Chicago Theatre

The Chicago theatre does not actually stage Broadway shows, since it does not have a large enough stage to facilitate modern-day productions. It is however, used for concerts, stand up comics, and plays. Broadway shows in Chicago now play at theatres like the Oriental/Ford Center, Schubert or Cadillac-Palace.

I helped work on it's WURLITZER THEATRE PIPE ORGAN some> What a great place and especially interesting to explore spaces most folks never get to see, such as the basement, attic etc..

When I sent the comment earlier today I didn't realize that it just so happens that the Chicago Theatre is 80 years old today! 26 October 1921 - 26 October 2001. I hope I last till 80 and look that good!

When I was growing up the Chicago Theatre was famous for its stage shows plus a movie. For 90 cents you could go early in the morning and stay as long as you liked. The performers were usually booked for a week and did 5 shows a day and 6 on the weekend. Some of the stars I saw there were: Betty Grable, Martin and Lewis, Jack Benny, Jackie Gleason, Sarah Vaughn, Patti Page, Josephine Baker, and Vic Damone. TV and Las Vegas helped in the demise of the stage shows. The Chicago is still a gem and has many special shows and events booked.

Now run by the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA). Web site: http://www.capa.com/chicago/index.html

A book I have in my collection says the Chicago Theatre was the ultimate in French opulence with crystal and bronze chandeliers in the lobby,the auditorium walls were lined with boxes,and the interior color scheme was in tones of blue,red and gold.It also states the theatre was famous for its lavish Balaban and Katz stage productions and six stories of dressing rooms used to be located on either side of the colossal stage.

The Chicago theatre was one of the most impressive of the grand movie palaces. Have visited in the '70s and recently.
It has only gotten better with age.
This theatre is truly a National Treasure.

Mike Smith

Coming back home to shoot "Talk Soup in Chicago" at the Chicago Theatre was a terrific experience. I remember seeing "Beverly Hills Cop" there in the 1980's when the theatre was kind of ratty and unkempt and the feeling was it was going to be torn down. Seeing it restored to its glory makes me feel anything really is possible.

Why doesn't the Radio City Christmas Spectacular play the Chicago instead of that theatre who's name escapes me at the moment. It pulled in huge numbers at the Detroit Fox.brucec

Bruce, the theater I think you're thinking of that the Rockettes performed their holiday show at for the last few years was in suburban Rosemont, in the Rosemont Theatre. Last year was their last season there. The Rosemont Theatre isn't even remotely as large as the Fox or Chicago Theatres.

I lived in Chicago in the late fifties and remember well going down to State Street to the movies in this wonderful place.

I like the facade and marquee, new, but truely traces back to the old roots.

Whatever happend to the WOODS THEATER and the UNITED ARTISTS?
I was in downtown Chicago back in the late 80's and both venues
were still standing - boared up and closed.

Howie,
See the following pages on this site for information on the now-demolished Woods and United Artists Theatres in the Loop.

http://cinematreasures.org/theater/1015/
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/983/

Bryan
Thank ou very much - I enjoyed the links.
If my memory serves me well - the WOODS and UNITED ARTISTS
had been reduced to exploitation films and low admission
policies. Such a shame they are now gone.

Hello,
I'm a Chicagoan interested in learning what happened to the original Chicago Theatre sign.
When they renovated, where did that sign go?
Would you know who made the original sign?
Thank you so much for any information.

For those of you in the city, Watch Carefully! Demolition work has begun on the landmark marquee. The underside portion of the sign has been removed and scrapped. I watched workers testing the individual circuits last Friday.

In case you were wondering, the original sign now resides at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C.

Before this theater was A performing arts & concert venue it was A movie theater. The plitt theaters chain operated it for the last time in 1985.

However, the Chicago also featured live stage shows (in addition to onscreen entertainment) from the time it opened into the 50s under Balaban & Katz as their flagship theater.

Yes, quite often the Chicago coupled a first run movie and a stage show for one admission. I remember seeing Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis at the Chicago theatre. The Chicago theatre was kept up much better than the Uptown in the 50's but it still wasn't as impressive.

I would get lost trying to find the projection room in that place... shesh

I'm a radio reporter/producer in Chicago looking for people in the area who can share their memories of the Chicago Theatre. Please contact me at tsarabia@chicagopublicradio.org

thanks

I will be in Chicago in March. Is the Chicago open for tours? Or can you only go in when there is a show? Any info will be appreciated.

-Mark

The fabulous CHICAGO is often mentioned as one of the 'royalty' in America's collection of what was once some 30,000 palaces, according to one estimate. Opening in 1921, it was among the earliest of the truly grand Movie Palaces, and, along with Chicago's long-lost TIVOLI movie palace, it was the harbinger of the elaborate creations of imagination and artistry to come. Rapp&Rapp may have started their real theatres with the still-going-strong AL RINGLING THEATRE in Baraboo, Wis., but it was the opening of the enormous and ornate CHICAGO that changed the way movie houses were built. It even prompted people to call such edifices 'the Chicago style', and many a theatre architect had to sit up and take notice --even in our large coastal cities which often smirk at the developments of the heartland. That this landmark has also had its vertical sign and now, its marquee, restored is another indicator of its preeminence. For those who have never seen this wonder, or who would like to see photos of its first and second decors (as distinguished from today's version) there was published in 1981 (and later reprinted) a 50-page ANNUAL with color cover, titled "Chicago Theatre, A Sixtieth Anniversary Salute". Though now listed as Out Of Print, it is possible that it could be reprinted again if enough interest is shown.

PHOTOS AVAILABLE:
To obtain any available Back Issue of either "Marquee" or of its ANNUALS, simply go to the web site of the THEATRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA at:
www.HistoricTheatres.org
and notice on the sidebar of their first page the link "PUBLICATIONS: Back Issues List" and click on that and you will be taken to their listing where they also give ordering details. The "Marquee" magazine is 8-1/2x11 inches tall ('portrait') format, and the ANNUALS are also soft cover in the same size, but in the long ('landscape') format, and are anywhere from 26 to 40 pages. Should they indicate that a publication is Out Of Print, then it may still be possible to view it via Inter-Library Loan where you go to the librarian at any public or school library and ask them to locate which library has the item by using the Union List of Serials, and your library can then ask the other library to loan it to them for you to read or photocopy. [Photocopies of most THSA publications are available from University Microforms International (UMI), but their prices are exorbitant.]

Note: Most any photo in any of their publications may be had in large size by purchase; see their ARCHIVE link. You should realize that there was no color still photography in the 1920s, so few theatres were seen in color at that time except by means of hand tinted renderings or post cards, thus all the antique photos from the Society will be in black and white, but it is quite possible that the Society has later color images available; it is best to inquire of them.

Should you not be able to contact them via their web site, you may also contact their Executive Director via E-mail at: execdir@historictheatres.org
Or you may reach them via phone or snail mail at:
Theatre Historical Soc. of America
152 N. York, 2nd Floor York Theatre Bldg.
Elmhurst, ILL. 60126-2806 (they are about 15 miles west of Chicago)

Phone: 630-782-1800 or via FAX at: 630-782-1802 (Monday through Friday, 9AM--4PM, CT)

The Chicago Theatre can be seen in this circa-1950s photograph, shown from the corner of State and Randolph Streets. The two-story Walgreens building with the large billboard on its roof on the corner next to the Chicago Theatre still stands, and still looks fairly much the same (except the canopies over Walgreen's two entrances on State and Randolph are long gone). Besides Walgreens, the building is now mostly-vacant, except for a temporary live theater (confusingly called "the Loop Theatre", though it's in a different part of the building than the old Loop Theatre on State Street was) in a former retail space on the Randolph Street side of the structure (not visible in this photo--hidden by the shadow of Marshall Fields department store, its corner clock is seen).

I would sometimes forget about the films and gaze at the theatre. The ceiling was as good as it gets!

The last film I viewed at The Chicago was Al Pacino's "Cruising" in the late '70s. What a thrill getting off the the elevated train there at State & Lake and having all those theatre marquees (The Chicago,The State Lake,The Oriental,The United Artists,The Woods,The Roosevelt & The McVickor) to look at!

The new marquee is being installed today, and wow, does it look great! The colors are all very smooth and vivid. Only thing I don't care for is that they did not bring back the "Chicago" signs on the side boards that was in the original iteration of this marquee.
I've assembled a full progression of the theater marquee; links are listed below.
Marquee Version 1:
http://www.moviepalaces.net/Chicago-ext-1923.htm
http://www.moviepalaces.net/chicago-postcardext.htm
This site includes a number of excellent vintage shots of theaters, be sure to check it out.
V2:
http://uptowntheatre.com/Pages/3centuries.html
V3:
http://www.cityofchicago.org/Landmarks/C/ChicagoTheater2.html
V4:
http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=9880
and lit, http://www.elviscostello.info/pic/98/chicago/chicago.981016.jpg
V4.5: It looks like due to age, the old marquee was being supported by the temporary columns seen in this photo, necessitating the new one.
http://www.chungoboogiemusic.com/photos/Dallas/Dallas-Pages/Image7.html Also, if you look to the far right on the building, you can see the faded painted billboard for the Chicago. The site I got this from also has a couple interesting pictures showing what the Chicago looks like from the stage
V5: This is currently being installed; unfortunately, I did not have my camera with me tonight

I should add that this page shows that the previous marquee was installed in 1949, and I have photos of the Chicago with the marquee stripped from earier this year.

I donb't see any of the new pictures.

Sorry, I should have been more clear, the links are there to show a chronology, there aren't any shots of the new marquee. I'm going to go back down there and take some later this week.

Need some data here: Can anyone tell me what big Chicago movie house showed the roadshow hard-ticket engagement of "Funny Girl" in October 1968. I remember seeing "2001: a space odyssey" in Cinerama at the CineStage but cannot recall the theatre name for "Funny Girl". Thanks.

