Thanks again for the reply, Tracy, I really do appreciate it. I’ll be there tonight, and i’ll bring photos, so we could perhaps discuss it? I wear a green jacket.
The marquee is now up and windows are in. The re-lighting ceremony will be tonight. Unfortunately, I don’t think it is quite historically accurate. These are the issues I saw: The new typeface for ‘Biograph’ is correct, but the outer ribbon as shown in Dillinger-era photos was evidently two distinctly colored thin ribbons, as opposed to the one thick one it is now. I’m guessing one ribbon was likely red and one yellow. The underside of the canopy is done in black semi-corrugated metal, as in the last iteration, but old photos as well as uncoverings during the removal of the old marquee show it was smooth and white. The Essaness lettering was neonized; the Victory Gardens lettering is not. The lettering boards are white movable lettering where the originals were reverse lettering. The new box office is in again and looks pretty good. So do the windows. The poster area is dark gray textured cement over sheetrock where vintage photos show what is likely glazed brick and poster cases. Maybe they’ll be putting up poster cases over that tomorrow, but that wouldn’t be accurate to the Dillinger-era anyway. The bases of the support piers should be green pulsichrome terra cotta to look like granite, but are instead painted. Overall it looks nice, and fresh, and certainly a major improvement, but it’s disingenuous to call it historically accurate, because it just isn’t.
Regarding what you saw – last year stabilization work was carried out that removed the upper parapet of the facade as well as terra cotta on the sides that was in danger. It is now in storage.
The Lincoln Village opened August 2, 1968 with 1440 seats for the Brotman & Sherman chain. It featured “All dimension screen and cine-focus 35&70mm projection equipment, full six-channel stereophonic sound, luxurious wide aisle seating, and free coffee”
There are a couple shots of the shoeboxes. They didn’t come out too clearly though- my camera unfortunately does poorly in low-light and so many of the photos are not in sharp focus. But you get a good sense of the space nonetheless. There were 27 patrons in the final showing of Woody Allen’s “Scoop”.
Carson Pirie Scott’s parent company recently announced it will close the State Street Carson’s location following the holiday season due to rising maintenance costs and falling profits.
Well, “Mole Men” came out in 1951. I would guess that it did close at the beginning of July 1952. It makes some sense that they would close at the beginning of a month. When I say it was the last listing, I mean that it was in that day’s paper and not the next. So unless there was a temporary closing, that was probably it.
Everything i’ve ever seen shows both theaters between Spaulding and Christiania: the Terminal (I)/Metro at 3308 W Lawrence, on the north side of the street, with the facade pictured above, and the Terminal (II) at 3315 W Lawrence, south side of the street, adjacent to the CTA terminal, now the site of the Village Discount Store.
The Terminal (I) is pictured in a 1915 Tribune article, the same facade shown above. A 1918 movie listing shows the address as 3308 W Lawrence. A 1926 listing shows that when the Terminal (II) opened, the Terminal (I) became the Metro. A July 1, 1952 listing, likewise shows the address as being 3308 W Lawrence. The final listing I can find for the Metro was July 31, 1952, showing Just This Once and The African Queen.
The Terminal (II) is pictured in a February 1925 advertisement selling bonds, with a Greek facade and the auditorium and stage running along the street east to Spaulding. The 3315 W Lawrence address appears in a Fox Theaters ad in 1929. The last listing I can find for the Terminal is April 18, 1963, as a 50-cent house showing “Sweet Bird of Youth” and “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?”
The facade is already looking far better with the cleaning and tuckpointing. Could you tell us a little more about what was found with the three marquees? The first one I assume was a plain canopy, and the third the one that is familiar to us, but what was the second? I was volunteering there saturday and no one seemed to know. I also somehow missed the Terra Cotta statue, where is that located? And is the blacked-out ceiling moulding in the entry vestibule one of the pieces in the above photos? Thanks.
Also, if you e-mail me i’d be happy to provide you with the photos I have.
It’s too bad there wasn’t more to be salvaged, but there are at least a handful of similar theaters around that are more or less still there, like the Calo, Lakeshore, Logan, Lakeside, Rosewood, Pickford, and Peerless.
Here is a set of photos on flickr taken during the demolition. I think these are the features Tracy N referred to earlier. I think one part of these is still there, although now hidden partially by black paint and a ‘cloud’ ceiling decoration. Otherwise none of the original interior remains except for a terra cotta statue that was salvaged.
