I just returned form a trip to Chicago which included a family reunion and a tour of the Biograph. (My great grandfather built it, owned it until 1922 when it went to a holding company controlled by his wife Lena and brother Charles… and then it was transferred to his 7 children in 1947. My grandmother sold her interest in 1972 – I am curious which relative Mr. Lubliner is?. Part of my documentation includes tax payments (really neat, and cheap by today’s standards)and floor plans throughout its history.
The theater is going to be turned into a ‘legitimate’ theater in the next few months, significantly changing the interior structure (little remains of the original). The main theater will lose half of its seats when a stage is built, and one the upper theaters will be modified with flate (rather than raked) floors. Exploratory tests have shown some original work may be hidden beneath the dropped ceilings, but it is too early to know what can/will be preserved.
The Lane Court Theater was built by Henry Ericsson & Co, general contractors. The architect was Fred Prather (who was Henry Ericsson’s son-in-law). Other theaters in Chicago built by Henry Ericsson & Co include the Biograph, the Cort Theater, and the Roosevelt Theater.
The Biograph Theater was built by Henry Ericsson & Co, general contractors. Henry Ericsson also owned the building into the 1920’s. (Henry Ericsson was my great-grandfather). He built other theaters in Chicago including the Roosevelt, The Cort Theater, and The Lane Court.
I just returned form a trip to Chicago which included a family reunion and a tour of the Biograph. (My great grandfather built it, owned it until 1922 when it went to a holding company controlled by his wife Lena and brother Charles… and then it was transferred to his 7 children in 1947. My grandmother sold her interest in 1972 – I am curious which relative Mr. Lubliner is?. Part of my documentation includes tax payments (really neat, and cheap by today’s standards)and floor plans throughout its history.
The theater is going to be turned into a ‘legitimate’ theater in the next few months, significantly changing the interior structure (little remains of the original). The main theater will lose half of its seats when a stage is built, and one the upper theaters will be modified with flate (rather than raked) floors. Exploratory tests have shown some original work may be hidden beneath the dropped ceilings, but it is too early to know what can/will be preserved.
The Lane Court Theater was built by Henry Ericsson & Co, general contractors. The architect was Fred Prather (who was Henry Ericsson’s son-in-law). Other theaters in Chicago built by Henry Ericsson & Co include the Biograph, the Cort Theater, and the Roosevelt Theater.
The Biograph Theater was built by Henry Ericsson & Co, general contractors. Henry Ericsson also owned the building into the 1920’s. (Henry Ericsson was my great-grandfather). He built other theaters in Chicago including the Roosevelt, The Cort Theater, and The Lane Court.