Archives, are you thinking of the Michael Todd? I see from a movie listing I have from the Chicago Tribune that "Funny Girl" was playing there in June of 1969.

Thanks bryanb ;-) As I recall in October 1968, the Michael Todd was featuring a re-release of Mike Todd's "Around the World in 80 Days".
"Funny Girl" in June 1969 was already being shown in general release (non-roadshow). I really appreciate your input bryanb, but the theatre I saw "Funny Girl" in was one of the "palaces". The experience was amazing with a movie theatre complementing the saga of Fanny Brice and her Ziegfeld days. Thanks again!

A shot of the side of the Chicago theater, showing the painted billboard in the alley, is visible in this Chicago Tribune gallery (free registration req'd). This shot also includes a sliver of the old Loop Theater, what would have been the 'stagehouse', were there one

Here is an unusual photo, dated 1966, from the State/Lake "El" platform on Lake Street of the Lake Street wall of the Chicago Theatre with its fire escapes. A little further to the right of this photo would be the 1872 Page Brothers Building which sits on the corner of Lake and State Streets, and which the Chicago Theatre building surrounds in an L-shape.

A couple more factoids on the Chicago, verbatim from their email newsletter:
"On the original blue prints , the theatre was not called "The Chicago Theatre." What was the original name proposed for the theatre?

Capitol Theatre and Ambassador Theatre

Both of these names appeared on working drawings and renderings. It was common to change a buildings name while plans were being finalized or even as the building was being built.

Perhaps Balaban & Katz resisted the name due to announcements that a number of new theatres around town were also considering it. In the end, they were the only ones to actually go through with the idea.

The Chicago Theatre is actually the sixth to bear the name. The first opened in 1838, and was a small dingy theatre located at 8 and 10 S. Dearborn. Others included a "Chicago" at 614 S. State, John B. Rice's theatre on Randolph, the Olympic theatre on Clark (later the Apollo), the Chicago Opera House, and the American Music Hall after it was taken over by the Shuberts."

This photo from the Chicago Daily News collection of the Library of Congress, shows state street in 1926, with early marquees of the State-Lake and Chicago visible.

I agree with MarkH about getting a thrill looking at all the marquees. I recall standing at State and Randolph in the mid-60s and being blown away by the marquees that lined those two streets. When I saw "Cabaret" at the United-Artists, I remember the huge Liza Minnelli poster atop of the marquee. What a shame it's gone. I haven't been home to Chicago since 1979, but reading all these posts is making me want to come home....and of course get some White Castle's.

http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/collections/cushman/full/P02887.jpg Here's an Oct 1944 photo of the Chicago from the Cushman collection with the vertical painted blue. I don't know why...

Here is a great night view of the Chicago and Loop Theatres marquees from 1959.

Bryan: When I clicked on the word HERE I found that wonderful night view of the Chicago with its wonderful curved front window! Thanks.

Brian: Your posted site with the Oct 1944 photo was most interesting as I noticed the very unique clock on the side of one of the buildings. Never have seen one quite like that one...wonder if it is still there?

Patsy, that clock is a landmark to Chicagoans. There are actually two of them on that building, which is the Marshall Fields department store; one on the corner of State and Randolph Streets (as shown in the photo Brian linked to), and the other on the corner of State and Madison Streets, which was once called the "Busiest Intersection in America" in the early 20th Century. There used to be a popular advertising slogan, I am pretty sure it would've been for Marshall Field's that said "Let's Meet Under the Clock".

Bryan: Thanks for the additional clock info and to read that there are two of those unique looking clocks on that building is really something! My hometown had a clock on its telephone building that I'm trying to have replaced, but it may never happen as the clock is in pieces and it may involve more 'red tape' than I'm willing to encounter!?! And the slogan "Let's meet under the clock" reminds me of an old clock in Erie PA that is the lobby of the former Boston Store on State Street as the slogan there among customers was "Meet me at the clock". BTW, Erie has the restored Warner Theatre in State Street.

Patsy, I think countless cities and towns have (or had) such a landmark clock as a favorite meeting place. In this area it was a giant four dial, mahogany cased clock in the center of the main floor of a department store. A common phrase heard was 'meet me under the clock at Eaton's' and you'd often see people just standing and waiting in that area of the store. I'd love to know whatever happened to it since the store was demolished a couple of years ago for the construction of a new downtown arena. I know many artifacts from the building were salvaged and sold and I'm sure it was too.

Easton's is in Canada so are you north of the border?

The curved window on the front facade of the Chicago is absolutely beautiful and makes me think of the recent curved window that was destroyed in Mishawaka Indiana at the former Tivoli! :-(

Tone: I hope that you get many responses to your inquiry. I didn't grow up in the Chicago area so can't help you with any personal memories of the Chicago, but good luck with your worthwhile project. I know that the Fox in Atlanta GA just celebrated its 75th anniversary and have asked residents of Atlanta to share their Fox memories on the Fox website.

The Chicago Theatre should start a film series during its dark days. I think if it was done properly it could be a huge draw for this theatre. The Chicago was one of the most successful movie palaces in the country being the flagship house for Balaban and Katz.I think the Chicago has been underused since it was restored. The Chicago no longer has broadway shows since the Palace and the Oriental were restored so it has to rely on concerts and dance. I bet Roger Ebert would be a big supporter of a classic film series at the Chicago.Make sure you get a great film programmer.brucec

I'm surprised nobody mentioned that Donny Osmond stared in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at the Chicago Theatre for nearly two years! An earlier post stated that Broadway shows didn't appear there. I saw "Joseph" at the Chicago Theatre and it was wonderful, including Donny Osmond flying above the audience!

Don, I posted a long time ago that Broadway shows don't appear at the Chicago. Well, I should've said they "no longer play at the Chicago", since the reopening of the Oriental and Palace Theatres in the late 90s. Now, those two theatres, along with the Shubert (soon to be renamed the Lasalle Bank Theatre after its upcoming restoration is finished) and the Auditorium Theatre, are where the big Broadway shows are staged in Chicago. The Chicago Theatre is more often than not used for concerts these days, including comedy acts, such as Margaret Cho's appearance there last week.

This is because the stage at the Chicago is rather shallow, compared to the Oriental, which had its stage expanded into an adjacent building, or the Palace, which just had a deeper stage to begin with, since it was built as a premiere vaudeville house. Of course, never say never- after all, Todd Rundgren will be playing a concert at the Oriental soon, and I don't believe anyone's played there before.

The Chicago still shows movies every so often. The last few years it has been home to the opening night of the Chicago Film Festival. In 2003 I saw "The Human Stain" and last year "Kinsey."

Here is a 1942 view of the Chicago's exterior. "Springtime in the Rockies" with Betty Grable and John Payne is the movie, and Harry James & His Band and Dick Jurgens are the live entertainment. Note the "Buy War Bonds Here" notice on the front panel of the marquee.

That's a great shot.

I grew up in Chicago and have many wonderful memories of being downtown during the 1950's and 1960's. I am interested in finding a list of the movies that played the Chicago Theater from 1958 through 1970 and also interested in pictures of downtown theater marquees from the 50's and 60's (Roosevelt, State-Lake, Loop, Chicago, Oriental, United Artists and Woods). Any idea where I can begin to locate this stuff? Thank you very much.

The best source of the photos you seek is right outside of Chicago at the Theatre Historical Society of America in suburban Elmhurst. See their directions to their offices as well as their E-mail address at: www.historictheatres.org Note that you must make an appointment before visiting them for research and photos, according to the instructions on their ARCHIVE link.

Likely the Chicago Historical Society as well as the public library will have other photos. Best Wishes.

Freddy - I have the bookings of the Chicago from 1964-1980. Leave your email addy and I will send the list to you from 64-70. If you want the bookings from 71-80 let me know.

John, thank you for your offer. I have updated my profile to open my email address. Please send all Chicago theater bookings from 64 thru 80 (and other downtown theater bookings if you have them). Thank you! Thank you!

They had a good-sized screening room upstairs. I saw an advance of *The Poseidon Adventure* with a group of invited college newspaper editors.

In 1981, the Chicago Theater was cleaned up somewhat to show a restored print of Abel Gance's 1928(?) silent classic "Napoleon." Carmine Coppola (Frances Ford's father) conducted the Illinois Symphony Orchestra to accompany this. As I was working for Andy Frain Ushering at the time, I was able to work at this and get paid to see it, whereas the public was charged $25.00!

I am looking for information on the interior of the Chicago Theater, in particular, the suits of armor that were there, possibly in the loge area, prior to the 1950s renovation. THANKS!

I am looking for information on the interior of the Chicago Theater, in particular, the suits of armor that were there, possibly in the loge area, prior to the 1950s renovation. THANKS!

IF no one responds to your question about the "suits of armor" you might possibly find the data at the Theatre Historical Soc. just outside of Chicago in Elmhurst. Contact them through their Ex. Director, Rich Sklenar at www.historictheatres.org Their man Joe DuciBella is their resident expert on the CHICAGO and may well be able to help.

From Russell Phillips' [url=http://www.photoeye.com/Gallery/forms/index.cfm?image=1&id=185859&imagePosition=1&Door=6&Portfolio=Portfolio1&Gallery=0>Galleries</a>:

1982 (pre-restoration) photos of:
Foyer w/ Vending Machine
Ladies Lounge
Auditorium Entry and Proscenium
Auditorium

From Russell Phillips' Galleries:

1982 (pre-restoration) photos of:
Foyer w/ Vending Machine
Ladies Lounge
Auditorium Entry and Proscenium
Auditorium

Here is a 1949 photo of the Chicago and State-Lake by Stanley Kubrick

Recent color photos of this theatre can be found on the site: "America's Stunning Theatres" by photographer and stagehand Noah Kern at: http://www.pbase.com/affablebeef/theatres Comments and information may be left there without registration; such can be public view or only to Mr. Kern. Scroll down the page to find the name, and then click on the sample image above it to be taken to the page of photos of it.

