Pickwick Theatre

5 S. Prospect Avenue,
Park Ridge, IL 60068

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Showing 1 - 25 of 76 comments found

Mister_Comics
Mister_Comics on January 14, 2013 at 8:04 am

Is that a blimp mooring on top of the building? It sure looks like one.

btkrefft
btkrefft on October 8, 2012 at 10:14 am

This article talks about the renovation of the Pickwick nearing completion.

Chuck1231
Chuck1231 on August 13, 2012 at 9:38 pm

Just simply hit the photos tab in the header at the top of this page and you can see all the photos for the Pickwick

Broan
Broan on August 13, 2012 at 5:57 pm

The photos tab – http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/302/photos/52019

clark7811
clark7811 on August 13, 2012 at 5:55 pm

To: BROAN, where do I find the photo of the seats?

Broan
Broan on August 12, 2012 at 10:15 am

Added a picture of the original seats. Yes I believe they were replaced in 1948.

Here is a 1949 picture featuring the original teaser curtain.

clark7811
clark7811 on July 29, 2012 at 1:31 pm

BROAN; Tell me more about the original seats. When were they replaced? Was it the 1948 reference? Where can I find more information and pictures? This was my childhood theater…

btkrefft
btkrefft on July 26, 2012 at 10:40 am

From the 7/24 Park Ridge Herald-Advocate, more on the restoration of the Pickwick, including the search for the original color scheme of the marquee.

btkrefft
btkrefft on July 10, 2012 at 7:53 pm

Thanks for adding that photo of the marquee in the primer coat Brian. You’re right, so much more detail is visible in darker color. I have seen the Pickwick marquee so many times up close, and even standing nearby, whitewashed it doesn’t have the dramatic appearance like this, especially those faces.

Broan
Broan on July 10, 2012 at 3:46 pm

Added a photo of the detail in primer coat. The detail is much, much more legible now, but again it should be the correct colors. The primer coat illustrates well that this is meant to be a darker color, not white.

Broan
Broan on July 10, 2012 at 1:34 pm

I uploaded a few early photographs. You can clearly see at least three shades of gray, and no white whatsoever (comparing to the white of the changeable letters.) So if there’s white, it can’t be the original scheme. It would have been simple to do some sampling and map the colors using these B&W photos, but that opportunity is now gone.

On the exterior, Iannelli did the marquee (just look at the faces) and the art glass window, and likely worked closely with Zook & McCaughey throughout the process. Not sure if he did the starburst fan additions to the marquee.

btkrefft
btkrefft on July 10, 2012 at 12:50 pm

The article does mention returning the marquee “as close as we can” to the original colors of black, white and some red. Was Ianelli responsible for the exterior decor as well? I didn’t know that. I always thought he just did the interior design.

btkrefft
btkrefft on July 10, 2012 at 11:29 am

This article talks about the current restoration of the Pickwick, to be completed by September, and includes a photo of the marquee, which has been stripped of several layers of paint.

rivest266
rivest266 on June 23, 2012 at 3:16 pm

Grand opening ad posted in the photo section for this theatre.

Broan
Broan on May 4, 2012 at 7:15 am

The Pickwick is about 1/3 of the way through replacing the seats in the main auditorium with high-back, vinyl, rocker chairs. It’s… different.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini on January 29, 2012 at 6:22 am

I went here last night with my wife to see “The Descendants” in the main theater.

While it is a treasure, the place needs some work. Some of the tiles on the stairway leading to the men’s room are loose. I’d like to see the old water fountains restored too. And the men’s room needs some work.

ron1screen
ron1screen on November 28, 2011 at 9:22 pm

Absolutly gorgeous theatre. I do hope that when the owner states that the new screen will be “huge” that he isn’t planning to install it in front of the procienium. But still a treasure to be loved and protected.

btkrefft
btkrefft on August 9, 2011 at 2:39 pm

A 1930 photo of the Pickwick auditorium can be seen here.

Broan
Broan on April 16, 2011 at 1:16 pm

The Pickwick is set for renovations:
View link

I really hope the owner tries to do this with historic accuracy. Iannelli’s work was such a total architecture, and the finishes were a crucial part of the whole. The harmony was a huge part of the power.

I’ve added a number of historic photos to http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/ctid302/

jwballer
jwballer on December 8, 2010 at 8:16 pm

The marquee needs a little renovation

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on July 16, 2010 at 4:29 pm

Very,Very, Nice.

Chuck1231
Chuck1231 on April 20, 2010 at 11:51 am

2010 photos of the Pickwick Theatre.
View link
Close up of the marquee detail.
View link