The photo in the link posted by Ken mc http://tinyurl.com/d62rot is the New Apollo Theatre on Pulaski Rd just south of North Ave. It’s now a banquet hall. See Cinema Treasures posting for New Apollo.
I wrote —– The Ticket booth (with the dancers) and the original theatre marquee remained intact until the late 70’s. The marquee with all its flashing lights was regularly used announcing the name of the current orchestra appearing.
Since the trollybus line on Fullerton was still in operation when the street widening and marquee removal happened, my comment “late 70’s” s/b late 60’s or very early 70’s —– as the trolleybus operation continued until 1973.
The store front on the corner is now a tax refuned business, one of 4 tax return businesses in the theatre block.
The neighborhood still has a lot of vacancies. But, there are also a lot of rehabs taking place saving the beautiful old houses, along with many new “ independent businesses ” opening —– coffee shops, restaurants, book stores etc.
The Casa Loma Ballroom is also going strong with dances and private events. Plenty of info and photos at… www.casalomaballroom.com
To clarify the last post and why many people still think the Theatre was the store.
You are Correct — The Steinberg & Baum store was located one block north – on the same site of the Post Office.
The Bel Park was used as Steinbergs warehouse.
After Steinberg closed – The theatre was cleaned up and opened as The Golden Tiara Banquet Hall. I assume it failed to attract banquet business due to parking limitations ( no private parking lot). Thus – since the 80’s – its been exclusively a Bingo Hall.
As of this posting— The Gas station has been leveled and the site is vacant except for the old Mobile sign thats still standing. Theres also another sign on the ground announcing – comming soon — WALGREENS
Take a ride to ABT in Glenview. Until the 1960s ABT was located on the corner of Wolfram and Milwaukee (next to the Lobby). ABT has a photo of the old store and the DAlE — now renamed the ROUNDUP.
Looks like a publicity photo for the theatre because theres a cowboy on a horse and lots of kids. I’m sure they will make a copy if you ask them.
The Avaloe was demolished in the mid 60’s and now the gas station that was built in it’s place has also been demolished. Once I find them, I’ll post a photo of Avaloe tickets found during demolition.
The Theatre was demolished in the mid 60’s. I had looked inside once just prior to demolition. There was a big doorway – possibly for loading and un-loading built into a side wall. It was rather small and the floor had been leveled.
Although the theatre had been long closed, just prior to demolition, it was reopened for one day and a final farewell Vaudeville program was presented on a Saturday night. Fortunately my parents took me there to see that show.
While the theatre was dirty, musty and obviously not used for several years, my fond remembrance was finally seeing the towering NORTH CENTER sign lit for my first and last time.
The Restaurant occupies only the lobby entrance. The main auditorium is used as a warehouse.
I recall it was once a carpet company. During the 70’s I looked inside and there was a wood floor – built above the original slanted floor which still remains.
As a banquet hall it was called the Ferrara Manor and later in the 1970’s it became The DaVinci Manor.
The theatre marquee still operated well into the 70’s.
The front of the marquee facing the street still proclaimed ‘ MANOR ‘ in big block letters and neon lighting.
Where Movie titles once appeared, now they would announce “ Congrats Rob and Laura ” – “ Happy Anniversary Ward and June ” or “ Welcome Weight Watchers Dinner Dance.”
In later years the announcement area (which faced east and west) was covered by canvas material but the flashing directional lights still worked. Eventually the marquee was removed and replaced by Canvas Awnings over the main entrance.
My first visit was in late 60’s attending a cousins wedding and then I returned to perform at least three parties in the 70’s.
The main Auditorium was quite large. When I was there, it was always operated as a full room so I doubt it was ever divided.
If I’m correct, the area under the balcony was raised several steps higher than the area under the dome. That raised area was carpeted while the main floor was tiled. Also I recall raised areas along the north wall (perhaps 6 â€" 10 feet) used for overflow banquet seating.
There was an air conditioning unit located on the south wall that still rested on a slab of the original Theatre slanted floor.
The Balcony was enclosed and used as a separate banquet hall. I recall a lot of Italian lights but never gained access as the glass doors at the top of the stairs were usually locked.
The last time I was in the Manor was in the early 1980’s for a professional wrestling card with Dick the Bruiser and Moose Cholok teaming up against some bad guys. Although the neighborhood had changed dramatically, the auditorium and interior still looked in good shape.
I grew up seeing the Embassy when traveling to an uncles house.
