For anyone who is interested, there is a color picture of the El Monte Drive In Theatre behind an early `50’s Chevy, in the current Hagerty’s magazine. A in-house publication sent to those who insure classic cars through Hagerty Insurance.
The photo accompanies a nice 3 page article titled “Movies Under the Stars”. It indicates the El Monte was demolished in 1999. There is also mention of many other drive-ins by name, though with limited pictures.
Hagerty has a website, but I couldn’t find a link to the current article.
Maybe others will have more luck. It is published out of Warren Michigan.
Thanks BWChicago & Bryan Krefft for clarifying the Guild/Essex locale & history. Though it apparently was not in the building I originally thought it was, I’ll have to take a look next time I’m down there.
My recollection is that Pine Grove starts/intersects off of Broadway North of Sheridan. So if the building was supposedly between the two streets, I’m not sure how or where. Unless I’m mistaken and Pine Grove is West of Broadway at that point. I always get Pine Grove & Clarendon mixed up. But I think Clarendon is East of Pine Grove.
I only remember seeing a few films at the New Bryn Mawr, after it’s short lived run as the Gar Wah. “Robocop” & “Action Jackson” were the last I recall. Possibly on the same bill. Which had to be near the end of the New Bryn Mawr’s run itself.
Like the Howard Theatre, there was a roof access door visible from the “L” tracks that seemed eternally propped open. I don’t remember anything particularly classic about the Bryn Mawr’s lobby or auditorium.
There was a neighborhood tavern a few doors West called Newman’s. Which had it’s own colorful cast of characters. Business men heading home mixed with blue collar types, old timers with one eyed lap dog’s at the bar, etc.
The historic Bryn Mawr hotel adorned in ornate green enamel brick, is a half block to the East on the North side of the street. The rest of the area has seemed to be in an eternal, aimless transition for over 20 years. Long vacant storefronts, with spurts of new yet classicly designed construction in both directions on Bryn Mawr.
This area from Foster to Devon is technically called East Edgewater.
Uptown is South of Foster, Rogers Park is North of Devon.
It also includes Old Balmoral, though that’s really kind of West of Broadway.
Plus whatever new names come with the addition of any given condo/townhome developments. Like the 10 sub-names in Barrington now.
In 1986 I was on the East Edgewater Chamber of Commerce. Whose main office was in the white building just East of the “L”. There were some chamber members who justifiably abhorred the term “the corridor”, when it was then used to describe Kenmore & Winthrop from Thorndale to Foster. Arson & other crimes had been prevalant in the early `80’s.
And they were adamant about changing the impression of the area through word of mouth & hopeful development.
Which was thin back then.
Today I finally made it into the former Calo Theatre, now the Brown Elephant resale shop.
Truly a unique space with a haunting kind of quality, once you make it back into the old auditorium. Helped along by the eclectic choices of music by the shop’s employees.
The modern yet oddly welcome ceiling lighting, casts an eerie industrial shadow & feel to the room. Like some place the “Clockwork Orange” druges or “Mad Max” drivers might venture into leisurely.
The majestic wall sconces are still visible, but aged & war torn as is what’s left
of the plaster walls & exposed brick. All visible in the previously posted pics to Cinema Treasures.
I’m curious if anyone knows any history of the Essex Theatre listed as being at Sheridan Road & Lake Shore Drive, and re-opening with the Calo and 2 other theatres in 1954?
It’s not listed among the other Essex Theatres on Cinema Treasures. But I’m guessing it may have once been incorporated into the building where Westbound Sheridan Rd. from LSD, meets at Halsted/Broadway between Grace & Irving Park by Clarendon. On the S/E corner (Starbucks), is a building that has a white terra cotta facade & parapit wall across the top, which is reminiscent of other old theater buildings.
Maybe Baliwick Theatre shares some of the old space??
Strangely we were only in the Parkway a few times. Once in the early `70’s for the sequel to “Chariots of the Gods”, whatever that was. And once for a rare theatre showing of “Guide For The Married Man” after the Parkway had become a revival house.
I seem to remember the Parkway maquee’s italicized font, was the same as that of Parkway Drugs on Diversey East of the Ravenswood stop.
The Parkway Drugs signage I believe being the old ceramic, enamel panel tiles type.
FYI. This is off topic, but I noticed the Lincoln Tap Room on Lincoln Ave., just restored their original ceramic enamel wall signage/panels. Covered for years by paint. If anyone else enjoys seeing the old renewed as I do.
Thanks to BWChicago for reminding me of the Century Theatre. In my quest to see if the old Phoenix night club on Broadway was ever once a theatre, I had totally forgotten the Century was in the block behind it on Clark Street.
I remember when the Century Theatre was first converted to an indoor shopping mall, they had a giant, cryptic vertical neon sign for the parking entrance, done in the style of Rube Goldberg.
An animated series of downward events like the mousetrap game, that pointed down to the parking entrance. The lowest neon on the sign I believe was a car with an arrow.