Here is a nice July 1941 view under the marquee from the Library of Congress

Here is a circa-1949 (from the Bogart movie playing, "Knock On Any Door", which was released that year) of the Chicago's marquee. Hoagy Carmichael was appearing live on stage.

Here's a 1980 view of the marquee:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/135-3508_IMG.jpg

I didn't get downtown very much, we lived off 63rd street and then moved to Roseland on 118th street. Mostly I frequented the theaters in Roseland (State, Parkway, Ridge, Normal, Roseland, Verdi)..but I do fondly recall one of the rare trips my Grandparents made to the Loop and we did the town. We went to Navy Pier, window shopped and topped the day off by going to the Chicago Theater and watching "Escape in the Desert" a remake of the Petrified Forest starring Alan Hale, Phillip Dorn, Helmet Dante and Irene Manning. Eddie Peabody (The Banjo King) was the stage show. It was a great experience for me...9 years old to sit in that magnificent structure and watch the great entertainment..even if the film was less than average. People today have missed out on a great era.
Doug Bruton Denison, Texas

I just saw the movie Chicago with Catherine Zeta-Jones Douglas and near the end of the movie the theatre's exterior at night is shown with its great vertical marquee and curved window.

Warren: Great photo!

Here are two photos I took today of the Chicago Theatre: 1 and 2

Two great photographs of the lobby, taken during the Chicago International Film Festival 2005:
http://flickr.com/photos/strzelecki1/51265114/in/pool-filmfests/

Chandelier & ceiling in the lobby:
http://flickr.com/photos/strzelecki1/51265115/in/pool-filmfests/

An auditorium view:
http://flickr.com/photos/strzelecki1/51276070/in/pool-filmfests/
Side lobby ceiling details:
http://flickr.com/photos/strzelecki1/51273582/in/pool-filmfests/

Here is another photo:
http://tinyurl.com/eo2tj

Great photo submissions. It is a classic.

Hard to believe there was once one just like it at 63rd and Cottage Grove.

Were 3 projector Cinerama films ever screened at the Chicago theatre?

No.

The Chicago has apparently created a second venue in the basement of the Chicago called "Chicago Theatre Downstairs" opening in July. I believe they were once considering putting two shoebox theatres in this space in the early days of the 1980s renovations.

Ironic that they will open the "Downstairs" when originally there was the "Little Chicago" upstairs. On page 207 of Ben Hall's landmark book of 1961 THE BEST REMAINING SEATS ..., there is an illustration and caption revealing the 250-seat "try-out theatre" on the top floor of the building. Completely equiped and decorated, it was only for the B&K officials and never open to the public. I wonder what it is today.

In the early 90's it was still up there, although it was draped like an M&R Cinema: heavy, cheap fabric in funky blues and yellows.

Don't know if it still remains.

I think someone at the theater told me it was office space now but they were looking at using it. LTS, how was it accessed? Also, please email me some time, i'd like to chat.

It was on one of those office floors above the lobby, where B&K once had space (I think later Plitt too). You took the elevator upstairs and walked about twenty steps to the screening room's entrance. It was pretty modern, even having rocker chairs. I photographed the screening room. My whole collection of photos was later given to the Theatre Society in Elmhurst. I'm sure they would sell copies for a few bucks. It seems to me that they would just rip the thing out if they were going to use it for office space. It was an odd space for office conversion, and the interior of the office floor had been demolished to the four exterior walls at the time I saw it. The screening room sat in a big open space.

I'll drop you a note when I get a few minutes Brian.

This is a recent photo of the Chicago Theater and here is a recent night view.

Can anyone tell me how to obtain a copy of the bookings at the Chicago Theatre for the years 1940 through 1944?
Thanks.

Joe DuciBella of the Theatre Historical Society, located in Elmhurst, is a recognized authority on the CHICAGO, so he may already have compiled such data. He is at: jducibella@aol.com

You can of course do the research yourself by viewing the listings for it in microfilmed copies of the Chicago papers, either at libraries there or by having films sent to your local library. It is a tedious process, but probably the only way to it today.

Did anyone see any of the Conan O'Brien shows from the Chicago? Very heartening sight to see them pan across a full house cheering wildly for Conan.

Well, actually Jim, the full run of the Chicago Tribune is now online, available through the Chicago Public Library, and various local libraries and universities. once you get a hang of running searches (I usually do a combination search of several unlikely theater names that would appear in the daily listings, like "milford AND rockne AND adelphi" or what have you), you can fairly easily pull up movie listings for a set window of time. It would be time consuming of course, but less fatiguing than microfilm.

Thank you, Brian; it is nice to know this. Maybe research on Chicago area theatres will now go even faster than before. It's a pity more cities' papers are not fully on-line, but so much scanning and server space is no doubt expensive.

It must be getting more affordable, though; the Proquest-competitor newspaperarchive.com (which features a far less sophisticated and therefore less useful search system) now features many local papers, including the suburban chicago Daily Herald.

Keep in mind, the scanning is done from the microfilm and then uses OCR technology to recognize the text, so it shouldn't be terribly labor-intensive. One of the major drawbacks is that to get the text most readable for OCR, the exposure for the whole page is knocked up drastically, such that graphics are almost always badly distorted.

Here is another recent (2006) photo of the Chicago theater.

This theatre was use in the TV show "So You Think You Can Dance" which aired on Wednesday June 7 2006. You were shown great shots of both the inside and outside of this theare.
What a fantastic looking theatre.

The last movie I saw at the Chicago Theater was E.T when I was around 7 or 8. I remember going downtown with my friends when I was around 12 years old(1986) and having so much to do downtown. It was so much fun to go downtown when I was younger. We used to go to the Wood's Theater, United Artist, and maybe grab some pizza at Ronnie's and then hit the gameroom that used to be in between State and Dearborn on Randolph. Ahhh!! the memories.

Randolph Street was fun back then. I had forgotten about that arcade. Put many quarters into the great standup video games in that place!

I'll take that over Block 37 any day.

The Channel 7 ABC reported that the Chicago is getting a new smaller stage under the theatre and it will be called something like Chicago Theatre Downstairs set to open in September the 1st show i think will be eather "Sheer Madness" or "HairSpray".
Thank You for Your Time :)

re Chicago Theatre, circa 1955 -- I have three questions.
Does anyone know: (1) How many steps led up to the stage from the auditorium floor? (2) Was the railing surrounding the orchestra pit made of wood, or iron, or...? (3) Backstage, where was a major stage-star's dressing room -- 1st floor, or 2nd, or 3rd, or...? I hope someone can help. Thanks.

If no one else knows, contact the Theatre Historical Society of America which is headquarted outside of Chicago in Elmhurst at: www.historictheatres.org

Charrio, if you'll click on my name below, you'll find my e-mail link under "contact info". I may have some info for you.

Here is a late 40s view. Here is an early 60s view.

This is a recent night view of the Chicago Theater.

Is it true that the Chicago Theatre started out as the "Capitol"theatre and if so when was is changed to Chicago?
Thank You for your halp on the issue. :)

100% true. Original blueprints were created under name of Capitol.

Thank you for the conformation. and thany you for your time :)

Also the Ambassador Theatre? From the 2006 book THE CHICAGO MOVIE PALACES OF BALABAN AND KATZ by David Balaban, page 51. On talking about the Chicago Theatre, "Originally called the Ambassador Theatre before its completion"??

In its 1981 ANNUAL, titled "The Chicago Theatre" there is an article on page 5 "The name Chicago" wherein is acknowledged that various working drawings and renderings did bear both the names Capitol as well as Ambassador and explains the common practice of changing planned names for a theatre before opening day. There is also a brief history of the previous theatres that bore or were to bear the name CHICAGO. Unfortunately, that ANNUAL is out-of-print, but it may be within the collections of those libraries which have their "Marquee" magazine that far back. (see: www.historictheatres.org )

I cannot testify to the Ambassador name being in play. But I have copies of the Chicago Theatre blue prints that were used to construct the building hanging in my home. If I look up now from this laptop I am staring directly at the name CAPITOL in the lower right-hand corner of drawing number 10 (exterior elevations). For anyone who cares to know it was job number 19-15.

A November 12, 1919 Mae Tinee article in the Tribune stated: "Balaban and Katz's downtown theater will be called The Capitol, for the readon that it is to be the largest if any of their theaters and will be their executive headquarters. This theater is to be located on the east side of State street between Lake and Randolph streets. Building operations will begin early in the spring when the existing leases expire." A July 4, 1920 ad for bonds shows a drawing of the Chicago with the name Ambassador, which persisted until at least December. In April, 1920, the Harris and Selwyn were announced (as Rapp & Rapp designs which weren't built, but still with the near-twin theme). At the time, they were to be called the Chicago and Selwyn. By January 1921 they had recieved the Harris and Selwyn names, freeing the Chicago name.

Up about 8 posts, on August 20th is a nice night view of the Chicago Theatre. Those lights they have restored in the terra cotta really look nice (but what a pain to replace a bulb!). Anyway, is there a name or what is it called when a system of lights is built into the terra cotta? Also, I had noticed those bulbs in the building never lite way back in the early 1960's. To get them lite again after perhaps at least 50 years, I would guess they would have had to do some rewiring and such, how can they do that? Most folks, I bet, never noticed those blackened bulbs (I've seen them at other theatres too), but, it looks great and kudos to the theatre for getting them lite, I really never expected them to do that!

I have always loved the Chicago. I remember going on a double date on Valentine's Day with my friends. We went to Bob Elfman's for corned beef first. The movie we saw was "The Towering Inferno". When the show was over we came out of the auditorium, looked through those glass doors and saw one of the worst snow storms ever.

