Woods Theater

The Woods is definitely gone. I remember it being demolished when I worked in downtown Chicago back in the early 80's. Last time I was in Chicago you could still see the outline of the balcony on the wall of the building next door. I guess they left that wall intact as taking it down would have probably endangered that building.

The Woods Gave way to open land, which has now been claimed by the South end of the New Goodman Theatre Complex.

The Woods theatre was located in the Woods building which was built in 1917. The theatre,located at 50-56 W. Randolph Street, was demolished in 1989. Immediately after demolition the site was used for parking. The Woods was one of many great theatres that were located on Randolph Street...the United Artists, the Garrick, the Oriental, the Palace. Fortunately the Oriental and the Palace have been restored and are Performing Arts Centers.

In the early 1960's The Woods was owned and operated by Essaness Theaters Corp., and their coporate office was in the building. I was surprised not to see it listed on the Essaness list.

I love the marquee of the Woods and the United Artists theatres in Chicago. Would love to see pictures of Randolph St in the late 50's and early 60's of the marquees on the street at that time. brucec

Here is a link to a photo dated 1917, the year of the Woods' opening, showing the theater's exterior. The Schiller Building, which housed the Garrick Theatre, is just visible on the far left side of the photo. From the University of Minnesota Libraries collection.

The Woods was the home for "guy flicks". Action films and karate films seemed to always be there. It was home to the Chicago premieres of the James Bond films starting with "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", "Diamonds are Forever", "Live and Let Die", "The Man with the Golden Gun", "The Spy Who Loved Me" and "Moonraker". "Diamonds are Forever" set house records that were never broken. Other premieres there included "Cool Hand Luke", "Willard", "Carrie", and "Silver Streak". As with the other palaces the Woods fell into disrepair in the 80's as business dropped off. The theater did last until 1989 and was the last of the great Loop palaces to close.

This photograph, dated 1917, the same year the Woods opened, shows the Dearborn Street facade of the theater, with its Venetian-inspired design (albeit somewhat obscured by a fire escape). The Dearborn Street entrance's marquee can just be seen in the lower left-hand corner of the photo.

There is an apocryphal story that Plitt (which operated the competing United Artists theater just across from the Woods) purposefully booked a film into the "U.A" just because the name of the film was "Don't Go Into The Woods."

I'd love to know if this is true.

Here is a view down Dearborn towards Randolph with the Woods visible (as well as the Daley Center, entrance to the Dearborn Subway, and Marina Towers... phew! That's a lot of Chicago in one photo!
And this is that same view now.

Some Woods Trivia. In the Spring of 1957, the Essaness chain proudly announced to the world that the Woods Theatre "grosses more per seat than any other film house in the world." Always excepting Radio City Music Hall and the Roxy in Manhattan, this statement might hold some water. For one thing, beginning during the war years, the Woods began a policy of being open 22 hours a day, closing only for cleaning. This was to attract service men and women and shift workers who wanted entertainment in the wee hours of the morning. In the March 20, 1957 statement Essaness pointed to the example of Paramount's "High Society" raking in nearly $60,000 in its first week at the 1,206-seat house with a $1.50 top. Another reason given by the chain is that the house steadfastly refuses to stick to advertising material given it by the distributors. Citing "The Moon Is Blue" and "Man With The Golden Arm," the chain's executive praised his chain's "unique and independent policies in respect to programming and advertising." Continuing, he said, "...whole selling program has developed with the Essaness policy of training its advertising staff from the lower echelons of assistant managers and ushers....Moreover...a theatre must have a personality of its own to sell, especially in the video age." Sage words even today, methinks.
Also out of the trivia box. In 1960, the Woods was one of Paramount's biggest grossers for Hitchcock's "Psycho" which broke all attendance and boxoffice records at the time.
Widescreen/Techno trivia: December 21, 1966 saw the world premiere here of Arch Obeler's (he introduced "Bwana Devil" in 3D in 1953) "The Bubble" in what was called "Space Vision 3-d"!

I remember seeing "The Bubble" at the Woods in 1966. Although the plot was weak and the acting horrible, I was impressed by the 3-D effects. It would start me on my lifelong hobby as a 3-D photographer and filmgoer.

Just another bit of Woods trivia, here is a photo of a tower that was supposed to have been constructed on the site of the Woods after it was razed. However, like the nearby Block 37 site (which held the United Artists and Roosevelt Theatres, in addition to a couple of notable 19th century buildings) which was also cleared in anticipation of a new mixed office/retail tower, the "150 North Dearborn" project also fell through. Eleven years later, the new Goodman Theatre complex was built on the site of the Woods (and also the Garrick, Michael Todd, and Cinestage Theatres).

Here is a great 1963 photo of the Woods, with the Bob Hope film "Call Me Bwana" on the marquee. The parking garage replaced the Garrick Theatre, and the Greyhound bus terminal stood on the site of the Ashland Building, which housed the Olympic (later called the Apollo) Theatre. Nothing on the right side of this photo stands today, including the massive Hotel Sherman in the background.

Now that's a blast from the past. On my very first trip to Chicago I arrived at that bus terminal and took the long escalator ride up from below street level. The first Chicago streetscape that I encountered was of that strip of Randolph St. It was even more spectacular since it was at night and I was dazzled by all the lights. (OK, so I was an impressionable teen). I can't recall if my uncle had parked his car in the garage next to the terminal or not, but for some reason the Woods marquee still sticks in my mind even now.

I remember walking by the Woods when that last movie was on the marquee, on my way to Marshall Fields one day. What you fail to mention is that it was a double feature with, "I'm Gonna Get You Sucka". While I am a fan of the Wayans Family, I suspect that could be called a fall from grace. I find it interesting that the relatively small Woods and United Artists Theaters were demolished, while the significantly larger Oriental and Palace Theaters were refurbished. I am grateful that the later two are still around, but I often wonder if the former wouldn't have been more viable. The Woods even seemed to still have a working stage at the time it closed. One more thing...it passed to Cineplex from Plitt. I believe the entire Plitt chain passed to Cineplex.