This unique signage was detailed in pictures in the Tribune or Sun-Times at the time. So it might be worth looking through the 1973 microfiche editions sometime.
I don’t know when that signage was removed in favor of whatever is there now. It’s possible the signage was too avant garde & confusing for average drivers to make the connection that it was a garage.
The Rotary International building on the site of the old Valencia, was originally built as/for American Hospital Supply Corporation. They had moved I believe from smaller quarters over on Ridge Ave. North of Church St.
It was at the time a huge deal for/in Evanston. As it was only their 3rd “new high rise” by then. The State Bank building was the 1st, then The Holiday Inn (now Best Western at Lake & Sherman) & AHS.
In the early `80’s, the old Wieboldt’s building was torn down at Church & Oak Streets. For an office building for a then compnay called Shand Morahan. I don’t know who owns it now, but it
was the 4th tall building to go up though.
They relentlessly bashed at that old Wieboldt’s with a wrecking ball for weeks. It had casons that were easily 8 feet thick supporting it throughout. It was filled with escalators & glass display cases. It was sad to see that one go.
It had it’s own theatre style overhang with can lights over the sidewalk, that stretched all the way to the Chicago North Western train tracks to the East. Amazing that Marshall Field’s & Wieboldt’s only a block from each other, both sold their building’s in Evanston after so many years.
As of today, Evanston is peppered with “Stop The Tower” signs on homeowner lawns. Apparently there is yet another high rise proposed for what was once a sleepy little city.
I previously mentioned on the Varsity Theatre page, that Evanston artist Ron Crawford had once done a haunting drawing of the Valencia being torn down.
I was only in the Davis a few times in the late `80’s. “Look Who’s Talking” is all I remember though. Maybe “976-Evil” too. I love that they’ve maintained their huge vertical signage.
I wish them continued success.
We saw a few things at the Lakeshore. Animated stuff like “Wizards” by Ralph Bashki, possibly along with “Fritz The Cat”. This would have been 1977 or so.
Next door was a long time 24 hour restaurant called Rickeys. Where the Chipotle is now. Chock full of neighborhood characters just like down on Rush St. This area was then called Newtown. Across from Rickeys & The Lakeshore Theatre on the S/W corner of Belmont & Broadway, was a Golden Nugget Pancake House. Where the KFC was in the `80’s, maybe now a bank. Not sure.
There was also an oddly placed mini-McDonald’s next to that, recessed into the building just South of Golden Nugget. On the N/E corner where the Walgreen’s is now, was of course Evergreen Foods. There was also a Dominicks on Broadway that burned about 3 years ago.,whose lot was next to Friar Tucks. Which has been there as far back as I can remember.
Across from that was a bar called The Fat Black Pussy Cat, where Monsignor Murphys is now. It had a small outdoor porch you could drink on overlooking Broadway. In 1977, B'way was cruise city for cars. It was routinely bumper to bumper on Friday & Saturday nights.
Most congested from Diversey to Belmont.
Broadway like Rush St. was full of eclectic stores that stayed open late most of the time.
As I recall, the Annoyance Theatre’s first home may have also been on Broadway right on the alley, across from where Briar starts Westbound.
I think that was where “The Real Live Brady Bunch” play was at. Either next door to Pleasure Chest or very close.
In the late `80’s, the one time sign for an old club called The Phoenix, sat propped up in the doorway of the shuttered Belmont Theatre.
The Phoenix was a giant bar/club on Broadway between Diversey & Surf. Where Marshall’s and all that is now.
It was a deviously large building once you were indoors. It had bars that connected to other bars in endless rooms. And an even larger auditorium like room in the very back. They had different bands in different rooms.
Often Reggae was a standard in one of them. I was there as late as 1982 as I recall. If anyone knows if this was possibly originally a theatre itself, please pass it along. It was on the West side of Broadway, next to a gas station at Surf & Broadway. Across from Round Records, Ranatti’s & once a Ponderosa where the Walgreens is at Diversey & Broadway.(I remember that all burned in the winter of 1976. Years before the film “Backdraft”, the fire dept. hoses encased a VW in ice, that was illegally parked in front of the hydrant)
There was also a bar called Gaffers on the East side of Broadway, that had windows that opened to the street. They were one of the first bars to utilize sodium vapor lights on their own facade. So it was a visible bright orange from a block away. The city had only then recently converted to SV lamps for the city street lamps. From the old white-ish/green-ish ones. Critics claimed the new SV street lamps caused the trees to continuously grow even at night.
I drove by the Lincoln-Belmont Theatre building today. On the Ashland Ave. side there is scaffolding spanning most of the elevation. Must be maintainence or brick work or something. The balconies are unique on the Ashland Ave. elevation, as they are actually recessed into the building. In between columns so they do not hang over the sidewalk. They hang over their own property. Essentially protected from downward elements. This also could have once saved money for developers. As the city’s “air rights” over the sidewalk may have been averted.