The one shown on the map, on the north side of the street, with the facade that is still there, is the first Terminal theater, which became the Metro when the second Terminal opened. The second Terminal was where the CTA lot is now. Right?
Looking at the Satellite view, we can see that the lobby was roughly the same depth as the surrounding storefronts. So if you compare the depths of stores in the building you should be able to tell. Since the store doesn’t kick over to the side like the auditorium does you’re probably right. It looks like the roof of the auditorium was built sort of oddly too.
Oh, they’re not mine. But it was a nice candid shot, a change from the way you usually see these. And I think it just doesn’t look busy enough to be downtown, but grant park is a possibility too. Maybe somewhere in the south loop.
Update: The metal cladding that has marred the building for probably 40 years now is now totally removed, although the framework is still up. Despite the missing cornice, terra cotta work, and windows, it still looks a lot better to me at least now that it has some architectural expression. It would take a lot of money to fully restore, though, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens. As for the tag, i’m almost certain that’s been there for a couple years now.
All right, sctheaters, i’m sure you’d agree this has gone on much too long. But I do have one question for you, out of genuine curiousity. You can certainly choose not to answer it, since as you said, it’s not going to help you in business anyway. You insist repeatedly that CinemaTreasures does nothing to put money in your pocket (excerpts below). If so, why has every page you’ve posted on here – save this one – been regarding purchasing theaters? If you’re not profitting here, what are you contributing?
Well, sure it’s on-topic. The post is about avoiding inflammatory comments; we’re considering what causes these issues and brainstorming and discussing the merits of ways to avoid these situations in the future. A healthy, constructive, disscussion without personal attacks- exactly what this community needs more of! And the veering off-topic serves as an illustration of why another type of forum could be useful- keep the main thread of conversation on-topic while allowing more dialogue to spin off.
Thanks again for the reply, Tracy, I really do appreciate it. I’ll be there tonight, and i’ll bring photos, so we could perhaps discuss it? I wear a green jacket.
The marquee is now up and windows are in. The re-lighting ceremony will be tonight. Unfortunately, I don’t think it is quite historically accurate. These are the issues I saw: The new typeface for ‘Biograph’ is correct, but the outer ribbon as shown in Dillinger-era photos was evidently two distinctly colored thin ribbons, as opposed to the one thick one it is now. I’m guessing one ribbon was likely red and one yellow. The underside of the canopy is done in black semi-corrugated metal, as in the last iteration, but old photos as well as uncoverings during the removal of the old marquee show it was smooth and white. The Essaness lettering was neonized; the Victory Gardens lettering is not. The lettering boards are white movable lettering where the originals were reverse lettering. The new box office is in again and looks pretty good. So do the windows. The poster area is dark gray textured cement over sheetrock where vintage photos show what is likely glazed brick and poster cases. Maybe they’ll be putting up poster cases over that tomorrow, but that wouldn’t be accurate to the Dillinger-era anyway. The bases of the support piers should be green pulsichrome terra cotta to look like granite, but are instead painted. Overall it looks nice, and fresh, and certainly a major improvement, but it’s disingenuous to call it historically accurate, because it just isn’t.
Regarding what you saw – last year stabilization work was carried out that removed the upper parapet of the facade as well as terra cotta on the sides that was in danger. It is now in storage.
The Lincoln Village opened August 2, 1968 with 1440 seats for the Brotman & Sherman chain. It featured “All dimension screen and cine-focus 35&70mm projection equipment, full six-channel stereophonic sound, luxurious wide aisle seating, and free coffee”
The vertical sign’s frame has been mostly disassembled now.
Here’s a link to more info. View link
I didn’t note that specifically but I want to say it was brownish.
There are a couple shots of the shoeboxes. They didn’t come out too clearly though- my camera unfortunately does poorly in low-light and so many of the photos are not in sharp focus. But you get a good sense of the space nonetheless. There were 27 patrons in the final showing of Woody Allen’s “Scoop”.
Here is my set.
I was at the last show and took a few dozen shots. I think I was actually the last patron to leave. I’ll post them soonish.
Carson Pirie Scott’s parent company recently announced it will close the State Street Carson’s location following the holiday season due to rising maintenance costs and falling profits.
