FYI. Trailers for “Public Enemies” are now starting to appear. Brief glimpses of the Biograph’s 1934 transformation from their time shooting here, are in edited into some of them.
Since everyone pretty much knows the story ends there, they are likely using the Biograph footage sparingly for the promos. Just the right amount of tease. Having witnessed some of the Biograph/street scene build-out, I can’t wait to see how it transfers to film.
I just happened to rebrowse the State-Lake page. BWChicago’s 06/09/05 post with has a link to a Stanley Kubrick picture from 1949. It looks like Kubrick may have applied a little bit of primitive “photoshop” techniques to enhance the State-Lake marquee.
The film “He Walked By Night” although released in 1949, while possibly playing there at the time, may or may not have been added with a little artistic license by Kubrick. To better convey the gritty street feeling he was trying to capture as a photo journalist. The story was based in L.A., but is/was known for it’s film noir photography style at the time.
There is a book series called Images of America, featuring one book titled “Joliet” by author & Joliet native Marianne Wolf. I bought the book in 2006 at the Chicago Cultural Center.
Pages 113-115 are dedicated to Rubens Rialto Square.
There are four pictures with descriptions of the building, lobby, Barton Grande Theatre Pipe Organ, and stage.
The book is/was printed by Arcadia Publishing.
I wish I’d known of the record run of “Charly” at the Cinema Theatre earlier. I shot an interview of Cliff Robertson at a Friends Of Miegs Field event not far from there, I think at the Ritz. So maybe 2003 or so. Given the time frame of what sadly happened to Miegs.
Robertson was there because he was apparently a pilot. He had a funny story about being mistakenly recognized by children once as JFK, whom I believe he played.
After describing to them that he was really just an actor, a little girl said “no you’re not, you’re Charly and your an idiot!”
Anyway, if we knew at the time of Robertson’s mild connection to the Cinema Theatre, we could have come up with some further banter or sparked some other Chicago area theater memories of his. If he had any. The actors always do.
A few years back there was an art gallery further North on Wells St. that had an exhibit based on the owner of the Bijou. There were giant mugs shots from the `70’s in the gallery window.
There was also an apparent failed bombing in the early `90’s that I mentioned over on the Aardvark CT page.
According to news reports at the the time, the would be bomber accidentally blew himself up while alledgedly enroute to the Bijou. Though I’m not sure if this was ever proven to be true, or just speculation due to the bomber’s supposed criminal ties. Might have just been the media trying to link the theatre to other seedy activities.
Though the theatre may specialize in gay porn, I believe the accompanying book/DVD store caters to a hetero adult clientele as well. Even though we grew up in the area, we never set foot in this place.
The Royal London Wax Museum down the street was more our interest. Until the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum opened up across the street. Possibly in the building the Habitat Co. is in. Or near it.
I was always amazed that the Bijou stood the test of time, with a Chicago public grade school located essentially kitty corner & across the street. I’m sure if any such operation were to try and open from scratch at such a locale today, the surrounding yuppie parents would block it to no end. Real estate values in that area have gone ballistic.
Funny, that 11/29/08 picture link has a woman’s bunny costume that predates Hefner’s Playboy magazine launched in Chicago by 5 years.
Over on the Montclare Theater CT page, I believe it’s mentioned Hefner thinks he got the idea of the bunny cuffs with no sleeves, from his days as an usher at the Montclare. They wore jackets with fake, cardboard shirt cuffs underneath.
FYI. WLS radio in Chicago interviewed legendary actor Tony Curtis this afternoon. He is in town to do a personal appearance tonight at Hollywood Blvd. Cinema.
They are screening “Some Like It Hot” and he will apparently be autographing books and his artwork.
He is also at the Collectors Autograph Show this weekend near O'Hare.
Recap: The news piece that aired last night on NBC, basically covered the neighborhood’s frustration over the giant unfinished hole in the ground that was once the Adelphi Theater.
They ran a quick clip with a vintage pic of the building and marquee. And did mention the Adelphi by name.
Then it went into the various political donations that the developer had made to the current Alderman, and those in the ward’s of their other past developments. A practice the current Alderman apparently previousy frowned upon.
