Hyde & Behman’s Music Hall actually had its Grand Opening on Monday, September 19, 1904. I originally believed it was September 26, 1904, but I was mistaken. See pre-opening Chicago Tribune ad in Photo section.
Hachidan8….THE GODFATHER never played at the Loop Theatre. It played a few feet north at the Chicago Theatre. The Loop Theatre played all kinds of movies; from Russ Meyer to Walt Disney. From kung fu to blaxpoitation. From Hollywood movies to soft core porno movies. The Loop played anything. It was a unique theatre.
I added a newspaper ad in the photo section of the Chicago newspaper ad for THE DRAGON LIVES; a kung fu movie that appears to be the last movie at the Music Box Theatre before closing. Friday, November 24, 1978. It more than likely was playing on a double feature; however, the Music Box did not advertise in the Chicago Tribune during its final year of operation before becoming an Arab-operated business.
This photo belongs on the other Rialto Theatre page. The one that used to be on State near Van Buren. The Rialto on this page was on State near Harrison.
Judging by the old Chicago Tribune ads, it seems like the Admiral opened a double feature of THE WRECKING CREW plus PENDULUM on Friday, December 19, 1969; closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; and then reopened on Friday, December 26, 1969 with the new Adult film policy. It was soft core adult films, initially. I’m not sure when the hard core porno films started rolling in. Possibly 1970 or 1971.
The Admiral Theatre reopened on Friday, August 29, 1969 as a regular neighborhood movie theatre. It started showing “Adults Only” movies on Friday, December 26, 1969. The Admiral remained open as an adult theatre until the Summer of 1987.
The Adelphi never showed Spanish-language movies. It was a 2nd-run theatre; showing Hollywood movies. It did close for a short time in 1986 for a sprucing up, and it reopened as the North Shore Cinema under a new building owner. The general manager, the late Don Klein, told me the name of the theatre was changed to get the stigma of being known as the “Adelphi…..a shoddy, run-down movie house”. The thinking was that “North Shore” sounded…nicer, I guess. When the new owner wanted to get away from the movie theatre aspect of the building, he asked Don if he wanted to lease out the business. Don said, yes,…..under one condition….the name “Adelphi” must be restored. The owner said, “Fine, call it the Adelphi”. He didn’t care anymore. So Don took over in 1991 and it was once again known as the Adelphi Theatre. However, nobody wanted to spend money on changing the marquee so they covered the words, “North Shore Cinema”, with some type of cheap covering. It didn’t seem to last long on the front panel of the marquee (that was installed in 1986) and the words, “North” and “Cinema” were still exposed. Don struggled with the place for four years, showing 2nd-run Hollywood films. He finally threw in the towel in 1995 and Parag Gandhi took over the joint and showed Bollywood movies. The condition of the theatre got worse over time and it finally closed in 2002. Demolished in 2006. I used to work there. Don filled me in on the history of the Adelphi. He worked there when he was 12 years-old.
The theatre was known as the Adelphi from 1917 until 1986. Between 1986 and 1991, the theatre was known as the North Shore Cinema. In 1991 it became known as the Adelphi again; however, the owner did not take down the North Shore marquee. He covered up the front sign portion that read “SHORE”; but “NORTH” and “CINEMA” remained exposed. On the north and south panels of the marquee, the owner put up a painted sign on each side that read “Adelphi Theatre”. The theatre remained known as the Adelphi until it closed in 2002.
CORRECTION: Two small auditoriums opened in 1990, making the Pickwick a triplex. A fourth screen was added, upstairs, in 1994. The fifth auditorium opened in 2017.
The Capitol Theatre may have stayed open a little longer than 1974. I came across a couple of newspaper ads from 1977 in which the Capitol is listed in the visual display ads of certain movies. There are no individual ads for the Capitol; but the Capitol is listed as one of the Chicago area theatres playing the movie, ORCA. I posted a photo of the newspaper ad for ORCA in the Photos section.
No. No. No. The Harper Theatre at 5238 S. Harper was NEVER twinned in 1970. It was renamed Hyde Park 2. The original Hyde Park Theatre at 53rd & Lake Park was renamed Hyde Park 1. Two separate Hyde Park theatres at two different locations. After Hyde Park 1 closed its doors permanently, Hyde Park 2 became simply the Hyde Park Theatre and stayed that way until it reopened in 2013 and became the Harper again.
From the 2424 N. Lincoln Wikipedia page: “The building first opened as the Fullerton Theatre, a nickelodeon, in 1912. In 1915 it was converted into an auto garage. FBI agents took aim at John Dillinger from the roof of the building in 1934.[1]
I checked the newspaper movie section for July 22, 1934. The Fullerton Theatre is not listed. That’s because the building at 2424 N. Lincoln was an auto garage at the time. Here is a video clip in which this man mentions the address of the former movie theatre at 2424 N. Lincoln Avenue (that would later be reborn as a movie theatre; first called the Crest and then 3-Penny Cinema).
Wednesday, February 6, 1974.
Hyde & Behman’s Music Hall actually had its Grand Opening on Monday, September 19, 1904. I originally believed it was September 26, 1904, but I was mistaken. See pre-opening Chicago Tribune ad in Photo section.
The Chestnut Station had five screens. Four auditoriums on the main floor; and one puny little auditorium (Theatre 5) upstairs near the rest rooms.
Hachidan8….THE GODFATHER never played at the Loop Theatre. It played a few feet north at the Chicago Theatre. The Loop Theatre played all kinds of movies; from Russ Meyer to Walt Disney. From kung fu to blaxpoitation. From Hollywood movies to soft core porno movies. The Loop played anything. It was a unique theatre.
