My mother’s cousin told us a cute story of when she was out with her “to be” husband. They were walking out of the theatre after the show and he noticed some ice on the sidewalk and told her not to walk “over there”—being a bit stubborn, she jokingly said, “you can’t tell me what to do” and then immediately slipped and fell in front of the theatre.
She just lost him a little over a year ago to old age, but loves telling us this story.
I went there just prior to closing in the early 70s with my ex. It reminded me of the Chicago downtown. It was the first and only time I had been in this theatre.
The last time I was in this theatre was just after they partitioned it into three auditoriums. It was for that reason I didn’t return.
I drove by a few months ago and saw that it was demolished. While not surprising as it was boarded up for so long, it was sad to see another lovely theatre gone.
SPearce asked about the Zodiac signs—I think this was because of the nautical theme. Ship navigators used the star signs as their guides during sailing and maybe that’s why they were used in the decor.
The theatre always reminded me of something out of the movie “20,000 Leagues under the Sea.” One could almost imagine James Mason (Captain Nemo) stepping out from behind a pillar.
This was my childhood movie place prior to our family moving from Kedvale and Division.
My best memories were the summer nights that we’d walk down Karlov from Division (Kedvale was cut off by Division Street) to see movies at the Tiffin then walking back home.
Pulaski and North was a main shopping area and Grand Avenue also had major stores near Kostner where Grand and North crossed. Helene Curtis was also off the Kostner/Grand/North intersection and had an explosion in 1963. I was in school and recall hearing it.
The last time I was at the Tiffin was in the early 70s—while it was great to be back there, it certainly showed time had passed.
The other local movie places we’d go to were the Alamo on Chicago Avenue and the Rockne on Division. Otherwise it was the Tiffin!
It’s nice to see this theatre remembered. I would see it when we’d go with my mother to the bank or to see my grandmother who lived on Wood Street.
The last time I saw it was during its demolition. It was replaced by a playlot next to a YMCA. I would always look at that playlot and recall that there was once a theatre there.
I also recall the Paulina “L” tracks that would turn off Milwaukee. They were hardly used back then as the trains were already running through the subway.
There’s a good article in today’s Trib by Chris Jones. Also read the reader’s comments, many are hoping for a positive outcome.
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Let’s hope this auction does what Chris says—put the theatre on its way to renovation and finally reopening!
My mother’s cousin told us a cute story of when she was out with her “to be” husband. They were walking out of the theatre after the show and he noticed some ice on the sidewalk and told her not to walk “over there”—being a bit stubborn, she jokingly said, “you can’t tell me what to do” and then immediately slipped and fell in front of the theatre.
She just lost him a little over a year ago to old age, but loves telling us this story.
I went there just prior to closing in the early 70s with my ex. It reminded me of the Chicago downtown. It was the first and only time I had been in this theatre.
The last time I was in this theatre was just after they partitioned it into three auditoriums. It was for that reason I didn’t return.
I drove by a few months ago and saw that it was demolished. While not surprising as it was boarded up for so long, it was sad to see another lovely theatre gone.
SPearce asked about the Zodiac signs—I think this was because of the nautical theme. Ship navigators used the star signs as their guides during sailing and maybe that’s why they were used in the decor.
The theatre always reminded me of something out of the movie “20,000 Leagues under the Sea.” One could almost imagine James Mason (Captain Nemo) stepping out from behind a pillar.
We would go to the Rockne every now and then as we mostly attended the Tiffin on North Avenue.
One movie in particular that I vividly recall seeing there was Disney’s Babes in Toyland, which shows how long ago this was.
I mostly recall it being a little more upscale than the Tiffin. (I certainly don’t recall the coppola shown in the picture above.)
If I’m recalling correctly, this theatre also had an adjoining bowling alley.
This was our alternate movie theatre as we were closer to the Tiffin, but I certainly recall going here depending on the movie being shown.
This was my childhood movie place prior to our family moving from Kedvale and Division.
My best memories were the summer nights that we’d walk down Karlov from Division (Kedvale was cut off by Division Street) to see movies at the Tiffin then walking back home.
Pulaski and North was a main shopping area and Grand Avenue also had major stores near Kostner where Grand and North crossed. Helene Curtis was also off the Kostner/Grand/North intersection and had an explosion in 1963. I was in school and recall hearing it.
The last time I was at the Tiffin was in the early 70s—while it was great to be back there, it certainly showed time had passed.
The other local movie places we’d go to were the Alamo on Chicago Avenue and the Rockne on Division. Otherwise it was the Tiffin!
My brother and I would go here often as the theatre showed many of Walt Disney’s films or other movies of the gendre.
Too bad it couldn’t be re-used. Served ABC right that the new cineplex wasn’t a success!
It’s nice to see this theatre remembered. I would see it when we’d go with my mother to the bank or to see my grandmother who lived on Wood Street.
The last time I saw it was during its demolition. It was replaced by a playlot next to a YMCA. I would always look at that playlot and recall that there was once a theatre there.
I also recall the Paulina “L” tracks that would turn off Milwaukee. They were hardly used back then as the trains were already running through the subway.