Ridge Theatre

When first announced, December 21, 1923, the facade was nearly identical to the original ‘Alamo’ mission one at the York, which was built around the same time by the same architect and client. This must have been changed during construction. Grand opening was November 15, 1924. The interior was of “French design”, with interior decorating carried out by John Paulding of Park Ridge, who hired McPherson Decorating Company of Evanston. It was topped by a large silver-leafed dome with recessed three-color lighting. It also had a Gottfried organ.

Address was 203 Vine. The theatre was closed in about 1936 after being run for a few years by the H&E Balaban Chain, which acquired it at about the same time as the Pickwick in 1933. In January 1955 the theatre briefly reopened as an arthouse called the Park Avenue Cinema but this venture lasted only a few months, undoubtedly partially due to the fact that its rear wall was to the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. In November 1956 it was converted to the Michael Kirby Ice Skating School, remaining open until 1973. The conversion wsa carried out by busting a 10 foot hole in the side of the auditorium, pumping in sand to fill in the slope, and installing refrigeration equipment on the stage. The Ridge Square Condominiums rose on the site in 1983. Parts of its polychrome Terra Cotta facade are still around.