Ford Center for the Performing Arts Oriental Theatre

I think after it closed in 1981 no one ever thought it would open again and so the theatre pipe organ was removed, but I can't recall what happened to it? They were wrong it did reopen!

If my history is correct, the Oriental Theater is on the same site as the infamous Iroqois Theater, which burned in 1903, and was remodelled as the Colonial. The facade of the Oriental is, partially the same as the facade of the Iroqois

You're right, the Iroquois/Colonial Theatre stood on the site of the present Oriental Theatre (see the listing on this site for the Colonial Theatre, Chicago for more info). However, the facade of the Oriental/Ford Center does not contain any of the old Iroquois/Colonial Building. It was completely demolished in 1925-6 to make way for the Oriental Theater and Masons Building, the office tower which is built over and around the theater.

Following is a link to a photograph from the mid-20s of the United Masonic Temple Building, which houses the Oriental Theatre. The smaller building to the left is the Delaware Building, which is still standing, and is today the oldest remaining building in the Loop, dating to a couple years after the Great Fire (1871). The building in the distance to the right is the old Masonic Temple Building, originally the Capitol Building (1891), by John Wellborn Root, the Loop's first skyscraper. It was razed in 1939, and replaced with a Streamline building that housed the Telenews/Loop Theatre from 1940 until the mid-80s.

Bryan, Great pic of the building and the Oriental Theatre.

Here is a link to a photograph dated 1932 of Randolph Street, showing the original marquees of the Oriental (right) and United Artists (left). Sadly, none of the buildings shown in this photo stand today, except for the Oriental Theatre.

Here is a link to recent photos of the Oriental's auditorium.

The Oriental seated 3200 before the recent restoration/renovation.The Oriental now seats 2200 which is 1000 seats less.During the renovation the lobby was expanded into the back of the auditorium. The stage was also expanded by knocking down a building behind the backstage wall. The Oriental was a quality restoration/renovation making the theatre work for the legitimate broadway stage. It was a blessing that the theatre survived do to lack of investment in the North Loop for many years. The Loop is one of the most improved downtown districts in the United States. It is fortunate that the Loop retained two of its large downtown department stores Marshall Fields and Carson's and Sears which left the loop in the 1970's and returned in the 21st Century.The loop now boasts three restored movie palaces the Chicago,Oriental and Palace. The loop is the finest example of a traditional large downtown in the United States.brucec

I love those giant vertical signs. On 42nd Street both Loews and AMC have instlled them and they are pretty impressive.

I have a question regarding the Oriental. A teacher of mine asked us to find out what the Oriental has to do with the Fire Service. He did not really give us much to go off of so I am having a hard time finding anything. I was wondering if there was a historic Fire or anything of that nature or anything else that could help me out. thank you

Research the Iroquois theater. You'll find a lot of information about it, I guarantee you. The Oriental was built on the same site.

In his book "American Picture Palaces: The Architecture of Fantasy" David Naylor relates a story about the Oriental and the the Rapps displeasure in having to design the Oriental, not at all fond of the wildly exotic style that Balaban & Katz wanted for this theater. Up until then, Rapp & Rapp's movie houses for the circuit had been done in mostly traditional French Renaissance style (except for their Spanish Baroque Uptown Theatre). Naylor writes that the Rapp brothers were said to be so embarrassed by the results of the Oriental that when they received their tickets for the grand opening ceremonies from Balaban & Katz, they tore up the tickets.

I personally don't put any store in the anecdotes in David Naylor's book. He doesn't seem to have researched things very thoroughly. For example, he stated that the Fox in San Francisco was the only theatre to have an organ in its lobby. Well, that would be true if one overlooks the Roxy, and (I think) the Fox in Detroit. He also stated that the Tiffany chandelier in the Loew's State, Syracuse was missing because it was removed during WWII due to misplaced concern regarding its fall in case of a bombing attack. In actuality the chandelier hung there until the 1970's (I've seen it), when it was sold to a couple who purposely broke it up to sell it piece by piece. Mr. Naylor's book is full of great photos, but as a source of information I don't put a lot of stock in it.

A quick addendum: Naylor's book also has one photo of the Paradise in Chicago indentified as "Loew's Paradise in Chicago", when, in fact, it was a B&K house. I don't think Loew's had a single theatre in Chicago at all. Another reference to my above comment: when I mentioned the opportunistic couple who bought the chandelier out of Loew's State and then purposely destroyed it, I should have correctly identified them as a couple of @#%$@***@#% !!!!!

I will be attending the Ford Center for Performing Arts/Oriental soon and was wondering what the appropriate dress attire would be. Any and all help you can give me would be appreciated!

A great night view of the Oriental's marquee, dated 1958, can be seen here.

"Ford Center for the Performing Arts Oriental Theater" is a very awkward name.

What do everyday Chicagoans call it? Is it still "the Oriental" in ordinary conversation? What do newspapers call it?

Ron, I've heard people call it both the Ford Center and Oriental, but more often than not, the Oriental. You'll almost never hear it referred to by the full (and yes, awkwardly long) name.

Ron,
Speaking of awkward-sounding theatre names, the Shubert Theatre here in Chicago, which is soon to be closed for about a year for a restoration project, will be renamed the (and I cringe to even write this I can't stand it so much) the LaSalle Bank Theatre. (Will they have ATM's in the lobby? I'm kidding but it wouldn't surprise me!) It was rumored before LaSalle Bank won the corporate naming rights that maybe the Shubert would return to it pre-1940s name, the Majestic Theatre (the office building to which the Shubert is part of is still called the Majestic Building). Even the LaSalle Shubert Theatre or LaSalle Majestic Theatre would've sounded better but this sounds like a building that can't decide if it wants to be a theater or a bank.

Here's a great fairly current exterior view of the United Masonic Temple Building, which houses the Oriental Theatre, as well as the former Noble Fool Theatre to the right of the Oriental, which recently closed. It uses the restored facade of the famed Eitel's Old Heidelberg German restaurant. To its right (and on top of it) is the School of the Art Institute's dorms (and a Borders bookstore on the corner of State and Randolph Streets on the first couple floors of the building, which imitates the landmark Reliance Building-now the Hotel Burnham-across Block 37 on State and Washington Streets). A snow-covered patch of Block 37 is visible on the far left-hand corner of the photo. The building on the left of the Oriental is the 1870s Delaware Building, the oldest building still standing in the Loop which now houses a McDonald's on its first two floors. Just visible to the left of the Delaware Building, on the corner of Randolph and Dearborn Streets, is Petterino's restaurant, housed in the sprawling new Goodman Theatre complex that occupies the sites of several movie houses: the Garrick, the Woods, the Selwyn, and the Harris (which were later called the Cinestage and Michael Todd, and still later, the Dearborn Cinemas). The photo was taken from one of the upper floors of Marshall Fields department store, on the corner of State and Randolph Streets.

I heard it said that the lobby chandelier shown on page 101 of Naylor's book had fallen years ago. Was there any attempt to reproduce it in the Ford Center?

The Oriental was one of the most popular palaces in the Loop in the 60's and early 70's. It was home to the Chicago premiere of "Airport" in 1970 and it played almost three months. In 1971 the Oriental opened "Sweet Sweetback's Baadassss Song" and from then on things changed for the Oriental. The theater got the stigma of playing only to African American audiences (much like the Roosevelt) and whites stayed away in droves. Naturally to continue to earn a profit the Oriental had no choice but to play blaxploitation and kung-fu films for its audience. Two of the theaters biggest hits in the 70's were "Return of the Dragon" and "J.D.'s Revenge". By 1978 the Oriental had been relegated to a second and sometimes third run palace that showed 3 films and changed every week. In 1981 gangs started fighting in the theater claiming the Oriental was their home turf. Eventually the owners had enough and it was shuttered. Having been there since it re-opened (I saw the stage productions of "Ragtime" and "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" with Ann-Margret) I am pleased to say the theater is probably as beautiful as it ever was. Too bad other theaters like the United Artists, Woods, Roosevelt, and State Lake could not be salvaged as well.

