Vic Theatre
3145 N. Sheffield Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60657
3145 N. Sheffield Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60657
14 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 43 of 43 comments
Hello Cinema Treasurers. The Vic Theatre also had a run as a night club from the mid to late 1980’s. It’s current function as a concert venue was after that, closer to 1990.
In 1985 or a little earlier, The Vic was transformed into a place called “Clubland”. A giant red & white candy cane was their logo on the marquee. This makeover was also the original source of the interior neon lighting, that remains today over the main level bars. However back then the neon was originally faced with white lucite. To create that kind of milky colored, vintage juke box glow.
The lucite was then removed exposing the neon when in 1988 or so, it briefly took on the name “The Catwalk at Clubland”. I think Clubland was nearing it’s twilight. So it either was trying to spark interest by changing up the theme, or was leasing out their own space to other promoters. Similar to The Metro in the early `80’s calling their bar in the basement “Reds”, on a selected off night.
There was an attractive, local print model named Shanty or something, that was somehow involved in The Catwalk at Clubland opening.
The actual overhead/stage catwalks were pivotal during the Clubland days. Employees, servers etc. would perform dance routines on them at various times to the DJ’d music. Behind them on the walls were giant monitors that showcased bar like festivities. With comments edited in occasionally, years before Pop-Up Video. “She snores”, “he sleeps with lights on”, etc. All comedic stuff to make the regulars and partygoers feel as one. At pre-determined times, the staff would do those specific catwalk dance routines. Like those back in the day at Walter Payton’s America’s Bar on Erie. Waitstaff danced on interior walls to “Greased Lightning”, etc.
As Clubland, I seem to remember they occasionally added live bands. Though it consistently stayed open as just a giant bar. The Catwalk name didn’t last long, and it was back to The Vic, and as the concert venue it is now.
I remember once reading that a rare performance by Rickie Lee Jones was cancelled at The Vic. When she overheard some trains rustling by during rehearsal. Someone had briefly propped open an alley door to dump trash or something. It was explained to her, but she’d have none of it.
The Brew & View portion appears quite consistent and successful. I remember seeing some double features there over 15 years ago. Booze & View is what we called it. Next door overlooking and with it’s entrance on Belmont, was a place called Tuts then Avalon. I think it’s a tanning salon or something now.
That’s correct; it was indeed the Bharat Cinema by June of 1977, and before that it was the Roberto Clemente Theatre. Thanks.
Following up on one of the posts from 2006: if memory serves the Indian-film venture from the late ‘70s used the name “Bharat Cinema.” The building had signage with that name but also a sign calling it the Vic—probably a leftover from the porn operation.
Brian: wasn’t there a 1920’s-vintage Pridmore theatre on Sheffield just south of Fullerton, where some new De Paul University buildings now stand? This would be on the east side of the street backing up against the El.
This appears to depict the rear wall of the vic, facing the El platform
Recent photos of this theatre are HERE
The Victoria opened September 29, 1912. Here is the account from the Tribune:
“The Victoria, Belmont and Sheffield, opened last Sunday. Despite the fact that the lobby was still cluttered up with scaffolds and painters and things, the theater played to capacity.
The auditorium is illuminated by indirect lighting. There are 1,000 seats on the lower level and 1,550 in all. The seats are of chair polished mahogany with plush panels.
Sanitation is considered in the rubber tile in place of carpets and in bubbling ice water fonts here and there throughout the house.
There are two tiers of hanging boxes on each side of the proscenium arch. There are six entrances to the balcony from the mezzanine floor. There is a tapestry curtain and tapestry is used to drape the proscenium opening. All modern devices are employed in the stage equipment.
The lobby is two stories high and is wainscoted with Italian marble. It has a depth of twenty feet. Among the conveniences are two rest rooms for women and a men’s smoking room. There are two box offices and the theater is connected with the “L” station by a lighted tunnel.
The front is of French renaissance design and the back, which immediately abuts the “L” station, is got up in imitation of an ancient German castle. The building is 97x127 and is about five stories high.
The Victoria is a popular priced house and is occupied by road shows, dramatic and musical.
“Kindling,” a study in eugenics and tenement life, will be the bill at the Victoria this week. Sarah Padden appears as Maggie Schultz."
http://www.jamusa.com/vic/pictures-general.htm
I saw a concert here in ‘92. It was a crazy heavy metal band named GWAR. Almost as much a theatre presentation as a rock concert. They had a catapult on stage and the claim was that they were launching shit (literally) into the audience. They also sprayed the people in the front section with fake blood at various points during the show. At the end of the show the lead singer got completely naked on stage and was arrested.
Quite a change from operettas.
I was on a THS tour of the Vic one afternoon in 1977, and we were told that in the recent past the auditorium had actually been used for truck repairs with a hole cut into the structure to exhaust engine fumes. That was all repaired by what was then called an “inspired investor” and the Vic was reseated and reopened (under another name which escapes me now) for Indian film programs. (That scenario should bring some hope to theatre preservationists who face what may seem a daunting task.) The predominant wall color was then a deep blue with gold trim.
One other piece of Vic trivia: we were told on that THS tour that the Vic at one time had a library within its second-floor lobby.
Sometime between 1923-1927 it became the Vic. In 1927 it became the German Theater, featuring operettas, then shuttered with the Depression; it reopened for Essaness as the Vic from 1934-1952; it was then remodeled and served for a few years after remodeling as the Plasterer’s Institute (I can’t figure out what the remodeling consisted of) and later was an auto parts warehouse; it reopened in 1972 as a porno house; the next year it was renamed the Roberto Clemente and screened Mexican films. Later it showed Indian films until 1979. It was restored to its current state in 1984, with one of its first bookings being a Second City special filmed for HBO.
The Chicago Historic Resources Survey also lists Baker as the architect.
The theater really is remarkably intact aside from the paint scheme and the seating. It’s worth checking out.
I saw a rendering of this at the Chicago Historical Society the other day with a Frank S. Baker identified as the architect. I don’t know what to make of that, since it seems so widely identified as Pridmore and it looks like one of his, too. Baker soesn’t appear to have been responisble for any particularly notable buildings.
You would also pass the Village North, previously known as the 400. Still in operation as neighborhood first run (if somewhat shabby) house.
I sing in a choral group that used to perform at The Vic. On our concert recordings, you can sometimes hear the El passing during a quiet piece.
Yes, that’s absolutely true, and I do that almost every day! It’s sad to see them dwindling. The Howard is condos, the Granada long gone, the Bryn Mawr shuttered, the Uptown too, the Riviera diminished, the Mode gone. You would also have seen the Argmore (a liquor store) and the Julian (gone), perhaps the Co-Ed, the Sheridan, the Deluxe and i’m probably forgetting some.
Re the 1972 picture: Anyone aboard that train who had boarded at the start of its run would have passed the Howard, the Granada, the Bryn Mawr, the Uptown, the Riviera, and the Mode aka Festival—not to mention the Aragon Ballroom and Wrigley Field. Better than TV.
Regarding this theater’s timeline as a concert venue, Hot Tuna performed there on 1/18/86.
Actually, the ‘marquee’ you note is a replacement-in the first shot you see the words -Victoria-Theatre- with boards underneath; persumably, this was used billboard-style, and when this had deteriorated enough it was replaced with a smaller, modern billboard and electronic sign, which isn’t really used anymore. The lighter colored brick is where the old billboard was; i’m not really sure why it’s a different color.