The Tivoli in suburban Downers Grove still has a neon clock above the exit.
Those clocks were made by the Neon Clock Sales Co. of Chicago, who typically rented them to shopkeepers for window use. The same firm is still in business today in the SW ‘burbs.
They repair the old clocks and can still make new ones on a special order basis… but will not ship them, so it’s pickup only.
Otherise, old ones occasionally turn up on eBay and often sell for as much as $500.
Responding to an earlier question, in the 1950s the theater now known as the Cadillac Palace was outfitted for Cinerama. So Cinerama wasn’t shown here.
But I did see the restored Abel Gance 1927 film Napoleon at the Chicago Theater prior to renovation. while not Cinerama, this did involve three synchronized projectors. The three images were tinted different colors.
This showing featured a live orchestra under the direction of Francis Ford Coppola’s father.
re: a previous post about the zip code in this area. USPS never intended zip codes to define municipalities, only the areas served by particular post offices. The post office in the Montclare neighborhood also serves Elmwood Park, and the borderline is Harlem Avenue, a block or two west of where the Montclare was.
The area had a 60635 zip until some years ago, meaning Elmwood Park had a Chicago-style zip. Residents there lobbied for their own zip, probably due to redlining.
USPS responded by changing everyone’s zip to 60707, thus part of Chicago now has a suburban-style zip code.
I am interested in writing a book about the Clark Theater. If anyone has information they can share, please feel free to contact me at:
If anyone can help me get in touch with Bruce Trinz, I would greatly appreciate it.
This book could contain all the photos I can find, (hopefully there are some of the interior), reminiscences, reproductions of the Hark Hark flyers, and a list of every film shown there during the entire two-a-day era.
In 1970, this theatre was called the Bismarck, after the adjoining hotel. I saw Patton there on a first run, exclusive engagement. This is the only time I can remember ever seeing a film where there was reserved seating instead of general admission.
Great film, but shortly afterwards I got a job at the Montclare as an usher, and the only film they ran during my entire six weeks of employment was- you guessed it- Patton.
My aunt knew the owners back in the 1960s and she told me they turned down an offer of $1 million for the theatre, which is probably more than they got later.
In 1970 I worked there as an usher for six weeks, wearing a red jacket. The whole time I worked there, the only film they ran was Patton, which unfortunately I had already paid to see at the Bismark downtown, where it had a reserved seat showing.
There was an optometrist in the same building (Binder & Binder), and that’s where I got my first pair of glasses in third grade.
My family has lived in this area for a long time. My Dad saw King Kong there in 1933, and it scared the hell out of him.
First movie I ever saw there was around 1959, and I saw lots after that. In the 1960s, new films played downtown for the first two weeks, and then they played at outlying theatres like the Montclare in the neighborhoods.
In 1963, my older brother and I saw The Day of the Triffids there, or maybe it was X- the Man With the X-Ray Eyes. Anyhow, I got so scared I had to leave before the end of the picture.
I live in Chicago, but around 1980 I flew to NYC on a whim, just to see a Buster Keaton film at the Thalia. I had the time of my life… saw the film, then got on the subway back to LaGuardia and flew back to Chicago the same day.
It was money well spent. I loved those old revival houses, and still miss the Clark Theatre we had here (2 different films a day, 365 days a year).
It is a shame there are so few photos of this very important theater. Someone should ask Bruce Trinz if he has any, especially pictures of the lobby or the interior. I have never seen any photos of the interior.
I have a color slide from 1956 showing a PCC streetcar on Clark Street going by the Clark. Erroll Garner was performing at the Blue Note, and you cna also see the Wimpy’s burger joint on the corner.
All icons of the old downtown, and all sadly long gone.
In the late 1960s, I spent many afternoons at The Clark, and watched many classic films there. I recall seeing numerous W. C. Fields, Marx Brothers, and Laurel and Hardy films there, many obscure. I recall the neon clock to the left of the screen. Just recently, I noticed they have a similar clock in the Tivoli (Downers Grove, IL).
Once I recall seeing some ancient looking film cans lined up at the theatre, ready for shipment back to whatever studio or distributor they came from. I wondered when the last time was they had been used, and if they would ever run in a theater again.
The Tivoli in suburban Downers Grove still has a neon clock above the exit.
Those clocks were made by the Neon Clock Sales Co. of Chicago, who typically rented them to shopkeepers for window use. The same firm is still in business today in the SW ‘burbs.
