Paradise Theater

The exterior of this famous “Paradise” was in the “Louis XVI” style- while the interiors of white marble(staircases, statues, etc.) was in a suggested “Roman Villa” style. No doubt it would have satisfied a “Louis” and his French court. High(very high)above the proscenium arch was a life-sized statue of “Apollo in his chariot”– driven by horses(among other numerous statues in white marble(or faux marble)thru out. The very high celling- painted like the evening sky with twinkling stars + clouds- unfortunately affected the acoustic quality of the “new” sound pictures of the time, to the point it became hard to hear the sound/dialog. People began to frequent a competitor’s theater nearby- which offered better sound acoustics. This was just the beginning of the Paradise’s decline.

I grew up on West End Avenue in Chicago. The Paradise was just around the corner on what then known as Crawford Avenue. I moved away when I was about six. But until then often escaped to Paradise. I cried when I found out it was torn down, only a few years later.