Two images added to gallery. Additional history below credit Highland Park Historical Society.
Shortly after the opening, owners William and Bertha Pearl executed a 15 year lease for both the Alycon and Pearl for 35,000$/year to the Highland Park Theater Co, according to the Chicago Tribune (Nov. 3, 1925), citing lawyers for both parties.
The 1925 theater installed a “3/13” Barton Organ. (Junchen, David L. Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ. Pasadena, Calif: Showcase Publications, 1985.)
In January 1928, a “bandit” robbed the safe and fled with $2100, 3 days income. The thief covered the assistant manager, Saul Greenberg, with a blanket before locking him in the washroom. (Chicago Daily Tribune)
The Bulletin of the Chicago Medical Society V33 cites the Alycon for installing systems so the “hearing impaired” could listen to “Talkies.”
In 1940, Pearl installed additional RCA sound equipment in the (now) 1150 seat theater.“ (Motion Picture Herald. New York, N.Y: Quigley Pub. Co., vol. 140, nos. 71-113. 1940.)
Free Children’s Matinee sponsored by the Downtown Dover Merchants at the Capitol Theatre
The Schwartz Collection
Photo: Detail, 1946
Crisper version in below Facebook link.
The below Facebook post has a photo and I agree that it is the same building that today houses the Sea Hag Bar, so the address should be 209 First Avenue South as Joe Vogel says above.
Highlight and open in new tab to view.
1912 photo & description added credit the former Calumet412 website.
“View of the Crowd lining both sides of the street in front of the Palace Opera House for a visit from President William Howard Taft A line of automobiles is visible along the curb in front of the opera house at 1139 South Blue Island Avenue in the Near South Side Community area of Chicago.”
Circa 1924 photo as Liberty Music Hall added credit Joe Sonderman.
“Liberty Music Hall - Home Of The Liberty Maids - 40 People Mostly Girls 40 - 4 Big Shows All In One” painted on the exterior wall.
Unique Liberty marquee that included “Home Of Liberty Maids” with an eagle above.
Flickr link with a program for the Colonial Theatre. It says it was renamed in 1904 but previous evidence confirmed 1905.
Also September 24, 1905 print ad proof added to gallery courtesy Tim O'Neill.
Two images added to gallery.
Additional history below credit Highland Park Historical Society.
Shortly after the opening, owners William and Bertha Pearl executed a 15 year lease for both the Alycon and Pearl for 35,000$/year to the Highland Park Theater Co, according to the Chicago Tribune (Nov. 3, 1925), citing lawyers for both parties. The 1925 theater installed a “3/13” Barton Organ. (Junchen, David L. Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ. Pasadena, Calif: Showcase Publications, 1985.) In January 1928, a “bandit” robbed the safe and fled with $2100, 3 days income. The thief covered the assistant manager, Saul Greenberg, with a blanket before locking him in the washroom. (Chicago Daily Tribune) The Bulletin of the Chicago Medical Society V33 cites the Alycon for installing systems so the “hearing impaired” could listen to “Talkies.”
In 1940, Pearl installed additional RCA sound equipment in the (now) 1150 seat theater.“ (Motion Picture Herald. New York, N.Y: Quigley Pub. Co., vol. 140, nos. 71-113. 1940.)
Photo credit Henry X Arenberg (March 1, 1929- November 6, 2011), courtesy Highland Park Historical Society.
Wider, enlargeable version in link below.
https://www.tumblr.com/oldshowbiz/177576005674?source=share&fbclid=IwAR1eiL3oercLx6c53RwrNHp8CLR5qplEs883plDaEijbiyBuT8PjwRixL2o&branch_match_id=1126681567250428531&branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAAwXBiwrCIBQA0D%2Ba28wHQUSPQYFESD%2BgbsM7HDp1aH1959icQzoipHKT91W72Bi%2FIu%2FGZH3R8EMdY4TRtiWUHVDFY7abjlj1%2Bjxr42A8PctFdhMI7KdoRKWGYFni6xH4TUiyBTckznFwdzXAouF73T%2F8vRQJVfT%2BD%2Fxtm6h%2FAAAA
