Granada Theater

I followed the Granada quite a bit in its last years and I question if it was closed due to its "poor condition". The land banker that came to possess the theater at the end purposely let it go to pieces in the mid-late 1980s. Before that, from my recollection, it was in good shape.

I have to agree with SBGrieg's assessment. The original decline in business in the 70's was caused by the building of a high-rise on the adjacent lot and another building project across the street on Sheridan Rd. This took away most of the available parking spots in the area. It was all downhill from then on.

The facade of the Granda is considered by many to be the model for the Paradise Theatre featured on the front and back cover of the STYX album "Paradise Theatre". The marquee is not modeled after the Granada's.

I think Styx actually rehearsed for their '83 "Kilroy Was Here" tour in the Granada as well. Kudos to Dennis DeYoung for the entire Paradise Theatre concept.

Shawn S.

I have a brick from this theatre. It broke my heart to see it being torn down.

One of the large chandeliers which used to hang in the lobby of the Granada was removed prior to demolition and today hangs in the lobby of the Riviera Theater in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago.

Hi,
I was in the Granada many times for films in the 70's and saw a production of Rocky Horror live, as well. The theater was NOT falling down, just purposely neglected. Loyola University also wanted it closed for their own purposes...SAD.....Let's not have this happen to the Uptown Theater!

I was actually in the building during a delay in the demolition. There was *very* little wrong with this building.Loyola U wanted the land.This was the second theatre they had demolished in the area.The Uptown must be saved, although in my opinion it did not have the beauty and grandeur of the Granada. There is also a small chandelier from the Granada in the Music Box theatre on southport.

Nate Ruttenberg was the last operating manager of the Granda. He was the brother-in-law of Harry Balaban.

I believe I attended the very last program at the Granada (though no one could have known it then), a Three Stooges festival in the winter of 1986 promoted by a local radio station. The half-filled auditorium was quite cold, but the audience seemed to hardly notice. Afterwards I treated myself to a personal tour of the theatre, something I'm glad I didn't decide to postpone. (Most vivid memories: the massive proscenium, and the huge fireplace in the mezzanine alongside the main arched window.) I also recall a last-ditch preservation effort led by a brave lady (whose name escapes me) that was publicized in the Chicago Tribune. And I want to reinforce what others have said here: the Granada Theatre was indeed in very good condition both inside and out on that night I was there, which I believe was its last night open.

Seeking information about a painting of the Granada Theater that I saw in the late 1980's - do not know artist - please contact me if you have any information - I would like to obtain this painting.

I worked as an usher at the Granada in the late 60's. What a masterpiece it was. It was once included in a list of the top 50 Balaban and Katz "Movie Palaces". Another one that was allowed to die was the Howard, also in Rogers Park. I understand the crowds have been gone for a long time. But preservation of history has to have some priority! We must not let this continue.

I grew up three blocks from the Granada, and I saw many classic movies there. I saw the movie Easy Rider there, which changed my life - good or bad? - both! One flew over the Cuuckoo's Nest premiered there, and I saw Taj Mahal and a couple of other bands there. I wax poetically about the Granada in this prose poem I wrote about growing up in Rogers Park...
http://www.sduros.com/Beaches.html

My understanding is that the Granada met its end because it was allowed to deteriorate by a known slumloard, and Rep. Dan Rostenkowski worked the ropes to get funding from Congress so that a seniors building could be constructed there. Lo, after the old Granada was torn donw, the senior housing failed and the building went to Loyola University, of which Rosty is an alum.

Here is a link to a photograph of the auditorium of the Granada from the Library of Congress, taken shortly before the great movie palace was torn down.

Thanks, Bryan Krefft, for that link. In fact, there are over 30 photos of the Granada, exterior *and interior*, available at the Library of Congress Web site at the following Web address:

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=hhphoto&fileName=il/il0500/il0581/photos/browse.db&action=

Most of these pictures were taken shortly before this irreplaceable treasure was torn down, so they show the theater in heartbreakingly bad shape. Nonetheless, the grandeur of the Granada shines through.

I was there only once, in November 1981 for the opening night of the Chicago International Film Festival and a showing of the classic 1924 silent film _Peter Pan_, complete with a live orchestra playing the original score. Steven Spielberg and Francois Truffaut were presented with awards. If I am correct, King Vidor was in the audience that night.

It was unforgettable--and so was and is the Granada.

One of the Theatre Historical Society of America's recent annuals covers the work of Edward Eichenbaum, who designed the Granada's interior. Does anyone know of any other sources of photographs, historical information, or other material on this theater?

In my hometown of Milwaukee,we've already lost many wonderful theaters of our own; the Avalon, our city's last atmospheric theatre, is in grave danger of being gutted for offices. You can find more information about this on this Web site at its entry for the Avalon. Sad.

I second (and third) the sentiments of a previous poster. Whether or not you live in Chicago, *don't* let what happened to the Granada (and what *almost* happened to Chicago's Oriental and Chicago Theatres!) happen to Chicago's incomparable Uptown Theatre!

Scott Enk

senk@execpc.com

I just found out that the link above doesn't work. My apologies; try this one. Try this link:

http://memory.loc.gov/

At the right side of the page that then appears, select the link for photographs. At the next screen, type "granada" in the search box. Click on the word "Search" to the right.

A series of links will then appear. Near the bottom is the one for our beloved, late great Granada Theatre.

Click on the icons for black-and-white photographs, photo captions, and data pages to see the respective materials. Brace yourself for awe--and tears at what we've all lost.

Scott Enk

senk@execpc.com

Okay, third try. Mea maxima culpa.

At the Library of Congress Web site listed above, click on "Search." Then select "Photos & Prints."

At the next screen, in the search box, type "granada theatre" and click the "Search" button. The second link that will then appear, the Historic American Buildings survey files on the Granada, will take you virtually there. Click on the icons noted above.

Scott Enk

senk@execpc.com

What a spendid opportunity to be able to comment on the Granada! I
looked hard a few years ago to find any pictures of it and the only
one I could find, until now, was from a book I found in the library.
It was taken probably in the 40's or early 50's. I have a copy of it sitting on my desk.
Unfortunately, I had to move from Chicago a number of years ago. It
saddens me deeply that the Granada won't be there to visit when I plan to move back! The grandest memory I have is the night I saw
"Quadrophenia" there. Posters were being given away and after the
movie I asked about them. The supply had been quickly snatched up
before the film. However, thanks to the exceptional kindness of one
usher, I did get a poster and a short tour upstairs to the supply for
the next night. We walked behind that huge arched window and I remember feeling such a thrill to see different parts of such a truly magnificent and regal piece of history! I wish I could again
thank that special usher for a memory I will never forget!
I also talked to a member of the Theatre Historical Society a few
years ago who mentioned that there was going to be an auction of articles from the Granada. Did it ever happen and are there items
anywhere that are available?
A sincere THANK YOU to Bryan Krefft for posting the last images
of a place that touched the lives and hearts of so many of us!

I spent many happy hours at the Granada during the '40s and '50s. It was one of those things that one thought would always be there -- it seemed so secure! By the way, the marquee of the Granada was changed ("updated", if you like) during the early '50s. It would warm my heart to be able to see some vintage photos (like the opening of the theater in 1926, etc.) of the theater taken at various points during its halcyon days. I haven't lived in Chicago for a great many years, but the Granada will always be the epitome of The movie palace.

Dougde

I spent many happy hours at the Granada during the '40s and '50s. It was one of those things that one thought would always be there -- it seemed so secure! By the way, the marquee of the Granada was changed ("updated", if you like) during the early '50s. It would warm my heart to be able to see some vintage photos (like the opening of the theater in 1926, etc.) of the theater taken at various points during its halcyon days. Any help there would be greatly appreciated!! I haven't lived in Chicago for a great many years, but the Granada will always be the epitome of THE movie palace, at least in my heart.

Dougde

Incredible images on the Library of Congress site. Unbelievable how large and elaborate this place was.
Was not familiar with this theatre. What a loss for Chicago.

I grew up in Rogers Park and rented a beautiful victorian apartment just a few blocks from the theater when I was in my early 20s (during the early '80s). The very first movie I ever saw in a movie theater was the Beatles' "A Hard Days Night". The atmosphere was electifying as thousands of young girls screamed throughout the entire movie. It was an overwhelming introduction to one of Chicago's great architectural treasures.

I recall seeing many films there over the years and eventually attended a number concerts there in the early-mid '80s. Does anyone remember when Todd Rundgren performed at the Granada? I believe that it was during the early 80s.

The Granada should have been declard a landmark building and preserved for generations to come.

A 50s view of Sheridan Road, showing the towering vertical sign of the Granada, can be seen here.

Oops, wrong link-- here is the photo of the Granada...

Thank you to everyone who entered comments. My first job was as an usher at the Granada in 1960. One had wonderful memories of the buildint. Very sorry to see it go. But life does go on. We used to store the Pop Corn in the original Theater Managers Office on the first floor. The Organ at that time was still in the Orchestra pit and did go up and down. The Organ pipes were behind the stage and went from the lower basement and up to the sixth floor. We had pumps running all the time to keep the lake water out of the basements. The best week-end we had there was when we had 'Pillow Talk' and 'Some Like It Hot' showing together. We extended the show for an extra projection and didn't finish that night until about 2 or 3 in the morning. Yes I did go out with one of the 'Candy Girls'. Thanks again for all whot have provided information.

The first comment here describes the GRANADA's land owner as a "land banker" which implies that he was somehow keeping something valuable in store for the benefit of the city. Nothing could be further from the truth! Cities can create 'land banks' due to expected expansion, but individuals are simply SPECULATORS, people who buy any land hoping its vlaue will rise so as to be able to sell it later at a large profit. They characteristically put nothing at zll into the land, so that they can rape it for the maximum profit. In a country where 99% of the people really worship money, this is considered normal. Remember that Wolf creature who did this with the UPTOWN and was profiled in "Chicago" magazine? Sad, sad!

