Greetings. I had thought the same thing too. But a friend of mine reminded me of how massive the entrance to the United Artists Theatre was.
It’s multiple glass doors spanned a good distance East, even though it was located on the West corner of that block. It’s possible there was one or two storefronts between it and Flo’s, but not much more than that.
I remember the swing girl had her own set of spotlights isolated on her alcove. Wireless technology was pretty scarce back then, if available at all. So any corded mic would seem cumbersome for someone swinging out over the sidewalk. Presumably needing both hands. Otherwise she’d start going sideways.
As with the old Vaudeville folks, she probably just projected her voice really well. The movement is all that was necessary to capture attention.
I beleive that there is a residential building at this location now. Chestnut Station Theatre is listed on CT as being at 830 N. Clark, which was located on the S/W corner of Chestnut & Clark. The Newberry Theatre’s address would put it further North of Chestnut. Aproximately where the 100 W. Chestnut building is.(N/W corner)
In the time frame listed for the Newberry, there was a small manufacturing building just North of that, then Jocke Buick which had a rather large car lot with a rotating neon spired star. Just North of that on Clark at the S/W corner of Oak & Clark, was the massive Henrotin Hospital. Torn down in the late 80’s or early `90’s to make way for a townhome community that reaches all the way around & down Oak to LaSalle Street.
It’s possible the parking lot mentioned in the Newberry’s description is that belonging to 100 West Chestnut building.
I drive by it once a week, and will confirm in a subsequent post.
To correct my earlier post, it was not the Garrick Theatre but Chicago’s Iroquois Theatre that burned while the Foy’s were performing in the early 1900’s.
Caught an establishing shot of the Midway’s vertical sign and marquee in a 2006 rerun of the CBS show “The King Of Queens” last night. The theatre as well as the United Artists marquee played pivotal roles in the show. As the characters bounced from theatre to theatre. Interior shots of theatre seating were likely done within a studio though.
Ronny’s, wow. I remember the plastic lunchroom style trays like it was yesterday. I think there’s some version of it at Clark & Lake now. Adjacent to the entrance to the “L”.
The Crump Theatre marquee was used in the promos for an upcoming BIO Channel presentation about Indiana native and singer John Mellencamp. Presumably the concert footage used in the piece was shot at the Crump as well. The interior appears to be a smaller, intimate concert setting.
This is a tad off topic, but Foremost Liquors also utilized another classic building as their main office. Nearby only blocks away from the Argmore site, at the S/W corner of Broadway & Berwyn.
Their offices were on the second floor and were very art deco inside as of 1985 or so. There was also a giant statue of their smiling bottle/logo in their inner lobby. I believe Matanky Realty then took over the space.
Next door was briefly the 2nd home to former Sheridan Rd. & Berwyn niteclub Coconuts.
Oh, I get it. Geez. Well they succeeded at that game. Since it took almost 70 years to finally re-develop.
Still a shame.
If that building had remained and went condo even in todays market, the historic aspect would be monumental.
Masonic Temple Lofts…hmmm, maybe not.
Another one I’ll have to check out this week. The very corner space used to have a consignment antique store called The Time Well as a tenant. I think the rent increased, and then they had no tenant for years.
It was an art gallery for a brief time too.
It is an interesting building, as you can see clear through the space to Racine from Lincoln Ave. I helped a buddy fabricate the dental sign across the street on Racine back in 1989 or `90.
Nice pic. Showcases those perimeter lights on the arch again.
I just happened to notice in BWChicago’s Sept 1st post/photo from 1939, that they are actually in the process of demolishing the Masonic building next door. What an absolute waste.
How and why on earth was such a mammoth building ever destroyed, when it clearly couldn’t have been that old by 1939? Only to be replaced by low rise retail space (including the Loop Theatre) until just recently. What happened?
I just remembered humorist writer & sometimes actor Bruce Vilanch, mentioning the Carnegie Theatre and his other neighborhood haunts in an interview once. He was apparently a regular at Punchinello’s on Rush St. during the `60’s.
The office building on the site of the old Carmen Theatre was built for AON Insurance. Directly across the street is AON’s parking structure accessed by it’s own crosswalk.
Just North of that used to be a giant restaurant called the Plantation, which is now a bank.
The Terminal Theatre was mentioned in “Remembering Chicago” on PBS last night. It showed a brief shot of it’s massive vertical sign, whose bright neon was lauded when it was finally able to be turned back at the end of WWII.
