The Patio also looked great Sat night. Another large crowd and the stars were twinkling and the clouds were a drifting. Everybody applauded when the picture was over. The marquee needs some work.
I was in Ny last week and once again we flew over the remains of the Keiths. It looked grim. But I thought of all the beauty inside from all of your pictures just waiting to be brought back to life.
Your dad was correct. Michael Todd had the system. Also correct people were vomiting in the aisles. Being an usher there sure meant being challenged I would say.
I believe this probably is a form of sennsuround that some of the theaters installed back in the 70’s. I saw “Earthquake” at the Nortown Theatre in Chicago back then and they installed big boom boxes at the sides of the theater when the earth moved, so did the theater. Back in the 60’s, In remember the fad of smellavision.
This was installed in a downtown theater and the seats were wired with sensors to release smells when called for in the movie. Must have been a flop because it never went anywhere.
Abe Balaban from the company of Balaban & Katz was asked what he thought movie theaters would be like in the future. He said I believe there will be huge screens and thousands of seats and all the theaters would be connected to a main giant concession booth. And this was during the time they were building their palaces in Chicago! Of course no one could imagine the impact of television on the industry!
Very unfortuante the people I went with told me all about the “relics from the past” and I was very interested seeing them. The restaurant had a sale a few months ago and sold most everything.
They kept the fountain in the lobby from Italy which is beautiful and the dining room from France for private parties which I loved. Everything else was sold. The owners want to appeal to a younger more “hip” crowd I was told. I was sad to see that but the food was outstanding and the young Prom crowd seemed very happy to be there. I thought the downtown looked very sad with all the vacant buildings and “For Sale” or “For Rent” signs. It must have been quite a city in is day. But all the river towns in Ill. have the same fate. It is really no different than Joliet or Aurora. But unlike the other two, they still have three theaters standing even though two are shuttered.. Maybe there will be a boom again in the future and the crowds will once again appear. I was impressed with the Midway. I will have to visit the site.
Scott, I went to Rockford this week-end to see Circus Solei at the Metro Center. The Coronado marquee was all lit up in the afternoon. As we were leaving we passed the still closed TIMES Theatre and I saw the closed Midway. Name still on marquee and the attraction boards covered up. It had a very regal facade. Can you tell me something of the interior? Went thru Love’s Park and we had dinner at the Breakers on the Rock River. It was wonderful. The city looks tragic!
I am afraid we may have to wait. I understand the city is making quite a few demands one being new doors with push bar openers due to the E2 night club diaster in Chicago a few years back. There is also many other problems. I hope they can overcome these. It would be a shame if after all the renovations they are not allowed to open and let us see the beauty again. I am amazed how the city and cook county for that matter has the highest taxes in the country. One only has to pass any gas station in the city to see the high price compared to lake or dupage county. I cannot understand how the residents allow this year after year…..and then there is the conditions of the pavements of the streets.
I do not believe VV was 65 or 70MM. I considered it more a 35mm stretched. I saw many films in VV in the theater presentations in the 50’s and they were never the same size as a cinemascope release!
Thanks for the link Tinseltoes. I remember the incident but forgot the details. I remember the courtroom scene with Lana who was playing “Lana” as if in one of her films.
Thanks so much for the link. Enjoyed reading. I lived around the corner from the B&K Paradise in Chicago. The theater installed a taller screen, not cinemascope size to present VistaVision films I believe in the 1950’s. The Marbro theater around the corner got a huge Cinemascope treatment with “The Robe” and was the talk of the neighborhood. It didn’t make much difference for the Paradise was closed and razed in 1956, much to my distain!
Thanks for the information about VistaVision. I often wonder why in some theaters I would watch “White Christmas” in wide screen and other theaters it seemed smaller. Did it depend if the theater had the right projector? Could it be the same movie was filmed in different formats at the same time?
