James M. Nederlander Theatre
24 W. Randolph Street,
Chicago,
IL
60601
24 W. Randolph Street,
Chicago,
IL
60601
42 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 205 comments
Oriental marquee near head end, shot between 03/19/70-04/23/70.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41GPxxC0Mq0
The last movie screened here as a movie theatre was “The Female Bunch”.
July 27, 1968 photo credit David Wilson via Flickr. On the marquee in the background is “5 Card Stud” which held it’s World Premiere at the Oriental Theatre on July 10, 1968. Enlargeable version below.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/32693718@N07/5857747381
Full width 8/31/66-9/22/66 photo credit Zeus Of Hollywood via Flickr.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/zeusofhollywood/3375169478?fbclid=IwAR3Uf9dwCjyg0kxhLk7zdJ9gOVXVWjIPPxAMLnziTE_qTYP1kFfxQI5H9Dc
Additional photo, 5/12/67-6/15/67 photo credit ZeusMeister, Zeus of Hollywood.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/zeusofhollywood/3375156744/in/photostream/
5/12/67-6/15/67 photo credit ZeusMeister, Zeus of Hollywood.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/zeusofhollywood/3375157316/in/photostream/
I thought this was in the gallery but it wasn’t. 1/17/64-2/20/64 photo credit Jeanette Williams via Flickr link below.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jarchie/3553050290/in/album-72157618596556846/
This reopened by Jones, Linick & Schaefer on November 18th, 1938 with “World’s lowest prices”. Grand opening ad posted.
YouTube link with November-December 1978 footage of the Oriental & United Artists beginning at the 2:46 mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrNmKfhTPhY&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR12qM12hfzp99fRKy7NgngEwZ7QgmW266XP04zQPkqyBchzzuTQZWrhnxo
Another 9/30/77-10/06/77 Saul Smaizys photo.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ceebop/24204725545/in/album-72157662523920010/
9/30/77-10/06/77 Saul Smaizys photo.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ceebop/23909140160/in/album-72157662523920010/
3/28/75-4/10/75 Saul Smaizys photo. Will enlarge.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ceebop/24161857161/in/album-72157662523920010/
02/06/76-02/19/76 Saul Smaizys photo in Flickr link below. Image will enlarge.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ceebop/24183655681/in/album-72157662523920010/
Saul Smaizys 01/23/76-02/05/76 photo via Flickr. Image will enlarge in link.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ceebop/24244407425/in/album-72157662523920010/
The change is complete. Sun-Times link with photos of officially lit.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/?fbclid=IwAR3O0CKe4-_uoQ1aRC4c8S2f2hEAILVfQn4FsOxm5f4B2Pg6BAoJeJdkfZ0&p=1700766&post_type=cst_article
3 photos added of the name being changed.
Former Masonic meeting hall on the 14th floor being converted into Teatro ZinZanni circus and dinner cabaret.
https://www.wbez.org/shows/morning-shift/whats-that-building-oriental-theatre-is-dead-long-live-the-nederlander/00e2aed4-91cf-4885-b4e9-e21694a53b71?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Web-Share&fbclid=IwAR3jSwKpHvyU1jcSyktI4hyz6R377oF6E1KG0mjtNSyx1Oq3MwZLtSriVJo
I am a direct relative of the Rapps. They had no intention of being racist when naming the theater. They named it Oriental because of the decor. They respected very much the sources in the east they tapped to make the design a success. People in the United States at that time had not seen anything like that, and it was exciting for them. Getting people excited to go to the show was the whole point at that time.
I know plenty of Asian people in Chicago and nobody has ever expressed offense over the name of the Oriental. The Nederlanders simply want to put their name on the theater, and it is pathetic. When an organization wants to get rid of something or someone it is the strategy du jour to cry racism.
Traditions in New York City, like the Empire State and the Chrysler Buiding have been respected. But traditions in Chicago are not. Willis Tower is a big example.
Macy’s also came in her some years ago and erased the legacy of Marshall Fields, and in the end it has not served their purposes terribly well. The whole idea was to save money on marketing various brands. But now the Internet is challenging them, and if they had several generations of old brand loyalty for Fields it might be serving them a lot better than what they are looking at right now.
I can understand the Nederlandars' desire for self-promotion. But I’m not sure their efforts are going to land them any better than Macy’s has.
Eric Mason Ellis
Nederlander has every right to name the theatre after himself, but I don’t see what was inherently wrong with Oriental. There are well-known Chinese and Egyptian theatres in Hollywood.
Link to Norman Rockwell’s 1945 painting “The Clock Mender” at the Chicago History Museum. Has a glimpse of the Oriental blade sign on the right.
http://digitalcollection.chicagohistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16029coll3/id/2832
Now if Cracker Barrel would just change their name.
Thank goodness the “patronizing, objectifying and offensive” name of “Oriental” is being replaced. That has bothered me for decades. I recall that in the early years B&K called it the Oriental because they claimed that going to the theater was like taking a trip to the Orient. How insensitive they were. Really, I don’t care what they call it. I’m just glad it still exists.
Name change coming….
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/ct-ent-oriental-nederlander-change-1114-story.html?fbclid=IwAR2FaAVdxLg0Gd2lZpBXcbc67XB34JNmnl-WKqQ-zpL9v0uLAMl73TM7faM
02/06/76-02/19/76 photo in Flickr link below.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ceebop/27809876491/in/dateposted-public/
5/15/64 -6/04/64 photo added credit Saul Smaizys.