I believe I read somewhere where the opera company was thinking of taking over the Roxy or the Capitol theatres as their home…But as we all know it was ruled out and we have Lincoln Center today.
Has anyone seen any activity or beginning of an activity at the Loew’s Kings…In a few months it will be 2013. Surely something should have been started if they insist on a 2015 opening whouldn’t you think??
I was at the LOEWS STATE 4 in the basement once. The screen went dark hafway through the picture and NOBODY had a clue what to do. Did not see any usher and the girl in box office was busy chewing gum and gave us a refund and said very little. This was before IPADS for she would have been on that too.
I didn’t care what the audience did or did not do. There is nothing like seeing a major motion picture in a major movie palace. A first-run movie at Radio City Music Hall with a stage show/organ and all the hoopla can never be equaled, ever……
You always send the most interesting items..Thanks.
Just before being sold, Loews always ran an ad in the NYTimes telling the features playing in their theaters.
A nice view of the Paramount’s flashing marquee in color in the movie “Stage Struck”. 1958 directed by Sidney Lumet starring Susan Strasberg. Just screened at Portage Theater in Chicago.
Great photo btkrefft….I went there many saturdays in the 50’s as we were “dropped off” as parents visited relatives who lived 2 blocks away. It is sad how so many great neighborhoods have changed for the worse in Chicago.
I surely hope the former Norridge patrons will discover the Patio. A real deal and not sky high prices for popcorn & drinks and a beautiful screen!! The attraction board is blank today at the Norridge and the Loews Theaters sign is removed.
I too am surprised AMC didn’t wait until September to shut it down especially since “Batman” opens Thursday pm. One of the sites are stll giving “BATMAN” showtimes for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Is it possible they will only show one movie this week-end?
Wouldn’t you think that would have been done during the first year of operation? At least not the bank but maybe the church, somewhere. Parking is a must in todays movie business. No parking=loss of future patrons. Portage has a deal with Sears big lot. Who wants to pay for Chicago’s high street parking fees. Outrage and insane idea…
Didn’t know about the Norridge closing. It was opened last week. Is this for sure? If only the Patio had parking. I find it hard to believe the Loews Norridge patrons would travel down the street to a second-run house and not to a nearby multi screen house. I think the Pickwick would benefit because they show first-run and have parking aplenty!
Tinseltoes, As I said before, this is one great publication you found. Enjoyed reading. Didn’t realize the Roxy continued to put on complete stage shows in the last year of its life.
btkrefft, I don’t remember the Gateway having a vertical sign. The Portage of course did and quite high and I don’t know what year in came down. I was impressed by the Patio’s picture you posted. I always thought a vertical with chasing lights was the icing on the cake for a movie palace..
That is excatly what they did to show GWTW in wide-screen. Also was a little choppy if I recall. Ted Turner really restored it beautifully in the 1990’s with the orginal 4:3 ratio and gorgous restored color.
This is such a great publication and I enjoy reading it Tinseltoes. I would have loved to have walked on Broadway in 1954 and trying to decide what movie palace to visit with stage show added attraction. I probably would have chosen “Gone With The Wind” at the Loews State and I would have been among the thousands…
No wonder the loews men were smiling. All this money without having to pay for a stage show and musicans and all the unions they had to deal with on a weekly basis. Just a few cashiers, ushers, and an organist or two and we are good to go!!! Probably the beginning of the end for the stage show. Radio City continued to the 1970’s.
What a beauty!!! Would love to see a color photo at night. I too loved living in the area. So exciting. I read that the Marbro had colored bulbs on the top of the marquee (ala Chicago Theatre) when it was first installed, but were changed to all white in the 1950’s due to expenses. Yet this photo in 1943 looks like they were all white. I remember them white and flashing in 1955. How about you amoswald? Thanks Tinseltoes for posting.
Thanks rivest266 for the photos plus all the rest you have presented. Enjoyed them all. I still say it was hard to understand the MARBRO closing and the demolition following and the Senate still showing pictures. Madison & Crawford area wasn’t that bad yet.
The Paradise was the talk of the town that week. My family were there and acccording to them they were speechless as they left with all the beauty aplenty..
I believe I read somewhere where the opera company was thinking of taking over the Roxy or the Capitol theatres as their home…But as we all know it was ruled out and we have Lincoln Center today.
Has anyone seen any activity or beginning of an activity at the Loew’s Kings…In a few months it will be 2013. Surely something should have been started if they insist on a 2015 opening whouldn’t you think??
