Woods Theater
54 W. Randolph Street,
Chicago,
IL
60601
54 W. Randolph Street,
Chicago,
IL
60601
19 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 112 comments found
http://youtu.be/DzdnTOgi2-4
Two photos of the 1946 Midwest Premiere of “The Best Years of Our Lives” can be viewed here: Boxoffice
Otto Preminger’s controversial “The Moon Is Blue” played its world premiere engagement here: boxoffice
The Woods Theatre was featured in this 1945 trade ad by Wagner Sign Service: boxofficemagazine
Cool. It appears to Roland Burris & Ald. Fred Roti (gray trench coat)standing to the left in the photo.
A 1985 photo of the start of a Columbus Day parade shows both the Woods and the United Artists Theatres in the background.
Yes. The facade of the Oliver Typewriter Building still stands, but the windows are blacked out as it is now the back wall of the restored Oriental’s stage. Restoration wasn’t viable unless the stage could be enlarged to accomodate the big touring Broadway productions.
Here is a 1987 view of Dearborn Street near Randolph Street. The Centennial Restaurant was located in the Oliver Building (which was completely gutted when the Oriental Theater was restored in the 90s for additional stage space).
Can anyone tell me if they remember a restaurant called the Centennial Restaurant near the Woods Theater? I used to eat there as a kid, and for the life of me I can’t find a single reference to it anywhere. I’m pretty sure it was on Dearborn near the Woods, because I remember eating at the Centennial and looking down the street to see a sign for the movie Penitentiary II (with Mr. T) playing there.I can’t recall if this restaurant was near the Woods or the McVicker, but it was near whichever theater played Penitentiary II. Anyone?
Here is a 1965 view of the Woods advertising the Beatles' “Help!”
Here is a 1964 view
I don’t know that I’ve seen a good view of the whole building before.
A 1974 photo of the Woods can be seen here.
WOW what a great page.Lots of photos and history,I do not know how I have missed this one till now.
In one place on IMDB it has the release date as January 1962, but if you click the link it has a list including December 20, 1961, Chicago, Illinois. So The Happy Thieves may have been a world premiere engagement at the Woods.
Looking closely at the marquee of The Woods, it looks like the theatre was playing THE HAPPY THEIVES with Rita Hayworth and Rex Harrison. IMDB shows a release date of this of December, 1961.
Sure are some BIG cars parked on that street!
Here’s an unusual view of Randolph Street from Clark Street with the marquees of the United Artists and Woods Theaters in the background.
View link A nice view of the dearborn facade
I would love to see the interior of this theater.
That double feature Rich speaks of could have been at the UA Marina Cinemas. They often played double features during their brief 7 year existence. But Tim is correct there is NO WAY that was at the Woods or any other Loop palace. Please see the booking history from the mid 60’s to 1980 for further confirmation.
Rich, I think you saw this double feature somewhere else. Believe me……The Woods Theatre NEVER showed an Ingmar Bergman movie in the 1970s. Maybe you saw this double bill at the Esquire or Playboy, but at the Woods………….no way.
I saw the one of the oddest double-bills ever at the Woods: CRIES & WHISPERS and THE LAST DETAIL. Both terrific films, but the audience was there for THE LAST DETAIL.
Guess which film was shown first.
A picture of the theater in 1964 taken from under the marquee of the United Artists diagonally opposite: View link It is interesting, after looking at all the photos that have been posted, how many stores and restaurants occupied that corner space.
Hi!
I’m a film historian working on a book on movie theaters in the Chicago Loop in the 1970’s. I would love to interview individuals who attended the Woods Theater at that time. To reach me, email me at
thanks,
By the way, the film on the Woods marquee in “Mickey One” was “The Cardinal”. Which is the first film on JRS40’s 05/04/07 list of movies.
“Mickey One” itself would later play at the Woods as well when it was first released. Starting 10/27/65, according to the same list above.
Another notable Chicago site in the film was the old Gate Of Horn nightclub on the S/E corner Dearborn & Chicago Ave. Which doubled as a place called Xanadu in the film.
A club where Lenny Bruce had played and I believe was later arrested in.