Harper Theater
5238 S. Harper Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60615
5238 S. Harper Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60615
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More on the reopening this week of the Harper Theater in this story in Crain’s Chicago Business.
Their website says they are opening on Friday. Here’s the link: http://www.harpertheater.com
Just drove past today. The markee is up and it is being called the Harper theater. On the digital sign it said opening this Friday. I haven’t seen any info in the paper or online about if it. Is true or not. Bout time it opened back up.
This article in the Chicago Maroon states that the theater will reopen in mid-December, and that it will be showing a mix of first-run films and independent features. The building has been owned by the University of Chicago for ten years, but will be operated by the New 400 Theaters (which currently runs the New 400 Theater in Rogers Park).
As seen from my commuter train the Hyde Park Theatres (never visited it as I’m a suburbanite) is covered with scaffolding. As it is in an area of demolition/redevelopment, is the theatre going to be renovated, or demolished? For those of you who live, or have lived, in Hyde Park or Kenwood, here’s a link to the redevelopment going on. http://www.hydepark.org/historicpres/theater.htm
http://www.archpaper.com/uploads/breaking_ground_10.jpg Rendering
The status should be renovating. The attached building has been fully restored on the exterior and looks great. The 53rd street entrance to the theatre has been re-created beautifully, and the adjacent lobby seems to have been rediscovered. The blue and gold terra cotta on Harper Court is being destroyed, unfortunately. Assuming the exterior is done as well as the attached building, this will be gorgeous when complete.
They do have their permits now. Status should be updated assuming they’ve started actual work.
Status should be renovating !
They seem to be having trouble getting a permit. They passed review for Ventilation and Refrigeration but were denied Architectural & Fire, Disabilities, Structural, Fire Prevention, Environmental, Electrical, and Plumbing. Not sure how to interpret these. The reviews were completed in early August.
Status should be renovating !
http://news.uchicago.edu/news.php?asset_id=2266 Apparently it will reopen?
Has anything happened to this theater?
Here’s one of my pictures of the Hyde Park/Harper from a few weeks ago (notice that scaffolding has been put up):
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Also listed today as one of Preservation Chicago’s Seven Most Endangered
The Harper Theater is on Landmarks Illinois' 2008-2009 watch list of endangered properties.
Related story and photo in the Chicago Tribune
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After all that, the redevelopment proposal is dead (for now).
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I believe so, but I can’t be sure.
Was this the last Meridian Theatre to close?
Here are photos of this theatre.
Ad in the Chicago Tribune, Saturday, May 3, 1930, announced: New Harper, 53rd and Harper, Grand Opening Today, Western Electric Sound, Entirely redecorated; Jack Mulhall, Sue Carol in “Her Golden Calf.”
Cinemark Fan,
I was never inside, but I know that it retained its MERIDIAN THEATRES logo on the marquee for quite awhile after it closed and it was the last Meridian to do so.
They have been talking about this for a long time. It would not surprise me if nothing came to pass.
Oh well, I kinda knew that would be the outcome. Let me check out that city owned parking lot on 53rd & Lake Park, they said that could be ripe for a theater someday.
Anyway, what can anyone tell me about this soon-to be torn down theater? What was the lobby, layout, colors, screens and stuff like?