Shangri-La Theater
222 N. State Street,
Chicago,
IL
60601
222 N. State Street,
Chicago,
IL
60601
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It should be noted that Jazz Legend Art Tatum was a frequent piano player at the Three Deuces Night Club on this site back in the late 1930’s. Art was then and still is now the greatest Jazz pianist of all time. And in 55 years since his passing at age 47, no one has been able to equal his extraordinary technical skills at the piano. He was one of a kind.
A night photo of the Shangri-La when it was still a restaurant: View link
This photo, which dates to around 1969/70 shows the Shangri-La in the background. You can also see part of the Chicago Theatre vertical sign in the distance.
I saw a John Holmes double feature at this theater. It was a little strange – not like a real movie theater. Now I know it was really a restaurant it makes more sense.
I’m pretty sure we saw the Ali bio pic “The Greatest” at the Shangri-La. Before it went XXX or karate.
That black awning across the street was Govner’s Pub. They’d actually let people cash their paychecks at the bar, and then kept them there drinking. That building was also torn down a few years back as I recall.
Footage of Cabrini-Green WAS used for the “Good Times” TV show open. As well as other B-Roll of Chicago. But that was it. The interiors were filmed in California. “In front of a live studio audience”, as they said at shows end.
BK,
Per your description above, I thought M&R was the last operator of the Oriental?
BW
WOW was that restaurant ever GAUDY! I don’t think I’d ever be comfortable in a place like that.
Greenpoint,
No, those projects were likely Cabrini-Green on the city’s Near North Side. Fortunately, over the past decade, Cabrini-Green has largely been torn down.
Here is a photo of the Shangri-La’s interior while it was a restaurant.
Hey Paul the only thing I knew about Chicago was the projects from Good Times..were those down near the loop.
Here is a mid-1970s view of the Shangri-La.
View link
That the bus is in CTAs “Bi-Centennial” paint scheme would place the photo from 1974 to 1978.
I’m glad that places like this aren’t in the Loop (Chicago’s Downtown) anymore. The Loop is certainly a far nicer place than it was 25-30 years ago.