I remember driving past this place a lot in the early 80's. I loved that swooped underside to the marquee.
There was a deserted50’s suburban feel to that stretch of North Ave.
With giant bridal shops & stores that seemed to never have foot traffic.
Also the Wagon Wheel & Randall’s Ribs restaurants, plus Kiddieland weren’t too far away. I think a CVS or Walgreens also replaced the Wagon Wheel.
The Manor going from weddings to wrestling is interesting.
Interesting. I didn’t think that the marquee overhang had been added after 1982. Ricky’s restaurant is just to the left with the broiled foods signage above their window.
I think there was a tavern called Reflections just a few doors South of that art studio awning. Reckless Records is just South of that. I think there is also an old bi-level parking garage building in the next building South. Possibly with some white terra cotta details.
I didn' realize that the blade letters were removed prior to `82. For the record, that used car lot pictured is also now gone. Maybe within the last 3-4 years.
Note to CT administrators: The opening theatre description by Bryan Krefft needs to have the year of the fire changed from 1996 to 1966.
Great picture Ken Mc. What was the source for it?
The picture is pre-1966, as that is the Carnegie that burned down.
We lived in the building just East,(to the left), of the corner building with the turret style wrapaound bay windows, in the lower left hand corner.
That building housed Gus' & the first incarnation of Jay Emerick’s many taverns.
Jay still has a place called Jay’s Amore in the West Loop. He also was involved in Face’s in the `70’s.
The Singapore Room was indeed a restaurant. That giant marquee had neon monkeys on timers that ran up the sides.
Yep, the yellow one in front of the orange Dodge is the Pinto.
Alas, it was alledgedly the metal bolts on the gas tank straps that punctured the tanks upon rear end collisions. The subsequent recall replaced them with plastic bolts. Which doesn’t exactly sound safer, but apparently was.
P.S. Can you post the pic of the Norshore from American Classic Images to the Norshore page? Feed the addiction. Thanks.
FYI. There’s a great b&w daytime shot of the Norshore, within that “American Classic Images” site where everyone’s pulling pictures from as of late.
It has a towering presence that must have been awe inspiring at the time.
I can’t post anything from my WebTV server except comments. So if anyone can do the honors, it would be appreciated.
Is the Ramova still standing?
Last I drove by it had a “Property of City Of Chicago” metal sign attached to the front. I think the buildings on either side may have also been gone.
Wow. There’s a movie promotion & technique that could never take place today. As wholesome & good natured as it was.
The fact that it was co-sponsored by Packard is also cynically somehow fitting.
An auto industry historian would later be quoted on a PBS special, that the merger between Studebaker & Packard was “tantamount to two drunks helping each other out of a bar.”
I would think the fact that it is still open would end the mystery. Can’t someone just call there and ask if they are/were the only Iola 54 Drive-In?
Surely they should know if they have/had a 2nd location or any competitors of the same name.
I was just reminded by a childhood friend, that we exited this theater quite quickly on one occasion.
Apparently with the head shops in such close proximity, their customers took the path of least resistance as to where to “light up” & test out their purchases.
The Aardvark was indeed that cheap, sparsely occupied, quite handy locale.
Since the films were often avant garde, it would go virtually unchecked.
Great pic. It’s a shame it survived 70 years, and came down so recently. Current economic conditions can’t possibly help to save a lot of these places that may still exist.
Years of no heat, who knows how much asbestos, etc. just takes the fight out of most of them.
Just to remind anyone who is interested. The Genesee’s marquee is pretty much identical to that of the Coronado in Rockford Illinois. Shape & style, minus the various colored insets.
Thanks for posting that BW. It’s nice to know that even in it’s current thrift store use, they returned the entrance area to a little more as/like original.
I remember driving past this place a lot in the early
80's. I loved that swooped underside to the marquee. There was a deserted50’s suburban feel to that stretch of North Ave.With giant bridal shops & stores that seemed to never have foot traffic.
