Lamar Theater
120 South Marion Street,
Oak Park,
IL
60301
120 South Marion Street,
Oak Park,
IL
60301
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Two grand opening ads for this theatre has been uploaded in the photo section for this cinema.
I wandered onto the rubble when the Lamar was being torn down. One thing I found was an empty 16mm film can for an Indian film. Interestingly enough, obviously the scenery hoisting equipment from live theater days was still in place in the old fly loft, so I was able to pick up 2 pulley wheels for my collection.
When this theater was screening Indian movies, it was called the Sri Lamar.
Here is a 1982 photo.
This is a larger version of the photo at the top of this page and here is another angle.
A Kimball theater organ size 2/10 was installed in the Oak Park Theater in 1913. In 1923, a new Kimball theater organ size 2/14 was installed.
What memories the Lamar brings back! I worked there as an usher in the mid-70’s…a new movie had just come out named “Rocky”….we had it 16 weeks…and I can still remember every line from the film. We also wore red suit jackets with the name “Essaness Theaters” sewn on the breast pocket. It was very interesting to go backstage where the lights had to be thrown on and off manually on an old stage light board…and also go downstairs back there where the popcorn was stored in what used to be the dressing rooms for the vaudeville acts of the early days of the theatre. I miss you Lamar.
Ad in the Chicago Tribune, Friday, August 29, 1930 announced:
ESSANESS TALKIE THEATRES; A TRIPLE EVENT FOR CHICAGO! ATTEND THE OPOENING OF ONE OF THESE WONDER TALKIE THEATERS!
Davis (formerly Pershing); Byrd, at Madison at Cicero, Lamar (formerly Oak Park)—-Oak Park’s Intimate Talkie Theater! Today door open at 1:30 pm, Warner Baxter, “Arizona Kid”; musical comedy duo Shaw & Lee, Variety Acts, Living News Events.
I have wonderful memories of the Lake and the Lamar, but the Lamar always seemed to play my favorites—“MASH,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Smokey and the Bandit,” and on and on. Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe this theater showed Indian films (don’t think they were called “Bollywood” yet) in the early 80’s.
The Lamar was the “grand old lady” of Oak Park Theaters. When I worked there in the early 1960’s (as well as the Lake Theater), it and the Lake Theater were both owned and operated by Essaness Theaters Corp. Saw many great films there.