United Artists Theatre

Here is a link to a photograph dated 1932 showing Randolph Street from State Street, with the original towering marquees of the United Artists (left) and Oriental (right) Theatres. Sadly, none of the buildings shown in this photograph are still standing today, except the Oriental.

The United Artists was another grand palace in the Loop. It was right across from the Oriental and Woods and a block west of the Chicago, State Lake, Loop, and Roosevelt theaters. Like the others it was the home to exclusive first run premieres. It's greatest success going into the mid 70's was "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?". In the early 70's the UA was host to the premieres of such classics as "Mash", "Cabaret" and "Deliverance" (the owners had canoes hanging from the marquee during that run). In 1975 the UA had its biggest success ever as one of 5 theaters to open "Jaws" in first run. Even though it wasn't playing exclusively, "Jaws" broke UA's house records for months. In the late 70's the UA got a bad reputation for having video games in the lobby that were loud enough to be heard in the theater and for mice. By the time I made my only visit there in 1985 the theater was pretty worn down. I was there to see a Bill Murray film festival ("Caddyshack", "Meatballs", and "Stripes"). The main auditorium was closed to the public. What few people there sat in the balcony. Unfortunately some of those few happened to be either homeless or winos who disrupted the movies. Complaints to the staff fell on deaf ears. It was a sad way to see a grand palace being run. When it was demolished in 1987 there were reports in the papers that the construction crews had never seen so many mice and rats in a building. Once demolished the outdoor ice rink called Skate on State took up residence but now that is closed and the lot is vancant.

A photo from about 1922, showing the theater as the Apollo, before C. Howard Crane's remodeling, is seen here.

I remember seeing Jaws here and found myself looking around at the theatre and not the film. I miss the great theatres in the loop.

This is forwarded from SDH, formerly Plitt Theaters' managing director of the loop operations in the late 1970's.

On the subject of popcorn and concessions deliveries, at both the United Artists, the organ lift was still in place and was used to take cups, popcorn seed, candy, and drink syrup to the basement.

'Twas easier than the stairs, but the UA kept Loop hours (open at 8:00 AM) and the deliveries were made whilst the theatre was open: The teamsters would bring four-wheelers down Aisle Four, load the organ lift up with whatever, and the goods would sink into what had been the orchestra pit, in full view of the astonished first-show patrons. I never argued with it. They had been doing this for decades.

Oops, sorry about the extraneous word "both" in the above. Only the one UA Theater intended. Proofing one's own writing is difficult you know.

Here is a photo of the United Artists' lobby from the 20s.

Here is a view of what is known as "Block 37", with the United Artists Theatre in the foreground, circa the 80s. Every building in this photo from the tall building in the center up to the tall white building in the background on the left (Marshall Field's Department Store) and up to the United Artists' building was razed during the very late 80s until the very early 90s to make way for a new mixed office and retail tower that never got built due to an economic downturn. Only one of the original buildings on "Block 37" still stands, the Commonwealth Edison substation, an Art Deco style building on the corner of Dearborn and Washington Streets, across from Daley Plaza.

This view would be roughly from the Woods theatre, wouldn't it? The substation, I believe, is the building with the U-shaped facade in the photo. Incidentally, this substation is, as I undersand it, a significant factor to why Block 37 has not been developed; the power to much of the loop is controlled from this building and consequently the block is snaked with power lines, the relocation of which would inevitably cause all sorts of havoc to the loop. This is a textbook example of why buildings should not be torn down until plans are absolutely finalized. Also, the text on that lobby photo page isn't really correct in saying it was built inside an existing structure, rather it was a remodeling of a live theatre venue, correct?

Brian, yes, the Commonwealth Edison substation, at 121 N. Dearborn Street (Holibard & Root, 1930) is the limestone-faced Art Deco building to the right of the large Unity Building. The view looks like it's either from the Woods Building or, in my opinion, the Oriental Theatre Building. I'm not sure about the Com Ed substation's role in the failure to redevelop "Block 37", but I have heard the structure referred to as the gravestone of "Block 37". Yes, Brian, you're correct that the United Artists is a remodel of the legitimate Apollo Theatre. UA hired C. Howard Crane to pretty much entirely remodel the neoclassical interior of the six year-old Apollo Theatre in a similar appearance to their theaters in Los Angeles and Detroit. With the recent opening of Millenium Park, and the moving of the ice skating rink from "Skate on State" at "Block 37" to Millenium Park, "Block 37" is now pretty much abandoned much of the year, except for ocassional use by Gallery 37 during the summertime and the Christkindlmarket during the Holidays.

What relationship, if any, did this theatre have with the United Artists movie studio? Was it a preferred place for United Artists films to be shown?

Ron, while others can explain this in much better detail, in a nutshell, many of the Hollywood studios owned, operated or otherwise were involved with theatres. You make more money if you show the picture you made in your own theatre. So Paramount Pictures owned Paramount Theatres, RKO owned Keiths and Orpheums, Warner Brothers owned Warner theaters. If I remember the story right, Loew's theatres operated the other way, the theatre chain created MGM studios to provide material for their screens: a subtle twist on who owns what. United Artists studios got the Apollo Theatre in Chicago and made it into one of their prime exhibition halls. When the theatre changed hands years later, the name stayed the same.

Again, trying to keep this long, complex story brief, the Consent Decree of 1947(?) separated most of the studios from their theatres. Paramount, MGM, Warner and RKO were the main studios effected. (I think) Smaller studios like Columbia, Universal and Disney owned few theatres and were not included in the Consent Decree, but neither did they have enough realestate for it to matter much.

