Highland Theater
7859 S. Ashland Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60620
7859 S. Ashland Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60620
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Facebook page for The AFC Center.
https://www.facebook.com/theafccenter/
A performing arts center and used as a church on Sundays. It’s called the AFC center now. Status should be open!
This theatre is open
Grand opening ad in the photo section for this theatre.
Wow, this place looks great.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theafccenter/
http://www.theafccenter.com
This is currently the Ambassadors for Christ Church. They have done a beautiful restoration of the building both inside and outside. All the original features retained!
HELP! What was the name of the now-demolished theater that once stood on the 7900 block of S. Ashland. It was on the east side of the street, just a block or so south of the intersection. It was torn down in the late 1980s, and was in a deplorable state by that time. I can’t recall the name & it’s driving me crazy.
Hi LTS — here’s a page with a couple of (medicocre) pics of the auditorium:
http://www.mekong.net/random/highland.htm
Sorry for the delay in posting these. Turns out that I had never bothered to print either of the photos from the auditorium, so I had to find the original negative, and scan that.
By the way… I’ve read many of your comments here over the past few years, and would love to ask you a few questions offline. If you wouldn’t mind that, feel free to email me sometime: cambodia at aol.com.
Would love to see it Cam. I’ve always wondered what the inside of this place looked like.
A pic of the lobby, taken in 1992, is here:
http://www.mekong.net/random/cinema_photo216.htm
At the time, it was a church, and was well-maintained. I think I have a pic of the auditorium; I’ll try to post it if anyone is interested.
View link
View link
The Highland had a 4m 21r Barton Theatre organ, identical to the one installed in the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet. From what I’ve heard the theatre manager let his kids romp through the organ chambers and they took a fiendish delight in squashing the soft metal pipes. The console remained in plain view in the auditorium and when I saw it was uncovered and very dirty. The organ was removed by a organ hobbiest and was restored,
View link
I’m the same person as San Clemente Moose, by the way.
After 30 minutes trying to get my on this site, I now have only 6 left on a public library computer. I will have to respond later.
Can this system be made easier? Why can’t I generate my own password, one I will remember?
In the book “CHICAGO IN THE SIXTIES- REMEMBERING A TIME OF CHANGE” by Neal Samors, there is a small but nice pic of the Highland theatre- circa 1969- on page 67. On the marquee: Kirk Douglas in “THE BROTHERHOOD”. On the same page is a pic of the Jeffery theatre; it’s showing “CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG”. To San Clemente Moose: I first saw “CIRCUS OF HORRORS” at the downtown United Artists theatre, on a double bill with “THE ANGRY RED PLANET”. It was indeed gory and sexy for the time. I will never forget some of the scenes( the guy throwing knives at the bikini clad girl on the spinning wheel).Wild scenes, along with that beautiful song LOOK FOR A STAR, made this a memorable experience , to say the least.
It really is a fine building. Very well-balanced and attractive design. Not too understated or overstated.
Here is a profile from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency’s HAARGIS system. It includes a small picture.
As a kid growing up in the mid 50s, I saw “25 Cartoons” in this theatre (for 25 cents, as I recall) on many school holidays. This was always a great day, in part, because they opened all three balconies to accomodate the huge crowd of early Boomers.
I remember a hugh theatre organ wish I always wished someone would play, but nobody ever did. Last movie I remember seeing there was Circus of Horrors, which the internet tells me was released in 1960. I was 12 then, and really didn’t like the movie—– a bid gory for my tastes then and even now. It did have a memorable theme song called “look for a Star,” which strangely enough, the tune and lyrics I can remember to this day:
A rich man, a poor man, a beggar
No matter whoever you are
there’s a friend who’s waiting to guide you
Look for a Star
Given the overall backdrop (the song would play during the circus performer who was about to be brutally murdered) a found it a bit sarcastic and cynical. So that somewhat ruined the song for me
http://www.poofcat.com/oldies7.html (I found this link after typing the above)
Yeah, the sign was awesome. The movies I remember seeing there were a double feature Elvis in “Kissin Cousins” & a WWII picture “The Victors” in 64 and “Von Ryan’s Express” with Sinatra in 65 or 66.
Last saw this building in the late 90’s. Marquees are gone, as is vertical sign. Appeared that the building was well-maintained at that point in time.