The Oriental and the Palace were restored due to the demand for theatres of this size for touring broadway musicals.brucec

Here is an article by Roger Ebert in the Sun-Times that mentions some of the former Loop movie houses, including the Woods. There is a before and after (or in this case, after and before) view of the Woods and the Goodman Theatre Center which now stands on the site.

What great ad copy on that old marquee shot for the "Big Doll House" LOL

I remember my dad taking me to see the James Bond film "Diamonds Are Forever" at the Woods when I was about 12. It was a cinematic rite of passage that led to my being a lifelong Bond fan. The cool thing I remember was how the theater would immerse you in the moviegoing experience, from playing John Barry's score between showings to featuring wallpaper in the washroom entrance with silhouettes of what my 12-year-old eyes absolutely swore were nude women--a visual staple of every Bond film's opening credits. (Can anyone substantiate that last memory? Customized wallpaper seems like an odd way to promote a movie...but they used to do stranger things to market films back then.) We subsequently saw the first-runs of "Live and Let Die" and "Man With The Golden Gun" there. And I vividly remember going there to see a double feature of "Thunderball" and "You Only Live Twice," which United Artists re-released to capitalize on the success of "Diamonds." I know we saw other films there as well--Clint Eastwood's "The Gauntlet" springs to mind--but it's the initial viewing of those Bond films that have stuck with me.

I bet that theatre must've really "rocked" when "Psycho" opened there in 1960.

Here is an article on the occasion of the Woods' closing.

If you watch the movie "Ferris Bueller`s day off" right around the "paraide" sceen if you have the dvd it should be around th 1:01:41 ? mark on the counter pay attention to the part whear the police man pushes Sloane and Cameron off of the route during ferris rendetion of duk a sheen you can see clear as the day is long the marquee`s of the Woods and The U.A , the UA is the one on the right of the screen an d the Woods is on the left of the screen. This works great if you have it on dvd.This movie was flimed in 1986 just at the hight of the Go Go 80`s i think shortly after this was flimes bouth of the theatres were torne down. The sight of the Woods is now part of the Goodman Theatre Complex and where the UA was is now an empty lot. The way it was explaned to me was the deal that was to buld a new bulding on the sight of the UA fell out of favor after the place was leveled,i think that thay ran out of mony or something or the bulding boom just went flat.

I know his comment is 5 years old but I have to respond. The Wood's Theater was not demolished in the early 1980s. It was closed in the late 1980s.

Both the Woods and the United Artists are featured in the closing sequence of the film ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING. As this film was made in 1987, it would have been during the last days of the UA (the Woods would hang on for about another two years). The camera pans by the UA too quickly. Even in slow motion, the titles on the marquee can't be discerned. The Woods, however, was showing DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR and THE KINDRED.

In watching this film (BABYSITTING), it's amazing to see how much of Downtown Chicago has changed for the better since then!

The Woods was deemed eligible for the National Register of Historic Places before it was destroyed.

"Designed by Marshall and Fox, the Woods Theater (1917) is architecturally significant for its distinctive design and system of gothic-inspired detailing in which foliated friezes, clustered and twisted columns, and arched fenestration unify the 10-story Commercial-style office building and the adjacent low-scale theater structure. Historically, the office and theater facility is significant for its associations with the development of Chicago's music publishing and performing arts industries in the early 20th century and its contribution to the identity of the Randolph Street area of downtown Chicago as "Tin Pan Alley" in the 1920s."

I had a chance to visit the THSA museum, which is above the York Theatre in Elmhurst, today. If you are ever in the area, it is a place worth checking out. They have a collage of newspaper articles on the Woods Theatre's (which was the last in the Chicago Loop--until the "Siskel" opened up) closing. Oddly enough, one of the news articles mentions the opening of the new Burnham Plaza Theatre (because Cineplex-Odeon beleived in putting theatres where people lived, etc) and we all know what happened to the Burnham after only 17 years or so!

In the October edition of Chicago Mag on page 115 their is a great picture of the WOODS theatre showing a lot of detail to the sign.

Alot of my memories of early childhood date back to these beautiful theaters. On weekends my mother and I would take the 'EL' from Evanston all the way to downtown Chicago, pick up some Garrett's popcorn and hit the movie theater strip. I now live in Texas and thanks to this website which re-awakened my interest in the subject of these theaters and their history.

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

My memories of the Woods are few, but all good. In August of 1964, the Woods had the Chicago premiere of "A HARD DAY'S NIGHT". My friend and I went opening day to the first showing. The place was packed; we had to sit in the balcony near the projection booth. About a week later, I was downtown again and saw a minor demonstration under the marquee of the Woods. Three (maybe four) teenage guys were "protesting" the Beatles, and, I guess the film. They carried signs while walking in a small circle, near the boxoffice. One of the signs read BAN THE BEATLES! another proclaimed RINGO IS A COMMIE! They were smiling and laughing; it all seemed very tongue in cheek. They were NOT preventing people from buying tickets. However, I guess the manager found it not very amusing... a police wagon arrived and took the guys away. Other movies I remember seeing at the Woods: "BLOW UP" "MIDNIGHT COWBOY" and "LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT". All very controversial at the time,and they all drew HUGE crowds. A nice, clean theatre with a midnight show every night.

Can any one explane the diferance between signs,an example the Orential has a vertical sign that says "ORIENTAL" and it also has a sign that is over the sidewalk i know that this is the marquee but what is the name of the sign when it looks like the sign for the woods at the start of this page?I know that the woods had a marquee but what is the proper name of the "square sign" on top of the marquee. Is this concedered a true "Vertical Sign" or not.?
Thank you for your time on the question.

