Riviera Theatre
4746 N. Racine Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60640
4746 N. Racine Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60640
15 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 85 comments
Thank you. I see the tour schedules don’t quite fit my schedule, but I will know how to check the neighborhoods.
Here is a list of all of the architectural tours by the Chicago Architectural Foundation. The tours for neighborhoods and theaters are spotty, so there may not be anything available for next weekend. You may have to go on your own. Have fun!
http://www.architecture.org/tours.aspx
I plan to visit Chicago next week. I would like to walk some of the north side theater areas. Is there a recommended theater or architectural tour for this? Thank you.
Village Entertainment operator Ron Rooding got his start at the Riv when it turned into a nightclub.
Thanks. That is wonderful to learn that the area there is being restored. (BTW, what is the condition of the seats in the Riviera?) I can’t picture Goldblatt’s (but, of course, know the store) yet had to have known it because I walked that block and worked at Woolworth’s farther down the street which was in the building evidently razed and left as a parking lot. I can’t remember the west side of Broadway from the bank to Wilson, but can remember some of the shops on the east side of the street.
I agree with you. “My church” was an imposing marker structure and it should have been replaced with another “significant” structure for a number of reasons.
Another thought just came to me. In the area of the church, on the east side of Broadway, was there a terminal or parking garage for taxis?
The Y-intersection you mention across the street from the Riviera has been given a huge restoration and make-over the past 5 years. There were three connected buildings that made the Goldblatt’s department store from the 1930s until the late 1990s. At that point, the masonry building toward the south was torn down and rebuilt as condos (it is a shame because that beautiful building should have been restored). The middle building and corner building toward the north were restored and turned into a Borders bookstore and more condos.
The Buena Memorial church was at the Y-intersection you mention at Montrose and Broadway. That building had a structural flaw and the roof collapsed in the mid-1990s. The remaining walls of the church were torn down and the lot sat empty for years. Just recently, a non-descript condo building was built on the site. It is too bad, because that site deserves a building that is architecturally significant like the old church.
Ah!…the Riviera!
I can’t add much here except to say I join in that it is wonderful this theater was saved, and evidently the corner is being dealt respect, and it would seem it really could revitalize and restore the integrity of the neighborhood. Has there ever been talk of restoring with some sense of continuity, in even a mild way, all of Broadway from, say, Diversey to Uptown?
What I remember about the Riviera Theater is that I liked it somewhat more, or found it more beautiful and satisfying for me, than the Uptown, special though the Uptown is – just personal preference. (It may be that the Riviera had something about it that reminded me of a theater I visited in San Francisco when I was young; not sure.) Thanks for the photos of the beautiful interior. I seem to recall something about the ceiling in the foyer above the bar now that I see the photo. Don’t the approximately 1900 seats make the Riviera a jewel of a venue? Anyone – if it was a vaudeville house first, does its construct lend itself to fairly effective accoustics, or is it miked as if it has none?
Stopped attending the Riviera in the early ‘60s though, and invariably, somewhat sadly, went to the Uptown or elsewhere, simply because the fare offered at the Riviera was not satisfying on any given night to me by then. I do not remember what was offered at the Riviera, and I did always check it, longingly, hoping I could justify buying a ticket, but always ended up elsewhere by '61. I am wondering if the Riviera changed ownership about that time, and whomever owned it booked the horror shows, or others?
I keep thinking that the Riviera closed for a time, maybe a few seasons, in the mid ‘60s or later. I thought that at one point, I couldn’t even look to see if anything was playing there because it wasn’t showing anything – that would have been by 1970. Maybe it just ceased to show movies.
Noticed the postcard of the bank at the “Y” intersection on a number of the Chicago history websites but couldn’t place it. Now it comes back – it was across from the Riviera, and it still was that building in the ‘60s, maybe only slightly modified, but still there. I think it was some other type of financial establishment then, rather than a straight bank, and I think its double doors opened right at the “Y” intersection, and may have had brass details on them. That building was worthy of restoration. I liked to walk down that side of the street, along that building, because it reminded me of bank buildings in my hometown in California; this one was always kept up. I thought it was the most aesthetically pleasing building on the west side of Broadway down to Wilson.
(BTW, there were a number of “Y” corners or blocks coming north up Broadway from about Diversey. I am thinking of the block at Broadway and Montrose. Also sort of in the reverse, one just to the west of Diversey and Broadway. They kind of gave the north side of Chicago, up Broadway, a sort of splendor, as if saying how great Chicago could be in its construction when it wanted to be, and that Chicago could appreciate and incorporate the finest aesthetic beauty too. Remember the scene in the movie version of “The Philadelphia Story” when MacCaulay Connor (Jimmy Stewart) says to Tracy Samantha Lord Haven (Katherine Hepburn) something about “…there’s an unholy splendor about you…”? But I wax nostalgic.
The name “Peter Pan” seems familiar. The photos of the pancake house call to me to remember that site in the ‘60s (if not a pancake house, what; maybe a cocktail lounge or restaurant?). Not sure.
In the mid-‘60s, about '65, maybe '64, Bobby Rydell appeared at the Aragon Ballroom on an afternoon – maybe a Saturday. Filled with younger youths who were very noisy. Don’t think Bobby was expecting that, and he had to tell them to be quiet or he wouldn’t sing (and I think he lip-synched anyway). If I remember right, management had to tell them to “smoke outside,” and there was some extra little chuckle about that. I always liked Bobby Rydell; though he was the headliner, there were other acts, but I don’t remember them.
Thank you again for the photos. (Some of the early links are bringing up page error now.)