That's the gist of it anyway.

Will,

You nailed it on the head! Here's your star for the day. * :)

From Russell Phillips' Galleries:

A stunning auditorium view of the United Artists, 1985. Such a shame, it looks in good shape.

It's hard to believe that just four years later, this was all gone. I wonder if anything from it was saved, or if it was all turned to rubble. The UA was one of the Loop houses I'd never gone to growing up (never was to the Roosevelt or Oriental either [when it showed movies], just the Chicago and State Lake).

Some 1953 views of the United Artists and several other loop theatres are available at Real Chicago: Chicago in the Fifties. Interesting to see the old marquee, before the more familiar huge wraparound. It must have been a real challenge to make a marquee work around a curved corner entrance.

The correct link for my above comment is here

Turner Classic Movies just held a week long retrospective of the films of Alfred Hitchcock that included a documentary on the making of "North By Northwest." There is some brief footage of the film's World Premier at the United Artists Theater in Chicago, a week or two before the film opened in New York at Radio City Music Hall. The marquee depicted at the top of the page dates from 1958 with a Cinemascope presentation... However, "North by Northwest" was filmed in VistaVision and released the following year. Did they install a VV screen somewhere in between or was the screen already there for some time and used for Cinemascope presentations with some sort of masking?

In the 70's, I remember seeing a couple of Sensurround films at the United Artists: "Earthquake" and, some years later, "Midway." The sensation was rather like one of those vibrating beds gone out of control. In retrospect, it's amazing that old structure didn't collapse on us. I also remember "Star Wars" being there for what seemed like forever the summer it came out, although I had seen it further north at the Esquire.

Here's what is set to take place now at Block 37:
http://www.108northstate.com

It appears to have stalled though as there has been no news since 2005 and the only change noted at the site is the movement of earth.

I believe this to be a picture of the Wurlitzer style "H" organ in the United Artists Theatre.

I was in the theatre in 1979, it really had the appearance of a reto-fit. It was a grind house at the time, the manager humored us and let us see the auditorium.

Here is an interesting article about the United Artists Theater:
http://tinyurl.com/n7f5s

Movie buffs and railfans oftn have a lot in common. Earlier this month, I purchased a 28-minute video on eBay about Chicago Trolleys that had aired on WTV back in 2002. Timeframe stretched from the '30s to the '50s, and most of the footage was in color. One shot of the very late '40s/very early '50s United Artists Theater was stunning, with brilliant chase lights doing their job late in the day! This is a tape to get if you wish to see some of the theater's earlier grandeur.

The folks who market this tape (still not available on DVD, however) are MAHP: Mid-America Historical Preservation and can be contacted at P.O. Box 464, Whiting IN 46394. Cost is low (I won my copy with a single $8.99 bid), and all proceeds fund their other preservation projects. Worthwhile and recommended!

Here's a URL for a 1932 shot of both the United Artists and Oriental Theaters by Bill Volkmer:

http://davesrailpix.com/cta/htm/cta0228.htm

[Correction to my earlier post: MAHP is an acronym for Mid-America Heritage Preservation Foundation.]

That United Artists vertical sign is crazy. I wonder how much it cost to run it for a night? It is certainly a testament to how profitable these places were in their prime.

Yessir, Life's too short, it IS crazy - and wild, too, but energy costs were considerably cheaper back then. We've got SDG&E and you probably have Con Ed, both ripoffs these days. But in the good ol' days... Really wish you could see the multitude of bright yellow chase lights that I mentioned in my 6/18 post about the MAHP video, "Chicago Trolleys." It was a special treat for the eyeballs. WOW!

Well, I am guessing it still wasn't cheap to run a five-story moving electrical sign every night.

Large-scale bummer that this place was torn down. The Woods...eh...I could take it or leave it. But this place had a fabulous interior which was not in bad shape at the end.

http://www.photoeye.com/Gallery/forms/index.cfm?image=1&id=185859&imagePosition=1&Door=6&Portfolio=Portfolio1&Gallery=0

Go to this link and enlarge the United Artists Theatre picture found there to full screen dimensions. Notice that the organ grill designs have a goddess head incorporated into them. I found one of them intact in the rubble while the building was coming down.

I should see if THS wants the thing now that I am talking about it. It certainly doesn't do much good sitting in storage.

What an idiot I was to be crawling around in that place during demolition. One falling chunk of steel would have been the end of me.

How strange it was to look out the ports of the intact projection booth (complete with Playboy Magazines) to see Marshall Fields.

There was a great Mike Royko (Royco?) column years ago on the UA. Someone complained of seeing first a rat, and second a really large rat scoot across the aisle of the theatre while watching a movie. The author of the letter told Royko he was so disgusted that he left. On the way out he mentioned this to an usher, who did not seem to care. Royko's response was:

"The usher did not care because what you saw scooting across the aisle was one of the theatre owners."

Incidentally, all of these comments are being generated by the fact that they are finally building something on Block 37. A friend of mine who should know says it is some sort of public transit center.

Here is a photo of part of a wall of the United Artists that was excavated during the ongoing construction at Block 37 (which is now officially being called 108 N. State).

Russell Phillips Photos:

Auditorium
Auditorium 2)

Brian Wolf is a mad man...a posting mad man that is...

Brian Wolf is also a saint! Thanks again Brian! :-D

Short 1927 video clips of the United Artists marquee can be seen by searching http://www.wttwdigitalarchives.com/searchres.php for 26128 or 26129. A 1954 color view can be seen by searching for 25332.