GOSSIP COLUMN ITEM:

CHICAGO TRIBUNE, Thursday, July 31, 1958:

TOWER TICKER, by Herb Lyon

". . . Ticker Takes: The Woods theater discontinued its all night movies. No night people? . . . "

What I think that refers to, Grand, is this: in the 1950s the Woods had all night shows... just like the Clark theatre. I remember newspaper ads for the Woods (MIDNIGHT SHOWS EVERY NIGHT TO 6 A.M.) If memory serves, one of those ads was for "RODAN, THE FLYING MONSTER". Being so close to the Greyhound bus station, the Woods and the Clark had a potential audience of hundreds. By the late 50s to the early 80s, the Woods still had a midnight show. When Cineplex Odeon took over, they discontinued the late show. The Clark's policy of 4 A.M. double features stopped about 1960. After that, the last double feature would start at 3A.M. By 1968-69, the Clark had the last double feature starting at 12 midnight. Less and less people were going downtown, and the riots at the Democratic National Convention did not help matters. TV, fear, fewer people using Greyhound, more people moving to the suburbs... the times they were a changing.

NEWS ITEM:

Chicago Daily News, Friday, June 13, 1941, p. 31, c. 2:

SUNDAY MARKS THE 150TH SHOWING OF 'CITIZEN KANE'

The 150th showing of Orson Welles' "Citizen Kane," will take place Sunday afternoon, at the Woods Theater. The Midwest premiere took place on Tuesday, May 6, at the Woods and RKO Palace theaters and since May 20 the picture has been on a three-a-day policy at the Woods.

Counting the two weeks at the Palace, the film is now in its eighth Chicago week and indications point to a long run on Randolph street. Business has been close to capacity at all performances since the engagement was limited to the Woods Theater.

"Citizen Kane" is now in its ninth week in New York City and extented runs are in the making in Los Angeles, San Franciso, Boston and Washington.
+_________________

NEWS ITEM:
Chicago Daily News, Friday, June 13, 1941, p. 31, c. 2:

SUNDAY MARKS THE 150TH SHOWING OF 'CITIZEN KANE'

The 150th showing of Orson Welles' "Citizen Kane" will take place Sunday afternoon, at the Woods Theater. The Midwest premiere took place on Tuesday, May 6 at the Woods and RKO Palace theaters and since May 20 the picture has been on a three-a-day policy at the Woods.

Counting the two weeks at the Palace, the film is now in its eighth Chicago week and indications point to a long run on Randolph street. Business has been close to capacity at all performances since the engagement was limited to the Woods Theater.

"Citizen Kane" is now in its ninth week in New York City and extended runs are in the making in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston and Washington.
______________

NEWS ITEM:
Chicago Daily News, Thursday, July 3, 1941, p. 17, c. 3:

'CITZEN KANE' WILL CLOSE AT WOODS JULY 13

After one of the longest movie runs in the Loop during the last year, Orson Welles' "Citizen Kane" will end its engagement at the Woods Theatrer Sunday night, July 13.

"Citizen Kane" had a dual premiere at the Woods and RKO Palace theaters on Tuesday, May 6. It ran for two weeks at the Palace and is now in its ninth week at the Woods. So it will have a total of 11 weeks in Chicago, exceeding in length the engagements in all cities except New York.
______________

GOSSIP COLUMN ITEM:

Chicago Tribune, Friday, May 13, 1954, s. 2, p. 2, c. 7:
Tower Ticker, by Herb Lyon

". . . . Biggest box office clicks in town are "Blackboard Jungle" at the Woods and G. Garbo in the oldie, "Camille," at the Loop [she's doin' just greta].

GOSSIP COLUMN ITEM:
Chicago Tribune, Thursday, July 7, 1960, s. 1, p. 14, c. 1:
Tower Ticker, by Herb Lyon

". . . . dig this strange sightem in front of the Woods theater: A woman soliciting signatures on a petition [to draft Adlai] from people waiting in line to see Hitchcock's "Psycho." . . . ."
________________________

Here is the listing of what played here from 1964-1980.

