Thanks JRS40 for your last post. I must have forgot to again click on the notify me box.
Again I persued your film list and realized how many more films I’d seen at the Playboy than first thought.
I even remember buying a Sha Na Na album around the corner at Downtown Records & Tapes on State, after seeing “Let The Good Times Roll”.
Also saw Python’s “ANFSCD”, “Bang the Drum Slowly”, Sailor Who Fell From Grace With the Sea", “King of Hearts” and the Marx Bros. stuff.
Not as many after it became the Chelex, but some. Thanks again.
An acquaintance recently told me the 60’s “developer” who bought the Granada and a lot of these old theaters, was initially intending to convert them all into Bingo halls. If they were already shuttered at the time of purchase, he likely got the properties on the cheap. But the Bingo angle never materialized.
That was supposedly also the intention of the Devon Theatre. But it was able to live on a little bit longer as a movie house.
Interesting. They added it to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989, even though the original architecture was covered up in the 1940’s. Ironically that designation probably saved the structure.
Wow, what a unique structure and history. Similar to the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan Illinois.
Surely the 4.2 mil asking price was for the entire Wilma building.
Good to see it’s still operating.
Does anyone have more history on the difference between the 1919 & the 1945 photos? It’s almost as if the shaved the entire facade of the building off. Eliminating window configurations and the giant arch completely.
Although the building to the right appears to be the same, the bay windows seem wider in 1945 pic. Although the reveal around them is identical.
In any event, that’s quite a massive transformation for their to be no record of.
I just caught a repeat of a 2006 episode of the British version of Antiques Roadshow. A woman showcased her vast collection of over 100 autographed pictures, posters and memoribilia from the Grand Theatre during it’s stage days.
She was looking for an insurance value as they intend to display them all within the theatre once it is refurbished. She herself was also in one of the full cast stage photos.
The episode might be accessable via the Antiques Roadshow website.
Opt out?… I’m there! Guess I let my WebTV run my life. Open the pod bay doors HAL.
Ironically I couldn’t post to CT until late last year, even though I’d signed up in 2004…Tech-NO-logy!
Oh, I get it. It’s where the Howard Bowl ended up being built.
This theater came down, while I was just blocks away in the hospital after being born. Sorry I missed out on it’s beauty. This must be the closest two theatres were ever built next to the “L” tracks.
There is also a long time cab company in Evanston called Norshore. Their taxi’s used to line up directly across Howard Street from where this place stood. Waiting to take “L” patrons into Evanston where the “L” and buses couldn’t, and at night before the Evanston line ran 24 hours.
I found this page after checking Lost Memory’s most recent post to the Howard Theatre page. That post’s second link has a clearer picture of the above picture.
Wow, that second link took me right to a theater & pic I’d never heard of, the Norshore. Also on Howard Street. I learn something new everytime I visit CT. The larger link did go right to the Tribune site for me. But I’m then again I’m eternally signed in. Maybe I’ll try from another address.
But I agree with you that my original speculation appears wrong.
Your first link on the word “Here”, doesn’t signify that it’s from the Tribune. I’m not sure what the difference is between that and Ken Mc’s link. Am I missing something?
I know the question wasn’t for me. But it’s possible the photo had to be lifted out of the Tribune site, and re-posted in order to be seen by others.
I’ve tried to forward various Tribune articles to friends via their site in the past. And the Tribune site hides any attached story links until the addressee on the receiving end, registers & logs-in etc. to the Tribune’s liking.
Then they send you advertising updates that you can’t stop unless you un-register. You also then can’t access “their” news unless you re-register.
Unlike CT where one can browse freely without ever registering.
You’d think a newspaper that is openly on the ropes in a dying format, would make ease of access to itself a priority.
I’m not sure what CT’s policy is, but are photos OK if the proper credit is given for the source?
For the record, that style of truck is called a COE, Cab Over Engine. There is a collector following for such trucks. They are not always flatbeds.
There were tow-trucks and other models that had the driver situated over the engine. Hence the pug nose.