Several other Chicago theatres were seen in the various footage used in describing Chicago from 1933 on up.
As I posted on the Cinestage page, there is a photo of it and/or the Michael Todd hanging in the Chicago Cultural Center. 2nd floor Western hallway, on the Washington St. side.
AMC Gremlin in the street and porno on the marquee.
There is also a Raven Theatre in Chicago on Western Ave near Granville. Though it is strictly live stage and was built inside of a former Jewel Foods grocery store.
You are a God BWChicago. Flo’s it is, or was. Thanks! My barber concurs. Thanks for the tiemline.
Flo the owner was apparently a heavy set gal who dated the dance instructer named Tony Paris. Only in Chicago would we now learn this, eh?
My barbers club was called Club Malibu located at 3309 N. Clark. Not downtown as I had thought.
There was a bowling alley at 828 W. Grace called Marigold Bowl until just a few years ago. It was operated by the same family for years. Particularly an older gentleman named Howard who worked both the desk & the shoe rental. He’d run from one to the other like Mr. Drucker on “Green Acres”,(General store to Postmaster).
This would have been across the street from the Marigold Arena, which is now and has been a church since at least the `70’s. A 24 hour IHOP stands guard at Broadway & Grace.
Howard talked about the Vogue Theatre and it’s proximity to the Marigold. As if it was a small town unto itself. Obviously he knew more than he led on. I wish he and it was still there, cause he surely knew of any tunnels.
Marigold was sold, torn down & replaced by a massive condo structure.
Part of what I believe was the Vogue Theatre site is the tall subsidized housing building at 810 W. Grace, whose East elevation faces Broadway. It had a fire of it’s own not too long ago. The Chateau Hotel was still at the other end last I was over there.
We bowled off & on in leagues at Marigold from 1995-2002. Never getting any better really.
The Baliwick Theatre is across from the Vogue site on Broadway. Several levels of live stage facilities that I think were built out of an old garage of some sorts. The rear stairwells were large and industrial looking. Moved some stuff in & out of there in 1990. It too had ballroom dancing even then.
Well, at first my barber thought the club was called the Preview. But he thought that was on another block.
He than came up with the Velvet Swing, which would make sense, but he wasn’t sure. He said I was going too far back. I’ll see him in a few weeks and re-quiz him. At least we’ll learn the name of his own club.
To Bob Jensen & Flickchick, the “Treasure Chest” was the name of the arcade that sold the gag gifts, had pinball, wooden ball bowling & such.
Even switchblades that were boldly on display in glass cases.
I’m looking at the very first of the May 24th 2005 pictures posted. There
The one before giant eyeglasses were added to the front of the marquee. Doesn’t that say just Rodeo on the small vertical portion?
The very first comment/post has only one picture. The 2nd post has two more. A different marquee in all three pictures.
My monitor is unfortunately a TV, so maybe the “S” looks like an “O”. But please take another look at the very first comment & photo posted.
So they beefed up support for the new marquee with columns, and changed the angles of the sides.
The first of the two B/W photos in Lost Memory’s May 29th post, looks like it’s plucked right out of “It’s A Wonderful Life”. Downtown Bedford Falls. Nice!
The second `70’s B/W pic shows a possible 2nd incarnation of the marquee, from that of the 1938 pic.
It’s good they went back to a classic marquee shape during the renovation.
The marquee of the Variety Playhouse is featured in the Turner Classic Movie network’s promos for “TCM Classic Movie News”. It is a slow pan with the above on the marquee. The illuminated underside is also visible.
Given Ted Turner’s association with Atlanta, it’s understandable why the Variety was the easy choice to shoot at. However given the Golden Age of Hollywood theme of “TCM Classic Movie News” & TCM in general, I think an actual Hollywood era theatre would have been more approriate. It’s not like they couldn’t afford it.
If any large Hollywood theatre wouldn’t change their marquee for a one day shoot, certainly old footage could have been altered to reflect the TCM show’s name. Even black & white footage would have been more fitting. With maybe only TCM’s title in color. It could have morphed from a premiere going crowd into an also fitting news-reel look. After tilting to the marquee. Maybe the Crest of Mann’s?
Hey Ted, need any production help out there?
Greetings. I had thought the same thing too. But a friend of mine reminded me of how massive the entrance to the United Artists Theatre was.
