Chicago Theatre

DavidZornig on June 21, 2019 at 2:36 pm

Saul Smaizys mid `70s pic via Flickr. Will enlarge in link.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ceebop/23970600360/in/album-72157662523920010/

rivest266 on December 26, 2017 at 11:12 pm

Opening ad:

Found on Newspapers.com

Mikeoaklandpark on November 10, 2017 at 10:35 pm

The only thing I remember is it’s last movie operator was Plitt Theaters

Scott on September 22, 2017 at 8:03 pm

Howard, you got me. Wrong composer. I meant the Chopin Theatre. The memory isn’t what it used to be.

HowardBHaas on September 22, 2017 at 12:17 am

Scott, what do you mean by the “Mozart”? I can’t find that as a historic theater, by googling. Please provide a link or better, a link to this website’s page.

bigjoe59 on September 21, 2017 at 8:49 pm

Hello From NYC-

the era of building grand ornate movie theaters was approx. 1914-1941. now many still exist in prime condition. for instance the Castro in San Francisco has been in continual operation since it opened Sept. of 1922 but its was built from the get go as a 2nd/3rd run neighborhood which is where my question comes in. I am looking for grand ornate movie theaters built from the get go as 1st run venues and have continued to operate as such since the day they opened. NYC nor San Francisco have any left. does Chicago?