Scott, if you do come up I’ll meet you there. In person it is very impressive! I have heard from friends they were disappointed with the auditoriums not really looking like a movie palace. I suppose they thought the exterior was so ornate and colorful that the theaters inside would also be. Well there is a little decoration and the seats are plush. All the money was spent on the facade and the signage and the stunning lobby. I remind them this IS 2011! The era of over the top decorations and cupids and floating clouds are all long gone. But this theater gives you the flavor of that time.
Of course I meant “grand” by todays standards. Many of the movie palaces were also made of fake marble and imitation materials that looked real. I give Muvico A+ for trying to give future customers what it was like to attend a Loew’s State, Paramount, Fox or a RKO and many other names that graced our landscape from coast to coast. Someone in that company loves the glory of the movie palaces and I think they should be commended for doing so.
Scott, that is exactly what I meant. I didn’t even think about it until I read it in this post. We will never see the likes or anything comimg close to our Paradise or Marbro. For what I see around the country that are passing for movie complexes, this was a very bold & beautiful design and I commend Muvico. Their theaters in Florida are also very very nice but without the big marquee and vertical. This must be a new direction the company is taking. They have a Paradise, Palace and Parisian all with the themes throughout the theater. Impressive lobbys, marble floors and chandeliers, plush carpets and plenty of gilt-everything we love!
For those who remember the Marbro, click on Muvico Rosemont and read the posts. Be sure and click on the pix’s post to see some beautiful shots. I agree with someone who thinks the design of the facade had our Paradise influence. This is a beautiful and colorful addition to our Chicago movie scene and gives one a feeling how our beloved Marbro looked at night on Madison St. so many years ago.
If you think they are not building them grand anymore, click on Muvico Rosement. It is located near O'hare in Chicago. Be sure and read and cleck on the pix’s. This is a grand showplace in every sense. When they were building this theater and I was watching as I was driving by, I thought I was dreaming! A vertical being put up above a massive marquee with all the fancy bulb work. I agree with someones post that the large facade was inspired from our Paradise Theater here in Chicago. You will see a night shot and I must tell you it is BRIGHT & BEAUTIFUL! A movie palace lovers dream come true!
Well Block 37 fell through in downtown Chicago as well as the Northbrook, Il. in the northern burb. Bank Of America took the property back (Block 37) after the developer went bust. There was also to be a Loews Hotel. The property remains mostly empty and unfinished. Northbrook was also against the theater because of the nearby AMC and the people felt too much traffic and noise. Too bad. The design would have been something. I agree with the thought the Parardise was the inspiration for the design, You can see the bright lights over a mile down the tollway. It reminds me of the Marbro Theater on the west side of Chicago with the brightness of the marquee!
I remember going to the Marbro during Easter week along with hundreds of others to be inspired by the latest biblical epic on the great screen. In many ways it was like going to a church with a quiet respect among the many.
I saw “Gone With The Wind” 30 years ago in Chicago in wide screen. It was something to see. Would have enjoyed it better at Loew’s State but was never in the theater. After Ted Turner completely restored the film it went back to 35mm and beautiful color. I think the 70mm format was unavailable from then on. I was in the Paramount down the street as they were demolishing it. I just walked in as the workers were on a lunch break. What a shame that was to let go! But I was in Ny as Loews opened their new E-Walk theater on 42nd St. It was very nice with a flavor of a Times Sq. movie house. Beautiful vertical sign that changed colors as it spelled out L-O-E-W-S. Across the street soon came the AMC which added too many screens to the area. AMC bought Loews and the Loews became Regal. Did they save that beautiful vertical and re-letter it with Regal? Hope so. It was a beauty!
Has anyone seen any progress yet? I would think major things are happining at this point to be ready for a 2014 opening.
The Patio also looked great Sat night. Another large crowd and the stars were twinkling and the clouds were a drifting. Everybody applauded when the picture was over. The marquee needs some work.