The story further implied that various re-zoning (to a 5 story structure in the Adelphi’s case), and other permit issues were suspect due to ANY donations given to a ward’s Alderman.
Didn’t quite catch what happened to cause the developer work stoppage at the Adelphi site.
But it apparently has left an in-ground foundation with rusting steel beams, and a chain link fence around the entire site for two years.
As well as exasperated neighbors who just refer to it as “the hole”.
Wow, Dr. Bop (& The Headliners) played there? They were a riot. Had their own bartender on stage with them. They’d bat pitchers of beer out over/on the audience with their guitars. Indoors at a theatre must have been a mess.
They performed on a rubber mat. Insured by Lloyds Of London I was told. They lived in Chicago for a while in the `80’s. Played many a street fair. They had rotating female back-up singers called the “Melendez Sisters.” A gal I went to grade school with turned up as one once. Her dad was a folk musician too as I recall. Thanks for the pics.
FYI. I believe there is a Carol Marin news piece about the Adelphi property on tonight’s, (March 18th) 10 pm NBC Channel 5 newscast.
It’s titled “Hole In The Nieghborhood” or something similar.
Thanks. I didn’t realize it was you that originally posted the “mystery” Varsity photo. The photo is actually on both the Peoria IL & Milwaukee WI Varsity CT pages.
But the mystery is still unsolved though, sort of.
The consensus seems to be that it is the Milwaukee WI Varsity, now part of Marquette University.
Though there are no other or current pictures with which to compare it.
The other Life Magazine photo was of Racine WI. So it could have been Gen. MacArthur’s parades in WI that all pics were originally culled from.
You are correct that it was miscaptioned as being from Chicago IL.,
where there was never a Varsity.
It was not Evanston IL’s Varsity either.
Interesting. The older photo in their website’s history link looks like the “mystery” Varsity, that was posted on another CT Varsity page.
The mystery photo on that page had college students perched on a Varsity marquee to view a parade or something in tyhe 40's or50’s.
Unfortunately I can’t recall what city or CT page the “rogue” Varsity was thought to be in.
It’s interesting to see the slight upward grade of the side street to the cinema’s left.
I wonder if that played any role in how the ABC’s auditorium was originally laid out? Or if i was excavated further donward towards the screen. Assuming the screen was loacted at the back.
I guess the link no longer works.
The Sun-Times article was basically about Ald. Smith trying to get/force? JAM to partner with Live Nation on a future for the Uptown Theatre.
Even though there were possible conflicts of interest on Live Nation’s part since they already supposedly have contracts with the city either at Northerly Island (Miegs Field), or elsewhere for Summer festivals.
Also JAM apparently has issues with Live Nation a competitor, apparently previously trying to cause JAM headaches.
I just read on CT’s Capitol Music Hall(Wheeling, WV) page, that Live Nation sold that venue for $615,000 after supposedly seeking $800,000 in 2007.
A building that also housed recording studios, offices etc. A promoters dream space I would think. Besides, don’t they already own House Of Blues?
So maybe it best that Live Nation never get their hands in or on the Uptown.
The Uptown is likely out of their league.
The Capitol Music Hall only needed $2-8 million+ worth of work.
As far as Ald. Smith pushing for a JAM/Live Nation partnership, she should probably do more homework on Live Nation. Hometown JAM is a better fit for the Uptown on their own. Especially since they made the effort to buy it on their own. After no one else would.
Again, Who is Ald. Smith to tell JAM who to work with on their property? And again, if she wanted Live Nation’s involvement because of their past city ties, why didn’t she get them to buy it in the first place.
In retrospect, it sounds like she wanted someone else to pay for the place and it’s problems, then sweep in Live Nation and their money to “help” get it up and running.
If Live Nation didn’t want to spend $2 million to fix up an already operational music venue, what’s going to be their part in a $30 million dollar renovation? Their expertise?
FYI. Trailers for “Public Enemies” are now starting to appear. Brief glimpses of the Biograph’s 1934 transformation from their time shooting here, are in edited into some of them.