Bad ass. What a great bursting effect.

I'm pretty sure in my early years I recall my mother taking me to this theater and we saw my very first 3-D film which was "Friday the 13th 3-D".

You're right, CineMaven, the United Artists did show "FRIDAY the 13th PART 3" IN VIVID 3-D (as the marquee proclaimed). I think I was downtown on opening day. The line to get in was long...from the boxoffice ,almost to State street...a sight not seen since the 60s("A SHOT IN THE DARK", "HOW TO MURDER YOUR WIFE", "WHO's AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?") among others. Not only was the line long, but very SLOW. I left and drove to the Norridge theatre to see it. By the way, the UA showed a number of 3-D films... some good "ANDY WARHOL'S FRANKENSTEIN"; some really bad "COMING AT YA".

At what movie theatre did glamorous Marilyn Monroe make her only Chicago stage appearance?

CHICAGO TRIBUNE, Thursday, March 19, 1959, ad announcing:

Scoop! Today Only IN PERSON MARILYn MONROE, on stage! One Appearance Only at 12 Noon!
______________________
NOTE: She was in Chicago for the World Premiere of the Billy Wilder comedy, "Some Like It Hot."

Interesting. I knew "SOME LIKE IT HOT" played the UA; didn't know Marilyn was ever there in person. And Chicago got the World Premiere?!?. Anyway, at the other extreme, in 1965... I think September or October, if memory serves...Johnny Crawford, the son in the TV series THE RIFLEMAN, made a personal appearance at the United Artists to promote the film "VILLAGE OF THE GIANTS". A few other cast members joined him. The co-feature was "SEASIDE SWINGERS". I think this double feature lasted all of two weeks. "SOME LIKE IT HOT" played considerably longer.

See my comments on the Roosevelt Theatre pertaining to this picture http://members.aol.com/citypan/BLK3791789.JPG photo of "Block 37", on which the United Artists stood. The photo appears to be taken immediately prior to the demolition of every building seen on the block. On the right in the distance (on Randolph, the street that the taxi is not on) can be seen the blank marquee for the UA.

Volumes could be written on not only the failure of "Block 37"--indeed they have--but on the failure of State Street Mall too. But, thanks to the revivals of the Oriental and the Cadillac Palace, and the addition of the Goodman, this corner is a lot more vibrant than as shown in the picture.

(And yes, Paul F., I do remember the scene in "Adventures In Babysitting" when the car passes by the still-open UA and the Woods).

GOSSIP COLUMN ITEM:
Chicago Tribune, Friday, June 17, 1960, s. 1, p. 18, c. 1:
Tower Ticker, by Herb Lyon

". . . . Billy Wilder's racy flicker, The Apartment," had a better United Artists box office opening than "Some Like It Hot," with Marilyn Monroe in person. This guy Jack Lemmon takes all. . . . "
__________________________

Here is a listing of the movies that played here from 1964-1980.