I checked again and I was able to see the 1924 photo. In the 1957 photo, there is a Peter Pan clothing store on the first floor retail space.
I am so happy that the Riviera theater never was “modernized!”
What is the story on the bar on the main floor in the Riviera? It looks old, but it cannot be older the the 1980s. Was it just designed to go with the rest of the interior?
The enameled steel panels were indeed just modernization, and the Riviera itself had a similar treatment proposed – good thing that never came through! I will have to check out the photo you mention.
I don’t know of any reason why you wouldn’t be able to see the photos. They should be visible to anyone.
I agree, this renovation is better than any of us could have expected for this building. You are right about the windows. Also, the window details are too thin when compared with the originals. I wish that contemporary window manufacturers could duplicate the thicknesses used on vintage windows. It would make restoration projects look much better.
BW, I tried to open your photos from your Dec. 3 comment, but it says that I need permission to view them (this is after signing into Yahoo). Can you tell me how to view the photos.
By the way, the Jewel at Broadway and Montrose has a great photograph of the Riviera building from about 1957. It shows all of the details perfectly. Until I saw this photo, I assumed that the facade was put up sometime in the 1930s, but it was put up after 1957. From the photo, the building does not look like it was in bad condition. I guess they wanted to “modernize” it.
There were a couple other little differences. I think the cornice originally had stud lighting, the frames of the windows are slightly off (the middle windows on the second floor should be slightly wider), and there is no terra cotta in the spandrels above the storefront windows, as there is between the secon and third floors. Otherwise it’s pretty perfect, and now the Riviera Theater facade is definitely in need of similar attention. Overall an excellent project. It would be great to get some condos or offices or anything next to the riv where that ugly pancake house is.
I am so happy they renovated the Riviera Building. In fact, I am shocked that this happened. I always assumed this building eventually would be torn down because it looked so far gone.
My only regret is that they did not replace the terra cotta detail that was originally along the top edge of the roof. Other than that, the renovation is spot-on.
Interesting. Thanks for the information.
I believe the theater and office building are separately owned.
With all the money they spent on the office building (which looks fabulous), you would think they could spend $1,000 to power wash that graffiti off of the grand window. It brings down the whole presentation considerably.
By the way, update on the office building next to the Riv: a Bank of America is definitely coming soon. The square gets better all the time…the boarded-up buildings are starting to come back to life!
I know I sound like a broken record, but if only the majestic Uptown could be next…
Probably a first for the Riviera takes place tonight:
“Change Rocks”, a benefit concert for Barack Obama’s campaign, takes place tonight at 8:30, featuring Jeff Tweedy (of Wilco), Stephan Jenkins (of Third Eye Blind), Jill Sobule, Cool Kids, The Changes ,and Canasta. Barack will be there too!
Such a cool event for the Uptown neighborhood! I’m going, and I can’t wait!
It is a very impressive project. They are investing a lot of money.
I’m looking at this old photo of yours B. It appears that the cornice is made of something other than terra cotta. I’m judging by the contrast to decoration on lower portions of the building. The cornice looks darker to my eye when I stare at it for a minute.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bwchicago/739550783/
The office building is in fact receiving what, from what I can see from the el, is an accurate replica of the cornice. Although it seems to be copper and I had assumed the original was terra cotta. So far, they’re really doing a phenomenal job of facade restoration.
I’ve heard that the ground floor tenant will be a bank.
I added more photos including many of the interior to the site linked in my Dec. 3 comment.
I think it was. If I am remembering correctly, Plitt succeeded ABC Great States in the mid-to-late 70’s. The Riviera didn’t turn into a night club until the mid 80’s (rough guess ‘84). If they kept a barn like the Chicago Theatre open as late as 1984-5, and many large neighborhood houses like the Nortown, it would seem strange to close the Riviera.
By the way, the Riviera office building renovation looks like it is being carried out with a high degree of quality. They ordered custom building details to replace those damaged when the yellow facing was attached. They don’t look like terra cotta from a distance. But they do look like they will work very nicely.
Was this theatre a Plitt at one time?
In the book “CHICAGO- GROWTH OF A METROPOLIS” by Harold M. Mayer, there is a nice shot of Broadway- looking north- from Leland to Lawrence on page 344. The year is 1926; the vertical sign RIVIERA is clearly visible in the background. Photos of the Paradise, Marbro, Tivoli, Wilson(aka 4 Star), and Parkway(on the south side)are also featured on pages 345, 347, and 348.
There is finally some action taking place on the Riviera’s retail and apartment block. They are now stripping metal framework which held the yellow later-day facing. They are also removing windows and damaged sections of terra cotta work. It will be interesting to see the final outcome. Between this renovation work and the fact that the Riviera is booked all the time these days, it would seem that the people now calling the shots intend to make the property a going concern.
NEWS ITEM:
Chicago Daily News, Wednesday, June 5, 1940, p. 23, c. 7—-
COMPLETE ‘GWTW’ FOR NEIGHBORHOODS
The most-talked-of picture ever filmed, “Gone With The Wind,” begins its one week only engagement in the neighborhoods on Friday, June 7, when Balaban & Katz books the technicolor classic into the Tower Theater, 63rd street and Blackstone; the State Theater, 5814 West Madison street, and the Riviera Theater, Broadway at Lawrence.
It will be presented complete and intact, as it is being shown in the Loop.
Reserved seats for the engagements are on sale at special box-offices in each theater and mail orders are being given prompt attention. Seats are reserved for the evening performances which start at 8 pm and for the Sunday matinee, which will begin at 2 pm.
Week day matinees will be continuous from 10 am. Patrons may come as late as 2 pm and see a complete matinee performance.