The Lincoln Ave. elevation has long had a “Lincoln Theatre Lofts” for sale or rent sign attached to it. There was also a Walgreen’s tucked inside on the Lincoln Ave. side, in late 1989.
For the record, and unrelated to Lincoln Theatre, the City of Chicago has had a “Critical Inspection” mandate since about the year 2000. When terra cotta started falling off of a major building downtown, and they apparently had to chase down the owners.
Essentially this then meant any building over aprox. 80 feet, must undergo a costly, independent critical inspection of/on it’s facade. The cost of this inspection & the firms that do it, are on the backs of any given condo associations for the residential ones. Potentially financially crippling to some smaller buildings with fewer units, but yet tall enough to qualify.
Part of this inspection apparently includes randomly drilling into brickwork. One would think the inspection itself would undermine structural integrity. But then again how else is it gonna get done.
I’m sure the city is just being thorough.
I always wondered why the Lincoln-Belmont Theatre was called that, and not the Lincoln-Ashland Theatre.
Cause technically only the North triangular point of the building, faces Belmont. Where as the building is actually ON the other two streets.
With even a small traffic island in between the Northbound point & Belmont, the building is clearly not on Belmont. But Belmont Ave. has the elevated CTA train station, so that could be why.
I saw only a few things at The Evanston, “Alien” & “Ghostbusters” for sure. Down the street to the East at the smaller theatres, I saw the first “City Slickers” & few others.
I’m not sure how the neighboring smaller theatres are listed on Cinema Treasures, but they & the Evanston were separated by about 3 store fronts. And had their own address. Even after the larger Evanston was a multi-screen, the smaller Evanston Cinemas down the street stayed open.
Wow, thanks for posting the movies list from the Playboy. I’d truly forgotten how many features I’d seen there in the `70’s. I think I may have even seen “Georgy Girl” there with my parents before that. Many memories there, especially the midnight double features. Which though they are not listed as such, often included some of the main features that are, in those double bills.
Maybe they had good turnouts for the films initially, and brought back the popular ones for inclusion in the midnight sets. Some 2nd run films as well. For instance I don’t see the 3 & 4 Musketeers listed, but know they played as a midnight double bill shortly after the 2nd one came out.
The Playboy must have done their Chaplin Festival after the long success the Carnegie had with theirs.
I’m not sure if The Chelex maintained any midnight showings after it was no longer the Playboy.
The sad part is given the never ending nightlife nearby, I’d bet a tiny theatre would still fly there. The constant foot traffic was always better at Dearborn & Division, than around the Village Theatre.
My mother recently told me when she was a child near Armitage & Clybourn, her mother would take her & her younger brothers to the Gold Coast(Village) Theatre. However The Gold Coast would often not admit children, regardless of what was playing.
So they’d take the street car over a few blocks to the Lane Court Theatre(Park West).
When her & her brothers would go out on their own, they’d get one dollar to split 3 ways. 33 cents each, with the extra penny going towards candy they could share. The dollar included street car fare 3-cents each, and the movies for a nickel each. Their mother hadn’t known the youngest brother rode for free when with his siblings. So they spent his car fare on more candy.
The Germania Club next door used to host the Santa Claus Anonymous singles parties in the 1970’s.
In addition to seeing the original Longest Yard at the Village, I’d seen Jurassic Park, Waynes World 2, the Oceans 11 remake and various others before that in the 70's &80’S.
Doh!,stupid me. “Skatetown” U.S.A. played the Woods almost a year before Xanadu was released. 10/79 vs. 8/80.
So the imdb page must have meant “rushed into production”, as to not be hurt by “Xanadu”. Still, really? Like anything with Ron Palillo, Maureen McCormick & Patrick Swayze had a worry about ONJ?
Great pictures. The first is indeed early 80's or very late70’s. The cab doing the lane stradling on the left is a post`78 Ford LTD or Mercury Crown Vic.
You can also see the back of the once smoking Winston billboard over the Walgreens. It had a control room built onto the back.
The second photo is also early 80’s. Though “Skatetown U.S.A.” was made in 1979, according to imdb.com it’s release date was held up as to not be hurt by Xanadu. Imagine that ever being a fear. Scott Baio actually had top billing, but the Woods apparently chose to blaze Flip Wilson’s name in lights.
I’d forgotten how unique the Woods additional upper marquee was. Individual sculpted letters made up of different colored bulbs. Wouldn’t have risked the dogs at Shmendl’s by that time.
There was an Orange Julius nearby though, I think next to the State-Lake.
I liked the Woods a lot. Clean, well run with seemingly a lot of ushers.
We saw “Diamonds Are Forever” there, and “The Spy Who Loved Me” with a group of about 6-7 people.
I remember the crowds at “Diamonds Are Forever”, and the ushers doing their best to maintain order. Red velvet ropes were used to contain those in line until the previous performance had cleared completely. We were 11 years old going on about 14. But there would be no sneeking a second viewing that time around.