It’s multiple glass doors spanned a good distance East, even though it was located on the West corner of that block. It’s possible there was one or two storefronts between it and Flo’s, but not much more than that.
I remember the swing girl had her own set of spotlights isolated on her alcove. Wireless technology was pretty scarce back then, if available at all. So any corded mic would seem cumbersome for someone swinging out over the sidewalk. Presumably needing both hands. Otherwise she’d start going sideways.
As with the old Vaudeville folks, she probably just projected her voice really well. The movement is all that was necessary to capture attention.
I beleive that there is a residential building at this location now. Chestnut Station Theatre is listed on CT as being at 830 N. Clark, which was located on the S/W corner of Chestnut & Clark. The Newberry Theatre’s address would put it further North of Chestnut. Aproximately where the 100 W. Chestnut building is.(N/W corner)
In the time frame listed for the Newberry, there was a small manufacturing building just North of that, then Jocke Buick which had a rather large car lot with a rotating neon spired star. Just North of that on Clark at the S/W corner of Oak & Clark, was the massive Henrotin Hospital. Torn down in the late 80’s or early `90’s to make way for a townhome community that reaches all the way around & down Oak to LaSalle Street.
It’s possible the parking lot mentioned in the Newberry’s description is that belonging to 100 West Chestnut building.
I drive by it once a week, and will confirm in a subsequent post.
To correct my earlier post, it was not the Garrick Theatre but Chicago’s Iroquois Theatre that burned while the Foy’s were performing in the early 1900’s.
Caught an establishing shot of the Midway’s vertical sign and marquee in a 2006 rerun of the CBS show “The King Of Queens” last night. The theatre as well as the United Artists marquee played pivotal roles in the show. As the characters bounced from theatre to theatre. Interior shots of theatre seating were likely done within a studio though.
Ronny’s, wow. I remember the plastic lunchroom style trays like it was yesterday. I think there’s some version of it at Clark & Lake now. Adjacent to the entrance to the “L”.
The Crump Theatre marquee was used in the promos for an upcoming BIO Channel presentation about Indiana native and singer John Mellencamp. Presumably the concert footage used in the piece was shot at the Crump as well. The interior appears to be a smaller, intimate concert setting.
This is a tad off topic, but Foremost Liquors also utilized another classic building as their main office. Nearby only blocks away from the Argmore site, at the S/W corner of Broadway & Berwyn.
Their offices were on the second floor and were very art deco inside as of 1985 or so. There was also a giant statue of their smiling bottle/logo in their inner lobby. I believe Matanky Realty then took over the space.
Next door was briefly the 2nd home to former Sheridan Rd. & Berwyn niteclub Coconuts.
Oh, I get it. Geez. Well they succeeded at that game. Since it took almost 70 years to finally re-develop.
Still a shame.
If that building had remained and went condo even in todays market, the historic aspect would be monumental.
Masonic Temple Lofts…hmmm, maybe not.
Another one I’ll have to check out this week. The very corner space used to have a consignment antique store called The Time Well as a tenant. I think the rent increased, and then they had no tenant for years.
It was an art gallery for a brief time too.
It is an interesting building, as you can see clear through the space to Racine from Lincoln Ave. I helped a buddy fabricate the dental sign across the street on Racine back in 1989 or `90.
Nice pic. Showcases those perimeter lights on the arch again.
I just happened to notice in BWChicago’s Sept 1st post/photo from 1939, that they are actually in the process of demolishing the Masonic building next door. What an absolute waste.
How and why on earth was such a mammoth building ever destroyed, when it clearly couldn’t have been that old by 1939? Only to be replaced by low rise retail space (including the Loop Theatre) until just recently. What happened?
I just remembered humorist writer & sometimes actor Bruce Vilanch, mentioning the Carnegie Theatre and his other neighborhood haunts in an interview once. He was apparently a regular at Punchinello’s on Rush St. during the `60’s.
The office building on the site of the old Carmen Theatre was built for AON Insurance. Directly across the street is AON’s parking structure accessed by it’s own crosswalk.
Just North of that used to be a giant restaurant called the Plantation, which is now a bank.
The Terminal Theatre was mentioned in “Remembering Chicago” on PBS last night. It showed a brief shot of it’s massive vertical sign, whose bright neon was lauded when it was finally able to be turned back at the end of WWII.
Several other Chicago theatres were seen in the various footage used in describing Chicago from 1933 on up.