This was where we drove out to when “Animal House” was completely sold out at Old Orchard back in `78. As I recall, Golf Mill was also a madhouse but we got in. To what was as close to standing room only as seemed allowable.
I don’t know why I remember this, but they were letting people in and out by 2’s, well after the film had started. We were reluctant latecomers due to their own lines. And we were allowed with others to see what portion we’d missed, at the start of the next showing. Then led out. It was literally like a “Soylent Green” assembly line in & out.
Yes, I would probably agree. I’m not sure what theatres if any, are situated that far West or considered nearby to Oakton St.
Even Grand Crossing or whatever it is on Touhy Ave. near WalMart, is much further East. Not sure if Golf Mill still has theatres, or is considered adequate by residents near Oakton’s needs.
There’s no loss of still developable land along Oakton East of the old Lawrencewood for a theatre though.
The old Community Home Center (like a Handy Andy), is still vacant. And there is land across the entrance drive from Menards that has had signs up for a couple of years.
Handy Andy and a slew of smaller mom & pop hardeware stores succumbed to what was initially dubbed Agent Orange=Home Depot.
For the record, all of my posts to this page, should have been posted on the Lincoln Village 7-9 page instead. The address initially threw me. As did the 20 & 30 years ago time frames.
I believe “The Cowboys” w/John Wayne came out in 1972. You can check on IMDB.
I also just realized that by the above address and info, that all my posts to the Lincoln Village 1-6 page, belong on this Lincoln Village 7-9 page instead. This being the one where the Borders building is now. This would have been the furthest South of all the theaters ever built in this mall.
“The Warriors” opened here, and the ill-fated “Cocktail” outdoor bartending promotion took place here as well.(No one checked ID’s) Saw “Hearts of Dixie” here too.
Wow. Just seeing (Jim) Colosimo’s name, reminded me today is the 80th anniversary of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. And not a word of it mentioned on the evening news.
I think Omni was outright owned by Dominick’s from the get-go. It was Safeway that later bought/merged with Dominick’s long after Omni was history.
Omni was Dominick’s foray into the bulk discount and multi purpose store game. Omni house brands of food products had Dominick’s colors on their labels. In addition they sold stereos, and other household stuff like Wal-Mart does now. There was also an Omni on Clybourn at Wellington in Chicago.
There used to be a regular police presence for traffic control, when Avon employees left in mass every afternoon after work.
Not sure whether Avon or a drive-in would accumulate more cars at a given time. But it goes without saying that the 1940’s & `50’s would have had way less cars on the road.
You may want to try contacting Rich Koz at TV Channel 26 the “U”, in Chicago.
He runs a show called “Stoogapalooza” every Saturday evening on that channel. I assume he is a Stooge historian as well.
I just happened to catch that the New York Drive-In’s website submitted by Lost Memory on Sept. 12th 2008, lists the opening of the Finger Lakes Drive-In as July 15th 1947, as opposed to 1950.
Not sure if that requires further research, and/or warrants an update or not. At least it’s still listed as open, so someone might be able to verify the correct opening year.
As an aside, “The Four Musketeers” was actually filmed the same time as “The Three Musketeers”, a year or so earlier. Apparently the length of the initial project, prompted the studio to cut and release it as two films instead. I read where a lawsuit was filed by the actors, as they were initially paid for only the first film. They supposedly won and were later compensated for the second film.
The Playboy Theatre in Chicago ran both films together during some of their midnight double features in the `70’s. Yesterday would have been Oliver Reed’s 71st birthday. A star on both Musketeer films.
Running two completely different themed films at the Brynn Marr for their grand opening, made good business sense as to appeal to a wider audience.
Ha! Very good. I will admit, it does look cool.
I’d have filled the front windows with multiple stills from “The Last Picture Show”. So visitors could do their own comparisons on the property.
Wonder if that old Texaco is still down the street. Have to go out West again someday.
Thanks JRS40 for your last post. I must have forgot to again click on the notify me box.
Again I persued your film list and realized how many more films I’d seen at the Playboy than first thought.
