Following is a history of how the Esquire went from a single-screen to what it is today, pieced together from the Tribune Archives. In March 1986, Plitt/Cineplex Odeon announced plans to carve the theater into 4 or 5 screens, one day after announcing plans to shutter the nearby Carnegie. Almost immediately, the city Landmark commission began the process of trying to landmark the exterior and lobby, while allowing the auditorium work to be carried out. It was stated that if the owners chose to oppose the commission, work would be delayed until review was finished, and if they went with it, they could do their work. In another week, Garth Drabinsky, head of Cineplex, called the earlier reports false and said he only intended to split the balcony and floor, exactly as was done at the McClurg. (In that article he also said he did not plan to buy Essaness, which he of course did within three weeks.) By mid-August, the property owners were pressuring Plitt/CO to go back to the 4-screen plan to increase rentable space on the first floor of the building, just as ultimately happened. The prospective tenant was Bennigan’s. In August, the Ruttenberg family, owners of the property announced plans to fight landmarking, saying the only economically feasible plan would be to create a four-story interior with 2 screens on the lower floor, 2 on the upper, and retail in between. The landmarks commission was especially opposed to putting storefront windows in at street level. They also insisted that the only people they would work with is Plitt, dure to their downtown dominance. An intriguing quote: “We’ve had a demolition clause in the Plitt lease available for a year, and could terminate the lease by demolishing the building,” David Ruttenberg added. “But if we signed a new lease with Plitt, we would protect the theater from demolition for 20 years or more.” -Bill Ruttenberg. We are now 20 years from that statement. There was also talk of possible city aquisition. In another week, the Ruttenbergs obtained demolition permits for the Esquire, as a ploy to prevent landmarking. If they were landmarked after the demolition permit was approved, they would be entitled to millions in damages. However the permit was quickly revoked, since it hadn’t been reviewed by Ald. Natarus, as was required by law. Oddly, Bertrand Goldberg, designer of Marina City and River City spoke out against landmarking, saying it was not worthy. Of course, many of Goldberg’s designs feature a very similar scallop design as the Esquire. On October 2, the Landmark Commission reccommended that the city council vote the exterior a landmark, leaving the interior open as a compromise. By July 1987, the plan was to have one retail tenant on the first floor, one on the second, and six theaters occupying the top two floors. In September, the Commission voted against the plan, attempting to avoid exterior changes, but allowing the matter to continue. In November, they struck a deal to keep the facade and lobby 90% intact, the way it is now. The theater shut down shortly thereafter and was gutted in January, 1988. In late february, after a change in the plan to include small second-floor exterior alterations was approved, it was announced that M&R would take over operations. The plan was not to run art films. Cineplex objected. The Ruttenbergs said they chose M&R because Cineplex was only willing to lease the theaters, where M&R would be willing to only manage. They also worked together on Webster Place. In March, Cineplex sued to block M&R, saying its lease gave it right of first refusal on any new lease. This is likely why M&R was only managing. Loews acquired M&R in September, 1988. Some of the lighting fixtures turned up at a restaurant at 217 W Huron. The theaters reopened February 1, 1990 with “Stella,” “My Left Foot,” “Mack the Knife” and “Stanley and Iris.” However, the fire marshal shut it down. BUT Aldermen Naturus and Burke stepped in and got it opened for the reception that was there- it was not allowed to open to the general public until the alarm system was certified. In June, 1991 Citibank signed a 15-year lease. In 1994 the City Council’s Committee on Historical Landmark Preservation ruled that the renovation had destroyed the theater’s value as a landmark. Aldermen also complained that more historic neighborhood theaters had been allowed to be destroyed. I think many on this site can recognize the major difference with the Esquire. Shortly thereafter, the 600 N Michigan theaters were announced, and there was consideration of vacating the theaters and adding more windows for more retail. In February, 1995 Sony (having taken over the M&R/Loews theaters) signed a 10-year lease. In 2000 the retail question popped again, with the Loews lease reportedly up in 2003 and the Citibank lease up in December, 2000. In July 2002 it was sold to the present owners, who at the time said “our plan is basically to keep it as is,” while others said he was weighing his options, such as a hotel/condo high-rise. Which brings us to today.
Other historical notes that haven’t been touched on: it was in 1966 when Walter Reade, the New York organization, acquired the Esquire from H&E Balaban/Paramount, and quickly installed the popcorn, cigarette, and ice cream machines whose abscence had distinguished the Esquire as a cut above the rest. They also did a “quick, extensive remodeling.” It was Reade’s first, and apparently only foray into the market. Plitt, incidentally the successor to Paramount’s midwest theater division, acquired it from Reade in 1975.
No, the only two they had to sell in Chicago were Webster Place and City North, which they did, to Kerasotes. And in this case, the auditorium was destroyed to build retail and the six screens. I have a history of the theater’s downfall since 1986 i’ll shortly post on the main esquire page.
