I remember that as well. I thought it was a good idea at the time, because people everywhere like the movies. But apparently it didn’t work in practice.
I suppose it could have also been mismanagement, as these are the same people who ran Meridian. My understanding is that Meridian went under because they owed a large amusement tax balance that could not be paid.
I can’t think of any Plitt sites that are still showing movies. Plitt had a lot of older properties in Chicago: United Artists, Chicago, Nortown, Will Rogers. Even the newer ones, like Fox Valley, are totally outmoded by today’s standards.
I’ve always wondered what happened to Henry Plitt after he sold his business. Did he retire or get into something else?
I just didn’t put the two together that way Ken. Movies about the destruction of New York have been coming out for as long as I can remember. Independence Day, Escape from New York, what was that android movie from a few years back? A.I. I think. Soilent Green was set in New York if I remember correctly…Planet of the Apes…the Will Smith movie that just came out, and the previous versions of that novel it was based on…
September 11th was horrible. But I don’t see much association between that and humanity’s long-running fascination with cinematic devastation, as depicted in New York.
Brian: wasn’t there a 1920’s-vintage Pridmore theatre on Sheffield just south of Fullerton, where some new De Paul University buildings now stand? This would be on the east side of the street backing up against the El.
That is the first picture I have ever seen of the original vertical sign from the north. As fantastic as it must have been, I can’t help but notice how much it blocks the facade from view. The Granada’s facade is the definitely the greatest example of terra cotta workmanship I have ever seen firsthand.
I think the stained glass definitely predates any church usage. For one thing it looks very period. For another, if the church had installed it I would think there would be a crucifix displayed.
It seems like they were there for a long time. I wonder if they ran into some maintenance expenses that they couldn’t deal with.
Now THAT is a deep comment! If it was, I like the Ziggurat better. I’ve always thought the interior of this place was well done. But I don’t think the exterior quite works. It is a clumsy collection of shapes towering over the neighborhood.
Paul: Every time I went to the Plaza it was totally non-descript. No Cineplex zig-zag remodeling to be found. I think the last time I was there wasn’t too many years before it closed. So it seems unlikely that any investment took place.
It appears that you did. Anyway, it is an excellent photoset. Nobody should be bothered by links to it from two different points in the Beacon conversation.
The whole collection is excellent actually. You capture well the phases of life for some of New York’s greatest theatrical sites, both famous and infamous.
With all the money they spent on the office building (which looks fabulous), you would think they could spend $1,000 to power wash that graffiti off of the grand window. It brings down the whole presentation considerably.
Vintage interior image, as shown on an old postcard:
http://www.cardcow.com/product.php?productid=32294
I agree. I’ve always liked the facade. The location is also unusual, at least for Chicago.
In Brian’s Oct 6, 2007 post, the roof looks like it might not be in the greatest of shape.
State Wayne Movie Listings:
View link
I remember that as well. I thought it was a good idea at the time, because people everywhere like the movies. But apparently it didn’t work in practice.
I suppose it could have also been mismanagement, as these are the same people who ran Meridian. My understanding is that Meridian went under because they owed a large amusement tax balance that could not be paid.
I can’t think of any Plitt sites that are still showing movies. Plitt had a lot of older properties in Chicago: United Artists, Chicago, Nortown, Will Rogers. Even the newer ones, like Fox Valley, are totally outmoded by today’s standards.
I’ve always wondered what happened to Henry Plitt after he sold his business. Did he retire or get into something else?
I just didn’t put the two together that way Ken. Movies about the destruction of New York have been coming out for as long as I can remember. Independence Day, Escape from New York, what was that android movie from a few years back? A.I. I think. Soilent Green was set in New York if I remember correctly…Planet of the Apes…the Will Smith movie that just came out, and the previous versions of that novel it was based on…
September 11th was horrible. But I don’t see much association between that and humanity’s long-running fascination with cinematic devastation, as depicted in New York.
Are you kidding? People (on average) love watching other people get squashed.
I can’t believe they are complaining while people in Asia are basically enslaved in factories.
Brian: wasn’t there a 1920’s-vintage Pridmore theatre on Sheffield just south of Fullerton, where some new De Paul University buildings now stand? This would be on the east side of the street backing up against the El.
That is the first picture I have ever seen of the original vertical sign from the north. As fantastic as it must have been, I can’t help but notice how much it blocks the facade from view. The Granada’s facade is the definitely the greatest example of terra cotta workmanship I have ever seen firsthand.
I think the stained glass definitely predates any church usage. For one thing it looks very period. For another, if the church had installed it I would think there would be a crucifix displayed.
It seems like they were there for a long time. I wonder if they ran into some maintenance expenses that they couldn’t deal with.
Wow: I’ve never seen such clear images of the interior. Now that I have, I kind of wish I hadn’t.
Now THAT is a deep comment! If it was, I like the Ziggurat better. I’ve always thought the interior of this place was well done. But I don’t think the exterior quite works. It is a clumsy collection of shapes towering over the neighborhood.
Those are some large dwellings behind the Trylon. Are they anything significant?
That is a fascinating set of photos. Thank you for sharing. I have been wondering for years what, if anything, was left of the original interior.
Paul: Every time I went to the Plaza it was totally non-descript. No Cineplex zig-zag remodeling to be found. I think the last time I was there wasn’t too many years before it closed. So it seems unlikely that any investment took place.
Excellent photoset Ken. Those are the best shots I have ever seen of the grand lobby as it exists today.
Boy, is that ever an improvement!
Interesting. Thanks for the information.
It appears that you did. Anyway, it is an excellent photoset. Nobody should be bothered by links to it from two different points in the Beacon conversation.
The whole collection is excellent actually. You capture well the phases of life for some of New York’s greatest theatrical sites, both famous and infamous.
Ed Solero’s excellent photoset no longer works from the links above for some reason. But it can be accessed here:
View link
With all the money they spent on the office building (which looks fabulous), you would think they could spend $1,000 to power wash that graffiti off of the grand window. It brings down the whole presentation considerably.
Fascinating find. That is a pretty big room. On casual glance I’d say there easily could have been over 1,000 seats in there at some point.
I can see those comparisons as well. I think the Adelphi comes to mind first because I have seen it more times.