Capri Cinema
64 E. Van Buren Street,
Chicago,
IL
60605
64 E. Van Buren Street,
Chicago,
IL
60605
1 person
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Would you have a higher res copy of this image? I need an image of Steinway Hall for a doc about the architects in this building and Dwight Perkins. Thank you.
The architect of the Chicago Musical College Building was Dwight H. Perkins, who is mostly known in Chicago for designing Carl Schurz High School, in a blend of Prairie and Chicago style architecture. He designed over 40 other schools for the Chicago Public Schools, including Lane Tech High School. He also later in his career designed Lincoln Park Zoo’s Lion House and Refectory (today’s Cafe Brauer).
Interestring
Some information I gleaned from an April 5, 1970 article in the Chicago Tribune about the theater’s demolition.
The building which the theater was located in was called the Chicago Musical College Building, an 11-story (then) skyscraper that opened in 1896. It contained a theater which upon opening was called the Whitney Opera House, leased to B.C. Whitney. Sophie Tucker and Fatty Arbuckle were among those to appear in stage shows as the Whitney Opera House, a name the theater kept until 1915 when it became the Central Music Hall with a program of Shakespearean offerings. In 1923, it was renamed again, the Central Theatre, with later variations over the next seven years depending on who was operating the legit house (Minturn’s Central, Barrett’s Central, Shubert’s Central). In 1930, for the first time, it became a movie house, as the Punch and Judy, but within a year or so was back to the Central Theatre name with live theater until 1934 when it became the Sonotone (a movie house once more). Later it was renamed more, the Studio, the Ziegfeld, and finally the Capri.
From Boxoffice magazine, January 1940:
CHICAGO-The newest Yiddish production of G.L. Motion Picture Corp., “Overture to Glory”, starring Moishe Oysher, is having its world premiere at the Sonotone. Irving Franklin is handling the picture in the Chicago territory.
As the Studio, this claimed to be “America’s Amazing Movie Theater.” The following 1943 ad shows why: www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/chistudio.jpg
Dear KenC and all,
Thanks for the interesting information. By the way, I’ve been corrected: it was not in the lobby but on the Mezzanine in the Sonotone where the Soviet constitution and possibly other brochures were sold.
To EMueller: you’re right, the Sonotone theatre did screen at least a few Soviet films in the late 30s. From the Chicago Tribune movie directory on Sunday, July 3,1938: SONOTONE “It’s Always Cool and Comfortable” 66 E. VAN BUREN .35 to 2 p.m.—–.40 to 5:30 The Furiously Exciting Soviet Naval Drama “MEN OF THE SEA” Made with the Cooperation of the Soviet Navy and the Men of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet. And… from the Chicago Tribune movie listings on Saturday April 1, 1939: SONOTONE Late Feature at 11:15 P.M. Starts Today SERGEI EISENSTEIN’S Supreme Film Achievement “ALEXANDER NEVSKY”. Also, at the Princess (another downtown theatre) one could have seen “FRONTIER” another Soviet film, on Friday June 12, 1936.
Although this was before my time, I understand that the Sonotone theater back in the 1935-1940 period specialized in Soviet films or at least it screened a number of them. That was the period of the coming of World War II when the Soviets were also anti-Hitler, so showing Soviet films didn’t black-list you then. I’ve heard you could even buy copies of the Soviet constitution in the lobby. But it sounds like that all changed in 1940. If anybody has information on the politics of the theater back then, I’d be interested.
Here is one more name for this theatre- after it was called the Studio, and before it was named the Capri cinema, it was the ZIEGFELD. It played some “ADULTS ONLY” films under this name in the mid 50s.
I noticed in the movie listings for the day I was born (6/25/69) in the Chicago Tribune that the Capri is playing “The Ecstasies of Women” (‘Plus NEW 2nd ADULT feature!’). Various other theaters in the Loop and downtown are playing adult fare too, according to the listings from that day. The Loop is playing Russ Meyer’s “Vixen” (‘Will Stir Your Emotions, Straddle Your Soul, Jar Your Senses’). The World is playing “The Taming” (‘Dreams of Ecstasy Come True!—A Total Experience!’) and finally at the Town is “Felicia” (with Sandra Sexton appearing live onstage).
The fare being shown in the 1960’s sounds right, as Dowd was good friends with David Friedman, who produced Lucky Pierre, Thar She Blows, and the Ramrodder and who made Nature’s Paradise, Nature’s Playmates, and the Goldilocks films for Dowd (on-hire). Reportably, Lucky Pierre played here for well over a year and this film helped turn the fortunes of the Capri around(and also led to Friedman making some films for Dowd as well).
The Capri was one of a number of “Adults Only” theatres in downtown Chicago. Throughout the 1960s, it was famous for showing nudist camp films…“NATURE’S PARADISE”, “NATURE"S PLAYMATES”, “ADVENTURES OF LUCKY PIERRE”, and dozens of others. By the late 60’s, it was showing much rougher stuff…for example, “THAR SHE BLOWS”, “THE RAMRODDER”, and two obscure films by director Andy Milligan, “THE FILTHY FIVE” and “TRICKS OF THE TRADE”. I recall the theatre being very small. The area I sat in seemed like a large living room-comfortable, but not too many seats. There was no marquee outside , just a sign stating CAPRI CINEMA. Features ran from about 10 a.m. to midnight. Admission was $1.80 for a double feature. I remember the ticket taker/concession stand guy stating the price was to keep out the riff raff!!
Tom Dowd operated this theater in the 1960’s and he also was involved in producing “nudie cutie” films that would run at this theater. One of those films was a nudie musical version of Goldilocks & the 3 Bears, which is out on DVD.