Levy & Klein that were the architects for the Granada were know for cost cutting in their designs. They blended oppulance and economy very skillfully. The ornamental molds used for the Granada in 1926 were saved and re-used with a few extra touches for the Flagship of Balaban & Katz's Marbro Theatre. When you place the pictures of the two theatres side by side It is almost like looking at twins. Especially the windows and their ornamental work around them. Same style in the marquee and the verticle sign also.

Chuck, just a minor correction...the Marbro was built as the flagship of the Marks Brothers circuit and opened in 1927. Only about four or five years later, though, it was acquired by Balaban & Katz. I also recall reading somewhere about the molds from the Granada's ornamentation on the facade being reused on the Marbro.

Bryan, sorry I should have reread the paragraph, it even states that competing with Balaban & Katz, Marks Brothers hired Levy & Klein to design their theatres. I stand corrected. They then used the molds from the Granada on the Marbro. But still when you place the photos side by side it is like twins with minor differences. Thanks again for the correction.

I too, will point out that the Granada's facade provided visual source material for the artist who created the Styx "Paradise Theatre" album cover circa 1980. Indeed, it was this album and its concept and cover art which was the catalyst for turning me into an old theatre architecture fan, though I had always enjoyed visiting older theatres.

I was part of the group that put several of Three Stooges Festivals in 1980's at the Granada. Jonathon Brandmeier was the guest/host DJ at one of these events! These were well attended and supported by the community. They featured some of the stooges more unusual works such as the wartime propaganda parody "I'll never Heil Again" and the unusually violent "The Stooge to Conga".

The theatre's owner at the time was surprised that a money-making operation could actually be taking place at the theatre. The projectionist was an old-timer who had worked the Granada during its heyday and called all of Chicago's old movie palace's dinosuars.

All of the projection room equipment at the Granda including the Carbon Arc projectors was intact and in working condition during this period. The theatre itself was in good shape, but one problem we had during the show was that electrical wiring in the alley that supplied the theatre was only adaquate for maintenance needs, not a full blown show at night with all the lights on. No one (not even the owner) told the promoters about this. During one of the first "Stooge Nights", the wires in the alley started smoking and the Chicago Fire Department and Commonwealth Edison were called for what looked to be an emergency situation.

The promoters feared a riot if the stooges show were cancelled but fortunately, the enterprising Commonwealth Edison Lineman pierced the smoking wire splices with a live bypass jumper. The show went on and the audience never experienced a problem.

A previous poster mentioned no heat in the theatre and this is true. I believe one of these festivals took place during a cold February weekend and the steam heating system of the theatre simply was too antiquated to work. The audience didn't seem to mind, however.

The Granda Theatre was beautiful and mostly intact during the 1980's and could possibly have been renovated. However, the owners of the property had other ideas for the property and the neighborhood was just a hangout for the Loyola students and (to some) perhaps did not seem suited to having a landmark status building. What a shame that what once was... is no more.

T Demos

I helped clean and polished this theater's interior in 1980/81 for the North American tour of The Rocky Horror Show. I was a regular of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at The Biograph Theater when I was asked to usher and hand out programs at The Granada in my costume (Eddie).
It was wonderful,I attended at least 10 performances and even made it on TV for a Fox (channel 32) show with host Mike Liederman. They intrviewed people in costume for the Rocky phenominum. I remember being at the top of the balcony at the Last,higest possible seat and looking down and wondering how anybody could see the screen,not to mention the stage actors! What a beautiful palace it was!

I, too, remember the Granada fondly. I believe this is where we first saw South Pacific and Auntie Mame. We would come to the occasional movie in the '50s and '60s. I guess we couldn't wait for the movie to come to the Varsity and Valencia (they're all gone now).

After we moved to Rogers Park in '70 it (and the old 400) were the closest theaters. The Granada was always preferable to the little 400.

It was a beautiful theater inside and out.

What I want to know is why it was bombed in 1928? Wasn't that one of your photos, Brian? Was that part of the war between either the owners or projectionists or the mob or all of the above?

I have thoroughly enjoyed everyone's comments. It brings back good memories of a wonderful theater.

And I don't know the condition of the building at the end. It may have been in sad shape or not. But I also know that Loyola University wanted that entire area for development.

They have less people attending there every year.

JC, the Granada in Chicago never had a bomb go off in it...you're probably thinking of the State Theatre in Hammond, Indiana, which shared a building with a smaller theater called the Granada. A bomb went off there in 1928.

JC, I was mistaken about the Granada in Hammond...it was actually a ballroom which shared the State Theatre Building. (See Jim Rankin's comments on the State Theatre page for further information about the bomb that went off at the State.)

A 50s view of Sheridan Road, showing the towering vertical sign of the Granada, can be seen here.
posted by Bryan Krefft on Apr 22, 2004 at 11:06pm

This sign was HUGE what a loss it's all gone

Thanks, that is a relief that no bomb ever went off at OUR Granada. Even if it would have been long before most of us were around.

I saw "Logan's Run" and Streisand's "A Star is Born" in this theater in the 70's. Years later, I attended a Cheap Trick concert here. I think the reason it ultimately closed was due to a lack of PARKING. There was NO parking lot nearby, and the residential area was (and is) VERY congested.

However, the theater also was just TOO BIG to survive. It is a shame that this is the case, but in the day and age of the 6, 12 and 20+ screen theaters, it just could not compete.

The architect at Levy and Klein who designed the Granada was Edward E. Eichenbaum.

The original architectural drawings of the Granada are in the possession of the Art Institute of Chicago, and can be viewed there by qualified scholars. (I believe they can be seen only by appointment.)

I was a student at Loyola from 1984 to 1989.

I also "let myself in" several times in the late 1980's as the demolition was under way. One day, someone had smashed all of the Granada's glass doors and I just walked in one day. I have often described the interior as appearing as it had been bombed during WWII.

I will never forget walking around the rubble with little light but being amazed. The highlight of my tour was walking into a pitch black room and hitting my flash. For a fraction of a second, the entire theatre opened up. I was actually in the auditorium. I snapped away. Today, I have two pieces of ornamental plaster from the Granada hanging in my kitchen. Will never forget this place. Today, it is a shame that unless you knew it was there, there is not a trace of it today on Sheridan road.

Oliver Q. Lauder
Aurora, IL

I was an usher at the Granada in 1968. the first movie I remember seeing there was "The Graduate". I was there for about a year and rose to the rank of Head Usher. I remember the huge lobby and how it used to fill up before a show. We used to hold inspections an Saturday nights to makee sure all the ushers were looking there best. I've explored the theater from top to bottom. from the roof, to the "catacombs" as we used to call them under the seats in the auditorium, to the huge spiral staircase on the top level of the backstage area. The managers I worked under were Mr. Grossman who eventually went to the United Artists Theater Downtown and then Mr. Dave Klingman who wound up going to the Nortown. We did a lot of crazy things there including spending an overnight there, (we wern't supposed to but we did anyway). I was also there as they were tearing it down and I also have a brick from the building. I think about those days constantly and remember them as some of the best times I had.
Joe Fricano

I found some history on the Granada Theater. Before this theater was built, St. Ignatius Church was located on this site until 1923. The Church moved to 6559 N Glenwood Ave. The Marks Brothers purchased the property for $1.5 Million in 1924. Opening day was September 18, 1926. It was operated by the Marks Brothers theatre chain. The Granada was designed by Edward Eichenberg for Levy & Klein.

According to the index at the Chicago Art Institute, the name of the architect is Eichenbaum, not Eichenberg.

A current view of the Granada site and the (in my opinion) ugly building that replaced it can be seen at the very bottom of this page.

On the website that Bryan posted, there is a whole story about the Granada. The person that wrote this story also names the architect as Eichenberg. Anyway, there are lots pf photos of the Granada at that site.
Story link:
http://www.oldgranadatheatre.com/journey.html

Photo link:
http://www.oldgranadatheatre.com/photos.html

Copies of old lists of the AIA's membership would be handy to have in circumstances like this. Some large public library somewhere must have them. Copies of regional versions of "Who's Who" would be useful, too. I don't think any of them are online yet, but public libraries usually have them for their area. It should be easy enough for somebody in Chicago to double check this.

Joe is correct. Edward Eichenbaum is credited with the design of the following theaters: Diversey Theatre, Granada Theatre, Marbro Theatre, and Regal Theatre.

You know, I really enjoyed that story about the guy's exploration into the decaying bowels of the theater. Just fascinating.

http://www.oldgranadatheatre.com/journey.html

While living in Chicago in 1973 I happened one day to catch a janitor at the theater and asked if I could come in and take some photos. He kindly let me in and for three hours or so I wandered all over the building in awe. What a magnificant building. It makes me sad to hear that it has been razed. I see the same thing here in California. No regard for the intricate beauties and harmonies of classic architecture. I did see a number of films there but never abnle to sneak up to the balcony.
jayBeye

The previous two posts echo what so many of us 'theatres buffs' have experienced: the last visit shortly before demolition of a once beautiful theatre. These are favorite accounts at the 'Slide Bashes' (shows after the banquet) at the annual conventions of the Theatre Historical Society in a different city every summer. They are called "CONCLAVES" and are detailed on thier web site: www.HistoricTheatres.org where you click on Conclaves. I am not a photographer like many of the guys who show their slides at the conventions, but I have many bittersweet memories of being among the last to tour a theatre before it became rubble, but yet regret the far greater number I had never seen before each one's fateful day. I once thought of combining my stories of such melancholy tours, but I am afraid that it would be too melancholy to read! :(

The drawing of the Paradise Theater for the Styx album cover was NOT taken from a picture of the Granada..... it was taken from a picture of the actual Paradise Theater..the picture even had the name of the movie, "State Street Sadie" on the marquee, which was a song on the album...also the taxi on the album cover is there.... this picture can be found at: http://www.moviepalaces.net/paradise-ext1.htm....and the woman with the outstreached arms, on top of the marquee on the album cover, is actually part of the interior decor, which can also be found further on this website..

