Scott, missed you by two days. I took Amtrak down there to see “A Christmas Carol”. What a Theater !! The staff member gave us over an hour tour. The auditorium was closed all summer for a complete cleaning and touch-up. It looked absolutely gorgeous…You are so right, one has to be there in person to see this beauty. What a lobby entrance with the organ playing as you entered. First time there and will return. This is what a movie palace is all about. A nice photo tribute to Stan Kahn.
This palace is lovingly taken care of.
In so many cities across the states, plenty of these buildings stayed around for many years and found new uses. The west side theatres went down almost 60 years ago. When you think of Brooklyn, New Jersey and the Loews Theatres there all seeing new life. Chicago’s Uptown awaiting; Joliet & Aurora came to life; Rockford on the rise. This was a major destination in Chicago. I have no idea how property taxes might have influenced the decision to wreck. Couldn’t the city hold the deed like the King’s in NY? A mega church maybe? There is still life I would imagine around there. Probably a Starbucks or two. The Granada should have been saved as a
jewel performance art centre. The time was right.
Too bad the Marbro & Paradise Theaters were not just boarded up and still there waiting for a new generation to discover the wonders of those buildings. But I imagine B&K would be liable for break-ins & other things that might have gone on inside.
You would think so. The Indian culture is very ornate as well as the Chinese. They both show films in major cities, but I think the size of the RKO was against even their budgets. A cultural center is another matter. It is tailor made for that and should have been persuade.
Thanks for the wonderful photos. It is really happening. What a thrill it will be to see it when it comes back to life. Wish all the grand movie palaces had the same dedication.
If the Midway was used as a vaudeville theater in 1918 & beyond I could not find a stagehouse. I thought all theaters that used live shows had to have a stagehouse. Even some of the suburban theaters that had shallow stages and showed movies had a fly system.
Hi Scott..I Thought of you when I passed the MIDWAY theater in Rockford last week. What a facade! I passsed the Guyon a year ago and it was boarded up I remember. It seemed like something was happening and it just stopped. Maybe grants just dried up who knows. This was “our little world” way back in the 50’s. Madison/Crawford corner. It sure made an impression on alot of people for we still remember the Crawford, Paradise and Marbro with great fondness.
I am going to the FOX in December to see a show and now will seek out thoses two chandeliers at the Des Peres Cinema. Thanks. Two bad an opera company or other group could not rescue this theater. These beautiful buildings will never be built again.
I saw “Hello Dolly” last week at the beautiful Coronado. The manager told me the TIMES & MIDWAY theatres will be re-opened. Serious people with serious moneybags are involed…I agree with your comment as I passed the MIDWAY myself.
I saw “Hello Dolly” last week at the beautiful Coronado. The manager told me the TIMES theater is in the process of re-opening. Many people inspecting & photographing every corner. I was amazed the marquee is intact after all these years closed. Also he told me the MIDWAY will re-open as different theater groups are interested and have the money to do it. I passed it by and couldn’t see if the roof was still there. Still looks good.
I think the sign reads DANCE. The ballroom was still going strong I presume. I also think it was called Paradise but not sure. Great photo of a great street!
That is a good question..I bet Tinseltoes would know. I would say mid 1940’s when neon became big. I thought the present one was a bit bland…One size fits all. Chicago was much more creative when it came to modern signage.
I also did not know this theater was the twin to the Detroit. I wonder if they still show movies. Looking forward to a trip there. Also wonder if the two are the same size in detail. Thanks Tinseltoes for the ceiling video.
You do realize the people that work there have no passion for the name Ziegfeld. They could care less. Its a job. Only someone like us that love these theaters would go over & beyond the call of duty to give 110% to patrons. We understand what it means to be part of a long by-gone era. Even if its only a name!
Hard to believe the Ziegfeld will continue to be in operation in the future. What a wonderful throwback to those glorious days of the single screen movie palace when entering the lobby was a sensation all by itself !
Thanks Tinseltoes for your BOXOFFICE. LOEWS Astor was a great place to see a picture…Nothing that large left in Chicago at present. I fear for the Zeigfeld in NY..
Remember seeing “THE HIGH & THE MIGHTY” starring John Wayne in the 1950’s with my family. Screen was large like the ones we were used to in Chicago. Went to Florida every year and always took in a movie at the State.
I went to the Lawrencewood when it opened..Soon after they twined the Portage Theater in Chicago..M&R were on a buying spree. Must have been a diaster for those theaters didn’t last long.
I hope the snowstorm didn’t keep the crowds away. Sounds like a great bill. Wish I lived in NY (at times). Wonder how Loews Kings is doing?
Thanks for the update guys…I wonder if it will get off the ground this time. The “old gal” won’t give up"..
