Supposedly filming for “Public Enemies” will happen on the 20th. So far, scenes have been shot at the Pittsfield Building, Clark and Newport, Union Station, a church at 2259 S Damen, 18th & Throop, 106th & Torrence, 35th & King (Probably the Bronzeville Cultural Center)
Currently, the recently built building two doors down (home to a Qdoba) from the Biograph is receiving a false floor facade, presumably for the John Dillinger biopic starring Johnny Depp. It looks quite faithful to the actual grocery store that used to be there, and I hope they keep it up as it looks a lot better with it. Ironically, this may mean the insignificant grocery two doors away from the Biograph will have a more historically accurate appearance than the Biograph itself. It’s a shame the interior wasn’t restored for other scenes…
In other news, the debt Victory Gardens incurred in the extravagant Biograph work has forced it to sell its longtime home down the street. In another irony, the sale includes a covenant that it remain a theater for 25 years; the Victory Gardens, then, will be preserved in the way the Biograph wasn’t.
Technically, yes, but north and south of downtown, York Street is York Road, which is contiguous with Elmhurst Road (which is Main Street within downtown Mount Prospect). Similarly Miner Street in downtown Des Plaines is also Northwest Highway and Route 14.
I’d point out, though, that there generally wasn’t a lot of color variation in marquees, so it was likely just mottled reds or greens, maybe a little yellow/gold, whatever tones matched the Spanish Renaissance look of the exterior. The B&W photos don’t look like it was ever very colorful.
I think that Willis Johnson and THSA have pretty much done exhaustive research on all of his theaters. More power to you to find more, but I think they have all you’re likely to find.
That’s really not how copyright works, Warren. You couldn’t republish it or anything, but there are extremely few circumstances where you would not be able to link to a page. Direct linking to images is a little iffier. But there’s no reason Ken wouldn’t be allowed to do what he did here. It would be different if he were to download it and upload it elsewhere, or print it in a publication, or some such.
It’s possible, but I really doubt it. Reading that article, you would get the impression that it would be American films, but I can’t see why India’s largest chain would operate it as such, especially considering the large Indian population in the apartment area surrounding it and to the east along Dempster and Golf, the same population which has supported the Des Plaines Theater. If they were just going to run it the same way as it was before, why go through the trouble and expense of remodeling it?
Mpalmer: the Theatre Historical Society of America in Elmhurst has a photo of the exterior before its facade was altered (as the Rose); the above http://www.chicagotheatrehistory.com/ shows the facade as the Dale which is more or less the same facade it has now except better-kept. I have not come across any photos of the auditorium. If it’s at all possible for me to see or photograph the former auditorium space, please send me an email. You can find my address by clicking on my name right below this message.
The Knickerbocker/Devon opened in 1916 and changed names in 1929 under Essaness.
The New Devon’s architect was Henry J. Ross. The “New” in the name referred to the former Devon Theater at 6417 N Devon which had been in operation from at least 1910. The Edgewater Historical Society claims that was in operation from 1905.
My comment on the Ellantee is probably not so correct as it did not open until 1919, although the site was earmarked for one as early as 1913.
Because not everyone in the concert audience lives along the red line or Lawrence bus, especially when you’re trying to fill 5000 seats, and if you’re running simultaneous shows at the Aragon, Uptown, and Riviera, you’re talking maybe a capacity of 12000 people, which would overtax public transit. It’s also necessary when you’re competing with venues like the Rosemont Theatre and Genessee. They manage to fill up the Riv and Aragon all right, but I think they usually try not to do both at once.
I hadn’t considered that Jam had an interest in keeping the Uptown tied up before this article. I wonder when we’ll see a sub-1000 seat venue in Uptown (ignoring the Kinetic Playground which is really rather niche)
Supposedly filming for “Public Enemies” will happen on the 20th. So far, scenes have been shot at the Pittsfield Building, Clark and Newport, Union Station, a church at 2259 S Damen, 18th & Throop, 106th & Torrence, 35th & King (Probably the Bronzeville Cultural Center)
More historic Dillinger sites: View link
View link
That should read a false front facade. The other two nearby buildings are getting them too, and they are temporary, unfortunately.
