Is it me, or does that last picture in the link of Van Heflin with James MacArthur, look like George Kennedy?
Now THERE would have been a conspiracy theory.
Actors sharing names with presidents & generals on the day of the assassination? Oh the drama.
Interesting article. Not sure what good could ever come out of canceling any upcoming performances. Not really the way to go about building up a newly renovated venue.
Sounds like egos at war. No matter what the problem is, keep the doors open and people coming until it’s resolved.
What would be the point in going public with an internal turmoil? Strange. Especially with so much capitol already spent.
I believe you are correct. The Alley actually sells smaller versions of griffins, gargoyles & columns.
They just lucked out that the building’s terra cotta kind of matched their wares.
Wow. As usual, thanks again guys. Here’s another one I never knew about.
Looks like the exterior had a tough go of it for being only 30 years old.
That 3 columned, balcony like inset is reminiscent of the old Lexington/New Michigan Hotel facade. Wonder if those X panels were ones that once opened. One of our past presidents supposedly once spoke from the one at the Lexington. Another one that along with this theater, if it could have hung on, would have made an awesome renovation.
While waiting to bail a friend out of the Westmont pokey about 10 years ago, I read the history of Westmont on the station’s wall. Going from memory, it was apparently the highest point West of Chicago after the great fire in 1871. West Mountain, if you will.
With all wood construction being frowned upon after the fire, the stone & bricks that would help rebuild Chicago, were loaded onto trains in Westmont. So that gravity downward would assist in their travel Eastbound to Chicago. And now you know, the rest of the story. RIP Paul Harvey.
FYI. If you go to www.Barbra-Archives.com click on “Live” & under 1963-Mister Kelly’s, at the bottom of the page there is a B&W photo of Barbra Streisand near the old Carnegie Theatre blade.
This photo would have been 3 years prior to the 1966 fire that consumed the entire block.
The old blade was situated towards the very front of the marquee at Rush Street.
The new blade on the reconstructed theatre was situated much tighter to the building.
And is the same structure that today supports the Hugo’s Frog Bar vertical sign.
To reaffirm JohnG409’s 2005 post, an evening shot of the UA Crossbay marquee was used in the Christmas 2005 episode of “King Of Queens”. Just caught a rerun.
Interior shots were likely done in a studio. As they always seemed to utilize the same red seats in all episodes involving a theater.
The February 5th edition of the Chicago Reader was titled The Rogers Park & West Ridge Issue. It included a column titled The Savages Of Time, which was accompanied by 3 pictures of the Granada Theater. The author dedicated a few paragraphs to his memories of the Granada. Albeit climbing onto it’s roof.
A slight correction to the column, the neighboring bar was called Huey’s. Not Baby Huey’s.
Not sure who owns it now. But the Midway Theatre in Rockford is listed for sale on it’s CT page. It actually apparently had Nielson’s interest at one time. But even with the seemingly low price, it includes an entire building requiring other tenants.
Also, according to the Coronado Theatre page, which already underwent an expensive renovation, it itself is currently “hoping to break even”.
The marquee sort of mirrors that of the Genessee Theatre in Waukegan.
I didn’t know there was already a renovated performing arts theatre in Rockford, that is “hoping to break even”.
I guess that doesn’t bode well for any renovation hopes for either the Midway or the Times Theatre’s. On the Midway page it’s listed for sale, but it includes an entire building that would need attention and other tenants.
Thanks, Got it! Great Pic. I see now that it was actually three ushers inlaid on the sidewalk, standing at the ready.
A unique design feature that should have been harvested before the demolition. Thanks again.
Does anyone have a link to an old picture of the foyer sidewalk out front?
The name Adelphi & an inlaid image of a uniformed theater usher, adorned the sloped, terazzo floor out front.
The usher resembled the old Phillip Morris cigarette character.
I think the Image closed as a theatre in the late 70's. It was in the process of being converted into a night club in the late70’s, when a Stop Work Order was issued by the city. An expensive sound system had already been installed, but never got utilized.
Unless the Image reopened again as a theatre after that in the early `80’s, I believe it was done as any kind of venue after the failed opening of the night club.
FYI. 1936 Parkway exterior photo in Sunday 02/22/09 Chicago Tribune Magazine. When I pulled the link though, the photo wasn’t included with the caption.
