Atlantic Theater

The Atlantic theater was ENTIRELY gutted out by STUPID, GREEDY, developers and the marquee was RIPPED off of the front of the building! Nothing remains of the original interior! A MAJOR part of the new Atlantic Shopping mall as it is now known as, REMAINS EMPTY!! What a smart move by heartless greedy developers, to KILL a beautiful and rare jewel.

I am the grandson of Henry L. New-house, the architect of the Atlantic. Information: American Contractor, June 16, 1917 Permits: Theatre, Loft, Office & Store Building. $250,000. One and Two Story. 3934-3958 West 26th Street. Architect Henry L. Newhouse, 4630 Prairie Avenue. Owner Edward Browarsky, 111 West Washington Street. Brick. Mason Ralph Sollitt. Carpenter Thorgenson & Erickson. No photo of Atlantic, but I have architect's sketches of Crystal Theater, 2701 West North Street, Oakland Square Theatre and Ascher Building, Drexel and Oakwood Blvds., Frolic Theatre, 55th Street and Ellis Avenue, Columbus Theatre, Ashland Avenue and 63rd Street, Woodlawn Theatre, 63rd and maryland Avenue.

Information on the Howard Theatre. American Contractor; Feb 17, 1917 Permits; Theatre, Store & Flat Building. $250,000. Two Story, 252x204. 1615-1637 Howard Street. Architect Henry L. New-house, 4630 Prairie Avenue. Owner Charles W. Ferguson, 1725 Conway Building. Bric. Mason and Carpenter not let.

Also have information on other theaters designed by my Grandfather. Let me know if you are interested in any material I may have and I can make copies.

hey
i would like some of the info on Frolic, Columbus, and woodlawn
theatres plaese email me

Dear williamberinstein,

We are interested in your grandfather's work (theaters and other buildings), and would like to help advocate for their preservation. If you see this post, please contact me through my profile here, so that we may discuss this further. I'm very interested to see the materials you have collected.

Many thanks.

+Grahm Balkany
Director of Communications
Preservation Chicago

I remember the Atlantic theatre from the 1950's when I used to go to the double features there at the Saturday matinees. I saw Psycho, the Tingler, The Blob, and many other films there. What I;ve read about it is a shame. It's almost like the loss of a person.

The Atlantic Theater was like my 'second home' on weekends from the mid 1930's to 1941 when I moved away. I was born 76 years ago. Along 26th Street in the 'South Lawndale' community ( now called 'Little Village' we had approximately 6 movie theaters that I can recall, The Atlantic, California, Homan, Home ( the other names I can't recall - maybe someone out there can help me, but the Atlantic was THE BEST of them all, seeing 'Robin Hood' - 'Tarzan' - The Wizard of Oz' - Astaire, Garbo, Bogart after entering that great red carpeted lobby and the great staircase to the 2nd balcony. We were treated always to a double feature,cartoons,newsreels, so many serials like 'Buck Rogers' and 'Flash Gordon' - all for a 10 cents admission. Saturday and Sunday afternoons spent with our friends at the Atlantic ( if they could come up with a dime - there was a depression then )was the best treat of the week, all gone now but the wonderful memories remain of what once was , never to return.

posted by Stan Skopek on July 27, 2005 at 7:19pm

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

http://achicagosojourn.blogspot.com/2008/03/atlantic-theater-or-whats-left-of-it.html

The Atlantic is listed in a 12/1/1974 article in the Chicago Tribune on the Spanish-language movie theaters of Chicago. It is called the Atlantic I & II in the article.

From the Chicago Tribune, dated Sept. 9, 1917:

WEST SIDE'S NEWEST PLAYHOUSE
Chicago Is to Have Another Large Photoplay Theater -- Now Under Construction at West Twenty-Sixth street and Harding avenue -- It Will Have 2,000 Seats on the Main Floor

The West Side is to have another unusually attractive theater building in the Atlantic theater building now in the course of construction at 3934-48 West Twenty-Sixth street at the corner of Harding avenue. It will front 200 feet on Twenty-Sixth street and 180 feet on Harding avenue, will be two stories high, with stores and offices on the first floor. In addition to the theater, which will have 2,000 seats on the main floor, and a restaurant on the second floor. [sic]

It was designed by architect Henry L. Newhouse, is being finanaced by G.H. Gottschalk & Co., and will cost $215,000. It is designed in elaborate Spanish renaissance style with polychrome terra cotta and face brick.

Special attention has been given to the exterior lighting, with over 4,000 lights to be placed as to outline the building and openings. It is being erected by Herman Schoenstadt, who recently purchased the property from J.M. Browarski.

I am looking for photos, drawings, ground plans, remembrances etc. of the Henry L. Newhouse Forest Theatre 7526 Madison street, Forest Park, Illinois. I am located in NYC. Thank you.
Craig Jacobs

Here are some 1983 photos of the Atlantic:
http://tinyurl.com/cu4cyz
http://tinyurl.com/cmc4p2

1982 Photo

1985 Photo

If anyone has contact info for William Berinstein, please let me know. Still trying to get info on The Forest Theatre designed by Henry L. Newhouse. Thank you.
Craig Jacobs