James M. Nederlander Theatre
24 W. Randolph Street,
Chicago,
IL
60601
24 W. Randolph Street,
Chicago,
IL
60601
42 people
favorited this theater
Showing 101 - 125 of 205 comments
Another view of same scene: View link
1946 large format B7W photo of marquee with “Outlaw” plus Jane Russel Live on board. German restaurant nextdoor.
View link
Ah, Thanks BWChicago. I don’t suppose Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre is listed on CT under another name by chance is it? I’m pretty sure it never ran films.
And I don’t think the Blackstone did either, now that I think about it.
Haven’t been over there to see how it fared during the Blackstons Hotel’s massive renovation.
It is listed under its current name, the Bank of America Theatre
I don’t recall seeing many films at The Oriental, other than maybe “The Mack”. I’d have to study JRS40’s list.
I did see the stage play/musical “Scrooge” starring Richard Chamberlin there a couple of years ago. Our original night was cancelled after arriving due to Mr. Chamberlin falling ill.
But you somehow felt as if they wanted a fuller house, so they combined two nights. They compped/reimbursed everyone though that came back the next night, so box office money wasn’t behind it. Hence we actually saw it for free.
Many senior ladies in the audience giggled when Chamberlin sang the line “I hate Women”, from the song “I Hate Life”. Given Chamberlin’s timely pause and smile, it sure seemed intentional.
The staging and prop work of “Scrooge” was truly exceptional.
Up to and including a mirror he was singing into. And the characters flying.
I noticed someone posted elsewhere on CT that The Shubert at one time briefly showed films. Yet Chicago’s Shubert is not listed on CT. Could they have meant the old Blackstone Theatre?
This is based on foggy recollection. But I didn’t think they did any concerts until the last few years of operation. That would have been 1979-82, or something like that.
Chicago229 I don’t believe there is an error in the bookings I listed so my guess would be if the Oriental did have Live Concerts it was likely done at night with the films still showing in the days.
According the website for Broadway in Chicago, The Oriental briefly showed live concerts when it was managed by M&R amusements in the early 1970s. However, in the run down of film presentations posted above by JRS40 on Sep 5, there appears to be no break in the sequence. So, is there an error somewhere, or were films and concerts shown simultaneously?
View link
Here is the film bookings at the Oriental from 1964-1977. From late 77 until the theater closed in the early 80’s the theater had triple features changing on a weekly basis.
01/03/64 – KINGS OF THE SUN
01/17/64 – THE PRIZE
02/21/64 – SUNDAY IN NEW YORK
03/20/64 – FLIGHT FROM ASHIYA
04/10/64 – ONE MAN’S WAY
04/24/64 – THE 7 FACES OF DR. LAO
05/15/64 – THE WORLD OF HENRY ORIENT
06/05/64 – FOR THOSE WHO THINK YOUNG
06/24/64 – 633 SQUADRON
07/10/64 – NIGHT OF THE IGUANA
08/28/64 – THE 7TH DAWN
09/18/64 – A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME
10/09/64 – FOUR DAYS IN NOVEMBER
10/16/64 – THE SECRET INVASION
11/04/64 – JOYHOUSE
11/20/64 – RIO CONCHOS
12/18/64 – KISS ME, STUPID
01/22/65 – QUICK! BEFORE IT MELTS
02/11/65 – NONE BUT THE BRAVE
03/12/65 – HUSH HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE
04/30/65 – THE SATAN BUG
05/14/65 – MISTER MOSES
05/28/65 – IRMA LA DOUCE plus TOM JONES
06/04/65 – I’LL TAKE SWEDEN
06/25/65 – THE YELLOW ROLLS ROYCE
08/06/65 – THE GREAT SPY MISSION
09/03/65 – BILLIE
09/24/65 – NEVER ON SUNDAY plus TOPKAPI
10/08/65 – MARRAIGE ON THE ROCKS
11/05/65 – RETURN FROM THE ASHES
11/24/65 – GYPSY plus THE MUSIC MAN
12/10/65 – McLINTOCK plus LILLIES OF THE FIELD
12/23/65 – THUNDERBALL
05/13/66 – HARPER
06/24/66 – BOY DID I GET A WRONG NUMBER
07/27/66 – WHAT DID YOU DO IN THE WAR DADDY?