I guess this began my love for theatres, especially those that had a second life.
I apologize for this long post.
I’ll start by making corrections to some of the above comments.
Then a history of the Embassy.. from opening to demolition,
much from my own knowledge and from historian Lon Gaults book,, Ballroom Echoes.
First…
It was not demolished a LONG time ago.. only the late 1990s.
The bus picture and Embassy sign mentioned above…. is not Fullerton and Pulaski or the REAL Embassy.
That picture is on Lawrence Ave… near Austin (in Chicago).
(To see actual pictures of the Embassy – read on)
Yes, the owners John Burke and his associates also converted and operated ballrooms at….
The Sun 7219 S. Wentworth Avenue
The Regent 6826 S Halsted
And the Boulevard at Ashland and Garfield.
The Ticket booth (with the dancers) and the original theatre marquee remained intact until the late 70’s. The marquee with all its flashing lights was regularly used announcing the name of the current orchestra appearing.
When Fullerton was widened to add turning lanes, both had to be removed. At that time, the new front sign proclaiming “ Embassy Club Ballroom “ (with the dancing couple) was installed.
By day the large hanging sign with big block letters read
“ Dancing “.
At night and up close the word ‘dancing’ was still apparent,
but from far you saw red Neon flashing the alternating words…
†Embassy “ and “ Dancing.“
For pictures of the Embassy… in operation and during demolition
use this link View link
The Embassy Ballroom began operation in December 1957.
They featured the Big Bands and the theme was “ over 30 dances.â€
Regularly, local dance bands performed Tues, Fri, Sat and Sunday, but over the years many national big name orchestras appeared including Don Glasser, Woody Herman, Count Basie, Harry James and Les Brown.
According to historian Lon Gault, the Stan Kenton Orchestra played and drew over 1500.
My orchestra also had the opportunity to perform there every Tuesday evening from April thru the end of August of 1981.
The changing neighborhood and safety issues forced a decline in attendance.
The last official dance was Sept 27, 1981 with Andy Powell.
The new owners immediately took over and began operating it as a ROCK Club the following weekend. Many regular dancers were turned away not having realized the Big Band Dances ended the week before.
On Sunday afternoon Feb 12, 1984, I attempted to start dances there again. On that day, we had a good crowd of 60 people. Fortunately it was a warm day… as there was no heat in the ballroom.
The ballroom however had lost it’s romantic aura and pleasant atmosphere, and was already looking dirty and in bad shape.
The dance floor was trashed. We used sugar from the local donut house as floor wax.
Also the stage was rebuilt into a Plexiglas platform with colored lights under the glass. While it looked nice, a leak from the roof made the stage quite slippery.
We tried another dance a month later, but we had to turn away 50 or 60 people because the Rock Club owners never came to open the doors.
Flooded boilers, poor up keep, and the ever changing neighborhood, forced the Rock Club to finally close the ballroom forever in early 1984 and it sat idle and fell into dis-repair.
More about the ballroom…..
The original Theatre ticket booth was never used.
A small ticket booth was built inside the lobby where you purchased your ticket and proceeded to another set of doors to the doorman.
Just past him you had the choice of staying to your left and going to the balcony, continuing straight ahead to the coat room or turning right and entering into the auditorium.
When you entered the Auditorium you proceeded down a red carpet to the dance floor. This carpet extended from wall to wall under the balcony section.
The main floor was leveled off, but only in the area in front of the balcony. Still this offered over 3,200 square feet of dance floor.
The stage was located on the East wall.
Twenty foot long bars with dozens of bottles of whiskey, wines and you name it, were located on the north and south side walls of the auditorium. Also located along the walls were chairs and couches to rest between songs.
There was a beautiful LARGE 25 foot stained glass window / skylight over the top of the ballroom. Note… It was saved as John Burke the owner sold and removed it prior to the closing of the ballroom in 1981. It was to be installed in a restaurant but I never found out where.
The balcony was used as a cocktail lounge. Except for an enclosed area where a 3rd complete full bar was located in the southwest corner of the balcony, it retained its original appearance, still using the theatre seats.
However, every other row of seats were removed, and cocktail tables were located in the removed area, so you had a place to put your drink. Many people took advantage of this area as you could sit and relax.
The Balcony was very nice to look at from the stage as every table had a small colored light on it.
And from above, you had a great view of the dance floor and the bandstand. It was also still quite dark in the balcony and even though most of the patrons were 60 plus… they ____________ ! ! (use your imagination… they did.)
