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Preservation Group Lists Five Chicago Movie Houses On Endanged List
posted by
btkrefft
on
September 20, 2004 at 5:25 am
CHICAGO, IL — The Landmark Preservation Council of Illinois’s annual Watch List includes five Chicago movie theaters on its list of Chicago-area endangered buildings: the Uptown, the New Regal (Avalon), the Gateway, the Patio, and the Central Park.
The list, which first appeared two years ago, complements the Council’s Ten Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois. Other non-theater buildings on the Chicago-area list in danger of demolition include buildings in Evanston formerly part of Northwestern University, the River Forest Women’s Club (designed by a former associate of Frank Lloyd Wright), and an estate in Highland Park designed by Howard Van Doren Shaw and Jens Jensen on the National Register of Historic Places.
For more information, read this Chicago Tribune article .
Comments (4)
As I keep mentioning, the Uptown Theatre (Chicago) is the crowned jewel of old movie palaces. It appears to be the largest free standing theatre in the world! It is still left for us to save. So many groups have tried and failed. What is the secret? Politics and cash. That’s it. Anyone have any brilliant ideaas this week? I am ready to work full time on this magnificent structure.
I am engaged in buying, developing and restoring the Uptown Theater. I’m not looking for financial help. I am looking for all other help. I have unique plans to make preserving it in its original form economically possible. Let’s talk: (cell phone) 773-3909-3077 also e-mail: visit my website but not for info on this project:thewowcenter.com You can help, no matter who you are.
Dr. Richard “Dick” Talsky Anything is Possible
What can we do to make sure the theaters are not destroyed? My grandfather built and ran the Patio.
Daphne Mitchell
The best way to save old theatres is to use good old fashioned business methodologies! One way is to form public private alliances like we did in some of our theatre projects. This requires the city or county to participate… then get business folks lined up then…get the arts organizations lined up…then get the public excited… then then then… This is a long and carefully orchestrated process. The larger the theatre the more difficult the project. The key question is not “how do we do it,” but “what do we do with the theatre once it is open?” THAT is the real question. Programmming events is the product of marekting, demographics and a very detailed “arts assessment” that includes all parties in the community who present theatre, film, dance, music, television,and the other fine arts! Call us if you want more information. (630) 201-0667