Park West

The Lane Court Theater was built by Henry Ericsson & Co, general contractors. The architect was Fred Prather (who was Henry Ericsson's son-in-law). Other theaters in Chicago built by Henry Ericsson & Co include the Biograph, the Cort Theater, and the Roosevelt Theater.

I remember seeing the Eurythmics, Duran Duran, Haircut 100, Simply Red, Dave Edmunds, and Grace Jones whom I got to dance with when I was in the audience. I'm probably leaving someone out too. The best time in the late '70s.

http://www.jamusa.com/parkwest/pictures-general.htm

I have three memories of the Park West theatre. In the late 50s- early 60s ,when it was the Lane Court, it had a policy similar to the Parkway, Mode, and DeLuxe theatres: mostly triple features; 3 or 4 changes a week. Sometime in the mid 60s it went to an ADULTS ONLY policy, and a name change: Town theatre. For a VERY short period of time, it was called the Town Underground theatre. It was at this time I made my first trip there, to see Andy Warhols "THE CHELSEA GIRLS", one of the most boring movies I've ever seen (although there was some funny dialogue). This was in 1967- perhaps 1968. Don't remember much about the theatre- rather plain, with a pretty wide auditorium. My second trip was quite memorable: After being banned in Chicago for a number of months (a year?) "DEEP THROAT" had its Chicago premiere at the Town theatre. My buddy and I went on a weekday afternoon; the theatre was packed. This was sometime in 1973.So, the Park West did not come into being until 1974 -perhaps 1975. Shortly after seeing "DEEP THROAT", the Town was raided; the police confiscated the film. I'm not sure if the Town continued operating as an adult theatre after the raid. It may very well have closed for good as a movie theatre in mid to late '73.

Actually it played at the Admiral before the ban.

You're right, Brian. "DEEP THROAT" began its Chicago run on Friday, May 19, 1972, at the Admiral theatre, according to the Sun Times movie directory. It is advertised just as THROAT. When I saw the movie at the Town theatre, it was early 1973. From the Sun Times Thursday March 1, 1973 TOWN LINDA LOVELACE in the most discussed motion picture of the decade. THROAT X- RATED SPECIAL MIDNITE SHOW EVERY NIGHT! NOW IN ITS 37TH WEEK IN NEW YORK CITY!!! Admission $4.00 Matinees- $5.00 Evenings. By the way, if you go to roger ebert.com, and type in deep throat, you can read his review. It's pretty entertaining (he gave it ZERO stars).

Here are my photos of this theater.

Robbery at the Town, from the 7/4/69 Chicago Tribune:

ROBBER TAKES $5,000 FROM TOWN THEATER

A robber took $5,000 from the desk of the manager of the Town theater, a burlesque house, 322 Armitage av., last night.
The manager, Louis Akers, 25, of 439 Wisconsin st., told police he was counting the day's receipts in a basement office when he felt a pistol at the back of his neck.
"This is a stick up" the robber said.
He scooped the money from the table and an open safe and fled. Meanwhile, nearly 100 persons were seated in the theater watching a movie, "Girls of the West" and a dancer, "Darlene".
Before he left, the robber used surgical tape to bind Akers' hands and feet. He left him struggling on the floor. Akers freed himself and telephoned the police.

My mother has told me stories of taking the street car with her brothers in the `40's to see movies at the Lane Court Theatre.
A friend of mine was also involved in the 1977 conversion.

Since 1982, at the Park West I've seen The Turtles, James Brown, Nick Lowe, Bjorn Again(don't ask), Cheap Trick/Benefit for the Chicago Homeless, John Entwistle(worst sound ever), Polyphonic Spree, Tributosaurus, Jenny Lewis, & JAM's Christmas is for Kids auction in 2001. Along with countless other shows I can't recall.

In 1985, a local radio personality named Brad Palmer or something had an event at the Park West that our dealership Fanning Cadillac partially sponsored.
Brad was famous for doing street slang style soap opera updates, on several radio stations under the name Clarence and other psuedonyms.
He then took that gig national after an apparent brief legal threat by one of the TV networks. Guess they gave in after realizing any publicity is good publicity.
He was close friends with one of our sales managers. I think he even had chrous girls called "The Bradettes" or another play on one of the names he used. It was a wild night that we provided cars for.

I'm not sure about the Park West's "nightclub" status on dark nights. I've never known them to be open without name entertainment or a specific event.

Down the street at Armitage & Sedgwick was a place called The Ultimate Sports Bar & Grill. Where the bank is now.
Ultimate had a boxing ring with dining tables inside of it, among other sports themed stuff. Pop-a-Shot, etc. It was one of the few places in Chicago to ever have just their specific address voted dry.
After countless complaints of rowdy patrons exiting the premises and urinating on neighboring lawns.

Strangely the 4-5 other bars nearby never had that problem.

Across from the Park West was one of the original Playboy Clubs, on the upper first floor of the tall residential building. When Playboy closed, the site reopened as the Four Torches. Which had just that burning across the facade about 20 feet apart.

Around the corner on Lincoln in 1982 or so, Augustana Hospital had a newly built, multi level parking garage that also served the Park West. Strangely the hospital & lot was then sold and all torn down to construct the town home/row houses that now line Lincoln North of Armitage Ave.

Just a bit more about the current Park West.
There are comfy black vinyl booths that are on ascending levels from the main floor which has tables of it's own. These booths are seemingly always reserved in advance. However they kind of force the customer to turn their heads right or left for an entire performance. Since the seating in each booth does not truly "face" the stage. Though still the best seats to have, as the view is over the heads of all below you.

Next level up has many small round tables & chairs then a main aisle. Then some railing type counters with bar stools and a wall for some standing room. Also some VIP and railings with bar stools up at an upper catwalk like level along the back walls.

Drink service is brought to the all tables via waitstaff. However one can venture up to a main bar on the East wall, or to one of a few smaller bars if they wish to purchase their own.
Potentially losing an unreserved seat seemingly wouldn't be worth it though.

There is a giant, rotating mirrored ball that hangs from the center of the original circular recessed ceiling. Some ornate plaster work is still visible in this gently backlit recess.
It's really the only visible part of the theater's original interior. There are some small suspended screens that highlight upcoming events hanging from the sides.
The lobby, hallways and restrooms are all mostly black & silver and modern looking. Even though most of the decor is 20 to 30 years old, one would never know it.

Normally the acoustics are perfect in the Park West. Making it a great place and preferred choice to see anything.
It did seem however that in some instances though that required an excess of individual mics, the sound suffered at times. Not sure whether it was the house, or the particular artist's traveling sound or crew.
It seemed as if a performer wandered, the next mic he/she got to was not ready for them. But these were isolated instances, and not the norm by any means.
I'm also surprised at the amount of non-stop talking that goes on during some performances. As if the patons actually WERE in a nightclub or something. This practice seemed to increase as the night went on.
Still a great place.

Remember, if you go to Geja's Fondue next door first, hot oil really IS hot oil. Maybe they should offer all the "talkers" gift certificates.

From Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:

Art Belasco, manager of the Lane Court Theater, ia now using dishes as giveaways three times a week to boost attendance.

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