer exists. It is now part of Hurt Plaza, after the landmark Hurt Building. The Hurt Plaza Garage, which was built on the site of the theater, has an address of 33 Hurt Plaza.
More details on the new Star Cinema Grill are here in an article from the 1/24/13 Daily Herald.