Some interior photos and restoration information are available at http://www.conradschmitt.com/CaseStudies/oriental.asp

Here is a great night time view of the marquee and vertical sign of the Oriental.

Some 1953 views of the Oriental and several other loop theatres are available at Real Chicago: Chicago in the Fifties. I believe the current marquee is essentially modeled after this one. Recently, due to the open-ended run of Wicked there, the marquee bulbs have been replaced by green ones! It's a neat effect, cute.

The correct link for my above comment is here

Brian, I got a kick out of the green bulbs, too! I saw them when I was in the Loop a couple weeks ago. They're also on the vertical sign I believe and there's a huge poster for "Wicked" over the window above the marquee.

Does anyone have any info on the theatre located in the Masonic Temple at State and Randolph Chicago IL:Demolished 1939?What was the name of the theatre?and what could possibly have been the reason for the destruction of this historic building

Tivoli, the theater located in the Masonic Temple Building was called the Temple Theatre. I am not sure if it was ever a movie house, but I believe it started out as a legit theater. The Capitol/Walgreens Building that replaced the Temple will be demolished itself this fall and replaced by a residential/retail development.

Thanks Brian
Any idea where I could look for photos of this building?

Tivoli, here is a 1904 view of the Masonic Temple Building I found in the Library of Congress' Chicago Daily News collection. The caption says the building is in the midst of being cleaned.

Bryan
Thanks for all the photos and info on the loop theatres.Your hard work and dedication are appreciated!!!

Here is a wide view of the Masonic Temple from the Detroit Publishing collection. In the foreground, where Marshall Field's now stands, is the Adler & Sullivan-designed Central Music Hall, their first design together and one of the city's largest theaters. This is captioned as a hall in the Temple; perhaps this is the theater. If not, it was likely similar in appearance.

My understanding is that the theater organ was removed during the 1996-8 renovation by CATOE (Chicago Area Theatre Organ Enthusiasts) and is in their storage. The organ is not currently operable, due to some lost and/or damaged parts, but CATOE hopes to one day get it fully restored and operating.

I haven't read David Naylor's book, but I have read stories that B&K insisted on an Oriental design, an idea the Rapp Bros. weren't thrilled with, and to show their displeasure (and exact their revenge), went over the top with their design in the Oriental Theatre. (Also, I've read they never used an oriental theme again.) But, on the other hand, I've also read that it was the Rapp Bros. who wanted the oriental theme, and had to struggle to win over B&K with their idea. I think I'm starting to believe the former is true ... but, who knows, for sure?!

I haven't seen the photo of the lobby chandelier referred to above, but the foyer center chandelier is missing, and, from what I've read/heard, interestingly, it was a chandelier that was not designed by the craftsmen who regularly worked with B&K/Rapp Bros.

The 4/20 Oriental Wurlitzer was removed by CATOE during the summer months of 1983. In the fall of that year, the instrument was officailly presented to CATOE by Oriental Theatre owner Morrie Kalish during a CATOE show at the Chicago Theatre with the Oriental console on stage!

This is a nice photo of the Ford Center for the Performing Arts/Oriental Theater. And this is another view.

I was lucky enough to draw jury duty today (yes, that is sarcasm). I walked by the Ford Center on my way to eat lunch. It was great to see a long line of people waiting to buy tickets for the latest musical (called Wicked). The line was just as long when I walked back to the Daley Center after lunch (and on my way to the subway at the end of the day). It was also great to see the lobby brightly lit and full of activity. They have installed green light bulbs in the marquee and painted parts of the marquee green to match the marketing materials for the show (similar to the enthusiasm I have seen displayed in old pictures of big movie premiers). Some have argued with aspects of the restoration. But I find it difficult to entertain such a discussion when I compare today's memories to the the recollections I have of walking by the dingy Oriental Electronics store that occupied the lobby in the mid 80's.

In reference to the organ. CATOE does own the 4/20 Wurlitzer, and yes, some pipework was stolen when the instrument was stored in a particular building. The console has been restored, and pneumatic stop-action has been replaced with electric action. All pipework is replacable with WurliTzer pipework. Once CATOE has the keyboard rebuilding completed, the console will be put on display in the Grande Hallway of the Theatre. Once there is sufficiant finacial support and Grants, CATOE will reinstall the WurliTzer in its home.

Thay did a GREAT job bring back the Orential there were some up grades but over all it looks like it did the day that it opened one thing that i recall that is missing the "Elephant Chairs" in the main lobby. The first show to open at the Ford center for the Preforming Arts Oriential Theatre was "Ragtime". In order to convert the stage from movie to "live theatre" thay had to take out some of the back of the bulding and reconfig it, thay did a wonderfull job.
Also toward the end of the Orential i think it was back in the 80`s or something like that there was a fire in the balc. But that is in the past and now along with the Chicago,Palace,and Goodman theatres this part of the city is once agan geting back to the way that it was.

It is wonderful to hear that the ORIENTAL is back and flourishing again. It is a pity that they didn't have the original House Curtain restored along with the rest of the auditorium draperies, for they contributed so much to the "hashish dream decor" as it was called by the late Ben Hall in his Landmark book of 1961, "The Best Remaining Seats." Of course, the estimated cost of over a million dollars in today's dollars was probably enough to put that idea to rest!

The Oriental closed in December, 1980 following a rise in gang violence. The final operators were Kohlberg Theaters, decendants of which continue to operate the Cascade Drive-In. The theater was originally to have been converted to a two-story shopping mall with 5 stories of the original theater above as a theater-in-the-round.

Per BW's comment above, it would have been, well, interesting to see how they might have pulled off that "Shopping Mall/Theatre-In-The-Round" scheme. Per my posts under the Roosevelt Theatre, the Oriental/Ford Center and the Cadillac Palace and the Goodman were all in a zone designated to be re-developed, i.e. "obliterated." The Goodman uses the facades of the Harris/Selwyn a.k.a. Michael Todd/Cinestage a.k.a. Dearborn Cinemas and the Oriental and Cadillac Palace are restorations.

It is good that the North Loop Redevelopment Plan did not go thru. The City of Chicago has discovered that there is room for the performing arts in this area. Theatre is alive and well in these former cinemas and many of the patrons eat at nearby restaurants or stop for a drink afterwards. This would not happen if the proposed office buildings had gone in and it shows the economic benefits of having a busy theatre district.

Before these theatres (and the Chicago Theatre) were restored, most Broadway Plays went to the Arie Crown Theatre, located in McCormick Place. The Arie Crown had the worst acoustics and sightlines of any theatre (this is not an exaggeration--true theatre lovers hated the place) and offered no economic benefit because afterwards, people usually got in their cars and went home.

Does anyone have any info on the former theatre at 3947 S.Drexel in Chicago?I know it was associated with the El Rukn street gang in the 80's and it is no longer there but thats all I know about it.

tivoli: You are looking for the Oakland Square Theatre

CHI74: A 1996 article in the Tribune about a certain architectural salvage firm in Chicago, Ziggurat (I don't think they exist anymore) mentions that they had the elephant chairs. They exist, somewhere. I'm surprised they weren't acquired by the Oriental, since the restoration was occuring then. Maybe they were removed DURING the restoration? That would seem odd, but considering the timeframe...

Here is a fairly recent photo of the Oriental's facade decked out for "Wicked" as it's been for some time now (and will be for some time to come). The lights under the marquee have been replaced by green lightbulbs. It looks very cool lit up at night.

Bryan Krefft:Thank you for the information i did not know what happened to them. I was part of the FOH crew that took over when livevent reopened the Oriental i was there when thay were in the middle of it i was there for the first run of "Ragtime",the uniforms that were worn the "first time Out" did not look like thay do now and thay did not look like the "Arabian Night`s" inspired back when it was opened for the first time. The uniforms that we used oddley enuf looked something like the uniforms that the UA personell wore. There were some better upgrades like the doors to the aisles are now controled by remote control when the show starts if the usher is busy and can not get to the door a controll room operator can close them.Not to mention the very useful intercom system.Thank You for your time and information.

