If the Pritchett brothers indeed do sell the Oriental to a new owner “committed to continue the operating theatre,” Milwaukee’s movie-palace gem, one hopes, will remain operating for years—decades—to come.
It is certainly better than the situation that, for example, Milwaukee’s Avalon Theatre currently faces. (See this site’s entry for the Avalon for more information. And many, many thanks, Mr. Rankin, for all your research and input about Milwaukee-area theaters on this Web site! That, you, and your dedication are deeply appreciated! What is the latest on the Avalon? If Mr. Rankin or anyone else who reads this knows, please post it under that theater’s extensive entries.)
Thanks, too, Jim, for your detailed information about the Oriental at its respective place on this Web site. Don’t anyone be surprised if you, I, or someone else soon posts to Cinema Treasures about other “neighborhood” Saxe Brothers theaters in Milwaukee, including the Tower (which Larry Widen and Judi Anderson, in their book Milwaukee Movie Palaces, called a sort of “sister” to the Oriental), the Plaza, and the unusually decorated but intriguing (at least for the Midwestern, as opposed to the Eastern, United States) Colonial.
Yesterday (February 10), a representative of the Milwaukee-area Kimball Theatre Organ Society informed me that Angela Lansbury had to cancel her Milwaukee appearances in connection with Broken Blossoms on February 14. Broken Blossoms, and all the rest of the KTOS’s wonderful “Silents Please” program set for that day, however, is still on. Ms. Lansbury, I was told, might still well appear at a future “Silents Please” program, perhaps later this season.
Hope to see all you “Third Coast” silent-film fans at Broken Blossoms. _Bring a friend—or two or more! Spread the word—silent film is cool!
According to the February 7 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Angela Lansbury indeed is scheduled to introduce Broken Blossoms—in the very theater where Lillian Gish, in April 1980, made her last public appearance in Milwaukee, at a showing of her 1926 silent classic La Boheme.
Broken Blossoms is everything you’ve read above and more—powerful, lyrical, and tragic. Having seen it many times since I was 12, I am still in awe of this film—and how it leaves even modern audiences stunned into silence, and often tears.
But what do you mean, Jim Rankin, about what you call “a rumor that the Oriental may not be with us in [the] future”? Can you be more specific? Where did you hear of this rumor?
Let’s hope it’s only that. Losing the priceless Oriental would be not only unforgivable, but unthinkable.
At the Library of Congress Web site listed above, click on “Search.” Then select “Photos & Prints.”
At the next screen, in the search box, type “granada theatre” and click the “Search” button. The second link that will then appear, the Historic American Buildings survey files on the Granada, will take you virtually there. Click on the icons noted above.
At the right side of the page that then appears, select the link for photographs. At the next screen, type “granada” in the search box. Click on the word “Search” to the right.
A series of links will then appear. Near the bottom is the one for our beloved, late great Granada Theatre.
Click on the icons for black-and-white photographs, photo captions, and data pages to see the respective materials. Brace yourself for awe—and tears at what we’ve all lost.
Thanks, Bryan Krefft, for that link. In fact, there are over 30 photos of the Granada, exterior and interior, available at the Library of Congress Web site at the following Web address:
Most of these pictures were taken shortly before this irreplaceable treasure was torn down, so they show the theater in heartbreakingly bad shape. Nonetheless, the grandeur of the Granada shines through.
I was there only once, in November 1981 for the opening night of the Chicago International Film Festival and a showing of the classic 1924 silent film Peter Pan, complete with a live orchestra playing the original score. Steven Spielberg and Francois Truffaut were presented with awards. If I am correct, King Vidor was in the audience that night.
It was unforgettable—and so was and is the Granada.
One of the Theatre Historical Society of America’s recent annuals covers the work of Edward Eichenbaum, who designed the Granada’s interior. Does anyone know of any other sources of photographs, historical information, or other material on this theater?
In my hometown of Milwaukee,we’ve already lost many wonderful theaters of our own; the Avalon, our city’s last atmospheric theatre, is in grave danger of being gutted for offices. You can find more information about this on this Web site at its entry for the Avalon. Sad.
I second (and third) the sentiments of a previous poster. Whether or not you live in Chicago, don’t let what happened to the Granada (and what almost happened to Chicago’s Oriental and Chicago Theatres!) happen to Chicago’s incomparable Uptown Theatre!
If the Pritchett brothers indeed do sell the Oriental to a new owner “committed to continue the operating theatre,” Milwaukee’s movie-palace gem, one hopes, will remain operating for years—decades—to come.
