Beverly Theatre
1543 W. 95th Street,
Chicago,
IL
60635
1543 W. 95th Street,
Chicago,
IL
60635
8 people
favorited this theater
Showing 51 - 73 of 73 comments
I have always heard this was a later Rapp & Rapp design.
Bill and Brian… thanks very much for your help. It’s great to be able to rely on the expertise of all the people here!
When the theatre showed the desert epic ‘Lawrence of Arabia" in 1962, both water fountains on each side of the lobby were blocked off during intermission with lemonade stands.
When the theatre showed the desert epic ‘Lawrence of Arabia" in 1962, both water fountains on each side of the lobby were blocked off during intermission with lemonade stands.
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http://www.bapa.org/article.asp?articleid=107
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Yes, Cam this is the Beverly Theatre.
The above BAPA page confirms the location of the photo.
The interior shot; photo196, is indeed the Beverly Theatre Building.
I remember the ceiling design and the stage entrances at the side.
Hi All —
Brian Wolf has suggested that a couple old photos I couldn’t identify were from the Beverly. I think he’s right, based on the location. In January 1992, I had taken some shots at the Highland and the Hamilton, and one other theatre that had been converted to a church. The Beverly is in the same general area, and it seems to fit the bill. I’ve uploaded a (kinda crappy) shot of the exterior here:
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And there is a shot showing the interior in Set #14, here:
http://www.mekong.net/random/theatres.htm
If anyone can confirm that this is or isn’t the Beverly, I’d greatly appreciate it.
Further adding to confusion over the architect (Rapp & Rapp, Holabird & Root), contemporary Tribune articles name the architect as Ronald F. Perry with Helmuth Bartsch associated.
Sorry I have been off here for awhile, had a baby (again). I’ll load some pictures this weekend. The Nick Coston who managed in Kenosha was my Uncle, he passed away back in 1986. That was my Dad’s Uncle.
I still think Sounf Music ran for a year, but I have some old notes from all the grosses, I’ll look it up. I was only 12 then, so I could be very wrong. I used to bring friends and leave at the intermission in the middle of Sound of Music just to see them be all sad since the intermission comes at a down part of the movie. Then they would go home and tell their parents they just the saddest movie.
Anyone still keep up with John Kenney? He was the last Manager before it closed back in 1976.
Nick
where are those photos Nick?
A photographic record at the Chicago Historical Society says the Beverly was designed by Holabird & Root
I’m actually posting a comment on Nick Coston. I’ve learned that a Nick Coston was the first manager at the new Mid-City Outdoor Theatre in Kenosha in 1948.
Next store to the Beverly was “Ed’s Hobby & Toys”. My friend once bought a plastic toy building for his road race set & had to return it because it was warped. We saw Ed place the returned box back on the shelf for some other unsuspecting kid to buy. Then there was this billboard a couple of blocks east on 95th that read for what seemed like 15+ years “Move up to a 67 Chrysler”.
Hi all…
Does everyone remember the azure-blue glass tiles
that covered the front of the theatre?
And are PJ Walsh and “Barry” from Christ the King
church/school or St. Rita’s high school?
Susan Whiddon (now Wandrey)
Chagrin Falls, OH
I’ll add some photos, have some black and whites at home.
I have the ticket taker box in my Dad’s basement, they still live in Beverly. Also have some speakers, the ones from the outer lobby, some scope lenses, lots of pink lights from the old light room and lots of those gold and black carpet squares.
We have the records of what movies ran there and for how long, Sound of Music ran 26 weeks, then came back after some crappy moveie called MOVE played there. I used to bring friends there on Saturday’s while Sound of Music played, and at intermission, I told them the movie was over and they would all go home sad.
The church people there have always been very friendly to me in years past, they keep it in great shape and should let you in if you need a fix.
Lots of great memories and even better, great people passed thru there. Anyone know where John Kenney is these days, haven’t spoken to him since 1987.
Thanks, keep in touch,
Nick Coston
Washington, DC
Holy Rood…
LOL
Someone asked about the ice cream parlor prior to Le Bon Bon. It was known as “Joy’s.” We went there often, as we lived on 97th & Beverly Avenue, across from the railroad tracks. We also used to go to the soda fountain at Walgreens, across from the theatre. Anyone remember?
Dan
Ok Jim I will take your word for it since you WERE the COSBT at the time and I was at best HUBT probably just a lowly Usher (at 1$ per hour plus all the popcorn and “damaged” candy you can eat!) Yes those were good times I can still remember the names of about everyone who worked there during my years (Jan 66 to May 68) I can remember your antics of always putting the man’s name ahead of the womans name on the Marquee and your “art” of strategically stapling the movie posters in place
PJ, just an inside joke using cosbt, I coined it, thought you
would appricate it, (COSBT = Chief of Service Beverly Theater)
I'am quite sure that the Sound of Music ran 32 weeks.
You may have been thinking of Mary Poppins, which did run
26 weeks.
See alot of old Beverly people. Saw Mary and Marilyn not too long ago
PJ Walsh: They were good times then. Actually I thought that the
Sound Of Music ran for 32 Weeks. I guess time has clouded my
memory. Anyway, here is a little known fact. The Beverly was
known as the HOME OF THE SINGLE FEATURE: However the front of
the Marquee only read HOME OF SINGLE FEATURE, there was not
enough room for the “THE.”
Jim Barry 1964-1967, Chief of Service (COSBT) 1966 & 1967.
OT: Does anyone remember the name of the ice cream parlor located next door. Not “Le Bon Bon”, but the original one from the 40s & 50s.
Thank Jay
nice theatre. i saw many movie there. it was the sister theatre of the jeffrey theatre on 71st and jeffrey.
Actually The Sound of Music ran for 26 weeks (started around Christmas in 1965 and ran until June 1966( I worked there as an usher and still can recite the movie line by line!