Bryan Krefft: That is a very good pic of the Orential thay did something like that for "Ragtime" also i think that thay are going to do that for any long running show.

Let me update a couple of things, in the photo of the Masonic Temple Building and the Delaware Building, posted on 11/13/03 by Brian Krefft, the Delaware Building origianlly extended one window bay to the east. The Iroquois theater was then next to the Delaware. The Delaware lost that window bay when the Masonic Temple was built. Second, when the Oriental Theater was renovated in the 1990's the stagehouse was expanded into the old Oliver Typewriter Building, which was behind the Oriental Theater and just to the north of the Delaware Building. Most of the Oliver Typewriter building was destroyed, the cast-iron facade was retained. Lastly, the chandliers that are currently in the lobby of the Oriental originally hung in front of the organ screens in the auditorium. During the Oriental's renovation, I was working very near to the theater and used to sneak into the building during my lunch hour. (And usually got caught and 'asked' to leave.)

This 12/8/80 article from the Chicago Tribune describes a Loop that's almost unimaginable today, just as today's Loop was probably not imaginable back then:

POLICE NET 75 IN GANG CRACKDOWN

Seventy-five suspected members of two rival Chicago street gangs were arrested Sunday night, most of them in the Oriental Theatre by undercover police conducting a sweep to head off Loop-area gang problems. The arrests were made in the lobby and outside the theater at 20 W. Randolph Street, and at a pinball arcade across the street. No weapons were recovered, and the suspects were charged with disorderly conduct, according to detective Sgt. Samuel Crawford of Gang Crimes South. One suspect found scrawling a gang name on a theater wall was charged with criminal damage to property. Ten undercover detectives from the unit, some of them driving cabs or posing as moviegoers, arrested the suspects. They were backed up by 20 other officers, Crawford said. Several hundred theatergoers were not disturbed during the two hours police made the arrests. The theater and other spots along Randolph Street have been under surveillance by police since gang activity there increased in recent weeks, he said. Edwards Fitzgibbons, theatre manager, said, "We've had police in here all week concerned about the gang problem along this whole area of Randolph Street. We've had violence down here. We have security [guards], but's there too many of them [gang members]." Police said a gang member was shot and wounded in front of the theater a week ago, and that the wider dispute involves gangs from the South Side and the West Side. Police learned the two gangs planned to confront each other Sunday to "settle their differences" said Crawford, so they staked out the area.

All that i have to say is WOW! great find and thank you for putting it up for us to see. It is hard to envision that happing but it did.
I recall something also about there being a fire in the balc. do you know if the gangs did it or was it just someone not doing their job?
The way that i was told was that their was some one not putting out a cigerett the correct way, and the ash started a big blaze in the balc. that destroyed the upper floors and did some damage to the seating area (the smoke and the water i mean) can you or any one help shed some light on this for me . thank you.

CHI, I found another article from the Tribune from 6/6/78 about a fire the previous day in the balcony. In a nutshell, the article says the fire began in a cigarette receptacle that had been stuffed with garbage (paper napkins, popcorn boxes, etc) that caught fire and quickly spread to the carpet, chairs and walls nearby. Someone shouted "Fire!" and about 2000 people watching a triple feature of "Deathsport, "TNT Jackson" and "Uncle Tom's Cabin" panicked and rushed for the exits. The report said there was a lot of screaming and yelling but no injuries. "On the way out, angry moviegoers stormed the ticket booth, smashing its windows and demanding their money back". There was also water damage after the fire was put out to the balcony stairs and lobby area. The Oriental reopened the next day, but the balcony remained closed.

Thank you for the information that sounds like what i was told.
I used to be part of the FOH staff during "Ragtime" and that was one of the examples that we used in the brefing of the staff before the show.Great job finding the articles to share please keep them comming.

Story passed down through the family about opening night is that they were asked to come up on stage and take a bow. They refused, causing a minor controversy. The story goes that they were unahappy with the design. This rings true, as Rapps tend to do two things: overachieve and suffer from inferiority.

The fire mentioned above is the source for some of the negative comments I have heard about the restoration. The upper lobby in question was not restored (only cleaned up). It could be argued that it doesn't fit.

I was given a tour of the Oriental (and a hard hat) while the restoration work was in progress. We went up on scaffolds and walked above the auditorium, from the rear of the balcony to the stage opening. I was shown spots on the ceiling where original construction workers wrote their initials.

Can any one tell me what other theatres were around the Orental other then the Chicago Theatre the ones the i recall are : State/Lake
Roosevelt, The UA, Woods,Loop,Selwlyn,Harris,Garrick. Are their any others that i am forgetting? Thank You for your time on this question.

Before the Heidelberg, there was a theatre called Randolph, besides that, there were the Apollo, RKO Grand, and the Palace.

Thank You For the information, can you tell me if their were any other theatres by the Garrick on the sight of the Goodman complex.
I know that the Woods was on the corner and the harris/selwyn are in the back and that the Garrick was on Randolph was their another theatre i think the adress is somtihing like 74 w Randolph? Also,the Randolph is their a Boarders book store on the spot now? Thank You for your time.

The Randolph was directly next to the Iroquois. For many years later, it was the site of the Old Heidelberg German restaurant. About 10 years ago, the property was redeveloped and the site is presently an Argo Tea. It had been the Noble Fool Theater for a couple years. The Apollo was the theater directly next to the Garrick. The site was redeveloped in the 1950s into a Greyhound Depot, which, along with the Garrick site, is now part of the Chicago Title and Trust center. The RKO Grand was on the site of Daley Plaza.

Also, photos of most of these from the THSA archives can be seen at the Corner Bakery location on the site

Thank You, now i understand now it makes sence.
I wish that all of the theatres that were in this area were sitll there. Good thing that we still have the Orential and the palace.
Thank You for your time.

The original stage was said to be very innovative; an opening day article in the Tribune says, "A new feature in theater construction is introduced in the revolving stage, which allows one act to be in progress while two others are in preparation behind the scenes, the stage itself moving up, down, or sideways under motor power directed by a controller." Incidentally, the restoration did not actually retain the original colors, opting instead for a more subdued version; however, the bright, jewel-like colors were consistently touted as one of the more interesting features of the theater upon its original opening.

I thought this caption on an Oriental Theatre photo found on the Internet today says it all:

"There was so much bling inside the theatre I didn't know what to photograph next."

The Oriental Theatre opened on May 8th. 1926.

Here are a few more photos of the exterior:
123

I never noticed this before, but the Oriental's vertical sign is in the background of the Norman Rockwell painting The Clock Mender.

Also, the Oriental was acquired by M&R in about 1967.

The internal skeleton of the Oriental is the original Iroquois. Nothing from the facade is from the Iroquois. There was no structural damage from the fire. It was all cosmetic. Which makes the loss of all of those lives even more tragic. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 claimed much less loss of life than the Iroquois disaster.

No, it isn't. There is nothing of the Iroquois. The Iroquois, after the fire, was remodeled into Hyde and Beman's Music Hall and shortly thereafter became the Colonial Theater, which it remained until the Oriental was built. The Iroquois was not nearly as big as the Oriental.

Brian is correct. The Iroquois building was torn down.

Imagine how weird it would have been to see a show at Hyde & Beman's knowing that a disaster took place within the building. Very weird, remodeling or not.

Can any one explane to me whare the Garrets Popcorn Store is at ?
The news reported that it was in the Orential, my question is...
whare is it, is in the acutal theatre or has it opened in the office part of the Orential Buld.If any one knows please post the answer
Thank you.

I wasn't aware Garrett's had opened. It's ground-floor retail, next to the office buiding entrance.

Yes, it just did the news reported that the owners of the offices did not want it to be opened for fears that the smell of the popcorn would upset the flow of the work day. And that if the store got the O.K. that no one would be doing their job,that thay would be thinking about the popcorn and not the work. But i think that the County were the ones thet said OK and now the store is opened.