Since everyone pretty much knows the story ends there, they are likely using the Biograph footage sparingly for the promos. Just the right amount of tease. Having witnessed some of the Biograph/street scene build-out, I can’t wait to see how it transfers to film.
Reactivate notification status.
I just happened to rebrowse the State-Lake page. BWChicago’s 06/09/05 post with has a link to a Stanley Kubrick picture from 1949. It looks like Kubrick may have applied a little bit of primitive “photoshop” techniques to enhance the State-Lake marquee.
The film “He Walked By Night” although released in 1949, while possibly playing there at the time, may or may not have been added with a little artistic license by Kubrick. To better convey the gritty street feeling he was trying to capture as a photo journalist. The story was based in L.A., but is/was known for it’s film noir photography style at the time.
Reactivate notification status.
There is a book series called Images of America, featuring one book titled “Joliet” by author & Joliet native Marianne Wolf. I bought the book in 2006 at the Chicago Cultural Center.
Pages 113-115 are dedicated to Rubens Rialto Square.
There are four pictures with descriptions of the building, lobby, Barton Grande Theatre Pipe Organ, and stage.
The book is/was printed by Arcadia Publishing.
Reactivate notificaton status.
I wish I’d known of the record run of “Charly” at the Cinema Theatre earlier. I shot an interview of Cliff Robertson at a Friends Of Miegs Field event not far from there, I think at the Ritz. So maybe 2003 or so. Given the time frame of what sadly happened to Miegs.
Robertson was there because he was apparently a pilot. He had a funny story about being mistakenly recognized by children once as JFK, whom I believe he played.
After describing to them that he was really just an actor, a little girl said “no you’re not, you’re Charly and your an idiot!”
Anyway, if we knew at the time of Robertson’s mild connection to the Cinema Theatre, we could have come up with some further banter or sparked some other Chicago area theater memories of his. If he had any. The actors always do.
Reactivate notification status.
A few years back there was an art gallery further North on Wells St. that had an exhibit based on the owner of the Bijou. There were giant mugs shots from the `70’s in the gallery window.
There was also an apparent failed bombing in the early `90’s that I mentioned over on the Aardvark CT page.
According to news reports at the the time, the would be bomber accidentally blew himself up while alledgedly enroute to the Bijou. Though I’m not sure if this was ever proven to be true, or just speculation due to the bomber’s supposed criminal ties. Might have just been the media trying to link the theatre to other seedy activities.
Though the theatre may specialize in gay porn, I believe the accompanying book/DVD store caters to a hetero adult clientele as well. Even though we grew up in the area, we never set foot in this place.
The Royal London Wax Museum down the street was more our interest. Until the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum opened up across the street. Possibly in the building the Habitat Co. is in. Or near it.
I was always amazed that the Bijou stood the test of time, with a Chicago public grade school located essentially kitty corner & across the street. I’m sure if any such operation were to try and open from scratch at such a locale today, the surrounding yuppie parents would block it to no end. Real estate values in that area have gone ballistic.
Reactivate notification status.
Funny, that 11/29/08 picture link has a woman’s bunny costume that predates Hefner’s Playboy magazine launched in Chicago by 5 years.
Over on the Montclare Theater CT page, I believe it’s mentioned Hefner thinks he got the idea of the bunny cuffs with no sleeves, from his days as an usher at the Montclare. They wore jackets with fake, cardboard shirt cuffs underneath.
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FYI. WLS radio in Chicago interviewed legendary actor Tony Curtis this afternoon. He is in town to do a personal appearance tonight at Hollywood Blvd. Cinema.
They are screening “Some Like It Hot” and he will apparently be autographing books and his artwork.
He is also at the Collectors Autograph Show this weekend near O'Hare.
Recap: The news piece that aired last night on NBC, basically covered the neighborhood’s frustration over the giant unfinished hole in the ground that was once the Adelphi Theater.
They ran a quick clip with a vintage pic of the building and marquee. And did mention the Adelphi by name.
Then it went into the various political donations that the developer had made to the current Alderman, and those in the ward’s of their other past developments. A practice the current Alderman apparently previousy frowned upon.