Theater originally sat 711, was designed by Graven & Mayger, and cost $125,000. Apparently, the stockholders included William Wrigley, Jr., William Alfred, a car manufacturer, John Lane, Walter Moore, and Mrs. S.J. Llewellyn.
Oh, excellent! I have a fair amount on the Polka Brothers that i’ve collected researching the theater. Email me by clicking my name. Some interesting stuff, and maybe you can help me, too!
The Hyde Park/Harper has a pretty complex past. The theater opened in 1914 as a live venue. It was built within 200 feet of a Presbyterian church, who held it was unlawful and had its license withheld. It was called one of the most elaborate playhouses in outlying districts. It opened, but closed again on these grounds in 1916. It was then revealed that a $500 payoff by trhe Beach theater had brought about the closure, and it reopened. It later switched to movies and closed in 1931. It reopened in 1935, when it recieved the art deco treatment outside. It closed again in 1957, reopening in 1964 as a live venue. This featured many repertory acts, and among the many companies to perform there were the Joffrey Ballet and many other dance groups and the Second City’s legitimate stage division. It became the Hyde Park Theater II in 1971 (with the original Hyde Park as Hyde Park I) under Kohlberg theaters, a successor to Shoenstadt. It became just Hyde Park Theater in 1974 following another renovation. The theater reopened under M&R in 1985, following a 6-month, $1 million renovation. It featured two 375 seat theaters on the floor and 1 700 seater in the balcony. It was the first new theater to open on the south side in 40 years, the only first-run, and patrons previously had to go to Evergreen Park or River Oaks to see movies, or the increasingly declining downtown theaters. It did become a Loews theater before passing to Sony/Loews, Meridian, and I.C.E.
Does anyone recall what it looked like, paint-wise, under cineplex? I think the gray interior is pretty boring. The lobby is kind of neat. I can’t imagine this theater was ever very pretty.
Here is an early 1970s photo of the Naper.
Here is a picture of the Ridge. I’ve been wondering what this looked like for a long time!
Here is a HAARGIS profile on the theater, including a picture
Here is a haargis profile on the mercury, including a picture
Here is an early 1990s HAARGIS photo of the unrestored Oriental from across Block 37.
Here is a 1970s photo from HAARGIS.
Here is a HAARGIS profile on the State, including a 1970s photo.
Following is a history of how the Esquire went from a single-screen to what it is today, pieced together from the Tribune Archives. In March 1986, Plitt/Cineplex Odeon announced plans to carve the theater into 4 or 5 screens, one day after announcing plans to shutter the nearby Carnegie. Almost immediately, the city Landmark commission began the process of trying to landmark the exterior and lobby, while allowing the auditorium work to be carried out. It was stated that if the owners chose to oppose the commission, work would be delayed until review was finished, and if they went with it, they could do their work. In another week, Garth Drabinsky, head of Cineplex, called the earlier reports false and said he only intended to split the balcony and floor, exactly as was done at the McClurg. (In that article he also said he did not plan to buy Essaness, which he of course did within three weeks.) By mid-August, the property owners were pressuring Plitt/CO to go back to the 4-screen plan to increase rentable space on the first floor of the building, just as ultimately happened. The prospective tenant was Bennigan’s. In August, the Ruttenberg family, owners of the property announced plans to fight landmarking, saying the only economically feasible plan would be to create a four-story interior with 2 screens on the lower floor, 2 on the upper, and retail in between. The landmarks commission was especially opposed to putting storefront windows in at street level. They also insisted that the only people they would work with is Plitt, dure to their downtown dominance. An intriguing quote: “We’ve had a demolition clause in the Plitt lease available for a year, and could terminate the lease by demolishing the building,” David Ruttenberg added. “But if we signed a new lease with Plitt, we would protect the theater from demolition for 20 years or more.” -Bill Ruttenberg. We are now 20 years from that statement. There was also talk of possible city aquisition. In another week, the Ruttenbergs obtained demolition permits for the Esquire, as a ploy to prevent landmarking. If they were landmarked after the demolition permit was approved, they would be entitled to millions in damages. However the permit was quickly revoked, since it hadn’t been reviewed by Ald. Natarus, as was required by law. Oddly, Bertrand Goldberg, designer of Marina City and River City spoke out against landmarking, saying it was not worthy. Of course, many of Goldberg’s designs feature a very similar scallop design as the Esquire. On October 2, the Landmark Commission reccommended that the city council vote the exterior a landmark, leaving the interior open as a compromise. By July 1987, the plan was to have one retail tenant on the first floor, one on the second, and six theaters occupying the top two floors. In September, the Commission voted against the plan, attempting to avoid exterior changes, but allowing the matter to continue. In November, they struck a deal to keep the facade and lobby 90% intact, the way it is now. The theater shut down shortly thereafter and was gutted in January, 1988. In late february, after a change in the plan to include small second-floor exterior alterations was approved, it was announced that M&R would take over operations. The plan was not to run art films. Cineplex objected. The Ruttenbergs said they chose M&R because Cineplex was only willing to lease the theaters, where M&R would be willing to only manage. They also worked together on Webster Place. In March, Cineplex sued to block M&R, saying its lease gave it right of first refusal on any new lease. This is likely why M&R was only managing. Loews acquired M&R in September, 1988. Some of the lighting fixtures turned up at a restaurant at 217 W Huron. The theaters reopened February 1, 1990 with “Stella,” “My Left Foot,” “Mack the Knife” and “Stanley and Iris.” However, the fire marshal shut it down. BUT Aldermen Naturus and Burke stepped in and got it opened for the reception that was there- it was not allowed to open to the general public until the alarm system was certified. In June, 1991 Citibank signed a 15-year lease. In 1994 the City Council’s Committee on Historical Landmark Preservation ruled that the renovation had destroyed the theater’s value as a landmark. Aldermen also complained that more historic neighborhood theaters had been allowed to be destroyed. I think many on this site can recognize the major difference with the Esquire. Shortly thereafter, the 600 N Michigan theaters were announced, and there was consideration of vacating the theaters and adding more windows for more retail. In February, 1995 Sony (having taken over the M&R/Loews theaters) signed a 10-year lease. In 2000 the retail question popped again, with the Loews lease reportedly up in 2003 and the Citibank lease up in December, 2000. In July 2002 it was sold to the present owners, who at the time said “our plan is basically to keep it as is,” while others said he was weighing his options, such as a hotel/condo high-rise. Which brings us to today.
