Harper Theater

Has anything happened to this theater?

The Harper Theater is on Landmarks Illinois' 2008-2009 watch list of endangered properties.

Related story and photo in the Chicago Tribune

After all that, the redevelopment proposal is dead (for now).
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Was this the last Meridian Theatre to close?

Ad in the Chicago Tribune, Saturday, May 3, 1930, announced: New Harper, 53rd and Harper, Grand Opening Today, Western Electric Sound, Entirely redecorated; Jack Mulhall, Sue Carol in “Her Golden Calf.”

They have been talking about this for a long time. It would not surprise me if nothing came to pass.

Here is a recent view of the Harper. The decision was announced: the Music Box proposal lost out. The theater will be demolished in about 6 months; the retail section of the building along 53rd will remain. The facade of that will be extended along the former site of the theater, with two towers imitating the style of the theater. There will be more offices and retail. See here

The 1938 art deco remodel, costing $30,000, was carried out by architect Mark D. Kalischer, who also did remodels at the Adelphi and Portage, as well as the Drake Bowl.

I just read last night that the owner of the Music Box Theater is in serious talks to re-open the Hyde Park. He said that he’s ready to go if the people let him or something like that. I’ll try and find the link.

The Hyde Park/Harper has a pretty complex past. The theater opened in 1914 as a live venue. It was built within 200 feet of a Presbyterian church, who held it was unlawful and had its license withheld. It was called one of the most elaborate playhouses in outlying districts. It opened, but closed again on these grounds in 1916. It was then revealed that a $500 payoff by trhe Beach theater had brought about the closure, and it reopened. It later switched to movies and closed in 1931. It reopened in 1935, when it recieved the art deco treatment outside. It closed again in 1957, reopening in 1964 as a live venue. This featured many repertory acts, and among the many companies to perform there were the Joffrey Ballet and many other dance groups and the Second City’s legitimate stage division. It became the Hyde Park Theater II in 1971 (with the original Hyde Park as Hyde Park I) under Kohlberg theaters, a successor to Shoenstadt. It became just Hyde Park Theater in 1974 following another renovation. The theater reopened under M&R in 1985, following a 6-month, $1 million renovation. It featured two 375 seat theaters on the floor and 1 700 seater in the balcony. It was the first new theater to open on the south side in 40 years, the only first-run, and patrons previously had to go to Evergreen Park or River Oaks to see movies, or the increasingly declining downtown theaters. It did become a Loews theater before passing to Sony/Loews, Meridian, and I.C.E.

Oh boy, I better get down to this place and snap photos before they tear it down.

Horatio R. Wilson was also an architect of this building.