The story further implied that various re-zoning (to a 5 story structure in the Adelphi’s case), and other permit issues were suspect due to ANY donations given to a ward’s Alderman.
Didn’t quite catch what happened to cause the developer work stoppage at the Adelphi site.
But it apparently has left an in-ground foundation with rusting steel beams, and a chain link fence around the entire site for two years.
As well as exasperated neighbors who just refer to it as “the hole”.
Wow, Dr. Bop (& The Headliners) played there? They were a riot. Had their own bartender on stage with them. They’d bat pitchers of beer out over/on the audience with their guitars. Indoors at a theatre must have been a mess.
They performed on a rubber mat. Insured by Lloyds Of London I was told. They lived in Chicago for a while in the `80’s. Played many a street fair. They had rotating female back-up singers called the “Melendez Sisters.” A gal I went to grade school with turned up as one once. Her dad was a folk musician too as I recall. Thanks for the pics.
FYI. I believe there is a Carol Marin news piece about the Adelphi property on tonight’s, (March 18th) 10 pm NBC Channel 5 newscast.
It’s titled “Hole In The Nieghborhood” or something similar.
Thanks, you are correct. The only thing it remotely has in common is glass blocks. And plenty more in the mystery pic.
Forgive me for the following.
But would never finding out, be known as the… Varsity Drag?
Thanks. I didn’t realize it was you that originally posted the “mystery” Varsity photo. The photo is actually on both the Peoria IL & Milwaukee WI Varsity CT pages.
But the mystery is still unsolved though, sort of.
The consensus seems to be that it is the Milwaukee WI Varsity, now part of Marquette University.
Though there are no other or current pictures with which to compare it.
The other Life Magazine photo was of Racine WI. So it could have been Gen. MacArthur’s parades in WI that all pics were originally culled from.
You are correct that it was miscaptioned as being from Chicago IL.,
where there was never a Varsity.
It was not Evanston IL’s Varsity either.
Interesting. The older photo in their website’s history link looks like the “mystery” Varsity, that was posted on another CT Varsity page.
The mystery photo on that page had college students perched on a Varsity marquee to view a parade or something in tyhe
40's or50’s.Unfortunately I can’t recall what city or CT page the “rogue” Varsity was thought to be in.
It’s interesting to see the slight upward grade of the side street to the cinema’s left.
I wonder if that played any role in how the ABC’s auditorium was originally laid out? Or if i was excavated further donward towards the screen. Assuming the screen was loacted at the back.
I guess the link no longer works.
The Sun-Times article was basically about Ald. Smith trying to get/force? JAM to partner with Live Nation on a future for the Uptown Theatre.
Even though there were possible conflicts of interest on Live Nation’s part since they already supposedly have contracts with the city either at Northerly Island (Miegs Field), or elsewhere for Summer festivals.
Also JAM apparently has issues with Live Nation a competitor, apparently previously trying to cause JAM headaches.
I just read on CT’s Capitol Music Hall(Wheeling, WV) page, that Live Nation sold that venue for $615,000 after supposedly seeking $800,000 in 2007.
A building that also housed recording studios, offices etc. A promoters dream space I would think. Besides, don’t they already own House Of Blues?
So maybe it best that Live Nation never get their hands in or on the Uptown.
The Uptown is likely out of their league.
The Capitol Music Hall only needed $2-8 million+ worth of work.
As far as Ald. Smith pushing for a JAM/Live Nation partnership, she should probably do more homework on Live Nation. Hometown JAM is a better fit for the Uptown on their own. Especially since they made the effort to buy it on their own. After no one else would.
Again, Who is Ald. Smith to tell JAM who to work with on their property? And again, if she wanted Live Nation’s involvement because of their past city ties, why didn’t she get them to buy it in the first place.
In retrospect, it sounds like she wanted someone else to pay for the place and it’s problems, then sweep in Live Nation and their money to “help” get it up and running.
If Live Nation didn’t want to spend $2 million to fix up an already operational music venue, what’s going to be their part in a $30 million dollar renovation? Their expertise?