Currently, the recently built building two doors down (home to a Qdoba) from the Biograph is receiving a false floor facade, presumably for the John Dillinger biopic starring Johnny Depp. It looks quite faithful to the actual grocery store that used to be there, and I hope they keep it up as it looks a lot better with it. Ironically, this may mean the insignificant grocery two doors away from the Biograph will have a more historically accurate appearance than the Biograph itself. It’s a shame the interior wasn’t restored for other scenes…
In other news, the debt Victory Gardens incurred in the extravagant Biograph work has forced it to sell its longtime home down the street. In another irony, the sale includes a covenant that it remain a theater for 25 years; the Victory Gardens, then, will be preserved in the way the Biograph wasn’t.
Actually LHAT would probably be a more appropriate organization, although THSA would probably be able to refer them to local resources.
That sounds distressing. What do you mean by defaced? Where are the murals?
Technically, yes, but north and south of downtown, York Street is York Road, which is contiguous with Elmhurst Road (which is Main Street within downtown Mount Prospect). Similarly Miner Street in downtown Des Plaines is also Northwest Highway and Route 14.
It’s on York Road, named for York Township, incorporated in 1839 and named by settlers hailing from New York.
Well, yeah, it depends on the style. I meant that there was usually a pretty consistent palette.
Yes, they did remove the rest of the seats from the main floor. They previously had remained under the balcony.
I’d point out, though, that there generally wasn’t a lot of color variation in marquees, so it was likely just mottled reds or greens, maybe a little yellow/gold, whatever tones matched the Spanish Renaissance look of the exterior. The B&W photos don’t look like it was ever very colorful.
The updated link for the Sept. 26, 2005 comment is http://www.organman.com/tivoli.htm
I think that Willis Johnson and THSA have pretty much done exhaustive research on all of his theaters. More power to you to find more, but I think they have all you’re likely to find.
That’s really not how copyright works, Warren. You couldn’t republish it or anything, but there are extremely few circumstances where you would not be able to link to a page. Direct linking to images is a little iffier. But there’s no reason Ken wouldn’t be allowed to do what he did here. It would be different if he were to download it and upload it elsewhere, or print it in a publication, or some such.
It’s possible, but I really doubt it. Reading that article, you would get the impression that it would be American films, but I can’t see why India’s largest chain would operate it as such, especially considering the large Indian population in the apartment area surrounding it and to the east along Dempster and Golf, the same population which has supported the Des Plaines Theater. If they were just going to run it the same way as it was before, why go through the trouble and expense of remodeling it?
Architect was J.E.O. Pridmore
Yes, but not simultaneously.
Yes, I meant to say Broadway.
Mpalmer: the Theatre Historical Society of America in Elmhurst has a photo of the exterior before its facade was altered (as the Rose); the above http://www.chicagotheatrehistory.com/ shows the facade as the Dale which is more or less the same facade it has now except better-kept. I have not come across any photos of the auditorium. If it’s at all possible for me to see or photograph the former auditorium space, please send me an email. You can find my address by clicking on my name right below this message.
The Knickerbocker/Devon opened in 1916 and changed names in 1929 under Essaness.
The New Devon’s architect was Henry J. Ross. The “New” in the name referred to the former Devon Theater at 6417 N Devon which had been in operation from at least 1910. The Edgewater Historical Society claims that was in operation from 1905.
My comment on the Ellantee is probably not so correct as it did not open until 1919, although the site was earmarked for one as early as 1913.
Every bit helps, but do you happen to know what the net gain in spaces is over the lot that’s on that site now?
Because not everyone in the concert audience lives along the red line or Lawrence bus, especially when you’re trying to fill 5000 seats, and if you’re running simultaneous shows at the Aragon, Uptown, and Riviera, you’re talking maybe a capacity of 12000 people, which would overtax public transit. It’s also necessary when you’re competing with venues like the Rosemont Theatre and Genessee. They manage to fill up the Riv and Aragon all right, but I think they usually try not to do both at once.
500 spaces isn’t going to go all that far, especially with movies.
I hadn’t considered that Jam had an interest in keeping the Uptown tied up before this article. I wonder when we’ll see a sub-1000 seat venue in Uptown (ignoring the Kinetic Playground which is really rather niche)
View link
Here is an aerial image