Powell Hall is undergoing a major renovation. The seating capacity is being reduced a little while new buildings are going up on either side of the historic theatre. My understanding is that it will be done next year.
I was stuck in traffic heading out of St. Louis on I-55 yesterday. I looked to my right and there was the Majestic Theatre, still sitting there. It’s now been in a state of decay much longer than it was open. Pretty wild.
Stopped at the Noodles & Company next to this theatre yesterday and saw a retail space for lease sign in the window. My sense is there is not much interest in reopening the space as a cinema.
Upon further examination this web site seems more significant than I originally thought. It was put up by the Louis Grell Foundation. Apparently Grell did the murals in many movie theaters of the time, as well as other public buildings. Here’s a link to the home page:
There are a couple of demolition photos, and my comment from some years ago is shown to be true. The building was demolished with its grand light fixtures still in place.
At the time 50’s modern style was the thing of the moment. Maybe those chandeliers were thought to be tacky leftovers from the Roaring Twenties.
A couple decades later they would have been considered quite valuable.
My school rented this place for a dance concert back in the 90’s. At the time Columbia College was running the space. The auditorium seemed to be untouched, although all painted black. They removed some seats and built the stage out into the seating area. There may have been one of those old shadow box stage spaces in back as well, but I’m not sure. My assumption is this new renovation will do something similar.
This is the nicest photo I’ve ever seen of the Loews State marquee in operation. A shame those people are in the way. I get the feeling you spent a lot of time optimizing this.
Last time I drove by, and I don’t remember when that was, the first floor was being used by an Oriental Rug business. It was some kind of storage/pickup/wholesale facility for a nearby show room.
This is a photo of the first terminal Theater, which was across the street to the west. It continued to operate after the new Terminal was built under a different name, which I believe was Metro.
I remember Joe Ducibella telling me that both Tiffin Theater buildings were demolished at the same time, after the 1920’s Tiffin closed. I’d call that a reliable source. So it’s likely this one served several different purposes over the decades.
Was over that way a few months back. Didn’t seem like much was happening. But the proprietor of the restaurant on the corner said they’ve been working on it.
Jesus. Only open sixteen years? Doesn’t seem like much for such a large capital investment. But then again Golf Mill looked like it was on life support last time I was through there.
This should say, “found in the rubble during demolition.” It was found below the remains of the right organ grill on the auditorium floor during demolition. Currently in storage. The goddess image is easily identifiable in photos of the theater while operating,
I haven’t been down 79th Street east of the Dan Ryan in about two years. But at that time it was pretty rough. Boarded up buildings, vacant lots, a bunch of police tape from some large recent crime, two menacing guys sitting inside a car parked in a vacant lot doing God knows what.
This is an incredible building in decent shape. But I suspect there are many challenges involved in bringing it back to life.
Powell Hall is undergoing a major renovation. The seating capacity is being reduced a little while new buildings are going up on either side of the historic theatre. My understanding is that it will be done next year.
I was stuck in traffic heading out of St. Louis on I-55 yesterday. I looked to my right and there was the Majestic Theatre, still sitting there. It’s now been in a state of decay much longer than it was open. Pretty wild.
Somebody on Flickr posted a series of recent interior shots. Here’s one of them:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/25165196@N08/53340880981/in/dateposted/
Stopped at the Noodles & Company next to this theatre yesterday and saw a retail space for lease sign in the window. My sense is there is not much interest in reopening the space as a cinema.
It seems odd that the Copernicus Foundation is running it. I would’ve thought the 2,000 seat Gateway Theater would be enough for their needs.
Upon further examination this web site seems more significant than I originally thought. It was put up by the Louis Grell Foundation. Apparently Grell did the murals in many movie theaters of the time, as well as other public buildings. Here’s a link to the home page:
https://louisgrell.com/
Here’s a fantastic photo gallery of the Norshore:
https://louisgrell.com/artworks/norshore-theatre/
There are a couple of demolition photos, and my comment from some years ago is shown to be true. The building was demolished with its grand light fixtures still in place.
At the time 50’s modern style was the thing of the moment. Maybe those chandeliers were thought to be tacky leftovers from the Roaring Twenties.
A couple decades later they would have been considered quite valuable.
Building now has scaffolding around it.
My school rented this place for a dance concert back in the 90’s. At the time Columbia College was running the space. The auditorium seemed to be untouched, although all painted black. They removed some seats and built the stage out into the seating area. There may have been one of those old shadow box stage spaces in back as well, but I’m not sure. My assumption is this new renovation will do something similar.
This is the nicest photo I’ve ever seen of the Loews State marquee in operation. A shame those people are in the way. I get the feeling you spent a lot of time optimizing this.
Last time I drove by, and I don’t remember when that was, the first floor was being used by an Oriental Rug business. It was some kind of storage/pickup/wholesale facility for a nearby show room.
This is a photo of the first terminal Theater, which was across the street to the west. It continued to operate after the new Terminal was built under a different name, which I believe was Metro.
I remember Joe Ducibella telling me that both Tiffin Theater buildings were demolished at the same time, after the 1920’s Tiffin closed. I’d call that a reliable source. So it’s likely this one served several different purposes over the decades.
The old Oak Theater site is being redeveloped again.
Was over that way a few months back. Didn’t seem like much was happening. But the proprietor of the restaurant on the corner said they’ve been working on it.
Was over that way the other day. Didn’t seem like there was any activity.
Jesus. Only open sixteen years? Doesn’t seem like much for such a large capital investment. But then again Golf Mill looked like it was on life support last time I was through there.
My memory of the Logan pre-fourplex is that it was all on one floor, no balcony. I think the description is incorrect.
This should say, “found in the rubble during demolition.” It was found below the remains of the right organ grill on the auditorium floor during demolition. Currently in storage. The goddess image is easily identifiable in photos of the theater while operating,
This is the State Theater that stood on the south side.
Beautiful house. Every time I think I know every theater in the U.S. a new one comes to my attention.
Monogrammed seats? Wow. They really went all in.
Click here for an architectural review of the building’s retail conversion.
1976 exterior photos:
https://calumet412.com/post/46592584765/granada-theater-marquee-sheridan-and-devon-1976
I haven’t been down 79th Street east of the Dan Ryan in about two years. But at that time it was pretty rough. Boarded up buildings, vacant lots, a bunch of police tape from some large recent crime, two menacing guys sitting inside a car parked in a vacant lot doing God knows what.
This is an incredible building in decent shape. But I suspect there are many challenges involved in bringing it back to life.