I spent many weekends in the balcony as I was considered too young to be allowed in, but the owners knew my love for the big bands, and let me sit there and listen.
Demolition …
In the early 90’s the building became un-secure as all the boards were removed from the doors just prior to partial demolition.
This gave me the opportunity to do a walk thru of the entire building. It was still in good shape, although vandals had wrecked the apartments in the front building.
The entire balcony was gutted with the seats removed. The auditorium littered with junk, still looked like it only needed a good cleaning, although it was un-repairable at this point. I attempted a visit to the basement, but its flooded condition changed my mind quite quickly. The curtains at the back of the stage were still hanging.
About a week after I did my walk thru, a fire was started in the auditorium.
During my next walk thru, the auditorium was now blackened with the fire soot. Although not damaged, it stunk from the smoke and just looked terrible and it’s fate was sealed.
The lobby and store fronts were demolished in the early 1990s.
During the demolition, the lowered ceiling in the main lobby was torn down and revealed the actual 3 story lobby with nice ornate wall coverings.
The Auditorium remained standing until the late 90’s.
An attempt was made to subdivide it into stores. Store fronts and doors were cut into the south wall. And parking was created in front of the stores like a mini mall.
Only one business moved in – an insurance agent – and the reminder of the stores, although partitioned.. were never finished. Upon close inspection, you could see the sunlight peering into the auditorium from the badly deteriorating roof.
The auditorium was finally demolished in the very late 90’s and Osco was built about a year later.
One final note… the stage curtains were still hanging and finally came down with the demolition of the auditorium.
For pictures of the Embassy… in operation and during demolition
use this link View link
I was there when it was a flea market. All main floor seats were removed. The auditorium is still slanted… and vendor tables were braced up on one side to level off the tops.
The stage still had a curtain and if I’m not mistaken.. there was also an Orchestra pit.
The facility is currently a bingo hall only. When I first saw it in the early 80’s.. the auditorium was wide open and HUGE. The last time I was in there was several years ago… and they had installed a low 10 – 12 foot ceiling.
In 1998, Dairyland Society presented a program of Nostalgia Classics featuring Dave Wickerham on the Organ and The Ron Smolen Big Band from Chicago.
I remember our 11 am rehersal that morning. Although we were all tired from a late night performance… the entire Orchestra perked up at the wonderful accoustics that surprised us when we rehersed our first number.
Thanks to the Dairyland Societys hard work.. plus complimentary
advertising on several local radio stations, including 2 nice promos done gratis by the late Jack Baker over WTMJ, the concert was almost a complete sellout !!
More proof that people will return to a Historic building for entertainment.
I hope Milwaukee and Bay View will do all they can to save The Avalon.
We look forward to returning for another performance.
Only the Lobby is the Restaurant. The auditorium still stands. It was used during the 60’s and 70’s as a carpet warehouse. The original floor still retains the incline, but a level wooden floor was built over it. Currently its still some kind of warehouse.
The original building still partially stands. The North wall and East (alley) wall were retained for the NEW building that is now on the property. The new building first opened as an auto parts chain and now it’s a CVS Pharmacy. Go thru the alley, and you can see the bricked in areas from the theatres Fire exits.
I was informed by a now deceased theatre buff, that the now level floor still has seats under it. Supposedly there is a location somewhere in the back rear of the theatre that is used for storage and you can actually still see the seats. Can anyone confirm this??
Correction.. this building still stands. The Marque remained intact thru the mid 60’s. In 2000 or 2001 , the entire facade was deteriorating and removed. It was replaced with 2 story tall – glass windows. You can now see inside with ease. While the floor is leveled and the interior 98% gutted.. ( looks like it was used as a factory of sorts) , the Ceiling still remains and you can see some of the simple ornate plaster work. According to my MOM.. My uncle was an Usher there in the late 1920’s and he used to sneak her in thru the fire escape to watch the movies. (shhhh don’t tell !!)
The photo in the link posted by Ken mc http://tinyurl.com/d62rot is the New Apollo Theatre on Pulaski Rd just south of North Ave. It’s now a banquet hall. See Cinema Treasures posting for New Apollo.
correction to my post above….
I wrote —– The Ticket booth (with the dancers) and the original theatre marquee remained intact until the late 70’s. The marquee with all its flashing lights was regularly used announcing the name of the current orchestra appearing.