Here is a photograph of the theater in mid-demolition.

http://img12.exs.cx/img12/7432/granadatheater5as.jpg

I spent a lot of quality time watching movies in this grand old barn. Remmeber the water fountain? There was a switch on the wall that looked like a doorbell that you pushed to get the water. That 24-sheet for "Cleopatra" was plastered to the side of the building for well over a year.

It almost looks like the "crest" portion of the window was removed prior to demolition to me. Here is an article about the Granada with vintage photos of the exterior and the main lobby.

Some really heartbreaking photos of the Granada taken during its demolition can be seen here.

And yet beautiful. Partly because they help us remember what the Granada once looked like.

For those of you who posted reference to my webpage, I thank you very kindly for the promotional advertising. :)

Visit me again: http://www.oldgranadatheatre.com/

You will find a wealth of info.

Here is a 1928 ad from the Chicago Daily News for Marks Brothers' Granada and Marbro Theatres.

I saw Harry Chapin at the Granada in 1979. What a great place. I believe it was one of his last concerts before his death. He came out in the lobby afterwards and shook hands, signed autographs, etc. Very cool.

Wow, this appears to be a beauitful theater.

Reminds me somewhat of the Michigan Theater here in Detroit.

The lobby is comparable to that of Rapp & Rapp.

Such a shame this beautiful treasure had to be demolished.

Hello All

BEARDBEAR31--I am interested in seeing this picture of the Paradise with State Street Sadie on the Marquee, however your links do not work. Yes, you are correct, that is also the name of a song on the album.

However, I do have to disagree with you in terms of the album art. Here is why.

Here is a picture of the REAL paradise theatre:

http://www.playle.com/KDL/41315.jpg

Here is a picture of the Styx Paradise Theatre Album:

http://www.lockgen.com/damnyankees/discography/stpt.jpg

Finally here is a picture of the Granada Theatre:

http://img12.exs.cx/img12/7432/granadatheater5as.jpg

NOW everyone compare the facades (NOT the marquees). Yes, the album art is closer to the Granada than the Paradise. The Paradise didn't have the three window layout. Has anyone ever seen the full art layout for the Paradise Theatre album? I have. It shows the crest on top of the theatre and it clearly is just about identical to that of the Granada Theatre.

JG

Geo,
Sorry, it appears that the website recently lost it's webspace... However I saved the picture with "State Street Sadie" on the marquee. E-mail me at beardbear31@aol.com, and I will send you the picture.

Hello All,

Been doing some research on the Granada lately and low and behold I have to make a correction to what I said above in terms of the Granada's marquee. As it turns out the artist DID get inspriation from the Granada's marquee as well, but at the point I wrote the post above I didn't know the Granada's marquee was changed and originally looked like this:

photo

SAWEET! There it is. I love this marquee.

But y'all wanna see double. Getta loada this:

(Click on the picture to make it big)

http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/whi/fullRecord.asp?id=25246

Yup! Twin sisters.

I got the THSA 1999 Annual on these theatres. A MUST for anyone intersted in them. The book also explains the slight difference between the Granada and the Marbro as well. There are two other theatres covered in there as well...The Regal and Diversy I believe. But the pictures and documentation is incredible. Many many thanks to Jim Rankin for pointing these out to me. As he puts it, "You will not find better pictures anywhere".

After my readings, I must say that it does upset me that both these theatres were destroyed. But what angers me the most is that the Granada hung on to the 90's and it seems like very little was done to save it. I know, I know it is easier said than done to save an old theatre and it does appear us theatre lovers are in the minority. But the big picture (pun intended) is once these gems are destroyed...they are gone and will never be replaced.

There are few instances of hope. I was very happy to learn that the Bronx Loews Paradise was recently saved and restored. This theatre is not too far from me...and I only learned about it recently as well. I will be checking this one out for sure!

G'day all and enjoy the pix.

JG

This was a beautiful place. I saw a lot of things there, I think it was part of the Plitt chain, circa 73 to 76.
Jack Nicholson came for the world premire of "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" a guy had his autograph
at the little Greek place next door.
I sat in this huge, almost empty palace on some summer afternoons for "Harry and Tonto" "Chinatown" "The
Conversation" and more. Part of a era in movie going that passed too soon.

In the late 1970s or early 1980s, a company called "M and M Amusements" took over this place. M and M attempted to clean the theatre up and began booking top-name entertainment at the time. Such bookings included a stage version of Rocky Horror and concerts such as Cheap Trick and Off Broadway USA ("...Stay in time boy/Don't get out of line boy). M and M ran into trouble with the community because of the lack of parking. The community supposedly claimed that concert-goers were vandalizing the area, damaging automobiles, etc. As a result, M and M lost its liqour license and was unable to book concerts after that. It was a shame too, because it seemed that M and M really tried to make the Granada Theatre work.

Then again, there were all sorts of politics behind the liqour license suspension....

Thanks Paul :)
You're a true Chicagoan that knows we got the best ward alderen money can buy. M&M was well in the black when I saw their books, and pending SBA Loan Application. The liquor license was all it needed. :(

Charles DuPont,

Are you the one that has the website www.oldgranadatheatre.com ? That's where I received the information in my above post.

When I was 17-18 years old, I worked for Andy Frain Ushering and Security. My co-workers and I were always happy when we had a contract for a show at the Granada. We actually preferred working the Granada instead of the Uptown. No offense to those who are fans of that theatre, but we always regarded the Uptown as a cr@phole! In contrast, we regarded the Granada as "Faded Glory" but it was much cleaner. And in retrospect, had M&M been able to retain its liquor license, the Granada might still be with us today. Wy couldn't Loyola have integrated it into its campus? Many colleges and universities have successfully done this!

Per the above comments comparing the Granada and the Paradise, the Granada's modernized marquee was certainly the nicer of the two.

Finally, the vintage photo above appears to be taken right about the time of demolition or at least closure. The place looks vacant and the marquee is blank.

Hi Paul,
Yes www.oldgranadatheatre.com is my webpage :) It seems there were a lot of political fingers, in a lot of political pies back in that day. So who got who paid off is hard to say. The Granada had her fate sealed. Those who were very active on the "Save The Granada" committee disappeared faster than yesterdays trash. - Mayor Harold Washington was going to sign paperwork to have it labled "Landmark," The papers were still on his desk when he suffered his fatal heart attack. His successor's first order of business was to put that document through the paper shredder. It was bigger than Greylord Scandal if you ask me.
BUT..... THAT'S CHICAGO! :(
That vintage photo was actually taken in 1978 - shortly before the restoration which would open it up to ROCKY HORROR, and CONCERTS, and DR. WHO CONVENTIONS. :)

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

The sad thing about this place is that even at the end, when it had been open to the winds for a long time, it wasn't in terrible shape. I was given a couple of different opportunities to visit the builidng during it's last years. I can't understand why they couldn't have at least saved the front of the building and tacked it onto that condo tower. it was a work of art (and I don't throw terms like that around lightly).

Hello

LIFES TOO SHORT--Agreed, they could have done something...but even more than just save the facade. The aweful thing was that this theatre lasted until the 90's when movements were already in place to save theatres. So I guess that is why this one really bothers me alot that it was torn down so late. I think also there is a bit of a personal attachment to this building especially since I found out it was the inspriation for the the album cover of Styx's Paradise Theatre...of which to this day is one of my favorite albums and was one of the reasons I became interested in the theatre industry. If you looked at the old pictures of the Granada's original marquee, you can even further understand my grief at why this theatre was destroyed (see the pictures I submitted from both the Granada and Marbro above). It is sad and very important to protect what we have left. Chicago has still another gorgeous theatre left...the Uptown, I believe there is still hope for this gem.

JG

I actually just realized that the pictures on all those HAARGIS profiles, if you copy their location and ipen them on their own, are quite large. Same if you save them to disk. Whoops.

How about that. Yes they are. I have always wondered why the grand window was painted over. I guess the setting sun might have been an issue. But it doesn't seem like that big of a deal.

I don't know Geo. I love old theatres. What's more I think there is a place for many of them in the modern world. I don't know about the Granada. It had an oddball stage because of the curving elevated embankment just behind. More importantly that same embankment would have kept any developers from adding a modern stage. It's a similar problem to that facing the Uptown, which backs directly up to Lawrence Avenue.

Should the taxpayers of a given municipality be saddled with a building that can't sustain itself just because a few of us love it? As off the wall as some of the people are who argue against the Dupage Theatre renovation, I think the point they make is a valid one. It's not enough to say, "it would be a good concert hall." You need estimated cash flows that support such a notion.

The only possible arts center solution I could have envisioned here involved Loyola. But, obviously, they had every opportunity to investigate the idea and did not.

I could see getting really out of joint if this had been Chicago's last vintage theatre. But, at least for the time being, Chicago is lucky enough to have several well-maintained vintage theatres.

I'm not trying to rattle anyone's cage. I simply feel strongly that preservation efforts need to have a realistic component to them, or they are doomed to fail. I would have been happy if the grand lobby had been turned into a restaurant, with a multiplex or maybe a Century-type mall retaining the auditorium ceiling. That way the building would have lived on.

Instead we have "Granada Plaza."

Life's too short:
Yes, "Granada Plaza" or "Fordham Hall" as the students from Loyola University call it.
http://www.luc.edu/reslife/llcs/ford/
What was supposed to be residential property turned into exactly what Senior Lifestyles promised it wouldn't.
A residence hall where yuppie college students who's wealthy parents are paying for them to reside.

Hrm, my cage is rattling... :P No, seriously, the Century type thing was suggested, or at least using the façade as the entry way, or the lobby for the lobby to the building. BUT the head of Senior Lifestyles answered each question the same: "Can't it's too rotton!"
All of these ideas were put up for consideration, but the Senior Lifestyles people were too inconsiderate.

