The building has just been dramatically cleaned and had its Terra Cotta repaired. The scaffolding is down and it looks wonderful, aside from that silly marquee.
The article I read noted that “only the outer walls and supporting columns were left standing” but also that “a second ceiling topping the store’s main and mezzanine floors was suspended by steel hangers from the theater’s old ceiling, leaving a 40 foot empty space between the two ceilings”. So probably yes, the original ceiling likely remained and I imagine that the mezzanine level of the store was the old upper lobby. I know that large amounts of the old Belmont theater were discovered intact behind the bowling renovation when that was demolished in the 90s, too.
The New Apollo must have closed some time before 1946, because a 13-year old boy discovered a skeleton there while playing in the decaying theater in 1946.
Films would show exclusively at one theater in a given city and tickets were sold as reserved seats well in advance, much like a traveling show. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_show
A couple seconds of the palace’s marquee, along with the marquees of the oriental and united artists, from about 1927 are visible about :43 seconds into the video at http://www.archive.org/details/Behindth1935
Here is a 1910 postcard view of the then much cleaner Fine Arts Building.
Here is a shot of the building when it was new and considerably less ugly.
Here is a 1960s shot of the strip. Look at all that neon!
Here is a 1960s shot of the Oriental reflected in a restaurant across the street.
The building has just been dramatically cleaned and had its Terra Cotta repaired. The scaffolding is down and it looks wonderful, aside from that silly marquee.
The scaffolding just recently came down after over a year. Looks good. Still missing some Terra Cotta.
The article I read noted that “only the outer walls and supporting columns were left standing” but also that “a second ceiling topping the store’s main and mezzanine floors was suspended by steel hangers from the theater’s old ceiling, leaving a 40 foot empty space between the two ceilings”. So probably yes, the original ceiling likely remained and I imagine that the mezzanine level of the store was the old upper lobby. I know that large amounts of the old Belmont theater were discovered intact behind the bowling renovation when that was demolished in the 90s, too.
In 1973 the First Run Comedy Theater staged a series of plays at the Milda.
Closed by 1952
Built 1910, closed 1957, burned and demolished 1961. Manager claimed Bob Hope had once performed there.
When the theater was demolished, the seats were offered to the Democratic National Committee for their 1956 convention.
It also originally had a capacity of 650
In 1956 it was remodeled into quarters for the Shleswig-Holsteiner-Sangerbund club, one of chicago’s oldest german musical clubs.
The New Apollo must have closed some time before 1946, because a 13-year old boy discovered a skeleton there while playing in the decaying theater in 1946.
It actually closed around 1950. In 1952 it was gutted and converted to a May Sons Women’s Apparel store.
Apologies; here is the corrected link.
Here is a new article on the Ramova, with pictures.
Here is a new article on the Ramova, with pictures.
Films would show exclusively at one theater in a given city and tickets were sold as reserved seats well in advance, much like a traveling show. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_show
The Evanston was independent up until M&R, and then passed to M&R/Loews, Sony/Loews, and Loews/Cineplex.
The Varsity and Coronet were indeed Plitts.
Part of me thinks the reporter just lazily equated the board-up with a fire.
A couple seconds of the palace’s marquee, along with the marquees of the oriental and united artists, from about 1927 are visible about :43 seconds into the video at http://www.archive.org/details/Behindth1935
Click the ‘i’ next to the play button
A 1930s video clip of the Englewood is available by searching http://www.wttwdigitalarchives.com/searchres.php for 22275
A 1937 clip of the Paradise is available by searching http://www.wttwdigitalarchives.com/searchres.php for 22276
1951 video clips of the State Lake are available by searching http://www.wttwdigitalarchives.com/searchres.php for 25329 or 25331.