Since the trollybus line on Fullerton was still in operation when the street widening and marquee removal happened, my comment “late 70’s” s/b late 60’s or very early 70’s —– as the trolleybus operation continued until 1973.
I was just there Friday visiting friends who operate the Casa Loma.
The theatre facade looks almost exactly like it does in the photo at the link below. The word CINDERELLA is still visible in the 2nd floor window.
View link
There are 2 older photos at the above link also.
The store front on the corner is now a tax refuned business, one of 4 tax return businesses in the theatre block.
The neighborhood still has a lot of vacancies. But, there are also a lot of rehabs taking place saving the beautiful old houses, along with many new “ independent businesses ” opening —– coffee shops, restaurants, book stores etc.
The Casa Loma Ballroom is also going strong with dances and private events. Plenty of info and photos at… www.casalomaballroom.com
btw – big thanks to BWCHICAGO for assisting me in telling me how to post these tickets and share them with all of you.
To clarify the last post and why many people still think the Theatre was the store.
You are Correct — The Steinberg & Baum store was located one block north – on the same site of the Post Office.
The Bel Park was used as Steinbergs warehouse.
After Steinberg closed – The theatre was cleaned up and opened as The Golden Tiara Banquet Hall. I assume it failed to attract banquet business due to parking limitations ( no private parking lot). Thus – since the 80’s – its been exclusively a Bingo Hall.
As of this posting— The Gas station has been leveled and the site is vacant except for the old Mobile sign thats still standing. Theres also another sign on the ground announcing – comming soon — WALGREENS
Take a ride to ABT in Glenview. Until the 1960s ABT was located on the corner of Wolfram and Milwaukee (next to the Lobby). ABT has a photo of the old store and the DAlE — now renamed the ROUNDUP.
Looks like a publicity photo for the theatre because theres a cowboy on a horse and lots of kids. I’m sure they will make a copy if you ask them.
The Avaloe was demolished in the mid 60’s and now the gas station that was built in it’s place has also been demolished. Once I find them, I’ll post a photo of Avaloe tickets found during demolition.
The Theatre was demolished in the mid 60’s. I had looked inside once just prior to demolition. There was a big doorway – possibly for loading and un-loading built into a side wall. It was rather small and the floor had been leveled.
Demolition was around 1966 – 67.
Although the theatre had been long closed, just prior to demolition, it was reopened for one day and a final farewell Vaudeville program was presented on a Saturday night. Fortunately my parents took me there to see that show.
While the theatre was dirty, musty and obviously not used for several years, my fond remembrance was finally seeing the towering NORTH CENTER sign lit for my first and last time.
The Restaurant occupies only the lobby entrance. The main auditorium is used as a warehouse.
I recall it was once a carpet company. During the 70’s I looked inside and there was a wood floor – built above the original slanted floor which still remains.
As a banquet hall it was called the Ferrara Manor and later in the 1970’s it became The DaVinci Manor.
The theatre marquee still operated well into the 70’s.
The front of the marquee facing the street still proclaimed ‘ MANOR ‘ in big block letters and neon lighting.
Where Movie titles once appeared, now they would announce “ Congrats Rob and Laura ” – “ Happy Anniversary Ward and June ” or “ Welcome Weight Watchers Dinner Dance.”
In later years the announcement area (which faced east and west) was covered by canvas material but the flashing directional lights still worked. Eventually the marquee was removed and replaced by Canvas Awnings over the main entrance.
My first visit was in late 60’s attending a cousins wedding and then I returned to perform at least three parties in the 70’s.
The main Auditorium was quite large. When I was there, it was always operated as a full room so I doubt it was ever divided.
If I’m correct, the area under the balcony was raised several steps higher than the area under the dome. That raised area was carpeted while the main floor was tiled. Also I recall raised areas along the north wall (perhaps 6 â€" 10 feet) used for overflow banquet seating.
There was an air conditioning unit located on the south wall that still rested on a slab of the original Theatre slanted floor.
The Balcony was enclosed and used as a separate banquet hall. I recall a lot of Italian lights but never gained access as the glass doors at the top of the stairs were usually locked.
The last time I was in the Manor was in the early 1980’s for a professional wrestling card with Dick the Bruiser and Moose Cholok teaming up against some bad guys. Although the neighborhood had changed dramatically, the auditorium and interior still looked in good shape.
The location is now home to a Walgreen’s
I believe it was originally a Grocerland Chain and now its a Mexican grocery store
Correction to Kenny comment above… feb 6 2005.
