Paradise Theater
231 N. Pulaski Road,
Chicago,
IL
60624
231 N. Pulaski Road,
Chicago,
IL
60624
41 people
favorited this theater
Showing 126 - 150 of 344 comments
OeOeO, I recall the Madison streetcars running after 1953. Would say more like 1956. But my mind sometimes fades like Scotts. Sorry Scott! But if you read it, maybe its true. The Pulaski streetcars were red I am sure also Cicero ave. I can agree on 1952, but not Madison in 1953-that seems too early. True about the Paradise failure
not due to transportation. I think that gorgous theater was doomed from the start or shortly after opening. As I said before, I cannot understand how the City of Chicago let this goldmine of a tax basis go away and into ruin. You can visit almost any town in Europe and see it the way it was 200 years ago!
According to my source “Chicago Surface Lines"by Allen R. Lind,on February 25, 1951 the Pulaski Road streetcars were replaced by busses on the weekends. On September 16 1952 they were completely replaced by trolleybusses.
CTA ended all Madison streetcars service on December 13,1953.
The last streetcar ran on The Clark Wentworth Avenue
route the summer of 1958.
I wouldn’t think the streetcars would have anything to do with the demise of the Paradise as public transportation continued to be available,the area was also serviced by the lake street and the Congress Els.
The former Lawndale Theatre located on the same street as the Paradise and Rossevelt Rd is being stripped and sold on an auction site. Seems the church that was in it is out of business as well as the building that was part of the theater which housed apartments.
Both buildings look vacant and reminds one of photos of the Blitz
during WWII.
Scott, I just saw your comment on the Patio site. You sure get around. I think it was a while back. I wonder if you are on others.
I have to start looking.
More thoughts: The article I read in the Tribune said it would have to be a new roadbed either overhead or a tunnel and would have to be electric like the ones overseas, otherwise accidents would be many.
If it happens in our lifetime, I will pick YOU up at the station and head over to the Uptown. I just found the Patio Theater website and there are some great photos there. I forgot how beautiful the auditorium is. I am afraid they need more then three people getting it ready. Asking if anyone knew how to repair a cooling water system that used to be the norm sounds like to me there is not much $$$$
being invested into the place. Sure hope it works out. What they really need is a corporate sponser with lots of $$$$$. The Bank of America Cinema will make an announcement in two weeks of the future
of the theater. They are not allowed to talk about it til then. My feeling: it will close after the last feature in December.
is the end will come on the last feature in December
Scott, what a nice thought. Taking a high speed electric to Chicago to visit a beautiful restored Uptown!!!!
Scott, Already two years! Time sure does fly. The only way a grant will be given I believe if there is a movement to spearhead a major growth program. That could be if the economy picks up. After all they are given a grant to “study” a high speed rail link to St. Louis
And it will be in the millions. The whole line itself will be in the billions and billions of dollars if built. Would be fun to ride. Would you pick me up at the station?
Scott, I forgot about the acoustics. But with rock bands, I don’t see much of a concern. They are playing at Leow’s Paradise in NY.
Why did Jam buy the building if not to re-opn it? Was it that much of a good price not to ignore it? I hear the alderwoman who was
behind the Uptown all these years is not seeking re-election next year. I wonder what an impact that will be for the theater.
Scott, I have a different opinion. The Granada was really more Spanish than Western. And I believe there are Mosques in Spain.
Also I think it would have made a gorjous house of worship. You should have seen how Loew’s 175th looked. A big electric cross on the stage with all the drapery intact! Even though they might have gotten the building and I agree with you, Loyola would never have done it, there is the upkeep problem: the roof repairs, the heating and cooling bills, electric bills and insurance. The same old story
just like a big old movie theater. However, there would be a lot more people involved giving $$$$. The floor could have been leveled
for the prayer hall and on and on and on…. I just wish it was saved and sometimes it is nice to “dream” that it could have been.
Anything new about the Uptown? Just imagine if the Paradise was built up there and the Uptown building was built on the West Side!
We would be talking about a whole different “ball game” wouldn’t we?
Scott, I often thought if the Paradise or the Marbro had been built in another location or city, it might be a opera house or church
today. I just heard on the radio that the Muslim community want to build a Mosque at the corner od Sheridan Rd. and Pratt. The neighbors are up in arms beacuse of the lack of parking in the area and no taxes coming from it. The building is a five story apartment building with a vacant space on the first floor corner. Too bad they didn’t buy the Granada for $400,000 (the asking price at that time) in 1990. What a beautiful Mosque that would have been. Of course since Loyola owned the lot, it probably never would have happened!!!
Scott, I heard this week-end that the organ is still at the Patio. Also the owner said he has taken good care of the building every week with the intention of going in partnership with his son and could open it on short notice. Sounds promising!!!!
I passed the Patio Theatre this afternoon on west Irving Pk. and they started working on repairing the marquee. It was hit by a truck or something high and smashed in on one side. The doors were opened and looked like a constuction crew was inside. So now it looks like a go. I would imagine it will be quite a few weeks before it is ready. It was closed for 9 years and will take a while to find new homes for the many rats that live there. Wonder if it still has the
organ?