1/03/1964 - THE CARDINAL
4/01/1964 - NIGHT MUST FALL
4/22/1964 - FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
6/26/1964 - THE LONG SHIPS
7/24/1964 - BLACK LIKE ME
8/14/1964 - MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH plus BLACK SABBATH
8/28/1964 - A HARD DAY'S NIGHT
9/11/1964 - WOMAN OF STRAIN
9/25/1964 - OF HUMAN BONDAGE
10/16/1964- FATE IS THE HUNTER
10/30/1964- THE YOUNG LOVERS
11/20/1964- KITTEN WITH A WHIP
12/25/1964- FATHER GOOSE
2/12/1965 - THE PLEASURE SEEKERS
3/05/1965 - SLAVE TRADE IN THE WORLD TODAY
3/31/1965 - JOHN GOLDFARB, PLEASE COME HOME
5/05/1965 - MALAMONDO
5/19/1965 - MY BABY IS BLACK
6/09/1965 - HIGH WIND IN JAMAICA
6/23/1965 - VON RYAN'S EXPRESS
8/11/1965 - HELP!
9/15/1965 - A RAGE TO LIVE
10/6/1965 - BUNNY LAKE IS MISSING
10/27/1965- MICKEY ONE
11/10/1965- THE NANNY
12/24/1965- BOEING, BOEING
1/21/1966 - OUR MAN FLINT
4/01/1966 - FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX
4/29/1966 - A MAN COULD GET KILLED
5/27/1966 - LOST COMMAND
6/17/1966 - HIGH YELLOW
6/24/1966 - MODESTY BLAISE
8/10/1966 - HOW TO STEAL A MILLION
9/28/1966 - FANTASTIC VOYAGE
11/8/1966 - WAY, WAY OUT
12/9/1966 - THE FLAME AND THE FIRE
12/21/1966- THE BUBBLE
1/25/1967 - WARNING SHOT
2/10/1967 - BLOW UP
5/26/1967 - HURRY SUNDOWN
7/21/1967 - HELLS ANGELS ON WHEELS
9/01/1967 - THE NAKED RUNNER
9/22/1967 - BONNIE AND CLYDE
11/22/1967- COOL HAND LUKE
2/21/1968 - WAIT UNTIL DARK
4/17/1968 - THE FOX
8/21/1968 - THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR
10/17/1968- SALT AND PEPPER
11/13/1968- FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE plus THUNDERBALL
11/27/1968- YELLOW SUBMARINE
12/18/1968- THE NIGHT THEY RAIDED MINSKY'S
12/29/1968- THE UGLY ONES
1/15/1969 - BUONO SERA, MRS. CAMPBELL
2/05/1969 - PENDELUM
3/05/1969 - TWISTED NERVE
3/26/1969 - DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE
4/23/1969 - SAM WHISKEY
5/07/1969 - THE FIRST TIME
5/28/1969 - WHERE IT'S AT
6/11/1969 - POPI
6/27/1969 - THE BRIDGE AT REMAGEN
7/14/1969 - MIDNIGHT COWBOY
11/5/1969 - ALICE'S RESTAURANT
12/18/1969- ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE
2/11/1970 - THE SECRET OF SANTA VITTORIA
3/04/1970 - WHAT DO YOU SAY TO A NAKED LADY?
4/01/1970 - HALLS OF ANGER
5/13/1970 - THE MERCENARY
5/27/1970 - COTTON COMES TO HARLEM
9/04/1970 - THEY CALL ME MISTER TIBBS
10/14/1970- THE LANDLORD
11/25/1970- THE McKENZIE BREAK
12/11/1970- HORNET'S NEST
12/18/1970- WHERE'S POPPA?
1/01/1971 - THUNDERBALL plus YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE
2/05/1971 - BURN!
3/05/1971 - VALDEZ IS COMING
4/16/1971 - RUSS MEYER'S FINDERS KEEPERS LOVERS WEEPERS
4/30/1971 - BIG DOLL HOUSE
5/28/1971 - THE HUNTING PARTY
6/22/1971 - WILLARD
8/27/1971 - LAWMAN
9/24/1971 - DOC
10/22/1971- ADIOS SABATA
11/20/1971- THE ORGANIZATION
12/22/1971- DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
3/10/1972 - THE HONKERS
3/17/1972 - TWILIGHT PEOPLE
3/24/1972 - GHETTO FREAKS
4/07/1972 - DR. JEKYLL AND SISTER HYDE
4/21/1972 - THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
5/12/1972 - CHATO'S LAND
5/26/1972 - STANLEY
6/07/1972 - SWEET SUGAR
6/16/1972 - THE LIMIT
6/30/1972 - COME BACK CHARLESTON BLUE
9/01/1972 - RETURN OF SABATA plus THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN RIDE
9/15/1972 - HAMMER
10/6/1972 - THUNDERBALL plus YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE
10/20/1972- THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT
11/22/1972- THE MECHANIC
12/15/1972- ACROSS 110TH STREET
2/23/1973 - ALABAMA'S GHOST
3/09/1973 - SAVAGE
3/28/1973 - RUSS MEYER'S BLACKSNAKE
4/13/1973 - THEATER OF BLOOD
5/04/1973 - THE FAMILY
5/25/1973 - PAT GARRETT AND BILLY THE KID
6/15/1973 - THE HAMMER OF GOD
6/29/1973 - LIVE AND LET DIE
8/05/1973 - I ESCAPED FROM DEVIL'S ISLAND
8/17/1973 - PANCHO VILLA plus BAD MAN'S RIVER
8/31/1973 - THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR
10/5/1973 - BLACK JACK
10/17/1973- FISTS OF THE DOUBLE K
11/2/1973 - THE BLACK SIX
11/30/1973- DEADLY CHINA DOLL
12/19/1973- WILLIE DYNAMITE
1/25/1974 - BUSTING
2/22/1974 - FIVE ON THE BLACK HAND SIDE
4/12/1974 - BAMBOO GODS AND IRON MEN
4/26/1974 - IT'S ALIVE
5/24/1974 - THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTFOOT
6/28/1974 - MR. MAJESTYK
7/19/1974 - JOHNNY TOUGH
8/16/1974 - BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA
9/06/1974 - THE BLACK GODFATHER
9/27/1974 - AMAZING GRACE
10/25/1974- WALKING TALL
11/8/1974 - THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1-2-3
11/27/1974- THE BEAST MUST DIE plus SEIZURE
12/18/1974- THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN
1/17/1975 - T.N.T. JACKSON
1/31/1975 - KUNG FU MASSACRE plus FORCED TO FIGHT
2/14/1975 - SOLOMON KING plus THE THUNDER KICK
2/28/1975 - HONEY BABY plus THE STEEL EDGE OF REVENGE
3/14/1975 - REPORT TO THE COMMISSIONER
3/28/1975 - THE NO-MERCY MAN plus SHANGHAI LIL & THE SUN LUCK KID
4/11/1975 - THUNDERFIST plus THE TONGFATHER
4/18/1975 - THE CANDY TANGERINE MAN
5/07/1975 - POP GOES THE WEASEL
5/16/1975 - BRUCE AND I
5/30/1975 - DOLEMITE
6/20/1975 - THE WILBY CONSPIRACY
7/04/1975 - DELIVER US FROM EVIL
7/25/1975 - DOUBLE POSSESSION plus HONKY
8/08/1975 - BLACK FRANKENSTEIN
8/15/1975 - THE BLACK DRAGON vs THE YELLOW TIGER plus CASTLE OF FU MANCHU
8/22/1975 - ROLLERBALL
9/12/1975 - MAHALIA