1/03/1964 - FOUR FOR TEXAS
1/24/1964 - LOVE WITH THE PROPER STRANGER
2/26/1964 - SEVEN DAYS IN MAY
4/29/1964 - ADVANCE TO THE REAR
5/20/1964 - WHAT A WAY TO GO
7/15/1964 - GOOD NEIGHBOR SAM
8/19/1964 - A SHOT IN THE DARK
10/21/1964- I'D RATHER BE RICH
11/4/1964 - SEND ME NO FLOWERS
12/25/1964- THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY
1/29/1965 - 36 HOURS
2/19/1965 - HOW TO MURDER YOUR WIFE
5/16/1965 - THE AMOOUS ADVENTURES OF MOLL FLANDERS
6/25/1965 - IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD
6/30/1965 - WHAT'S NEW PUSSYCAT?
9/29/1965 - SHIP OF FOOLS
10/22/1965- VILLAGE OF THE GIANTS plus SEASIDE SWINGERS
10/29/1965- LAUREL AND HARDY'D LAUGHING 20'S
11/5/1965 - KING RAT
11/25/1965- DR. GOLDFOOT AND THE BIKINI MACHINE
12/15/1965- MASTER OF HORROR plus MASTER OF TERROR
12/24/1965- THE LOVED ONE
1/28/1966 - A PATCH OF BLUE
3/25/1966 - THE OSCAR
4/22/1966 - THE SINGING NUN
5/13/1966 - THE GROUP
6/17/1966 - THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING, THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING
7/22/1966 - WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?
11/4/1966 - THE FORTUNE COOKIE
11/24/1966- ANY WEDNESDAY
12/20/1966- A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM
1/25/1967 - FARENHEIT 451
2/22/1967 - NIGHT OF THE GENERALS
3/24/1967 - A COUNTESS IN HONG KONG
4/07/1967 - IN LIKE FLINT
5/24/1967 - THE HONEY POT
6/14/1967 - DON'T MAKE WAVES
6/28/1967 - CAPRICE
7/12/1967 - A GUIDE FOR THE MARRIED MAN
8/09/1967 - THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE
1/05/1968 - COP OUT
1/19/1968 - THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS
1/31/1968 - IN COLD BLOOD
3/20/1968 - A STRANGER IN TOWN
4/12/1968 - THE SECRET WAR OF HARRY FRIGG
5/17/1968 - HALF A SIXPENCE
6/05/1968 - A MINUTE TO PRAY, A SECOND TO DIE
6/26/1968 - WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT?
7/10/1968 - THE DETECTIVE
8/14/1968 - BANDOLERO
9/04/1968 - PRUDENCE AND THE PILL
9/18/1968 - THE STRANGER RETURNS
10/16/1968- FUNNY GIRL
6/18/1969 - THE APRIL FOOLS
7/18/1969 - THAT COLD DAY IN THE PARK
8/13/1969 - CASTLE KEEP
9/10/1969 - THE GAY DECEIVERS
10/1/1969 - TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN
11/11/1969- HAIL HERO
11/21/1969- THE MAD WOMAN OF CHAILLOT
12/5/1969 - THE GOOD GUYS AND THE BAD GUYS
12/19/1969- BOB AND CAROL AND TED AND ALICE
3/11/1970 - JENNY
3/27/1970 - M*A*S*H
6/25/1970 - CATCH 22
10/16/1970- DIARY OF A MAD HOUSEWIFE
12/4/1970 - THE SAND PEBBLES
12/18/1970- BREWSTER McCLOUD
1/13/1971 - I LOVE MY WIFE
2/10/1971 - LITTLE BIG MAN
4/30/1971 - SUMMER OF 42
7/02/1971 - CARNAL KNOWLEDGE
9/24/1971 - THE TOUCH
10/13/1971- WEST SIDE STORY
10/27/1971- T.R. BASKIN
11/24/1971- 200 MOTELS
12/22/1971- STRAW DOGS
2/16/1972 - CABARET
5/26/1972 - PLAY IT AGAIN SAM
7/06/1972 - PORTNOY'S COMPLAINT
8/03/1972 - CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
8/25/1972 - THE SALZBURG CONNECTION
9/08/1972 - BLUEBEARD
10/4/1972 - DELIVERANCE
12/22/1972- JEREMIAH JOHNSON
1/17/1973 - SHAFT plus SHAFT'S BIG SCORE
1/31/1973 - BLACULA plus SLAUGHTER
2/14/1973 - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JUDGE ROY BEAN
3/21/1973 - SLITHER
4/13/1973 - HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER
5/23/1973 - A WARM DECEMBER
6/13/1973 - THE CHINESE CONNECTION
5/29/1973 - THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE
7/20/1973 - BADGE 373
8/03/1973 - SSSSSSS
8/24/1973 - FOX STYLE
9/07/1973 - LADY KUNG FU
9/23/1973 - TRIPLE IRONS
10/7/1973 - WILLARD plus BEN
10/19/1973- CHARLEY VARRICK
11/2/1973 - TRICK BABY plus HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER
11/16/1973- THE DON IS DEAD
12/19/1973- THAT MAN BOLT
1/25/1974 - THE KARATE KILLER plus KUNG FU - THE INVISIBLE FIST
2/08/1974 - Mc Q
3/08/1974 - SUGAR HILL
3/29/1974 - CONRACK
4/26/1974 - THE GODFATHER plus LADY SINGS THE BLUES
5/10/1974 - CHINESE HERCULES
5/24/1974 - THE TAKE
6/21/1974 - CLAUDINE
9/13/1974 - ENTER THE DRAGON plus THE CHINESE PROFESSIONALS
10/4/1974 - THE LONGEST YARD
10/25/1974- COLD SWEAT
11/15/1974- EARTHQUAKE
3/07/1975 - CLAUDINE plus SOUNDER
3/21/1975 - THE YAKUZA
4/11/1975 - THE REINCARNATION OF PETER PROUD
5/23/1975 - MANDINGO
6/20/1975 - JAWS
12/5/1975 - ABDUCTION
12/19/1975- YESSONGS plus DEATH OF THE RED PLANET
12/25/1975- LUCKY LADY
2/20/1976 - MANSON
2/27/1976 - MAHOGANY plus MANDINGO
3/05/1976 - THREE THE HARD WAY plus THE DRAGON DIES HARD
3/12/1976 - THOU SHALL NOT KILL plus KARATE 1 ON 1
3/19/1976 - CHINO plus NO WAY OUT
4/09/1976 - FAMILY PLOT
