Beverly Theatre

Jim Barry on August 31, 2009 at 3:03 pm

Sheila, the drug store across the street was call “Stinways”, spelling may be off.

Gotta ask———-R U Shiela Murdock?

SheilaS on May 28, 2009 at 6:00 pm

Hi new to the site. Does anyone remember what the name of the soda place next to the Beverly in 1946-1950 ? We used to walk down after school from Longwood and hang out there. There was a Walgreens or something across the street where you could buy – gasp – cigarettes. I asked my oldest niece and she says she thinks it was called “Joy’s” – but that doesnt sound right. Anyone remember?? Thanks, Sheila S

Jim Barry on February 23, 2009 at 2:12 pm

Hey, PJ, will you please get someone to bring the FILM STREACHER to the Jeffery———-they have “Lord Jim” and it’s running slower than it should.

Jim Barry on February 23, 2009 at 1:46 pm

PJ————-Yea, Let’s go pop a top and tell stories as we remember them.

McNally’s is close by, what and when do you think?

pjwalsh on February 6, 2009 at 3:13 pm

Hey Jim
Yes it would be good to get together and reminisce. I moved back to Chicago and the Beverly area (St Barnabas) last year after living around the country for the past 25 years Maybe we can get together for a beer or something, but please don’t take 4 years to respond this time ! :)

Jim Barry on January 20, 2009 at 12:56 pm

Nick, what a wonderful tribute.

My dad used to work with him @ Warner Bros;

My Dad worked at the Capitol, started as an usher, then Chief, was at the Avalon,Rhodes, then back to be Manager @ the Capitol up to 1956—his name is Richard T. Barry—knew the Coston’s vey well.

Jim Barry
Beverly

Jim Barry on January 13, 2009 at 2:26 pm

Hi again.

I remember in 1964, as an usher making 80 Cents an hour. I worked Over time,getting in at 8 am on Saturdays and Sundays and using Carbon Tetnacloride to remove gum from the carpet.

OMG, if OSHA was around then, well you know.

We would fill the cap from the gallon drum of Carbon Tec., pour it on the gum, then scrape it up with a putty knife. No wonder my mind won’t let me count over 7—-1,2,3,4,15!!!!!!

Jim Barry on January 13, 2009 at 2:00 pm

Hi P.J. WOW long time,not just on the posting end, but a VERY LONG
time from some of the Greatest memories I ever had.

I have been living in St. Cajetan Parish since 1975.

Four Children and four Grand-children, WOW I must be getting old, phiscally but I’m still hovering around 18 mentally, as you can see, thats why I’m posting here, also my spelling has Not improved.

Saw Bob Laude not long ago,-he was asking about Judy Gavin.

I had and still have NO Idea

Run into Jim Hennessy alot, we go out for dinner with our wives from time to time.

Have seen Neil Maas and Janice Potter from time to time but other than that no real contacts.

HEY, Ya know, we should organize a reunion of all past Beverly Employees'
NO spouses, just the past employees, we can tell stories and embelish
them as we see fit.

The Very Best and a Happy New Year to you all

Jim Barry

bufffilmbuff on October 17, 2007 at 1:02 pm

One detail in this theatre’s description needs to be corrected. The sound process used in 1940 for FANTASIA was Fantasound, not Perspecta Sound. Perspecta Sound was a pseudo-stereo system used in the 1950’s which used a monoaural optical soundtrack and created a stereo effect by pushing the sound around to one or more speakers using subaudible tones. From all accounts it was an inferior process. Fantasound on the other hand was a unique system which was really the first attempt to do anything like surround sound effects.
Only a handful of theatres were equipped for this in 1940, so that is some special to note about this theatre.

NickCoston on July 8, 2007 at 7:41 pm

That’s my Uncle Jim Coston, who built the Beverly while he was zone manager with Warner’s. He built it himself, and the Coston’s always owned it until it closed in 1976. He also had the Beverly Drive In and the Car Wash, both which my Dad, Sam Coston, was there when they closed, including the theatre. My old photos indicate Rhodes and Beverly were Rapp and Rapp, but I’ll check tonight. The outside was re-done in the late 50’s, new marquee and new lights under it, state of the art ligthed panels.
We have tons of old stuff buried away that I’m only finding now while I film a documentary on my Uncle. I will contribute more as I find more.
Thanks for all the entries on here.
Nick Coston

Coate on February 24, 2007 at 7:30 pm

“I still think Sound of Music ran for a year, but I have some old notes from all the grosses, I’ll look it up. I was only 12 then, so I could be very wrong.”

---

Yes, you very well could be wrong…and you are! :–)

My research indicates the BEVERLY’s engagement of “The Sound Of Music” ran 24 weeks. And contrary to the claim in this thread that it began in December 1965, it actually began in December of ‘66.

Perhaps the confusion and misremembering stems from the BEVERLY’s run of the film not being the first in the Chicago area. The original, exclusive, reserved-seat Chicago engagement of “The Sound Of Music” was held at the MICHAEL TODD Theatre, where it ran for 93 weeks (March 1965-December 1966).

View link

Broan on February 23, 2007 at 11:16 am

Further suggesting that this was a design by Ronald F. Perry and Helmut Bartsch is this description of a photo set of the Beverly from the Chicago History Museum:

“Includes exterior and interior views of the Beverly Theater, located at 95th and Ashland Avenue in Chicago (Ill.), and designed by Holabird & Root. Exteriors show the front elevation which includes a confectionery. Interiors show the lobby, with zebra-stripped upholstery and photographs of movie stars, and the auditorium, showing main floor seating, stage, and balcony seating. Also include one view of the University of Chicago field house, a group of musicians, Hotel LaSalle lobby in Chicago, and the fourth-floor lobby of the Palmer House hotel, also in Chicago. Photographed for architect Helmut Bartsch of Holabird & Root and for R. Perry by Hedrich-Blessing studio.”