Thank You for the information that is ware i thought it was but i was not sure. Thanks Again!!

To echo what was said above, the Oriental theater's facade was MODELED after the Iriquois, but it IS NOT the one from the Iriqouis, it was demolished when the original building came down in 1921.

The facade doesn't look like the Iroquois in any way, shape, or form. http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/ichicdn/n0015/n001578.jpg
Any architect building a theater on the site of the deadliest theater fire (which occured just after it had opened) would have to be an idiot to remind people of the horrible tragedy, lest the audience fear becoming victims themselves.

Here is a profile from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency's HAARGIS system. It includes small pictures. Here is another.

Can any one tell me why the sign that runs up the side of the bulding was removed? Was this becuse of WW2 or becuse it was falling apart?
Also can any one tell me when it was removed?
If you click on the link posted above then go down to the bottom you will see pitctures from 1920? and others from 1970? showing the diferance. thank you for you time . and thank you fore the link to the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency`s HAARGIS System.:)

The sign that you inquire about, is properly called the VERTICAL SIGN (the MARQUEE below it consists of a Canopy surrounded by some sort of Attraction Boards with the changeable letters for the current attraction, with the theatre's Name Sign and often ornaments atop it). The Vertical Signs were often the first to go for a variety of reasons:
1) Change of name of theatre or ownership
2) Damage to expensive sign as by lightning
3) Changes to building necessitating removal
4) The "modernization" programs in many cities, especially in the 1950s when owners were persuaded by firms offering such as sheet alluminum and plexiglas that a theatre must look new and 'with it' to compete with new cinemas then being built.
5) Maintenance costs that involved often replacing hundreds of light bulbs, scraping rust and repainting by specialists well paid for hanging in a bosun's seat at that height!
9) Feared physical damage as during the Second World War when the nation was in a mass fear over possible bombings and consequent falling signs, along with that perennial fear in earthquake-prone areas -- and the resultant repair expenses and liability litigation.
10) The restrictions upon repair materials during the War years, and the elimination of certain neon colors in the 50s which made authentic repairs impossible in some cases.
11) The progressive change of politics which encouraged demolition of such signs by taxing them.

The Theatre Historical Society has many photos of the removal of the Vertical Signs but it is often difficult to know the actual combination of reasons in any one case. In many cities it is now illegal to re-construct such Vertical Signs, so exciting though they were, there is little hope of returning them in most cases.

One thing i've never quite understood is why the Oriental's marquee was replaced with a virtually identical model in the 50s. For reference, Here is the original marquee, and Here is the replacement. As visible in the 1932 picture, the ugly open-bulb sign over the window had been added quite early and there was a great redundancy with the same information on the vertical sign, attraction sign, and marquee. I think the current marquee captures the essence of the original pretty well. It also looks to me like the vertical sign is positioned a bit differently from the original.

Thank You for that information :)

Also i will have to agree with you on the current marquee, i will have to look at the vertical sign closer next time i am by the Orential Thanks for you time.

The "open bulb" type of sign that Brian refers to is called a SKELETON sign, and was quite popular for its big impact and lower cost. Incandescent versions were most common, but neon versions also existed, especially in the less storm and ice prone areas.

As to why it seemed so redundant in multiple wordings, remember the tenor of times: the Second world War was over and the country was newly flush with money, materials for bigger signs, and the guys back from the war to make and install these things. Sign companies saw it as a bonanza for them as they would usually give a prominent palace a sweet dealm to 'upgrade' its signage so that their salesmen could flash new color photos of the newness to owners/operators of other theatres and claim the palace had increased its gate by some mythical percentage as a result of the new, larger, brighter signs attracting the eye of the passerby.

One must also remember that automobile ownership ballooned after the war and so passerbys were now often speeding by, so it took a bigger spectacle to assure they would see an exhibitor's sign amid the clutter of many other new, larger signs of all businesses. This competition for always bigger and brighter got so extreme that social standards groups started campaigns to return to "sane" non-garish signage, and politicians who sensed the change in the wind of public acceptance, lost no time in enacting leglislation to limit the size and character of signs, and it was the theatre Vertical that was the most conspicuous and therefore often the first to go.

By the end of the Sixties, the country's moral climate changed from the moral and conservative of the war years, to the permissive and amoral. Sign restrictions were seen as part of the old Blue Laws and were repealed -- or simply unenforced -- across the land. The psychedelic era arrived along with strobe lights, so bright lights were hip again and who would restrain trade? Some places will now accept Verticals, some won't in the typical patchwork quilt of laws in this country. Read back issues of "Signs Of The Times" magazine for articles.

Here is an early 1990s HAARGIS photo of the unrestored Oriental from across Block 37.

Thank You for the HAARGIS photo i forgot how the Orential looked back then. Thank You for your time :)

Here is an early postcard view of the New United Masonic Temple Building/Oriental Theater

Here is a 1950s view of the glitzy Randolph Street Rialto.

This is a recent view of the Ford Center for the Performing Arts Oriental Theater.

As i have written in the other post in the Chicago Mag October edition.
on page 116 their is a very nice pic of the Orential sign and marquee
i think it is from the 401s judgeing from the car in the pic.

Here is a postcard view of the Oriental.

Here is another.

Amazing photo. I remember taking a bus from that Trailways depot when I was a really little kid.

Here is the marquee in its 'Wicked' glory.

1927 views of the Oriental Marquee can be seen by searching http://www.wttwdigitalarchives.com/searchres.php for 26128 or 26129.

Wish I could have seen it in person.

Here is a 1960s shot of the Oriental reflected in a restaurant across the street.

Werent there several other theaters up and down the same street The Oriental was located? I was very young then to remember what they were named, but I do remember several more up and down the same block. Anyone who can name them for me, it would be greatly appreciated to further my research of these amazing theatrical palaces.

The United Artists was at the SE corner of Randolph and Dearborn, The Woods was at the NW Corner, with the Cinestage and Michael Todd on Dearborn next to it. Next to the Woods on Randolph was the Garrick, which was long gone by the 80s, as was the Apollo a little north of it. Another block down was the Palace, which also did live shows as the Bismarck. Also next to the Chicago in the Walgreens building was the small Loop theater, and across from Field's was the Roosevelt. These were the major theaters of the "Randolph Street Rialto".

Thanks for all your recollections!

Awesome, invaluable info. Thanks very much BW.

In January, 1940, the Oriental and Woods shared Chicago's premiere engagement of "Gone With the Wind," but advertised separately:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/chiGWTW.jpg

This is a recent view of the Orien al (Oriental) Theater.

Here is a recent interior view of the Oriental Theater.

My B&W photo of the ORIENTAL THEATER sign.

www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/349891088

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978

New Masonic Building and Oriental Theater *** (added 1978 - Building - #78003401)
Also known as Oriental Theatre
20 W. Randolph St., Chicago
Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Rapp & Rapp
Architectural Style: Art Deco, Late Gothic Revival
Area of Significance: Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture, Social
Historic Sub-function: Business, Clubhouse, Theater
Current Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Business, Theater

My Girl Scout troop will be attending the play Wicked soon at the Oriental Theatre and of course we have balcony seats, because cookie money doesn't go very far! I am deathly afraid of heights and I was wondering if anyone can tell me where I can find pictures of the interior of the theatre so that I can mentally prepare for how high up the seats are before we go.
Thanks
Troop leader

TO reginamon :
If you would like to see the Orential Balc pic you can try the broadway in chicago site that is the offical site for the Orential if you look at the top of the profile you will see a link for it onder related websites. If that cant halp you when you get to the theatre before you go to your ticked seat ask to speak to the HOUSE MGR. you might be able to get a relocation pass for your self but not the whole group. But as i sayed before before you go to the balc ask to speak to the HOUSE MGR. and see what he/she can do .
Have a great time and enjoy the show. :)

As I recall, the balcony of the Oriental isn't too steep. I think you should feel safe. The only problem I can see would come into play if your seats are right up on the railing. It will be obvious at that point that you are about 1 1/2 stories from the main floor.

