If you have a Chicago Public Library card, you have access to the archives of the Chicago Tribune from 1853-1985 online. You can use the search function to find any old ads or articles on Essaness theatres. Particularly useful are the showtime listings. Often renderings were published when theaters were announced. If you don’t have a CPL card, some suburban libraries also have access although it may be harder to find out about.
A January 13, 1985 Chicago Tribune letter to the editor from a gentleman who worked with Behrns, responding to some photos that had recently appeared, notes that the main designer of the Egyptian’s interior decor was a man named John Halama who did extensive research on Egypt for the design.
It was indeed an Elmer F. Behrns theater. Note, his name is properly spelled ‘Behrns’, not ‘Behrens’. Also notable is that Behrns was with Rapp & Rapp from 1917-1923. He also lived in Crystal Lake. In addition to the theaters listed at this site, he built St. Luke’s Church in Chicago (http://www.elca.org/archives/chicagochurches/stluke_gc.html) and apartments which no longer stand on W. Washington Blvd. Chicago Tribune, August 19, 1928, B3
You know…
Mason Rapp was born in 1906, so he would have been 13 years old when this was built, and 11 when it was in planning. I think it’s rather unlikely that he was an architect at this time. And I have an article stating it was a project of C.W. and George Rapp. This also throws some doubt on the Gateway, since he’d have been 23 at that time. It is possible, though, I suppose.
The theater seems to have existed prior to 1917, as contemporary reports say that it was being rebuilt at that time for the Shubert and Erlanger organizations. Architect for the “new main floor, balcony, gallery, stage, and proscenium arch” was A.N. Rebori. The stage was also enlarged, new lighting installed, and it was reseated. Other corrections: Both the Studebaker and Playhouse existed when the building became the Fine Arts in 1899. The Playhouse was the first to become a cinema, for the 1933 Worlds Fair, thus the addition of World to its name. The Studebaker itself did not become a cinema for any long period until 1982. The other 2 screens were created in former stage space.
The site was previously the Columbia theater, which was destroyed by fire. The Inter-Ocean building was built on the site, and in 1919, Architects Postle & Fisher prepared plans to remodel a theater into the building. Chicago Tribune, Jan 8, 1919.
It apparently was rather innovative when the project was announced; it was noted to contain “no wall seats” (boxes, I presume), held extra-wide seats, and was apparently both the city’s largest all-movie theater at the time, and “the first theater over 1,000 seats without a stage”. Chicago Tribune, July 30, 1915.
It was originally announced as the Royal Hippodrome, built by Henry Meyer with architect F.E. Davidson. It had a rather expensive pipe organ. Chicago Tribune, December 28, 1913, so plans may have changed before it was built.
I’d be curious to compare it to the rendering I have to see how drastic the change was, if there was any semblance between the two. It seemed like there was an unusual level of fanfare for the opening of a 1300 seat theater.
I found a tribune article announcing a theater at this location designed by Rapp and Rapp, with a rendering that looks similar to the theater but different in a few ways. Chicago Tribune, September 20, 1925 A15
I should add that that article appeared in the November 23, 1923 Chicago Tribune and stated it would be a 3000 seat venue, and the North Center did not open until February 3, 1926, so it’s quite possible plans changed. I could determine this with more certainty if I saw a photo. A later article mentions that Karzas did, in fact, hold the leases to the Woodlawn, North Center, and the State in Hammond, Indiana. A shift from Ascher to Karzas could easily have brought the delay in building and change in architects.
When the building was first announced, architects were named as Oman & Lillenthal with JEO Pridmore associated. It was to be operated by Ascher Brothers. It was stated that it would have the longest lobby in the city, stretching 140 feet from Lincoln to Damen (then Robey)
AH- The theatre closed for a while and is now open under different ownership. For showtimes you can go to http://www.villagetheatres.com/
If you have a Chicago Public Library card, you have access to the archives of the Chicago Tribune from 1853-1985 online. You can use the search function to find any old ads or articles on Essaness theatres. Particularly useful are the showtime listings. Often renderings were published when theaters were announced. If you don’t have a CPL card, some suburban libraries also have access although it may be harder to find out about.
Email me.