Other historical notes that haven’t been touched on: it was in 1966 when Walter Reade, the New York organization, acquired the Esquire from H&E Balaban/Paramount, and quickly installed the popcorn, cigarette, and ice cream machines whose abscence had distinguished the Esquire as a cut above the rest. They also did a “quick, extensive remodeling.” It was Reade’s first, and apparently only foray into the market. Plitt, incidentally the successor to Paramount’s midwest theater division, acquired it from Reade in 1975.
In 1985-1988 it would have been Andy’s Grill, I believe. Before that it was Windy’s Italian Beef.
Here is an article with one of the better historical views of it that i’ve seen.
Here’s a bigger news flash: Jam productions has purchased the Riviera and may rehab it with TIF funding.
No, the only two they had to sell in Chicago were Webster Place and City North, which they did, to Kerasotes. And in this case, the auditorium was destroyed to build retail and the six screens. I have a history of the theater’s downfall since 1986 i’ll shortly post on the main esquire page.
I have some great drawings, but i’d need your email. Mine is there if you click my name.
LED Marquee, eh? How unique.
The fourth screen was created in 1988.
I don’t know, it doesn’t sound all that far off from what Muvico builds.
Ghost lights are the term for the practice of always having a light on the stage, even if it’s unoccupied. Old superstition.
Nope. I think I might have a drawing at home though.
Well, the Kerasotes at Roosevelt Collection isn’t so terribly far from it.
I should add that this is all from a bizarre Chicago Tribune article saying comic strip character Andy Gump told them this
Theater originally sat 711, was designed by Graven & Mayger, and cost $125,000. Apparently, the stockholders included William Wrigley, Jr., William Alfred, a car manufacturer, John Lane, Walter Moore, and Mrs. S.J. Llewellyn.
Oh, excellent! I have a fair amount on the Polka Brothers that i’ve collected researching the theater. Email me by clicking my name. Some interesting stuff, and maybe you can help me, too!
The Hyde Park/Harper has a pretty complex past. The theater opened in 1914 as a live venue. It was built within 200 feet of a Presbyterian church, who held it was unlawful and had its license withheld. It was called one of the most elaborate playhouses in outlying districts. It opened, but closed again on these grounds in 1916. It was then revealed that a $500 payoff by trhe Beach theater had brought about the closure, and it reopened. It later switched to movies and closed in 1931. It reopened in 1935, when it recieved the art deco treatment outside. It closed again in 1957, reopening in 1964 as a live venue. This featured many repertory acts, and among the many companies to perform there were the Joffrey Ballet and many other dance groups and the Second City’s legitimate stage division. It became the Hyde Park Theater II in 1971 (with the original Hyde Park as Hyde Park I) under Kohlberg theaters, a successor to Shoenstadt. It became just Hyde Park Theater in 1974 following another renovation. The theater reopened under M&R in 1985, following a 6-month, $1 million renovation. It featured two 375 seat theaters on the floor and 1 700 seater in the balcony. It was the first new theater to open on the south side in 40 years, the only first-run, and patrons previously had to go to Evergreen Park or River Oaks to see movies, or the increasingly declining downtown theaters. It did become a Loews theater before passing to Sony/Loews, Meridian, and I.C.E.
Well, idf you look at the link from last june, it seems like they intend to at least keep some of the facade ultimately.
Does anyone recall what it looked like, paint-wise, under cineplex? I think the gray interior is pretty boring. The lobby is kind of neat. I can’t imagine this theater was ever very pretty.