Parkway Theatre
11053 S. Michigan Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60628
11053 S. Michigan Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60628
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Undated photo added via AHerbo Koolin.
This is most likely a Rapp & Rapp design from 1914. The Rapp & Rapp collection at the Chicago History Museum has a listing for materials related to a theatre design for S. D. Stoll and I. & L. D. Smith at the corner of Michigan and 111th St. in 1914. The façade of the Parkway (especially the arch) are a copy of the Windsor Theatre design that the Rapps did the same year.
My Dad who was born in 1927 was just telling me of The Parkway Theatre the other day & he also mentioned that there was a dance hall on the same side of the street/East side right before the theatre, but he couldn’t remember the name of it. Does anyone out there remember the dance hall & recall what the name of it was? I just loved Roseland. It was a fluke how I ended up living there—lived w/my Grand-ma after my Mom died from 1965-72. Used to see the Monster Movies @ The Roseland Theatre on Saturdays as a kid then as a teen-ager attended The Battle of the Bands @ The State Theatre. Worked @ Preskus Rexall Drugs on 110th & Michigan Avenue from 1969-72. Of course we watched many a movie at both theaters, but as a teen-ager we had walked out a couple of times when the movie was too long, like we did with Gone With the Wind. Patience is not always a virtue when you’re young! Memories are so magical in regard to Roseland that can’t be duplicated from any other Chicago neighborhood. There was just something about that neighborhood. It’s sad that the days of the movie house are basically over. Those multi-cinema places are so impersonal. Signed, a graduate from St. Willibrord High School.
The Roseland State did not have a WurliTzer Theatre Pipe organ, but instead a M.P. Moller organ of 3 manuals and 12 ranks. Moller primarily built organs for churches but did build theatre instruments which were awesome in their own right. The nearby Parkway Theatre did have a smaller Wurlitzer of 2 manuals and six ranks which is still in existance in a private residence. The Moller organ still in the theatre and playable in the 1950s and sounded great in that theatre. It did not survive as a complete instrument and was broken up for parts when removed in the 60s
I am new to all the web sights on Roseland and everyday I find something new. I cannot tell everyone how much I enjoy reading and looking at all the old pictures. I never knew that there was a websight like this until one day I seen some old pictures in the Tribune and contacted John. He led me to all these wonderful memories. There is so much to read and I just seen the pictures that BWChicago sent of the 2009 CTA Calendar, WOW! I lived in Roseland most of my young life, but then moved away in Dec.1953. I was devasted. I was going to graduate from Kohn school that following June. I missed my friends I grew up with and of course all the sights and sounds of Roseland.
Keep in touch.
My older sister lived on 108th & Eggleston, she and her new husband moved there to be near our house. I used to walk to her house and visit. We lived on 106th near Wentworth. Their name was Boersma. My brother and other sister went to all the “shows” up the Ave. which was of course Michigan Ave. Dad took us to Lake Calumet beach to swim and picnic, I just couldn’t wait when I heard we were going. Unfortunately we lost one of our friends that drowned in Calumet, they said it was a undertow which I still hear that it is there. Not sure. I would of loved that bus ride even though it wasn’t the same as we remembered it. The People’s store to me was “ Christmas” Santa", and yes the donut machine and the tube that disappeared into LaLa Land. I loved to see the cartoons on the weekend, mom would take us to see the Disney Classic’s during the week. It seems like we were always up the ave. somewhere. I also remember the streetcar that would take us downtown. What wonderful memories.
As I always say" Not Forgotten"
I grew up on 108th and Eggleston and used to frequent the State Theater on Saturday afternoons for the shoot em up shows. After coming out in the sunshine on the way home facing the sun I would end up with the most ferce headaches. But the next week would go back again. I remember that in some candy bars there would be a coupon for a free one. Also ice cream cones would have a paper coupon in the bottom of the cone.
My next door buddy was an usher at the Roseland. (Frank Sink) I don’t remember getting in free though.
I used to ride my bike down to Lake Calumet to fish. But never caught anything of value.
I remember “Pete’s Dock"
I used to go to Gately’s Peoples Store and watch the donut machine. The store moved to Tinley Park later on.
Some years back we took a bus ride into Chicago to see the Frank Loyd Wright homes. We finished up see the old Pullman works and "Bum Town”. Finished going west on 111th street all the way to Vincenes. What a difference from what I remember.
We as teenagers would go to the “O” next to the Parkway and have a Coke and French Fries. The Mocombo was at the corner.This has been fun remembering some of the old times.
Bob Hendry
FYI. 1936 Parkway exterior photo in Sunday 02/22/09 Chicago Tribune Magazine. When I pulled the link though, the photo wasn’t included with the caption.
The 2009 CTA calendar features that image for August: View link
In the book “CHICAGO- GROWTH OF A METROPOLIS” by Harold M. Mayer, there is a small photo of 111th- Michigan from 1934. The Parkway theatre is there; on the marquee: Gary Cooper in “OPERATOR 13”. Also, in the background, you can see the vertical sign of the State theatre. It’s on page 348. On page 347, there are pics of the Paradise and Marbro theatres (1929) and the Tivoli theatre (1924).
The Roseland, Parkway and State were the theaters I frequented the most as a young boy in the 1940’s. The thing I remember most about the Parkway, was a neighbor of mine worked there as an Usher..his name was Ronnie Stromberg…Ronnie would let all of his friends in for free, but because I was younger, he would not let mein free. However, Ronnie got caught and fired…I was secretly glad. After he left, I could use the old, I am going in to get my non-existant brother.
So sad that these theaters have left the scene and that the kids of this era will never know the thrill of going to Saturday matinees, 5 cent popcorn and drinks…
Doug Bruton Denison, Texas
A currency exchange now occupies the site.
I grew up in Roseland 2 blocks from the State and Parkway theaters. I still remember the little window next to the Parkway where a handicapped vendor would sell popcorn and peanuts. There was also a soda shop right next door. Alas, they are all gone now, along with the Roseland and Normal theaters (Normal burnt down sometime in the 70’s. The entire area has noe become a terrible ghetto.
I show the address as 11053 S. Michigan and seating capacity at 774.