Claremont Theatre
3228 N. Clark Street,
Chicago,
IL
60657
3228 N. Clark Street,
Chicago,
IL
60657
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Open till 1945.
A Robert-Morton Theater Pipe Organ, 2 Manual/3 Rank (Keyboarb/Sets of Pipes) Style 49, was shipped to the theater in 1924. Does anyone know what happened to the organ?
Robert Morton Organ Company was located in Van Nuys, California. “Robert Morton” wasn’t a person, rather the first names of a major stockholder’s sons. It was the number two volume producer of theater pipe organs, building approximately half as many as the industry leader WurliTzer.
This was a Guitar Center for many years, well into the 90’s if not the 2000’s. You walked in on the lobby level, where there didn’t seem to be much visible ornament. Then you went down a short stairway to the main showroom. This was in the former auditorium, and the ceiling and sidewall decoration was still very visible. I don’t remember seeing the arch or organ screens, and as I recall the management offices were in that part of the building.
The interior is very intact. Amazing architecture. I went in there about a month ago and everything was in there execpt for a few things. The store is huge + the theatre! The store not only takes this big theatre up but 5 other buildings!
Here’s one of my pictures of the Claremont (The Alley) from May 23, 2008:
View link
Here is a 1982 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/dkbzte
I believe you are correct. The Alley actually sells smaller versions of griffins, gargoyles & columns.
They just lucked out that the building’s terra cotta kind of matched their wares.
Don’t believe those are original.
Here are some additional photos. That’s a griffin on the roof.
http://tinyurl.com/dcmvco
Julian
There was also some type of theatre building just a bit further West on Belmont on the North Side of the street. Not as far West at Clarke’s Diner.
It was torn down about 3 years ago, after standing vacant for a while. Haven’t figured out what it was called yet.
Here’s an answer that’s a little late. Yes, that location was the Guitar Center before The Alley.
The Alley was previously accessed off of what else, the alley on Belmont. West of the Dunkin Donuts parking lot.
Which I’m told you should never park in, even when you are GOING to Dunkin Donuts.
A friend of mine bought his used 12 string bass at that Guitar Center.
I think it was bi-level then, not sure about now.
Wow, thanks for the pics, BWChicago. Wasn’t that building the location of Guitar Center in the 80s?
Here are my photos of this theater.
Brian, it’s still shown as being open in the 1945 Film Daily Yearbook and called another variation on the spelling, the Clarmont.
The theatre seems to have been known as the Clermont for most of its life, although a few early ads refer to it as Clearmont. The Claremont name only appears once. It seems to disappear from listings around 1927, and was a cabinet shop by the fifties.
I’d always wondered that too, and when I decided to track it down today, I realized that this must have been it. I had a friend who had worked at the alley, but he was unable to find out if it had been one either. Today I decided to track it down, and I had the most difficult time figuring it out once I realized the address was incorrect, until I realized ‘Claremont’ was a contraction, so I figured it must be in very close proximity, and the Alley certainly fits the image of a 1913, 624 seat house to a T. Thank you for finding that Granada link too- very interesting.
Here is a photo of the exterior of the Alley.
Brian, I’ve been by here umpteen times (never have gone in yet) and sort of wondered if it might’ve been a theater at one time, from that great terra-cotta facade. I’ll have to check it out inside next time I’m in Lake View.
I believe the correct address for the Claremont, named for its proximity to the intersection of Clark and Belmont to be 3228 N. Clark street (a block down from the Buckingham. This is now home to the famed Alley alternative shopping complex. The facade is still very attractive and the ornate ceiling grilles inside are still intact.