Haymarket Theatre
722-24 W. Madison Street,
Chicago,
IL
60661
722-24 W. Madison Street,
Chicago,
IL
60661
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I have a photo that has not identity to it it is a woman in profile. The picture is a cabinet pictue with Morrison as photographer and Haymarket Theatre 161 West Madison St Chicago. Wondering if I can somehow post picture and see if anyone knows who this might be.
The Haymarket Theatre is listed under Chicago in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. It was managed by Kohl & Castle. Tickets ranged from 5 cents to 30 cents. The seating: Orchestra 718, Balcony 506, Family Circle 472, Gallery 500; total: 2,196 seats. The house was on the ground floor and had both gas and electric illumination. The proscenium opening was 38 feet wide X 33 feet high, and the stage was 50 feet deep.
According to the Feb. 15, 1908 Chicago Examiner, among the 14 acts featured that week was “Great Houdini,” listed first on the bill.
I want to thank everyone for the additional information on this particular theatre. I, too, am looking for a good photograph of the theatre. I’d also like to thank the person who added the information about the 1908 change of addressing systems. That explains so much! In addition to looking for a good photograph of the Haymarket Theatre, I am also looking for photographs of the West Madison 100 block — specifically, Goldberg’s Saloon, located at 108 West Madison. If I lived in Chicago, my search might be easier. Maybe, someone can point me in the right direction. I also thank the person who supplied the drawing of the theatre.
Kay Johnson
I have several old photos taken at the Haymarket Theatre by Morrison. I assume they are old Vaudeville actors. Could you direct me to someone who could help me identify them? Thank you for your help.
I have several old photos taken at the Haymarket Theatre by Morrison. I assume they are old Vaudeville actors. Could you direct me to someone who could help me identify them? Thank you for your help.
The 1914 obituary of noted Chicago architect John J. Flanders attributes the design of the Haymarket Theatre to him.
The Kennedy Expressway was originally called the Northwest Expressway, when it opened in November of 1960. It was renamed the Kennedy 7 days after the assassination of JFK.
The Haymarket Theatre would have been just East of where the SkyBridge Condominium tower is now located. A Dominicks food store is the 1st floor tenant. Construction of SkyBridge began in 1999. A newly built Manufacturers Bank and local TV channel 26 the “U” are located across the street on the N/W corner of Madison & Halsted. Manufacturer’s Bank was previously on the S/W corner.
This news short from the Englewood Economist, Tues., January 11, 1910 about the Haymarket Theatre and Chicago Cub Joe Tinker, of Tinkers-to-Evans-to-Chance fame.
“Home run Joe Tinker is billed to get the glad hand from all the Cub rooters on the West Side when he appears among the crowned heads of the vaudeville world this week at the Haymarket. The dandy shortstopper is to make his debut before the spotlight in a 22-minute sketch labeled ‘The Great Catch.’ Two hundred rooters secured ringside seats for the opening performance.
“The scene in which Joe is assisted by Sadie Sherman is laid in front of a flat overlooking the Cubs' ball park. The game goes on as Miss Sherman (has) her eyes and attention glued to the window. Finally, Joe bursts upon the scene, running up to the roof of the flat to make ‘the great catch.’ ”
(Joe Tinker died in 1948, the same year as the Haymarket Theatre, and is buried in Orlando, Florida.)
Hello:
My great Aunt use to dance at the Haymarket Theatre in the 1800’s Her stage name was Trix. I am trying to find a picture of the theatre. I thank the gentleman who posted the drawing. If anyone has any other information I would appreciate it, as I am doing a mid-term on this.
Thanks
LiermanD
From the Chicago Tribune, July 17, 1923:
Fire Partly Destroys
Old Haymarket Theater
An early morning fire partially destroyed the old Haymarket theater at Madison and Halsted streets today. Soon after the first fire alarm sounded, the roof of the building caved in. The fire is supposed to have started on the fifth floor, occupied by the Monarch Textile Company. On other floors are the Giller Drug Company, the Besinger Cafeteria, and A.B. Segar Company.
There also was a fire in the building on October 19, 1904. The fire resulted from a chemical explosion on the top floor where Columbia Portraits Company was. The fire soon spread, eventually breaking up the meeting of the Fort Dearborn Lodge of the Oddfellows. The blaze soon spread to the area directly over the stage, where a vaudeville performance was being given. The theater manager ordered the singer, Flo Adler, to cut her act short—which she did. The theater was emptied in three minutes. A second explosion then occurred, blowing out the skylights. Six firefighters were injured. Loss put at $5,000.
The reason the address is different is because: the City of Chicago, in 1908, at the suggestion of Edward P. Brennan (a building superintendant for Lyon & Healy), adopted a uniform system of street naming with State and Madison streets as it’s base. The old system, whose logic was very much like the infield fly rule, was based on where you were in relation to the branches of the Chicago River. In 1913, the City Council further simplified it by declaring that only one name to all portions of any street interrupted in its course through the city.
This would, of course, apply to all addresses that don’t match up prior to 1908.
Yes, it’s true, Red Skelton did play the Haymarket!
NEWS ITEM:Comment*
Chicago Tribune, Tuesday, May 19, 1959, s. 3, p. 10, c. 6:
RED, ONCE FIRED, BOUNCES BACK
SKELTON TELLS OF CHANGE, by Stephen Harrison
Richard Skelton, also known as Red and once fired here by popular request, returned Monday to the scene of the crime—rehired by popular request.
Can’t Vie with Legs
Having abandoned Vincennes, he was playing vaudevile in such landmarks as the Haymarket, the State & Congress, and the Gem, where aficionados paid a lot more attention to burlesque girls' legs than they ever did to Skelton.
[At the time of this item Skelton was headlining at the famed Chez Paree.]
Might anyone know if a photo of the exterior of Haymarket is available? Mike
Apparently, the seating was much greater than that. The theater opened with nearly 2,500 seats, later reduced to about 2,200 when a third balcony was closed off. This is from a December 5, 1949 article detailing its history, including an interior photo. It was indeed torn down for the Kennedy. It was built in 1887.