Chicago Theatre

FYI. In BWChicago’s April 19th post of a 1944 photo, the word Chicago can be seen painted on the side alley wall. Directly behind the Marshall Fields clock trajectory wise.
I cut through that very alley today, and the painted remnants of the sign are still there. It says Chicago Theater Entrance, with a giant arrow pointing towards the State Street entrance. It should be noted that it spelled Theater with the “er”, and not Theatre with an “re”.
Those old signs painted directly on to brick, were usually done using lead based paints. Paint which could withstand the elements, and the porousness of brick.
It is the reason most are still visible and survive today. I unfortunately didn’t have a camera with me.

Here is a 1982 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cjw5ql

Here is a 1949 color photo:
http://tinyurl.com/dxw7bu

View link

I just saw a promo on VH1 for something called “Fall Out Boy-Live from the Chicago Theatre”.
Apparently “hometown” band Fall Out Boy filmed a live concert at the Chicago Theatre very recently, to be broadcast via FuseTV and/or VH1. In conjunction with a Dec.16th CD release.
It apparently has aired several times since.

As when Conan O'Brian was here several years back, maybe some of the interior architecture will get camera time.

Sure wish the recent Brian Wilson show had been filmed too. I know nothing of Fall Out Boy.

Because they had to pay taxes on all that vacant office space in the depression, and the full-height atrium meant that it was rather inefficient to operate. The lowrise replacement was an example of a building called a “taxpayer” because it would bring in enough income to pay the property taxes until such time further development would be possible.

Here is a June 1943 Life photo:
http://tinyurl.com/6865s2

Yeah, those letters truly are cool. I’d forgotten until I saw the Woods page that some theatre’s had those. I think the State-Lake did too.
Must have been pretty labor intensive to change them all out as the movies changed. Maybe why they replaced them all the the blank white marquee’s withe the hanging letters.

Here is another Life photo from November 1958:
http://tinyurl.com/5c3egl

Ah, what a relief, thanks. I thought from the angle that it was a Lake & Wabash. The site of Harold Washington College. I think I have it’s location in my mind now. Thanks again.

Did they tear down that office building with the turrets? Last time I was downtown it was still there. I’d be pretty surprised if it was gone.

I see from some of the pictures attached to various posts, that the entire building that houses the Chicago Theatre once had lights on it’s perimeter. Over the arch, down the sides, etc. Not just the sign & marquee.
I wonder if those light fixtures are still in place and operational. Or were they removed during any renovation work over the years.

Also it’s a shame that we lost the giant building behind it with the four corner turrets, and the huge center spire.

and in a week or so BRIAN WILSON w/ back-up band The Wondermints