The old Heilig-Meyers/Nelson Brothers at the corner was converted into 22 loft condos, the Annoyance Theater, Marigold Indian Restaurant, and Fat Cat Bar a couple years ago. They’re doing very well. The former storage loft building directly north of the Uptown and the cinder-block stores next to that could probably be incorporated, though. I have to imagine some more land acquisition is going to be needed, be it for stage expansion or more support space.
His work tends to cut lots of corners and lack historic integrity. See: plastic lights at the Palace, gutting the Biograph, the barely-a-restoration of the Chicago, inaccurate paint at the Oriental,
I do like his new-build work though, and his work at the Auditorium seems fine, and DePaul Center is ok; it just seems that there is perhaps too much, often unnecessary compromise with respect to integrity. Such as when he pretty much destroyed the UIC Campus.
My impression was that the House of Blues restaurant was in the theater space. It’s even kinda in a 3-hall configuration. Which entrance to the building was used for the theaters?
David: The way this would be treated on CT would be for the status to change to “Closed” and function to “Restaurant”. I too was under the impression that it had been wholly demolished until your correction.
Interesting. The theater was indeed demolished after the 1966 fire, but not as a direct consequence. It had suffered little damage, but was demolished in July so that new foundations for the high rise could be laid with parking above. Brotman was annoyed with the building’s owners, as he wanted to reopen immediately after rather tha wait for it to be rebuilt. It closed with 479 seats and reopened with 530-599 on October 11, 1967.
Strangely, rather than expanding the building to its original 22-screen configuration, Muvico has announced plans to REDUCE its size to 14 screens, while expanding the footprint to where those additional 4 screens would have been. This space will become a bowling alley, which was originally going to go in a new building across the street. To get approval to do this, Muvico agreed to void an agreement with Rosemont not to build over 20 feet in height along the tollway, a restriction intended to maintain Muvico’s visibility.
Also, the theater’s architect was Development Design Group
My point was that historically theaters, as well as any complex building projects, are very, very frequently off-schedule. A lot of times now you’ll see theaters rushed to completion because they absolutely HAVE to open due to scheduling. But still things are pushed back very frequently. I know the last two big theater projects in Chicago, the Biograph and Bank of America (Lasalle Bank, Shubert, Majestic) Theater were both reopened significantly later than originally projected.
I would also point out that it is very normal for a theater to be closed long before restoration; for example, the Oriental was closed for 18 years and the Auditorium for nearly 30. The Genesee in Waukegan was closed for 15 years. I could go on. Continuous operation up to restoration is definitely the exception, not the rule.
When the Uptown was announced in the Chicago Tribune on February 3, 1924, it was stated that the planned opening date was April 1, 1925. It opened August 18th.
According to the Trib, Citizen Kane had a dual premiere at the Palace and Woods on May 6, 1941. The film continued to play at the Woods as a two a day roadshow, reserved seat, and at the Palace continuously in the afternoon with an evening reserved seat show.
The Palace changed features on May 20, and the Woods dropped the reserved policy. It closed at the Woods on July 13. On August 30, it had returned to the Palace at regular admission through roughly September 14. It then played neighborhood houses starting November 15.
Diner Grill is still there.
The old Heilig-Meyers/Nelson Brothers at the corner was converted into 22 loft condos, the Annoyance Theater, Marigold Indian Restaurant, and Fat Cat Bar a couple years ago. They’re doing very well. The former storage loft building directly north of the Uptown and the cinder-block stores next to that could probably be incorporated, though. I have to imagine some more land acquisition is going to be needed, be it for stage expansion or more support space.
His work tends to cut lots of corners and lack historic integrity. See: plastic lights at the Palace, gutting the Biograph, the barely-a-restoration of the Chicago, inaccurate paint at the Oriental,
I do like his new-build work though, and his work at the Auditorium seems fine, and DePaul Center is ok; it just seems that there is perhaps too much, often unnecessary compromise with respect to integrity. Such as when he pretty much destroyed the UIC Campus.
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View link Dan Coffey did restoration.
View link Here is an old article about thr Jewish Center.
I hope Coffey does right by it, but I’m not gonna hold my breath.
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Some fool injured himself trying to slide down the stair rail.
My impression was that the House of Blues restaurant was in the theater space. It’s even kinda in a 3-hall configuration. Which entrance to the building was used for the theaters?
David: The way this would be treated on CT would be for the status to change to “Closed” and function to “Restaurant”. I too was under the impression that it had been wholly demolished until your correction.
Here is a picture of the marquee that has since been removed: http://www.hugosfrogbar.com/media/hugosfront.jpg
The vertical for Frog Bar:
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And a more recent photo of the modified facade:
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6417 N Clark, as noted in the entry to that theater.
Interesting. The theater was indeed demolished after the 1966 fire, but not as a direct consequence. It had suffered little damage, but was demolished in July so that new foundations for the high rise could be laid with parking above. Brotman was annoyed with the building’s owners, as he wanted to reopen immediately after rather tha wait for it to be rebuilt. It closed with 479 seats and reopened with 530-599 on October 11, 1967.
The correct address is 6417 N Clark. I must have confused myself while copying it. Thanks for pointing that out.
Some sort of work is going on with the Riv’s facade:
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Architect Firm Design Development Group
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Architect firm Development Design Group
View link
View link
Strangely, rather than expanding the building to its original 22-screen configuration, Muvico has announced plans to REDUCE its size to 14 screens, while expanding the footprint to where those additional 4 screens would have been. This space will become a bowling alley, which was originally going to go in a new building across the street. To get approval to do this, Muvico agreed to void an agreement with Rosemont not to build over 20 feet in height along the tollway, a restriction intended to maintain Muvico’s visibility.
Also, the theater’s architect was Development Design Group
My point was that historically theaters, as well as any complex building projects, are very, very frequently off-schedule. A lot of times now you’ll see theaters rushed to completion because they absolutely HAVE to open due to scheduling. But still things are pushed back very frequently. I know the last two big theater projects in Chicago, the Biograph and Bank of America (Lasalle Bank, Shubert, Majestic) Theater were both reopened significantly later than originally projected.
I would also point out that it is very normal for a theater to be closed long before restoration; for example, the Oriental was closed for 18 years and the Auditorium for nearly 30. The Genesee in Waukegan was closed for 15 years. I could go on. Continuous operation up to restoration is definitely the exception, not the rule.
When the Uptown was announced in the Chicago Tribune on February 3, 1924, it was stated that the planned opening date was April 1, 1925. It opened August 18th.
View link
According to the Trib, Citizen Kane had a dual premiere at the Palace and Woods on May 6, 1941. The film continued to play at the Woods as a two a day roadshow, reserved seat, and at the Palace continuously in the afternoon with an evening reserved seat show.
The Palace changed features on May 20, and the Woods dropped the reserved policy. It closed at the Woods on July 13. On August 30, it had returned to the Palace at regular admission through roughly September 14. It then played neighborhood houses starting November 15.
Oh, I know, I just wanted to make sure it was clear for the record (this page)
Well, it’s wrong. It was built in 1909. This is confirmed by 1909 Tribune articles stating it was to be built.
I suppose the organs must be destroyed.