Hello LIFE'S TOO SHORT

Oh, I understand what you are saying and ecomonically you would be 100% correct. There is just not a market for huge theatres any more due to changing times and "progress". I know what you mean, I am right now going through a feasibility study myself for a theatre I would like to buy, but I am hope that its size is an asset and not a hinderance. But in a town with no live theatres and only a few in the surrounding areas, I believe it will work out. The numbers unfortunately do dictate everything. True Chicago does have many of it's classic theatres, one favorite restored theatres is the Chicago. I was not familiar with the stage problems of the Granada or Uptown, but both were used as concert venues before. The Uptown would have continued to do so, but fell on lack of maintenance and repairs. So I would think that something could still be feasibly done with the Uptown since it is in the city. But as you pointed out, in the very least if the building has to be used for another purpose, do retain as much as possible it's past heritage. I do go through this alot...it is a personal war within that has the artistic and historic side of me fighting with the business side. But in the very least your ideas for the Granada would have at least saved part of the grand building. But too, to the purists, they may argue that issue as well. Unfortunately the Granada is gone and there is nothing anyone can do about it now. But perhaps there are some very creative people out there that could find good uses for most of the remaining classic theatres that are out there. One card that I am hoping to play is localization. With today's high gas prices, local people may soon be returning to entertainment that is close by. Perhaps that will spawn on some restorations.

I am off,

JG

This is by no means the first time that a university refused to save an historic building. In Milwaukee, for example, there was on Marquette university land the smaller but lavish limestone Romanesque, Plankinton Mansion of 1890, which was landmarked, but the Jesuits (again) said that they needed the land for university "development" and it remains a field of grass since demolition circa 1985. When the city stalled in issuing a demolition permit while they explored re-use under landmark status, "Father" so-and-so phoned one of his dear parishoners who owned a large excavator-on-treads early one sunday morning to come and push down the stone and copper porch of the building, which he did, so as to render its landmark status moot. There was a bit of a public outcry, but the church just sat back and smugly replied "fait acoumpli." The Catholic church gets what it wants in Milw. and Chicago --if not also everywhere else. They care only about their own history, not that of anyone else.

Of course the gorgeous GRANADA was not "rotten." That is just a lie that they also said in Milw. about the Mansion. Look at the link to Loyla above and the description: it is now just there 23rd building and is advertised as the school equivalent of a luxury hotel. Historic preservation was furthest from their minds -- MONEY from this huge hotel was the closest -- and the public wishes be damned! After all, any property owner has the right to do what they want with their land; is that not so? Just ask the many who have demolished theatres over the years and they will tell you so. Soooo, don't expect that they are likely to save any part of a theatre if 'god' says it must go!

The front wall of the lobby stood for what seemed like a month while they removed decorative elements to sell. The rest of the building was gone at that point. So how rotten could it have been? LOL.

Charles: am I to understand from the comments above that the senior center on the corner bought the Granada and redeveloped the land? I hadn't realized that. Very interesting.

Just finshed looking at the LOC pictures of the Granada.
I can not find the words to express the way that i am feeling right now.

So i will have to quote Mr. Richard Nickel..........

" Great Architecture has only two natural enemies:

Water and Stupid Men "

Thank You for your time. :)

ANSWER TO WHY THE STYX PARADISE THEATRE ALBUM IS ACTUALLY AN ARTIST'S RENDERING OF THE CHICAGO GRANADA THEATRE.

PLEASE READ THE POSTS BY MARY L, BEARDBEAR31, AND MYSELF, GEO1 STARTING FROM JULY 21, 2006 IN THE CHICAGO PARADISE THEATRE THREAD... ENJOY!!!

A 1954 video clip of the Granada can be seen by searching for 26434 at http://www.wttwdigitalarchives.com/searchres.php

Hello BRIAN,

Cool! Nice street video. I certainly would love to see a video of the OLD marquee.

There are some pictures of the Granada in Sets 1 and 2, at http://www.mekong.net/random/theatres.htm Take a look in particular at the 1987 pic of the lobby; just two years before demolition began, the theatre was still in excellent condition.

I'm reaching back into my memory here, so I could be wrong, but for what it's worth, I believe the last public function held at the Granada was a concert with Peter Tosh and Heavy Manners in about 1983.

Hello Cam,

A very nice link. I have seen pictures of the demolition before, not those color pictures of the lobby. I am surprised as well as the overall condition of the building just prior to demolition. It also makes me sick at the same time at how such a beautiful building was destroyed because of shortsightedness. Granted...if the Granada was still around today, it would be in a not so good area of town. Still if the city had a good plan for the area that would include the theatre, expand on it's parking then it could have been better for the area all around. But now America has lost a real treasure.

Fortunately a similar theatre, The Uptown, is still standing and now with sights on preservation hopefully this theater will avoid the same fate as the Granada and be around for many future generations to enjoy.

Geo

Dear Cam, Thank You for posting the address for the sight that you did, not only did it show pics of the Granada but it showed pics of other theatres that i could not recall what thay looked like.
Wonderfull, thank you once more.

That is a sweet photo gallery Cam. Really first rate.

Don't know why I didn't find this site before. I grew up between the Granada and Uptown Theatres by St. Ita's. I also remember the Riviera, the Aragon, the Howard, the Nortown, the Gateway, as well as all of the downtown theatres. I've used up my computer time reading all of the other comments and will come back soon to post some other stories but I want to make two comments right now. First I'm wondering how many people were aware, since I didn't see any comments about it so far, that there was a rehearsal stage on the top level that had more room than most cineabox movie screens around today. This space was not open to the public, but it was a great space. Anyone else have some memories of this ? Secondly, I was wondering if anybody else took what I thought was my 'coolest' photo during the demolition. I spent many nights wandering through the Granada after it was closed. I never took anything because I was waiting for it to reopen and even stopped some from vandalizing the place. Then in one fell swoop right before demo began they stripped it out almost overnight. When that was being done was the only time there was ever security there. Back to the photo, I kept going in there as it was being torn down, sort of like visiting an old friend in hospice. They first wall they ripped down was the north wall behind the stage. One night I was there with my Polaroid (God do I wish they had digital cameras back then) and sitting in the balcony with some beers we got from Bruno's we watched the show. With just the back wall ripped out but with the proscenium left untouched you could watch the 'L' go by like it was a stage show. I had just one picture left from my 10 pack of film (which I had put in to take some photos at a party I was at earlier). I waited for the right moment and took my picture. It was two 'L' trains crossing in opposite directions as seen through the magnificent proscenium as if it was a stage show. If anyone else has a photo like that please let me know. More next time I stop by this page. WorldwideBob

In the photo set of http://www.mekong.net/random/theatres.htm if you look closely at Set 1, Photo #9 of the Granada, you will see a poster of Paul McCartney. This was for his 1989 "Flowers in the Dirt" tour and album. I had the pleasure of seeing him during that tour at the Rosemont Horizon (now called the Allstate Arena).

Oh, but if the Granada could have been saved and he could have played there....!

Hello Catherine,

I personally never have been to Chicago, but I will say that from pictures, Chicago was the one city that could even rival NY when it came to the Golden Era picture palaces. It is also a shame that most of it's beautiful theatres have been destroyed. The Granada had a sister as well, called the Marbro. I think I posted pictures up top somewhere. Then there was the famous Paradise Theatre. This one building alone got me interested in the old picture palaces.

The beautiful Chicago Theatre is one of Chicago's best theatres that has been restored and is in full operation. But Chicago still has one more gem...a building physically larger and arguably more beautiful than New York's very own Radio City. That is the Uptown Theatre. You can check that out here. Supposedly there are plans in the works to restore this gem, but it is rough going. But I am hoping it can be saved. It is a massive building and would make an excellent concert hall. The Granada and Uptown are surprisingly similar in design.

I do not know where you are from, but if you are close to the NY area, they just recently restored the Loews Paradise theatre in the Bronx a couple years ago. THIS theatre is to die for. Only one could imagine what the Uptown would look like fully restored.

Geo

Geo,

I'm a Chicago girl! Born and Bred! I've been to New York a few times & actually went to the Beekman (spelling?). I would love to see the Paradise next time I'm there. What's the area like around there? Unfortunately, the Bronx has a "less-than-stellar" reputation, perhaps undeservedly so.

I'm not all that optimistic about the Uptown Theatre. The condition of the inside is bad. The stage doors are on Lawrence Avenue (which is a fire lane--they would not be able to park the large trucks necessary for today's shows). Customer parking would be a huge issue there. My friend and fellow Cinema Treasure fan Paul Fortini says that he moved to that area and then moved right out immediately when his lease was up. The problem, as he puts it, was parking. Especially when the Aragon and/or the Riviera were having shows. Imagine adding 1500 or more cars to the mix if the Uptown were to have a show! And there is so much competition amongst the operating venues today!

But if all of these issues can be addressed, then perhaps the Uptown will one day be a successful venue. BTW, when I was about 17 or 18 years old, I saw the J. Geils Band there when "Centerfold" and "Freeze Frame" were big hits for them. I believe that they were the last band to play at the Uptown!

Hello Catherine,

Yes, I am familiar with the parking issues in that area and it is a shame that the city doesn't put more parking garages in. (Put them underground perhaps!) The Uptown definately needs something like that. But it is a very serious point. I, myself, am looking to buy a small theatre in a downtown area in PA, Vermont, or Virginia. However, most of these downtown areas were thriving in the times of the horse and buggy later there usually were trolleys, busses and trains. Most people used those methods of transportation or just walked. But today with everyone driving, there has to be a place to put the cars.

When I find a theatre I like, I usually end up also finding out there there isn't a place to put the cars! Towns get very fickle about having cars floating around the streets clogging everything up, even later at night! So I know what you mean there.

Now, being from Chicago...I am assuming you been to the Chicago Theatre. How do they handle the parking issue?