I thought that since it was in and of the building above it, that it would somehow be saved by default. Who knew Loop values would go so wild, after years of a ghost town atmosphere at night.
Nearby or maybe next to The Oriental was a restaurant/bar that had a giant offset swing, that a girl swung out over Randolph on. She was 2 stories up, and it looked dangerous as all get out.
It wasn’t the Red Garter Revue though, as that facade is way too small.
This place with giant swing was German I think. I think it was next to Ronnie’s Steak House.
Near the Woods also was a basement bar that ABC’s Joel Daly’s Sundowners band used to play at a lot.
There was also a Red Garter Saloon on Pearson between State & Wabash. Where Loyola’s Law School is now. They had live, New Orleans style entertainment.
I remember seeing “Carrie” at The Coronet. My friend who’d already seen it, grabbed my arm at film’s end(SpoilerAlert), when Amy Irving has a dream sequence. I nearly lept into the 80's.
I also saw "Rocky" there as I recall.
When it tried to become a concert venue in the90’s, I remember reading that the proprietors met nothing but community resistance. Particulary from the then Alderman, possibly not even from that ward.
It involved the sale of liquor. And a dispute about patrons being allowed to only drink in the lobby, and not carry the drinks into the auditorium. A technicality apparently in the proposed license process.
I think even spotters were snuck in to catch any possible “wrongdoing” in the act.
A mindset that was probably part of why Evanston was dry until 1975. Though the Coronet’s previous porno incarnation couldn’t have helped.
In the building known as The Main next door was Amazing Grace. Another venue that featured folk music, etc. Along with a barber shop, restaurant called the Main, and some other shops. I drove by there last week. The entire corner is gone. Aross on the S/W corner is the famous Main Street New Stand. The original neon sign adorning a newer structure.
I remember seeing “Little Big Man” with Dustin Hoffman at the Howard Theatre. It was around Christmas maybe 1971 or `72. When we went in it was sunny. When we came out, it was already dark and snowing profusely. After leaving the Howard we visited the then Rogers Park home of Chicago Artist Tom Skomski.
He was working on an exhibition that included plastic replicas of human arms.
After having just seen Custer’s massacre during the movie, my nightmares would now be complete.
P.S. I notcied on the film list above, that in it’s final years the Cinema Theatre must have bounced back & forth from Art films to 1st or 2nd run films to bolster viewership. Kramer Vs. Kramer, Blue Lagoon, & Private Benjiman were all released in the years they are listed as showing. Only the Great Santini appears it was a 2nd run.
Thank you CinemaMary for generously donating the Cinema marquee to the Chicago Historical Society, now History Museum. I’m sure it is a long story. For even storing an item of such size must have been costly.
I have seen it and it is beautiful. Brought back many memories.
Along with the “Gas For Less” sign that adorned Lincoln Ave. a block South of Hutchinson St. for decades.
Thanks for the clarification. I must have thought Water Tower Place opened in 1979, but maybe that was the year some marble slabs started falling off.
I remember the gigantic Pearson Hotel being torn down in order to build Water Tower Place, and I was still on a bike. Which would have been like 73 or74. So it must have been completed a few years later. The interior of the mall was the showcase at the time.
In a perfect world, a replacement Cinema Theatre could maybe have been built into the same space it occupied once that new building was done.
But multi-plexs and video rental stores were definately on the rise at that time. And who’s to say the land owners were ever big movie fans to begin with.
It’s nice the actual vintage Water Tower annex building across from both, has been outfitted with at least live theatre space.
The Granada was indeed a beautiful place. I remember seeing the `60’s cartoon “The Aristocats”, Bond film “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” & “Taxi Driver” all at the Granada. After OHMSS, we went to a carnival set up on Loyola’s then track field. Behind and to the East.
It was a shame the Granada couldn’t be saved. Loyola also tore down their own vintage dark brick athletic building just North & behind the tracks.
The one that long had their 1963 Basketball Championship signage on it. Visible from the “L”.
I drove by when the Granada was being torn down. I’m sure Loyola had their own plans in mind long before it all happened. Just as they did on Pearson Street, down on the Near North Side. Quigley beware.
They also took over what was called Mundelien College, East on Devon near the lakefront. Fully incorporating it all into their campus.
I didn’t know that there was a different, classic marquee originallyon the Granada. I can’t wait for Mr. Kuecker’s new website.
For the record, Broadway was originally called Evanston Avenue. Probably because it led to where else, Evanston.
Years back, there was a church that burned & was torn down about 3 blocks North of Belmont on Broadway. When it was being razed, the exposed corner stone said “Evanston Avenue Church”. Northbound Broadway turns into Sheridan at Devon.