Jim Huffman on September 20, 2017 at 9:41 pm

Chicago Theater Movie & Stage Schedules For 1955, Compiled By Jim Huffman, Former (Part-Time) Usher 1955-56, 05/27/55 = Date I was hired. . Starting Date Movie Title Times Stage Performers Times . (S) Singer; © Comedian; (Ms) Musician; (D) Dancer; (E) Entertainer); (Mg) Magician; (I) Impersonator; (A) Acrobat; (J) Juggler; (B) Band; (sp) Spelling?; (?) Unknown. Opinions, Answers & Corrections are Welcomed. . Staff at beginning of year 1955. Aprox 50-ushers min: Chief of Service, several Captains, many Lieutenants 30-or so grunts, all part-timers High school & College students. 3-full-timers (none were officers). 4-Managers, cashiers, several elderly ticket takers, aprox 12-part time candy girls, others. Note: Full time ushers were primarily high school drop-outs that never stayed too long. Always scheduled early to supplement the part-timers.
. Fri 12/31/54 (1st & 2nd Weeks) Veracruz 9:15, 12:17, 3:19, 6:21, 8:57, 11:25 Julius LaRosa (S); Kitty Kallen (S); Phil Lawrence & Mitzi (?); Gary Morton ©; Louis Basil & Orchestra. 11:26, 2:28, 5:30, 8:06, 10:35 . Fri 01/14/10 (3rd Week) Veracruz 9:15, 12:17, 3:19, 6:21, 8:57, 11:25 Julius LaRosa (S); Lola Dee (S); Phil Lawrence & Mitzi (?); Gary Morton ©; Louis Basil & Orchestra. 11:26, 2:28, 5:30, 8:06, 10:35 . Fri 01/21/55 The Bridges of Toko-Ri 9:15, 11:54, 2:33, 5:12, 7:51, 10:29 Sarah Vaughan (S); Larry Storch ©; Don, Dick & Jimmy (S); Lewis & Van (?); Louis Basil & Orchestra. 11:03, 1:42, 4:21, 7, 9:39 . Fri 02/11/55 3 Ring Circus 9:20, 12:07, 2:54, 5:41, 8:28, 11:14 The Gaylords (S); Roy Hamilton (S); Jack Carter ©; Bud & Cece Robinson (?); Louis Basil & Orchestra. 11:16, 2:03, 4:50, 7:37, 10:24 . Fri 02/25/55 Many Rivers to Cross 9:30, 12:06, 2:42, 5:18, 7:54, 10:29 Joyce Bryant (S), Illinois Jacquet (Ms), The Roulettes (S), Al Bernie ©, Marty Gold & Orchestra. 11:16, 1:51, 4:27, 7:09, 9:39 . Fri 03/11/55 New York Confidential 10:00, 12:30, 3:00, 5:30, 8:00, 10:29 Vic Damone (S), Joan Weber (S), Don Tannen ©, Berk & Hallow (D), Louis Basil & Orchestra. 11:39, 2:09, 4:39, 7:09, 9:39 . Fri 03/25/55 The Purple Plain 9:20, 11:55, 2:30, 5:08, 7:44, 10:19 Georgia Gibbs (S), Bill Hayes (S), Johnny Maddox (Ms), Piero Bros & The Albins (?), Louis Basil & Orchestra. 11:05, 1:40, 4:15, 6:53, 9:30 . Fri 04/08/55 Untamed 9:45, 12:55, 4:07, 7:18, 10:20 Crewcuts (S), Will Jordan (I), Bobby Brandt ©, De John Sisters (S), Louis Basil & Orchestra. 11:55, 3:06, 6:17, 9:25 . Fri 04/29/55 Kiss Me Deadly 9:00, 11:40, 2:20, 5:00, 7:44, 10:24 Ella Fitzsgerald (S), Eddie Fontaine (S), The Chuckles (?), Los Gatos (?), Larry Best (E), Louis Basil & Orchestra. 10:45, 1:25, 4:05, 6:45, 9:25 . Fri 05/13/55 Marty 10:00, 12:30, 3:00, 5:30, 8:00, 10:30 The Mariners (S), Harvey Stone ©, Pat Boone (S), Hoctor & Byrd (D), Louis Basil & Orchestra. 11:39, 2:09, 4:39, 7:09, 9:39 . Fri 05/27/55 Run For Cover 9:15, 12:00, 2:45, 5:30, 8:15, 10:55 Gary Crosby (S), Louis Armstrong (E), Delores Hawkins (S), Excess Baggage (?), Honey Girls (?), Louis Basil & Orchestra. 11:00, 1:44, 4:29, 7:14, 9:55 . Fri 06/10/55 Sea Chase 9:15, 12:00, 2:50, 5:40, 8:30, 11:20 McGuire Sisters (S), Mickey Sharp (?), The Langs (?), Frankie Lester (S), Louis Basil & Orchestra. 11:10, 2:00, 4:50, 7:40, 10:25 . Fri 06/24/55 The Seven Little Foys 9:15, 12:00, 2:35, 5:10, 7:55, 10:40 Dorothy Collins (S), Four Lads (S), Georgie Kaye ©, The Shyrettos (A), Carl Sands & Orchestra. 11:00, 1:45, 4:20, 6:55, 9:40 Bob Hope in person on the 24th at the 11:00, 6:55, 9:40 Shows . Fri 07/08/55 We’re No Angels 9:15, 11:55, 2:35, 5:15, 7:55, 10:35 Bill Haley & Comets (S), Peggy King (S), Bobby Sargent (?), Rudy Cardenas (J), Carl Sands & Orchestra. 11:05, 1:45, 4:25, 7:05, 9:45 . Fri 07/22/55 The Kentuckian 9:15, 11:50, 2:30, 5:10, 7:50, 10:25 Four Aces (S), Stan Fisher (?), Bob McFadden (E), Ernie Richman & The Mannequins (?), Carl Sands & Orchestra. 11:00, 1:40, 4:20, 7:00, 9:35 . Fri 08/05/55 Pete Kelly’s Blues 8:30, 11:00, 1:30, 4:00, 6:30, 9:05, 11:35 Eydie Gorme (S), Somethin Smith & The Redheads (S), Elsa & Waldo ©, Art Mooney & Orchestra. 10:00, 12:40, 3:10, 5:40, 8:15, 10:45 . Fri 08/19/55 You’re Never Too Young 9:15, 12:00, 2:45, 5:30, 8:15, 10:55 Howard Miller (E), Pat Boone (S), Felicia Sanders (S), Lenny Dee (Mu), Yonely (E), Hi-Lo’s (S), Della Reese (S), Louis Basil & Orchestra. 11:05, 1:50, 4:35, 7:20, 10:05 (The entertainers for this date will be rechecked for accuracy, seems to be too many) . Fri 09/02/55 Female On The Beach 9:30, 12:10, 2:50, 5:30, 8:10, 10:45 Patti Page (S), Jay Lawrence (E), Boyd Bennett & His Rockets (B), Nicki & Noel (D), Louis Basil & Orchestra. 11:15, 1:55, 4:35, 7:15, 10:00 Rudy Noel Clavijo . Fri 09/16/55 McConnell Story 9:15, 12:05, 2:55, 5:50, 8:40, 11:30 Nat King Cole (S), Lillian Briggs (S), Gary Morton ©, Clark Bros (?), Carl Sands & Orchestra. 11:10, 2:05, 4:55, 7:50, 10:40 . Fri 09/30/55 Blood Alley 9:30, 12:40, 3:55, 7:05, 10:20 Julius LaRosa (S), Connee Boswell’s Paulette Sisters (S), Artie Dann ©, Phil Lawrence & Mitzi (?), Carl Sands & Orchestra. 11:50, 3:05, 6:15, 9:30 . Fri 10/14/55 My Sister Elleen 9:00, 11:45, 2:35, 5:20, 8:10, 11:00 Joni James (S), Florian Zabach (Ms), Sonny Till & His Orioles (S), Guy Marks ©, Rich Gibson (Mu), Louis Basil & Orchestra. 10:45, 1:35, 4:20, 7:10, 10:00 . Fri 10/28/55 Sincerely Yours (Liberace, big movie crowd on opening day) 7:45, 10:26, 1:07, 3:48, 6:29, 9:10, 11:50 The Hilltoppers & Jimmy Sacca (?), Nick Noble (?), The Lassies (?), Lenny Culyer ©, Art Van Damme Quintet (S), Louis Basil & Orchestra. 9:35, 12:16, 2:57, 5:38, 8:19, 11:00 Last Stage Show . Fri 11/11/55 Guys & Dolls Gala Premiere @ 8 PM, Marlon Brando & Gene Simmons Attended, Huge Crowd Outside For Marlon. Opening Day: 10:00, 12:43, 3:26, 6:09, 9:02, 11:45 Other Days: 9:00, 11:42, 2:24, 5:06: 7:48, 10:30 No Stage Show. Movie Played Until January 1956. Usher Staff & Patronage greatly reduced thereafter. . Next Movie: The Benny Goodman Story My last movie as an Usher in Jan 56. . End of 1955 year: Usher staff reduced to aprox 6-per shift, 2-shifts per day. Full-timers day time, part-timers evenings & weekends, Total about 20-ushers. Aprox 6-officers (Chief, Captains & Lieutenants, all part-timers). Less of other staff. . Compiled from the Chicago Public Library microfilm newspaper (Sun-Times) archives by JPH. I am working on earlier dates.

