I predict this theater will be sold to AMC(China Money) or Cinemark chain which itself was sold a few years ago. Muvico sold a few of their theaters in Florida to Cinemark. One was the beautiful Palace in Boca Raton and the Paradise. They spent a fortune to build these beautiful huge buildings and I believe they are deep in debt. Their plans to expand in the Chicago area fizzled and the business in Rosemont during the week is sparse at best.
Tinseltoes and SWC and Jeffrey1955 keep the RKO Keiths “alive” and thanks to you there is a glimmer of hope however slight…One seat remains, how sad after thousands were there! Milk glass white with hang on lettering started in the 40’s here in Chicago and most of the big houses here had it installed by 1945.
You named yourself perferctly ZiegfeldMan. I love the Ziegfeld Theater. It really is a movie palace! Somewhat modern, but truly beautiful. I would have loved to have seen the first Ziegfeld. Must have been great. For that matter I wish I saw the Capitol! I did see and was inside the Loews State & Paramount Times Sq. at the very end of their existence. These were major showplaces and I loved them both….
Also loved the link.Gives me new hope for the King’s. Thanks for posting, Maybe the aunt could be brought on stage to get applause as the last manager of Loew’s!
Scott, my source is an insider associated with JAM. The Uptown Theatre will be the anchor in an entertainment district which will include the Riviera Theatre & the Green Mill club & the Aragon Ballroom. Alot has to come together and the mayor is behind this concept. I also think the Kings is in a better position long term as it looks today. But the plans in Chicago are very strong and the owners are moving ahead. I have yet to read any movement that is visable going on at the Kings.
Scott, I have from a good source that JAM will have the financing in position in 2013 with a grand re-opening planned in 2015. Same year as the Kings. I plan on going to both the Uptown & Kings, both beautiful Rapp & Rapp palaces.
Thank you for article ZiegfeldMan. Like Tinseltoes, I too wonder if anyone has visited the site recently to see if any signs of life exist. Since 2010, one would think a scaffolding or two would be in place by now either in front or on the back walls of the theater!
Barbra Streisand announced yesterday she will play Brookyln, NY in October for one night only. It will not be the King’s of course, but I wonder if she will get a royal tour if it is safe to enter?
I wonder if the stage was removed or covered up with drapes. Wonder if it is still there. I assume the seating was removed when it was a banquet hall. But I bet the kino booth is still buried up there..
DEFG, You are a hoot. Thanks for details about film ratio. I am looking forward to the screening. I did see it around 1990 but don’t remember if it was scoped or not.I did see “Gone With The Wind” about the same time and the ads did say:First time enhanced wide screen. I thought it was breathtaking with no loss of film. Haven’t seen it again like that. Just 35mm on DVD.
Oh well, “Tomorrow is another day”
I will be seeing John Derek this Saturday night in a real live movie theater, the Portage Theater in Chicago, showing a pristine 35mm real film of “The Ten Commandments”. Should be quite an experience!!
Thanks, I will try it. I am sorry I never ate in your wonderful restaurant. I loved the picture. If my mother knew about it, I am sure we would have. She loved good food. Did you know the owners of the Byrd Theater sued Balaban & Katz Co. owners of the Marbro & State theaters on Madison St. for preventing the Byrd booking first-run quality films in 1955. I don’t know how it ended. But we always went to the Byrd for horror films and films that we missed at the Marbro or State.
SWC, What an erie, haunting wonderful picture! It still has magic through all these years…One would think the neighborhood would rally around this faded showplace. Maybe 30 years ago they might have when there was more money around and people appreciated beauty……
I too am trying to find the St. Mels search. I did .see a picture in the local paper achives dated 1940’s where a large group of St Mels students marching down Madison St. towards the Marbro Theater for graduation exercises.
Also found out Marks Bros. Inc was not bought out by Balaban & Katz Inc in the 1930’s, rather both corporations were bought out by Paramount-Publix and both were subsidies of the giant film studio looking to buy theaters to show their films. The Marks Bros. name was eventually dropped.
I think the economy will be the main issue. Ed Solero says it all. With the average seat price around $50+, and the fact the theater plans on being booked almost every night in the year, I ask anyone to inform me of any theater that is that heavily booked in the USA and makes a profit without any help from the city or state.
The Barclays Center is really for sporting events and maybe mega concerts which the Kings could not handle. And it will bring people(paying customers)into Brookyln for further entertainment(Kings).But my concern is a lack of events to be booked and keep the theater filled most of the year(profitable). The beautiful Genesse Theater in Waukegan,IL cancelled its classic film series on Sat nights after trying it for a year. Very low turnout. Only “Gone With The Wind” & “Ben-Hur” drew more than 300 people. Both beautiful restored prints in 35mm.
I predict this theater will be sold to AMC(China Money) or Cinemark chain which itself was sold a few years ago. Muvico sold a few of their theaters in Florida to Cinemark. One was the beautiful Palace in Boca Raton and the Paradise. They spent a fortune to build these beautiful huge buildings and I believe they are deep in debt. Their plans to expand in the Chicago area fizzled and the business in Rosemont during the week is sparse at best.