Scott, missed you by two days. I took Amtrak down there to see “A Christmas Carol”. What a Theater !! The staff member gave us over an hour tour. The auditorium was closed all summer for a complete cleaning and touch-up. It looked absolutely gorgeous…You are so right, one has to be there in person to see this beauty. What a lobby entrance with the organ playing as you entered. First time there and will return. This is what a movie palace is all about. A nice photo tribute to Stan Kahn. This palace is lovingly taken care of.
In so many cities across the states, plenty of these buildings stayed around for many years and found new uses. The west side theatres went down almost 60 years ago. When you think of Brooklyn, New Jersey and the Loews Theatres there all seeing new life. Chicago’s Uptown awaiting; Joliet & Aurora came to life; Rockford on the rise. This was a major destination in Chicago. I have no idea how property taxes might have influenced the decision to wreck. Couldn’t the city hold the deed like the King’s in NY? A mega church maybe? There is still life I would imagine around there. Probably a Starbucks or two. The Granada should have been saved as a jewel performance art centre. The time was right.
How do these people stay out of jail? Imagine taking on the Keith’s and the Keith’s wins.
Too bad the Marbro & Paradise Theaters were not just boarded up and still there waiting for a new generation to discover the wonders of those buildings. But I imagine B&K would be liable for break-ins & other things that might have gone on inside.
You would think so. The Indian culture is very ornate as well as the Chinese. They both show films in major cities, but I think the size of the RKO was against even their budgets. A cultural center is another matter. It is tailor made for that and should have been persuade.
Thanks for the wonderful photos. It is really happening. What a thrill it will be to see it when it comes back to life. Wish all the grand movie palaces had the same dedication.
If the Midway was used as a vaudeville theater in 1918 & beyond I could not find a stagehouse. I thought all theaters that used live shows had to have a stagehouse. Even some of the suburban theaters that had shallow stages and showed movies had a fly system.
Hi Scott..I Thought of you when I passed the MIDWAY theater in Rockford last week. What a facade! I passsed the Guyon a year ago and it was boarded up I remember. It seemed like something was happening and it just stopped. Maybe grants just dried up who knows. This was “our little world” way back in the 50’s. Madison/Crawford corner. It sure made an impression on alot of people for we still remember the Crawford, Paradise and Marbro with great fondness.
I am going to the FOX in December to see a show and now will seek out thoses two chandeliers at the Des Peres Cinema. Thanks. Two bad an opera company or other group could not rescue this theater. These beautiful buildings will never be built again.
I saw “Hello Dolly” last week at the beautiful Coronado. The manager told me the TIMES & MIDWAY theatres will be re-opened. Serious people with serious moneybags are involed…I agree with your comment as I passed the MIDWAY myself.
I saw “Hello Dolly” last week at the beautiful Coronado. The manager told me the TIMES theater is in the process of re-opening. Many people inspecting & photographing every corner. I was amazed the marquee is intact after all these years closed. Also he told me the MIDWAY will re-open as different theater groups are interested and have the money to do it. I passed it by and couldn’t see if the roof was still there. Still looks good.
I think the sign reads DANCE. The ballroom was still going strong I presume. I also think it was called Paradise but not sure. Great photo of a great street!
Has the old marquee been removed yet? Anybody know.
That is a good question..I bet Tinseltoes would know. I would say mid 1940’s when neon became big. I thought the present one was a bit bland…One size fits all. Chicago was much more creative when it came to modern signage.
I also did not know this theater was the twin to the Detroit. I wonder if they still show movies. Looking forward to a trip there. Also wonder if the two are the same size in detail. Thanks Tinseltoes for the ceiling video.
On the other hand, these theaters all had organs….Sorry I couldn’t resist.
I don’t remember that at all..However the Alex did show alot of “Hercules” movies which would attest to that fact.
Thanks Matt…What wonderful news! What a re-opening this will be!
You do realize the people that work there have no passion for the name Ziegfeld. They could care less. Its a job. Only someone like us that love these theaters would go over & beyond the call of duty to give 110% to patrons. We understand what it means to be part of a long by-gone era. Even if its only a name!
Hard to believe the Ziegfeld will continue to be in operation in the future. What a wonderful throwback to those glorious days of the single screen movie palace when entering the lobby was a sensation all by itself !
Thanks Tinseltoes for your BOXOFFICE. LOEWS Astor was a great place to see a picture…Nothing that large left in Chicago at present. I fear for the Zeigfeld in NY..
Remember seeing “THE HIGH & THE MIGHTY” starring John Wayne in the 1950’s with my family. Screen was large like the ones we were used to in Chicago. Went to Florida every year and always took in a movie at the State.
I went to the Lawrencewood when it opened..Soon after they twined the Portage Theater in Chicago..M&R were on a buying spree. Must have been a diaster for those theaters didn’t last long.