Jeffery Theater
1952 E. 71st Street,
Chicago,
IL
60649
1952 E. 71st Street,
Chicago,
IL
60649
3 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 36 of 36 comments
NEWS ITM:
Chicago Daily News, Thursday, June 25, 1936, p. 24, c. 6:
JEFRFERY HAS NEW AIR CONDITIONING
The first installation in a theater of the new General Electric air conditioning system has now been completed by R. Cooper Jr., Inc., at Warner Bros. Jeffery, where “The Country Doctor” is to be shown for three days starting Sunday.
This new type of air control system is working automatically. G.E. engineers have pronounced the Jeffery installation perfect.
Here are photos of this theatre.
I’ll do my best to load some picturs this weekend of the Jeffrey.
Nick Coston
I took pictures of both the Jeffrey and Hamilton in the early 90’s. At that time the Hamilton was sitting derelict and unused. The Jeffrey, while still completely standing, had been converted for use by Shore Bank. They were using the lobby, although I am not sure what for. It wasn’t until several years into this arrangement that they decided to destroy the auditorium for new construction. You can find these photos, as well as vintage photos taken by others, at the Theatre Historical Society archives in Elmhurst, IL.
http://www2.hawaii.edu/~angell/thsa/welcome2.html
does anyone have any pictures of the Jeffery or the Hamilton?
The Jeffery Theater, on Jeffery Blvd. at the old Bryn Mawr (now 71st St.) station is way off my beaten path – between the “right” and “left” coasts, but I just received a comp copy of the Lake Shore Historical Society’s “First and Fastest” magazine and had to share this info with you.
If any of you Chicagoans and/or midwesterners have access to the Summer 2006 copy of F&F, you’ll spot a dynamic B&W pic of the Jeffery in 1939. The marquee shows that “The Sun Never Sets” (with Barrymore, Rathbone & Atwill) was playing at the time. Good shot of the theater’s water tower, too, and more. I have no capability to scan and post, so I’m dropping the ball in your laps. Good luck!
Here is a profile from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency’s HAARGIS system. It includes a small picture.
I saw the James Bond movie “You Only Live Twice” with Sean Connery at the Jeffery around 1968. I also remember the Peter Pan restaurant that stood on the southwest corner of 71st & Jeffery and the Fannie Mae candy store around the corner from the theater.
In “IMAGES:CHICAGO’S SOUTH SHORE” by Charles Celander, the Jeffery theatre is on the cover. On the marquee: Martin and Lewis “LIVING IT UP” plus Robert Stack “THE IRON GLOVE”. Just under the marquee, there is a white sign – or banner- stating DELIGHTFULLY COOL.
The Jeffery was operated by Warner’s, then my family, who all lived on the southside. We also had The Beverly, and leased and operated The Hamilton, which was down the street on 71st Street.
The theatre was sold to the bank in 1975, then the nice fellow who I believe ran the Clark Theatre downtown Chicago, tried to run second run films there, but it didn’t make it. The auditorium was taken down around 1998, not sure. It had 2000 seats, an old fashioned balcony, a nice sized curved screen, a huge back stage area, and was rigged for 35mm magnetic sound with tons of old surround speakers.
Probably had the best popcorn in town. The theatre had tons of old rooms, what a great place to be a kid.
Nick Coston
All thet remains of the JEFFERY is the facade and part of the lobby. The building is now part of a bank and what was the auditorium in now drive in banking.