5/21/1976 - ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST
6/18/1976 - MIDWAY
8/13/1976 - THE GUMBALL RALLY
8/20/1976 - THE EXORCIST
9/03/1976 - SURVIVE
10/1/1976 - BEYOND THE DARKNESS plus TERROR FROM UNDER THE HOUSE
10/15/1976- MASSACRE AT CENTRAL HIGH plus POLICE WOMEN
10/22/1976- RETURN OF A MAN CALLED HORSE plus THUNDERBOLT & LIGHTFOOT
11/5/1976 - SHOUT AT THE DEVIL
11/19/1976- NORMAN IS THAT YOU? plus AMAZING GRACE
12/10/1976- SUPER WEAPON plus SOMETHING CREEPING IN THE DARK
12/25/1976- THE SHAGGY D.A.
1/14/1977 - THE RIVER NIGER
1/28/1977 - SWASHBUCKLER plus CAR WASH
2/18/1977 - NETWORK
3/04/1977 - ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 plus HIGH VELOCITY
3/18/1977 - KILLER FORCE plus ABBY
3/25/1977 - SLAPSHOT
5/06/1977 - THE CHINESE CONNECTION plus FISTS OF FURY
5/13/1977 - THE CAR
6/03/1977 - THE HOUSE BY THE LAKE plus THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN
6/10/1977 - THE LITTLE GIRL WHO LIVES DOWN THE LANE
6/17/1977 - THE OTHER SIDE OF MIDNIGHT
7/29/1977 - STAR WARS
12/23/1977- TELEFON
1/20/1978 - THE SPY WHO LOVED ME plus WILLIE DYNAMITE
1/27/1978 - MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE plus THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM plus THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES plus CRY OF THE BANSHEE
2/10/1978 - COMA
3/17/1978 - THE FURY
5/12/1978 - ALICE, SWEET ALICE plus BARE KNUCKLES
5/19/1978 - FM
5/26/1978 - DEVIL WOMAN plus DRAGONS NEVER DIE
6/02/1978 - THE END
6/09/1978 - GOOD GUYS WEAR BLACK
6/16/1978 - JAWS 2
8/11/1978 - EYES OF LAURA MARS
9/01/1978 - BLACK CAESAR plus CLEOPATRA JONES
9/08/1978 - CARRIE plus AUTOPSY
9/29/1978 - BARRACUDA plus TOWING
10/6/1978 - BLOODBROTHERS
10/13/1978- LADY SINGS THE BLUES plus MAHOGANY
10/20/1978- FRIDAY FOSTER plus SHEBA BABY plus FOXY BROWN
10/27/1978- THE DEVIL'S RAIN plus VIRGIN WITCH
11/3/1978 - THE BUS IS COMING
11/17/1978- BLACKJACK
12/22/1978- INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS
1/26/1979 - ANIMAL HOUSE
2/16/1979 - FORCE TEN FROM NAVARONE plus TALES FROM THE CRYPT
2/23/1979 - FASTBREAK
3/23/1979 - HAIR
4/06/1979 - CIRCLE OF IRON plus BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25TH CENTURY
5/04/1979 - LOVE AT FIRST BITE plus BLACULA
5/25/1979 - PHANTASM plus THE PREMONITION
6/08/1979 - JAWS
6/22/1979 - ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ
7/27/1979 - PATRICK plus SCREAMS OF A WINTER NIGHT
8/03/1979 - NORTH DALLAS FORTY
8/17/1979 - FISTS OF FURY 2 plus YOUNG DRAGON
8/31/1979 - RICHARD PRYOR - LIVE IN CONCERT
9/21/1979 - ROCKY II plus ACROSS 110TH STREET
9/28/1979 - THE WARRIORS plus CHEECH AND CHONG'S UP IN SMOKE
10/5/1979 - JAGUAR LIVES plus 7 BROTHERS MEET DRACULA
10/19/1979- METEOR
11/2/1979 - COFFY plus THE MACK
11/9/1979 - KILLER FISH plus SINBAD AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER
11/16/1979- IN SEARCH OF HISTORIC JESUS
11/21/1979- ARABIAN ADVENTURE plus BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25TH CENTURY
11/30/1979- THE STUD plus THE SILENT PARTNER
12/7/1979 - ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ plus SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER plus CHEECH AND CHONG'S UP IN SMOKE
12/14/1979- 1941
1/04/1980 - THE GLOVE plus EMMA MAE
1/18/1980 - THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE
2/01/1980 - A FORCE OF ONE
3/07/1980 - THE VISITOR plus THE GODSEND
3/28/1980 - THE CHANGELING
4/25/1980 - APOCALYPSE NOW
5/02/1980 - KILL OR BE KILLED
5/16/1980 - THE LONG RIDERS
6/06/1980 - AMERICAN GIGOLO plus THE WARRIORS
6/13/1980 - THE ISLAND
6/27/1980 - BRUBAKER plus ALIEN
7/04/1980 - AIRPLANE plus BINGO LONG TRAVELLING ALL-STARS AND MOTOR KINGS
7/11/1980 - I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE plus PENITENTIARY
7/18/1980 - FRIDAY THE 13TH plus THE WARRIORS
7/25/1980 - DRESSED TO KILL
8/29/1980 - THE OCTAGON plus A FORCE OF ONE
9/12/1980 - THE BOOGEYMAN
10/3/1980 - MY BODYGUARD plus VANISHING POINT
10/10/1980- RICHARD PRYOR - LIVE IN CONCERT plus DETROIT 9000
10/17/1980- SCHIZOID plus THE GODSEND
10/24/1980- GLORIA plus WHOLLY MOSES
10/31/1980- THE MACK plus J.D.'S REVENGE plus YOUNGBLOOD plus SCREAM, BLACULA SCREAM
11/7/1980 - THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES plus BUCKTOWN plus COOLEY HIGH plus TRUCK TURNER
11/14/1980- THE ELEPHANT MAN
11/21/1980- BORDERLINE plus RAISE THE TITANIC
11/28/1980- COFFY plus MADHOUSE plus SHEBA BABY plus SLAUGHTER'S BIG RIP-OFF
12/5/1980 - ALLIGATOR plus FADE TO BLACK
12/19/1980- NEW YEAR'S EVIL