I believe the term used for that type of lighting is called "stud lighting". I'll let resident expert Jim Rankin correct me if I got it wrong. There are many examples of exterior decorative lighting that has been restored after many years of being dark. e.g. The concealed lighting in the arches at the top of the Chrysler building in NY was "discovered' and lit for the first time a number of years ago. Apparently the wiring and fixtures had been installed, but never used, during the original construction. In some cases exterior lighting was subject to blackouts during WWII so that metropolitan areas were not easily discernible in the event of a possible enemy air raid. Afterwards, for various reasons it was never restored to operating condition. More recently the practice of enhancing architectural details with decorative lighting at night has increased. Possibly another CT member knows if the lighting on the Chicago was always there or has since been added. With the advancements in lighting technology today the lamps are probably long lasting and not subject to frequent replacement.

"Sam_e" is quite right about Stud Lighting. The CHICAGO did/does have a wonderful display of it, and it is so called regardless of the material they are set into. As everyone surmises, they are very difficult and expensive to maintain, since not only is relamping access difficult, but in many cases the insulation on the wires has decayed and was threaded through or behind terra cotta castings and has now corroded away and must be replaced to keep new bulbs lit. In many cases this means chipping the terra cotta or brick away and removing it for access -- one hopes with few pieces broken in the process! The costs for this are very high, as you can imagine! Sometimes the use of modern electronic LED cluster bulbs will allow them to use the original copper or brass sockets, if the metal is not too badly corroded, but even so, such LED bulbs with very long lifespan can apoproach $20 EACH in price, not to mention labor.

The CHICAGO's Stud Lighting has always been there, and close observation will reveal it on many a theatre -- if only as plastered over blobs as was once the case on Milwaukee's long gone EAST Theatre. With today's technology, many new buildings are going for ribbons or bands of color-changing LEDs for their theoritical multi-hundred year life, but others are using new, modern Neon with long lifespan to achieve a greater brilliance, but it is doubtful that such provisions would bring back the glitter of our movie palaces, sad to say. There is some hope of rewiring with new Low Voltage systems that do not require the removal of the original mains voltage (~115 volt) wiring (which is then disconnected), but such installations are quite expensive, so don't look for routine restoration of stud lighting when some can barely afford to keep the marquee lit.

I can't find a way to convincingly tie this into the current thread, and so request your kind indulgence in this small clarification of sam_e's mention of the Chrysler Building's spire lighting: Although architect William Van Alen's original plans called for such a scheme, they were never installed and ultimately forgotten for decades. It wasn't until the late 70's, as lore and legend have it, that the actual plans were rediscovered in a closet. The owner, quite inexplicibly since the rest of the building was left to decay and neglect, had it manufactured and installed and in 1981 the spire crown lights (DecoTubeStuds?) were lit for the very first time.
'Nuf said - back to the Chicago...

WHY YOU SON OF A...

Not really. That is a pretty cool story about the Chrysler Building.

Here is a nice 1935 personal shot on State Street

Hey Brian,

Thanks for sharing those photos. I clicked on the "complimentary photo" link and thought that, perhaps, your grandmother and her friend are walking westbound on one of the streets that cross State Street, the reason for the lack of tall buildings in the distance could be that Grant Park (and Lake Michigan) are a couple blocks behind them.

Just a thought, and I really loved those photos.

Oh, they're not mine. But it was a nice candid shot, a change from the way you usually see these. And I think it just doesn't look busy enough to be downtown, but grant park is a possibility too. Maybe somewhere in the south loop.

This link has a photo of the Chicago Theater and its WurliTzer organ.

I remember watching Tom Gnaster play the Chicago Theatre organ at the grand reopening, which I think was in 1985. It was a great instrument and Tom was a great organist. I wish Tom were still with us today.

Here is a photo of State Street in the 60s.

Here is another from the same time.

Here is another a few years later.

Here are updated links to my June, 2005 post. Plus more.

From Russell Phillips' Galleries:

1982 (pre-restoration) photos of:
Auditorium Entry and Proscenium
Men's Lounge
Grand Stair Detail
Ladies Lounge
Foyer with Vending Machine
Stair Landing & Mezzanine
Auditorium from Balcony
Auditorium, Lower Level

In 1953, the Chicago was probably the only theatre in the USA to present the 3-D version of "Kiss Me Kate" with support from a "live" stage show. Due to technical problems related to its much larger size, Radio City Music Hall in New York had to show the movie's "flat" version: www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/chikate.jpg

Wow! Brian, those are some fantastic pics! Thanks so much! :-)

A 1927 video clip of the Chicago's marquee can be seen by searching for 26130 at http://www.wttwdigitalarchives.com/searchres.php 1951 views by searching for 25327, 25328, or 25330. 1954 views by searching 26438 or 26439.

Another recent photo of the Chicago Theater can be seen here.

I remember when I was very young and I was taken to see the film "E.T.-The Extra-Terrestrial" for the first of what would be probably ten times in 1982 alone in the Chicago theater. I also remember there was a theater directly across the street where we went to see "John Carpenter's The Thing" after "E.T.", however I cannot recall the name of the theater which sat across from the Chicago. I also remember next to that theater was a restaurant that served White Castle-style burgers which we used to dine afterwards. I was wondering if anyone who knows could jog my memory on what theater that was across from the Chicago? I seem to remember it was one of the first of the eventually demolished downtown movie houses to go. Thanks in advance.

That would be the State-Lake.

Thanks BW.

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979

Balaban and Katz Chicago Theatre *** (added 1979 - Building - #79000822)
Also known as The Chicago Theatre
175 N. State St., Chicago
Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Rapp,George, Rapp,C.E.
Architectural Style: Other
Area of Significance: Architecture, Performing Arts, Social History, Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1900-1924, 1925-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Theater

Now here's a neat fact for fans of the musical and film "Chicago". Although the film's big theatre scene is depicted as being at the Chicago, the real-life counterpart happened at the other end of the loop - at the Rialto. Found in a 1980 Trib article: "The only trouble with [1920 state's attorney Robert E.] Crowe was that he kept losing cases. For some reason there was a rash of murders about that time -- four or five of them -- in which wives or girlfriends were indicted for killing their companions. They were all acquitted and with each acquittal the Rialto Theater, at State and Van Buren, would book as part of their show the freed and notorious woman. It was embarrassing to Crowe; his failures went up in lights. [Mayor William Hale] Thompson handled the situation. He sent a platoon of city inspectors to the Rialto; and they found, as they always can, more violations of city ordinances than were ever imagined at the Iroquois Theater. Thompson said he would have the place closed if they didn't stop booking the women who had beaten the rap against Crowe."

Thank Your post, it sheds some more light on to the Rialto.
If you find out any thing else please post it.
Also did the Trib say anything in detail about the ordinance violations, their must have ben a whole bunch if it had more then the Iroquois did. I guess that thay used the Chicago as "tie in" to the name of the show. Well thank you for your time.

Per Cinemaven's comment of 12/16/2006.

The hamburger place you're referring to may have been "King Castle." I think the chain existed 'til the early 1980s and , yes, they served "White Castelesque" burgers.

As for the State-Lake, it was never demolished. The building now houses WLS-TV (ABC Channel 7) studios.

I think the writer meant to indicate (by saying "as they always can") that Chicago being the way it is, inspectors could cite pretty much anything to justify closing it if they so desired, regardless of whether it was a real issue or not.

That makes sence.

As Per PAUL FORTINI`s comment on Jan 14th 2007
I think the name of the hamburger place that you were refering to was "PRINCE CASTLE HAMBURGERS" not "KING CASTLE" if you "Google"
"Prince Castle Hamburgers" you will come a cross something from the Trib`s Eric Zorn a web blog called "CHANG OF SUBJECT" he and the people who post memories of the past mention "Prince Castle".
It was eather the 1st encarnation on the "COCKROBIN" chain or may be the 2nd i am not sure, only thing is that what i find is that the Ice Cream was square i am not sure about the hamburgers. Also could the theatre be eather the UA or the LOOP?
Thank you for your time :)

A P.S. to my post above,
The Eric Zorn web blog is " A Change of Subject"
And the "Prince Castle Hamburgers" were square,the ice-cream was also square.
And "CockRobin" was the 2nd encarnation i think that their are still some around. Thank you for your time:)

In the 80's when David Letterman was at NBC, he took his show to the Chicago for a week.

Article from the Feb. 1, 1961 Chicago Tribune:

RETURN STOLEN STATUE TO LOOP MOVIE HOUSE

A 200 pound white marble statue named "Flower of Life" was returned to its pedestal in the mezzanine of the Chicago theater yesterday.

The statue, 37 inches tall, disappeared from the theater Sunday afternoon. It was found Monday night in an outdoor phone booth in Skokie.

The statue, one of a pair, has been a fixture in the theater since 1926. The theater's press agent said he wanted it understood that there was no connection between the theft and the current film attraction, "Go Naked in the World".

___________________________________________________________________

I wonder if these statues are still in the theater, or if they have been removed in one of the remodelings/restorations since 1961?

When did the first Hollywood-style premiere take place in Chicago, and at what theatre?

The CHICAGO TRIBUNE gives us the answer: Thursday, October 24, 1940, p. 23, c.1 (news item):

CHICAGO'S FIRST MOVIE PREMIERE IS A SCOOP FOR STATION WGN

Chicago showed Hollywood something yesterday about putting on a real motion picture premiere--and a day early at that. But the rousing reception given the arriving "Northwest Mounted Police" stars and Producer Cecil B. DeMille was only a foretaste of what may be expected when Chicago has its first real motion picture premiere tonight.

The premiere of the DeMille technicolor production tonight is double barreled. First of all WGN, the Mutual network, and the Canadian corporation network will bring the radio premiere to the nation and to Canada. This is a scoop for WGN, for the premiere is exclusive over these networks. It will be presented from 7:30 to 8 o'clock on the regular In Chicago Tonight program under the direction of William A. Bacher.

Here's an early 80s (maybe 1982?) view of the Chicago Theatre showing "Scanners" and "Prom Night" with "Richard Pryor Live on Sunset Strip" coming soon. Notice the high side attraction boards on the marquee which I'm guessing were removed around the time of the 1986 restoration.