The best of luck Patio Theatre on this day of re-opening! A rare day indeed when a Chicago movie gem re-opens! Bravo..
Tinseltoes, you are 100% right about the photo of the wall decoration. Also right about reading a book backwards! “You are right on the money”.
I was in Ny last week and once again we flew over the remains of the Keiths. It looked grim. But I thought of all the beauty inside from all of your pictures just waiting to be brought back to life.
Your dad was correct. Michael Todd had the system. Also correct people were vomiting in the aisles. Being an usher there sure meant being challenged I would say.
I believe this probably is a form of sennsuround that some of the theaters installed back in the 70’s. I saw “Earthquake” at the Nortown Theatre in Chicago back then and they installed big boom boxes at the sides of the theater when the earth moved, so did the theater. Back in the 60’s, In remember the fad of smellavision.
This was installed in a downtown theater and the seats were wired with sensors to release smells when called for in the movie. Must have been a flop because it never went anywhere.
Abe Balaban from the company of Balaban & Katz was asked what he thought movie theaters would be like in the future. He said I believe there will be huge screens and thousands of seats and all the theaters would be connected to a main giant concession booth. And this was during the time they were building their palaces in Chicago! Of course no one could imagine the impact of television on the industry!
Very unfortuante the people I went with told me all about the “relics from the past” and I was very interested seeing them. The restaurant had a sale a few months ago and sold most everything.
They kept the fountain in the lobby from Italy which is beautiful and the dining room from France for private parties which I loved. Everything else was sold. The owners want to appeal to a younger more “hip” crowd I was told. I was sad to see that but the food was outstanding and the young Prom crowd seemed very happy to be there. I thought the downtown looked very sad with all the vacant buildings and “For Sale” or “For Rent” signs. It must have been quite a city in is day. But all the river towns in Ill. have the same fate. It is really no different than Joliet or Aurora. But unlike the other two, they still have three theaters standing even though two are shuttered.. Maybe there will be a boom again in the future and the crowds will once again appear. I was impressed with the Midway. I will have to visit the site.
Scott, I went to Rockford this week-end to see Circus Solei at the Metro Center. The Coronado marquee was all lit up in the afternoon. As we were leaving we passed the still closed TIMES Theatre and I saw the closed Midway. Name still on marquee and the attraction boards covered up. It had a very regal facade. Can you tell me something of the interior? Went thru Love’s Park and we had dinner at the Breakers on the Rock River. It was wonderful. The city looks tragic!
I wondered if he ever imagined what the cinema would become in 2011 or for that matter 1970 which became the dawn of the shoebox mulitplex!
I am afraid we may have to wait. I understand the city is making quite a few demands one being new doors with push bar openers due to the E2 night club diaster in Chicago a few years back. There is also many other problems. I hope they can overcome these. It would be a shame if after all the renovations they are not allowed to open and let us see the beauty again. I am amazed how the city and cook county for that matter has the highest taxes in the country. One only has to pass any gas station in the city to see the high price compared to lake or dupage county. I cannot understand how the residents allow this year after year…..and then there is the conditions of the pavements of the streets.
Did the Capitol or any theater other than Radio City or the Roxy have a chorus line on the payroll?
I do not believe VV was 65 or 70MM. I considered it more a 35mm stretched. I saw many films in VV in the theater presentations in the 50’s and they were never the same size as a cinemascope release!
Thanks for the link Tinseltoes. I remember the incident but forgot the details. I remember the courtroom scene with Lana who was playing “Lana” as if in one of her films.
Thanks so much for the link. Enjoyed reading. I lived around the corner from the B&K Paradise in Chicago. The theater installed a taller screen, not cinemascope size to present VistaVision films I believe in the 1950’s. The Marbro theater around the corner got a huge Cinemascope treatment with “The Robe” and was the talk of the neighborhood. It didn’t make much difference for the Paradise was closed and razed in 1956, much to my distain!