FYI. There was a two page pictorial of Chicago Movie Palaces in the Sunday Feb. 22nd Chicago Tribune Magazine titled Portfolio/You must remember this.
It was surprising brief with only 3 b&w pictures. No article, just captions describing each photo.
A 1936 exterior of the Parkway Theatre on South Michigan Ave. A 1931 interior shot of the Nortown, and a 1921 shot of just the lobby doors of the Chicago Theatre.
All three photos were courtesy of the Theatre Historical Society of America in Elmhurst.
I agree, not unusual. Just disturbing when it comes to theaters.
I understand the no-compete thing. I just think that when it’s applied to old movies houses, it’s pretty much the kiss of death.
The amount of money to prep a place for live events only: code upgrades, insurance etc., versus just firing up the projector again to get folks in the door, would be vastly different. Mixed use would at least give a new owner a chance to utilize the theatre as is, until they could get all their ducks in a row. Continue to run films until they found their new niche.
I just reread RiisPark’s 2007 post that cited a 1986 selling criteria, as a “stipulation that the buyer cannot show movies in the building”.
This would seem a disturbing clause even by today’s standards.
It all but insures that the/a theater won’t sell, except to a developer with no intention of saving or restoring such a site.
To think that C-O was that ruthless to avoid competition even back then, seems shameful. Apparently to C-O, it was not a vintage theatre. Just another temporary screen to bring in some numbers.
The irony that such a corporate action took place involving a theatre named after Will Rogers, needs not even be said.
Is it me, or does that last picture in the link of Van Heflin with James MacArthur, look like George Kennedy?
Now THERE would have been a conspiracy theory.
Actors sharing names with presidents & generals on the day of the assassination? Oh the drama.
Interesting article. Not sure what good could ever come out of canceling any upcoming performances. Not really the way to go about building up a newly renovated venue.
Sounds like egos at war. No matter what the problem is, keep the doors open and people coming until it’s resolved.
What would be the point in going public with an internal turmoil? Strange. Especially with so much capitol already spent.
Shoot, I just drove by this today. I’ll take a look next week.
I believe you are correct. The Alley actually sells smaller versions of griffins, gargoyles & columns.
They just lucked out that the building’s terra cotta kind of matched their wares.
Wow. As usual, thanks again guys. Here’s another one I never knew about.
Looks like the exterior had a tough go of it for being only 30 years old.
That 3 columned, balcony like inset is reminiscent of the old Lexington/New Michigan Hotel facade. Wonder if those X panels were ones that once opened. One of our past presidents supposedly once spoke from the one at the Lexington. Another one that along with this theater, if it could have hung on, would have made an awesome renovation.
While waiting to bail a friend out of the Westmont pokey about 10 years ago, I read the history of Westmont on the station’s wall. Going from memory, it was apparently the highest point West of Chicago after the great fire in 1871. West Mountain, if you will.
With all wood construction being frowned upon after the fire, the stone & bricks that would help rebuild Chicago, were loaded onto trains in Westmont. So that gravity downward would assist in their travel Eastbound to Chicago. And now you know, the rest of the story. RIP Paul Harvey.
Hmmm. I wonder if this place is where that Catholic Charities Thrift Store was until just recently. Just North of Dugan’s and across from Walgreens.
The thrift store building had very high tin ceilings, and a massive freight elevator in the rear. The 2nd floor was divided up kind of strangely too.
The movie poster pictured in Ken Mc’s Feb. 4th, 2006 link, appears to be that of “Gladiator”. Dating it to be at least late 1999 or 2000.
This has to be the plainest theatre facade I’ve seen to date on CT.
Maybe some folks at SIU would have pictures and/or more history of this theatre in their archives. It’s worth a try.
FYI. If you go to www.Barbra-Archives.com click on “Live” & under 1963-Mister Kelly’s, at the bottom of the page there is a B&W photo of Barbra Streisand near the old Carnegie Theatre blade.
This photo would have been 3 years prior to the 1966 fire that consumed the entire block.
The old blade was situated towards the very front of the marquee at Rush Street.
The new blade on the reconstructed theatre was situated much tighter to the building.
And is the same structure that today supports the Hugo’s Frog Bar vertical sign.