Tinseltoes and SWC and Jeffrey1955 keep the RKO Keiths “alive” and thanks to you there is a glimmer of hope however slight…One seat remains, how sad after thousands were there! Milk glass white with hang on lettering started in the 40’s here in Chicago and most of the big houses here had it installed by 1945.
You named yourself perferctly ZiegfeldMan. I love the Ziegfeld Theater. It really is a movie palace! Somewhat modern, but truly beautiful. I would have loved to have seen the first Ziegfeld. Must have been great. For that matter I wish I saw the Capitol! I did see and was inside the Loews State & Paramount Times Sq. at the very end of their existence. These were major showplaces and I loved them both….
Also loved the link.Gives me new hope for the King’s. Thanks for posting, Maybe the aunt could be brought on stage to get applause as the last manager of Loew’s!
These photos are just amazing!! So much beauty remains. It makes you sick to think this could all be gone in a matter of months.
Thanks Tinseltoes for the ads..Very very interesting to read.
Scott, my source is an insider associated with JAM. The Uptown Theatre will be the anchor in an entertainment district which will include the Riviera Theatre & the Green Mill club & the Aragon Ballroom. Alot has to come together and the mayor is behind this concept. I also think the Kings is in a better position long term as it looks today. But the plans in Chicago are very strong and the owners are moving ahead. I have yet to read any movement that is visable going on at the Kings.
Scott, I have from a good source that JAM will have the financing in position in 2013 with a grand re-opening planned in 2015. Same year as the Kings. I plan on going to both the Uptown & Kings, both beautiful Rapp & Rapp palaces.
Thank you for article ZiegfeldMan. Like Tinseltoes, I too wonder if anyone has visited the site recently to see if any signs of life exist. Since 2010, one would think a scaffolding or two would be in place by now either in front or on the back walls of the theater!
Barbra Streisand announced yesterday she will play Brookyln, NY in October for one night only. It will not be the King’s of course, but I wonder if she will get a royal tour if it is safe to enter?
I wonder if the stage was removed or covered up with drapes. Wonder if it is still there. I assume the seating was removed when it was a banquet hall. But I bet the kino booth is still buried up there..
Thanks Brad. Beautiful picture of the Paradise signage. Also wonderful photos of many forgotten theaters.
Saturdays were wonderful at the library and the Crawford next door followed by a soda in the 1950’s. Great times.
DEFG, You are a hoot. Thanks for details about film ratio. I am looking forward to the screening. I did see it around 1990 but don’t remember if it was scoped or not.I did see “Gone With The Wind” about the same time and the ads did say:First time enhanced wide screen. I thought it was breathtaking with no loss of film. Haven’t seen it again like that. Just 35mm on DVD. Oh well, “Tomorrow is another day”
Thanks Joe for the post…… It must have been great!!
I will be seeing John Derek this Saturday night in a real live movie theater, the Portage Theater in Chicago, showing a pristine 35mm real film of “The Ten Commandments”. Should be quite an experience!!
Why not LuisV? Politicians do all the time…
Thanks Tinseltoes for “The Dolly Sisters” premiere photo. That was some premiere on State st. Enjoyed the street car tracks too.
Thanks, I will try it. I am sorry I never ate in your wonderful restaurant. I loved the picture. If my mother knew about it, I am sure we would have. She loved good food. Did you know the owners of the Byrd Theater sued Balaban & Katz Co. owners of the Marbro & State theaters on Madison St. for preventing the Byrd booking first-run quality films in 1955. I don’t know how it ended. But we always went to the Byrd for horror films and films that we missed at the Marbro or State.
Thank you. I got the St. Mel’s, but I could not get the Austin Neighborhood. I tried several times.
A soap opera couln’t more interesting than the perils of the Keith’s. More twists & turns coming…..
SWC, What an erie, haunting wonderful picture! It still has magic through all these years…One would think the neighborhood would rally around this faded showplace. Maybe 30 years ago they might have when there was more money around and people appreciated beauty……
I too am trying to find the St. Mels search. I did .see a picture in the local paper achives dated 1940’s where a large group of St Mels students marching down Madison St. towards the Marbro Theater for graduation exercises. Also found out Marks Bros. Inc was not bought out by Balaban & Katz Inc in the 1930’s, rather both corporations were bought out by Paramount-Publix and both were subsidies of the giant film studio looking to buy theaters to show their films. The Marks Bros. name was eventually dropped.
I think the economy will be the main issue. Ed Solero says it all. With the average seat price around $50+, and the fact the theater plans on being booked almost every night in the year, I ask anyone to inform me of any theater that is that heavily booked in the USA and makes a profit without any help from the city or state.
The Barclays Center is really for sporting events and maybe mega concerts which the Kings could not handle. And it will bring people(paying customers)into Brookyln for further entertainment(Kings).But my concern is a lack of events to be booked and keep the theater filled most of the year(profitable). The beautiful Genesse Theater in Waukegan,IL cancelled its classic film series on Sat nights after trying it for a year. Very low turnout. Only “Gone With The Wind” & “Ben-Hur” drew more than 300 people. Both beautiful restored prints in 35mm.