Apollo Theatre
74 W. Randolph Street,
Chicago,
IL
60601
74 W. Randolph Street,
Chicago,
IL
60601
1 person
favorited this theater
Showing all 17 comments
http://tribune-files.imagefortress.com/attachment1s/209313/medium_wm/AEI-090-CT_F.JPG?1276085002 This appears to be the Apollo in 1929.
Burling & Adler was Dankmar Adler’s firm before teaming with Louis Sullivan. Adler & Sullivan’s Schiller (Garrick) Theatre was adjacent to the Apollo, and the Borden Block, Adler & Sullivan’s first commission, was adjacent to the Schiller.
A 1999 book, “History of the Development of Building Construction in Chicago” by Frank Alfred Randall and John D. Randall says that the New Chicago Theatre was designed by the firm of Burling & Adler.
On August 22, 1934, Balaban & Katz re-opened the theatre as the New Apollo, aka “The House of Quality,” presenting only “First Run Pictures of Character.” According to newspaper advertising, the New Apollo had all the latest and most modern comforts, including a drawing room atmosphere and air-conditioning. The inaugural attraction was the world premiere engagement of Paramount’s spectacular “The Scarlet Empress,” starring Marlene Dietrich with a supporting cast of 10,000, under the direction of Josef von Sternberg.
There was another fire in July 1944:
http://tinyurl.com/5fmgx9
By a movie listing from the Chicago Tribune I have from mid-July of 1936, the Schmeling-Louis fights are by then playing at the neighhborhood houses (for example, the DeLuxe reads “TWO BIG ATTRACTIONS” and in very tiny print, “Henry Fonda-Margaret Sullivan, ‘Moon’s Our Home’” and in far larger print “LOUIS VS SCHMELING FIGHT PICTURES”.) Other neighborhood houses listed playing the fights include (among many, many others) the Mode, Davis, Marquette, Broadway Strand, Portage, and Biltmore Theatres.
Famed “Schmeling-Louis” fight film shown at Apollo—–
NEWS ITEM:
Chicago Daily News, Friday, June 26, 1936, p. 36, c. 1—–
FIGHT FILMS OPEN AT B-K THEATERS
The Joe Louis-Max Schmeling fight pictures, complete from beginning to end have been booked in as extra screen attractions at eight Balaban & Katz theaters starting today. In the loop the pictures will be shown at the Roosevelt and Apollo theaters; west side Marbro; south side, Tivoli and Southtown; north side, Granada, Varsity and Uptown. The pictures showing the knockdown in slow motion, also start at the Regal theater on the south side on Sunday
The Apollo was gutted by fire on June 2, 1949:
Fire Guts Vacant Theater In Chicago
The interior of the vacated Apollo theater at Randolph and Clark Streets in Chicago’s Rialto was destroyed by fire Thursday morning. The fire apparently started in the pit under the stage of the old movie theater and burned up through the roof of the building. The cause of the blaze was not determined immediately. Fire officials did not estimate damages to the structure.
A little off topic here, but like KenC mentioned at the Corner Bakery Cafe, on Randolph, similarly, the “Theatre District” McDonald’s on Randolph and Dearborn Streets (in the first two floors of the landmark Delaware Building, across Dearborn from the Goodman Theatre), there are vintage photos illustrating the walls of various (mostly no-longer existing) movie palaces from the “Randolph Street Rialto”.
In the Corner Bakery Cafe, on Randolph west of Dearborn st., you will find a pretty nice pic of the Apollo theatre(1934). It is located on the west wall of the restaurant. It is showing “JUDGE PRIEST” starring Will Rogers. Many other photos of downtown movie theatres are displayed throughout the place.
By 1945, according to the FDY from that year, the Apollo was seating 1383.
Here is a postcard view of the Greyhound bus terminal that was built on the site of the Apollo and here is a photo of the Chicago Title & Trust Center building that, in turn, replaced the Greyhound terminal.
You’re right. The LOC entry said 119 N Clark, I just must not have paid attention.
Brian, I believe that the 1906 photo is of another Grand Opera House in Chicago, located at Clark and Washington Streets, which was later called Cohan’s Grand Theatre, and later still, the RKO Grand. I think this theater took the Grand Opera House name after the original (on Randolph and Clark Streets) was remodeled as the Olympia Theatre in 1893.
Here is a 1906 photo of the Grand Opera House.
Here is a quite dramatic picture out of a series of five in the Chicago Daily News collection showing the extent of the damage of the 1907 fire.
Here is a 1922 dated photo showing Randolph Street from Clark Street at night. The Olympic (later renamed the Apollo) can be seen to the right of the “Chop Suey” sign. Although not legible, the marquee of the Garrick can be seen to the right of the Olympic.