9/26/1975 - REVOLT OF THE DRAGON plus THE ISAAC HAYES SPECIAL
10/10/1975- DIAMONDS
10/22/1975- CALL HIM MISTER SHATTER
10/31/1975- SISTERS plus COFFY
11/7/1975 - DOLEMITE plus BOSS NIGGER
11/14/1975- THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN plus THUNDERBOLT & LIGHTFOOT
11/21/1975- CASSY
11/28/1975- SHANGHAI JOE plus FROM CHINA WITH DEATH
12/5/1975 - ACROSS 110TH STREET plus COTTON COMES TO HARLEM
12/12/1975- FIVE ON THE BLACK HAND SIDE plus AMAZING GRACE
12/19/1975- ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE plus BRANNIGAN
12/26/1975- ADIOS AMIGO
1/30/1976 - THE PREMONITION
2/20/1976 - KILLER FORCE
3/19/1976 - DR. BLACK AND MR. HYDE
4/02/1976 - BREAKHEART PASS
4/16/1976 - DR. TARR'S TORTURE DUNGEON plus BEYOND THE LIVING DEAD
4/30/1976 - DEADLY HERO
5/07/1976 - HIGH YELLOW plus TIGER FORCE
5/14/1976 - TRACKDOWN
5/21/1976 - THE MISSOURI BREAKS
6/18/1976 - THE BAD BUNCH plus CHALLENGE OF THE DRAGON
7/02/1976 - BUFFALO BILL AND THE INDIANS
7/16/1976 - GATOR
7/30/1976 - TWILIGHT PEOPLE plus BOSS NIGGER plus SUPERDUDE plus JOHNNY TOUGH
8/06/1976 - THE HUMAN TORNADO
9/03/1976 - DEVIL WOMAN plus DRAGONS NEVER DIE
9/17/1976 - DEMON WITCH CHILD plus TERROR AT RED WOLF INN
10/1/1976 - BURNT OFFERINGS
10/15/1976- THE BOD SQUAD plus SHANGHAI KILLERS
10/29/1976- MURDER IN THE ORIENT plus BEHIND THE SHUTTERS
11/5/1976 - CARRIE
12/22/1976- SILVER STREAK
4/01/1977 - ROCKY
5/06/1977 - THE GODFATHER plus THE GODFATHER PART II
5/20/1977 - CURSE OF THE DEVIL plus KUNG FU BROTHERS
5/27/1977 - AUDREY ROSE plus THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN RIDE
6/15/1977 - A BRIDGE TOO FAR
7/22/1977 - KID VENGEANCE plus DEATH OF A GUNFIGHTER
8/05/1977 - SINDBAD AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER plus BUCK AND THE PREACHER
8/12/1977 - THE SPY WHO LOVED ME
9/30/1977 - NIGHT CHILD plus BEYOND THE DOOR
10/14/1977- THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES plus PANCHO VILLA
10/21/1977- DAMNATION ALLEY
11/11/1977- PETEY WHEATSTRAW
11/25/1977- CRY FOR ME, BILLY plus THE GODFATHER SQUAD
12/2/1977 - SHANGHAI KILLERS plus STREETGANGS OF HONG KONG plus BLACK MAMA, WHITE MAMA plus HELL UP IN HARLEM
12/21/1977- THE GAUNTLET
2/10/1978 - A HERO AIN'T NOTHIN BUT A SANDWICH
3/17/1978 - CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND
4/14/1978 - THE MEDUSA TOUCH
4/28/1978 - THE TOOLBOX MURDERS plus DRAGON SQUAD
5/19/1978 - DRACULA'S DOG plus OUT OF THE DARKNESS
6/02/1978 - BIG DOLL HOUSE plus MAN OF IRON plus BIG BAD MAMA plus THE THUNDER KICK
6/09/1978 - DAMIEN: OMEN II
7/21/1978 - STAR WARS
8/18/1978 - DEATH FORCE plus CASTLE OF FU MANCHU
8/25/1978 - PIRANHA plus THE STING OF THE WEST
9/15/1978 - THE HILLS HAVE EYES plus BOOT HILL
9/29/1978 - RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD plus BOD SQUAD
10/13/1978- THE BODYGUARD plus GOODBYE BRUCE LEE plus THE EVIL
10/27/1978- MIDNIGHT EXPRESS
11/24/1978- STONY ISLAND
12/8/1978 - WONDER WOMEN plus MONKEY HUSTLE plus THE BROTHERS plus SCHOOL OF FEAR
12/15/1978- THE TOOLBOX MURDERS plus SABATA plus BIG BAD MAMA plus THE THUNDER KICK
12/22/1978- CALIFORNIA SUITE
2/23/1979 - HARDCORE plus KUNG FU MASTER
3/30/1979 - BRUCE LEE FIGHTS BACK FROM THE GRAVE plus DEVIL WOMAN plus GOODBYE BRUCE LEE
4/13/1979 - BEYOND THE DOOR 2 plus THE DRAGON LIVES
5/04/1979 - PHANTASM
5/25/1979 - THE BROOD plus KUNG FU MASSACRE
6/08/1979 - THE RAVAGERS plus WONDER WOMEN plus BLACKBELT
6/15/1979 - THE HITTER plus THE HOUSE THAT CRIED MURDER
6/29/1979 - NIGHTWING plus DUEL IN THE TIGER DEN
7/13/1979 - TERROR plus FISTS OF THE DOUBLE K
7/27/1979 - UP FROM THE DEPTHS plus SOUL OF CHIBA plus BIG BAD MAMA
8/03/1979 - THE AMITYVILLE HORROR
9/14/1979 - DISCO GODFATHER plus DEEP WEST
9/28/1979 - THE ONION FIELD
10/19/1979- BAD GUYS WEAR BLACK plus BIG BIRD CAGE plus THE EVIL
10/26/1979- SKATETOWN U.S.A.
11/16/1979- INVASION OF THE KUNG FU KILLER plus WOMEN IN CAGES plus BLOODY FRIDAY
11/30/1979- FIVE MASTERS OF DEATH plus THE MAN WITH TWO HEADS
12/14/1979- BOLO THE BRUTE plus BIG BAD MAMA plus HORROR OF THE BLOOD MONSTERS
12/21/1979- ROLLER BOOGIE plus ENTER THE DEVIL
1/11/1980 - THE TATTOO CONNECTION
2/01/1980 - THE FOG
3/07/1980 - THE DEADLY ANGELS plus THE 5 DEADLY VENOMS
3/21/1980 - DYNAMO plus SUPERCHICK plus ADIOS SABATA
4/04/1980 - THE FIFTH FLOOR plus THE DRAGON LIVES
4/25/1980 - DEATH SHIP plus DUEL OF THE DRAGONS
5/09/1980 - THE LAST CHALLENGE OF THE DRAGON plus BEYOND THE DARKNESS plus DEVIL WOMAN
5/16/1980 - MAD MAX plus SEVEN
5/30/1980 - HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP plus ANGEL'S BRIGADE
6/19/1980 - ROUGH CUT plus ENCOUNTER THE DRAGON
6/27/1980 - WHEN THE SCREAMING STOPS plus BLOODY MAMA plus SHADOW OF THE DRAGON
7/04/1980 - THE DEVIL'S 3 plus BRUCE LEE FIGHTS BACK FROM THE GRAVE plus NIGHTMARE IN BLOOD
7/11/1980 - THE CHILDREN plus PROM NIGHT
8/08/1980 - THE HUNTER plus CRAZY MAMA
8/22/1980 - PROM NIGHT plus THE CHILDREN plus KILLER FISH
8/29/1980 - DON'T GO IN THE HOUSE plus THE BOD SQUAD
9/05/1980 - FIST OF FEAR, TOUCH OF DEATH
9/19/1980 - 3 AVENGERS plus PIRANHA plus CHAIN GANG WOMEN
9/26/1980 - NIGHTMARE plus STAYIN ALIVE
10/3/1980 - BRUCE IS LOOSE plus NIGHTMARE plus BLOODY FRIDAY
10/10/1980- THE EXTERMINATOR
10/31/1980- THE AWAKENING
11/14/1980- THE FOG plus PHANTASM plus THE AWAKENING
11/21/1980- SHOGUN ASSASSIN plus THE CHINATOWN KID
12/12/1980- STIR CRAZY