Also the Wagon Wheel & Randall’s Ribs restaurants, plus Kiddieland weren’t too far away. I think a CVS or Walgreens also replaced the Wagon Wheel.
The Manor going from weddings to wrestling is interesting.
Interesting. I didn’t think that the marquee overhang had been added after 1982. Ricky’s restaurant is just to the left with the broiled foods signage above their window.
I think there was a tavern called Reflections just a few doors South of that art studio awning. Reckless Records is just South of that. I think there is also an old bi-level parking garage building in the next building South. Possibly with some white terra cotta details.
I didn' realize that the blade letters were removed prior to `82. For the record, that used car lot pictured is also now gone. Maybe within the last 3-4 years.
Note to CT administrators: The opening theatre description by Bryan Krefft needs to have the year of the fire changed from 1996 to 1966.
Great picture Ken Mc. What was the source for it?
The picture is pre-1966, as that is the Carnegie that burned down.
We lived in the building just East,(to the left), of the corner building with the turret style wrapaound bay windows, in the lower left hand corner.
That building housed Gus' & the first incarnation of Jay Emerick’s many taverns.
Jay still has a place called Jay’s Amore in the West Loop. He also was involved in Face’s in the `70’s.
The Singapore Room was indeed a restaurant. That giant marquee had neon monkeys on timers that ran up the sides.
FYI. There’s a 1983 picture of the Fine Arts facade on the American Classic Images site, should anyone want to post it that is able.
Yep, the yellow one in front of the orange Dodge is the Pinto.
Alas, it was alledgedly the metal bolts on the gas tank straps that punctured the tanks upon rear end collisions. The subsequent recall replaced them with plastic bolts. Which doesn’t exactly sound safer, but apparently was.
P.S. Can you post the pic of the Norshore from American Classic Images to the Norshore page? Feed the addiction. Thanks.
FYI. There’s a great b&w daytime shot of the Norshore, within that “American Classic Images” site where everyone’s pulling pictures from as of late.
It has a towering presence that must have been awe inspiring at the time.
I can’t post anything from my WebTV server except comments. So if anyone can do the honors, it would be appreciated.
Is the Ramova still standing?
Last I drove by it had a “Property of City Of Chicago” metal sign attached to the front. I think the buildings on either side may have also been gone.
Reactivate Notification Status.
Wow. There’s a movie promotion & technique that could never take place today. As wholesome & good natured as it was.
The fact that it was co-sponsored by Packard is also cynically somehow fitting.
An auto industry historian would later be quoted on a PBS special, that the merger between Studebaker & Packard was “tantamount to two drunks helping each other out of a bar.”
I would think the fact that it is still open would end the mystery. Can’t someone just call there and ask if they are/were the only Iola 54 Drive-In?
Surely they should know if they have/had a 2nd location or any competitors of the same name.
Reactivate Notification Status.
I was just reminded by a childhood friend, that we exited this theater quite quickly on one occasion.
Apparently with the head shops in such close proximity, their customers took the path of least resistance as to where to “light up” & test out their purchases.
The Aardvark was indeed that cheap, sparsely occupied, quite handy locale.
Since the films were often avant garde, it would go virtually unchecked.
I know, I know… check the box.
Great pic. It’s a shame it survived 70 years, and came down so recently. Current economic conditions can’t possibly help to save a lot of these places that may still exist.
Years of no heat, who knows how much asbestos, etc. just takes the fight out of most of them.
Just to remind anyone who is interested. The Genesee’s marquee is pretty much identical to that of the Coronado in Rockford Illinois. Shape & style, minus the various colored insets.
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This theatre would have been very close to the Trianon Ballroom. If anyone has pics of either they’d be greatly appreciated.
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Forgot to check the box again…Doh!
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Thanks for posting that BW. It’s nice to know that even in it’s current thrift store use, they returned the entrance area to a little more as/like original.
Reactivate Notification Status.
Reactivate Notification Status.