They repair the old clocks and can still make new ones on a special order basis… but will not ship them, so it’s pickup only.
Otherise, old ones occasionally turn up on eBay and often sell for as much as $500.
Responding to an earlier question, in the 1950s the theater now known as the Cadillac Palace was outfitted for Cinerama. So Cinerama wasn’t shown here.
But I did see the restored Abel Gance 1927 film Napoleon at the Chicago Theater prior to renovation. while not Cinerama, this did involve three synchronized projectors. The three images were tinted different colors.
This showing featured a live orchestra under the direction of Francis Ford Coppola’s father.
re: a previous post about the zip code in this area. USPS never intended zip codes to define municipalities, only the areas served by particular post offices. The post office in the Montclare neighborhood also serves Elmwood Park, and the borderline is Harlem Avenue, a block or two west of where the Montclare was.
The area had a 60635 zip until some years ago, meaning Elmwood Park had a Chicago-style zip. Residents there lobbied for their own zip, probably due to redlining.
USPS responded by changing everyone’s zip to 60707, thus part of Chicago now has a suburban-style zip code.
I think Mr. De Grazia was the manager when I worked there in 1970. Does anyone know if he is still living?
I am interested in writing a book about the Clark Theater. If anyone has information they can share, please feel free to contact me at:
If anyone can help me get in touch with Bruce Trinz, I would greatly appreciate it.
This book could contain all the photos I can find, (hopefully there are some of the interior), reminiscences, reproductions of the Hark Hark flyers, and a list of every film shown there during the entire two-a-day era.
Thanks.
I’ve read this theatre is where the hugely successful Depression-era promotion “Bank Night” was first created by promoter Charles Yaeger.
In 1970, this theatre was called the Bismarck, after the adjoining hotel. I saw Patton there on a first run, exclusive engagement. This is the only time I can remember ever seeing a film where there was reserved seating instead of general admission.
Great film, but shortly afterwards I got a job at the Montclare as an usher, and the only film they ran during my entire six weeks of employment was- you guessed it- Patton.
My aunt knew the owners back in the 1960s and she told me they turned down an offer of $1 million for the theatre, which is probably more than they got later.
In 1970 I worked there as an usher for six weeks, wearing a red jacket. The whole time I worked there, the only film they ran was Patton, which unfortunately I had already paid to see at the Bismark downtown, where it had a reserved seat showing.
There was an optometrist in the same building (Binder & Binder), and that’s where I got my first pair of glasses in third grade.
My family has lived in this area for a long time. My Dad saw King Kong there in 1933, and it scared the hell out of him.
First movie I ever saw there was around 1959, and I saw lots after that. In the 1960s, new films played downtown for the first two weeks, and then they played at outlying theatres like the Montclare in the neighborhoods.
In 1963, my older brother and I saw The Day of the Triffids there, or maybe it was X- the Man With the X-Ray Eyes. Anyhow, I got so scared I had to leave before the end of the picture.
I grew up in this area and I understand the Elm closed in 1960.
I grew up in this neighborhood… when I was about 10 or so I actually won some sort of Saturday morning dance contest at the Mercury.
In 1967, Sonny and Cher made a personal appearance at the theater to promote a film they were in (was it Good Times?).
I live in Chicago, but around 1980 I flew to NYC on a whim, just to see a Buster Keaton film at the Thalia. I had the time of my life… saw the film, then got on the subway back to LaGuardia and flew back to Chicago the same day.
It was money well spent. I loved those old revival houses, and still miss the Clark Theatre we had here (2 different films a day, 365 days a year).
It is a shame there are so few photos of this very important theater. Someone should ask Bruce Trinz if he has any, especially pictures of the lobby or the interior. I have never seen any photos of the interior.
I have a color slide from 1956 showing a PCC streetcar on Clark Street going by the Clark. Erroll Garner was performing at the Blue Note, and you cna also see the Wimpy’s burger joint on the corner.
All icons of the old downtown, and all sadly long gone.
In the late 1960s, I spent many afternoons at The Clark, and watched many classic films there. I recall seeing numerous W. C. Fields, Marx Brothers, and Laurel and Hardy films there, many obscure. I recall the neon clock to the left of the screen. Just recently, I noticed they have a similar clock in the Tivoli (Downers Grove, IL).
Once I recall seeing some ancient looking film cans lined up at the theatre, ready for shipment back to whatever studio or distributor they came from. I wondered when the last time was they had been used, and if they would ever run in a theater again.