I am sorry to hear that the interior has deteriorated. As I said, the only pictures I have are from 1990 and now it is 2007.

It would be a shame to loose this building. If Chicago lost this theatre, it would be harking back to when NY lost the Roxy...Very much a similar theatre in size and beauty.

I love that name. If I were to build a theatre from the ground up I would call it the Roxy.

But for me, nothing will top the Chicago Paradise. There was just something about that building that just blows me away every time I look at pictures of it. I am a sucker for atmospheric theatres anyway...especially John Eberson's creations

But the Bronx Loews Paradise is very close to the Chicago Paradise. It is also an atmospheric designed by John Eberson.

Yes, you normally would be right, the Bronx is quite a questionable area, but they do have very good security in place when there is an event. Futhermore, that area they are cleaning up nicely. After all, tons and tons of money went into the restoration of that building and they are doing their best to make the area better so more people will want to come and see the theatre. They offer tours of the building as well. It is a pretty big building too. I think it is just shy of 4000 seats.

Here, get a load of this. This is a picture of the auditorium in mid restoration:

http://www.gothamist.com/attachments/garth/2005_10_21_paradiserefurbis.jpg

Nice huh?

Geo

The funny thing is that there used to be a seven or eight story parking garage at Broadway & Lawrence, which filled right up on show nights. For some reason they tore it down and never built another one.

Geo,

Catherine is right, parking would be a big issue for the Uptown. It was an issue too for this place. At least that's what the "official story" was regarding the Granada. I made a comment regarding this on my May 26, 2006 post, but I'll repeat it here:

"In the late 1970s or early 1980s, a company called "M and M Amusements" took over this place. M and M attempted to clean the theatre up and began booking top-name entertainment at the time. Such bookings included a stage version of Rocky Horror and concerts such as Cheap Trick and Off Broadway USA ("...Stay in time boy/Don't get out of line boy). M and M ran into trouble with the community because of the lack of parking. The community supposedly claimed that concert-goers were vandalizing the area, damaging automobiles, etc. As a result, M and M lost its liqour license and was unable to book concerts after that. It was a shame too, because it seemed that M and M really tried to make the Granada Theatre work.

Then again, there were all sorts of politics behind the liqour license suspension...."

As for the Chicago Theatre's parking situation, since it is Downtown (The Loop), there are plenty of parking lots which will be happy to charge customers upwards of $20.00 to park. But since The Loop has seen a comeback, and it's transit friendly, many people elect to take public transportation. All CTA L lines are close. Many suburbanites take public transportation to The Loop too. The Metra Electric and the South Shore terminate 2 blocks east of the Chicago and the other Metra lines are but a quick cab ride away.

Life's Too Shore: I remember that parking deck at Broadway & Lawrence. When I worked for Andy Frain Ushering, which had a contract for the Uptown, I'd use that deck.

Hello Paul,

I am familiar with the trouble Chicago has on the West side and that also led to the demise of the Granada. I also know the Marbro and Paradise where also in this area.

However, I really didn't know where either the Uptown or Chicago theatres are situated.

I don't know how Chicago's mass transit system compares to NY. But in NYC there is ALOT going on underground. Installing a parking garage that goes underground and taps into a subway system (if present) could bring alot of people to the Uptown. Furthermore, not only would this benefit the Uptown, but the whole area in general.

I just think that some solution should present itself or people should just work things out better or else another magnificent structure will be lost.

I am surprised that the area DID have a parking structure and it was taken down and not another one built to replace it. Now that is something that doesn't make sense to me.

Geo

Geo

Geo,

Chicago's mass transit system is huge, much like New York's, but on a scale appropriate for its size. Although we do have subways here, which were mainly built during the Great Depression, the soft clay here makes subways extremely expensive to build. Hence, we have a lot of our system elevated, at street level, or in highway medians. Much of the area's "L" system is currently under renovation, so transit times are high here.

Suburbanites do come downtown. We have an excellent commuter rail system called Metra, which does run on weekends. The suburbs in Indiana are served by a different commuter rail system, the South Shore Line, which is not a part of Metra, but does run downtown also.

Unfortunately, ALL of Chicago's rail system, "L" and commuter rail is downtown-oriented. There is still no convenient way to go across town from North to South, not even by driving. We were supposed to have had a Crosstown Expressway years ago, complete with an "L" line in the middle, but the NIMBYs (Not in My Back Yard) didn't want it. The Uptown is and the Granada was on the North Side, both accessible via the "L"--the Red Line--but not practical for suburbanites and Northwest Siders to get there.

The downtown theatres (Chicago, Oriental, Cadillac Palace, Goodman, LaSalle Bank--formerly the Schubert--, and the Auditorium) all do well in part because of good parking, good public transportation, and the general renaissance of the downtown area. All but the Auditorium are former movie theatres.

Paul --

A small thing: the Chicago subway system began service AFTER WW II, about 1947. Its opening was a huge affair. Also, I think one goes "across town" from east to west, not north to south. And the Schubert Theatre was a legitimate house, although it did show films in the summer when there were no stage shows.

Doug

Hello PAUL,

Thanx for the inside on the Chicago Transportation system. I can see it clearer now. I can definately see how the Uptown could benefit from a express travel line with also railway access. In addition something like this could be built into a multi-level parking structure on the North side. Given the size of the Uptown and also improving the economy in the area...this is something the city shouln't ignore.

I know there are all kinds of obstacles and politics involved. I guess in a way it is the theatre historian in me that is speaking. But overall, the city would stand to benefit from a project like that. The Uptown alone can bring tremendous revenues in that area.

We have lost too many of these beautiful structures already. I can't see that in this day and age a theatre of the Uptown's stature would be lost.

It is a shame that NY lost its Roxy theatre and it is still being lamented over. Hopefully Chicago doesn't make the same mistake...already too many beautiful theatres have been lost in that town.

Geo

The Granada and the Uptown were both located along what is now the CTA Red Line. The Granada was about 1/4 mile south of the Loyola station and the Uptown is just west of the Lawrence station. Up until 1993, the Red Line was known as the Howard-Jackson-Englewood.

The Red Line travels through the State Street Subway and the Blue Line travels through the Dearborn Street Subway. Both were begun as WPA projects in the 1930s. The State Street Subway opened in 1943 according to http://www.chicago-l.org/operations/lines/red.html however World War II shortages delayed the opening of the Dearborn Subway until about 1951.

Even today, many cinemas and still-extant former cinemas are located along "L". Excluding the Downtown Theatres, here's a line-by-line breakdown:

Blue Line: Gateway, Logan, Congress.
Red Line: Village North, (Brew 'n' View at the) Vic, Victory Gardens (ex Biograph), Drury Lane Water Tower (ex Water Tower Cinemas), 600 North Michigan Cinemas, Chatham.
Brown Line: Music Box.
Pink Line: Showplace 14 at Hawthorn Works
Purple Line: Century 12 Theatres/Cine Arts 6
Green Line: Lake

I've probably missed a few, and I omitted closed theatres like the Esquire and the 3 Penny.

Also, Doug D.

1947 was when the CTA took over from the Chicago Surface Lines and the Chicago Rapid Transit.

Hi,

Since the Uptown is being discussed here I thought I'd add a few comments. First, there is a photographer who I believe still lives in the neighborhood named Lori Robare who took some great pictures of the Uptown. Second the Metra north line stops at Lawrence and Ravenswood just a few blocks west of the Uptown, the 'L' as mentioned is a half block east. The parking structure just west of the 'L' was torn down because some violent crimes happened there, rather than make it more secure the turned it into a street lot that cops driving by could see all of. A new deck with cameras and security features could be built on the site. What I haven't seen posted is the fact that at one point the Uptown was almost torn down for a high-rise (due to it's large footprint) but when National Wrecking came in and saw how it was constructed the bid was so high that the developer just purchased another property (a bowling alley 4 blocks south) and built his high rise there. If you go by the Boardwalk at Broadway and Montrose you can see what Broadway and Lawrence would have been like if the Uptown was constructed like an ordinary movie palace. When the Uptown was built as the big sister to the Riviera one block south. Balaban (of Balaban & Katz) lived nearby on Castlewood Terrace. Katz lived in Englewood and had the Englewood Theatre ( way cool, but now torn down and replaced by a strip mall) built for him and his neighbors. Balaban had the uptown built and spared no expense to make it the best movie palace in America. Radio City is a few seats larger, but not as nice. I've been in over 100 movie palaces, thru the catwalks and guts, and have never seen anything like it. The amount of concrete and steel in it would safely construct a building thrice its size. It even has two secret stairwells in it. When it was built it also had a radio studio in it (WEBH) that fed into National broadcasts.

Part of the problems it has is it's position on the border of the 46th and 48th wards, and there is a lot of politics involved. I personally know of someone who was prepared to renovate it about 18 years ago, but could not get the approval of the politicians involved because he didn't donate to the right things and didn't want to add to his payroll people who knew nothing about theatres except that if you're involved in the renovation you can pull prime tickets for approved friends of the powers that be, along with collecting a check at the salary your sponsor though appropriate, but hey the last election all three of one of those alderman's opponents got tossed off the ballot before election day.

So in summary, thanks to the solid construction of the Uptown it is unlikely it will be torn down. Renovation however will depend on whether the renovators can wait for a good political climate, or whether it finally becomes profitable enough that the 'extra costs don't sink the project.

More next time, Worldwide Bob.

Hello Bob,

Thank you for your insite on the situation with the uptown, I hope you reposted your document under the listing for the Uptown as well as I am sure there are many that would like to know what is going on.

For a long time, I didn't believe what I was hearing that the Uptown could upscale Radio City, until I saw the pictures for myself. While Radio City is a beautiful theatre, The Uptown clearly trumps it in every way shape or form and it IS physically larger too.

Yes, I had a feeling why the Uptown lasted so long was in regards to it's construction. I think many a demo crew has realized what had happend to the company that had torn down the famous Paradise Theatre.

