For those who may be interested, The Copernicus Foundation has just acquired the old factory building next to it, on the east, and the parking lot across the street from it for the expansion of the center. From the plans I saw on display in the lobby this weekend, they are planning a new 200 seat in-the-round theater, office and meeting space for the addition. So, it looks like the old Gateway in its new incarnation, may be secure for some time to come.
The theater was between Hamilton and Leavitt, on Archer Avenue, the entrance closer to Leavitt. In its last few years they would have these great Halloween events where they ran the original Universal monster movies such as Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolfman and the Bride of Frankenstein and also have a magician up front on the apron of the stage, in front of the screen. Once the films would start they would give the ushers hairy, creepy, gloves and they would sneak down the aisles and run their hand over your head or arm with the ‘monster’ gloves and the screams would erupt around the theater. I also saw most of the, Hammer Films versions of those mosnter films as first runs at the Midwest. One of the last films I saw there was The Family Jewels with Jerry Lewis, shortly before the theater closed in 1965. It was replaced by an A&P grocery store, which if memory serves survived 5 years tops, maybe less, before it closed down. That building then sat vacant for, I think, a couple of years before the Unique thrift shop moved in.
For those who may be interested, The Copernicus Foundation has just acquired the old factory building next to it, on the east, and the parking lot across the street from it for the expansion of the center. From the plans I saw on display in the lobby this weekend, they are planning a new 200 seat in-the-round theater, office and meeting space for the addition. So, it looks like the old Gateway in its new incarnation, may be secure for some time to come.
Let me correct myself, the entrance was closer to Hamilton Avenue, not Leavitt Street.
The theater was between Hamilton and Leavitt, on Archer Avenue, the entrance closer to Leavitt. In its last few years they would have these great Halloween events where they ran the original Universal monster movies such as Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolfman and the Bride of Frankenstein and also have a magician up front on the apron of the stage, in front of the screen. Once the films would start they would give the ushers hairy, creepy, gloves and they would sneak down the aisles and run their hand over your head or arm with the ‘monster’ gloves and the screams would erupt around the theater. I also saw most of the, Hammer Films versions of those mosnter films as first runs at the Midwest. One of the last films I saw there was The Family Jewels with Jerry Lewis, shortly before the theater closed in 1965. It was replaced by an A&P grocery store, which if memory serves survived 5 years tops, maybe less, before it closed down. That building then sat vacant for, I think, a couple of years before the Unique thrift shop moved in.