If you look at Brians link of the photo of the Harding construction, you’ll see the Harding stood where the Grocery now sits.
The stores just to the left of the Harding were gutted after demolition to allow auto access to the rear parking area where the main auditorium was.
To the right of the picture, a used car lot is where the Walgreens building was located.
Now used as a warehouse. Auditorium is 99% gutted and used for storage.
I grew up seeing the Embassy when traveling to an uncles house.
I guess this began my love for theatres, especially those that had a second life.
I apologize for this long post.
I’ll start by making corrections to some of the above comments.
Then a history of the Embassy.. from opening to demolition,
much from my own knowledge and from historian Lon Gaults book,, Ballroom Echoes.
First…
It was not demolished a LONG time ago.. only the late 1990s.
The bus picture and Embassy sign mentioned above…. is not Fullerton and Pulaski or the REAL Embassy.
That picture is on Lawrence Ave… near Austin (in Chicago).
(To see actual pictures of the Embassy – read on)
Yes, the owners John Burke and his associates also converted and operated ballrooms at….
The Sun 7219 S. Wentworth Avenue
The Regent 6826 S Halsted
And the Boulevard at Ashland and Garfield.
The Ticket booth (with the dancers) and the original theatre marquee remained intact until the late 70’s. The marquee with all its flashing lights was regularly used announcing the name of the current orchestra appearing.
When Fullerton was widened to add turning lanes, both had to be removed. At that time, the new front sign proclaiming “ Embassy Club Ballroom “ (with the dancing couple) was installed.
By day the large hanging sign with big block letters read
“ Dancing “.
At night and up close the word ‘dancing’ was still apparent,
but from far you saw red Neon flashing the alternating words…
†Embassy “ and “ Dancing.“
For pictures of the Embassy… in operation and during demolition
use this link
View link
The Embassy Ballroom began operation in December 1957.
They featured the Big Bands and the theme was “ over 30 dances.â€
Regularly, local dance bands performed Tues, Fri, Sat and Sunday, but over the years many national big name orchestras appeared including Don Glasser, Woody Herman, Count Basie, Harry James and Les Brown.
According to historian Lon Gault, the Stan Kenton Orchestra played and drew over 1500.
My orchestra also had the opportunity to perform there every Tuesday evening from April thru the end of August of 1981.
The changing neighborhood and safety issues forced a decline in attendance.
The last official dance was Sept 27, 1981 with Andy Powell.
The new owners immediately took over and began operating it as a ROCK Club the following weekend. Many regular dancers were turned away not having realized the Big Band Dances ended the week before.
On Sunday afternoon Feb 12, 1984, I attempted to start dances there again. On that day, we had a good crowd of 60 people. Fortunately it was a warm day… as there was no heat in the ballroom.
The ballroom however had lost it’s romantic aura and pleasant atmosphere, and was already looking dirty and in bad shape.
The dance floor was trashed. We used sugar from the local donut house as floor wax.
Also the stage was rebuilt into a Plexiglas platform with colored lights under the glass. While it looked nice, a leak from the roof made the stage quite slippery.
We tried another dance a month later, but we had to turn away 50 or 60 people because the Rock Club owners never came to open the doors.
Flooded boilers, poor up keep, and the ever changing neighborhood, forced the Rock Club to finally close the ballroom forever in early 1984 and it sat idle and fell into dis-repair.
More about the ballroom…..
The original Theatre ticket booth was never used.
A small ticket booth was built inside the lobby where you purchased your ticket and proceeded to another set of doors to the doorman.
Just past him you had the choice of staying to your left and going to the balcony, continuing straight ahead to the coat room or turning right and entering into the auditorium.
When you entered the Auditorium you proceeded down a red carpet to the dance floor. This carpet extended from wall to wall under the balcony section.
The main floor was leveled off, but only in the area in front of the balcony. Still this offered over 3,200 square feet of dance floor.
The stage was located on the East wall.
Twenty foot long bars with dozens of bottles of whiskey, wines and you name it, were located on the north and south side walls of the auditorium. Also located along the walls were chairs and couches to rest between songs.
There was a beautiful LARGE 25 foot stained glass window / skylight over the top of the ballroom. Note… It was saved as John Burke the owner sold and removed it prior to the closing of the ballroom in 1981. It was to be installed in a restaurant but I never found out where.
The balcony was used as a cocktail lounge. Except for an enclosed area where a 3rd complete full bar was located in the southwest corner of the balcony, it retained its original appearance, still using the theatre seats.