I even remember buying a Sha Na Na album around the corner at Downtown Records & Tapes on State, after seeing “Let The Good Times Roll”.
Also saw Python’s “ANFSCD”, “Bang the Drum Slowly”, Sailor Who Fell From Grace With the Sea", “King of Hearts” and the Marx Bros. stuff.
Not as many after it became the Chelex, but some. Thanks again.
An acquaintance recently told me the 60’s “developer” who bought the Granada and a lot of these old theaters, was initially intending to convert them all into Bingo halls. If they were already shuttered at the time of purchase, he likely got the properties on the cheap. But the Bingo angle never materialized.
That was supposedly also the intention of the Devon Theatre. But it was able to live on a little bit longer as a movie house.
Interesting. They added it to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989, even though the original architecture was covered up in the 1940’s. Ironically that designation probably saved the structure.
Wow, what a unique structure and history. Similar to the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan Illinois.
Surely the 4.2 mil asking price was for the entire Wilma building.
Good to see it’s still operating.
Does anyone have more history on the difference between the 1919 & the 1945 photos? It’s almost as if the shaved the entire facade of the building off. Eliminating window configurations and the giant arch completely.
Although the building to the right appears to be the same, the bay windows seem wider in 1945 pic. Although the reveal around them is identical.
In any event, that’s quite a massive transformation for their to be no record of.
I just caught a repeat of a 2006 episode of the British version of Antiques Roadshow. A woman showcased her vast collection of over 100 autographed pictures, posters and memoribilia from the Grand Theatre during it’s stage days.
She was looking for an insurance value as they intend to display them all within the theatre once it is refurbished. She herself was also in one of the full cast stage photos.
The episode might be accessable via the Antiques Roadshow website.
Opt out?… I’m there! Guess I let my WebTV run my life. Open the pod bay doors HAL.
Ironically I couldn’t post to CT until late last year, even though I’d signed up in 2004…Tech-NO-logy!
Thanks for all the clarifications & insight.
Oh, I see. Thanks Lost Memory. And thanks for the second of the previous links. I never knew of the Norshore Theatre, ad posted over there.
Oh, I get it. It’s where the Howard Bowl ended up being built.
This theater came down, while I was just blocks away in the hospital after being born. Sorry I missed out on it’s beauty. This must be the closest two theatres were ever built next to the “L” tracks.
There is also a long time cab company in Evanston called Norshore. Their taxi’s used to line up directly across Howard Street from where this place stood. Waiting to take “L” patrons into Evanston where the “L” and buses couldn’t, and at night before the Evanston line ran 24 hours.
I found this page after checking Lost Memory’s most recent post to the Howard Theatre page. That post’s second link has a clearer picture of the above picture.
Wow, that second link took me right to a theater & pic I’d never heard of, the Norshore. Also on Howard Street. I learn something new everytime I visit CT. The larger link did go right to the Tribune site for me. But I’m then again I’m eternally signed in. Maybe I’ll try from another address.
But I agree with you that my original speculation appears wrong.
Your first link on the word “Here”, doesn’t signify that it’s from the Tribune. I’m not sure what the difference is between that and Ken Mc’s link. Am I missing something?
I know the question wasn’t for me. But it’s possible the photo had to be lifted out of the Tribune site, and re-posted in order to be seen by others.
I’ve tried to forward various Tribune articles to friends via their site in the past. And the Tribune site hides any attached story links until the addressee on the receiving end, registers & logs-in etc. to the Tribune’s liking.
Then they send you advertising updates that you can’t stop unless you un-register. You also then can’t access “their” news unless you re-register.
Unlike CT where one can browse freely without ever registering.
You’d think a newspaper that is openly on the ropes in a dying format, would make ease of access to itself a priority.
I’m not sure what CT’s policy is, but are photos OK if the proper credit is given for the source?
For the record, that style of truck is called a COE, Cab Over Engine. There is a collector following for such trucks. They are not always flatbeds.
There were tow-trucks and other models that had the driver situated over the engine. Hence the pug nose.
