Normal Theatre
452 W. 119th Street,
Chicago,
IL
60628
452 W. 119th Street,
Chicago,
IL
60628
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Either the Normal Theatre had an AKA- of Sheldon, or the exterior design came from the exact same architectural design catalog, http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3b38426/
… And a 1909 entrance view http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3b38424/
From Library of Congress comes this auditorium view of the Normal Theatre. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/det.4a26676/
Listed at 456 W. 119 in the 1954 yellow pages. Phone number was COmodor 4-9132.
ROSELAND PEOPLE:
ARE YOU AWARE OF THESE ROSELAND MESSAGE BOARD LINKS?
http://www.gromak.com/phpBB2/index.php
http://www.chicagosnapshot.com/board/index.php?
MIKE C.
Natalie,
I took a picture of the Normal back around 1990…it was in bad condition and Fort Apache, the Bronx was still on the marquee. Great neighborhood theater and wonderful memories
Doug
Yes the last movie listed on the Normal marquee was Fort Apache, the Bronx, prior to it being torn down. The last movies I saw there were:
Cornbread, Earl & Me
It’s Alive and Adios Amigos (a double feature).
I also seem to remember seeing The Omen there. I remember the theater being a nice alternative to going downtown.
The Normal was a nice neighborhood theater and I remember standing in line for about an hour to see Song of the South. Funny, that film has been withdrawn by Disney as racial. I thought it was a beautiful story, maybe I’m missing something. I took a picture of the Normal in 1990, it was closed and in very bad condition. Brought tears to my eyes. The Normal, Roseland, State, Parkway, Ridge and Verdi were the theaters I grew up with and still remember the first film I ever saw in 1942 at the Roseland…Boots & Saddles starring Gene Autry.
Doug Bruton Denison, Tx
I took a photo of the Normal in the 1980’s and it has the same title on the Marquee..Fort Apache, the Bronx. Don’t know hyow to post the photo..
Doug Bruton
The 1945 Film Daily Yearbook shows the Normal as seating 750.
Photographed it in the late 80’s. Last movie still on the marquee. Think it was Fort Apache: the Bonx. But don’t quote me. Wasn’t very big. Maybe 800 seats. Photos I took now are part of the THS archive.
I lived at 23 East 118th Street, just a few blocks from the Normal Theater. At one time I lived even closer on Perry Ave, across the street from Scanlan School. I recall attending the Normal Theater several times, although my favorite movie house was the Roseland Theater on Michigan Ave. I do remember watching a first run viewing of Disney’s Song of the South at the Normal. I moved from Chicago to Texas in 1945 and didn’t return until the 1970’s…what a sad experience. I went by all of the old movie house locations, including the Normal and found them either closed or torn down. The Normal was still there although it was closed. I have a photo from that trip and I will attempt to put it on this site soon.
Doug Bruton Denison, Texas
The vacant lot that was once the Normal Theatre can be viewed at this webpage.
Another theater in Roseland area (West Pullman) which hs sucumbed to the terrible blight of a ghetto. I lived on 116th and Wallace for many year )1950 until joining the Navy in 1956) and attended this theater on a few occasions. It was a great little neighborhood movie house