I have an artists rendering of the Lincoln Village, but as I said, it wasn’t opened as an essaness.
Actually, August
The 7-9 wasn’t originally operated by Essaness. It was initially opened by Brotman & Sherman on July 2, 1968.
A January 13, 1985 Chicago Tribune letter to the editor from a gentleman who worked with Behrns, responding to some photos that had recently appeared, notes that the main designer of the Egyptian’s interior decor was a man named John Halama who did extensive research on Egypt for the design.
Also, the Crystal Lake historical society notes that it was also named the Lake at one point and includes more info at View link
It was indeed an Elmer F. Behrns theater. Note, his name is properly spelled ‘Behrns’, not ‘Behrens’. Also notable is that Behrns was with Rapp & Rapp from 1917-1923. He also lived in Crystal Lake. In addition to the theaters listed at this site, he built St. Luke’s Church in Chicago (http://www.elca.org/archives/chicagochurches/stluke_gc.html) and apartments which no longer stand on W. Washington Blvd. Chicago Tribune, August 19, 1928, B3
You know…
Mason Rapp was born in 1906, so he would have been 13 years old when this was built, and 11 when it was in planning. I think it’s rather unlikely that he was an architect at this time. And I have an article stating it was a project of C.W. and George Rapp. This also throws some doubt on the Gateway, since he’d have been 23 at that time. It is possible, though, I suppose.
The theater seems to have existed prior to 1917, as contemporary reports say that it was being rebuilt at that time for the Shubert and Erlanger organizations. Architect for the “new main floor, balcony, gallery, stage, and proscenium arch” was A.N. Rebori. The stage was also enlarged, new lighting installed, and it was reseated. Other corrections: Both the Studebaker and Playhouse existed when the building became the Fine Arts in 1899. The Playhouse was the first to become a cinema, for the 1933 Worlds Fair, thus the addition of World to its name. The Studebaker itself did not become a cinema for any long period until 1982. The other 2 screens were created in former stage space.
The site was previously the Columbia theater, which was destroyed by fire. The Inter-Ocean building was built on the site, and in 1919, Architects Postle & Fisher prepared plans to remodel a theater into the building. Chicago Tribune, Jan 8, 1919.
Architect was Robert S. Smith. Chicago Tribune, July 9, 1918.
It apparently was rather innovative when the project was announced; it was noted to contain “no wall seats” (boxes, I presume), held extra-wide seats, and was apparently both the city’s largest all-movie theater at the time, and “the first theater over 1,000 seats without a stage”. Chicago Tribune, July 30, 1915.
It was originally announced as the Royal Hippodrome, built by Henry Meyer with architect F.E. Davidson. It had a rather expensive pipe organ. Chicago Tribune, December 28, 1913, so plans may have changed before it was built.
Architects were Postie & Mahler. See rendering in Chicago Tribune, August 7, 1910 p20
This must have been one of the very last new theaters Rapp & Rapp built.
I’d be curious to compare it to the rendering I have to see how drastic the change was, if there was any semblance between the two. It seemed like there was an unusual level of fanfare for the opening of a 1300 seat theater.
Rapp & Rapp were behind the 1942 remodeling. Box Office Magazine awarded them most outstanding new theater project for 1942.
I found a tribune article announcing a theater at this location designed by Rapp and Rapp, with a rendering that looks similar to the theater but different in a few ways. Chicago Tribune, September 20, 1925 A15
View link
View link
View link
I should add that that article appeared in the November 23, 1923 Chicago Tribune and stated it would be a 3000 seat venue, and the North Center did not open until February 3, 1926, so it’s quite possible plans changed. I could determine this with more certainty if I saw a photo. A later article mentions that Karzas did, in fact, hold the leases to the Woodlawn, North Center, and the State in Hammond, Indiana. A shift from Ascher to Karzas could easily have brought the delay in building and change in architects.
When the building was first announced, architects were named as Oman & Lillenthal with JEO Pridmore associated. It was to be operated by Ascher Brothers. It was stated that it would have the longest lobby in the city, stretching 140 feet from Lincoln to Damen (then Robey)
Architect was Henry L. Newhouse, indicated by Chicago Tribune, August 8, 1915, pA8