As I posted on the Cinestage page, there is a photo of it and/or the Michael Todd hanging in the Chicago Cultural Center. 2nd floor Western hallway, on the Washington St. side.
AMC Gremlin in the street and porno on the marquee.
There is also a Raven Theatre in Chicago on Western Ave near Granville. Though it is strictly live stage and was built inside of a former Jewel Foods grocery store.
You are a God BWChicago. Flo’s it is, or was. Thanks! My barber concurs. Thanks for the tiemline.
Flo the owner was apparently a heavy set gal who dated the dance instructer named Tony Paris. Only in Chicago would we now learn this, eh?
My barbers club was called Club Malibu located at 3309 N. Clark. Not downtown as I had thought.
There was a bowling alley at 828 W. Grace called Marigold Bowl until just a few years ago. It was operated by the same family for years. Particularly an older gentleman named Howard who worked both the desk & the shoe rental. He’d run from one to the other like Mr. Drucker on “Green Acres”,(General store to Postmaster).
This would have been across the street from the Marigold Arena, which is now and has been a church since at least the `70’s. A 24 hour IHOP stands guard at Broadway & Grace.
Howard talked about the Vogue Theatre and it’s proximity to the Marigold. As if it was a small town unto itself. Obviously he knew more than he led on. I wish he and it was still there, cause he surely knew of any tunnels.
Marigold was sold, torn down & replaced by a massive condo structure.
Part of what I believe was the Vogue Theatre site is the tall subsidized housing building at 810 W. Grace, whose East elevation faces Broadway. It had a fire of it’s own not too long ago. The Chateau Hotel was still at the other end last I was over there.
We bowled off & on in leagues at Marigold from 1995-2002. Never getting any better really.
The Baliwick Theatre is across from the Vogue site on Broadway. Several levels of live stage facilities that I think were built out of an old garage of some sorts. The rear stairwells were large and industrial looking. Moved some stuff in & out of there in 1990. It too had ballroom dancing even then.
I meant Majestic Crest OR Mann’s(Graumann’s Chinese Theatre). Guess I shouldn’t have cut typing class.
Well, at first my barber thought the club was called the Preview. But he thought that was on another block.
He than came up with the Velvet Swing, which would make sense, but he wasn’t sure. He said I was going too far back. I’ll see him in a few weeks and re-quiz him. At least we’ll learn the name of his own club.
To Bob Jensen & Flickchick, the “Treasure Chest” was the name of the arcade that sold the gag gifts, had pinball, wooden ball bowling & such.
Even switchblades that were boldly on display in glass cases.
Sorry for the typos. I’m referring only to the vertical portion of the sign in the first 1952 picture.
I’m looking at the very first of the May 24th 2005 pictures posted. There
The one before giant eyeglasses were added to the front of the marquee. Doesn’t that say just Rodeo on the small vertical portion?
The very first comment/post has only one picture. The 2nd post has two more. A different marquee in all three pictures.
My monitor is unfortunately a TV, so maybe the “S” looks like an “O”. But please take another look at the very first comment & photo posted.
So they beefed up support for the new marquee with columns, and changed the angles of the sides.
The first of the two B/W photos in Lost Memory’s May 29th post, looks like it’s plucked right out of “It’s A Wonderful Life”. Downtown Bedford Falls. Nice!
The second `70’s B/W pic shows a possible 2nd incarnation of the marquee, from that of the 1938 pic.
It’s good they went back to a classic marquee shape during the renovation.
The marquee of the Variety Playhouse is featured in the Turner Classic Movie network’s promos for “TCM Classic Movie News”. It is a slow pan with the above on the marquee. The illuminated underside is also visible.
Given Ted Turner’s association with Atlanta, it’s understandable why the Variety was the easy choice to shoot at. However given the Golden Age of Hollywood theme of “TCM Classic Movie News” & TCM in general, I think an actual Hollywood era theatre would have been more approriate. It’s not like they couldn’t afford it.
If any large Hollywood theatre wouldn’t change their marquee for a one day shoot, certainly old footage could have been altered to reflect the TCM show’s name. Even black & white footage would have been more fitting. With maybe only TCM’s title in color. It could have morphed from a premiere going crowd into an also fitting news-reel look. After tilting to the marquee. Maybe the Crest of Mann’s?
Hey Ted, need any production help out there?
P.S. That’s one rare Woody wagon in the 1944 picture in Ken Mc’s Nov.28th post.
Oh, to own that car today.