Does any one know ware pictutes if any can be seen?
thank you for you time.

From the LA Times, 2/23/82

Chicago (UPI)- Joseph Wade was watching a horror flick called "The Creeper" at a downtown theater when a rat bit him on the ankle. Wade said he thought at first that he had been kicked by the woman seated next to him. When he figured out what really happened, "the theater manager wouldnt believe him and originally called the police to eject him," his attorney said. Michael Olson, a supervisor for the firm that runs the Woods Theater, said the company will pay for Wade's treatment at a hospital, which included a tetanus shot.

Here is a postcard view.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE (January 8, 1989)

"Say goodbye to Loop's last movie house"

by Rudolph Unger

************************

The lights on movie theater marquees in Chicago's Loop have been flickering out one by one over the years, and the Loop's last marquee was to go dark Sunday as the Woods Theater closed its doors.

The demise of the theater where "Gone with the Wind" premiered on a reserved-seat basis in 1940, beginning an engagement that lasted an entire year, will make Monday the first day in more than three-quarters of a century that the city's Loop will be without a movie theater.

The Woods, on the northwest corner of Randolph and Dearborn Streets, will close to make way for a 30-story office building, becoming the latest victim of the Loop's decline as an entertainment center and its growth as a commercial center.

The 1,100-seat Woods is the last movie house to join the scrap heap of the once glittering film palaces that radiated like brillant necklaces near the intersection of State and Randolph Streets.

"There was always a festival air surrounding the intersection of State and Randolph, the center of the Loop's night life," said Edward Barry, a veteran newspaper cultural critic.

"I still recall the first of the great silent Harold Lloyd comedy films, `Safety First,' at the Chicago in 1923, in which he hung from the Wrigley Building clock."

The late Danny Kaye, the funny man whose uproarious first movie, "Up in Arms," graced the Woods marquee for a year in 1944, would weep if he could see the Loop today, devoid of even a single silver screen.

Bob Hope, that other funny man who once stood penniless outside Loop theaters in the 1920s before his star ascended, would certainly look in amazement at the shuttered show houses and sites of razed cinema palaces whose marquees once were emblazoned with the names of the brightest stars in Hollywood's firmament:

Actors such as Bing Crosby, Al Jolson, Charlie Chaplin, Jack Benny, Fred Astaire, John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart and Spencer Tracy.

Actresses such as Greta Garbo, Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn, Joan Fontaine, Judy Garland, Ingrid Bergman and Barbara Stanwyck.

The Chicago Theatre, long the flagship of the sumptuous Loop show places, was saved from destruction through a massive civic effort to refurbish it as a center of live entertainment.

But shadows overhang its future since its operator, Chicago Theatre Productions, went into bankruptcy last summer, and the theater has been reopened only for an occasional event since.

Gone forever are such popular show houses as the State-Lake Theater, across the street from the Chicago.

The Loop, just south of the Chicago, which for a time featured newsreels, is long gone.

The Roosevelt, a block south on State, and the opulent Oriental, on Randolph just west of State, gave way to stores.

The United Artists, down the street from the Oriental and kitty corner from the Woods, closed last year.

The Garrick, onetime neighbor of the Woods, was replaced with a parking garage.

The Apollo, just west of the Garrick, made way for the Greyhound bus terminal, which itself is now to be razed so that twin office towers can be built on Randolph Street.

The McVickers Theater, on Madison Street just west of State, was taken over by film producer Mike Todd to feature his Todd-A-O process films, beginning with the screen version of the musical "Oklahoma."

North of the Woods on Dearborn Street, the two Dearborn Cinemas had a short-lived existence after opening in the old Michael Todd and Cinestage Theaters.

The properties, owned by Todd's estate, are to be sold to the developer of the Greyhound property and restored to their original names, Harris and Selywn, and their original use as playhouses.

Also long gone from the scene is the Palace Theater, in the Bismarck Hotel complex, once known as the home of the wide-screen Cinerama films.

At one time, the Palace, like the Chicago, the State-Lake and the Oriental, featured not only first-run films from Hollywood but they also hosted live stage entertainment.