It is certainly better than the situation that, for example, Milwaukee’s Avalon Theatre currently faces. (See this site’s entry for the Avalon for more information. And many, many thanks, Mr. Rankin, for all your research and input about Milwaukee-area theaters on this Web site! That, you, and your dedication are deeply appreciated! What is the latest on the Avalon? If Mr. Rankin or anyone else who reads this knows, please post it under that theater’s extensive entries.)
Thanks, too, Jim, for your detailed information about the Oriental at its respective place on this Web site. Don’t anyone be surprised if you, I, or someone else soon posts to Cinema Treasures about other “neighborhood” Saxe Brothers theaters in Milwaukee, including the Tower (which Larry Widen and Judi Anderson, in their book Milwaukee Movie Palaces, called a sort of “sister” to the Oriental), the Plaza, and the unusually decorated but intriguing (at least for the Midwestern, as opposed to the Eastern, United States) Colonial.
Yesterday (February 10), a representative of the Milwaukee-area Kimball Theatre Organ Society informed me that Angela Lansbury had to cancel her Milwaukee appearances in connection with Broken Blossoms on February 14. Broken Blossoms, and all the rest of the KTOS’s wonderful “Silents Please” program set for that day, however, is still on. Ms. Lansbury, I was told, might still well appear at a future “Silents Please” program, perhaps later this season.
Hope to see all you “Third Coast” silent-film fans at Broken Blossoms. _Bring a friend—or two or more! Spread the word—silent film is cool!
Scott Enk
(A Devoted Silent-Film Fan Since 1963!)
I definitely plan to make it!
According to the February 7 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Angela Lansbury indeed is scheduled to introduce Broken Blossoms—in the very theater where Lillian Gish, in April 1980, made her last public appearance in Milwaukee, at a showing of her 1926 silent classic La Boheme.
Broken Blossoms is everything you’ve read above and more—powerful, lyrical, and tragic. Having seen it many times since I was 12, I am still in awe of this film—and how it leaves even modern audiences stunned into silence, and often tears.
But what do you mean, Jim Rankin, about what you call “a rumor that the Oriental may not be with us in [the] future”? Can you be more specific? Where did you hear of this rumor?
Let’s hope it’s only that. Losing the priceless Oriental would be not only unforgivable, but unthinkable.
Scott Enk
Okay, third try. Mea maxima culpa.
At the Library of Congress Web site listed above, click on “Search.” Then select “Photos & Prints.”
At the next screen, in the search box, type “granada theatre” and click the “Search” button. The second link that will then appear, the Historic American Buildings survey files on the Granada, will take you virtually there. Click on the icons noted above.
Scott Enk
I just found out that the link above doesn’t work. My apologies; try this one. Try this link:
http://memory.loc.gov/
At the right side of the page that then appears, select the link for photographs. At the next screen, type “granada” in the search box. Click on the word “Search” to the right.
A series of links will then appear. Near the bottom is the one for our beloved, late great Granada Theatre.
Click on the icons for black-and-white photographs, photo captions, and data pages to see the respective materials. Brace yourself for awe—and tears at what we’ve all lost.
Scott Enk
Thanks, Bryan Krefft, for that link. In fact, there are over 30 photos of the Granada, exterior and interior, available at the Library of Congress Web site at the following Web address:
View link
Most of these pictures were taken shortly before this irreplaceable treasure was torn down, so they show the theater in heartbreakingly bad shape. Nonetheless, the grandeur of the Granada shines through.
I was there only once, in November 1981 for the opening night of the Chicago International Film Festival and a showing of the classic 1924 silent film Peter Pan, complete with a live orchestra playing the original score. Steven Spielberg and Francois Truffaut were presented with awards. If I am correct, King Vidor was in the audience that night.
It was unforgettable—and so was and is the Granada.
One of the Theatre Historical Society of America’s recent annuals covers the work of Edward Eichenbaum, who designed the Granada’s interior. Does anyone know of any other sources of photographs, historical information, or other material on this theater?
In my hometown of Milwaukee,we’ve already lost many wonderful theaters of our own; the Avalon, our city’s last atmospheric theatre, is in grave danger of being gutted for offices. You can find more information about this on this Web site at its entry for the Avalon. Sad.
I second (and third) the sentiments of a previous poster. Whether or not you live in Chicago, don’t let what happened to the Granada (and what almost happened to Chicago’s Oriental and Chicago Theatres!) happen to Chicago’s incomparable Uptown Theatre!
Scott Enk