North of the Granada on Sheridan in the 70's &80’s, were Loyola bar Ramblers, Minstrels, & Hueys. Hueys was a bar with live bands that you had to go up a long stairwell to enter. The bouncers knew the advantage of their stairwell quite well. They’d stage guys at the top & street level. Trouble was oddly beaten UP the stairs, to avoid whatever scene was caused.
Across the street was a breakfast joint called The New Old Place. It was 24 hours for a while. They did great biz after the bars closed. Loyola then took it over as their Fine Arts studios. But it still retained it’s restaurant, Tudor style roofline & huge parking lot until it was all torn down. It had one large peak over the entrance, and smaller peaks over the rest.
I wish I’d known Harry Chapin was at the Granada. I wasn’t far from there then, and would have made the effort.
I wonder if any program/handbills still exist from the Granada when it briefly ventured into concerts. I’m also curious what year the giant, vertical Granada sign was removed, and if it coincided with the newer marquee.
P.S. I just did a Google search on Sally’s Stage, and the first wiki/answers.com page that came up, had a brief but thorough history of it.
It mentons the Barton theater organ, but didn’t name the Nortown. It did however mention the organist from the Hinsdale Theatre played it at Sallys.
The owner Joe Bortz also owned the two Dr. Jazz Ice Cream stores. One on Montrose & one in Evanston.(Down the street from the Coronet Theatre)
Maybe the CT administrator can put up the link here and/or on the Nortown page.
I was at the Genesee about 3 years ago to see Olivia Newton John. The theatre had been beautifully restored. One of the employees describing the original theatre said there was a tunnel underneath that brought cool water directly over from the lake, which operated as air conditioning back in the day. (And Genesee recently paid what for HVAC?)
He also said I think Jack Benny had his own special office somewhere in the building. One he could sleep in overnight if need be.
Pay for a hotel? Pleeze.
That extra lobby foyer under the marquee seemed to have been added at a later date. It’s where they staged the ticket holders prior to entry. Unfortunately the table that sold all the ONJ stuff was just inside as well. Causing a bigger back up than already happening.
Our seats were underneath the balcony wings on the left. The further back the seats were under these wings, the less you saw of the top of the stage. In ONJ’s case, she had a ever changing video montage running up & behind her during the show. This was a little difficult to see fully, but was workable.
The only real problem was, they have small speakers mounted on the underside ceilings of these wings. Presumably to increase the performer’s sound to those not directly in front of the stage. However, the overall volume even with these additional speakers, was drastically inadequate.
So much so that more than a few people kept yelling back to turn it up. To no avail. When I kindly mentioned this deficeincy to the sound engineer on the way out, he snapped as if every single person in the house had already told him the same. And boldly stated that “that is how it is”.
He also was rather rudely telling fans that “she was already long gone from the building”.
Elvis couldn’t have left that fast.
Out front was one non descript bus. So we instinctively went around back to find a much nicer bus with Oregon plates. Idling away and giving a contact diesel high to the few who were waiting by the two swinging stage doors.
I will never in my life forget, the stunned face of the poor dude who came out first to a storm of flashbulbs.
Carrying two small, metal water bowls for ONJ’s dogs.
For anyone who is interested, there is a color picture of the El Monte Drive In Theatre behind an early `50’s Chevy, in the current Hagerty’s magazine. A in-house publication sent to those who insure classic cars through Hagerty Insurance.
The photo accompanies a nice 3 page article titled “Movies Under the Stars”. It indicates the El Monte was demolished in 1999. There is also mention of many other drive-ins by name, though with limited pictures.
Hagerty has a website, but I couldn’t find a link to the current article.
Maybe others will have more luck. It is published out of Warren Michigan.
Thanks BWChicago & Bryan Krefft for clarifying the Guild/Essex locale & history. Though it apparently was not in the building I originally thought it was, I’ll have to take a look next time I’m down there.
My recollection is that Pine Grove starts/intersects off of Broadway North of Sheridan. So if the building was supposedly between the two streets, I’m not sure how or where. Unless I’m mistaken and Pine Grove is West of Broadway at that point. I always get Pine Grove & Clarendon mixed up. But I think Clarendon is East of Pine Grove.
I only remember seeing a few films at the New Bryn Mawr, after it’s short lived run as the Gar Wah. “Robocop” & “Action Jackson” were the last I recall. Possibly on the same bill. Which had to be near the end of the New Bryn Mawr’s run itself.
Like the Howard Theatre, there was a roof access door visible from the “L” tracks that seemed eternally propped open. I don’t remember anything particularly classic about the Bryn Mawr’s lobby or auditorium.
There was a neighborhood tavern a few doors West called Newman’s. Which had it’s own colorful cast of characters. Business men heading home mixed with blue collar types, old timers with one eyed lap dog’s at the bar, etc.
The historic Bryn Mawr hotel adorned in ornate green enamel brick, is a half block to the East on the North side of the street. The rest of the area has seemed to be in an eternal, aimless transition for over 20 years. Long vacant storefronts, with spurts of new yet classicly designed construction in both directions on Bryn Mawr.
