Was in the Oak theatre a few times as a kid. Like many neighborhood theatres, would show double or triple features; second or third run. My one rather vivid memory of the Oak: late 50’s, Saturday afternoon, watching “TERROR FROM THE YEAR 5000” plus “THE SCREAMING SKULL”.The main floor was wide but not very deep; every seat seemed close to the screen. Seemed like there were many more seats in the balcony. As I recall, the lobby was quite small. Yes, Richard, Margie’s Candies is still on the southwest corner of Western and Armitage: has been for decades. A great place for shakes and all sorts of candy.
Two different theatres- the Woodlawn was on the north side of 63rd street, along with the Lex theatre. The Maryland was on the south side of East 63rd street. I remember a long time resident of the south side stating that at one time…the 1950’s… there were about seven movie theatres along East 63rd st. I recall seeing some of them in the early to mid 60’s while riding the CTA Jackson Pk. B train to Stony Island …the end of the line…to get to the museum with my high school buddies.
The Capri was one of a number of “Adults Only” theatres in downtown Chicago. Throughout the 1960s, it was famous for showing nudist camp films…“NATURE’S PARADISE”, “NATURE"S PLAYMATES”, “ADVENTURES OF LUCKY PIERRE”, and dozens of others. By the late 60’s, it was showing much rougher stuff…for example, “THAR SHE BLOWS”, “THE RAMRODDER”, and two obscure films by director Andy Milligan, “THE FILTHY FIVE” and “TRICKS OF THE TRADE”. I recall the theatre being very small. The area I sat in seemed like a large living room-comfortable, but not too many seats. There was no marquee outside , just a sign stating CAPRI CINEMA. Features ran from about 10 a.m. to midnight. Admission was $1.80 for a double feature. I remember the ticket taker/concession stand guy stating the price was to keep out the riff raff!!
Bryan – just want to thank you for the various links/ photos you provide. They are great. Was in the Garrick just once. As a kid saw “THE 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD”. Loved the movie but sitting in the balcony, loved the ceiling and walls almost as much!
Actually, the Standard was open for decades after the 1930’s, although it did not advertise in the papers. In the late 50’s and early 60’s, it showed a different double feature daily…third, even fourth run films. Back then, north Clark st. between the Chicago river and Chicago ave. was like a mini skid row, second only to west Madison st. The Standard got its business from the alcoholics, the poor residents of the nearby Lawson YMCA , and the near homeless people of the area at that time. Was kinda scary going inside as a kid…not sure what would happen. It had one of the smallest lobbies I’ve ever seen, but enough room on the walls to advertise all the upcoming movies for the week.Lots of westerns, horror , crime and comedies.By the mid 60’s it closed, but reopened in the late 60’s …all cleaned up… as LE IMAGE Theatre, showing art/ foreign films. “STOLEN KISSES” by Truffaut was the opening attraction. Later saw Pasolini’s “TEOREMA”. This new policy lasted a few years…not too successfully. By the early 70’s was showing gay porno. The theatre closed for good by the mid 70’s.
In the 1960’s, the World Playhouse was a great place to see “ADULT ONLY” films. Some classy, some pure exploitation, and some just plain silly. Many films by director Radley Metzger were shown, known for his classy and stylish foreign movies. Before Russ Meyer became famous for VIXEN in 1969, I caught a double feature of “FASTER, PUSSYCAT… KILL! KILL!” and “MOTOR PSYCHO” , around 1966. For pure exploitation, a double bill with Mamie van Doren “3 NUTS IN SEARCH OF A BOLT” and Jayne Mansfield “PROMISES…PROMISES…PROMISES”. And just plain silly…I’m not kidding… “SINDERELLA AND THE GOLDEN BRA”. Lots of wild and fun memories in my high school/college days. Admission was $2.00; features played from 12 noon to midnight.
The Clark was the most unique theatre in Chicago. A different double feature every day of the year. Two dramas, two westerns, two foreign films , thrillers or comedies. Was open almost 24 hours a day…doors opened at 730 a.m. first show at 8 a.m. The last double feature would start at 3 a.m. Admission was cheap for downtown…85 cents for adults college students 65 cents and on Wednesday women got in for 25 cents! On the mezzanine level, there was a section called the “Little gallery for ‘GALS ONLY’”.From the early to late 60’s spent many hours at the Clark. Favorite memories: Luis Bunel “LOS OLVIDADOS” plus “VIRIDIANA”, “PSYCHO” plus “SEANCE ON A WET AFTERNOON”, “A SHOT IN THE DARK” plus “THE PINK PANTHER”, “THE BALCONY” plus “NO EXIT”. By the early 70’s it went to soft core sex films before closing.
