Stony Theater
6855 S. Stony Island Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60649
6855 S. Stony Island Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60649
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Mortgage bonds were listed for sale in the August 15, 1915 Tribune. This had opened by Jan 30, 1916. This is listed as a Lubliner & Trinz theatre in the May 27, 1916 issue of Motography, their fourth after the Vitagraph, Biograph, and Paramount. By the next year, L&T had dropped it. It had probably been put out of business by the Jackson Park Theatre. October 2, 1920’s Motion Picture News noted that it had been a dance hall for some time, but was being reopened as a theater by manager L.B. Salkin of the nearby Jackson Park Theatre – it’s unclear if it did. It was reported sold in the Feb 28, 1923 Tribune, and noted as “vacant some time”, with the plan to remodel into shops. August 22, 1925’s Moving Picture World reported that the theater had been sold the previous week and was to open the next month, as a dance hall, Tangerine Grove. Subsequently it became the South Shore Athletic Club and possibly the previously mentioned mini-golf. January 19, 1932’s Tribune reported that three former stores, remodeled some time ago from the theater, were to be converted into the “Park-N-Stop Food Market”, followed by the previously mentioned Hollywood Bowl. It had reopened by September, 1950.
It appears that the blocks that the Stony and Jackson Park sat on were demolished to make way for the extension of Cornell Drive, widening Stony Island to 8 lanes between 67th & 69th.
I was an usher at the Stony for quite a few years in the 50’s. A lot of memories.The projectionist had a bit of a drinking problem. He needed strawberry soda to mix his drinks. I was the runner to go across Stony to the store when he ran out. Loved putting up the new posters and marquee. Carrying the new film boxes upstairs was a bummer.
The first movie I ever saw at a movie theater was at the Stony. My parents took me there in 1954 to see “Them!”.
The vertical sign of the Stony Theater can be seen in the distance in this photo.
Boxoffice magazine reported in January 1960 that Ben Conney had temporarily closed the Stony Theater to repair the heating system, so it may have re-opened before 1961 after the closing in 1958.
Through 1965, the Stony was open ;playing regular Hollywood fare. From the Chicago Sun Times movie listings dated Tuesday, Sept.21, 1965: STONY 6855 So. Stony ISLE.-363-9707 URSULA ANDRESS “SHE” “JOHNNY COOL”– HENRY SILVA. Sometime in late 65, early or mid 66, the Stony closed yet again. But it re-opened in late November 1966, probably under new ownership. From the Sun Times movie directory, Tuesday, Nov.22, 1966: GRAND OPENING! Wednesday at 12 Noon Chicago’s Newest And Most Elegant ADULT THEATRE STONY 69th and STONY ISLAND Phone MU 4 -7766 ADULTS ONLY Continuous Entertainment Daily 12 NOON to MIDNIGHT GALA MIDNIGHT SHOW FRIDAY and SATURDAY.
This first opened as the Southshore Theatre in 1915, but it closed in 1918. It re-opened in 1950 as the Stony Theatre and closed in 1958.
It re-opened again in 1961 and was demolished in the 1970’s
I drove through South Shore a couple of years ago, and what was once a bustling business area filled with stores to fill all the needs of the local residents, is now parkway with only grass and trees from 67th-69th on the east side Stony Island Avenue. The stores were still standing in dilapidated and boarded up condition on the west side of the street, a sad memory of what used to be.
The Stony Theatre was just north of the drugstore located on the northeast corner of 69th and Stony Island. I would guess it opened sometime in the 1940’s and at the time seemed so small and plain compared to the Jackson Park Theatre that was already down the street at 67th across from the park. I was a youngster then and used to walk to see movies at both theatres in the 40’s and 50’s. Also would walk up 71st street to the Jeffery and Hamilton theatres. Loved the Saturday serials that accompanied the featured film.
What great memories!
The Stony theatre was open at least through June 1957. From the Chicago Sun Times movie listings Tuesday, June 11, 1957: STONY “INVASION, U.S.A.” “1,000 YEARS FROM NOW” “DEVIL GIRL FROM MARS”