Boy do I remember Stop ‘n’ Shop and its side business Gaper’s Catering! Fresh ice creams, sorbets, baked goods! I believe that Stop ‘n’ shop closed circa 1982. Ironically, with so many people actually living in the Loop, it would do very well today!
Excluding very early short-lived small theatres, this must have been the shortest-lived theatre (1970-1977) in the city of Chicago. Second place might well go to the Bricktown (1989-2000).
With regards to Melder’s comment above, we have lost yet another Sullivan landmark building. This was the one in the 600 South block of Wabash and contained the closed George Diamond Steakhouse. The fire was the same cause as the Pilgrim Baptist Church—careless use of a blowtorch. It was still smoking a few days later and service on the adjoining CTA L lines—the Green and Orange—had to be suspended for nearly a week.
The demolition of the Garrick was one of the turning points in the preservation movement. Unfortunately, it looks like the lessons have been lost as we are losing landmarks at an even faster rate. In the 1960s, famous buildings were lost to parking decks. Today, it’s to condos and chain retail (ie the Adelphi, the Esquire, and probably soon the Gateway).
If memory serves me correctly, M&R re-opened the Todd and the Cinestage (fka the Harris & Selwyn) under the Dearborn Cinemas moniker in an attempt to bring back mainstream movies. This was circa 1985-1986. For one reason or another, it didn’t work (perhaps the idea was ahead of its time—imagine how a regular cinema would do in the Loop these days). Shortly after this, they went back to playing action & horror films. (When Cineplex-Odeon opened the Burnham Plaza a couple of years later, it was the same story. I had high hopes for that theatre too, but soon C-O dumbed down the Burnham just as M&R dumbed down the Dearborn).
On another note, can anyone tell me what the Todd-AO system was?
It does seem like the evening was a success. Our only complaint was that the seats needed either refurbishing or replacing. But that was a minor complaint and we think that will occur in time. One thing at a time, right?
I don’t know if it is too late for suggestions, but here are some:
1) Concerts, especially fundraisers, which could feature Chicago/Illinois talent such as Billy Corgan, Wilco, Buddy Guy, Son Volt, Robbie Fulks, BoDeans (okay, they’re Milwaukee, but they are still popular in Chicago).
2) Midnight movies such as DEATH RACE 2000, FASTER PUSSYCAT KILL KILL, STOP MAKING SENSE, THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT, WINGS OVER THE WORLD, SONG REMAINS THE SAME, DUEL, etc.
3) Film festivals, such as by actor/actress, director.
4) Film festivals of movies that were “just beneath the radar”.
5) A film festival of the Christopher Guest/Harry Shearer/Micheal McKeon “Mockumentaries”—Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, Mighty Wind, Best in Show".
I was in here tonight to see THE DEPARTED. This was the first time I’d been here since Keresotes took over. The place seems a little cleaner, and better movies seem to be booked. But the movie was 15 minutes late in starting.
Per Life’s Too Short “Happens sometimes with construction/development. Project could start tomorrow or it the property might sit for another six months.”:
Circa 1969, Chicago’s Grand Central Station was demolished so that the corner it was on (Wells and Harrison) could be re-developed. In 2006, that land parcel is STILL vacant amongst so much redevelopment. CSX Transportation, the successor to Grand Central Station’s owners (Baltimore & Ohio RR and Chesapeake & Ohio RR) still owns the land.
Actually, the concrete monolith known as RIVER CITY CONDOS (built in 1986 and already dated-looking) was supposed to occupy the whole stretch of Wells Street between Roosevelt and Harrison. Unfortunately, the project stalled for lack of money and only the portion at Polk & Wells was built.
This is an extreme example which proves your comment!
The photo shows the Esquire during the Walter Reade years. The movie on the marquee is THE GAMBLER starring James Caan and Lauren Hutton. According to the Internet Movie Database www.imdb.com that would place the photo in 1974. Obviously it’s not the Kenny Rogers movie of the same name!
I went out and took pictures the day after it closed, just as I did when the REAL Berghoff closed and as I will do after Carson Pirie Scott closes. It’s too bad that the photo feature on this site doesn’t work, but I’ll see if I can get them posted on www.cinematour.com
My girlfriend and I went to see THE MUMMY here last night (10/27/2006). Rich Koz made an appearance as his SVENGOOLIE character. He made a “star entrance”, riding up in an old hearse. The red carpet was laid out for him and his “entourage”—some cheerleaders, a guy in a mummy suit and a guy in a Frankenstein’s Monster suit. For those of you who don’t know who Rich Koz is, he works for WCIU-TV 26. He is the last on-air local entertainment TV host (ie not news nor Public TV) in Chicago. He hosts a Three Stooges show as himself and he does the SVENGOOLIE show, which is old monster movies. Click here http://home.comcast.net/~grotto1/richkoz2.html or here http://www.wciu.com/ for further information on him.
