Randolph Theater
14-16 West Randolph Street,
Chicago,
IL
60601
14-16 West Randolph Street,
Chicago,
IL
60601
3 people
favorited this theater
Showing all 8 comments
As part of a column by “Mae Tinee” in the Chicago Tribune dated December 22, 1918, the opening of the Randolph is mentioned, and the first film to be shown there, “The Heart of Wetona”, is reviewed.
RIGHT OFF THE REEL
“Tomorrow the new Randolph theater at 14 and 16 West Randolph street will be opened. It is a Jones, Linick & Schaefer picture house and its sponsors are exceedingly proud of it. You may wish to pay it a welcoming vist, so I reckon I’d better tell you about the picture that will grace its debut…”
Nice item B. That’s what Ronnie’s dining room looked like as well. Only:
1) Remove the fine light fixtures and replace them with plastic models
2) Remove the carpet and put in cheap tile floor
3) Get rid of the tables and linens and put in lunch room furniture
4) Turn the light level down by about half
5) Put an enclosed night club sort of VIP area at the top of the stairs in the rear
It sounds awful. But it was actually pretty cool in a seedy, 70’s, 42nd Street sort of way.
Randolph Street is definitely great today. But despite what some say, I don’t think it is better than it was in the 70’s and 80’s. I think it is just great in a different way now.
Here is the corrected link. That’s right, the facade is all that is left of the Heidelberg, which is somewhat ironic, as it was a new facade for the Randolph Theater, none of which still exists. The Argo Tea is in the former Noble Fool space.
Here is a view of the Heidelberg interior. The space is now occupied by an Argo Tea.
A Kimball theater organ was installed in the Randolph Theater in 1919.
In the book entitled IMAGES OF AMERICA CHICAGO ENTERTAINMENT BETWEEN THE WAR 1919-1939 by Jim and Wynette Edwards ISBN : 0738523305 published by Arcadis an imprint of Tempus Publishing Inc.
On page number 85 there is a very nice picture of the Randolph
The photo is courtesey of The Historical Society of America,Elmhurst,Illinois it is a picture of the marquee and it shows the whole buld.
Bryan Kreft, please e-mail Nick Coston at , would like to talk to talk to you.
Thanks.
Main dining hall of Ronny’s Steakhouse was constructed in the Randolph’s auditorium. When I ate there in the late 90’s auditorium ceiling was still intact. All sorts of strange characters in there. Festive atmosphere in this restaurant, with colored lights and an entrance to some sort of night club at rear…a remainder of what Randolph street was in the 70’s.