Here is part of an article from the Decatur Herald dated 10/6/29:
NEW POLICY FOR LOCAL THEATERS
“What’s this thing for?"
"A Christmas present?"
"Huh?"
Those and similar comments have been heard by the doormen in the Lincoln, Empress and Bijou theaters all during the last week when they handed back to the patrons the stubs of their tickets. A week ago today, when Publix customs and ideas were put in action in the Great States theaters in Decatur, the practise of tearing the ticket in two and handing the patron back the end bearing the number was instituted. The plan is new to Decatur movie fans and has been the cause for much bewilderment on their part.
The patron, by retaining the stubs, actually is protecting himself. It is explained that should a person pay his way into the theater and after seeing a part of the show suddenly become aware of the fact that he has seen the picture before, he could get his money back at the box officeâ€"but only upon presentation of the stub. During the last week patrons have continued to walk nonchalantly by the doorman after handing him the ticket as has been the custom previously, leaving him frantically and futiley trying to give back the receipt.
This is part of an article from the Suburbanite Economist, dated 2/1/61. Fair Play for Cuba is best remembered by one of its former supporters, Lee Harvey Oswald.
ROSSEN TAKES OVER ASHLAND AVE. THEATER
John A. Rossen, chairman of the Chicago chapter of the Fair Play for Cuba committee, is president of a corporation operating the American theater at 8 N. Ashland, it was disclosed this week. Rossen is the former Communist party organizer who once operated the Cinema Annex theater near Kedzie and Madison, which specialized in the showing of Russian films, many criticized as being Red propaganda.
Rossen, who was a columnist for the Daily Worker, Russian propaganda newspaper, also publishes the Maverick, a pro-Communist newspaper. Rossen is listed as president of Empresas Latinas Inc., chartered April 12, 1960, to show Latin and Spanish films at the American theater. Julio Partillo is secretary-treasurer and Fred Rodrigues is manager. Both were associated with Rossen at the Senate theater after he left the Cinema Annex.
Here is part of a Tribune article dated 4/13/21. I don’t see that anyone has discussed Race as an AKA for this theater.
IRVING THEATER PROPERTY SOLD FOR $450,000
One of the northwest side’s large movie properties, the Race Theater building at the southwest corner of Irving Park boulevard and Crawford avenue, was sold yesterday by Charles O. Race of Charles O. Race & Co.
Bert Schreiber, Chicago real estate operator and more lately identified with the Florida realty boom, yesterday sold the Calo theater property, at the northwest corner of Clark and Baimoral, 185x125, to Otto C. Kraemer, for an indicated $350,000.
This is supposed to be a Varsity Theater in Chicago in 1951. I don’t know where to put this theater as I don’t see any Chicago Varsities. Any help would be appreciated. http://tinyurl.com/5t7a2z
Here is part of an LA Times article dated 8/28/43:
Man Confesses Taking $1306 in Fake Robbery
Asst. District Atty. Melvin Gibbs today announced Norris W. Ott, manager of a Fresno theater, has confessed to stealing $1306 in theater funds Monday morning and then striking himself on the head with a length of pipe to simulate a robbery.
Approximately $600 of the money has been recovered by Gerald Hardy, owner of the theater, from hiding places where it had been secreted by Ott.
Ott told Gibbs and Hardy he stole the money to replace $500 which he had taken from theater receipts to replace another $500, which Ott said he lost in a bookie establishment.
When he struck himself with the pipe, Ott inflicted a brain concussion which necessitated him remaining in a hospital for two days.
Here is part of an article from the Decatur Herald dated 10/6/29:
NEW POLICY FOR LOCAL THEATERS
“What’s this thing for?"
"A Christmas present?"
"Huh?"
Those and similar comments have been heard by the doormen in the Lincoln, Empress and Bijou theaters all during the last week when they handed back to the patrons the stubs of their tickets. A week ago today, when Publix customs and ideas were put in action in the Great States theaters in Decatur, the practise of tearing the ticket in two and handing the patron back the end bearing the number was instituted. The plan is new to Decatur movie fans and has been the cause for much bewilderment on their part.
The patron, by retaining the stubs, actually is protecting himself. It is explained that should a person pay his way into the theater and after seeing a part of the show suddenly become aware of the fact that he has seen the picture before, he could get his money back at the box officeâ€"but only upon presentation of the stub. During the last week patrons have continued to walk nonchalantly by the doorman after handing him the ticket as has been the custom previously, leaving him frantically and futiley trying to give back the receipt.