Damn quadruple features LOL

I was cleaning out my friend's record shop last week and saw a cover of some musician named Stephen Alexanderson in a suit, strutting in front of this theatre in a suit. The title was "Let the Music Move Me" and it said Chicago as the studio location and it had United Artists on the marquee. It was from 1977.

Here it is. http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/A/Alexandersen,_Stephen/Discography/Let_The_Music_Move_Me/

Shoeshoe14 : Thank you for postin` the link so that we can see the cover that shows how big the UA`s marquee was .
It is sad that the UA is no longer their.
That record`s cover brings back a whole lot of good times.
Thank you for posting and thank you for you time :)

Here is a 1924-dated drawing of the Apollo Theatre (called here Al H. Wood's Apollo Theatre) by Anthony F. Dumas in the Library of Congress.

Is there truth to a rumor I heard that a 7 or 8 screen theatre will be built on this site?

http://cinematreasures.org/news/17472_0_1_0_C/

Here is a question for the class...

The Michael Mann flim "THIEF" (1981) staring James Cann,Tuesday Weld,James Belushi,Willie Nelson and Robert Prosky was released in the US on March 27 1981 the studio if i am right was UNITED ARTISTS my question is this did this movie "THIEF" play the UA on March 27 1981 the posting by JRS40 on May 1st 2007 stops on 12/19/1980 this movie was released in 1981 can any one help with this question?

JRS40, Thank you for posting the list thay are very helpfull.

Thank You for you time :)

You're right, CHI74: "THIEF" opened in Chicago on March 27, 1981. It was released by United Artists. However, it did NOT play the United Artists theatre (at least not first run). "THIEF" played at the Chicago, McClurg Court, and Portage theatres in the city, and a number of suburban theatres and drive-ins. At the Chicago theatre, they had a second feature: "THE FUNHOUSE".

KenC: Thank you for clearing that up for me , now here is the next question...Why did it play at the Chicago , McClurg Court and the Portage but not the UA?

Was the UA still owned by United Artists?

If i am right United Artists did not realy think that it was that good of a movie in the first place (meaning that it was not going to make a lot of money) , is this right ?

Which brings us full circle to the 1st question...Why did it not play at the UA ?

If any one can help i thank you :)
And KenC THANK YOU it help answer that question.

As noted in the description, the UA was sold to Balaban and Katz two years after opening, in 1929.

I also remember "Star Wars" being there for what seemed like forever the summer it came out, although I had seen it further north at the Esquire.

Forever in this case was 21 weeks. (In comparison, "Star Wars" played for 18 weeks at ESQUIRE. The ESQUIRE booking, by the way, began nine weeks sooner than the UNITED ARTISTS run.)

Well that answers that question.:)!

Thank you for that answer.

It is just to bad that the UA was torn down i hope that the new theatre that is to be bult on BLK37 will pay respect in some way to the theatres that were on the spot before it .

THANK YOU and GOOD DAY :)

Someone asked way back in 2005 on this site if any of the United Artists interior remained,well I think that Peter Miller managed to roll up the interior murals from the house and place them in safe storage. Let me add my sad condolences for the demise of the United Artist Th. which was in spledid shape on my last viewing in 1986. R.I.P. United Artist, what a loss!

I remember reading back when the United Artist's ran the Sensurround film Earthquake, the old structure actually did suffer slightly. To protect the public, mesh netting was quickly hung at ceiling height to catch any pieces of plaster that may have continued to jar loose. Similar to what was done at Wrigley Field a few years back.
If anyone else remembers this quick fix, or can locate an original article about it, maybe they can cite where.

"Scarface" on Christmas Day 1982 or`83, was my last time at the United Artists.
I concur it was still in pretty good shape by then. "Say hello to my little friend", was uttered only on screen, not at our feet.

I agree with hank and David...the United Artists was in very good shape until at least the mid 80s. My last trip was in 1985 to see "RE-ANIMATOR" .It was part of a triple feature.To my eyes, everything looked pretty much the same as it did in the 60s and 70s. Perhaps a few worn seats, perhaps a little dusty here and there, but still a pleasant and comfortable experience. The one exception:rodents! Although I never saw any, there was a problem, according to reports. As John Sanchez noted in his post on 2-12-04, the main auditorium was closed; patrons had to sit in the balcony. In the early 80s this same thing happened to me, sitting in the balcony with about 40 other people, watching a triple horror show. Why the balcony on a weekday afternoon? My only conclusion:mouse traps with cheese scattered around the main floor .Nevertheless, I have very fond memories of the UA. Great movies, no problems.

This is one of the most tragic theater demolitions next to the Woods being demolished downtown. At least The Woods had the dignity of becoming The Goodman Theater (if that's anything at all). The United Artist could have remained in that spot until at least 2005. Perhaps if it would've been spared, it would have made a lovely play theater. But then again, who really knows? I'd love to see more pictures of that theatre inside. Especially some color photos of the lobby before it closed.

Call the Theatre Historical Society. They can sell you UA lobby pictures, and it won't cost much. Web site is:

http://www.historictheatres.org/

Contact phone numbers and email addresses are listed there.

Is it possible that the glorious marquee from the UA was salvaged? It would make an interesting artifact if Chicago's theatre museum ever comes to fruition. And for that matter, how about the great marquees of the Woods, State-Lake, and others?

Perhaps in someone's basment, these great works of art are collecting dust (?)

Very much doubt it. They usually cut those things up and truck them away. I assume the scrap metal price on them is part of the demolition company's profit.

Would be cool, however, if one of them did still exist.

You would as have to have a Very large basement too for that one.

I just read an article from Chicago Magazine about White Way Sign Company. It said that while some of the Chicago marquees were lost, some made their way to a museum in Cincinatti called the American Sign Museum; the article did not say which ones are there. I went to the museum's website and did not find any information on theatre marquees.

I did learn some interesting things about White Way Sign Company from the article, though. Did you know that at 9p.m. every Thursday, about 20 White Way trucks came to the Loop and changed the signboards, going on until as late at 2 and 3a.m.? I always just assumed that the staff of the individual theatres would change the signs, but I guess it does make sense, since it would probably need expert attention. White Way also provided maintenance to the signs, and in fact still overs this service.

Anyway, does anyone know about the American Sign Museum, and which signs it holds?