I saw in the picture from the post above that the name on the vertical sign whare the B&K would be it says PLITT whan did PLITT take over from B&K?
Thank you for your time

Also i also think that the high side attraction boards were removed durring the restoration, also the vertical sign is not the orginal one i think it is lighter than the first one and the marquee i think now has a sort of a piller think happing on the street level. If i rember right thire was a whole page in the Sun-Times or may be the Tribune i am not sure witch one. Thanks again

Plitt took over in the mid-60's. Actually, the theatre was part of the ABC/Paramount chain split off after the consent decrees. Plitt worked as a circuit manager for ABC/Paramount directly under the ABC head Leonard Goldenson. The ABC owned TV station in Chicago was WBKB (Balaban & Katz Broadcasting)and the engineer who put it on the air was I. F. Jacobson, who was the technical head of the Balaban & Katz theatres. When ABC/Paramount got out of the theatre business, Plitt took over the chain. I was working part-time as a projectionist in a downstate Illinois Publix theatre (the chain had theatres under a variety of names including Paramount/Publix) at the time Plitt took over and gave circuit-wide passes to all the employees. My passes were always listed under the Plitt theatres name, and it was about that time that the top of the Chicago vertical sign was changed to Plitt.

Thank you that answers a lot of questions .
thank you for your time on this matter.

A recent night view of the Chicago Theater can be seen here.

Looks like the office space above the lobby has been renovated. Last time I saw it (probably 1990) that space had basically been gutted to the brick walls.

Can anyone point me to a photo of the building that was recently constructed next to the Chicago Theatre, the one that replaced the Walgreens building? Thanks.

Sure; a page on MoMo is here, with renderings. The building is not yet complete.

Here is a photo I took early last fall showing MoMo rising next to the Chicago Theatre.

BWChicago and Bryan - thanks for the photos. It's a rather odd looking building, with that hole in the middle. And an odd name (MoMo, or Modern Momentum!) But it's certainly better than the Walgreens building it replaced. And the addition of those condo units should only help the downtown theatre business.

I notice that due to the work going on on the next-door Page Brothers Building and the temporary covered sidewalk in front of the building, that the side attraction panel on the Chicago Theatre's marquee facing Lake Street is partially obstructed and the lettering is now all pushed to the right-hand side of the panel for now (see the examples here, here, and here.)

Can someone e-mail me the bookings of the Chicago Theatre from 1964 to 1980 and if possible 1981-1985? My e-mail is dgcountryside@sbcglobal.net

Thank you,
300bowler

GOSSIP COLUMN ITEMs:
Chicago Tribune, Monday, August 5, 1955, s. 3, p. 6, c. 5:
Tower Ticker, by Herb Lyon

"Jack Webb's "Pete Kelly's Blues" should put movie houses in the black all over the country. His personals at the Chicago theater Friday almost equaled his own all-time house record for one day and the movie has nothing but moxie. Every muckety-muck in town turned out to greet Jack and his Dorothy at the Jimmy Hart's party in the Ambassador Sat. night. [They even let me in.]. . . ."
_________________________________________________
same paper, column: Thursday, August 25, 1955, s. 4, p. 3, c. 1:

"The Jotted Lyon: Producer Sam [Mr. Prototype] Goldwyn in person, will be among the celebs in town for the "most spectacular" movie premiere yet--"Guys and Dolls" at the Chicago theater Nov. 11. Brando, Sinatra, etc., are expected to join in the hijinks . . . Balaban and Katz, as yet, are undecided whether to drop stage shows for the extended engagement of this 6 million buck tingler . . . ."
_________________________________
same paer and column, Thursday, July 7, 1960, s. 1, p. 14, c. 1:
". . . . Sign on the Chicago theater: "Ice Palace. Cool Inside!"
__________________________
same paper and column, Sunday, July 10, 1960, s. 1, p. 7, c. 4:
". . . . 'Twas Barney Balaban who launched the Chicago theater, and now his son, Burt, makes his own debut as a big league movie producer. Burt's "Murder, Inc." opens there Friday, tho financed by Fox, not by his dad's outfit, Paramount. Burt, 38, and his 16 year old daughter arrive Sunday for a pre-opening buildup and to visit local Balaban relatives. . . . "
___________________________________

I have a postcard for the Chicago from 1922 which claims it has 5 000 seats!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pulp-o-rama/143381396/in/set-72057594129975085/

Don't believe everything that you read on postcards and in advertising. Actual seating capacities were often greatly exaggerated. But it seems very probable that the Chicago could hold 5,000 people if you included lobbies and foyers where they waited for occupied seats to become available.

Mentioned once or twice in all the postings is their Screening Room "for the trade only". Primarily in the 70s I went there on odd invitation--one entered the Chicago not off of State St but from the doors on Benton Pl, the south side of the bldg. At that entrance there's a bank of elevators that takes one to the upper floors for that screening room; perhaps it was on flr 7 or maybe 11. Titles I saw immediatley before opening were BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY (DeNiro, Voight), and HAUNTING OF JULIA (Keir Dullea, Mia Farrow). I was with a small group of friends standing in the hallway up there when Roger Ebert walks up to us and gives us his strong recommendation to some other film.

On the CHICAGO main floor I remember seeing BARBARELLA on opening there. And all those above wracking their brains trying tom recall the name of the nearby downtown hamburger joints, will you still haven't got it right. It was WIMPY'S--after the Popeye character.

Here is a list of the films that played here from 1964-1980.