I added a newspaper ad in the photo section of the Chicago newspaper ad for THE DRAGON LIVES; a kung fu movie that appears to be the last movie at the Music Box Theatre before closing. Friday, November 24, 1978. It more than likely was playing on a double feature; however, the Music Box did not advertise in the Chicago Tribune during its final year of operation before becoming an Arab-operated business.
The Water Tower Theatres 1-4 opened on December 21, 1976.
The Highway Theatre had its Grand Opening on Wednesday, November 26, 1924.
This photo belongs on the other Rialto Theatre page. The one that used to be on State near Van Buren. The Rialto on this page was on State near Harrison.
Judging by the old Chicago Tribune ads, it seems like the Admiral opened a double feature of THE WRECKING CREW plus PENDULUM on Friday, December 19, 1969; closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; and then reopened on Friday, December 26, 1969 with the new Adult film policy. It was soft core adult films, initially. I’m not sure when the hard core porno films started rolling in. Possibly 1970 or 1971.
The Admiral Theatre reopened on Friday, August 29, 1969 as a regular neighborhood movie theatre. It started showing “Adults Only” movies on Friday, December 26, 1969. The Admiral remained open as an adult theatre until the Summer of 1987.
The Apollo opened on Wednesday, January 11, 1922.
The Adelphi never showed Spanish-language movies. It was a 2nd-run theatre; showing Hollywood movies. It did close for a short time in 1986 for a sprucing up, and it reopened as the North Shore Cinema under a new building owner. The general manager, the late Don Klein, told me the name of the theatre was changed to get the stigma of being known as the “Adelphi…..a shoddy, run-down movie house”. The thinking was that “North Shore” sounded…nicer, I guess. When the new owner wanted to get away from the movie theatre aspect of the building, he asked Don if he wanted to lease out the business. Don said, yes,…..under one condition….the name “Adelphi” must be restored. The owner said, “Fine, call it the Adelphi”. He didn’t care anymore. So Don took over in 1991 and it was once again known as the Adelphi Theatre. However, nobody wanted to spend money on changing the marquee so they covered the words, “North Shore Cinema”, with some type of cheap covering. It didn’t seem to last long on the front panel of the marquee (that was installed in 1986) and the words, “North” and “Cinema” were still exposed. Don struggled with the place for four years, showing 2nd-run Hollywood films. He finally threw in the towel in 1995 and Parag Gandhi took over the joint and showed Bollywood movies. The condition of the theatre got worse over time and it finally closed in 2002. Demolished in 2006. I used to work there. Don filled me in on the history of the Adelphi. He worked there when he was 12 years-old.
The theatre was known as the Adelphi from 1917 until 1986. Between 1986 and 1991, the theatre was known as the North Shore Cinema. In 1991 it became known as the Adelphi again; however, the owner did not take down the North Shore marquee. He covered up the front sign portion that read “SHORE”; but “NORTH” and “CINEMA” remained exposed. On the north and south panels of the marquee, the owner put up a painted sign on each side that read “Adelphi Theatre”. The theatre remained known as the Adelphi until it closed in 2002.
The Varsity Theatre closed on Thursday, August 16, 1984. Photo of final newspaper ad in Photo section.
The Woods Theatre was demolished in the Summer of 1989.
https://deadline.com/2022/12/amc-entertainment-arclight-cinema-boston-adam-aron-1235202349/?fbclid=IwAR1iDK1OmRUsEEn8AZLNONvIuvPz1vSHepglMe6_4JKHpZfCLQmfIBKU8kE
CORRECTION: Two small auditoriums opened in 1990, making the Pickwick a triplex. A fourth screen was added, upstairs, in 1994. The fifth auditorium opened in 2017.
Photo was snapped in early 1987.
Wrong Parkway in this photo. This Parkway was located in the Roseland Community on the South Side. 11053 S. Michigan Avenue.
The Capitol Theatre may have stayed open a little longer than 1974. I came across a couple of newspaper ads from 1977 in which the Capitol is listed in the visual display ads of certain movies. There are no individual ads for the Capitol; but the Capitol is listed as one of the Chicago area theatres playing the movie, ORCA. I posted a photo of the newspaper ad for ORCA in the Photos section.
No. No. No. The Harper Theatre at 5238 S. Harper was NEVER twinned in 1970. It was renamed Hyde Park 2. The original Hyde Park Theatre at 53rd & Lake Park was renamed Hyde Park 1. Two separate Hyde Park theatres at two different locations. After Hyde Park 1 closed its doors permanently, Hyde Park 2 became simply the Hyde Park Theatre and stayed that way until it reopened in 2013 and became the Harper again.
From the 2424 N. Lincoln Wikipedia page: “The building first opened as the Fullerton Theatre, a nickelodeon, in 1912. In 1915 it was converted into an auto garage. FBI agents took aim at John Dillinger from the roof of the building in 1934.[1]
It opened again as Crest Theater in 1938."
I checked the newspaper movie section for July 22, 1934. The Fullerton Theatre is not listed. That’s because the building at 2424 N. Lincoln was an auto garage at the time. Here is a video clip in which this man mentions the address of the former movie theatre at 2424 N. Lincoln Avenue (that would later be reborn as a movie theatre; first called the Crest and then 3-Penny Cinema).
https://youtu.be/ymw4C7k754g
The State Lake Theatre showed its last movie on Thursday, June 28, 1984.