Owner of the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati,Ohio is from the same family which has published nationally, since before 1900, the sign industry bible entitled ,"Signs Of The Times".A large marquee would pose a real space eater in an interior museum, of course it might find use as an exterior weather sheild. Maybe White Way knows where the marquee went.

The coolest thing about the United Artist's signage was the timed illumination of the ABC portion.
It lit up sequentially just like the ABC & 7 on TV back in the day.
Like timed, scriptive writing in lights. The whole sign was stunning, but that part sticks out in my mind's eye.

I just noticed that the original marquee in the 1958 photo at this link's top, had Balaban & Katz in the center. So ABC actually rebuilt the front of the marquee to add their logo.

I remember going to the United Artist to see "Cabaret" when it first came out. Not many people in the theater but my brother, sister and I had a great time. I seem to recall there was a restaurant next door to the U/A and there would be a girl on a swing over the door. Was I dreaming this?

Rolando

Greetingsw Rolando. You were not dreaming that. I clearly remember the restaurant with the girl on the swing too. I posted about it ont the Oriental page I think. I mistakenly thought it was on that side of Randolph. But now as you say it, I'm pretty sure it was next to the United Artists.

I thought it was either a German or New Oleans themed place. She definately wore either Laderhosen or a short skirt/bloomers.
The facade of the restaurant building had a tall cut-away on the left side above the entrance. The swing was actually suspended inside of that. But when she swang out on it, she was over the sidewalk. The cut-away was deep enough to not have her hit the back when she swung back in.

I put a call into my barber who owned a nightclub downtown in the `60's. I'll post back with an answer when I get one.

My sanity is saved! Thanks David for your post. Looking forward to what your barber can recall. Haven't been home to Chicago since 1979; I believe it's time for a visit.

Well, at first my barber thought the club was called the Preview. But he thought that was on another block.
He than came up with the Velvet Swing, which would make sense, but he wasn't sure. He said I was going too far back. I'll see him in a few weeks and re-quiz him. At least we'll learn the name of his own club.

It was Flo's restaurant, a Gay '90s saloon themed restaurant with a cabaret style dance and performance space upstairs.

Flo's was the Preview Lounge from 1947-1960. That space was called variously the Upstairs Room, Encore Room (a couple weeks 1953-1954), the Modern Jazz Room (1956), the Upper Limbo (half a week in 1957), the Modern Jazz Room (1957), Mambo City (1958-1960), Curtain Call Theater(1960-61), the Kit Kat Club (1961-62, had waitresses costumed as kittens)...

So you see why they might go as flashy as a swinging girl to get some attention, with a record like that.

It was also Mambo City from 1954-1956. Quite a checkered history.

You are a God BWChicago. Flo's it is, or was. Thanks! My barber concurs. Thanks for the tiemline.
Flo the owner was apparently a heavy set gal who dated the dance instructer named Tony Paris. Only in Chicago would we now learn this, eh?
My barbers club was called Club Malibu located at 3309 N. Clark. Not downtown as I had thought.

Unbelieveable. Gee, what is next? Oh, time to set the Chicago theater on fire? Maybe use it as target practice for some new bombs from outer-space? How could they mess with UA?

Seems to me Flo's was a little closer to State Street and not right next to the United Artists? I think the women on the swing had a microphone and would talk to the folks down on Randolph Street. Seems like I recall her saying something like "Come to Flo's, Fabulous Flo's", as she swung on the swing, anyone remember that? Years later it seemed like a bookstore and Burger King got located in those buildings before everyting got torn down, including the United Artists.

Greetings. I had thought the same thing too. But a friend of mine reminded me of how massive the entrance to the United Artists Theatre was.
It's multiple glass doors spanned a good distance East, even though it was located on the West corner of that block. It's possible there was one or two storefronts between it and Flo's, but not much more than that.

I remember the swing girl had her own set of spotlights isolated on her alcove. Wireless technology was pretty scarce back then, if available at all. So any corded mic would seem cumbersome for someone swinging out over the sidewalk. Presumably needing both hands. Otherwise she'd start going sideways.
As with the old Vaudeville folks, she probably just projected her voice really well. The movement is all that was necessary to capture attention.

Here is a great 1976 Shot, from under the Woods marquee

Great pic. It shows the giant ABC logo that replaced the Balaban & Katz neon in the photo at the top of this page.

Nice Toronado in the traffic too. A year or two later they had an optional funky, wrap-around rear window. Which today would cost more than the car to replace.

In January, 1931, the United Artists was one of about 20 theatres around the nation that presented the wide-screen version of "The Bat Whispers." The original 65mm camera negative was reduced to a 35mm print that was projected in a system similar to "Magnascope," with a screen ratio of 2:1.
To protect the mystery melodrama's surprise ending, no one was admitted during the last 15 minutes of the performance:http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/batchi.jpg

This photo circa late sixties or early seventies is for sale on eBay:
http://tinyurl.com/dmwquu

http://www.flickr.com/photos/zeusofhollywood/3375169478/in/set-72157615748797666/ - 1975 Night

Nice! With even the old Bismarck sign way down the street. And the rear of a mid `60's Rambler tooling along. Thanks for posting.

Oh, and "Reactivate Notification Status".

Here is a 1982 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cokbce

Ken, the photo you have linked is from 1972 as the picture playing is CABARET. If you look at my list of bookings above you will see it opened in Feb that year and played until May. Great photo and thanks for sharing.

In KenMc's 04/11/09 post of the 1972 picture, "Diamonds Are Forever" is playing at the Woods down the street.