08/31/66 – DUEL AT DIABLO
09/23/66 – AMBUSH BAY
09/30/66 – DR. NO plus GOLDFINGER
10/28/66 – THE LIQUIDATOR
11/09/66 – MISTER BUDDWING
12/07/66 – VIVA MARIA
12/21/66 – AFTER THE FOX
01/27/67 – A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS
03/03/67 – A COVENANT WITH DEATH
03/17/67 – HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING
04/28/67 – THE ALAMO
05/12/67 – FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE
06/16/67 – THE WAY WEST
07/07/67 – TRIPLE CROSS
07/21/67 – UP THE DOWN STAIRCASE
08/16/67 – IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT
10/06/67 – BEACH RED
10/20/67 – HOUR OF THE GUN
11/03/67 – OPERATION KID BROTHER
11/10/67 – THE PENTHOUSE
12/20/67 – THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
02/14/68 – THE PRESIDENT’S ANALYST
03/06/68 – HOW TO SAVE YOUR MARRAIGE AND RUIN YOUR LIFE
04/03/68 – THE GLORY STOMPERS
04/17/68 – NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY
05/17/68 – WILD IN THE STREETS
06/19/68 – VILLA RIDES
06/28/68 – THE PRIVATE NAVY OF SGT. O'FARRELL
07/12/68 – FIVE CARD STUD
07/31/68 – HANG EM HIGH
08/28/68 – THE VIOLENT FOUR
09/11/68 – THE BIG GUNDOWN
10/02/68 – DEADFALL
10/16/68 – THE BOSTON STRANGLER
11/27/68 – LADY IN CEMENT
12/20/68 – THREE IN THE ATTIC
02/05/69 – RIOT
02/26/69 – SECRET CEREMONY
03/26/69 – HELL IN THE PACIFIC
04/11/69 – A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS plus FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE
05/08/69 – DEATH OF A GUNFIGHTER
05/30/69 – ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST
06/24/69 – THE LOST MAN
07/22/69 – STILETTO
08/13/69 – PARANOIA
09/17/69 – MEDIUM COOL
10/08/69 – DEATH RIDES A HORSE
10/22/69 – CAMILLE 2000
11/12/69 – FANNY HILL
12/25/69 – GENERATION
01/02/70 – THE BOSTON STRANGLER plus THE DETECTIVE
01/16/70 – ONE MILLION YEARS B.C. plus SHE
01/30/70 – THE MAGIC CHRISTIAN
02/18/70 – THE MINX
03/19/70 – AIRPORT
06/26/70 – TWO MULES FOR SISTER SARA
07/22/70 – KELLY’S HEROES
08/14/70 – SOLDIER BLUE
09/25/70 – TROG plus TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA
10/14/70 – C.C. AND COMPANY
10/30/70 – LOVERS AND OTHER STRANGERS
11/25/70 – WHIRLPOOL
12/18/70 – RIO LOBO
01/22/71 – THREESOME
02/12/71 – VIXEN plus CHERRY, HARRY AND RAQUEL plus LORINA
03/12/71 – THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD
04/02/71 – BROTHER JOHN
05/05/71 – SWEET SWEETBACK’S BAAADASSSS SONG
06/30/71 – KLUTE
07/28/71 – McCABE AND MRS MILLER
08/18/71 – THE OMEGA MAN
09/15/71 – WOMEN IN CAGES
10/06/71 – THE BUS IS COMING
10/27/71 – THE FEMALE BUNCH
12/03/71 – BEAST OF THE YELLOW NIGHT plus CREATURE WITH THE BLUE HAND
12/17/71 – MAN AND BOY
12/31/71 – COMMON LAW CABIN plus GOOD MORNING AND GOODBYE
01/12/72 – BLINDMAN
02/11/72 – SOUL SOLDIER
03/10/72 – TALES FROM THE CRYPT
03/24/72 – COOL BREEZE
04/21/72 – FROGS
05/05/72 – HORROR ON SNAPE ISLAND
05/19/72 – TOP OF THE HEAP
06/09/72 – COMPANEROS
06/23/72 – BEN
07/14/72 – JOE KIDD
08/11/72 – SUPERFLY
10/27/72 – ASYLUM
11/10/72 – FAREWELL UNCLE TOM
11/22/72 – BOOT HILL
12/06/72 – SLAUGHTER HOTEL
12/20/72 – HIT MAN
01/19/73 – PRISON GIRLS
02/15/73 – WATTSTAX
03/23/73 – THE MACK
05/04/73 – FISTS OF FURY
05/25/73 – THE SOUL OF NIGGER CHARLEY
06/08/73 – COFFY
06/27/73 – SHAFT IN AFRICA
07/20/73 – SLAUGHTER’S BIG RIP-OFF
08/10/73 – THE SHANGHAI KILLERS
08/24/73 – GORDON’S WAR
09/19/73 – SEVEN BLOWS OF THE DRAGON
10/05/73 – SAVE THE CHILDREN
11/02/73 – FISTS OF FURY plus THE CHINESE CONNECTION
11/18/73 – THE CHINESE PROFESSIONALS
12/21/73 – THE ARENA
01/04/74 – THE GODFATHERS OF HONG KONG
01/18/74 – ENTER THE DRAGON plus THE CHINESE PROFESSIONALS
02/01/74 – SHAFT plus SHAFT’S BIG SCORE plus SHAFT IN AFRICA
02/15/74 – CRAZY JOE
03/01/74 – THE PLAYMATES (IN 3-D)
03/22/74 – MADHOUSE