This area from Foster to Devon is technically called East Edgewater.
Uptown is South of Foster, Rogers Park is North of Devon.
It also includes Old Balmoral, though that’s really kind of West of Broadway.
Plus whatever new names come with the addition of any given condo/townhome developments. Like the 10 sub-names in Barrington now.
In 1986 I was on the East Edgewater Chamber of Commerce. Whose main office was in the white building just East of the “L”. There were some chamber members who justifiably abhorred the term “the corridor”, when it was then used to describe Kenmore & Winthrop from Thorndale to Foster. Arson & other crimes had been prevalant in the early `80’s.
And they were adamant about changing the impression of the area through word of mouth & hopeful development.
Which was thin back then.
Today I finally made it into the former Calo Theatre, now the Brown Elephant resale shop.
Truly a unique space with a haunting kind of quality, once you make it back into the old auditorium. Helped along by the eclectic choices of music by the shop’s employees.
The modern yet oddly welcome ceiling lighting, casts an eerie industrial shadow & feel to the room. Like some place the “Clockwork Orange” druges or “Mad Max” drivers might venture into leisurely.
The majestic wall sconces are still visible, but aged & war torn as is what’s left
of the plaster walls & exposed brick. All visible in the previously posted pics to Cinema Treasures.
I’m curious if anyone knows any history of the Essex Theatre listed as being at Sheridan Road & Lake Shore Drive, and re-opening with the Calo and 2 other theatres in 1954?
It’s not listed among the other Essex Theatres on Cinema Treasures. But I’m guessing it may have once been incorporated into the building where Westbound Sheridan Rd. from LSD, meets at Halsted/Broadway between Grace & Irving Park by Clarendon. On the S/E corner (Starbucks), is a building that has a white terra cotta facade & parapit wall across the top, which is reminiscent of other old theater buildings.
Maybe Baliwick Theatre shares some of the old space??
Strangely we were only in the Parkway a few times. Once in the early `70’s for the sequel to “Chariots of the Gods”, whatever that was. And once for a rare theatre showing of “Guide For The Married Man” after the Parkway had become a revival house.
I seem to remember the Parkway maquee’s italicized font, was the same as that of Parkway Drugs on Diversey East of the Ravenswood stop.
The Parkway Drugs signage I believe being the old ceramic, enamel panel tiles type.
FYI. This is off topic, but I noticed the Lincoln Tap Room on Lincoln Ave., just restored their original ceramic enamel wall signage/panels. Covered for years by paint. If anyone else enjoys seeing the old renewed as I do.
Thanks to BWChicago for reminding me of the Century Theatre. In my quest to see if the old Phoenix night club on Broadway was ever once a theatre, I had totally forgotten the Century was in the block behind it on Clark Street.
I remember when the Century Theatre was first converted to an indoor shopping mall, they had a giant, cryptic vertical neon sign for the parking entrance, done in the style of Rube Goldberg.
An animated series of downward events like the mousetrap game, that pointed down to the parking entrance. The lowest neon on the sign I believe was a car with an arrow.
This unique signage was detailed in pictures in the Tribune or Sun-Times at the time. So it might be worth looking through the 1973 microfiche editions sometime.
I don’t know when that signage was removed in favor of whatever is there now. It’s possible the signage was too avant garde & confusing for average drivers to make the connection that it was a garage.
The Rotary International building on the site of the old Valencia, was originally built as/for American Hospital Supply Corporation. They had moved I believe from smaller quarters over on Ridge Ave. North of Church St.
It was at the time a huge deal for/in Evanston. As it was only their 3rd “new high rise” by then. The State Bank building was the 1st, then The Holiday Inn (now Best Western at Lake & Sherman) & AHS.
In the early `80’s, the old Wieboldt’s building was torn down at Church & Oak Streets. For an office building for a then compnay called Shand Morahan. I don’t know who owns it now, but it
was the 4th tall building to go up though.
They relentlessly bashed at that old Wieboldt’s with a wrecking ball for weeks. It had casons that were easily 8 feet thick supporting it throughout. It was filled with escalators & glass display cases. It was sad to see that one go.
It had it’s own theatre style overhang with can lights over the sidewalk, that stretched all the way to the Chicago North Western train tracks to the East. Amazing that Marshall Field’s & Wieboldt’s only a block from each other, both sold their building’s in Evanston after so many years.
As of today, Evanston is peppered with “Stop The Tower” signs on homeowner lawns. Apparently there is yet another high rise proposed for what was once a sleepy little city.
I previously mentioned on the Varsity Theatre page, that Evanston artist Ron Crawford had once done a haunting drawing of the Valencia being torn down.
I was only in the Davis a few times in the late `80’s. “Look Who’s Talking” is all I remember though. Maybe “976-Evil” too. I love that they’ve maintained their huge vertical signage.
I wish them continued success.
We saw a few things at the Lakeshore. Animated stuff like “Wizards” by Ralph Bashki, possibly along with “Fritz The Cat”. This would have been 1977 or so.