1/03/1964 - CHARADE
2/21/1964 - MAN'S FAVORITE SPORT?
3/20/1964 - CAPTAIN NEWMAN M.D.
5/08/1964 - PARIS WHEN IT SIZZLES
5/29/1964 - THE CHALK GARDEN
7/03/1964 - THE CARPETBAGGERS
8/21/1964 - MARNIE
9/25/1964 - THE VISIT
10/9/1964 - WHERE LOVE HAS GONE
11/6/1964 - FAIL SAFE
11/25/1964- YOUNGBLOOD HAWKE
12/25/1964- SEX AND THE SINGLE GIRL
2/12/1965 - STRANGE BEDFELLOWS
3/12/1965 - DEAR BRIDGETTE
3/26/1965 - DEAR HEART
4/16/1965 - IN HARM'S WAY
5/28/1965 - MIRAGE
6/11/1965 - JOY IN THE MORNING
6/25/1965 - HARLOW
7/23/1965 - THE SANDPIPER
8/25/1965 - CAT BALLOU
10/8/1965 - THE IPCRESS FILE
11/11/1965- THE CINCINNATI KID
12/25/1965- THAT DARN CAT
1/28/1966 - MADE IN PARIS
2/18/1966 - THE SILENCERS
4/15/1966 - CAST A GIANT SHADOW
5/27/1966 - THE LAST OF THE SECRET AGENTS
6/17/1966 - NEVADA SMITH
7/15/1966 - ARABESQUE
8/12/1966 - TORN CURTAIN
9/30/1966 - AN AMERICAN DREAM
10/12/1966- KALEIDOSCOPE
10/26/1966- SECONDS
11/9/1966 - THE PROFESSIONALS
12/22/1966- MURDERER'S ROW
2/15/1967 - FUNERAL IN BERLIN
3/15/1967 - HOTEL
4/19/1967 - HOMBRE
5/26/1967 - 8 ON THE LAM
6/15/1967 - YOU ONLY LIVCE TWICE
8/23/1967 - BAREFOOT IN THE PARK
10/11/1967- ROUGH NIGHT IN JERICHO
10/27/1967- WATERHOLE #3
11/17/1967- TONY ROME
12/20/1967- THE AMBUSHERS
1/24/1968 - GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER?
4/12/1968 - WHERE ANGELS GO TROUBLE FOLLOWS
5/01/1968 - MADIGAN
5/22/1968 - YOURS, MINE AND OURS
6/21/1968 - THE GREEN BERETS
7/26/1968 - ROSEMARY'S BABY
10/11/1968- BARBARELLA
11/8/1968 - SHALAKO
11/27/1968- COOGAN'S BLUFF
12/20/1968- CANDY
2/07/1969 - THE STALKING MOON
2/26/1969 - THE WRECKING CREW
3/26/1969 - WHERE EAGLES DARE
4/30/1969 - MIDAS RUN
5/17/1969 - WINNING
6/18/1969 - MACKENNAS GOLD
7/11/1969 - THE WILD BUNCH
8/27/1969 - WHATEVER HAPPENED TO AUNT ALICE?
9/24/1969 - BULLITT plus BONNIE AND CLYDE
10/10/1969- BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID
12/19/1969- THE ARRANGEMENT
1/16/1970 - TOPAZ
2/18/1970 - THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN
3/11/1970 - THE LAST GRENADE
3/25/1970 - THE ADVENTURERS
5/20/1970 - THE GRASSHOPPER
6/17/1970 - TOO LATE THE HERO
7/03/1970 - CHISUM
7/24/1970 - THE OUT OF TOWNERS
8/21/1970 - EL CONDOR
9/11/1970 - WATERMELON MAN
10/9/1970 - MONTE WALSH
11/6/1970 - HOTEL
11/20/1970- DIRTY DINGUS MAGEE
12/25/1970- LOVE STORY
6/04/1971 - THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES
6/30/1971 - LE MANS
7/23/1971 - MURPHY'S WAR
8/11/1971 - THE LOVE MACHINE
9/17/1971 - NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS
10/1/1971 - LET'S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH
10/22/1971- PLAY MISTY FOR ME
11/19/1971- SOMETHING BIG
12/8/1971 - LAWRENCE OF ARABIA
12/24/1971- SOMETIMES A GREAT NOTION
1/14/1972 - SUCH GOOD FRIENDS
2/09/1972 - POCKET MONEY
3/08/1972 - PLAY MISTY FOR ME plus THE BEGUILED
3/22/1972 - THE GODFATHER
7/14/1972 - FRENZY
8/16/1972 - THE NEW CENTURIONS
10/8/1972 - BARON BLOOD plus THE THING WITH TWO HEADS
10/25/1972- LADY SINGS THE BLUES
12/22/1972- THE GETAWAY
3/07/1973 - CIN-A-ROCK (LIVE MUSIC AND FILMS)
3/14/1973 - LADY SINGS THE BLUES
4/18/1973 - SOYLENT GREEN
5/13/1973 - COFFY
6/08/1973 - TERMINAL ISLAND
6/27/1973 - THE MAN WHO LOVED CAT DANCING
7/20/1973 - JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
9/21/1973 - DETROIT 9000
10/7/1973 - HIT!
11/11/1973- SACRED KNIVES OF VEANGENCE plus FIVE FINGERS OF DEATH
11/25/1973- CLEOPATRA JONES plus SUPERFLY
12/25/1973- MAGNUM FORCE
2/08/1974 - SERPICO
4/05/1974 - THE GODFATHER plus LADY SINGS THE BLUES
4/12/1974 - THE SUPER COPS
5/10/1974 - CLAUDINE
6/21/1974 - UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT
8/30/1974 - TOGETHER BROTHERS
9/27/1974 - TRUCK TURNER plus FOXY BROWN
10/18/1974- THE FAMILY plus TRICK BABY
10/25/1974- THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE
11/15/1974- THE KLANSMAN
12/20/1974- THE TOWERING INFERNO
3/14/1975 - DIRTY HARRY plus MAGNUM FORCE
4/18/1975 - THE STREETFIGHTER plus POLICE WOMEN
5/02/1975 - THE CHINESE CONNECTION plus FISTS OF FURY
5/23/1975 - FRENCH CONNECTION II
6/27/1975 - COOLEY HIGH
10/17/1975- MAHOGANY
12/25/1975- FRIDAY FOSTER
2/11/1976 - THE DEVIL WITHIN HER
4/02/1976 - THE RIVER NIGER
5/28/1976 - EMBRYO
6/11/1976 - MOTHER, JUGS AND SPEED
6/15/1976 - THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES
7/16/1976 - THE BINGO LONG TRAVELLING ALL-STARS AND MOTOR KINGS
9/10/1976 - LADY SINGS THE BLUES plus MAHOGANY
10/1/1976 - NORMAN, IS THAT YOU?
11/19/1976- PIPEDREAMS
12/22/1976- THE ENFORCER
2/11/1977 - THE SENTINEL
4/01/1977 - UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT plus LET'S DO IT AGAIN
4/22/1977 - BROTHERS
5/20/1977 - THE GREATEST
7/01/1977 - DISCO 9000
7/29/1977 - GREASED LIGHTNING
8/26/1977 - THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU
9/09/1977 - FINAL CHAPTER WALKING TALL
9/16/1977 - SCOTT JOPLIN plus HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER
10/6/1977 - A PIECE OF THE ACTION
12/23/1977- THE CHOIRBOYS
1/20/1978 - SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER
2/10/1978 - BLUE COLLAR
4/28/1978 - F.I.S.T.
6/02/1978 - CAPRICORN ONE
6/16/1978 - THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY
7/14/1978 - THE SWARM
7/28/1978 - THE DRIVER
8/25/1978 - DOGS plus DAMIEN: OMEN II
9/15/1978 - THE GREATEST plus THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY
9/22/1978 - WHICH WAY IS UP? PLUS CAR WASH
9/29/1978 - ENTER THE DRAGON plus FIVE FINGERS OF DEATH
10/13/1978- COUNT DRACULA AND HIS VAMPIRE BRIDE
11/3/1978 - MESSAGE FROM SPACE plus CHAMPION OF DEATH
11/17/1978- HALLOWEEN plus THE HILLS HAVE EYES
12/20/1978- EVERY WHICH WAY BUT LOOSE
1/05/1979 - SUPERMAN - THE MOVIE
4/13/1979 - HURRICANE
4/20/1979 - LOVE AT FIRST BITE plus BLACULA
5/04/1979 - BOULEVARD NIGHTS
5/18/1979 - THE REDEEMER - SON OF SATAN plus PLAGUE
6/01/1979 - THE DARK plus THE FAMILY
6/15/1979 - BUTCH AND SUNDANCE - THE EARLY DAYS
6/22/1979 - SILVER STREAK plus MAGIC
6/29/1979 - MOONRAKER
8/03/1979 - THE MUPPET MOVIE
9/07/1979 - EYEBALL plus SUSPIRIA
9/14/1979 - LOVE AND BULLETS plus THE DEER HUNTER
9/28/1979 - WHEN A STRANGER CALLS
11/9/1979 - THE FISH THAT SAVED PITTSBURGH
12/14/1979- THE JERK
1/25/1980 - GUYANA - CULT OF THE DAMNED plus BLUE COLLAR
2/08/1980 - AMERICAN GIGOLO
2/15/1980 - CRUISING
3/07/1980 - TRUCK TURNER plus FOXY BROWN plus HELL UP IN HARLEM
3/14/1980 - DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE plus TERROR
3/28/1980 - PENITENTIARY
5/16/1980 - THE HOLLYWOOD KNIGHTS
5/23/1980 - EDGE OF FURY plus THE FOG
5/30/1980 - SILENT SCREAM
6/20/1980 - THE BLUES BROTHERS
9/12/1980 - GAME OF DEATH plus RETURN OF THE DRAGON
9/26/1980 - HE KNOWS YOU'RE ALONE plus INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS
10/10/1980- GLORIA plus WHOLLY MOSES
10/24/1980- MOTEL HELL
11/14/1980- MONKEY HUSTLE plus FOXY BROWN plus BLACK CAESAR plus TALES FROM THE CRYPT
11/21/1980- ALLIGATOR plus FADE TO BLACK
12/5/1980 - FLASH GORDON

JRS40
Great historical research on the film listing! What Chicago theatre played the reserved seat engagement of FUNNY GIRL in October 1968? It wasn't the Mike Todd as someone responded to my earlier question on this. Thanks.

JRS40 Was this a first run theater or second run?

Archives - FUNNY GIRL played at the United Artists (check out the film schedule I have listed there as well).

Mike - With the exception of some obvious re-release double and triple features, the movies that played the Chicago were first run. Up until the mid 70's it was almost always an exclusive engagement as well and there were even a few in the mid to late 70's as well but the exclusive runs were phased out by studios who saw the chance to make a bigger profit by opening it simultaneously on screens in the suburbs as well.

JRS40 - Thank you so very much for your downtown theater listings!! It means a great deal to me personally. I truly appreciate the time and effort you put into it. How can I go about getting these same listings for 1959 thru 1963? I now live in Kansas City. How can I research from my end? Would appreciate any advice you could offer and thanks again for the listings!!

Fred - I'm not sure how to answer that. As a kid I simply started writing down the bookings each week (and have several more theaters still to post)in the 70's. As a teen I used to go to the library and one day found old newspapers and started going backwards until I got to 1964 and then I stopped going. Since you are in KC going to the library is not an option. Outside of that I can't think of any other way since you can't find it on the Internet (that I know of). Thanks for your kind words and look for my other listings as I post them. And good luck in your search. Should you ever find them make sure to post them!!

Many public libraries, and especially the main ones in large cities, have computers linked to vintage newspaper archives through a service called ProQuest. Via ProQuest, you can read the Chicago Tribune for most, if not all, of its entire history, and certainly since the introduction of movies. To do a search of display ads for movie theatres, you just have to enter a date and a keyword. I always use "Balaban" (without quotes), since Balaban & Katz dominated the entertainment advertising. Nearly always, the search will bring up entire pages, showing all theatres regardless of ownership. You can print out copies of the ad pages at the lbirary for a minimal charge, but you also can e-mail them (free of charge!) to your computer at home. ProQuest uses Adobe Acrobat Reader, so you will need that on your home computer. The program is available free from the Adobe website.

This is recent photo of the Chicago Theater.

I saw Shear Madness, which is playing in the "Downstairs Theatre." This space, formerly offices, is really just a room. But I did get glimpses of the opulence of the main theater. They don't let patrons upstairs into the main area when there's no shows going on.

Just some information that i have found on the Rapp Bros.

The brothers were born in Carbondale, Illinois

C.W established his own practice around 1891

George was a grad. from the University of Illinois he graduated in 1899 with a dereee in Architecture.

In 1906 the brothers founded the firm Rapp and Rapp

In 1917 thay started to design for Balaban and Katz

The firm designed more than 300 theatres

The firm was dissolved in 1965.

Just thought that some one could use this information thank you for you time. :)

Does anyone have an update as to the condition of the original projection toom, and is the thetare still capable of showing movies.

I recall when visiting with Theatre Historical Society of America in 2003, being told that it was used for film festivals. I'm not sure if 35 mm projectors are in the booth, or need be rented.

The basement of the theatre, where "Shear Madness" is playing, contains photos of historic Chicagoland theatres. Most of them are still extant, but no longer showing films. They include the Riviera, the Oriental (I believe), and what is now called "Appollos 2000". I don't recall whether or not they have photos of the Lake and the Tivoli (the one in Downers Grove).

They have to rent projection machines now. At least that was the case back around '91 when the building engineer gave me a guided tour. I suppose the situation could have changed since then. But it doesn't seem like they do enough film business to make purchase worthwhile.

Here's a photo that contains a portion of the vertical marquee back in the Plitt days http://www.busdrawings.com/Transit/illinois/chicago/1974t8h5307a/7903r.jpg

But check out what was playing at the Shangri-La across the street! I think that the Loop is better off without places like that! But it is better off with places like the Chicago!

Here is a rather artistic image of the Chicago Theater.

The Chicago offers tours on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, for five bucks. (Check the theatre's website to make sure; sometimes other engagements preempt the tours.) It's definitely worth the trip. I've posted several photos (most of which were taken during the tour) in Set #21, at this URL:

http://www.mekong.net/random/theatres.htm

Our guide was great: informative, charismatic and funny.