04/12/74 – FOXY BROWN
05/24/74 – BLACK EYE
06/07/74 – IT’S ALIVE plus ENTER THE DRAGON
06/14/74 – LUCKY LUCIANO plus THEY CALL ME TRINITY
06/21/74 – THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE plus BLINDMAN
06/28/74 – THOMASINE AND BUSHROD plus LIGHTNING SWORDS OF DEATH
07/05/74 – THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD plus BUCK AND THE PREACHER
07/19/74 – DIRTY MARY, CRAZY LARRY plus GORDON’S WAR
07/26/74 – RETURN OF THE DRAGON
09/20/74 – MACON COUNTY LINE plus THE SCREAMING TIGER
09/27/74 – CLAUDINE plus BLACULA
10/04/74 – JOHNNY TOUGH plus THE HOUSE THAT VANISHED
10/11/74 – THE EDUCATION OF SONNY CARSON plus LADY SINGS THE BLUES
10/18/74 – TALES OF THE GREEN HORNET
11/15/74 – COFFY plus THE MACK
11/22/74 – UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT plus CLAUDINE
11/29/74 – THE SAVAGE SISTERS plus SCREAM, BLACULA, SCREAM
12/06/74 – THREE TOUGH GUYS plus DEATH WISH
12/13/74 – THE EXORCIST
12/27/74 – THE DRAGON DIES HARD
01/17/75 – RAPE SQUAD
02/21/75 – THE DRAGON SQUAD plus RETURN OF THE PANTHER
03/07/75 – TORSO
03/28/75 – SHEBA BABY
05/09/75 – WOMEN IN CELL BLOCK SEVEN
05/23/75 – CORNBREAD, EARL AND ME
07/04/75 – GHETTO WARRIORS
07/11/75 – RETURN OF THE DRAGON plus THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE
07/18/75 – THE DRAGON FLIES
08/01/75 – SISTERS plus RAPE SQUAD
08/08/75 – TAKE A HARD RIDE
08/29/75 – DARKTOWN STRUTTERS
09/12/75 – ALI THE MAN plus ALI THE FIGHTER
09/26/75 – COONSKIN
10/10/75 – SUPER DRAGON plus THE DRAGON SQUAD
10/24/75 – THE KIDNAP OF MARY LOU
10/31/75 – THE EXORCIST
11/07/75 – THE CHINESE MACK plus THE CHINESE GODFATHER
11/21/75 – WELCOME HOME, BROTHER CHARLES
11/28/75 – MEAN JOHNNY BARROWS
12/12/75 – OLD DRACULA plus BUCKTOWN
12/19/75 – WATTSTAX plus JOHNNY TOUGH
12/26/75 – AARON LOVES ANGELA
01/09/76 – BEYOND THE DOOR plus ABBY
01/16/76 – LAST HOUSE ON HE LEFT plus MARK OF THE DEVIL plus DERANGED
01/23/76 – THE KILLING MACHINE
02/06/76 – COOLEY HIGH plus CORNBREAD, EARL AND ME
03/05/76 – NIGHT CHILD
03/19/76 – TORSO plus THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE
04/02/76 – BOBBI JO AND THE OUTLAW plus THE HONG KONG CAT
04/09/76 – LEADBELLY
04/23/76 – DON’T OPEN THE WINDOW plus DON’T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT
05/07/76 – BLAXING SADDLES
05/14/76 – BLACK SHAMPOO
05/28/76 – LAST STOP ON THE NIGHT TRAIN
06/04/76 – POOR WHITE TRASH 2 plus DIXIE DYNAMITE
06/11/76 – DEATH JOURNEY plus ADIOS AMIGO
06/25/76 – J.D.’S REVENGE
09/17/76 – TO THE DEVIL A DAUGHTER plus EMBRYO
09/24/76 – EBONY, IVORY AND JADE
10/15/76 – THE KILLER INSIDE ME plus THE CHINESE CONNECTION
10/22/76 – THE CRYPT OF DARK SECRETS plus KUNG FU MASTER
11/05/76 – TENDER FLESH plus DEATH MACHINES
11/12/76 – JIVE MACHINE plus MOTHER, JUGS AND SPEED
11/19/76 – GOD TOLD ME TO
12/03/76 – ALICE IN WONDERLAND (X-rated)
12/19/76 – EXIT THE DRAGON, ENTER THE TIGER
01/07/77 – ALICE IN WONDERLAND plus FLESH GORDON
01/14/77 – CARRIE plus BURNT OFFERINGS
01/21/77 – MANSION OF THE DOOMED
02/04/77 – HOUSE THAT VANISHED plus LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT
02/11/77 – THE CASSANDRA CROSSING
03/18/77 – THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN
03/25/77 – MOHAMMED: MESSENGER OF GOD
04/08/77 – UNCLE TOM’S CABIN
04/29/77 – JOURNEY INTO THE BEYOND
05/13/77 – SISTER STREETFIGHTER plus KUNG FU GOLD
05/20/77 – CROSS OF IRON
06/03/77 – THE FARMER plus TAXI DRIVER
06/17/77 – EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC
07/22/77 – EVIL IN THE DEEP plus CHAMPION OF DEATH
08/05/77 – BRUCE LEE: THE MAN-THE MYTH
08/19/77 – BIG TIME
09/02/77 – ENTER THE DRAGON
09/16/77 – RABID plus BRUCE LEE: THE MAN-THE MYTH
09/30/77 – SUPERWEAPON plus SIDEWINDER ONE plus BATTLE OF GODFATHERS