The theatre was fairly crowded for this. The line to get in for people who pre-purchased their tickets, was down the block and around the corner. This takes me back to the days when (A) Chicago was a haven for diverse, local programming (Bozo/Bob Bell, Ray Rayner, Frazier Thomas, etc). It also reminds me of the days when smaller independent theatres HAD monster movie festivals and other special programming. Hey, even Plitt’s Will Rogers Theatre on Belmont Avenue did live children’s shows into the 1970s!
I think that if the remaining small houses such as the LaGrange, the Pickwick, the Logan did more film festivals and made it fun to attend, and reached out to their respective communities for support, people would go! They sure did last night.
In reviewing the photos on the link I submitted, it is sad to see some of the destruction and vandalism that has occurred in the Nortown. Yet it’s amazing to see how much is intact there, specifically the paint and the gold-colored decor.
The picture quality was okay. The screen sizes were small. It was what you would expect from any small, chopped up, awkwardly re-configured old theatre.
Per the free newspaper SKYLINE (which is a neighborhood newspaper run by Pioneer Press), the marquee was lit on September 28, 2006.
No matter what some of the above posters have said, I’m GLAD that Victory Gardens took over the Biograph. It is wonderful that it will be used for performing arts instead of being converted to condos or retail or demolished. Let’s be real, the Biograph had been losing money for years as a cinema and that’s what would have happened to it had Victory Gardens not stepped in. I can’t wait to attend a play here.
I saw the documentary last night on WTTW Channel 11. It was on a show called “Image Union.” Was I watching an “edited version”? It was ½ hour long. I would have liked to learn more about the history of the theatre.
Ret. AKC(NAC) Bob Jensen,
Boy do I remember Stop ‘n’ Shop and its side business Gaper’s Catering! Fresh ice creams, sorbets, baked goods! I believe that Stop ‘n’ shop closed circa 1982. Ironically, with so many people actually living in the Loop, it would do very well today!
Excluding very early short-lived small theatres, this must have been the shortest-lived theatre (1970-1977) in the city of Chicago. Second place might well go to the Bricktown (1989-2000).
With regards to Melder’s comment above, we have lost yet another Sullivan landmark building. This was the one in the 600 South block of Wabash and contained the closed George Diamond Steakhouse. The fire was the same cause as the Pilgrim Baptist Church—careless use of a blowtorch. It was still smoking a few days later and service on the adjoining CTA L lines—the Green and Orange—had to be suspended for nearly a week.
The demolition of the Garrick was one of the turning points in the preservation movement. Unfortunately, it looks like the lessons have been lost as we are losing landmarks at an even faster rate. In the 1960s, famous buildings were lost to parking decks. Today, it’s to condos and chain retail (ie the Adelphi, the Esquire, and probably soon the Gateway).
John Keating,
If memory serves me correctly, M&R re-opened the Todd and the Cinestage (fka the Harris & Selwyn) under the Dearborn Cinemas moniker in an attempt to bring back mainstream movies. This was circa 1985-1986. For one reason or another, it didn’t work (perhaps the idea was ahead of its time—imagine how a regular cinema would do in the Loop these days). Shortly after this, they went back to playing action & horror films. (When Cineplex-Odeon opened the Burnham Plaza a couple of years later, it was the same story. I had high hopes for that theatre too, but soon C-O dumbed down the Burnham just as M&R dumbed down the Dearborn).
On another note, can anyone tell me what the Todd-AO system was?
LittleBird,
It does seem like the evening was a success. Our only complaint was that the seats needed either refurbishing or replacing. But that was a minor complaint and we think that will occur in time. One thing at a time, right?
I don’t know if it is too late for suggestions, but here are some:
1) Concerts, especially fundraisers, which could feature Chicago/Illinois talent such as Billy Corgan, Wilco, Buddy Guy, Son Volt, Robbie Fulks, BoDeans (okay, they’re Milwaukee, but they are still popular in Chicago).
2) Midnight movies such as DEATH RACE 2000, FASTER PUSSYCAT KILL KILL, STOP MAKING SENSE, THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT, WINGS OVER THE WORLD, SONG REMAINS THE SAME, DUEL, etc.
3) Film festivals, such as by actor/actress, director.
4) Film festivals of movies that were “just beneath the radar”.
5) A film festival of the Christopher Guest/Harry Shearer/Micheal McKeon “Mockumentaries”—Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, Mighty Wind, Best in Show".
I was in here tonight to see THE DEPARTED. This was the first time I’d been here since Keresotes took over. The place seems a little cleaner, and better movies seem to be booked. But the movie was 15 minutes late in starting.