Cam strikes again. Excellent photoset Cam! Really captures the soul of the place.

Hi LTS -- thanks for the kind words. If you get a minute, shoot me an email (cambodia@aol.com). It's about a project you might find interesting.

Cam!Truly amazing!

I am happy that Madison Square Garden Entertainment is in the process of purchasing the great Chicago Theatre. It was one of the most sucessful movie palaces in the nation and has been used very poorly and under booked as a stage house. MSG may have the muscle to compete a little better with Brodaway in Chicago. I know that some of the larger productions have a problem with the stage area of the Chicago but some would fit perfectly. Im sure concert bookings would improve greatly since MSG owns both Radio City Music Hall and the Beacon in NYC.Hopefully they can figure out a way of fitting the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in the Chicago. brucec

there has been talk of msg buying the building behind the stage and breaking thru the wall

That has been discussed in the past. But the building owners were smart. They knew they had something the theatre wanted and asked for a huge sum of money. MSG definitely has deep pockets. So maybe a deal will come to pass this time.

Here is a recent shot of the facade

I hope that MSG can do a better job of booking the theatre. What has kept it busy has been the revival of "Shear Madness." But that's only playing in the basement and is a terrible under-use of the space. Yeah, it's probably bringing in some money. But the big shows seem to go elsewhere.

Have the Oriental and Cadillac Palace taken bookings from the Chicago? I heard that the Chicago is too small for today's big shows.

In a sense, yes. Most Broadway shows in Chicago are now booked in as part of the Broadway in Chicago series each year which is a joint venture of the powerhouse Nederlander Organization and Live Nation. They either own or have long term leases on the Cadillac Palace, the Oriental (Ford Center), and the LaSalle Bank Theatre (formerly Shubert) They also occasionally book shows into the Auditorium Theater and the Drury Lane at Water Tower Place. With that kind of clout, it would be difficult for another house to compete for the shows. Also given the up and down availability of product, the question would have to be asked if Chicago really needs another large capacity house intended for Broadway-type shows right now.

I have also been told that the Chicago, is spite of its seating capacity (over 3,000) has both a shallow stage and inadequate load-in and load-out access to the stage, making it difficult if not impossible for shows with large and complex sets to play there. It did have runs of a few shows in the past "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" for example, but the staging of that show is simple compared to, say, "Wicked". Many of the classic movie palaces that began as vaudeville houses or combination movie and stage show houses had shallow stages because vaudeville and the stage shows back then didn't require complex stage sets.

This is one of the reasons that the costs of restoring and adaptive re-use of theaters are often staggering: the stagehouse has to be thoroughly rebuilt, brought up to modern building codes, and equipped with new rigging, computerized lighting,loading docks and large access doors. When the now defunct Livent company acquired the Oriental, it also acquired the old Bailey Typewriter Building behind the Oriental's stage house, broke through the wall, and expanded the stage space so that the modern Broadway blockbuster could play there. I have been on the restored Cadillac Palace's stage and it too now has large access doors, modern rigging, and fly space. The former Shubert/Majestic has had a number of remodelings, a huge one just recently.

I'm sure that MSG will decide if it wants to make the kind of investment that would enable make the Chicago capable of handling a contemporary Broadway blockbuster or use it as is for different kinds of events and entertainments. Given how slowly things sometimes move in Chicago (look at Block 37 across the street), I wouldn't think an overhaul of the Chicago's stagehouse will happen any time soon, even MSG decides to go that route.

I just saw The Kathy Griffin special "Going Straight To Hell" and I was struck at how beautiful the theater was. I waited for the closing credits and saw that it was indeed The Chicago Theater. It was great to see this theater full and looking so beautiful.

This is a recent night view.

Responding to an earlier question, in the 1950s the theater now known as the Cadillac Palace was outfitted for Cinerama. So Cinerama wasn't shown here.

But I did see the restored Abel Gance 1927 film Napoleon at the Chicago Theater prior to renovation. while not Cinerama, this did involve three synchronized projectors. The three images were tinted different colors.

This showing featured a live orchestra under the direction of Francis Ford Coppola's father.

Here is a 1940s view

Here is an early view

Deja vu all over again. :)

The Chicago should do just fine with concerts which fill Radio City Music Hall for most of the year. The Chicago with 3600 seats is a little large in this market for Broadway shows. The Oriental seats 2200, Palace around 2400 and the Bank La Salle around 2000 which are better suited for Broadway productions. The Chicago already is booking more concerts since MSG has taken over. I hope they are able to figure out how to fit the Radio City Christmas Spectacular into the Chicago which would be a scaled down version of the show at Radio City in New York.brucec

In 1958 or '59 (correct me if I'm wrong) Warner Bros. brought to the Chicago Theater for, I think, only one day, the full panoply of the stars from essentially all of its hit TV series then to each walk on and say a few words to the audience prior to the screening of, I believe, "The Young Philadelphians." In fact, they had a showcase bus out front to suggest it was a "busload of stars" though I doubt they actually arrived on the bus; don't know.

At that time Warners TV seemed to have every hit show on TV. I think this program included Jack Kelly (James Garner had already left the Maverick series, which was the biggest and an early hit for Warners, which started the ball roling) plus innumerable others (there must be records somewhere). There are some stars I think were there, but don't want to name them and be wrong.

The two biggest stars publicized to be there were Connie Stevens featured as singer "Cricket" in "77 Sunset Strip," and Edd Byrnes, a hit newcomer in the same series, who acted a valet at the nightclub where Connie sang; he being "Kookie," who was always seen combing his pompadour (later memorialized in the tune, "Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb"). Many students were primed to go to the Loop for that one, including me.

Shortly before the show date, the Press carried the story that all of these new stars and starlets were in contract negotiations fighting for higher pay, including Connie Stevens and Edd Byrnes, and would only be in the show if they had signed their contracts. All eventually had but Connie Stevens and Edd Byrnes. A day or two before the show, Connie signed her contract in Hollywood and it was announced she would come to Chicago, but Edd Byrnes did not. Still the young audience held out hope.

The TV stars appeared as a cavalcade, outfitted as appropriate for young stars and starlets then, walked across the stage, stopped and said "Hello, I'm ***, and I hope you will watch me in ***," and some engaged in a little real Q & A, and then moved on. They were all wonderful, they did what they were supposed to do, and actually seemed happy to be there. Connie, absent Edd Byrnes, was considered the leading star there, and she was introduced last. She was just like "Cricket" and herself, was very cute, with her usual French twist hairdo, and even was supposed to sing a little song.

I was sitting pretty close to the front of the stage, maybe Center between Rows 3 and 5. Connie came out and tried to chat (they were really trying to give us our monies worth), and the audience kept shouting at, and imploring her, "Where's Kookie, where's Kookie?" She was very commiserating with the young girls, and said things like, "I know, I know; he couldn't be here; you wanted to see him, and he would like to be here, but he can't." She would never say it was about the money. She answered other questions, but they kept coming back to "Kookie." She even tried to sing her cute song. It was a standard pop tune, something like "Sunny Side of the Street," and sadly for Connie, the audience really wasn't attentive to her. I felt a little sorry for her because I thought she really wanted to sing; maybe the presentation actually was to be a set off for her to develop her singing career more then, I don't know. Anyway, it didn't work that day. But the performers were all cheered greatly. They seemed quite happy with the response from the audience.

The Warners movie was a melodrama featuring beautiful young people, including Paul Newman.

I am simply drawing on memory and this is the best I can remember it; but it was at the Chicago Theater. I was there with a schoolmate. Her older brother was required to accompany us to this because her family didn't think she (and I) should be unaccompanied for the stage show! He, decidedly, was not interested in any of this, I thought. He was only required to be there for the stage show, and when that ended, he said to us, "Okay, I was only supposed to stay with you for the stage show," and left. Then I decided not to stay for the movie then, and I think we all returned to the North side on our own.

I have never been to the Chicago Theatre and will be attending a concert. I wanted to know where the best place to sit would be. We want to be close but not to close. Thanks so much!!

I (my self) find that the MEZZANINE in "N" is a good place to sit "N" is in the center of the mezzanine.

The Mezzanine is located below the Balc and a bove the main floor, you can connect to the CHICAGO THEATRE web site from this CT page.

Good luck and have a great time, it is a wonderfull theatre. : )

I can't seem to find a listing at Cinema Treasures for a Chicago theatre listed in the 1944 Film Daily Year Book as the Rio, with 1,200 seats and an address of 2540 Milwaukee Avenue. Does it have a listing under some other name? I tried a search of alternate names, but couldn't find anything.

Their is a listing for a "RIO" theatre but it is located in
Chicago Hights Illinois and the listing for the seats is something like 250 or 750?

This CHICAGO THEATRE started out to be called "CAPITOL" it is on the 1st plans of construction but now it is known as the CHICAGO.

I hope that you find what you are loking for and thank you for your time.

Thanks, but I don't think that the Rio Theatre in Chicago is the same as the Rio in Chicago Heights. The 1944 FDYB has a listing for a Rio Theatre in Chicago, and also a smaller Rio Theatre in Chicago Heights. I confess to limited knowledge of Chicago area geography. Is Chicago Heights part of the city of Chicago or a separate community?

You're looking for this.

Thanks! I'll post a comment about the Rio at the listing for the Mars Theatre.

An article from today's Chicago Tribune regarding MSG Entertainment and the Chicago Theatre can be seen here.

A bit more on the Chicago sign - it was my grandfather, Nathan Sitkoff who started his own sign company called Paragon Sign Company and worked with Whiteway Company owned by Tom Flannery. Grandpa made the signs and Tom Flannery's company maintained the signs. He also made the Rialto sign, the State and Lake sign, and a sign for a bowling alley that the bowlers arm and ball moved, among others. This is what was told to me by my dad the other day when I told him I was going to be visiting Chicago in July with a group of teachers. Can't seem to find any documentation on the Internet but my search has just begun. Anyone have any specifics?
Thanks.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1112589,theatrefall081708.article
Some fool injured himself trying to slide down the stair rail.