But thank goodness that the Uptown is well constructed and I am hoping that it can hang on until something positive will become of the current situation and that the theatre will eventually be restored.

You said the building was constructed with the aim to be the most beautiful and ornate theatre in America. To a certain extent, I think that line still holds true today.

After seeing the inside of the Uptown and seeing how much it does compare to the Granada and Marbro theatre does have me keeping my fingers crossed that this building could be saved.

I have seen what was done with the Bronx Loews Paradise here in NY. It is breath taking. Right now I can only wish the same for the Uptown.

Geo

Geo,

I will post that on the Uptown site later. The Uptown's building is bigger than Radio City, it's just that Radio City had a few more seats (cheating it's title of largest, sort of like the things with skyscrapers as to why some tops count in height and some don't). I do agree it's a beautiful theatre. The Uptown, demo would make even the Paradise demo pale in comparison, not to ramble (I could) but to give you an idea, where in some theatres the standard is metal catwalks, the uptown has many that are poured concrete sidewalks. Old man Balaban wanted to impress his friends, and I'm sure his personal tours of the place must have been quite a good time.

I have been to the Bronx Leows Paradise (I have relatives in Woodhaven) and I agree they did a nice job. It's worth the tour (which I took and recomend) as you get places you don't during an event unless you're working the show. And yes it's like the Congress, or United Center in Chicago, during a scheduled event there are enough people and security around that it is safe.

Hello Bob,

Poured concrete catwalks??? Wow I sure would love to have a grand tour of the Uptown now! I have a funny feeling that place has MANY suprises.

In terms of size, the general accepted way of determining that is occupancy. I guess it has been that way for years. I too, did contest the fact that the Uptown was larger based on the seating, but then I saw a blueprint of the Uptown's floor plan. And I have one for Radio City as well. Clearly, the Uptown is much larger physically.

I also have full documentation on the Chicago Paradise as well (of course) and the closest (existing and operating) comparison to that would be the Loews Paradise in the Bronx. But even though the pictures I have of the Chicago Paradise are in B&W, it clearly was a building to die for. It has and always will be my faviorite theatre. But to only imagine what it would have looked like in person. But the Bronx Paradise does give you a taste of that the Chicago one was like.

As you can tell, I have a soft spot for atmospheric theatres :).

Geo

Famed "Schmeling-Louis" fight film shown at Granada---

NEWS ITEM:

Chicago Daily News, Friday, June 26, 1936, p. 36, c. 1---

FIGHT FILMS OPEN AT B-K THEATERS

The Joe Louis-Max Schmeling fight pictures, complete from beginning to end have been booked in as extra screen attractions at eight Balaban & Katz theaters starting today. In the loop the pictures will be shown at the Roosevelt and Apollo theaters; west side Marbro; south side, Tivoli and Southtown; north side, Granada, Varsity and Uptown. The pictures showing the knockdown in slow motion, also start at the Regal theater on the south side on Sunday

Hello Everyone,

I worked at the Granada for several years in the mid 1960s as an usher. Needless to say, I fell in love with the place. Many of us took great pride in the theater and every weekend we would come in before the theatre opened and did things to keep the place looking great (painting, cleaning, etc). I did a lot of exploring of the theatre, getting behind the walls, going under the theatre to the vents below the seats (I was young). The place was in fantastic condition. While the place did have its share of rodents, it was a young guy’s palace. While employed there I met many celebrities that came in to promote their movies, Jerry Lewis and George Peppard being a couple that I recall. I also worked for a closed circuit TV broadcast for a Cassius Clay (A.K.A. Muhammad Ali) and Sonny Liston fight. I was seating customers who had reserved seats. Among them was Jack Dempsey. The fight was brief but the memories were sweet. After I left employment there I continued to visit the place for movies and concerts (Supertramp and Foreigner being some of my favorites). Since then I have never seen a movie palace that matched the grandeur of the Granada. Granada, I miss you!

Bob V.

Hello Bob V.
My website, although undergoing major revamping is a tribute to The Granada. I would like to interview you. Please email me directly. old_granada_theatre@comcast.net
Also, anyone else with a personal Granada story, I'd like to hear it. :)

I just discovered the sad tale of the granada theater while googling the Styx album Paradise Theater (it was one of the first hits).
It is sad that such wonderful buildings can be destroyed in the name of "progress and modernization."
In my hometown of Syracuse NY, we have (or had) several buildings designed by the famous architect Archimedes Russell (link here- http://syracusethenandnow.org/Architects/Russel/Archimedes_Russel.htm ) but sadly they are going the way of the Granada and so many buildings before them. When I was little I remember my mother telling me about the grandeur of them in my great-grandparents' day, but looking at them now you would have no clue. The Snowdon Hotel was once the most sought after address in the city. Now, it houses only released sex-offenders (you don't go down into that area at night, ever). Another building, once housing a little pharmacy was bought out, left, neglected, and torn down just two weeks ago (I cried for a treasure destroyed). I am only 18, but even I know that it is so wrong for such historical treasures to be destroyed to have a pawn shop or a tattoo parlor spring up in their wake. The next thing to go could be the beautiful mansions whose neighbor hoods have fallen on very hard times.

This sort of thing should be stopped, and I hope that I'm not the only one who feels that way.

Molly Beth

Hello Molly Beth

Welcome aboard the "Cinema Treasures Express"! Be prepared for a wild ride here when it comes to old theatres. Like the real theatre, there is alot of happiness and heartache here and unfortunately you can't have one without the other especially when discussing a topic such as this.

Like yourself, I had made my way here via the Styx Paradise Theatre album. I am more than twice over your age and Styx was in it's grand heyday when the Paradise Theatre album was released. Needless to say I became obsessed with the album cover and the Paradise Theatre itself. As you probably can tell by my previous posts here, I did kind of become an authority figure here in regards to the album and I even had the grand opportunity to meet and discuss the album cover with the artist who created it.

Anyway, all the information is both here and also in the Paradise Theatre thread. There is more info there. However, it will take a pretty long time to get through the Paradise Theatre thread. It is one of the oldest and most visited threads here

I am happy to see that there is hope for our younger generations in that you do appreciate the granduer of these palaces. I too love old mansions having been to both the Vanderbilt and Westbury Garden mansions here on Long Island. I am an avid lover of Victorian architecture and I always dreamed of one day buying a Victorian home.

What you have discovered is character and that is missing in alot of 'new' things today. This is the same thing that makes one like old antique jukeboxes that play old 45 records, the same thing that makes one prefer a steam train over a modern electric one. Yes, I been to many museums, have restored many old radios and jukeboxes and I would love to restore an old theatre one day.

I have been looking to buy a theatre recently and with that comes not only the desire to preserve something old and cherished, but there is also the business side and unfortunately it has to rear it's ugly head. The truth of the matter is that for a theatre to be restored and reopened...there has to be a market for it's use.

Another largly overlooked problem is parking. Most of these grand palaces were built in a time where the horse and buggy reigned. Most people walked or took a trolley. Those days are gone and cars have taken over. Now a theater needs ample space to put all these cars. That is a big problem with most small community theatres.

Today, movies are not profitable. The movie companies just simply take too much for small movies houses to turn a profit, which is why you see these large featureless 30 something theatre buildings crop up. There is always strength in numbers and this is no different for the movie industry. More theatres means more people, more people means more food bought at the concession stand. THAT is the real place where theatres make thier money nowadays.

But for old theatres, there is still hope. Live shows, community events, concerts. Yes, these types of shows will bring in many more profits than movies.

Some old theatres have already been saved that follow a live performance only schedule. Which brings me to what I believe is one of the happiest times (in my opinion) in modern theatre history.

I do not know if you ever heard of the Lowes Paradise Theatre in the Bronx. It was recently restored a couple years ago. It is a magnificent building that does share a lineage with the Chicago Paradise. I refer to the two theatres as sisters because of the similar designs and also the fact that both theatres were built around the same time by John Eberson. Both theatre's are of the Atmospheric design and this was a style that Eberson excelled at.

It would be worth your while to come to the Bronx and see the Loews Paradise. They do offer tours of the building.

I too believe that the destruction of old theatres should stop. But it isn't always the case. Many times I wished I could just move one of these old theatres to a better place since it is many times the location that really makes the difference.

Long Island is finally lamenting it's past doings that hasitly demolished or converted most of it's old theatres. As of now, Patchogue was the only town wise enough to invest in their theatre and had it restored. Now it has become a well known and very popular theatre. People here do want more theatres because with the rising costs of fuel, people want to stay close to home and want something to do locally.

This is something I understand as well because now people don't want to travel as much because of high property taxes and high gas prices. The money simply isn't there to go into the city and see a VERY expensive show. So the more local entertainment is warranted, the more the desire to have a theatre close to home.

So hopefully there will be those that step up to the plate and we may see more old downtown theatres being restored and used again.

Anyway, I talked off topic enough here. Once again, welcome to CT!

Geo

To WorldWideBob: About the Uptown Theater and Radio City Music Hall: You said that the Uptown had just a few seats less than Radio City. By the numbers: Uptown, 4,320 seats; Radio City, 5,940 seats; and The Roxy ("The Cathedral of the Motion Picture") torn down ca. 1960, 5,920 seats. I have been in Radio City; that place is really HUGE !! It is a great shame that we will never see their like again! (Of course, Radio City is still flourishing, but I do not believe they show many films there any more.)

Hello Dougd

I have made those claims as well. The Uptown is physically larger and more elaborate than Radio City Music Hall. However, Radio City has made much better use of it's space. Thus it's capacity is larger. Also it is a better design acoustically as well. With Radio City, there isn't a bad seat in the house. It is a very 'smartly' designed theatre. But in terms of beauty, I still have to give that to the Uptown. The Roxy was also more beautiful than Radio City as well, but it had some problems with the layout. There was one time that even Radio City's life was threatened, but the people of NYC had enough with the loss of the Roxy. So thankfully Radio City was saved. Unfortunately it really is no longer a movie house. I believe they still do show premiers there from time to time, but it is really a live performance theatre now.