This is true, the dress circle and the loge mostly when you are on the loge floor and you look up you then get the point of the 1 1/2 stories. But it realy is not that high but if you have a problem as i said before ask to speak to the House MGR.
Other then that have fun and enjoy the show.

Also if you want picture of the inside of the Orential try the yellow pages in the front of the book their is a few pages for theatres and if i recall rigt their is a pic of the Orential small but it may just give you an idea.

Thanks for your help, "CHI74" and "Life's too short". I'll try to be brave!
Reginamom

Enjoy the show! :)

For the Organ enthusiast, The original organ console is, as of today, on display in the Lower Lobby of the FCPA/ORIENTAL.

Could someone if they have the movie listings for the Oriental e-mail the movie listings from say the mid 50s until it closed in 1981?

Thank you,
300 bowler

So there is no organ installation these days?

No, There is not currently an organ installed at the FCPA/Oriental.

The Original, Restored Console is however on public display in the Lower Lobby.

A suicide at the Oriental, from the 8/7/43 Chicago Tribune:

PATRON SHOOT SELF TO DEATH IN LOOP MOVIE

Henry Leo Margolski, 23 years old, jobless laborer and ex-convict, shot himself to death in the Oriental theater last night as a singer sang "You'll Never Know," the theme of his suicide note. Few heard the shot and the show went on.

Margolski, who had been rejected for military service and classified 4-F in June, had just seen the movie, "Good Luck, Mr. Yates," which depicts the trials of a 4-F rejectee in convincing his friends of his patriotism.

In his pocket as he fell into the aisle from his seat near the back of the first balcony was this note to his wife: "Dear Rose: This is the best way out. Always remember this song, 'You'll Never Know How Much I Miss You.' I love you forever. Your undeserving husband, Hank."

Police believe Margolski saw an afternoon show, wrote the note, returned to the theater and waited for Miss Dolly Dawn to sing the love ballad again.

Detective bureau records show that Margolski served prison terms for petty larceny and auto theft. His mother, Mrs. Jennie Karp, lives at 1324 Huron street.

Here is a 1925-dated drawing of the Oriental Theatre before it was named the Oriental. It goes by the name "Loop Theatre" in this drawing by Anthony F. Dumas from the Library of Congress.

Does anyone know when the name of Oriental was chosen for the theatre ? Thank You for you time.

Here is a night view of the Ford Center.

A good view of part of the Oriental's lobby.

I didn't see this view of Randolph Street posted above. If I missed it, apologies:
http://tinyurl.com/2llmrm

And this is another recent photo.

My wife and I saw "Wicked" this weekend on a getaway trip to Chicago. Great play, and it was really good to be back in the Oriental after 25 years. I played a social for CATOE there in 1982, while the front was converted into the electronic junk store. The CATOE bunch had to enter through a strange door in the front, around the back of the store and into the theatre. They only hosted one other event at the theatre after that, with the great Barbara Sellers playing. Her parents, Preston and Edna played at the Oriental during the "golden age". Knowing this was to be the last tie the organ was used before it was removed, the last chord was played by Edna, who despite her very advanced age could be there and was brought up to the console to play that last ceremonial chord. I saw the console downstairs, looks wonderful, can't wait to play it again. The Oriental organ was a hottie! literally a fire-breathing dragon. The theatre looked wonderful. I had a similar emotion as when I stood in the Fox theatre here in Detroit in '88 and saw it gloriously restored, doing the right kind of entertainment (not Kung-Fu and exploitation films for an indifferent audience). Wicked was wonderful, made even better by the fact that we won the drawing at Borders for the $25 front row seats that night!

A view from a distance with 'Wicked' enjoying a long run.
http://www.ianritchiearchitects.co.uk/opera_house/images/416roh01.jpg

Sorry, wrong pic!

Here it is again.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtians/2242696053/

A 1946 photo by the great Walker Evans can be viewed here:
http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/collection_database/photographs/queue_at_oriental_theatre_chicago_illinois/objectview.aspx?page=1&sort=0&sortdir=asc&keyword=theatre&fp=1&dd1=19&dd2=0&vw=1&collID=19&OID=190031571&vT=1

http://www.streetsandsoul.com/chicago/old15.jpg This looks like a shot from the mid-80s, while the Oriental was an electronics store

Here is the film bookings at the Oriental from 1964-1977. From late 77 until the theater closed in the early 80's the theater had triple features changing on a weekly basis.