I was at the LOEWS STATE 4 in the basement once. The screen went dark hafway through the picture and NOBODY had a clue what to do. Did not see any usher and the girl in box office was busy chewing gum and gave us a refund and said very little. This was before IPADS for she would have been on that too.
I didn’t care what the audience did or did not do. There is nothing like seeing a major motion picture in a major movie palace. A first-run movie at Radio City Music Hall with a stage show/organ and all the hoopla can never be equaled, ever……
You always send the most interesting items..Thanks. Just before being sold, Loews always ran an ad in the NYTimes telling the features playing in their theaters.
A nice view of the Paramount’s flashing marquee in color in the movie “Stage Struck”. 1958 directed by Sidney Lumet starring Susan Strasberg. Just screened at Portage Theater in Chicago.
Great photo btkrefft….I went there many saturdays in the 50’s as we were “dropped off” as parents visited relatives who lived 2 blocks away. It is sad how so many great neighborhoods have changed for the worse in Chicago.
I will answer my own question. 4 days after closing for good, the attraction board is blank and the LOEWS THEATERS sign is removed. Gone forever..
I surely hope the former Norridge patrons will discover the Patio. A real deal and not sky high prices for popcorn & drinks and a beautiful screen!! The attraction board is blank today at the Norridge and the Loews Theaters sign is removed.
Thanks Tinseltoes for your article on Cinemascope one year old and your terrific magazine as always.
I too am surprised AMC didn’t wait until September to shut it down especially since “Batman” opens Thursday pm. One of the sites are stll giving “BATMAN” showtimes for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Is it possible they will only show one movie this week-end?
Wouldn’t you think that would have been done during the first year of operation? At least not the bank but maybe the church, somewhere. Parking is a must in todays movie business. No parking=loss of future patrons. Portage has a deal with Sears big lot. Who wants to pay for Chicago’s high street parking fees. Outrage and insane idea…
Didn’t know about the Norridge closing. It was opened last week. Is this for sure? If only the Patio had parking. I find it hard to believe the Loews Norridge patrons would travel down the street to a second-run house and not to a nearby multi screen house. I think the Pickwick would benefit because they show first-run and have parking aplenty!
That explains it. What was the Cinemiracle fiasco? Sorta Todd-Ao like?
Tinseltoes, As I said before, this is one great publication you found. Enjoyed reading. Didn’t realize the Roxy continued to put on complete stage shows in the last year of its life.
btkrefft, I don’t remember the Gateway having a vertical sign. The Portage of course did and quite high and I don’t know what year in came down. I was impressed by the Patio’s picture you posted. I always thought a vertical with chasing lights was the icing on the cake for a movie palace..
Great picture of the vertical. I wonder why it was removed? Nice to see trolley buses too. No polution and cheap to operate I imagine.
That is excatly what they did to show GWTW in wide-screen. Also was a little choppy if I recall. Ted Turner really restored it beautifully in the 1990’s with the orginal 4:3 ratio and gorgous restored color.
This is such a great publication and I enjoy reading it Tinseltoes. I would have loved to have walked on Broadway in 1954 and trying to decide what movie palace to visit with stage show added attraction. I probably would have chosen “Gone With The Wind” at the Loews State and I would have been among the thousands…
No wonder the loews men were smiling. All this money without having to pay for a stage show and musicans and all the unions they had to deal with on a weekly basis. Just a few cashiers, ushers, and an organist or two and we are good to go!!! Probably the beginning of the end for the stage show. Radio City continued to the 1970’s.
What a great photo Tinseltoes. That is some magazine you discovered..Even an empty theater such as this Capitol has magic !!
Good news indeed!!!!!
What a beauty!!! Would love to see a color photo at night. I too loved living in the area. So exciting. I read that the Marbro had colored bulbs on the top of the marquee (ala Chicago Theatre) when it was first installed, but were changed to all white in the 1950’s due to expenses. Yet this photo in 1943 looks like they were all white. I remember them white and flashing in 1955. How about you amoswald? Thanks Tinseltoes for posting.
Thanks rivest266 for the photos plus all the rest you have presented. Enjoyed them all. I still say it was hard to understand the MARBRO closing and the demolition following and the Senate still showing pictures. Madison & Crawford area wasn’t that bad yet.
The Paradise was the talk of the town that week. My family were there and acccording to them they were speechless as they left with all the beauty aplenty..