Geo

The late Granada theatre was truly a gem. I grew up in Rogers Park in the 1950's and 60's and "lived" there every Saturday during the summers for the Children's Matinee, where the lower floor was packed. A great baby sitter for parents from 9:00am to 11:00am. Sometimes my friends and I would sneak up to the balcony and hide so we could see the regular features afterward. A friend's older brother was an usher there and he took us on a tour of the basement and behind the screen, which the organ pipes were located. Does anyone remember waiting in line and getting pop corn from the little restaurant a couple doors north of the entrance? The popper was in the window and in the summer the restaurant door was open and the aroma of fresh pop corn was sooo inticing It was cheaper than in the theatre and we had to sneak it in, as the ushers would not let us in with it 'cuz they wanted us to buy pop corn and candy from the theatre. The price was twenty-five or fifty cents in the early years to get a ticket.

Anyway, the real reason the Granada is gone is because Loyola University had originally planned to create land fill on the lake to add to the campus, in conjunction with a city project to extend the Lake Shore Drive to Howard Street, but when the city's plan fell through, Loyola instead bought up property on Winthrop and Kenmore AND the Granada theatre building. The paperwork to register the Granada as a National Landmark was being processed when Loyola convinced the city to allow the sale. The theatre was in great shape at the end, just a little run down. The last movie event I saw was the Three Stooges festival in the late 1970's and she looked great. The memories are quite vivid to this day and the old girl will be missed.

Bob V.

Could it be possible that you are the same Bob V. who was captain of the ushers at the Granada in 1965?

Ellen D.

Hi Ellen, Yes I was capt of the users at the Granada in '65.

Bob V.

Well, fancy meeting you here, of all places, after 40+ years! If memory serves, don't you more or less hold the Granada's record for "Most Viewings of 1963's 'Tom Jones'" (starring Albert Finney and Susannah York)?

Ellen D.

Hi Ellen,

Your pretty good with the dates. I definitely loved the movies they had at the Granada. Memorized a lot of dialog from the movies I worked for then. Feel free to contact me through my email. No need to bore everyone here with tales of the past.

bvalleau@comcast.net

Greetings All...

I also grew up in West Rogers Park and went to many shows at the Grenada and Nortown.

The exterior of the Grenada, or a good part of it still exists. It was incorporated into a home near Barrington. This home belong to a noted collector who has an incredible collection of old phonographs, victrolas, moviolas, music boxes, band organs and more. His living room is a full-size theater organ (many parts restored from former movie theater and radio station organs).

Unfortunately, the home isn't open to the public, but my hopes are someday this home will become a musuem since the collection inside is one of the finest in the world.

I took some pictures of the home earlier this year and will post them if people are interested.

Cheers...

IMRadioactive: By any chance would you be referring to the Sanfilippo residence? If so, recordings exist of that Wurlitzer hybrid organ which is housed in a specially built room that was added to the home. There is also a proscenium arch in the room with a replica of the Paradise theatre stage curtain.

Yes, that's the one...an incredible place to visit. I've had the chance to see the collection and climb around the organ. All the instruments have been carefully restored and include the histories of each piece.

The organ room is something else...it includes a balcony with old theater seating and old lightbulbs all around that pulse to the music. Several recordings are available.

Here is page that has some info on the house: http://www.atos.org/Pages/Residences/Sanfilippo/Sanfilippo.html

The home is open to various collector groups and words can't describe all the stuff that's inside.

Hello all,

Wow! You learn something new everyday! I never heard about this place before. Shame on me! But I am happy to see that at least some parts of the Granada was saved to create this magnificent home.

What more is that my interests are nearly identical to Sanfilippo. I too love carousels, jukeboxes, antique radios, victrolas, organs, band organs, steam trains, old cars, old ships (I am a Titanic historian and have been recently researching both the Lucitania and the Normandie).

I think I would have a blast going through this home. I too have a small collection of my interests, but alas I have no where near the buying power of Sanfilippo. If I did, though, I think I would get my theatre first :).

Geo

I was heartbroken when they torn down the Granada theater I grew up seeing many movies there and the Devon as well.Sonny and Cher made a rare appearance there in person after their movie showed . I loved the little popcorn shop next door to it, which had real butter and cheese popcorn .I hold alot of wonderful memories of it, what a treat getting to see a James Bond movie like "Goldfinger "in such a grand palace! debear

Hello Debear:

That is why it is all important to rally together and save what palaces we can. In your neck of the woods that would be the Uptown. The Uptown is very close in styling as to the Granada.

The trouble is the much of the area around the Uptown needs to be improved. Parking for on is an issue. But in the case of the Uptown it is worth it. Because of it's large size the Uptown could very easily be Chicago's Radio City. It is, in fact physically larger than Radio City (but not exeeding it's capacity).

I think the biggest problem facing old theatres today is either a lack of a defined use, parking issues, and depressed downtown areas. Many old towns are reforming and trying to rebuild their downtown areas so that is a help. With gas prices rising, people are going to
turn to local entertainment again. The big issue is parking and this is one of the things the Uptown faces.

The Granada, unfortunately, was in a depressed area and faced the other problems I mentioned above. Sadly that has sealed it's fate.

The famous Chicago Paradise does have a sister, the Loews Paradise in
the Bronx. It's future was very grim until several groups of people got together and saved it and restored it. Granted it isn't like the
Chicago Paradise, but it does share some of it's styling. It is, of course, a John Eberson Atmospheric...my favorite :).


Geo

Hi Geo,

Yes, I'm aware of the Uptown and its possible demise I signed the petition and I hope they are able to save it somehow, but I wouldn't hold my breath because most of our great city leaders are into profiting for themselves rather than preserving artistic history. Short results seem to outweigh long term goals and we loose alot of beautiful history because of it.I use to love to ride the bus from my far northside neighborhood to the Uptown and see the many Horror flicks they played it was really an adventure for me,although I didn't know it at the time I was really lucky to have that.debear

Greetings,

Geo,

Actually I believe the ultimate reason for the Granada's demise was how valuable the land had become...especially to Loyola University. In the late 70's, the block around the theater had some head shops and a bar (Huey's, if I'm not mistaken) that the University wanted to see those places gone.

If you're interested in the San Fillippo house tour, it's part of the yearly meeting of the Midwest chapter of the Music Box Society...they usually hold that tour/meeting in May. If you have a few music boxes in your possession, it might be worth joining. It's a fascinating group of people.

Here's hoping the Uptown is rehabilitated to its past glory. I saw several movies and concerts there in the 60's and 70's and remember how it anchored the Uptown area. This gem needs to be saved.

Cheers...

I am interested in a tour of the SanFillippo house. How do I get on the list? :)

Hello IM,

I would love to see the house, but I now have twin baby boys to attend to. So traveling will probably be out for the next 5 to 6 years.

As for the Uptown...I think if a good plan for parking is implented that would give the Uptown a serious support boost. This way if there is a good place for people to park, then more then likely the would sell out more seats.

Buildings like this are dwindling in numbers and it is extremely rare to find something of this size still in restorable shape. I too, am hoping for the best.

JG

I just want to comment on the statements above as to which theater was more beautiful: The Uptown, Radio City or The Roxy. I've thought about that many times and I just can't compare Radio City (which is Art Deco and dates from the 30's) to The Roxy and The Uptown (which date from the 20's and were Spanish Designs). They are just too different in style to properly compare. They are all the best of their class and so I chose not to choose. I have not had the opportunity to visit either The Uptown or The Roxy so I can only go by the pictures I've seen on CT. As such, I think it is an incredible draw between the two. Radio City stands in an Art Deco league of its own. Another contender would be the Art Noveau masterpiece New Amsterdam Theater on 42nd St; another theater with no equal.

Hello LuisV,

I take it you were aiming that at me since I made the comparisons of the three. I believe the words I used above were 'more elaborate'...in which case both the Roxy and Uptown ARE more elaborate than Radio City. But then again both the Roxy and Uptown are more elaborate styles. Going by Genre now, yes, Radio City it at it's very best in reference to the Art Deco style...which is plainer than the styles of the other two theatres. You simply must see interior pictures of the Uptown to understand what I am referring to.
I am NOT saying that Radio City isn't a beautiful theatre. But if you do try to compare it to the Roxy or Uptown in terms of how elaborate the decor is...there is no comparison. Radio City has and always will be a favorite theatre of mine. So will the others, even though I never been to them. If you are from the NYC neck of the woods, the recently restored Loews Paradise in the Bronx is a definite must see.

JG

Hi Geo, I totally agree with you! I think Radio City is spectacular, but I don't think that you could fairly compare it to theaters like the Uptown or The Roxy. I too find these theaters much more elaborate than Radio City. That is why I have to put Radio City in its own category.

I do plan on touring th Loew's Paradise in The Bronx as you suggest. I'm facinated by Loew's Wonder Theaters. Loew's Valencia was one of my neighborhood theaters growing up and is an increbuly beautiful structure. I had a chance to tour Loew's King's last winter and even in its decayed state, it is one of the most beautiful theaters I have ever seen. I've attended a film at the renovated Loew's Jersey and was very impressed. I'm very much looking forward to taking the tour of The Paradise in the Spring and finally visitng Loew's 175th Street which has become a big concert venue.

The San Francisco Fox is also one of the greatest movie palaces ever built. The Paramount in Oakland is also an Art Deco masterpiece.brucec

Here is an undated photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2g38e8

Ken: It must be a lot of work taking photos of your screen. You might consider using the Print Screen key on your keyboard and pasting into a photo editor, or using a screen capture tool like MWSnap to make the process quicker, and with better image quality too.

Thanks. I downloaded the program, let me see if I can make it work.