01/03/64 - KINGS OF THE SUN
01/17/64 - THE PRIZE
02/21/64 - SUNDAY IN NEW YORK
03/20/64 - FLIGHT FROM ASHIYA
04/10/64 - ONE MAN'S WAY
04/24/64 - THE 7 FACES OF DR. LAO
05/15/64 - THE WORLD OF HENRY ORIENT
06/05/64 - FOR THOSE WHO THINK YOUNG
06/24/64 - 633 SQUADRON
07/10/64 - NIGHT OF THE IGUANA
08/28/64 - THE 7TH DAWN
09/18/64 - A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME
10/09/64 - FOUR DAYS IN NOVEMBER
10/16/64 - THE SECRET INVASION
11/04/64 - JOYHOUSE
11/20/64 - RIO CONCHOS
12/18/64 - KISS ME, STUPID
01/22/65 - QUICK! BEFORE IT MELTS
02/11/65 - NONE BUT THE BRAVE
03/12/65 - HUSH HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE
04/30/65 - THE SATAN BUG
05/14/65 - MISTER MOSES
05/28/65 - IRMA LA DOUCE plus TOM JONES
06/04/65 - I'LL TAKE SWEDEN
06/25/65 - THE YELLOW ROLLS ROYCE
08/06/65 - THE GREAT SPY MISSION
09/03/65 - BILLIE
09/24/65 - NEVER ON SUNDAY plus TOPKAPI
10/08/65 - MARRAIGE ON THE ROCKS
11/05/65 - RETURN FROM THE ASHES
11/24/65 - GYPSY plus THE MUSIC MAN
12/10/65 - McLINTOCK plus LILLIES OF THE FIELD
12/23/65 - THUNDERBALL
05/13/66 - HARPER
06/24/66 - BOY DID I GET A WRONG NUMBER
07/27/66 - WHAT DID YOU DO IN THE WAR DADDY?
08/31/66 - DUEL AT DIABLO
09/23/66 - AMBUSH BAY
09/30/66 - DR. NO plus GOLDFINGER
10/28/66 - THE LIQUIDATOR
11/09/66 - MISTER BUDDWING
12/07/66 - VIVA MARIA
12/21/66 - AFTER THE FOX
01/27/67 - A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS
03/03/67 - A COVENANT WITH DEATH
03/17/67 - HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING
04/28/67 - THE ALAMO
05/12/67 - FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE
06/16/67 - THE WAY WEST
07/07/67 - TRIPLE CROSS
07/21/67 - UP THE DOWN STAIRCASE
08/16/67 - IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT
10/06/67 - BEACH RED
10/20/67 - HOUR OF THE GUN
11/03/67 - OPERATION KID BROTHER
11/10/67 - THE PENTHOUSE
12/20/67 - THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
02/14/68 - THE PRESIDENT'S ANALYST
03/06/68 - HOW TO SAVE YOUR MARRAIGE AND RUIN YOUR LIFE
04/03/68 - THE GLORY STOMPERS
04/17/68 - NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY
05/17/68 - WILD IN THE STREETS
06/19/68 - VILLA RIDES
06/28/68 - THE PRIVATE NAVY OF SGT. O'FARRELL
07/12/68 - FIVE CARD STUD
07/31/68 - HANG EM HIGH
08/28/68 - THE VIOLENT FOUR
09/11/68 - THE BIG GUNDOWN
10/02/68 - DEADFALL
10/16/68 - THE BOSTON STRANGLER
11/27/68 - LADY IN CEMENT
12/20/68 - THREE IN THE ATTIC
02/05/69 - RIOT
02/26/69 - SECRET CEREMONY
03/26/69 - HELL IN THE PACIFIC
04/11/69 - A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS plus FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE
05/08/69 - DEATH OF A GUNFIGHTER
05/30/69 - ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST
06/24/69 - THE LOST MAN
07/22/69 - STILETTO
08/13/69 - PARANOIA
09/17/69 - MEDIUM COOL
10/08/69 - DEATH RIDES A HORSE
10/22/69 - CAMILLE 2000
11/12/69 - FANNY HILL
12/25/69 - GENERATION
01/02/70 - THE BOSTON STRANGLER plus THE DETECTIVE
01/16/70 - ONE MILLION YEARS B.C. plus SHE
01/30/70 - THE MAGIC CHRISTIAN
02/18/70 - THE MINX
03/19/70 - AIRPORT
06/26/70 - TWO MULES FOR SISTER SARA
07/22/70 - KELLY'S HEROES
08/14/70 - SOLDIER BLUE
09/25/70 - TROG plus TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA
10/14/70 - C.C. AND COMPANY
10/30/70 - LOVERS AND OTHER STRANGERS
11/25/70 - WHIRLPOOL
12/18/70 - RIO LOBO
01/22/71 - THREESOME
02/12/71 - VIXEN plus CHERRY, HARRY AND RAQUEL plus LORINA
03/12/71 - THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD
04/02/71 - BROTHER JOHN
05/05/71 - SWEET SWEETBACK'S BAAADASSSS SONG
06/30/71 - KLUTE
07/28/71 - McCABE AND MRS MILLER
08/18/71 - THE OMEGA MAN
09/15/71 - WOMEN IN CAGES
10/06/71 - THE BUS IS COMING
10/27/71 - THE FEMALE BUNCH
12/03/71 - BEAST OF THE YELLOW NIGHT plus CREATURE WITH THE BLUE HAND
12/17/71 - MAN AND BOY
12/31/71 - COMMON LAW CABIN plus GOOD MORNING AND GOODBYE
01/12/72 - BLINDMAN
02/11/72 - SOUL SOLDIER
03/10/72 - TALES FROM THE CRYPT
03/24/72 - COOL BREEZE
04/21/72 - FROGS
05/05/72 - HORROR ON SNAPE ISLAND
05/19/72 - TOP OF THE HEAP
06/09/72 - COMPANEROS
06/23/72 - BEN
07/14/72 - JOE KIDD
08/11/72 - SUPERFLY
10/27/72 - ASYLUM
11/10/72 - FAREWELL UNCLE TOM
11/22/72 - BOOT HILL
12/06/72 - SLAUGHTER HOTEL
12/20/72 - HIT MAN
01/19/73 - PRISON GIRLS
02/15/73 - WATTSTAX
03/23/73 - THE MACK
05/04/73 - FISTS OF FURY
05/25/73 - THE SOUL OF NIGGER CHARLEY
06/08/73 - COFFY
06/27/73 - SHAFT IN AFRICA
07/20/73 - SLAUGHTER'S BIG RIP-OFF
08/10/73 - THE SHANGHAI KILLERS
08/24/73 - GORDON'S WAR
09/19/73 - SEVEN BLOWS OF THE DRAGON
10/05/73 - SAVE THE CHILDREN
11/02/73 - FISTS OF FURY plus THE CHINESE CONNECTION
11/18/73 - THE CHINESE PROFESSIONALS
12/21/73 - THE ARENA
01/04/74 - THE GODFATHERS OF HONG KONG
01/18/74 - ENTER THE DRAGON plus THE CHINESE PROFESSIONALS
02/01/74 - SHAFT plus SHAFT'S BIG SCORE plus SHAFT IN AFRICA
02/15/74 - CRAZY JOE
03/01/74 - THE PLAYMATES (IN 3-D)
03/22/74 - MADHOUSE
04/12/74 - FOXY BROWN
05/24/74 - BLACK EYE
06/07/74 - IT'S ALIVE plus ENTER THE DRAGON
06/14/74 - LUCKY LUCIANO plus THEY CALL ME TRINITY
06/21/74 - THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE plus BLINDMAN
06/28/74 - THOMASINE AND BUSHROD plus LIGHTNING SWORDS OF DEATH
07/05/74 - THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD plus BUCK AND THE PREACHER
07/19/74 - DIRTY MARY, CRAZY LARRY plus GORDON'S WAR
07/26/74 - RETURN OF THE DRAGON
09/20/74 - MACON COUNTY LINE plus THE SCREAMING TIGER
09/27/74 - CLAUDINE plus BLACULA
10/04/74 - JOHNNY TOUGH plus THE HOUSE THAT VANISHED
10/11/74 - THE EDUCATION OF SONNY CARSON plus LADY SINGS THE BLUES
10/18/74 - TALES OF THE GREEN HORNET
11/15/74 - COFFY plus THE MACK
11/22/74 - UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT plus CLAUDINE
11/29/74 - THE SAVAGE SISTERS plus SCREAM, BLACULA, SCREAM
12/06/74 - THREE TOUGH GUYS plus DEATH WISH
12/13/74 - THE EXORCIST
12/27/74 - THE DRAGON DIES HARD
01/17/75 - RAPE SQUAD
02/21/75 - THE DRAGON SQUAD plus RETURN OF THE PANTHER
03/07/75 - TORSO
03/28/75 - SHEBA BABY
05/09/75 - WOMEN IN CELL BLOCK SEVEN
05/23/75 - CORNBREAD, EARL AND ME
07/04/75 - GHETTO WARRIORS
07/11/75 - RETURN OF THE DRAGON plus THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE
07/18/75 - THE DRAGON FLIES
08/01/75 - SISTERS plus RAPE SQUAD
08/08/75 - TAKE A HARD RIDE
08/29/75 - DARKTOWN STRUTTERS
09/12/75 - ALI THE MAN plus ALI THE FIGHTER
09/26/75 - COONSKIN
10/10/75 - SUPER DRAGON plus THE DRAGON SQUAD
10/24/75 - THE KIDNAP OF MARY LOU
10/31/75 - THE EXORCIST
11/07/75 - THE CHINESE MACK plus THE CHINESE GODFATHER
11/21/75 - WELCOME HOME, BROTHER CHARLES
11/28/75 - MEAN JOHNNY BARROWS
12/12/75 - OLD DRACULA plus BUCKTOWN
12/19/75 - WATTSTAX plus JOHNNY TOUGH
12/26/75 - AARON LOVES ANGELA
01/09/76 - BEYOND THE DOOR plus ABBY
01/16/76 - LAST HOUSE ON HE LEFT plus MARK OF THE DEVIL plus DERANGED
01/23/76 - THE KILLING MACHINE
02/06/76 - COOLEY HIGH plus CORNBREAD, EARL AND ME
03/05/76 - NIGHT CHILD
03/19/76 - TORSO plus THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE
04/02/76 - BOBBI JO AND THE OUTLAW plus THE HONG KONG CAT
04/09/76 - LEADBELLY
04/23/76 - DON'T OPEN THE WINDOW plus DON'T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT
05/07/76 - BLAXING SADDLES
05/14/76 - BLACK SHAMPOO
05/28/76 - LAST STOP ON THE NIGHT TRAIN
06/04/76 - POOR WHITE TRASH 2 plus DIXIE DYNAMITE
06/11/76 - DEATH JOURNEY plus ADIOS AMIGO
06/25/76 - J.D.'S REVENGE
09/17/76 - TO THE DEVIL A DAUGHTER plus EMBRYO
09/24/76 - EBONY, IVORY AND JADE
10/15/76 - THE KILLER INSIDE ME plus THE CHINESE CONNECTION
10/22/76 - THE CRYPT OF DARK SECRETS plus KUNG FU MASTER
11/05/76 - TENDER FLESH plus DEATH MACHINES
11/12/76 - JIVE MACHINE plus MOTHER, JUGS AND SPEED
11/19/76 - GOD TOLD ME TO
12/03/76 - ALICE IN WONDERLAND (X-rated)
12/19/76 - EXIT THE DRAGON, ENTER THE TIGER
01/07/77 - ALICE IN WONDERLAND plus FLESH GORDON
01/14/77 - CARRIE plus BURNT OFFERINGS
01/21/77 - MANSION OF THE DOOMED
02/04/77 - HOUSE THAT VANISHED plus LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT
02/11/77 - THE CASSANDRA CROSSING
03/18/77 - THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN
03/25/77 - MOHAMMED: MESSENGER OF GOD
04/08/77 - UNCLE TOM'S CABIN
04/29/77 - JOURNEY INTO THE BEYOND
05/13/77 - SISTER STREETFIGHTER plus KUNG FU GOLD
05/20/77 - CROSS OF IRON
06/03/77 - THE FARMER plus TAXI DRIVER
06/17/77 - EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC
07/22/77 - EVIL IN THE DEEP plus CHAMPION OF DEATH
08/05/77 - BRUCE LEE: THE MAN-THE MYTH
08/19/77 - BIG TIME
09/02/77 - ENTER THE DRAGON
09/16/77 - RABID plus BRUCE LEE: THE MAN-THE MYTH
09/30/77 - SUPERWEAPON plus SIDEWINDER ONE plus BATTLE OF GODFATHERS
10/07/77 - NAKED RIDER plus EMMA MAE plus EBONY, IVORY AND JADE
10/14/77 - COFFY plus JD'S REVENGE plus FOOD OF THE GODS
10/21/77 - LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT 2 plus THE SCHOOL THAT COULDN'T SCREAM plus SUPER DUDE
10/28/77 - CARRIE plus DEMON SEED plus HIT MAN
11/04/77 - RECORD CITY plus BUCKTOWN plus BAMBOO GODS AND IRON MEN
11/11/77 - MANIAC plus THE SAVAGE plus THE CARHOPS
11/18/77 - AUDREY ROSE plus A.K.A CASSIUS CLAY plus THE RIVER NIGER
11/25/77 - MR. SCARFACE plus CAPONE plus HIT
12/02/77 - SUPERFLY plus THE CHINESE CONNECION plus BOSS NIGGER
12/09/77 - 3 FANTASTIC SUPERMEN plus BLACK MOSES OF SOUL plus THE CHINESE MACK
12/16/77 - SPARKLE plus BLACKBELT JONES plus THE DRAGON SQUAD
12/23/77 - A PIECE OF THE ACTION plus CLEOPATRA JONES plus KUNG FU MAMA
12/30/77 - THE MACK plus TRUCK TURNER plus FOXY BROWN

