Here is the Uptown Borders/Goldblatts/Loren Miller, across from the riviera, in its original form as a bank. Note that the windows didn’t go as low and there was a pediment that was not replaced in the restoration. Also a balustrade along the top.
Today’s was a trip to the Harold Washington library, to use the Art Institute’s Avery Index. I was looking to see if there was anything on the Adelphi, Pickwick, and Esquire, (I copied beautiful photos of all three,) and while I was waiting for more journals to be pulled I thought i’d look up the renovation architect’s name in the Tribune archives. So that’s how. I had the name before, for the Adelphi, but I guess it never occurred to me to look.
The Adelphi’s 1935 Streamline Moderne modernization was by architect and part-owner Mark D. Kalischer, who also did the remodels at the Harper (Hyde Park) and Portage. It was hailed in the July 1935 issue of Architectural Forum.
The 1938 art deco remodel, costing $30,000, was carried out by architect Mark D. Kalischer, who also did remodels at the Adelphi and Portage, as well as the Drake Bowl.
I went by there. It looks like they’re just removing the collapsed portion, for now at least. I say this because there was no scaffolding on the facade, which there would certainly be if it were all being demolished.
My god, the post office is actually opening? It was supposed to open at the beginning of the year. The Post Office does not occupy any of the former theater space; it is in one of the former shops flanking the lobby back into office space that was constructed long ago where the auditorium once stood, with a few parking spots in the rest of the space. The stagehouse is also still there, although I don’t believe it’s occupied presently. The former lobby is still in pretty good shape except that the terrazzo is covered by carpet, and is used as a meeting room for a branch of Athena Investments, which opened early this year. Previously the rear office space had been connected to the former lobby, but this was shifted for the Post Office.
The Victoria opened September 29, 1912. Here is the account from the Tribune:
“The Victoria, Belmont and Sheffield, opened last Sunday. Despite the fact that the lobby was still cluttered up with scaffolds and painters and things, the theater played to capacity.
The auditorium is illuminated by indirect lighting. There are 1,000 seats on the lower level and 1,550 in all. The seats are of chair polished mahogany with plush panels.
Sanitation is considered in the rubber tile in place of carpets and in bubbling ice water fonts here and there throughout the house.
There are two tiers of hanging boxes on each side of the proscenium arch. There are six entrances to the balcony from the mezzanine floor. There is a tapestry curtain and tapestry is used to drape the proscenium opening. All modern devices are employed in the stage equipment.
The lobby is two stories high and is wainscoted with Italian marble. It has a depth of twenty feet. Among the conveniences are two rest rooms for women and a men’s smoking room. There are two box offices and the theater is connected with the “L” station by a lighted tunnel.
The front is of French renaissance design and the back, which immediately abuts the “L” station, is got up in imitation of an ancient German castle. The building is 97x127 and is about five stories high.
The Victoria is a popular priced house and is occupied by road shows, dramatic and musical.
“Kindling,” a study in eugenics and tenement life, will be the bill at the Victoria this week. Sarah Padden appears as Maggie Schultz."
Here is another.
Here is a postcard view of the Oriental.
Here is a postcard view.
Here is a postcard view.
Here is a postcard view.
Here is a postcard with the marquee partly visible.
Here is another from the same time.
Here is another postcard view
Here is a photo of State Street in the 60s.
Here is a postcard view of the Majestic building.
Here is a postcard view of the Orpheum.
Here is the Uptown Borders/Goldblatts/Loren Miller, across from the riviera, in its original form as a bank. Note that the windows didn’t go as low and there was a pediment that was not replaced in the restoration. Also a balustrade along the top.
Well, the Esquire wasn’t Cineplex until they merged with Loews/Sony in 1997. As a 6-plex, it was M&R/Loews and then Sony.
Today’s was a trip to the Harold Washington library, to use the Art Institute’s Avery Index. I was looking to see if there was anything on the Adelphi, Pickwick, and Esquire, (I copied beautiful photos of all three,) and while I was waiting for more journals to be pulled I thought i’d look up the renovation architect’s name in the Tribune archives. So that’s how. I had the name before, for the Adelphi, but I guess it never occurred to me to look.
Here is more on the more recent developments.
The Portage’s 1940 modernization was by Mark D. Kalischer, who also remodeled the Adelphi and Harper (Hyde Park)
The Adelphi’s 1935 Streamline Moderne modernization was by architect and part-owner Mark D. Kalischer, who also did the remodels at the Harper (Hyde Park) and Portage. It was hailed in the July 1935 issue of Architectural Forum.
The 1938 art deco remodel, costing $30,000, was carried out by architect Mark D. Kalischer, who also did remodels at the Adelphi and Portage, as well as the Drake Bowl.
View link
I went by there. It looks like they’re just removing the collapsed portion, for now at least. I say this because there was no scaffolding on the facade, which there would certainly be if it were all being demolished.
My god, the post office is actually opening? It was supposed to open at the beginning of the year. The Post Office does not occupy any of the former theater space; it is in one of the former shops flanking the lobby back into office space that was constructed long ago where the auditorium once stood, with a few parking spots in the rest of the space. The stagehouse is also still there, although I don’t believe it’s occupied presently. The former lobby is still in pretty good shape except that the terrazzo is covered by carpet, and is used as a meeting room for a branch of Athena Investments, which opened early this year. Previously the rear office space had been connected to the former lobby, but this was shifted for the Post Office.
Lost Memory: Please send me an email. Thank you. (Sorry to leave an irrelevant comment here)
That article is here
The Victoria opened September 29, 1912. Here is the account from the Tribune:
“The Victoria, Belmont and Sheffield, opened last Sunday. Despite the fact that the lobby was still cluttered up with scaffolds and painters and things, the theater played to capacity.
The auditorium is illuminated by indirect lighting. There are 1,000 seats on the lower level and 1,550 in all. The seats are of chair polished mahogany with plush panels.
Sanitation is considered in the rubber tile in place of carpets and in bubbling ice water fonts here and there throughout the house.
There are two tiers of hanging boxes on each side of the proscenium arch. There are six entrances to the balcony from the mezzanine floor. There is a tapestry curtain and tapestry is used to drape the proscenium opening. All modern devices are employed in the stage equipment.
The lobby is two stories high and is wainscoted with Italian marble. It has a depth of twenty feet. Among the conveniences are two rest rooms for women and a men’s smoking room. There are two box offices and the theater is connected with the “L” station by a lighted tunnel.
The front is of French renaissance design and the back, which immediately abuts the “L” station, is got up in imitation of an ancient German castle. The building is 97x127 and is about five stories high.
The Victoria is a popular priced house and is occupied by road shows, dramatic and musical.
“Kindling,” a study in eugenics and tenement life, will be the bill at the Victoria this week. Sarah Padden appears as Maggie Schultz."
By 1918 the site was an auto dealership