LOL

With regard to screen captures, I've usually used print screen (sometimes from a full screen, if the size of the image requires it), and then saved the file to my default image viewer program, which is IrfanView. I might try MWSnap myself, though, as I like the idea of being able to edit a capture prior to saving it, rather than after, as I must do in IrfanView. Thanks, BW.

That is the first picture I have ever seen of the original vertical sign from the north. As fantastic as it must have been, I can't help but notice how much it blocks the facade from view. The Granada's facade is the definitely the greatest example of terra cotta workmanship I have ever seen firsthand.

Here is an aerial image

Thanks BWChicago :)
I guess that was from the original GoogleEarth huh? :)
Evanstone Ave? Which was Evanstone? The curved street just off the motorway?

Hello guys been a while since I been here, so I have some catching up to do.

Luis V.

I guess we cleared up that above. Yes, I do recommend visiting the Loews Wonder Theatres. There are three more as well, one is in Brooklyn...The Kings (I believe), The 175th st Manhattan, and the Jersey City theater. All are still standing and all except the Brooklyn are still being used. Both the Jersey City and Paradise continue operation as a Theatre. The 175th st Theatre and the Valencia are run by a churches.

Life's Too Short:

A while back I think I did post a link to a picture here of the Granada with its original Marquee.

Look through it. Email me if you can't find it, I can't post a picture here. But I have one with the original Marquee lit at night. It should be in the discussion on the Styx Paradise Theatre album cover I did a while back.

BW Chicago:

That IS a nice aerial shot. In the picture, it would have looked like the Granada had a nice parking lot if it wasn't for that road wasting all that good space there. To bad the neighborhood soured. To bad the building couldn't be moved :(. But it was a building worth saving. The Granada is one of my favorite theatre buildings.

Geo

Hi Geo, good to have you back! As I posted above, I grew up attending The Valencia and I've attended films in the newly restored Jersey. I still haven't been to The Paradise and The Loews 175th St (though still technically a church) is very much one of New York's premier concert facilities. The one black eye has been the sad state of Loew's Kings in Brooklyn. However, a lot is going on behind the scenes there and I would ask you to go to the Kings CT page to see my post there about today's tour of the theater for developers interested in restoring the city! I was there and it was exciting to finally see some real movement on restoring one of the nation's most beautiful and opulent palaces ever constructed!

Fond memories of both the Granada and the Aragon. My kind of town.
To MPGLEFIN The artist you are looking for, if your still looking is Jim Annis. They just don't build them like these anymore.

Hello, I was one of those who let themselves in during the late 80's. A friend and I had ##### the Laser security systems in place and for about 8 months or so, had the greatest club-house on the North-side. The Theatre was amazing and seemed in very good shape at the time. I dont want to get into too much detail but our small group of friends really did care about the Theatre and it was only after letting a certain girl in did things take a turn, for she had showed and told friends who were gang members how to get in! Needless to say they ransacked the place destroying and spray painting every thing in sight. We were distraught, we did the only thing we thought we could do at 15... We, on the main floor pulled a couple display cases together and lit them up. We wanted the police, fire, etc there to close everything down and stop the Gang from returning. Not sure how effective it was tho, we walked up devon ave. watching the fire trucks go by and never returned. I still have the Zippo to this day.

Despite the graffiti The Granada could have been saved. The damage wasn't as bad as I thought even then. So any who would say otherwise is just looking for excuses.

-Lev1

Hey Lev1,
Get in touch with me. I'd love to hear more of your personal story for my webpage which is a tribute to The Granada :)

The Granada was indeed a beautiful place. I remember seeing the `60's cartoon "The Aristocats", Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" & "Taxi Driver" all at the Granada. After OHMSS, we went to a carnival set up on Loyola's then track field. Behind and to the East.

It was a shame the Granada couldn't be saved. Loyola also tore down their own vintage dark brick athletic building just North & behind the tracks.
The one that long had their 1963 Basketball Championship signage on it. Visible from the "L".
I drove by when the Granada was being torn down. I'm sure Loyola had their own plans in mind long before it all happened. Just as they did on Pearson Street, down on the Near North Side. Quigley beware.
They also took over what was called Mundelien College, East on Devon near the lakefront. Fully incorporating it all into their campus.

I didn't know that there was a different, classic marquee originallyon the Granada. I can't wait for Mr. Kuecker's new website.

For the record, Broadway was originally called Evanston Avenue. Probably because it led to where else, Evanston.
Years back, there was a church that burned & was torn down about 3 blocks North of Belmont on Broadway. When it was being razed, the exposed corner stone said "Evanston Avenue Church". Northbound Broadway turns into Sheridan at Devon.

North of the Granada on Sheridan in the `70's & `80's, were Loyola bar Ramblers, Minstrels, & Hueys. Hueys was a bar with live bands that you had to go up a long stairwell to enter. The bouncers knew the advantage of their stairwell quite well. They'd stage guys at the top & street level. Trouble was oddly beaten UP the stairs, to avoid whatever scene was caused.

Across the street was a breakfast joint called The New Old Place. It was 24 hours for a while. They did great biz after the bars closed. Loyola then took it over as their Fine Arts studios. But it still retained it's restaurant, Tudor style roofline & huge parking lot until it was all torn down. It had one large peak over the entrance, and smaller peaks over the rest.


I wish I'd known Harry Chapin was at the Granada. I wasn't far from there then, and would have made the effort.
I wonder if any program/handbills still exist from the Granada when it briefly ventured into concerts. I'm also curious what year the giant, vertical Granada sign was removed, and if it coincided with the newer marquee.

Here is an excerpt from an article in the New Castle (PA) News, dated 6/11/56:

CHICAGO (UP) — The nationwide search for the shotgun killer of three persons set off a near riot in a jammed movie theater Sunday night. About 3,000 persons jammed the street outside the Granada Theater on the North Side when they heard that police had trapped killer Lawrence Neumann inside. Two women fainted in the crush. The crowd got out of control and 15 squads of police already on the scene had to radio for reinforcements. The police were waiting their chance to nab a member of the audience who matched Neumann's description. But when they caught up with him, it turned out the man was not Neumann.

Thanks. That's interesting.

I grew up in Rogers Park. Going to the movies on Saturdays was a favorite pass time during the early to late 60's. Admission was 25cents, pop corn - 15cents....double features were the norm. Took many a date there during high school. I even remember it before the apartment building on the corner to it's south was built.

Eventually the Granada closed as a movie palace and live shows moved in.

In late 1981 we used the interior as a location for a short sales film. We used the dressing rooms downstairs, backstage and the stage. It was a dream come true for me as I was able to see behind the scenes of one of my favorite theaters from my childhood. So sad to see it go to the ash heap of history.

I happened by the site of the old Granada Theatre today on the "L".
Geographically, there is a multi-level parking structure where the Granada formerly stood. With retail in the front.
The taller building is actually to the North of that. Where Ramblers, Minstrels & Huey's etc. used to be.
There is also a massive condominum structure across the street where the New Old Place restaurant used to be.
It's like a dark corridor now.

So, does this make Joni Mitchell a prophet?

My father owned the popcorn and candy store next to the Granada in the late 20's and early 30's, before I was born. He then began to make his own popcorn machines and established the Kripy Kist Korn Machine Co. at 120 so. Halsted in 1933, eventually renamed Krispy Kist Co. manufacturing all sorts of machines for the snack food industry.

His strongest wish was that all popcorn be cooked on a gas popper without oil and that "pure creamery butter" be used as the flavoring. His company was very involved in the snack food industry in the post WWII period up until it was sold about 10 years ago.

Caramelcorn was his specialty and I still make the original recipe for the holiday season. The Karamelcorn stores in downtown Chicago were users of our machines as well as a competitor's machines.

If anyone remembers his original store or has any further info, I'd appreciate hearing from you.

Richard Jacobson,
Granada Hills, Ca. (I just realized the coincidence of where I live)

adhddoc@pol.net

An acquaintance recently told me the 60's "developer" who bought the Granada and a lot of these old theaters, was initially intending to convert them all into Bingo halls. If they were already shuttered at the time of purchase, he likely got the properties on the cheap. But the Bingo angle never materialized.
That was supposedly also the intention of the Devon Theatre. But it was able to live on a little bit longer as a movie house.

The February 5th edition of the Chicago Reader was titled The Rogers Park & West Ridge Issue. It included a column titled The Savages Of Time, which was accompanied by 3 pictures of the Granada Theater. The author dedicated a few paragraphs to his memories of the Granada. Albeit climbing onto it's roof.

A slight correction to the column, the neighboring bar was called Huey's. Not Baby Huey's.

Here is a Historical Building Survey about the Granada that was commissioned in 1989. It's long, highly descriptive and sure to bring back a lot of memories of the theater and that section of Rogers Park.

Part 1: http://tinyurl.com/d3d6dy
Part 2: http://tinyurl.com/czgtt9

Enjoy!

Neat! Thanks for posting those Creedmoor. Maybe any architects out there can read through it and see if any of it was slanted to be pro-demolition.

Photographs of the demolition:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/genial23/2221203600/sizes/l/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/genial23/2221203586/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Looking at those photos is enough to make a grown man cry, felt the same way when they demolished the Ambassador and Loew's State in St. Louis.

This is a 1975 photo.

Here are some 1982 photos:

Photo1

Photo2

Photo3

A question for thoose of you that know or remember.

Did any of the Chicago theatres have the fabulous stage machinery that Radio City Music Hall has and the the Roxy and the Center Theater had?

I'll bet people would turn off their cellphones in the theater if the manager was armed. This is from the Madison (WI) Capital Times in February 1931:

CHICAGO—Three Negro bandits held up the Granada theater at 6247 Sheridan Road Friday night and fled before the revolver fire of J.J. Katz, the manager, who gave chase after he had been notified of the robbery by a girl cashier. One of the holdup men was believed to have been wounded.

The chase and shooting were witnessed by hundreds of motorists and pedestrians, as it occurred about 10 o'clock, while the crowds from the first performance were still leaving the theater.

I could swear that I read that story on another listing.