http://www.dpcaltd.com/projects/individual/oriental_theatre.html

According the website for Broadway in Chicago, The Oriental briefly showed live concerts when it was managed by M&R amusements in the early 1970s. However, in the run down of film presentations posted above by JRS40 on Sep 5, there appears to be no break in the sequence. So, is there an error somewhere, or were films and concerts shown simultaneously?

Chicago229 I don't believe there is an error in the bookings I listed so my guess would be if the Oriental did have Live Concerts it was likely done at night with the films still showing in the days.

This is based on foggy recollection. But I didn't think they did any concerts until the last few years of operation. That would have been 1979-82, or something like that.

I don't recall seeing many films at The Oriental, other than maybe "The Mack". I'd have to study JRS40's list.

I did see the stage play/musical "Scrooge" starring Richard Chamberlin there a couple of years ago. Our original night was cancelled after arriving due to Mr. Chamberlin falling ill.
But you somehow felt as if they wanted a fuller house, so they combined two nights. They compped/reimbursed everyone though that came back the next night, so box office money wasn't behind it. Hence we actually saw it for free.

Many senior ladies in the audience giggled when Chamberlin sang the line "I hate Women", from the song "I Hate Life". Given Chamberlin's timely pause and smile, it sure seemed intentional.
The staging and prop work of "Scrooge" was truly exceptional.
Up to and including a mirror he was singing into. And the characters flying.

I noticed someone posted elsewhere on CT that The Shubert at one time briefly showed films. Yet Chicago's Shubert is not listed on CT. Could they have meant the old Blackstone Theatre?

It is listed under its current name, the Bank of America Theatre

Ah, Thanks BWChicago. I don't suppose Chicago's Auditorium Theatre is listed on CT under another name by chance is it? I'm pretty sure it never ran films.
And I don't think the Blackstone did either, now that I think about it.
Haven't been over there to see how it fared during the Blackstons Hotel's massive renovation.

1946 large format B7W photo of marquee with "Outlaw" plus Jane Russel Live on board. German restaurant nextdoor.
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/f?q=Movie+theater+source:life&imgurl=934880937e6f63ee

Another view of same scene: http://images.google.com/hosted/life/f?q=Movie+theater+source:life&imgurl=eb2d282301e54535

What name is the Iroquois Theatre listed under on Cinema Treasures?

http://cinematreasures.org/theater/3696/

Randolph at its lowest point: http://www.flickr.com/photos/swanksalot/3101501560/

Ronny's, wow. I remember the plastic lunchroom style trays like it was yesterday. I think there's some version of it at Clark & Lake now. Adjacent to the entrance to the "L".

Apparently there was a plan to convert the Oriental into retail and office space that thankfully never happened. This article is from the Chicago Tribune, Sept. 1, 1983:

IT'S 'THE END' FOR ORIENTAL

"The old Oriental Theater this week is losing the last vestiges of its days as a luxurious movie palace as it's owners prepare to convert the space into a shopping and office complex.

Members of the Chicago Area Theater Organ Enthusiasts (CATOE) this weekend will finish up the last chores of dismantling and removing the theater's mighty Wurlizter pipe organ, which once sent its music coursing through the elaborately decorated auditorium. CATOE is seeking $30,000 to restore the 20-rank organ to working condition and will store the Wurlizter until a new home can be found for it.

Morris Kalish, the theater's owner, who has donated the organ to CATOE, has also given parts of the auditorium's fantastically sculpted plasterwork to the Art Institute before workmen begin converting the space to two floors of retail shops and four floors of offices.

The Oriental, once a palace among palaces in the Loop, fell upon evil days in the 60s and 70s, when it was badly damaged by fire and vandals. It closed as a movie house in January 1981 after an ignoble end as a home for triple-feature kung-fu films and a hang out for gangs."

Many thanks to JRS40 for compiling the lists of movies and the dates they ran at the theaters. May I ask you where you mine the data? Thanks.

You're quite welcome OeOeO. Back in the 60's and 70's when I was young I kept a notebook and would note each Friday what was playing at the downtown palaces. A few years ago I happen to come across them again and since I knew of this website I thought I would share hoping others were interested in what these great theaters played and when. If you check out many of the other palaces in Chicago you will see their bookings as well.

Does anyone have any information on The Three Stooge's live appearance at the Oriental? A friend of mine lives in Chicago, and is also trying to find out if the Three Stooges lived in Chicago at any time.

Thanks,

Frank Reighter fereighter@aol.com

You may want to try contacting Rich Koz at TV Channel 26 the "U", in Chicago.
He runs a show called "Stoogapalooza" every Saturday evening on that channel. I assume he is a Stooge historian as well.

They played the Loop End starting Nov. 5, 1931.
Oriental starting September 8, 1935.
Oriental starting January 19, 1936.
Uptown starting February 23, 1936.
State-Lake starting May 9, 1937.
Cocoanut Grove (Morton Grove) starting June 20, 1937.
Palace starting July 24, 1938.
State-Lake starting February 26, 1939.
Oriental starting January 21, 1940.
Oriental starting November 29, 1942.
Oriental starting September 19, 1943.
Colosimo's late August 1946.

Another cool-looking theatre!