Thanks for the information about VistaVision. I often wonder why in some theaters I would watch “White Christmas” in wide screen and other theaters it seemed smaller. Did it depend if the theater had the right projector? Could it be the same movie was filmed in different formats at the same time?
Scott, if you do come up I’ll meet you there. In person it is very impressive! I have heard from friends they were disappointed with the auditoriums not really looking like a movie palace. I suppose they thought the exterior was so ornate and colorful that the theaters inside would also be. Well there is a little decoration and the seats are plush. All the money was spent on the facade and the signage and the stunning lobby. I remind them this IS 2011! The era of over the top decorations and cupids and floating clouds are all long gone. But this theater gives you the flavor of that time.
Of course I meant “grand” by todays standards. Many of the movie palaces were also made of fake marble and imitation materials that looked real. I give Muvico A+ for trying to give future customers what it was like to attend a Loew’s State, Paramount, Fox or a RKO and many other names that graced our landscape from coast to coast. Someone in that company loves the glory of the movie palaces and I think they should be commended for doing so.
Scott, that is exactly what I meant. I didn’t even think about it until I read it in this post. We will never see the likes or anything comimg close to our Paradise or Marbro. For what I see around the country that are passing for movie complexes, this was a very bold & beautiful design and I commend Muvico. Their theaters in Florida are also very very nice but without the big marquee and vertical. This must be a new direction the company is taking. They have a Paradise, Palace and Parisian all with the themes throughout the theater. Impressive lobbys, marble floors and chandeliers, plush carpets and plenty of gilt-everything we love!
For those who remember the Marbro, click on Muvico Rosemont and read the posts. Be sure and click on the pix’s post to see some beautiful shots. I agree with someone who thinks the design of the facade had our Paradise influence. This is a beautiful and colorful addition to our Chicago movie scene and gives one a feeling how our beloved Marbro looked at night on Madison St. so many years ago.
If you think they are not building them grand anymore, click on Muvico Rosement. It is located near O'hare in Chicago. Be sure and read and cleck on the pix’s. This is a grand showplace in every sense. When they were building this theater and I was watching as I was driving by, I thought I was dreaming! A vertical being put up above a massive marquee with all the fancy bulb work. I agree with someones post that the large facade was inspired from our Paradise Theater here in Chicago. You will see a night shot and I must tell you it is BRIGHT & BEAUTIFUL! A movie palace lovers dream come true!
Well Block 37 fell through in downtown Chicago as well as the Northbrook, Il. in the northern burb. Bank Of America took the property back (Block 37) after the developer went bust. There was also to be a Loews Hotel. The property remains mostly empty and unfinished. Northbrook was also against the theater because of the nearby AMC and the people felt too much traffic and noise. Too bad. The design would have been something. I agree with the thought the Parardise was the inspiration for the design, You can see the bright lights over a mile down the tollway. It reminds me of the Marbro Theater on the west side of Chicago with the brightness of the marquee!
I remember going to the Marbro during Easter week along with hundreds of others to be inspired by the latest biblical epic on the great screen. In many ways it was like going to a church with a quiet respect among the many.
I saw “Gone With The Wind” 30 years ago in Chicago in wide screen. It was something to see. Would have enjoyed it better at Loew’s State but was never in the theater. After Ted Turner completely restored the film it went back to 35mm and beautiful color. I think the 70mm format was unavailable from then on. I was in the Paramount down the street as they were demolishing it. I just walked in as the workers were on a lunch break. What a shame that was to let go! But I was in Ny as Loews opened their new E-Walk theater on 42nd St. It was very nice with a flavor of a Times Sq. movie house. Beautiful vertical sign that changed colors as it spelled out L-O-E-W-S. Across the street soon came the AMC which added too many screens to the area. AMC bought Loews and the Loews became Regal. Did they save that beautiful vertical and re-letter it with Regal? Hope so. It was a beauty!