Next door was a long time 24 hour restaurant called Rickeys. Where the Chipotle is now. Chock full of neighborhood characters just like down on Rush St. This area was then called Newtown. Across from Rickeys & The Lakeshore Theatre on the S/W corner of Belmont & Broadway, was a Golden Nugget Pancake House. Where the KFC was in the `80’s, maybe now a bank. Not sure.
There was also an oddly placed mini-McDonald’s next to that, recessed into the building just South of Golden Nugget. On the N/E corner where the Walgreen’s is now, was of course Evergreen Foods. There was also a Dominicks on Broadway that burned about 3 years ago.,whose lot was next to Friar Tucks. Which has been there as far back as I can remember.
Across from that was a bar called The Fat Black Pussy Cat, where Monsignor Murphys is now. It had a small outdoor porch you could drink on overlooking Broadway. In 1977, B'way was cruise city for cars. It was routinely bumper to bumper on Friday & Saturday nights.
Most congested from Diversey to Belmont.
Broadway like Rush St. was full of eclectic stores that stayed open late most of the time.
As I recall, the Annoyance Theatre’s first home may have also been on Broadway right on the alley, across from where Briar starts Westbound.
I think that was where “The Real Live Brady Bunch” play was at. Either next door to Pleasure Chest or very close.
In the late `80’s, the one time sign for an old club called The Phoenix, sat propped up in the doorway of the shuttered Belmont Theatre.
The Phoenix was a giant bar/club on Broadway between Diversey & Surf. Where Marshall’s and all that is now.
It was a deviously large building once you were indoors. It had bars that connected to other bars in endless rooms. And an even larger auditorium like room in the very back. They had different bands in different rooms.
Often Reggae was a standard in one of them. I was there as late as 1982 as I recall. If anyone knows if this was possibly originally a theatre itself, please pass it along. It was on the West side of Broadway, next to a gas station at Surf & Broadway. Across from Round Records, Ranatti’s & once a Ponderosa where the Walgreens is at Diversey & Broadway.(I remember that all burned in the winter of 1976. Years before the film “Backdraft”, the fire dept. hoses encased a VW in ice, that was illegally parked in front of the hydrant)
There was also a bar called Gaffers on the East side of Broadway, that had windows that opened to the street. They were one of the first bars to utilize sodium vapor lights on their own facade. So it was a visible bright orange from a block away. The city had only then recently converted to SV lamps for the city street lamps. From the old white-ish/green-ish ones. Critics claimed the new SV street lamps caused the trees to continuously grow even at night.
I drove by the Lincoln-Belmont Theatre building today. On the Ashland Ave. side there is scaffolding spanning most of the elevation. Must be maintainence or brick work or something. The balconies are unique on the Ashland Ave. elevation, as they are actually recessed into the building. In between columns so they do not hang over the sidewalk. They hang over their own property. Essentially protected from downward elements. This also could have once saved money for developers. As the city’s “air rights” over the sidewalk may have been averted.
The Lincoln Ave. elevation has long had a “Lincoln Theatre Lofts” for sale or rent sign attached to it. There was also a Walgreen’s tucked inside on the Lincoln Ave. side, in late 1989.
For the record, and unrelated to Lincoln Theatre, the City of Chicago has had a “Critical Inspection” mandate since about the year 2000. When terra cotta started falling off of a major building downtown, and they apparently had to chase down the owners.
Essentially this then meant any building over aprox. 80 feet, must undergo a costly, independent critical inspection of/on it’s facade. The cost of this inspection & the firms that do it, are on the backs of any given condo associations for the residential ones. Potentially financially crippling to some smaller buildings with fewer units, but yet tall enough to qualify.
Part of this inspection apparently includes randomly drilling into brickwork. One would think the inspection itself would undermine structural integrity. But then again how else is it gonna get done.
I’m sure the city is just being thorough.
I always wondered why the Lincoln-Belmont Theatre was called that, and not the Lincoln-Ashland Theatre.
Cause technically only the North triangular point of the building, faces Belmont. Where as the building is actually ON the other two streets.
With even a small traffic island in between the Northbound point & Belmont, the building is clearly not on Belmont. But Belmont Ave. has the elevated CTA train station, so that could be why.
I saw only a few things at The Evanston, “Alien” & “Ghostbusters” for sure. Down the street to the East at the smaller theatres, I saw the first “City Slickers” & few others.
I’m not sure how the neighboring smaller theatres are listed on Cinema Treasures, but they & the Evanston were separated by about 3 store fronts. And had their own address. Even after the larger Evanston was a multi-screen, the smaller Evanston Cinemas down the street stayed open.
Wow, thanks for posting the movies list from the Playboy. I’d truly forgotten how many features I’d seen there in the `70’s. I think I may have even seen “Georgy Girl” there with my parents before that. Many memories there, especially the midnight double features. Which though they are not listed as such, often included some of the main features that are, in those double bills.