Well, “Mole Men” came out in 1951. I would guess that it did close at the beginning of July 1952. It makes some sense that they would close at the beginning of a month. When I say it was the last listing, I mean that it was in that day’s paper and not the next. So unless there was a temporary closing, that was probably it.
Good to see we all finally agree! :)
Everything i’ve ever seen shows both theaters between Spaulding and Christiania: the Terminal (I)/Metro at 3308 W Lawrence, on the north side of the street, with the facade pictured above, and the Terminal (II) at 3315 W Lawrence, south side of the street, adjacent to the CTA terminal, now the site of the Village Discount Store.
The Terminal (I) is pictured in a 1915 Tribune article, the same facade shown above. A 1918 movie listing shows the address as 3308 W Lawrence. A 1926 listing shows that when the Terminal (II) opened, the Terminal (I) became the Metro. A July 1, 1952 listing, likewise shows the address as being 3308 W Lawrence. The final listing I can find for the Metro was July 31, 1952, showing Just This Once and The African Queen.
The Terminal (II) is pictured in a February 1925 advertisement selling bonds, with a Greek facade and the auditorium and stage running along the street east to Spaulding. The 3315 W Lawrence address appears in a Fox Theaters ad in 1929. The last listing I can find for the Terminal is April 18, 1963, as a 50-cent house showing “Sweet Bird of Youth” and “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?”
The facade is already looking far better with the cleaning and tuckpointing. Could you tell us a little more about what was found with the three marquees? The first one I assume was a plain canopy, and the third the one that is familiar to us, but what was the second? I was volunteering there saturday and no one seemed to know. I also somehow missed the Terra Cotta statue, where is that located? And is the blacked-out ceiling moulding in the entry vestibule one of the pieces in the above photos? Thanks.
Also, if you e-mail me i’d be happy to provide you with the photos I have.
It’s too bad there wasn’t more to be salvaged, but there are at least a handful of similar theaters around that are more or less still there, like the Calo, Lakeshore, Logan, Lakeside, Rosewood, Pickford, and Peerless.
Here is a set of photos on flickr taken during the demolition. I think these are the features Tracy N referred to earlier. I think one part of these is still there, although now hidden partially by black paint and a ‘cloud’ ceiling decoration. Otherwise none of the original interior remains except for a terra cotta statue that was salvaged.
View link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47636110@N00/5591005/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47636110@N00/5591004/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47636110@N00/5590995/
View link
The one shown on the map, on the north side of the street, with the facade that is still there, is the first Terminal theater, which became the Metro when the second Terminal opened. The second Terminal was where the CTA lot is now. Right?
Looking at the Satellite view, we can see that the lobby was roughly the same depth as the surrounding storefronts. So if you compare the depths of stores in the building you should be able to tell. Since the store doesn’t kick over to the side like the auditorium does you’re probably right. It looks like the roof of the auditorium was built sort of oddly too.
Oh, they’re not mine. But it was a nice candid shot, a change from the way you usually see these. And I think it just doesn’t look busy enough to be downtown, but grant park is a possibility too. Maybe somewhere in the south loop.
Here is a strange montage featuring what appears to be the Cinema
Here is a nice 1935 personal shot on State Street
Here is a great shot of the Palace’s dome
Here are a couple recent shots of the theater.
Update: The metal cladding that has marred the building for probably 40 years now is now totally removed, although the framework is still up. Despite the missing cornice, terra cotta work, and windows, it still looks a lot better to me at least now that it has some architectural expression. It would take a lot of money to fully restore, though, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens. As for the tag, i’m almost certain that’s been there for a couple years now.
All right, sctheaters, i’m sure you’d agree this has gone on much too long. But I do have one question for you, out of genuine curiousity. You can certainly choose not to answer it, since as you said, it’s not going to help you in business anyway. You insist repeatedly that CinemaTreasures does nothing to put money in your pocket (excerpts below). If so, why has every page you’ve posted on here – save this one – been regarding purchasing theaters? If you’re not profitting here, what are you contributing?
Actually the Mt. Prospect still stands as a banquet hall.
Well, sure it’s on-topic. The post is about avoiding inflammatory comments; we’re considering what causes these issues and brainstorming and discussing the merits of ways to avoid these situations in the future. A healthy, constructive, disscussion without personal attacks- exactly what this community needs more of! And the veering off-topic serves as an illustration of why another type of forum could be useful- keep the main thread of conversation on-topic while allowing more dialogue to spin off.