DavidZornig on February 15, 2016 at 4:35 am

A link my brother found. 1950 theatre map color coded for ownership.

http://movie-theatre.org/usa/il/chicago/maps/1950map.html

dickneeds111 on July 20, 2015 at 5:37 pm

Here in Boston we still have several OLD theatres that werebuilt many years ago and have been completely refurbished. They are no longer considered movie houses but performing arts palaces. The Citiwang center(Metropolitan), The Opera House(RKO Keiths Memorial) and the Loews Orpheum( Orpheum-Aquarius- Orpheum). I don’t know if they meet BigJoe’s quals but all 3 are still standing, Rebuilt and prosperous. We have others thathave been gutted and remodeled to new specifications. They are the Modern and the Paramount. Both are not at all like the original except for the outside marquees and stone work.

DavidZornig on March 23, 2015 at 3:39 pm

This link has photos of a dual premiere at both the Chicago and State-Lake Theatres in 1940. Copy & paste to view.

http://www.vintag.es/2015/01/old-photos-of-chicagos-first-hollywood.html

Redwards1 on March 19, 2014 at 12:31 am

San Francisco does have one remaining movie palace, or close to it: the Castro, which is not downtown but, like Chicago’s Patio, a neighborhood theatre. The Castro shows continual movie repertory & is home to the San Francisco International Silent Film Festival, which features newly restored prints & live music. The only thing missing is an adequate lobby & restrooms. The auditorium is large rather than huge & in good condition, with restoration of much original décor.

LouRugani on February 19, 2013 at 4:34 am

(Chicago Tribune, September 27, 1996)

Sign Of The Times

State Street Is Losing Its Brightest Light, But Only For A Short While.

Chicago Theatre Getting A Brand-new Old Look

By Sabrina L. Miller, Tribune Staff Writer.

Aging stars don’t burn out—they get replaced. After 75 illuminating years, the towering Chicago Theatre sign, State Street’s brightest star and one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, is coming down this week. The 76-foot-high steel sign, with 2,534 lights screaming “Chicago” for all to see, is corroded beyond repair and must be removed, said Chicago Theatre Executive Director Wendy Heimann-Nunes.

“We are ensuring that the sign will look as it did when it was first put up,” he said.

Theater officials discovered the sign’s deterioration during a routine inspection last March, after the Civic Preservation Foundation assumed management of the theater. The sign appeared fine on the outside, but 75 years of Chicago’s harsh weather had taken its toll on the inside.

“It had to be close to falling, the steel was so rusted,” said Steve Kieffer, owner of Kieffer & Co., the Sheboygan, Wis., firm that is manufacturing the replica for $500,000.

“If it was at all possible to keep the original, we would have done it,” said Heimann-Nunes. “But it would have cost us two to three times as much to repair than to replace.”

So, how does one go about replicating a national landmark? Painstakingly, said Kieffer. Everything must be identical, from the seams between the metal pieces and obsolete maintenance ladders inside the top of the sign to intricate scrollwork.

The entire project will take about 860 hours of work, he said. The sign will be made in Sheboygan, then shipped to the Kieffer firm’s Buffalo Grove office, where an installation team will take it to Chicago.

The replica will be constructed from aluminum, which weighs about one-third less than the current steel sign and will ease stress on the building, Kieffer said. There will be a modern wiring system and “chaser” lights around the perimeter will be reconnected.

“We’ve gone to the nth degree to replicate it,” Heimann-Nunes said. “I don’t think anybody will know the difference.”