A long-term threat to the theater: the 76ers are proposing a basketball arena on its site. A long way off, though, if it ever even happens. Inquirer story here.
Jules Mastbaum, president of the Stanley Company of America, bought the Bijou from B.F. Keith’s estate on January 25, 1922, according to a story in the next day’s Inquirer. The purchase was made in Mastbaum’s own name, not by Stanley. Mastbaum was quoted as saying that he believed that the 8th Street Tenderloin district would improve significantly when the Delaware River bridge was completed in 1926. From everything I’ve seen, it didn’t work out that way.
There are Inquirer ads for the Walton after August 1980–the last one I find is on January 27, 1981, with “Dragon vs. Needles of Death” and “Cathy’s Curse” as the features. From an Inquirer picture, the 1989 windstorm tore a gaping hole in the building at second-floor level; the damage was likely enough to require demolition.
“The price paid by Affiliated Theatres Circuit, Inc., for the premises 1453-55 N. 52d St., purchased for the proposed new Adelphi Theatre to be built on the site, was $35,000, it was revealed yesterday when the deed was recorded.” –Inquirer, June 30, 1938. The Adelphi was open and advertising by the end of the year, so it must have gone from proposed to reality fairly quickly.
Not to be confused with the New Lyric in the Germantown section, whose marquee read simply “Lyric” and which was also demolished after a fire in the 1970s.
Venue was renamed the Vicente Fernandez Theatre in the late ‘80s. Chicagopedia group on Facebook has ads from 1988 (Stand and Deliver in Spanish) and '89 (Leonard-Duran III bout on closed-circuit) billing it as such.
Current redevelopment plans: seven-screen dine-in cinema, small bowling alley, restaurant and events space, with a 2023 target date. Block Club Chicago story here.
Abandoned Southeast has a feature on this theater. According to this site, the first Carolina Theatre was destroyed in a 1939 fire and rebuilt on the same site, with the new theater opening April 1, 1940. The Carolina showed movies into the 1970s, then hosted a church into the 1980s, then was abandoned. Eventually the City of Florence acquired the building and is said to be renovating it into an events space, with a target opening date of Spring 2022.
Theater building was listed for sale, touting redevelopment potential (read: getting rid of the theater). Theater operator says: Not so fast. CBC story here. The web page for the listing appears to have been deleted.
Last night of operation was March 21, 1972, with the X-rated “The School Girls” on the screen. Demolition was announced shortly thereafter and began in April. Theater was replaced by a savings and loan parking lot.
The ballroom did not survive the pandemic. New occupant of the space is an art gallery called PATRON, opening Saturday 4/24. Block Club Chicago story here.
Last ad for the Boynton in the Palm Beach Post looks like March 30, 1963, with “Barabbas” and “Shark River” on the screen. For the next few days the paper’s theater directory said that the Boynton had not provided listing information. Classified ads in the Post on April 29 and 30 stated that the theater was to be demolished and that concession equipment, office furniture, etc. would be offered for sale on the 30th.
A long-term threat to the theater: the 76ers are proposing a basketball arena on its site. A long way off, though, if it ever even happens. Inquirer story here.
April 7-9, 1950.
Jules Mastbaum, president of the Stanley Company of America, bought the Bijou from B.F. Keith’s estate on January 25, 1922, according to a story in the next day’s Inquirer. The purchase was made in Mastbaum’s own name, not by Stanley. Mastbaum was quoted as saying that he believed that the 8th Street Tenderloin district would improve significantly when the Delaware River bridge was completed in 1926. From everything I’ve seen, it didn’t work out that way.
Visible on the left at 5:50 or so in the videos (colorized and B&W versions) on this page. Circa June 13, 1952.
Last ad for this one appears to be October 31, 1972, with “Kansas City Bomber” and “Skyjacked” as the features.
There are Inquirer ads for the Walton after August 1980–the last one I find is on January 27, 1981, with “Dragon vs. Needles of Death” and “Cathy’s Curse” as the features. From an Inquirer picture, the 1989 windstorm tore a gaping hole in the building at second-floor level; the damage was likely enough to require demolition.
“The price paid by Affiliated Theatres Circuit, Inc., for the premises 1453-55 N. 52d St., purchased for the proposed new Adelphi Theatre to be built on the site, was $35,000, it was revealed yesterday when the deed was recorded.” –Inquirer, June 30, 1938. The Adelphi was open and advertising by the end of the year, so it must have gone from proposed to reality fairly quickly.
Not to be confused with the New Lyric in the Germantown section, whose marquee read simply “Lyric” and which was also demolished after a fire in the 1970s.
Venue was renamed the Vicente Fernandez Theatre in the late ‘80s. Chicagopedia group on Facebook has ads from 1988 (Stand and Deliver in Spanish) and '89 (Leonard-Duran III bout on closed-circuit) billing it as such.
Video about how the Music Box coped with the pandemic.
Current redevelopment plans: seven-screen dine-in cinema, small bowling alley, restaurant and events space, with a 2023 target date. Block Club Chicago story here.
Abandoned Southeast has a feature on this theater. According to this site, the first Carolina Theatre was destroyed in a 1939 fire and rebuilt on the same site, with the new theater opening April 1, 1940. The Carolina showed movies into the 1970s, then hosted a church into the 1980s, then was abandoned. Eventually the City of Florence acquired the building and is said to be renovating it into an events space, with a target opening date of Spring 2022.
Building could be demolished and replaced with a Wawa store. Inquirer story has only a passing mention of the theater, but here it is anyway.
Block Club Chicago story on the theater and its manager.
Theater building was listed for sale, touting redevelopment potential (read: getting rid of the theater). Theater operator says: Not so fast. CBC story here. The web page for the listing appears to have been deleted.
Last night of operation was March 21, 1972, with the X-rated “The School Girls” on the screen. Demolition was announced shortly thereafter and began in April. Theater was replaced by a savings and loan parking lot.
Photo taken April 11, 1972, published April 12.
A theater that supposedly burned down in 1957 showing a 1963 movie?
Longish inquirer.com story with several pictures.
For anyone who might find it useful, here is the page that explains how to make clickable links on Cinema Treasures.
Current occupant looks like a caterer called Heirloom LA.
The ballroom did not survive the pandemic. New occupant of the space is an art gallery called PATRON, opening Saturday 4/24. Block Club Chicago story here.
At least they spelled it right in the newspaper ads. October 20-26, 1971.
Perhaps not so permanently: money found for a fresh start for the Mercury. Block Club Chicago story here.
Last ad for the Boynton in the Palm Beach Post looks like March 30, 1963, with “Barabbas” and “Shark River” on the screen. For the next few days the paper’s theater directory said that the Boynton had not provided listing information. Classified ads in the Post on April 29 and 30 stated that the theater was to be demolished and that concession equipment, office furniture, etc. would be offered for sale on the 30th.