Scott, Thanks for info about the Rockne. I was only there once I believe. It was converted to a church and was torn down rather recently as the neighborhood got worse, if thats possible. I can’t believe the Pulaski and Madison area getting any lower. Probably in 20 years or so, the area will be redeveloped. But I find that hard to imagine. Did you ever travel to Lawndale? I read about all the lack of grocery stores in these areas and how the people can’t shop in a decent store and that is how Walmart is needed so badly. Well,
I can tell you that we left the area with plenty of stores and churches and movie theaters and what became of those establishments
is what the new crowd did to them. There is nothing more to say…
Scott, The Manor was on North Avenue and Central. We would go when we visited friends. All the parents gathered the kids and dropped them off to the local theater to “get them out of their hair” for a few hours. Five cartoons and a double feature would do it. I mainly
stayed around Madison St. for films. B&K State was as far west we would go. My brothers would always insist me to come along only beacause they got more money for treats from our parents. I hated John Wayne and all those damn indians and all the rest of those cowboy movies. But they bribed me and I tried to bring a friend along. The Manor was a nice size house and was converted to a banquet
dinning hall in the 60’s. The lobby was good and the marquee was saved and called “Ferera Manor” and retainted all the chasers and the vertical. By the way, I did see John Wayne there along with Davy
Crockette. It was no Paradise or Marbro and I was glad to get back to them. Did you ever go to the “Rockne” on Division west of Austin?
The vertical was larger then the theater. Maybe it was named after Knute! I spent half of my childhood being shuttled from one theater
to another. And you know what, I wouldn’t have changed a thing…..
Scott, I never went. Went to the Manor on North Ave.
I have a great picture for you of the Tiffin theater.
Scott, It amazes me that there was only a 6 year period when one chain tried to outdo another one by building the most ornate and stunning movie palace with one being larger than the one just opened. Like there was no tomorrow and the audiences were to ever come in large crowds. I suppose the thought of tv never entered their minds even though it was on the horizon. You are right, the Granada should have been incorperated into something with that large
amount of people in that area. Also it is still a nice neighborhood.
Scott, I am glad you got to see the Lans Theatre. This computer age is wonderful isn’t it? I just started computer classes and I will eventually learn to scan photos and put them on a link. I want you to see the Senate and the Crawford theaters of course our Bryd.
Too bad many theaters worn torn down to make way for stupid parking lots or some other cause. The Granada should be there today and the building built around it. It was a gem never to built again!!
Scott, the Lansing theatre is located in downtown Lansing, Il.
It was a nice house with a large screen, no stage. Was very popular til the mid 50’s and I believe closed in the 70’s. The screen was removed and converted to a pizza parlor with teir seating on many levels. The organ is great and has all the pipes exposed with many lights flashing at times. I think you would enjoy it. The original marquee is still used and the box office is there. If you are ever up north, it would be worth a visit.
Scott, Dangerous isn’t the word… Suicide is more like it. But it would have been a hoot anyway. I will ask Richard at THS next time I see him about the basement which I still believe exits. Does he know you? Can I ask him for your address? Sometimes we meet at the former Lansing movie theater with a few friends. It is now a pizza parlour
with a big grand pipe organ and performances on Tues and Fri night 6-9pm. And the pizza is pretty good too. Beggers Pipe Organ Pizza!!!
I am willing to show up on a Saturday morning with a wheelbarow and
a shovel to start digging. How about it Scott and Lifes too short??
I am convinced the entire lower level is still there preserved for
future generations to ask “Did they really build something like this
just to show movies? I do remeber the murals and running through the tunnels in the balconey during intermissions. What a thrill!!!!
It’s entirely possible that something is still underground. Unless it caused a problem for someone, there is no reason anybody would go out of their way to dig it up and fill with dirt.
continued…..So it is possible that the entire basement lobby is still there like some treasure in the Middle East. I guess B&K got so disgusted with the demolition that they just closed off the lower level in order to rent out the land for the grocery store. Joe told me that story. Did you hear that one before? Wouldn’t that be something if something was down there. Would you be willing to show up there with your shovel Scott? I did hear from neighbors at the time that parts of the grocery store flooring and walls were used in the building of the store. After all, if they can down to the Titanic anything is possible!
Scott, the same holds true for the Leow’s Paradise in the Bronx. The large university sits nearby and Bronx itself is very populated.
This is what saved it from demise I am sure. It is nothing like our corner of Madison & Pulaski today. I know I said it before, but why oh why did it have to go so very bad in such a fast way? Now for the tiles. The tiles may still be there under the dirt or whatever is on top of them today. You do know that the tiles were used for the flooring of the grocery store built on the Paradise’s site. The entire basement area under the lobby was never excavated and the staircase was just concreted over on the outside rear. So it is poppossible
possible technillay
Scott, I thought I knew the Loews theater by the photos. But when you actually see it in person it takes on a different place. It is large as I stated, but not the scope of our Paradise and as you say not the magic. It was very successful from the beginning and into the years it became a quad. Think Goodness some one had the forsight
to bring it back to its glory. I do hear from friends it is not used to often due to the ecomony. Certaintly not as much as your Fox is.
How is the neighborhood where the Fox is located? I hear there was a pipe organ concert there sponsered by the local chapter of organ groups last May. I was thinking of driving down but I had a conflict
of dates. So next time they have one, I hear they do it often, I will drive down and maybe we can have dinner and talk about our beloved Paradise. Do you mean tiles on the floor or the walls. I have to pull the annual out tonight.
I think ours was nicer and certainly larger. I got the feeling the Loews was built in a cramped space. Ours was vast and seemed endless.
Of course, I was a tot and everything looked bigger. Both theaters had the same designer and is a great way to ‘see’ and ‘feel’ the experience of Chicago’s Paradise. The moment you turn the corner on the Grand Concourse, you know you are coming to a very important building, then you see the words LOEW’S PARADISE THEATER which are still lit up as they were in the late 20’s. Want more Scott??????