Some sources have listed this theatre as being part of the F&F Value chain, others have listed it as being independent
Per Life’s Too Short “Happens sometimes with construction/development. Project could start tomorrow or it the property might sit for another six months.”:
Circa 1969, Chicago’s Grand Central Station was demolished so that the corner it was on (Wells and Harrison) could be re-developed. In 2006, that land parcel is STILL vacant amongst so much redevelopment. CSX Transportation, the successor to Grand Central Station’s owners (Baltimore & Ohio RR and Chesapeake & Ohio RR) still owns the land.
Actually, the concrete monolith known as RIVER CITY CONDOS (built in 1986 and already dated-looking) was supposed to occupy the whole stretch of Wells Street between Roosevelt and Harrison. Unfortunately, the project stalled for lack of money and only the portion at Polk & Wells was built.
This is an extreme example which proves your comment!
Per Robert R.’s post above:
The photo shows the Esquire during the Walter Reade years. The movie on the marquee is THE GAMBLER starring James Caan and Lauren Hutton. According to the Internet Movie Database www.imdb.com that would place the photo in 1974. Obviously it’s not the Kenny Rogers movie of the same name!
I went out and took pictures the day after it closed, just as I did when the REAL Berghoff closed and as I will do after Carson Pirie Scott closes. It’s too bad that the photo feature on this site doesn’t work, but I’ll see if I can get them posted on www.cinematour.com
Per my above comment, I forgot to add the letter (B) to my comment about smaller independent theatres!
My girlfriend and I went to see THE MUMMY here last night (10/27/2006). Rich Koz made an appearance as his SVENGOOLIE character. He made a “star entrance”, riding up in an old hearse. The red carpet was laid out for him and his “entourage”—some cheerleaders, a guy in a mummy suit and a guy in a Frankenstein’s Monster suit. For those of you who don’t know who Rich Koz is, he works for WCIU-TV 26. He is the last on-air local entertainment TV host (ie not news nor Public TV) in Chicago. He hosts a Three Stooges show as himself and he does the SVENGOOLIE show, which is old monster movies. Click here http://home.comcast.net/~grotto1/richkoz2.html or here http://www.wciu.com/ for further information on him.
The theatre was fairly crowded for this. The line to get in for people who pre-purchased their tickets, was down the block and around the corner. This takes me back to the days when (A) Chicago was a haven for diverse, local programming (Bozo/Bob Bell, Ray Rayner, Frazier Thomas, etc). It also reminds me of the days when smaller independent theatres HAD monster movie festivals and other special programming. Hey, even Plitt’s Will Rogers Theatre on Belmont Avenue did live children’s shows into the 1970s!
I think that if the remaining small houses such as the LaGrange, the Pickwick, the Logan did more film festivals and made it fun to attend, and reached out to their respective communities for support, people would go! They sure did last night.
Village is now advertising legal movie downloads on its website.
Is it me, or is it just plain wrong for a movie theatre chain to do this?
Village is now advertising legal movie downloads on its website.
Is it me, or is it just plain wrong for a movie theatre chain to do this?
Village is now advertising legal movie downloads on its website.
Is it me, or is it just plain wrong for a movie theatre chain to do this?
In reviewing the photos on the link I submitted, it is sad to see some of the destruction and vandalism that has occurred in the Nortown. Yet it’s amazing to see how much is intact there, specifically the paint and the gold-colored decor.
But I haven’t been able to find a web site for Jenco.
This theatre’s status needs to be changed. The status should be “Open”. The chain should be Jenco.
Wasn’t this place a Plitt Theatre?
Cinemark Fan,
The picture quality was okay. The screen sizes were small. It was what you would expect from any small, chopped up, awkwardly re-configured old theatre.
Here are semi-recent photos of the Nortown. In viewing the “Upper Auditorium” photos, I now understand how it was tri-plexed.
View link
Per the free newspaper SKYLINE (which is a neighborhood newspaper run by Pioneer Press), the marquee was lit on September 28, 2006.
No matter what some of the above posters have said, I’m GLAD that Victory Gardens took over the Biograph. It is wonderful that it will be used for performing arts instead of being converted to condos or retail or demolished. Let’s be real, the Biograph had been losing money for years as a cinema and that’s what would have happened to it had Victory Gardens not stepped in. I can’t wait to attend a play here.
I mistakenly put the comma in the link. Try www.benderson.com and if that doesn’t work, you can always type it in your browser.
Cinemark Fan,
Was this a Cineplex-Odeon? Like the Golf Glen, it will probably “not” survive the opening of a new multi-plex.
Brian Wolf,
Per your comment on the Bloomingdale Court and the rotation of the
C-O logo: Yes that sounds like something our Village Emtertainment would do!
I saw the documentary last night on WTTW Channel 11. It was on a show called “Image Union.” Was I watching an “edited version”? It was ½ hour long. I would have liked to learn more about the history of the theatre.