Here is a sketch from an 8/12/37 article in the Southeast Economist regarding the theater’s grand opening:
http://tinyurl.com/6qfynx
This is part of an article from the Suburbanite Economist, dated 2/1/61. Fair Play for Cuba is best remembered by one of its former supporters, Lee Harvey Oswald.
ROSSEN TAKES OVER ASHLAND AVE. THEATER
John A. Rossen, chairman of the Chicago chapter of the Fair Play for Cuba committee, is president of a corporation operating the American theater at 8 N. Ashland, it was disclosed this week. Rossen is the former Communist party organizer who once operated the Cinema Annex theater near Kedzie and Madison, which specialized in the showing of Russian films, many criticized as being Red propaganda.
Rossen, who was a columnist for the Daily Worker, Russian propaganda newspaper, also publishes the Maverick, a pro-Communist newspaper. Rossen is listed as president of Empresas Latinas Inc., chartered April 12, 1960, to show Latin and Spanish films at the American theater. Julio Partillo is secretary-treasurer and Fred Rodrigues is manager. Both were associated with Rossen at the Senate theater after he left the Cinema Annex.
Loopnet still has the ad posted, but says the building is no longer available. Maybe in escrow or they took it off the market.
Listed at 3826 W. Madison in the 1953 yellow pages. Phone number was NEvada 8-6000.
Listed at 2651 N. Clark in the 1953 yellow pages. Phone number was DIvrsy 8-5567.
The Capitol Theatre was on East Main Street, according to this site:
http://tinyurl.com/54qewm
Pulaski was Crawford, I think. It does say “Race Theater building”. I guess the Irving was in the Race Theater building, which is kind of odd.
Here is part of a Tribune article dated 4/13/21. I don’t see that anyone has discussed Race as an AKA for this theater.
IRVING THEATER PROPERTY SOLD FOR $450,000
One of the northwest side’s large movie properties, the Race Theater building at the southwest corner of Irving Park boulevard and Crawford avenue, was sold yesterday by Charles O. Race of Charles O. Race & Co.
Here is part of a Tribune article dated 2/10/25;
Bert Schreiber, Chicago real estate operator and more lately identified with the Florida realty boom, yesterday sold the Calo theater property, at the northwest corner of Clark and Baimoral, 185x125, to Otto C. Kraemer, for an indicated $350,000.
And another sale five years earlier:
http://tinyurl.com/6rkclh
Here is an October 1944 story about the sale of the theater:
http://tinyurl.com/6rqp9a
Is this the Varsity in Milwaukee? Photo is dated 1951.
http://tinyurl.com/5t7a2z
Looks like Racine, BW. I will check.
All the parade photos were in Chicago, according to the caption. Perhaps an AKA for a Chicago theater that’s already been listed.
John Derek was an actor in the early fifties. He co-starred with Humphrey Bogart in “Knock on Any Door”, which was 1954, I think.
Not Life, Warren, that was me. There was no identification on the photo.
The McVickers Theater can be seen in the background of this 1950 photo from Life Magazine:
http://tinyurl.com/6f75v7
This is supposed to be a Varsity Theater in Chicago in 1951. I don’t know where to put this theater as I don’t see any Chicago Varsities. Any help would be appreciated.
http://tinyurl.com/5t7a2z
Here is part of an LA Times article dated 8/28/43:
Man Confesses Taking $1306 in Fake Robbery
Asst. District Atty. Melvin Gibbs today announced Norris W. Ott, manager of a Fresno theater, has confessed to stealing $1306 in theater funds Monday morning and then striking himself on the head with a length of pipe to simulate a robbery.
Approximately $600 of the money has been recovered by Gerald Hardy, owner of the theater, from hiding places where it had been secreted by Ott.
Ott told Gibbs and Hardy he stole the money to replace $500 which he had taken from theater receipts to replace another $500, which Ott said he lost in a bookie establishment.
When he struck himself with the pipe, Ott inflicted a brain concussion which necessitated him remaining in a hospital for two days.
Here is a 1951 photo from Life:
http://tinyurl.com/5mqnqy
Here is another 1951 photo from Life:
http://tinyurl.com/5t85ow
Here is a 1945 photo from Life Magazine:
http://tinyurl.com/6g63zm
Here is a 1945 photo from Life Magazine:
http://tinyurl.com/5vb2e8
It’s a Polish flower shop.
http://tinyurl.com/6zhydg