Yep. That is the rotunda at right. Last time I was by here the ROCKNE vertical sign was still up. But that was many years ago. At some point the exterior of the building was totally redone. I have always assumed that took place at the point they adopted the ROCKNE name.
Coincidentally I passed this place today. My only complaint is that I wish they would paint over the area once occupied by the AMC letters. It looks pretty ghetto the way it is.
I can tell you with 100% certainty that the McClurg Court residential building was just sold. It is to remain a rental property. No condo conversion plans at present. I would assume that sale included the theatre and restaurant as well.
You must understand that I support preservation. Otherwise why would I be here? But this place looks like it was in really awful shape. At some point you have to ask: is it worth the many, many millions that would be required?
Obviously I am happy that they saved something. But it seems like a clumsy layout for Borders, sort of like the flea markets that have been set up in old theatres at times. I wonder why they opted for this design, instead of simply gutting the place?
A friend of a friend of a friend of mine from the area says that in the days just before it collapsed the tenants were screaming at the owner to do something. Apparently the walls were cracking and bricks were falling. The story also goes that the city has been after the owner for years. Apparently the alderman values the historical buildings along Lawrence Avenue and has been heard to say that at least the facade will be reused. All in all a very strange situation.
Just plain wrong to be sure. But, he who sees the headlight of the train two miles down the track and continues to stand between the rails is going to get whacked.
I saw “the Trip” (the film mentioned in the opening parpagraph above). While it has nothing to do with the theatre, I can’t help but share that “the Trip” was one of the top ten biggest pieces of cinema garbage I have seen.
You know, it is bad. But it’s not THAT bad. If you want to see horrors, go and look at photos of the Palace in Gary, Indiana. Something could be done with this building. But, unfortunately (and somewhat understandably) it does not seem likely that any portion of the building will be reused.
There is a photo above which shows the Paramount around the time of the pre-demolition auction. There is a sign on the building advertising an office tower. But my understanding was that the theatre was a parking lot for years after being torn down. Was there a plan for an office building which later fell through?
I don’t get it…the condos. Right now there are units going up all over the place; and, from what I hear a lot of them are not moving. The only thing I can figure is that there is a herd mentality in real estate similar to that found in the stock market. When the technology bubble burst, for instance, people still bought technology stocks actively for quite some time after. But it is so much easier to tell your broker to buy or sell 5,000 shares of XYZ on a given day. I would think that the cost of carrying real estate on your books and the fact that you cannot necessarily sell it when you want to would discourage a trend like that, as would the fact that you often need to obtain financing from a financial institution.
1) Turn an old theatre into retail in a busy commercial area, get tenants, get substantial rental income. I get it.
2) Tear a theatre down, pay minimal taxes on the land, wait for the neighborhood to turn around. Or just hold the theatre and let it rot if it is cheap enough to do that. Then sell the property for a capital gain. I get it.
3) Turn a theatre into a unique business venture that you have carefully planned, like a night club. I get it.
4) Tear down a theatre, get financing to build condos when there is already a big supply, end up sitting on the condos for years while you pay the carrying cost of your financing and taxes…I just don’t get it. And yet people continue to do it and banks continue to finance them.
There are important lessons about business and humanity in all of this. But I am not sure what they are yet.
I attended a movie at the Village when it was still a single screen. This was in the pre-art house days. It was standard second-run at discounted prices. It was the usual situation for an old cinema: decoration at the front of the house covered by a modern screen and everything painted one shade of grey. It probably was an attractive house when it first opened. But it wasn’t too exciting at that point. The lobby looked then much as it does today, as did the exterior. All in all it was a good experience. The presentation was good, the concessions were good and the auditorium was comfortable and clean. This was in the 80’s. Don’t know who ran it at that point. But I don’t think it was Village.
Yep. That is the rotunda at right. Last time I was by here the ROCKNE vertical sign was still up. But that was many years ago. At some point the exterior of the building was totally redone. I have always assumed that took place at the point they adopted the ROCKNE name.
Coincidentally I passed this place today. My only complaint is that I wish they would paint over the area once occupied by the AMC letters. It looks pretty ghetto the way it is.
It could open up again in some form. I never thought the Water Tower Cinemas on street level would open again, and yet they have.