"From childhood on, going to movies was a big thrill," recalled Herman Kogan, Chicago historian and newspaperman. "On Saturdays, that meant going to one of the big Loop show palaces, where you could see stage shows as well as first-run films."

There were other, smaller theaters scattered about the Loop where B films or reruns of first-run movies could be seen, usually for a cut-rate price.

These included the Monroe, the Clark and the LaSalle, which stood on the site of the present-day St. Peter Catholic Church at 110 W. Madison St.

The Today theater, located on Madison Street just west of Dearborn and which specialized in newsreels, also disappeared.

The movies came to Chicago's Loop-traditionally defined as the city blocks lying within the "loop" of the downtown elevated tracks-early in this century.

"The movie parlor that grew into today's cinema palace really began with the opening of Jones, Linick and Schaefer's house on State Street on Oct. 5, 1905," according to a historical piece by the late William Leonard, longtime Tribune night life critic. The pioneer facility was a 300-seat amphitheatre on the east side of the street, between Monroe and Adams Streets toward the south end of what is now the Palmer House building.

Today's theater owners believe that placing movie houses closer to where people live and shop is the future of the film industry. Movie houses have sprouted in off-downtown areas of the city and in suburban shopping centers. The theater chains also prefer to have several smaller theaters in one complex, showing several films simultaneously and offering greater variety to moviegoers.

The Cineplex Odeon theater chain, which owns the Woods, last month opened the new 5-screen, 1,250-seat Burnham Plaza Cinemas at 826 S. Wabash Ave., in the south-of-the-Loop residential areas of Printer's Row and Dearborn Park.

Also typical today is the 8-screen, 1,900-seat Webster Place at Clybourn and Webster Avenues, opened last July by the M & R theater chain in a once-industrial corridor now lined with shops and restaurants that draw from rehabbed North Side residential neighborhoods.

In December, Cineplex Odeon opened a 6-screen, 1,855-seat complex in the River Oaks shopping center in Calumet City, which complements an existing 8-screen complex.

The historic Woods, like several other Loop theaters in recent years, had faded into a showhouse largely for films highlighting themes of sex, violence and racial exploitation.

The last films scheduled to be shown at the Woods are "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" and "Hellbound: Hellraiser II."

. . . thanks JRS and Jon Putnam for both your contributions---most informative . . .

This is a circa 1958 photo that shows the Woods Theater and part of the Garrick.

What a fantastic photo, Lost! I've never seen that one before, thanks for posting it. You can see the Oriental in the background (at least its vertical sign) and between the Garrick and Woods is the Red Garter Revue, which I've never heard of before. I'm guessing it was a burlesque show.

The Deleware Building across Dearborn Street from the Woods looks better today than it ever has. I believe it is one of the oldest buildings in the Loop.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mss2400/2044378683/

Caption:

This is a construction photo of the Leo Burnett Building in Chicago, taken after the building was topped off in 1988. Note the long-gone Woods Theater (the Goodman Theatre is now located on this site) in the left foreground.

I liked the Woods a lot. Clean, well run with seemingly a lot of ushers.
We saw "Diamonds Are Forever" there, and "The Spy Who Loved Me" with a group of about 6-7 people.

I remember the crowds at "Diamonds Are Forever", and the ushers doing their best to maintain order. Red velvet ropes were used to contain those in line until the previous performance had cleared completely. We were 11 years old going on about 14. But there would be no sneeking a second viewing that time around.

I thought that since it was in and of the building above it, that it would somehow be saved by default. Who knew Loop values would go so wild, after years of a ghost town atmosphere at night.

Nearby or maybe next to The Oriental was a restaurant/bar that had a giant offset swing, that a girl swung out over Randolph on. She was 2 stories up, and it looked dangerous as all get out.
It wasn't the Red Garter Revue though, as that facade is way too small.
This place with giant swing was German I think. I think it was next to Ronnie's Steak House.

Near the Woods also was a basement bar that ABC's Joel Daly's Sundowners band used to play at a lot.

There was also a Red Garter Saloon on Pearson between State & Wabash. Where Loyola's Law School is now. They had live, New Orleans style entertainment.

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

By "it" I mean the Oriental.

http://www.streetsandsoul.com/chicago/old17.jpg Here is an unusual 80s angle on the Woods.

Great pictures. The first is indeed early `80's or very late `70's. The cab doing the lane stradling on the left is a post`78 Ford LTD or Mercury Crown Vic.
You can also see the back of the once smoking Winston billboard over the Walgreens. It had a control room built onto the back.

The second photo is also early 80's. Though "Skatetown U.S.A." was made in 1979, according to imdb.com it's release date was held up as to not be hurt by Xanadu. Imagine that ever being a fear. Scott Baio actually had top billing, but the Woods apparently chose to blaze Flip Wilson's name in lights.

I'd forgotten how unique the Woods additional upper marquee was. Individual sculpted letters made up of different colored bulbs. Wouldn't have risked the dogs at Shmendl's by that time.
There was an Orange Julius nearby though, I think next to the State-Lake.

Doh!,stupid me. "Skatetown" U.S.A. played the Woods almost a year before Xanadu was released. 10/79 vs. 8/80.
So the imdb page must have meant "rushed into production", as to not be hurt by "Xanadu". Still, really? Like anything with Ron Palillo, Maureen McCormick & Patrick Swayze had a worry about ONJ?

I would LOVE to see any interior shots of this theater. I have never seen any and heard it was very nice.

Noticed that Stony Island was an engagement in 1978. That was the directorial debut of Chicago native and future director of The Fugitive Andrew Davis.

Wow, I never made that connection. Stony Island was great. Somewhere I have a VHS I think I got at Facets.
I know I have the soundtrack LP. Longtime Goodman Theatre/Christmas Carol alum Tom Mula played the undertaker.
Also the father of Bangles singer Susanna Hoffs was somehow involved.
I think a friend of my brothers played bass in it too.
I remember they were able to incorporate some of Richard J. Daley's funeral into the film. The late Oscar Brown Jr. played an Alderman.

