I am pretty sure this has never been posted. But I am not going to take the time to scan the long string of comments above to make sure. This PDF has a comprehensive photo set documenting the theatre’s interior, as well as many interesting written passages:
The storefront theatre the Balabans operated prior to the Circle was called the Kedzie. It was in the same neighborhood. Everyone wanted the land parcel where the Circle was constructed at the time. But the Balabans managed to form a friendship with a judge who was involved with the situation, and won the day. Having no experience with construction, they thought that the project would be completed quickly. However, it was nine months between leaving the Kedzie and opening the Circle. Track down a copy of the book “Continuous Preformances” to read the full story of the Circle. It is interesting reading.
This is similar to what was executed at Evanston’s Varsity. You can walk upstairs above the offices that were fitted into the walls of the Garfield’s orchestra and look down on the false ceiling from the balcony. Light fixtures removed, a few walls blown out. But the Garfield still exists and could be returned to theatrical use.
Hopefully someone will come up with a viable plan to return the Varsity to the people of Evanston. It would be a shame if this, the best theatre ever built in the city, was carved up into condos. Come to think of it, I’m not sure how viable condos would be in Evanston at this point. There is so much existing capacity. It would be interesting to see some stats on occupancy rates, etc.
I saw a movie here 100 years ago (OK maybe it was more like 1988). Cineplex house at the time. Show was in the main theatre. Nice and roomy. Interesting mural painted inside the dome, which I have heard was a modern-day creation. Rest of the theatre painted black.
Maybe it is an incompatible browser sort of thing. There should be orange arrows within the pircture frame at top. Clicking on the arrows allows me to move from picture to picture. Here is the whole photo set:
Looks to me like a very tasteful project. Here is how Searle describes it:
Built in 1927, the Oriental Theater is an example of an exotic revival movement that used Arabian, Egyptian, and Far Eastern ornamentation. The corridor between the two new theaters is designed to reinforce the illusionary quality of fantasy and grandeur inherent in the old movie palace. The corridor columns, simplified versions of the originals, are made of faux marble plastic laminate with wood trim. The concern in this remodeling was to preserve the existing theater volume and ornament, while enhancing its quality with the addition of the two theaters.
I am usually one to discourage unauthorized entry into neglected buildings, because I think it is only luck that I was not killed by a falling ceiling chunk when I was younger. But the community has been wondering about this, and now we know what is happening. That’s pretty cool Mike.
Really Jim? Not even the THS archives have photos of this place? That is pretty wild, considering most major Rapp & Rapp houses were reasonably well-photographed.
Did you ever visit the Wisconsin, and what was your most respected opinion of what you saw?
Yup.
This is pretty cool:
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I am pretty sure this has never been posted. But I am not going to take the time to scan the long string of comments above to make sure. This PDF has a comprehensive photo set documenting the theatre’s interior, as well as many interesting written passages:
View link
Most of the photos can be found in a series starting on page 20.
I wonder if Village officials ever read this stuff, and what they think of all the negative comments?
Sometimes, when I look back at history, I think that Cineplex Odeon operation = death for the theatre when Cineplex leaves.
“Closed for alterations”. They weren’t kidding.
1, 2
Did I mention that the roof sign is sweet?
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http://www.kentimmerman.com/rukn.htm
The storefront theatre the Balabans operated prior to the Circle was called the Kedzie. It was in the same neighborhood. Everyone wanted the land parcel where the Circle was constructed at the time. But the Balabans managed to form a friendship with a judge who was involved with the situation, and won the day. Having no experience with construction, they thought that the project would be completed quickly. However, it was nine months between leaving the Kedzie and opening the Circle. Track down a copy of the book “Continuous Preformances” to read the full story of the Circle. It is interesting reading.
Take a look at this modern-day photo of the Garfield Theatre in Milwaukee Paul:
View link
This is similar to what was executed at Evanston’s Varsity. You can walk upstairs above the offices that were fitted into the walls of the Garfield’s orchestra and look down on the false ceiling from the balcony. Light fixtures removed, a few walls blown out. But the Garfield still exists and could be returned to theatrical use.
Hopefully someone will come up with a viable plan to return the Varsity to the people of Evanston. It would be a shame if this, the best theatre ever built in the city, was carved up into condos. Come to think of it, I’m not sure how viable condos would be in Evanston at this point. There is so much existing capacity. It would be interesting to see some stats on occupancy rates, etc.
Merry Christmas to all!
I saw a movie here 100 years ago (OK maybe it was more like 1988). Cineplex house at the time. Show was in the main theatre. Nice and roomy. Interesting mural painted inside the dome, which I have heard was a modern-day creation. Rest of the theatre painted black.
I wonder why they bothered to cut a hole in the fire curtain, instead of just raising it. I also wonder if they realized that it was full of asbestos.
Thanks for taking the time to type all of that out Jim. It is an interesting story, from a number of different standpoints.
Maybe it is an incompatible browser sort of thing. There should be orange arrows within the pircture frame at top. Clicking on the arrows allows me to move from picture to picture. Here is the whole photo set:
http://www.searlarch.com/OrientalImageBig1.html
http://www.searlarch.com/OrientalImageBig2.html
http://www.searlarch.com/OrientalImageBig3.html
http://www.searlarch.com/OrientalImageBig4.html
http://www.searlarch.com/OrientalImageBig5.html
You can also access via the Searle & Associates Projects page, Adaptive Reuse section:
http://www.searlarch.com/projects.html
Looks to me like a very tasteful project. Here is how Searle describes it:
Built in 1927, the Oriental Theater is an example of an exotic revival movement that used Arabian, Egyptian, and Far Eastern ornamentation. The corridor between the two new theaters is designed to reinforce the illusionary quality of fantasy and grandeur inherent in the old movie palace. The corridor columns, simplified versions of the originals, are made of faux marble plastic laminate with wood trim. The concern in this remodeling was to preserve the existing theater volume and ornament, while enhancing its quality with the addition of the two theaters.
What an unbelievable waste of time, money and energy.
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Great auditorium photos, showing the two cinemas built under the balcony, can be found here:
http://www.searlarch.com/OrientalImageBig3.html
Use the arrows at top of photo to navigate.
I am usually one to discourage unauthorized entry into neglected buildings, because I think it is only luck that I was not killed by a falling ceiling chunk when I was younger. But the community has been wondering about this, and now we know what is happening. That’s pretty cool Mike.
Nice photos B:
View link
It has been busy lately. Good to see those chaser lights blazing away, and people lining up around the corner onto Lawrence.
Really Jim? Not even the THS archives have photos of this place? That is pretty wild, considering most major Rapp & Rapp houses were reasonably well-photographed.
Did you ever visit the Wisconsin, and what was your most respected opinion of what you saw?
Is it still being used as a beverage storage room?
What a fantastic photo set. Thank you for sharing.
I remember passing by this place in the 80’s. It must be said that it did look like hell.