Wow. Just seeing (Jim) Colosimo's name, reminded me today is the 80th anniversary of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. And not a word of it mentioned on the evening news.

True enough, David Zornig.

(a bit off-topic, but) Regarding the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, isn't that what the movie "Some Like It Hot" was based on? I have a feeling that it was.

Does anyone remember VAUGN's toy store near the Oreintal? I recall standing in line waiting to go into see a Disney movie, and as the line moved we passed this window with a wonderful display of toy soldiers, trains and lots of other great 1950s toys. IT was always a stop after the film, and I purchased a lot of the figures that I still have in my collection. I always thought those owners had the best location than any other toy store in Chicago. Nay one remember that?

Does anyone remember VAUGN's toy store near the Oreintal? I recall standing in line waiting to go into see a Disney movie, and as the line moved we passed this window with a wonderful display of toy soldiers, trains and lots of other great 1950s toys. IT was always a stop after the film, and I purchased a lot of the figures that I still have in my collection. I always thought those owners had the best location than any other toy store in Chicago. Nay one remember that?

MPol you are correct. The St. Valentine's Day Massacre was the set up for SOME LIKE IT HOT. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon witnessed it and had to go on the run, thus dressing as women and joining a band. Although it took place in Chicago I don't think those scenes were filmed there.

Back to the Stooges, it's worth noting that they evidently formed at Rainbo Gardens in Chicago

The Oriental during it's life as the "Oriental Electronics" store:

http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=oriental&catpagesize=25&ProductID=26206

Again:

http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=oriental&catpagesize=25&ProductID=26204

And in better times:

http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=oriental&catpagesize=25&ProductID=26201

P.S. Spend some time on this web site. It is excellent.

Wow, great discovery

I should give credit where credit is due, I guess. I saw Lost Memory using it.

If you have nothing to do for the next thirty minutes do a search on "Chicago". You will be presented with 10 pages of color photos, many illustrating obscure Chicago neighborhood theatres. It is really fascinating.

I'm giving credit to Ken MC for finding the photo source. I think that he found it first. Anyway, I'm finding that some of the dates given are not totally accurate. At least that's what I'm finding on some of the NYC theater photos.

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

Reactivate Notification Status.

Here is a 1972 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/d42eb7

Actually this pic has to be from the late 70's. The Oriental didn't stop using the front of the marquee until late in its life. Plus if you look at my booking list above this is not playing in 1972.

I like the $2.99 steak next door.

In BW Chicago's 1975 photo the price of that steak is $1.29.

Here is a postcard, circa 1960:
http://tinyurl.com/colr3x

Great picture. This is a little off topic, but I'd completely forgotten about Hargrave's Secret Service. The large neon with the eagle to the East of the Oriental. They had several other locations around Chicago.
One was over near Superior & Franklin as I recall. Some of those signs hung on buildings long after Hargrave's had vacated.
I think it was some type of detective & guard agency that accompanied various businesses to banks with their deposits.

This is from the Trib. Not sure if it has been posted before.
http://tinyurl.com/djf7cl

Here is a 1946 photo from Life magazine:
http://tinyurl.com/dcjn46

Here are a couple of my pictures of the Oriental:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bruce_theatres/3555762886/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bruce_theatres/3555762932/

These 1946 images come courtesy of LIFE . . .
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=934880937e6f63ee&q=movie%20theater%20source:life&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmovie%2Btheater%2Bsource:life%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DN%26start%3D180
and
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=eb2d282301e54535&q=movie%20theater%20source:life&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmovie%2Btheater%2Bsource:life%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DN%26start%3D180

Regarding the description above, Kohlberg Theatres is shown as the last operator of the Oriental. I thought the Oriental was part of the M&R Theatre chain.

"The Oriental closed in December, 1980 following a rise in gang violence. The final operators were Kohlberg Theaters, decendants of which continue to operate the Cascade Drive-In. The theater was originally to have been converted to a two-story shopping mall with 5 stories of the original theater above as a theater-in-the-round.
posted by BWChicago on Feb 13, 2006 at 3:58am"

M&R was the previous operator.

If my memory serves me correctly, the Oriental closed after the first weekend of the New Year in 1981. I guess Kohlberg wanted that final Christmas gang-banger business. I would have to go to the Harold Washington 3rd floor microfilm room to confirm this. I do have a December 19, 1980 Chicago Sun-Times and the Oriental is advertising the usual kung-fu triple feature for $1.75. I remember June 4, 1978. The lobby in the balcony caught on fire on this busy Sunday night. I guess somebody was careless with their cigarettes in an ashtray with pieces of cardboard cup mixed in. (keep in mind, kids, this was back in the day when smoking was allowed in the lobby) Well, anyway, smoke engulfed the theatre and everyone rushed out. I remember one of the movies being DEATH SPORT with David Carradine; I can't remember what the other two were. Well, anyway, outside of the theatre, people were demanding their $1.75 refund, and when the cashier walked away from the box-office, woah milly, the patrons got really angry. According the the Sun-Times, there must have been 2000 people there that night, or, at least, that's what I seem to recall reading. A few days later Kohlberg reopened the place. One year later, Mayor Jane Byrne was holding a meeting with citizens and this lovely African American woman stood up and asked Mayor Byrne if there's anything can be done about the rat problems in the downtown movie houses. Mayor Byrne said something will be done "tomorrow." The next day, city hall officials made surprise appearances at the downtown movie houses and Gene Siskel and Channel 2 camera crew came with him. They uncovered the fact that hardly anything got done to the lobby area of the Oriental' balcony after the fire the previous year. If anyone can get a hold of the videotape of Siskel's report please post it. I seem to recall that it happend in June, 1979, maybe July. One last footnote: Stan Kohlberg did try to take over the Loop Theatre after it closed. I don't know why it never happened, but considering that Kohlberg also ran the nearby McVickers, Shangri-La, and Oriental, I think it's pretty self-explanatory.---Tim O'Neill

To ken mc: In regards to the photo posted on April 25, 2009: I think the year of "1972" is inaccuate. M&R was operating the theatre in 1972 and I seem to reacall that they had their logo situated on the front top of the marquee. I have a feeling that picture was taken in 1977; that's the year Stan Kohlberg took over the theatre. September, 1977 to be exact. Also, I want to clarify something I said up above. When I said that "hardly anything got done" what I meant was hardly any repairs were done to the balcony area. They just pretty much left the damaged scene as it was.

A photo of the marquee and vertical sign of the Oriental which I took yesterday can be seen here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33098862@N06/4144358446/sizes/l/in/pool-898567@N25/

Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT3wJJYmu5E

I remember when this aired. It should be posted over on the Colonial/Iroquois page too.
I posted in Nov. 2008, a story of a woman who used to always walk around that site in "Widow's Weeds", when my grandmother was a child. Some type of mourning veils.

I was in Chicago yesterday and took a tour of the Oriental Theatre. WOW what a thing to do for $10 you see two theatres in two hours. We also saw the Cadillac Theatre.

We were told a story that when they had early shows there they would sometimes have live acts come in to play and had the Andrew Sisters there. Well something happened where they did not or could not make an engagement there so, the bosses of the Oriental called around for a replacement girl singing act and got the Gumm Sisters for the day borrowed from the Belmont Theatre 1600 block W. Belmont ( I used to bowl there as a child).. There were four Gumm sisters and the youngest was Judy. A New York agent was in the crowd that day they filled in and talked to the Gumm sisters since there name was misspelled GLUMM on the marquee. He told them that they had a chance to make and were talented but needed to change their name so they can avoid this misspelling issues again. He recommended Garland …….that’s right Judy Garland from the Wizard of Oz – neat piece of history. I highly recommend this tour.

FYI to all. The "Remembering Chicago" series is back in rotation on WTTW/PBS Channel 11 currently. Lots of glimpses of dowtown theatre footage from long ago. And references to the live shows that would follow the films at many.
Benny Goodman, Stooges, Les Brown etc.

A 4/20 Wurlitzer Publix 1 was installed in the theatre in 1926