The Monroe played double features, changed weekly. From the late 50’s to 1960, would often show “B” horror films. “FRANKENSTEINS DAUGHTER"plus "MISSILE TO THE MOON”; “THE WASP WOMAN” plus “BEAST FROM HAUNTED CAVE”; “THE GIANT GILA MONSTER” plus “THE KILLER SHREWS”. Starting about 1961, went to an “ADULTS ONLY” policy,showing soft core sex films, along with some offbeat,lurid, and obscure films that few~if any~other theatres would play.For example, Sal Mineo in “WHO KILLED TEDDY BEAR” ,Mamie Van Doren and Mickey Rooney in “PRIVATE LIVES OF ADAM & EVE”,and Arch Hall Jr. in “THE SADIST”. Admission was cheap…65cents to noon 90 cents thereafter.The place always seemed crowded…guys (like me) looking for cheap thrills, I guess. By the 1970’s, patronage was down, due to other Loop theatres showing adult fare like Russ Meyers VIXEN. Last movie I saw there was the X rated spoof “FLESH GORDON” about 1973. A huge rat could be seen running around the aisles. The Monroe closed a year or two later.
Seems like almost every movie played the Mode. 4 changes weekly:Sun. and Mon., Tues., Wed. and Thurs.,and Fri. and Sat. Mostly triple features… in the early 60’s saw G.I.BLUES, GUNS OF THE BLACK WITCH,and NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST…all on a Sunday afternoon.Tuesday was “ADULTS ONLY” day…sometimes a nudist camp film. In the 70’s was renamed the FESTIVAL… showed art films then switched to X rated fare. Also showed Spanish language films under still another name change, the PUERTO RICO. Now a Spanish grocery store, it’s visible from the CTA red line trains south of the Sheridan stop. Theatre located at 3912 N. Sheridan.
As a kid in the late 50’s, went to the Riviera on many a Saturday afternoon. Double features changed every Friday. One week a horror double bill, next week a couple of westerns or two war movies. Favorite memories: “I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF” plus “INVASION OF THE SAUCERMEN” then later “ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS” plus “NOT OF THIS EARTH”. AN almost full house of screaming kids… what fun…and only 25cents admission!!
Was in the Oak theatre a few times as a kid. Like many neighborhood theatres, would show double or triple features; second or third run. My one rather vivid memory of the Oak: late 50’s, Saturday afternoon, watching “TERROR FROM THE YEAR 5000” plus “THE SCREAMING SKULL”.The main floor was wide but not very deep; every seat seemed close to the screen. Seemed like there were many more seats in the balcony. As I recall, the lobby was quite small. Yes, Richard, Margie’s Candies is still on the southwest corner of Western and Armitage: has been for decades. A great place for shakes and all sorts of candy.
Two different theatres- the Woodlawn was on the north side of 63rd street, along with the Lex theatre. The Maryland was on the south side of East 63rd street. I remember a long time resident of the south side stating that at one time…the 1950’s… there were about seven movie theatres along East 63rd st. I recall seeing some of them in the early to mid 60’s while riding the CTA Jackson Pk. B train to Stony Island …the end of the line…to get to the museum with my high school buddies.
The Capri was one of a number of “Adults Only” theatres in downtown Chicago. Throughout the 1960s, it was famous for showing nudist camp films…“NATURE’S PARADISE”, “NATURE"S PLAYMATES”, “ADVENTURES OF LUCKY PIERRE”, and dozens of others. By the late 60’s, it was showing much rougher stuff…for example, “THAR SHE BLOWS”, “THE RAMRODDER”, and two obscure films by director Andy Milligan, “THE FILTHY FIVE” and “TRICKS OF THE TRADE”. I recall the theatre being very small. The area I sat in seemed like a large living room-comfortable, but not too many seats. There was no marquee outside , just a sign stating CAPRI CINEMA. Features ran from about 10 a.m. to midnight. Admission was $1.80 for a double feature. I remember the ticket taker/concession stand guy stating the price was to keep out the riff raff!!
Bryan – just want to thank you for the various links/ photos you provide. They are great. Was in the Garrick just once. As a kid saw “THE 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD”. Loved the movie but sitting in the balcony, loved the ceiling and walls almost as much!