Idiot! The theater should sue HIM for putting other patrons at risk for his own stupidity!

http://img457.imageshack.us/img457/8083/chicago6ty.jpg 1959

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/1295/masonic1939destructionyg6.jpg 1939

Here is a circa 1934 photo.

1938 close-up view

I have just returned from a tour of the theater. They are open to the public every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for $10 per person and it lasts just over an hour. I must say it was worth every penny. We went from the lobby to a suite box to the balcony down to the main floor again to view the original organ. Then we got to go on stage and then backstage. In the backstage area Frank Sinatra (who re-opened the theater in the 80's) started a tradition by signing the wall in the hallway. Ever since every performer has signed including entire casts of shows. We got to see the star dressing room and then down to the basement to see some great pictures of the Chicago through the years (one from 1956 with the Chicago playing "Giant" and one from 1957 with the Chicago playing "Brigadoon" while the State Lake across the street was playing "The Bridge on the River Kwai"). Someone above mentioned the condition of the projection room and while we didn't see it we were told no film projection equipment remains and is rented for the rare time a movie is shown. The guide also claimed cleaning people have seen ghosts at night but he was quick to add he had never seen one himself. It was a great time and I highly recommend it to anyone who can get to it. The tour group was small - only about 14 of us so it was perfect.

Do you call first or just walk up & pay for the tour?

I might try & get down there next week.

Just walk up to the theater. The tours on the weekdays are at noon and they let us in about 11:50. Saturday, I think, there are two tours - one at 11am and one at noon. Double check on the website Cinemark. Earlier it said that the tours were only through September which would mean you would need to go on Tuesday at the latest but we couldn't find where it said that on the website so perhaps they changed the policy. If you go let me know what you thought.

http://www.dpcaltd.com/projects/individual/chicago_theatre.html MSG apparently does have upgrades planned for the Chicago, including possibly moving the Radio City Christmas Show there.

For all the time I spent haunting Chicago area theatres, strangely this beautiful flagship, namesake gem was the least of them. "The Blues Brothers" was the only film presentation I could come up with off the top of my head.
A perfect example though, since it is such a recognizable one from Chicago's own past.

Mayor Jane Byrne reopened the door to films being made in Chicago. The first Mayor Daley was cool to anything that might/could have presented a bad image of the city.
So NO was implied to a number of film & TV projects over the years. It's why we remember `70's New York streetscapes better, without having been there.
My late father told me Warren Beatty's early black & white film "Mickey One", was even shot partly on the sly in some areas of the city. Sometimes using bartenders he knew as extras.

On the other hand, I've been to a few concerts & plays at the Chicago Theatre since the 1980 "Blue's Brothers". Laurie Anderson, Chita Rivera, both of which I wondered why I was at. Either placating friends and/or, a hope to be girlfriend I couldn't say no to. She certainly could say no though.

I also saw the live musical "Beauty & the Beast" there in `97. That one with my mother. Geek check.

Most recently though, I had the honor of seeing my mom appear on the Chicago Theatre's grand stage, as one of the performers in the "Serendipity" show.
A yearly musical showcase of multi-talented Chicago seniors, produced by the Chicago Dept. of Senior Services.

To that I took my 90 year old great aunt. Who once inside, said she had not been in the Chicago Theatre since the 1930's. Nor downtown for that matter.
It was a thrilling day. My mother had been a chorus girl just blocks away (Wabash & Kinzie), at the Silver Frolics in the early `50's. Some of her surviving showgirl friends came too. A full circle if there ever was one.

The timeless splendor of the Chicago Theatre was incredible. And a perfect setting for the performers, most of whom were 70 and over. It was taped by Chicago Works/Cable23, and re-airs frequently.

The only downside was that due to two matinees the day we were there, the 2nd show ticket holders, mainly elderly & bused in, were forced to huddle in the cold vestibule until the previous crowd could be ushered out, from a show that hadn't ended yet. Some shown out through the same doors we were in front of. Doors of which other than the center sets, were locked due to limited security staff. Locked theatre doors??? Really? I just reminded myself to call about that one.

The Chicago's interior was a beautiful as ever. Elevators helped some of the less agile to the upper balcony floors. But guidance once up there was also limited. Seat numbers being strictly adhered to, even when 90 percent of the balcony was empty anyway.

Other than some frustrating, common sense inadequacies, like my spelling, the Chicago Theatre is/was a stunning example of how occasionally we get saving historic structures right in this city. I recommend seeing anything you can there. Which as of late has been very versatile. Ray Davies to Donnie Hathaway to Robin Williams to Glamorama.

and in a week or so BRIAN WILSON w/ back-up band The Wondermints

Regarding BW's comment of 9/28: I guess it is time to restore the restoration. Definitely an interesting turn of events. It sounds as if MSG Entertainment may have struck a deal with the office building behind the theatre.

I see from some of the pictures attached to various posts, that the entire building that houses the Chicago Theatre once had lights on it's perimeter. Over the arch, down the sides, etc. Not just the sign & marquee.
I wonder if those light fixtures are still in place and operational. Or were they removed during any renovation work over the years.

Also it's a shame that we lost the giant building behind it with the four corner turrets, and the huge center spire.

Some of them are still working, but not all.

Did they tear down that office building with the turrets? Last time I was downtown it was still there. I'd be pretty surprised if it was gone.

Yeah, it's still there. Helmut Jahn's office is in the dome.

Ah, what a relief, thanks. I thought from the angle that it was a Lake & Wabash. The site of Harold Washington College. I think I have it's location in my mind now. Thanks again.

Here is a 1948 photo from LIFE magazine.

Here is another Life photo from November 1958:
http://tinyurl.com/5c3egl

The bulb-lit marquee letters in the '48 photo are really cool. I guess there must have been electrical contact stips behind the front panel.

Yeah, those letters truly are cool. I'd forgotten until I saw the Woods page that some theatre's had those. I think the State-Lake did too.
Must have been pretty labor intensive to change them all out as the movies changed. Maybe why they replaced them all the the blank white marquee's withe the hanging letters.

I meant labor intensive at the Woods.
Their upper marquee was easily 2 stories tall.

Here is a June 1943 Life photo:
http://tinyurl.com/6865s2

Nice pic. Showcases those perimeter lights on the arch again.

I just happened to notice in BWChicago's Sept 1st post/photo from 1939, that they are actually in the process of demolishing the Masonic building next door. What an absolute waste.
How and why on earth was such a mammoth building ever destroyed, when it clearly couldn't have been that old by 1939? Only to be replaced by low rise retail space (including the Loop Theatre) until just recently. What happened?

Because they had to pay taxes on all that vacant office space in the depression, and the full-height atrium meant that it was rather inefficient to operate. The lowrise replacement was an example of a building called a "taxpayer" because it would bring in enough income to pay the property taxes until such time further development would be possible.

Oh, I get it. Geez. Well they succeeded at that game. Since it took almost 70 years to finally re-develop.
Still a shame.
If that building had remained and went condo even in todays market, the historic aspect would be monumental.
Masonic Temple Lofts...hmmm, maybe not.

I just saw a promo on VH1 for something called "Fall Out Boy-Live from the Chicago Theatre".
Apparently "hometown" band Fall Out Boy filmed a live concert at the Chicago Theatre very recently, to be broadcast via FuseTV and/or VH1. In conjunction with a Dec.16th CD release.
It apparently has aired several times since.

As when Conan O'Brian was here several years back, maybe some of the interior architecture will get camera time.

Sure wish the recent Brian Wilson show had been filmed too. I know nothing of Fall Out Boy.

i love how the inside looks

Here is a 1951 photo from the U of Chicago library. I'm not sure if this has already been posted:
http://tinyurl.com/c3xldy

recent photos here
http://www.dpcaltd.com/projects/individual/chicago_theatre.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/casadeyork/2757736785/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ktb8482/2838035225/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/zeusofhollywood/3374336205/in/set-72157615748797666/

Here is a 1978 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/dbkbpt

Here is a 1949 color photo:
http://tinyurl.com/dxw7bu

That one is very interesting, especially compared to the 1944 one I posted earlier: http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/collections/cushman/full/P02887.jpg

Here is a 1982 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cjw5ql

Here is a 1948 photo from the Chicago Tribune:
http://tinyurl.com/desdd6

FYI. In BWChicago's April 19th post of a 1944 photo, the word Chicago can be seen painted on the side alley wall. Directly behind the Marshall Fields clock trajectory wise.
I cut through that very alley today, and the painted remnants of the sign are still there. It says Chicago Theater Entrance, with a giant arrow pointing towards the State Street entrance. It should be noted that it spelled Theater with the "er", and not Theatre with an "re".
Those old signs painted directly on to brick, were usually done using lead based paints. Paint which could withstand the elements, and the porousness of brick.
It is the reason most are still visible and survive today. I unfortunately didn't have a camera with me.

Here is a May 2009 photo.

FYI. If you enlarge Lost Memory's May 2009 pic, you can just make out the painted wall signage I mentioned above.

Here is a nice photo of the Chicago Theater.

LIFE 1948 photo,
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=45330ea1ee16b921&q=chicago%20theatre%20theater%20source:life&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dchicago%2Btheatre%2Btheater%2Bsource:life%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D36

There are great Technicolor views of the Chicago in these 1948 short documentaries:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaMGqzkNwLY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi9VrrVLMn0

Here is a recent night photo.

I am looking for interior shots of the Chicago. I would especially appreciate it if someone could post a shot of the seating area as seen from the stage.

Thanks in advance!

I am looking for interior shots of the Chicago. I would especially appreciate it if someone could post a shot of the seating area as seen from the stage.

Thanks in advance!