However, every other row of seats were removed, and cocktail tables were located in the removed area, so you had a place to put your drink. Many people took advantage of this area as you could sit and relax.
The Balcony was very nice to look at from the stage as every table had a small colored light on it.
And from above, you had a great view of the dance floor and the bandstand. It was also still quite dark in the balcony and even though most of the patrons were 60 plus… they ____________ ! ! (use your imagination… they did.)
I spent many weekends in the balcony as I was considered too young to be allowed in, but the owners knew my love for the big bands, and let me sit there and listen.
Demolition …
In the early 90’s the building became un-secure as all the boards were removed from the doors just prior to partial demolition.
This gave me the opportunity to do a walk thru of the entire building. It was still in good shape, although vandals had wrecked the apartments in the front building.
The entire balcony was gutted with the seats removed. The auditorium littered with junk, still looked like it only needed a good cleaning, although it was un-repairable at this point. I attempted a visit to the basement, but its flooded condition changed my mind quite quickly. The curtains at the back of the stage were still hanging.
About a week after I did my walk thru, a fire was started in the auditorium.
During my next walk thru, the auditorium was now blackened with the fire soot. Although not damaged, it stunk from the smoke and just looked terrible and it’s fate was sealed.
The lobby and store fronts were demolished in the early 1990s.
During the demolition, the lowered ceiling in the main lobby was torn down and revealed the actual 3 story lobby with nice ornate wall coverings.
The Auditorium remained standing until the late 90’s.
An attempt was made to subdivide it into stores. Store fronts and doors were cut into the south wall. And parking was created in front of the stores like a mini mall.
Only one business moved in – an insurance agent – and the reminder of the stores, although partitioned.. were never finished. Upon close inspection, you could see the sunlight peering into the auditorium from the badly deteriorating roof.
The auditorium was finally demolished in the very late 90’s and Osco was built about a year later.
One final note… the stage curtains were still hanging and finally came down with the demolition of the auditorium.
For pictures of the Embassy… in operation and during demolition
use this link
View link
I was there when it was a flea market. All main floor seats were removed. The auditorium is still slanted… and vendor tables were braced up on one side to level off the tops.
The stage still had a curtain and if I’m not mistaken.. there was also an Orchestra pit.
The facility is currently a bingo hall only. When I first saw it in the early 80’s.. the auditorium was wide open and HUGE. The last time I was in there was several years ago… and they had installed a low 10 – 12 foot ceiling.
In 1998, Dairyland Society presented a program of Nostalgia Classics featuring Dave Wickerham on the Organ and The Ron Smolen Big Band from Chicago.
I remember our 11 am rehersal that morning. Although we were all tired from a late night performance… the entire Orchestra perked up at the wonderful accoustics that surprised us when we rehersed our first number.
Thanks to the Dairyland Societys hard work.. plus complimentary
advertising on several local radio stations, including 2 nice promos done gratis by the late Jack Baker over WTMJ, the concert was almost a complete sellout !!
More proof that people will return to a Historic building for entertainment.
I hope Milwaukee and Bay View will do all they can to save The Avalon.
We look forward to returning for another performance.
Ron Smolen, Director
The Ron Smolen Orchestra
www.ronsmolenorchestra.com
Only the Lobby is the Restaurant. The auditorium still stands. It was used during the 60’s and 70’s as a carpet warehouse. The original floor still retains the incline, but a level wooden floor was built over it. Currently its still some kind of warehouse.
The original building still partially stands. The North wall and East (alley) wall were retained for the NEW building that is now on the property. The new building first opened as an auto parts chain and now it’s a CVS Pharmacy. Go thru the alley, and you can see the bricked in areas from the theatres Fire exits.
I was informed by a now deceased theatre buff, that the now level floor still has seats under it. Supposedly there is a location somewhere in the back rear of the theatre that is used for storage and you can actually still see the seats. Can anyone confirm this??
Correction.. this building still stands. The Marque remained intact thru the mid 60’s. In 2000 or 2001 , the entire facade was deteriorating and removed. It was replaced with 2 story tall – glass windows. You can now see inside with ease. While the floor is leveled and the interior 98% gutted.. ( looks like it was used as a factory of sorts) , the Ceiling still remains and you can see some of the simple ornate plaster work. According to my MOM.. My uncle was an Usher there in the late 1920’s and he used to sneak her in thru the fire escape to watch the movies. (shhhh don’t tell !!)