Actually, the Standard was open for decades after the 1930’s, although it did not advertise in the papers. In the late 50’s and early 60’s, it showed a different double feature daily…third, even fourth run films. Back then, north Clark st. between the Chicago river and Chicago ave. was like a mini skid row, second only to west Madison st. The Standard got its business from the alcoholics, the poor residents of the nearby Lawson YMCA , and the near homeless people of the area at that time. Was kinda scary going inside as a kid…not sure what would happen. It had one of the smallest lobbies I’ve ever seen, but enough room on the walls to advertise all the upcoming movies for the week.Lots of westerns, horror , crime and comedies.By the mid 60’s it closed, but reopened in the late 60’s …all cleaned up… as LE IMAGE Theatre, showing art/ foreign films. “STOLEN KISSES” by Truffaut was the opening attraction. Later saw Pasolini’s “TEOREMA”. This new policy lasted a few years…not too successfully. By the early 70’s was showing gay porno. The theatre closed for good by the mid 70’s.
In the 1960’s, the World Playhouse was a great place to see “ADULT ONLY” films. Some classy, some pure exploitation, and some just plain silly. Many films by director Radley Metzger were shown, known for his classy and stylish foreign movies. Before Russ Meyer became famous for VIXEN in 1969, I caught a double feature of “FASTER, PUSSYCAT… KILL! KILL!” and “MOTOR PSYCHO” , around 1966. For pure exploitation, a double bill with Mamie van Doren “3 NUTS IN SEARCH OF A BOLT” and Jayne Mansfield “PROMISES…PROMISES…PROMISES”. And just plain silly…I’m not kidding… “SINDERELLA AND THE GOLDEN BRA”. Lots of wild and fun memories in my high school/college days. Admission was $2.00; features played from 12 noon to midnight.
The Clark was the most unique theatre in Chicago. A different double feature every day of the year. Two dramas, two westerns, two foreign films , thrillers or comedies. Was open almost 24 hours a day…doors opened at 730 a.m. first show at 8 a.m. The last double feature would start at 3 a.m. Admission was cheap for downtown…85 cents for adults college students 65 cents and on Wednesday women got in for 25 cents! On the mezzanine level, there was a section called the “Little gallery for ‘GALS ONLY’”.From the early to late 60’s spent many hours at the Clark. Favorite memories: Luis Bunel “LOS OLVIDADOS” plus “VIRIDIANA”, “PSYCHO” plus “SEANCE ON A WET AFTERNOON”, “A SHOT IN THE DARK” plus “THE PINK PANTHER”, “THE BALCONY” plus “NO EXIT”. By the early 70’s it went to soft core sex films before closing.
The Monroe played double features, changed weekly. From the late 50’s to 1960, would often show “B” horror films. “FRANKENSTEINS DAUGHTER"plus "MISSILE TO THE MOON”; “THE WASP WOMAN” plus “BEAST FROM HAUNTED CAVE”; “THE GIANT GILA MONSTER” plus “THE KILLER SHREWS”. Starting about 1961, went to an “ADULTS ONLY” policy,showing soft core sex films, along with some offbeat,lurid, and obscure films that few~if any~other theatres would play.For example, Sal Mineo in “WHO KILLED TEDDY BEAR” ,Mamie Van Doren and Mickey Rooney in “PRIVATE LIVES OF ADAM & EVE”,and Arch Hall Jr. in “THE SADIST”. Admission was cheap…65cents to noon 90 cents thereafter.The place always seemed crowded…guys (like me) looking for cheap thrills, I guess. By the 1970’s, patronage was down, due to other Loop theatres showing adult fare like Russ Meyers VIXEN. Last movie I saw there was the X rated spoof “FLESH GORDON” about 1973. A huge rat could be seen running around the aisles. The Monroe closed a year or two later.
Seems like almost every movie played the Mode. 4 changes weekly:Sun. and Mon., Tues., Wed. and Thurs.,and Fri. and Sat. Mostly triple features… in the early 60’s saw G.I.BLUES, GUNS OF THE BLACK WITCH,and NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST…all on a Sunday afternoon.Tuesday was “ADULTS ONLY” day…sometimes a nudist camp film. In the 70’s was renamed the FESTIVAL… showed art films then switched to X rated fare. Also showed Spanish language films under still another name change, the PUERTO RICO. Now a Spanish grocery store, it’s visible from the CTA red line trains south of the Sheridan stop. Theatre located at 3912 N. Sheridan.
As a kid in the late 50’s, went to the Riviera on many a Saturday afternoon. Double features changed every Friday. One week a horror double bill, next week a couple of westerns or two war movies. Favorite memories: “I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF” plus “INVASION OF THE SAUCERMEN” then later “ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS” plus “NOT OF THIS EARTH”. AN almost full house of screaming kids… what fun…and only 25cents admission!!