I can tell you with 100% certainty that the McClurg Court residential building was just sold. It is to remain a rental property. No condo conversion plans at present. I would assume that sale included the theatre and restaurant as well.
You must understand that I support preservation. Otherwise why would I be here? But this place looks like it was in really awful shape. At some point you have to ask: is it worth the many, many millions that would be required?
Brian Wolf is a mad man…a posting mad man that is…
Amazing photo. I remember taking a bus from that Trailways depot when I was a really little kid.
Obviously I am happy that they saved something. But it seems like a clumsy layout for Borders, sort of like the flea markets that have been set up in old theatres at times. I wonder why they opted for this design, instead of simply gutting the place?
Where do you find this stuff B?!?!
My gut says the McClurg Court will not become a church. I don’t such an idea would be well-received in that area.
Jim: at the risk of appearing cynical I’d say the Venitian has been nothing but a memory for quite some time.
Sweet picture. The whole project blows my mind. This place sat for, what, forty years?
A friend of a friend of a friend of mine from the area says that in the days just before it collapsed the tenants were screaming at the owner to do something. Apparently the walls were cracking and bricks were falling. The story also goes that the city has been after the owner for years. Apparently the alderman values the historical buildings along Lawrence Avenue and has been heard to say that at least the facade will be reused. All in all a very strange situation.
Just plain wrong to be sure. But, he who sees the headlight of the train two miles down the track and continues to stand between the rails is going to get whacked.
I saw “the Trip” (the film mentioned in the opening parpagraph above). While it has nothing to do with the theatre, I can’t help but share that “the Trip” was one of the top ten biggest pieces of cinema garbage I have seen.
It was in such decent shape. What a shame.
You know, it is bad. But it’s not THAT bad. If you want to see horrors, go and look at photos of the Palace in Gary, Indiana. Something could be done with this building. But, unfortunately (and somewhat understandably) it does not seem likely that any portion of the building will be reused.
You know what? Entertain all the historical accuracy arguments you want. It looks pretty damn cool! Well done!!!
There is a photo above which shows the Paramount around the time of the pre-demolition auction. There is a sign on the building advertising an office tower. But my understanding was that the theatre was a parking lot for years after being torn down. Was there a plan for an office building which later fell through?
The photo above is pretty close to how the building looked the last time I saw it (around 1990).
Go to the “Friends” web site and take a look at the photographs of the replica vetical sign and attraction boards being installed. Outstanding!!!
Agreed.
View link
I don’t get it…the condos. Right now there are units going up all over the place; and, from what I hear a lot of them are not moving. The only thing I can figure is that there is a herd mentality in real estate similar to that found in the stock market. When the technology bubble burst, for instance, people still bought technology stocks actively for quite some time after. But it is so much easier to tell your broker to buy or sell 5,000 shares of XYZ on a given day. I would think that the cost of carrying real estate on your books and the fact that you cannot necessarily sell it when you want to would discourage a trend like that, as would the fact that you often need to obtain financing from a financial institution.
1) Turn an old theatre into retail in a busy commercial area, get tenants, get substantial rental income. I get it.
2) Tear a theatre down, pay minimal taxes on the land, wait for the neighborhood to turn around. Or just hold the theatre and let it rot if it is cheap enough to do that. Then sell the property for a capital gain. I get it.
3) Turn a theatre into a unique business venture that you have carefully planned, like a night club. I get it.
4) Tear down a theatre, get financing to build condos when there is already a big supply, end up sitting on the condos for years while you pay the carrying cost of your financing and taxes…I just don’t get it. And yet people continue to do it and banks continue to finance them.
There are important lessons about business and humanity in all of this. But I am not sure what they are yet.
I attended a movie at the Village when it was still a single screen. This was in the pre-art house days. It was standard second-run at discounted prices. It was the usual situation for an old cinema: decoration at the front of the house covered by a modern screen and everything painted one shade of grey. It probably was an attractive house when it first opened. But it wasn’t too exciting at that point. The lobby looked then much as it does today, as did the exterior. All in all it was a good experience. The presentation was good, the concessions were good and the auditorium was comfortable and clean. This was in the 80’s. Don’t know who ran it at that point. But I don’t think it was Village.