I previously posted on CT's Sandburg/Playboy Theatre page that I saw Stony Island there then, and Siskel was at the show.

P.S. Heartland Cafe up North used to rent out a VHS of Stony Island, but that was 20 years ago.

I just reread one of Paul E's 2005 posts about seeing "The Bubble" at the Woods. It triggered my memory that my parents took me and my brother to that film as well. Quite possibly at the Woods. I had nightmares for weeks, as I was all of about 6 at the time.
Imagine 3D horror at that age. Or taking me for that matter.
I remember the zombie like newsman in the film swinging a newspaper 3D style, and just repeating over & over "Paper...Morning Paper".

Should have charged my father back years later for all the therapy. Ha!

The very first flick I saw there was the Beatles HELP! Even remember just what part of the film I walked-in on (w/ my friend Johnny C.) - when they were setting-up the play the song You're Gonna Lose That Girl in the mock studio,

In 1982 at the WOODS I saw a typical exploitation triple-feature there: 10 COMMANDMENTS OF KUNG-FU, GARDEN OF THE DEAD, & GRAVE OF THE VAMPIRE. Certainly the very last of the paid-admission triple-features for me (or perhaps anyone).

I wish someone could quote those 10 K-F commandments for me. They were printed on a little card that was handed-out in the theatre lobby then, and as I barely recall were hilarious.

Just did some more rereads of past Wood's posts. In the 1963 photo Bryan Krefft posted in 2005, the one with the Bob Hope film on the marquee, the Hotel Sherman behind it at Randolph & Clark was actually called the Sherman House. But it was indeed a hotel.
My father played trombone and upright bass there inside it's club.

Frank Sinatra and many other high profile singers & musicians played there over the years. Probably while their own films were playing the Woods and other theatres downtown.
The State of Illinois building is now on the site where the Sherman House once stood.

If only the Woods could have escaped demolition and been the source of a renovation along with the Selwyn/Michael Tood, to build out the new Goodman Theatre.
It's ironic that there's a push to call it all the "Theater District", when that's what it always was to begin with, until everything was torn down.

P.P.S. In Lost Memory's 1958 photo posted this past June of the Wood's marquee, the front car at the curb is a 1957 or `58 Plymouth.
The source car for the Steven King book and movie "Christine".
Supposedly originally a 4-door in the book, but changed to a 2-door for the film. I had a `57 Plymouth Plaza. This one looks from the lower trim to be either that or a Savoy.

The car in the circa 1958 photo that I linked to is a 1957 Plymouth. "Christine" was a 1958 Plymouth. This photo is a 1958 Plymouth similar to "Christine". The two years are easier to tell apart from the front. A 1958 Plymouth has four headlights. A 1957 Plymouth has two headlights and two parking lights.

You are correct Lost Memory. Christine was a `58. My memory is obviously clearly lost. It's been 31 years since I owned mine though.
My `57 Plaza did indeed have only two headlights, and the parking lights/turn signals were the inner two. Larger sealed beams than on the `58.

The tailights were changed on the `58's too. Just a small lens at the bottom of the fin. Whereas my `57 had full triangular lenses in the shape of the fin. Sure wish I'd kept that one.

The makers of "Christine" took some liberties with what they had available back then. Mixing Belvidere cars & parts with Fury's. Somewhere there's a Mopar site that points out all the differences. Door pillars, missing mirrors etc. Thanks for the clarification and extra pic!

Your welcome David. Here is a link for information on the 1957 Plymouth and this link has information on the 1958 Fury. Those links should bring back some memories.

I have never seen the inside of this theatre. Are there any photos?

Here is a late photo of it from Daley Center.

Here is a 1974 Photo

In the book "DOWNTOWN CHICAGO IN TRANSITION" by Eric Bronsky and Neal Samors, there is a great shot of the Woods theatre in 1962 on page 161. "CAPE FEAR" is playing; you can also see the Greyhound Bus Depot and the Sherman House Hotel.

Reactivate notification status.

About four or five years left for the Woods at this point:

http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=woods&catpagesize=25&ProductID=26303

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

Two photos from 1953 and 1983:
http://tinyurl.com/djkwgp
http://tinyurl.com/cyc3hg

Here is another photo from 1984.

Wow! What an eclectic combo on the marquee!

That's a pretty strange double bill. A big-budget Coppola film paired with a B-grade martial arts import.

It looks like a double bill that you might see at a drive-in.

Sadly the Loop had the reputation back then of being a dangerous place where whites would never be seen at night because African-American and Hispanic gangs were taking over the streets. This is one of the reasons, mostly unfounded by the way, that these beautiful palaces failed. People stopped showing up, especially at night. It didn't help that the Oriental down the street had been taken over as home turf by one gang - one of the reasons that theater was eventually shuttered. But the reason for the double features like this was the need to try and grab the movie loving audience for a film like COTTON CLUB and then show a schlock horror film, marital arts or whatever to appeal to the gangs. I don't know that I necessarily subscribe totally to that theory but it does make sense in a weird way. This theater was, after all, the last of the great palaces to close.

Harry Belafonte was on the Woods stage at 8:15p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 1959, for the World Premiere of "ODDS AGAINST TOMORROW". (From the Chicago Tribune movie listings).

http://bit.ly/2kMY6i 1950s photo

That photo must date from sometime between July and November 1969, when Midnight Cowboy played at the Woods.
The Daley Center, on the left, was built from 1963-1965.
But what fascinates me is the man in the foreground....what is he carrying? Being closer to the camera, he looks strangely tall, in comparison to the man on the right, who looks strangely short. Together they almost look like an old carnival act. The photographer, Vivian Maier, definitely had a unique eye to create something like that in the days before Photoshop.

Look through that blog; her work is an amazing discovery.

I saw "Nightwing" at the Woods back in '79 with my date, Denise D. The place was so lit up that you could almost read a book in there while the movie was playing. I guess they'd had a problem with purse thefts and the like. Anyway, by that point the whole area, including the Woods, was already in decline.