Riviera Theatre

It has been busy lately. Good to see those chaser lights blazing away, and people lining up around the corner onto Lawrence.

LOL. Well, Ok. I guess it is no longer he said she said.

Pretty cool photos.

I dispute the age of the tag. But I suppose it is a matter of he said, she said.

I pass by the Riviera on foot almost every day, and I can confirm that the tag across the grand window has been there for close to two years now. I noticed it the day it went up, and I’ve been annoyed by it ever since.

Here is the Uptown Borders/Goldblatts/Loren Miller, across from the riviera, in its original form as a bank. Note that the windows didn’t go as low and there was a pediment that was not replaced in the restoration. Also a balustrade along the top.

Update: The metal cladding that has marred the building for probably 40 years now is now totally removed, although the framework is still up. Despite the missing cornice, terra cotta work, and windows, it still looks a lot better to me at least now that it has some architectural expression. It would take a lot of money to fully restore, though, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens. As for the tag, i’m almost certain that’s been there for a couple years now.

Here’s a bigger news flash: Jam productions has purchased the Riviera and may rehab it with TIF funding.

Saw the new movie-the Break Up with Jennifer Aniston tonight.This theater has a role.You see quite a bit of it.

This page shows an advertisement for the grand opening in 1918:
http://tinyurl.com/l7fdm

Charles, the Riviera and Uptown were second run theatres showing double features.After a film premiered downtown, it would go to the neighborhood theatres.In the late 50’s, the Riviera played many horror films(many from AIP):“VOODOO WOMAN” plus “THE UNDEAD”,“I WAS A TEENAGE FRANKENSTEIN” plus “BLOOD OF DRACULA”, “THE BEGINNING OF THE END"plus "THE UNEARTHLY”,“THE BLOB” plus “I MARRIED A MONSTER FROM OUTER SPACE” ,and dozens more. Many of these double features initially played the Roosevelt theatre for a two week period.The Uptown played more adult oriented fare-lots of dramas(“GOD’S LITTLE ACRE”).There were exceptions- the Uptown played-first run- “HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL"with EMERGO(a skeleton floating over the heads of the audience,starting from behind the right side of the screen to the edge of the balcony,and back again). In the early to mid 60’s the Uptown played most of director Roger Cormans films…"HOUSE OF USHER”, “TALES OF TERROR”, “PREMATURE BURIAL”, “THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM”.All of these films played with a second feature.The Uptown also showed most of the beach movies…“BEACH PARTY”, “MUSCLE BEACH PARTY”, “BIKINI BEACH”.At this time, the Riviera was playing all sorts of double features-comedies, dramas, some horror/sci-fi. “THE LOVED ONE” was a hoot. Saw it downtown at the United Artists theatre. I remember it so well for two reasons: a great black comedy, and the ticket taker at the UA- an elderly gentleman named Morrie- had to dress as a mortician(complete with top hat).He was not happy about it! I don’t remember the magazine you mentioned; I do remember the Foster and Montrose beaches in the summer, and playing softball behind the Edgewater Beach Hotel.

The Internet Movie Database search for Herman’s Hermits only comes up with one title they appeared in; “When the Boys Meet the Girls” (1965) starring Connie Francis, Harve Presnell, Liberace, Louis Armstrong and Sam the Sham!

How a British group got involved in that one, I just don’t know!

In the 60’s, I saw many films at the Riviera and at the Uptown Cinemas. All the American International Beach Party Movies, the newest Disney features, Raquel Welch in 1 Million B.C. a satire on the undertaking business called THE LOVED ONE, which went right over my 10 year old mind… also, a film which featured the British Beat group Herman’s Hermits in a Beatle’s Hard Days Night kind of mode. You received a “signed” autographed photo of the group if you bought a large buttered popcorn! I remember using it for darts practice. Because of the close proximity of the Uptown and the Riviera, I don’t know where I saw what. Did one theatre play new releases and one primarily B-Movie classics like Beach Blanket Bingo? If so, which did what? Thanks for any leads! Also, does anyone remember a magazine published in 1965 called Beach Boys and Girls? I was a huge fan of the Beach Party movies and of course bought them (long gone) and have never heard about them again or seen them for sale on e-bay or anywhere else. Growing up on Chicago’s beaches we could very well relate to
surf music and films – at least in the summer months.

The Riviera Theatre came under Orpheum Circuit management and operation September 6th, 1925.