2017 Urban Remains link and John Mallin link both with photos that somehow did not get shared here.
https://www.urbanremainschicago.com/news-and-events/2017/07/17/documenting-ciceros-historic-olympic-theater-1927-cut-short-by-heat-exhaustion-plans-to-revisit-in-the-making/?fbclid=IwAR02QXslKqjogFk-pF5O0zAHakdBce1n83CpYY0ZbDX4znr1ILTtT4ylhPk
https://johnamallin.com/project/olympic-theater-ballroom/?fbclid=IwAR3RPiswXALT1jwaHZ1H56B55kj0aVFbCgnIyqOZNfVyUBeYUhwxacaWkrE
July 29-August 24, 1946 photo added credit Explore Chicago Collection, from now dead link.
The Explore Chicago Collections link is now dead. But I was able to add one 1946 photo to the gallery.
Free Children’s Matinee sponsored by the Downtown Dover Merchants at the Capitol Theatre The Schwartz Collection Photo: Detail, 1946 Crisper version in below Facebook link.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=499585348869648&set=pb.100064545619928.-2207520000.&type=3
The below Facebook post has a photo and I agree that it is the same building that today houses the Sea Hag Bar, so the address should be 209 First Avenue South as Joe Vogel says above. Highlight and open in new tab to view.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=493469909448560&set=pb.100063566654039.-2207520000.&type=3
1912 photo & description added credit the former Calumet412 website.
“View of the Crowd lining both sides of the street in front of the Palace Opera House for a visit from President William Howard Taft A line of automobiles is visible along the curb in front of the opera house at 1139 South Blue Island Avenue in the Near South Side Community area of Chicago.”
Full size print ad.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/5765/photos/401724
January 13, 2023 WBEZ article about Avalon Regal Theater.
https://www.wbez.org/stories/avalon-regal-theater-history-south-shore-chicago/c95b2f43-4c7d-4f70-8d27-3fa7f464fdf5?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=wbez
This Harry Houdini link has images of both the old and new Orpheums.
https://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2021/04/kansas-citys-last-houdini-theater.html
August 25, 1963 photo added courtesy Brook Solway. “Gun Glory” 1957 and “The Sheepman” 1958 were also being shown the day the theatre closed.
Circa 1956 photo added.
United Artists Theatre seen 7/14/87 & 9/17/89 in two panoramic photos copyright Thomas Yanul in below link.
http://www.thomasyanul.com/indexblock371.html
Circa 1924 photo as Liberty Music Hall added credit Joe Sonderman. “Liberty Music Hall - Home Of The Liberty Maids - 40 People Mostly Girls 40 - 4 Big Shows All In One” painted on the exterior wall. Unique Liberty marquee that included “Home Of Liberty Maids” with an eagle above.
Varsity Theatre to be converted into a 35-unit apartment building with ground floor retail. Evanston Round Table link below.
https://evanstonroundtable.com/2022/05/01/former-varsity-theater-site-council-vote/?fbclid=IwAR0Fr6z9XLKCBnnp6XCYV1MO7glLz2xmph7XiVJTKjEnp40pUs-rovaVuFM
Crisper version via Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/TheForgottenSplendour/photos/a.297589833981017/941322479607746/
Demolished. Gill-Roy’s Hardware now occupies this site.
It reopened as Hyde & Behman’s on September 26, 1904.
http://cinematreasures.org/photos/400334
Tribune link.
https://chicagotribune.newspapers.com/clip/115758806/chicago-tribune/?fbclid=IwAR381h54utC_QCEVeZRQxtx8Duq-C7JWZ_KDGe1sYHxqubCACo8Gz2uNnHY
Flickr link with a program for the Colonial Theatre. It says it was renamed in 1904 but previous evidence confirmed 1905. Also September 24, 1905 print ad proof added to gallery courtesy Tim O'Neill.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148686664@N06/45084916615?fbclid=IwAR3npsD6UMeTi-Kgob0x4YWiQTxCSUoso3zVeuMvsqGuSQe6isdifC5cBOw
This theatre was still open in 1972. There is a photo below in the gallery from that year, with “Sitting Target” starring Oliver Reed on the marquee.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/7874/photos/191331
This theatre was still open in 1972. There is a photo in the gallery from that year, with “Sitting Target” starring Oliver Reed on the marquee.
1972 photo credit Miami Herald.