Me and a buddy saw that there multiple times. Jill St. John, Lana Wood, & a lengthy car chase through "old" Vegas with a Mustang ending up escaping on two wheels. A young man's dreams fulfilled on a daily basis.

Here is a 1979 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/dhk95b

1982 Photo

1982 Photo

1984 Photo

Love those photos! Thanks for posting them, Lost Memory.

btw--did the great, golden oldie-but-goody movie/musical classic "West Side Story" ever play at this theatre at any time? Just curious.

FYI. JRS40 posted a list on 05/02/07, of films that played at the United Artist's from 1964-1980. "West Side Story" appears to have played there on/week of 10/13/71. Albeit 10 years after it's original release.

Another milestone I just noticed is, that the golden voice of The Turtle's Howard Kaylan apparently graced the UA screen twice. In the theme song to "Guide For The Married Man" in 1967, and as an actor in Zappa's film "200 Motels". Now there is an odd distinction befitting his humor.

Yes if you look at the other Loop palaces where I list the bookings you will find MANY re-releases through the years. WOODSTOCK and 2001 are just two that played many times through the years after their initial releases.

A clever and unique way to advertise a new film: from the Chicago Sun Times movie listings on Sunday, June 21, 1959. The world premiere all America wanted... (and Chicago has it for the United Artists Theatre July 1) "We'll never tell what happens to Cary Grant, but we'll not keep your secret, Mr. Hitchcock! We know every city in the country beseiged M-G-M Studios for the world premiere of your motion picture, 'North By Northwest.' We know that making 'North By Northwest' has been your secret ambition for many years. We know that you actually filmed many of its scenes right here in Chicago. And we know that this not only is your best picture, but Hollywood's biggest; a multi-million dollar suspense-drama that has never been rivalled in screen excitement. So you see, we have special right to be proud that Chicago was your choice- that you chose our city and our United Artists Theatre for the world premiere July 1. Most of all, we want everyone to know that you personally will be here with Miss Eva Marie Saint to appear at our world premiere celebration opening night." - Balaban & Katz

Great post KenC. I mentioned over on the Surf/Playboy/Chelex/Sandburg Theatre page, that some "North By Northwest" scenes were shot at the Ambassador East Hotel. And a famous still of Cary Grant peeking around an alley wall, was shot across the street almost to Astor. Behind the building at the S/W corner of Astor & Goethe.
Someone else had posted that Grant himself was at the grand opening of the Walgreen's that replaced the Sandburg Theatre in the early `80's.

From the Chicago Tribune movie directory on Monday, Oct.12, 1959: Premiere of the Year- TODAY-9 a.m. (Columbus Day) Last Feature 11:30 p.m. Come On, Everybody! They're Here IN PERSON! ROCK HUDSON TONY RANDALL THELMA RITTER Appearing Opening Day Only on Stage Four Shows 11:15a.m. 1:45p.m. 6:15p.m. 8:40p.m. (The movie is "PILLOW TALK").

I think this was my favorite of the Loop theaters. It was really beautiful and somehow felt a little smaller than the rest. A real jewel.

I have a very fond memory of the United Artitsts Theatre. Back in the summer of 1980 I was watching Channel 2 news and Gene Siskel was doing a report on the cult classic I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE. Both he and Roger Ebert were labeling the movie as the worst movie of all time. Mr. Siskel was so incensed by the movie that he took a camera crew to the United Artists Theatre and stood outside the box-office and tried to talk patrons out of going inside. Of course, they didn't listen to him. Later, Gene took his case to a Plitt Theatre executive and this particular executive agreed to pull the film out of the United Artists "in the best of the public interest." What a crusader!

I worked at the UA from May of 1968 to around July of 1970,eventually becoming the head usher or "Chief of Service." Most of the ushers back then were paid 95 sents an hour, as chief I was paid about 1.25 per hour. The people in the projection booth, a union job, were paid $25 per hour and the theater had a union "stage hand" whose salary I don't really know, but I knew their job was to open and close the curtain and turn the house lights on and off, the rest of the time was his own. The popcorn wasn't really inventoried, as it cost probably less than a dollar to make a bag three feet high and around 15 inches across. But popcorn cups and soda cups were counted. I remember afternoons in the basement counting hotdogs and writing how many were in each box. Some of the hot dogs I counted in 1970 were probably there when the UA was torn down - they used to keep recycling those dogs until they were all wrinkled and dry! But the work was easy, the hardest job being taking the film canisters up three stories to the booth...you didn't think those union men would do that now did you? It was a great time and my movie pass got me into to see a lot of flicks for free. The UA was the best theatre downtown, the seat rows were set farther apart and the place was more comfortable. Too bad it got tore down. I guess they knew what they were doing when the the downtown theatres led a petition drive to ban cable - which they called "pay TV" becasue it would put them out of business. Guess they were right!

Hey David Zornig, I had the same observation about KenMc's 04/11/09 post with the photo link: that "Diamonds Are Forever" is playing at the Woods (in fact I almost hyperventilated when I saw it). That was where I first saw "Diamonds" with my dad around Christmas of '71--an event that kick-started my life-long obsession with all things 007. Also saw "Live and Let Die" and "Man With The Golden Gun" there on their first runs, as well as a re-release double feature of "Thunderball" and "You Only Live Twice." Sorry to prattle on about the Woods on the United Artists page--but I remember that all these Loop theaters were unavoidably linked out of sheer proximity!

A 2/10 Wurlitzer was installed in the theatre in 1921