This was where we drove out to when “Animal House” was completely sold out at Old Orchard back in `78. As I recall, Golf Mill was also a madhouse but we got in. To what was as close to standing room only as seemed allowable.
I don’t know why I remember this, but they were letting people in and out by 2’s, well after the film had started. We were reluctant latecomers due to their own lines. And we were allowed with others to see what portion we’d missed, at the start of the next showing. Then led out. It was literally like a “Soylent Green” assembly line in & out.
Yes, I would probably agree. I’m not sure what theatres if any, are situated that far West or considered nearby to Oakton St.
Even Grand Crossing or whatever it is on Touhy Ave. near WalMart, is much further East. Not sure if Golf Mill still has theatres, or is considered adequate by residents near Oakton’s needs.
There’s no loss of still developable land along Oakton East of the old Lawrencewood for a theatre though.
The old Community Home Center (like a Handy Andy), is still vacant. And there is land across the entrance drive from Menards that has had signs up for a couple of years.
Handy Andy and a slew of smaller mom & pop hardeware stores succumbed to what was initially dubbed Agent Orange=Home Depot.
For the record, all of my posts to this page, should have been posted on the Lincoln Village 7-9 page instead. The address initially threw me. As did the 20 & 30 years ago time frames.
I believe “The Cowboys” w/John Wayne came out in 1972. You can check on IMDB.
I also just realized that by the above address and info, that all my posts to the Lincoln Village 1-6 page, belong on this Lincoln Village 7-9 page instead. This being the one where the Borders building is now. This would have been the furthest South of all the theaters ever built in this mall.
“The Warriors” opened here, and the ill-fated “Cocktail” outdoor bartending promotion took place here as well.(No one checked ID’s) Saw “Hearts of Dixie” here too.
Wow. Just seeing (Jim) Colosimo’s name, reminded me today is the 80th anniversary of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. And not a word of it mentioned on the evening news.
I think Omni was outright owned by Dominick’s from the get-go. It was Safeway that later bought/merged with Dominick’s long after Omni was history.
Omni was Dominick’s foray into the bulk discount and multi purpose store game. Omni house brands of food products had Dominick’s colors on their labels. In addition they sold stereos, and other household stuff like Wal-Mart does now. There was also an Omni on Clybourn at Wellington in Chicago.
Insert giant cartoon Monty Python foot, with Shoe Carnival boot & SFX, squashing the Morton Grove Theatre here.
There used to be a regular police presence for traffic control, when Avon employees left in mass every afternoon after work.
Not sure whether Avon or a drive-in would accumulate more cars at a given time. But it goes without saying that the 1940’s & `50’s would have had way less cars on the road.
You may want to try contacting Rich Koz at TV Channel 26 the “U”, in Chicago.
He runs a show called “Stoogapalooza” every Saturday evening on that channel. I assume he is a Stooge historian as well.
I just happened to catch that the New York Drive-In’s website submitted by Lost Memory on Sept. 12th 2008, lists the opening of the Finger Lakes Drive-In as July 15th 1947, as opposed to 1950.
Not sure if that requires further research, and/or warrants an update or not. At least it’s still listed as open, so someone might be able to verify the correct opening year.
As an aside, “The Four Musketeers” was actually filmed the same time as “The Three Musketeers”, a year or so earlier. Apparently the length of the initial project, prompted the studio to cut and release it as two films instead. I read where a lawsuit was filed by the actors, as they were initially paid for only the first film. They supposedly won and were later compensated for the second film.
The Playboy Theatre in Chicago ran both films together during some of their midnight double features in the `70’s. Yesterday would have been Oliver Reed’s 71st birthday. A star on both Musketeer films.
Running two completely different themed films at the Brynn Marr for their grand opening, made good business sense as to appeal to a wider audience.
Local619, do you have another link to the 1920 picture? The one you recently posted comes up “Page Not Found”.
Ha! Very good. I will admit, it does look cool.
I’d have filled the front windows with multiple stills from “The Last Picture Show”. So visitors could do their own comparisons on the property.
Wonder if that old Texaco is still down the street. Have to go out West again someday.