Indeed. I’ve probably learned more from CT, than I did in school.
By chaos I meant an erronious movie time, further confused by a movie of the same name as the theater.
Maybe the newspaper ad anyway.
I guess running the remake of “3:10 to Yuma” could have caused chaos.
To reaffirm JohnG409’s 2005 post, an evening shot of the UA Crossbay marquee was used in the Christmas 2005 episode of “King Of Queens”. Just caught a rerun.
Interior shots were likely done in a studio. As they always seemed to utilize the same red seats in all episodes involving a theater.
The February 5th edition of the Chicago Reader was titled The Rogers Park & West Ridge Issue. It included a column titled The Savages Of Time, which was accompanied by 3 pictures of the Granada Theater. The author dedicated a few paragraphs to his memories of the Granada. Albeit climbing onto it’s roof.
A slight correction to the column, the neighboring bar was called Huey’s. Not Baby Huey’s.
So…from J.D. Burger to J.J. Brewsky’s. Guess this building’s restaurant fate was sealed early on.
Not sure who owns it now. But the Midway Theatre in Rockford is listed for sale on it’s CT page. It actually apparently had Nielson’s interest at one time. But even with the seemingly low price, it includes an entire building requiring other tenants.
Also, according to the Coronado Theatre page, which already underwent an expensive renovation, it itself is currently “hoping to break even”.
The marquee sort of mirrors that of the Genessee Theatre in Waukegan.
I didn’t know there was already a renovated performing arts theatre in Rockford, that is “hoping to break even”.
I guess that doesn’t bode well for any renovation hopes for either the Midway or the Times Theatre’s. On the Midway page it’s listed for sale, but it includes an entire building that would need attention and other tenants.
Wow. Quite sizable balcony over the marquee. Wonder what the original intention for such a structure was.
Public speaking or parade viewing, etc.
Thanks, Got it! Great Pic. I see now that it was actually three ushers inlaid on the sidewalk, standing at the ready.
A unique design feature that should have been harvested before the demolition. Thanks again.
Does anyone have a link to an old picture of the foyer sidewalk out front?
The name Adelphi & an inlaid image of a uniformed theater usher, adorned the sloped, terazzo floor out front.
The usher resembled the old Phillip Morris cigarette character.
I think the Image closed as a theatre in the late
70's. It was in the process of being converted into a night club in the late70’s, when a Stop Work Order was issued by the city. An expensive sound system had already been installed, but never got utilized.Unless the Image reopened again as a theatre after that in the early `80’s, I believe it was done as any kind of venue after the failed opening of the night club.
FYI. 1936 Parkway exterior photo in Sunday 02/22/09 Chicago Tribune Magazine. When I pulled the link though, the photo wasn’t included with the caption.
FYI. There was a two page pictorial of Chicago Movie Palaces in the Sunday Feb. 22nd Chicago Tribune Magazine titled Portfolio/You must remember this.
It was surprising brief with only 3 b&w pictures. No article, just captions describing each photo.
A 1936 exterior of the Parkway Theatre on South Michigan Ave. A 1931 interior shot of the Nortown, and a 1921 shot of just the lobby doors of the Chicago Theatre.
All three photos were courtesy of the Theatre Historical Society of America in Elmhurst.
I agree, not unusual. Just disturbing when it comes to theaters.
I understand the no-compete thing. I just think that when it’s applied to old movies houses, it’s pretty much the kiss of death.
The amount of money to prep a place for live events only: code upgrades, insurance etc., versus just firing up the projector again to get folks in the door, would be vastly different. Mixed use would at least give a new owner a chance to utilize the theatre as is, until they could get all their ducks in a row. Continue to run films until they found their new niche.
Or theres that…Thanks.
I just reread RiisPark’s 2007 post that cited a 1986 selling criteria, as a “stipulation that the buyer cannot show movies in the building”.
This would seem a disturbing clause even by today’s standards.
It all but insures that the/a theater won’t sell, except to a developer with no intention of saving or restoring such a site.
To think that C-O was that ruthless to avoid competition even back then, seems shameful. Apparently to C-O, it was not a vintage theatre. Just another temporary screen to bring in some numbers.
The irony that such a corporate action took place involving a theatre named after Will Rogers, needs not even be said.