10/07/77 – NAKED RIDER plus EMMA MAE plus EBONY, IVORY AND JADE
10/14/77 – COFFY plus JD’S REVENGE plus FOOD OF THE GODS
10/21/77 – LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT 2 plus THE SCHOOL THAT COULDN’T SCREAM plus SUPER DUDE
10/28/77 – CARRIE plus DEMON SEED plus HIT MAN
11/04/77 – RECORD CITY plus BUCKTOWN plus BAMBOO GODS AND IRON MEN
11/11/77 – MANIAC plus THE SAVAGE plus THE CARHOPS
11/18/77 – AUDREY ROSE plus A.K.A CASSIUS CLAY plus THE RIVER NIGER
11/25/77 – MR. SCARFACE plus CAPONE plus HIT
12/02/77 – SUPERFLY plus THE CHINESE CONNECION plus BOSS NIGGER
12/09/77 – 3 FANTASTIC SUPERMEN plus BLACK MOSES OF SOUL plus THE CHINESE MACK
12/16/77 – SPARKLE plus BLACKBELT JONES plus THE DRAGON SQUAD
12/23/77 – A PIECE OF THE ACTION plus CLEOPATRA JONES plus KUNG FU MAMA
12/30/77 – THE MACK plus TRUCK TURNER plus FOXY BROWN
http://www.streetsandsoul.com/chicago/old15.jpg This looks like a shot from the mid-80s, while the Oriental was an electronics store
Here it is again.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtians/2242696053/
Sorry, wrong pic!
A view from a distance with ‘Wicked’ enjoying a long run.
View link
My wife and I saw “Wicked” this weekend on a getaway trip to Chicago. Great play, and it was really good to be back in the Oriental after 25 years. I played a social for CATOE there in 1982, while the front was converted into the electronic junk store. The CATOE bunch had to enter through a strange door in the front, around the back of the store and into the theatre. They only hosted one other event at the theatre after that, with the great Barbara Sellers playing. Her parents, Preston and Edna played at the Oriental during the “golden age”. Knowing this was to be the last tie the organ was used before it was removed, the last chord was played by Edna, who despite her very advanced age could be there and was brought up to the console to play that last ceremonial chord. I saw the console downstairs, looks wonderful, can’t wait to play it again. The Oriental organ was a hottie! literally a fire-breathing dragon. The theatre looked wonderful. I had a similar emotion as when I stood in the Fox theatre here in Detroit in ‘88 and saw it gloriously restored, doing the right kind of entertainment (not Kung-Fu and exploitation films for an indifferent audience). Wicked was wonderful, made even better by the fact that we won the drawing at Borders for the $25 front row seats that night!
I didn’t see this view of Randolph Street posted above. If I missed it, apologies:
http://tinyurl.com/2llmrm
Does anyone know when the name of Oriental was chosen for the theatre ? Thank You for you time.
No, There is not currently an organ installed at the FCPA/Oriental.
The Original, Restored Console is however on public display in the Lower Lobby.
So there is no organ installation these days?
Could someone if they have the movie listings for the Oriental e-mail the movie listings from say the mid 50s until it closed in 1981?
Thank you,
300 bowler
For the Organ enthusiast, The original organ console is, as of today, on display in the Lower Lobby of the FCPA/ORIENTAL.
Enjoy the show! :)
Thanks for your help, “CHI74” and “Life’s too short”. I’ll try to be brave!
Reginamom
Also if you want picture of the inside of the Orential try the yellow pages in the front of the book their is a few pages for theatres and if i recall rigt their is a pic of the Orential small but it may just give you an idea.
This is true, the dress circle and the loge mostly when you are on the loge floor and you look up you then get the point of the 1 ½ stories. But it realy is not that high but if you have a problem as i said before ask to speak to the House MGR.
Other then that have fun and enjoy the show.