Maybe they had good turnouts for the films initially, and brought back the popular ones for inclusion in the midnight sets. Some 2nd run films as well. For instance I don’t see the 3 & 4 Musketeers listed, but know they played as a midnight double bill shortly after the 2nd one came out.
The Playboy must have done their Chaplin Festival after the long success the Carnegie had with theirs.
I’m not sure if The Chelex maintained any midnight showings after it was no longer the Playboy.
The sad part is given the never ending nightlife nearby, I’d bet a tiny theatre would still fly there. The constant foot traffic was always better at Dearborn & Division, than around the Village Theatre.
My mother recently told me when she was a child near Armitage & Clybourn, her mother would take her & her younger brothers to the Gold Coast(Village) Theatre. However The Gold Coast would often not admit children, regardless of what was playing.
So they’d take the street car over a few blocks to the Lane Court Theatre(Park West).
When her & her brothers would go out on their own, they’d get one dollar to split 3 ways. 33 cents each, with the extra penny going towards candy they could share. The dollar included street car fare 3-cents each, and the movies for a nickel each. Their mother hadn’t known the youngest brother rode for free when with his siblings. So they spent his car fare on more candy.
The Germania Club next door used to host the Santa Claus Anonymous singles parties in the 1970’s.
In addition to seeing the original Longest Yard at the Village, I’d seen Jurassic Park, Waynes World 2, the Oceans 11 remake and various others before that in the
70's &80’S.Doh!,stupid me. “Skatetown” U.S.A. played the Woods almost a year before Xanadu was released. 10/79 vs. 8/80.
So the imdb page must have meant “rushed into production”, as to not be hurt by “Xanadu”. Still, really? Like anything with Ron Palillo, Maureen McCormick & Patrick Swayze had a worry about ONJ?
Great pictures. The first is indeed early
80's or very late70’s. The cab doing the lane stradling on the left is a post`78 Ford LTD or Mercury Crown Vic.You can also see the back of the once smoking Winston billboard over the Walgreens. It had a control room built onto the back.
The second photo is also early 80’s. Though “Skatetown U.S.A.” was made in 1979, according to imdb.com it’s release date was held up as to not be hurt by Xanadu. Imagine that ever being a fear. Scott Baio actually had top billing, but the Woods apparently chose to blaze Flip Wilson’s name in lights.
I’d forgotten how unique the Woods additional upper marquee was. Individual sculpted letters made up of different colored bulbs. Wouldn’t have risked the dogs at Shmendl’s by that time.
There was an Orange Julius nearby though, I think next to the State-Lake.
Greetings. Different Evanston. Doris Day was born in Evanston, Ohio. Near Cincinatti. The Coronet was in Evanston Illinois.
I liked the Woods a lot. Clean, well run with seemingly a lot of ushers.
We saw “Diamonds Are Forever” there, and “The Spy Who Loved Me” with a group of about 6-7 people.
I remember the crowds at “Diamonds Are Forever”, and the ushers doing their best to maintain order. Red velvet ropes were used to contain those in line until the previous performance had cleared completely. We were 11 years old going on about 14. But there would be no sneeking a second viewing that time around.
I thought that since it was in and of the building above it, that it would somehow be saved by default. Who knew Loop values would go so wild, after years of a ghost town atmosphere at night.
Nearby or maybe next to The Oriental was a restaurant/bar that had a giant offset swing, that a girl swung out over Randolph on. She was 2 stories up, and it looked dangerous as all get out.
It wasn’t the Red Garter Revue though, as that facade is way too small.
This place with giant swing was German I think. I think it was next to Ronnie’s Steak House.
Near the Woods also was a basement bar that ABC’s Joel Daly’s Sundowners band used to play at a lot.
There was also a Red Garter Saloon on Pearson between State & Wabash. Where Loyola’s Law School is now. They had live, New Orleans style entertainment.
I remember seeing “Carrie” at The Coronet. My friend who’d already seen it, grabbed my arm at film’s end(SpoilerAlert), when Amy Irving has a dream sequence. I nearly lept into the
80's. I also saw "Rocky" there as I recall. When it tried to become a concert venue in the90’s, I remember reading that the proprietors met nothing but community resistance. Particulary from the then Alderman, possibly not even from that ward.It involved the sale of liquor. And a dispute about patrons being allowed to only drink in the lobby, and not carry the drinks into the auditorium. A technicality apparently in the proposed license process.
I think even spotters were snuck in to catch any possible “wrongdoing” in the act.
A mindset that was probably part of why Evanston was dry until 1975. Though the Coronet’s previous porno incarnation couldn’t have helped.
In the building known as The Main next door was Amazing Grace. Another venue that featured folk music, etc. Along with a barber shop, restaurant called the Main, and some other shops. I drove by there last week. The entire corner is gone. Aross on the S/W corner is the famous Main Street New Stand. The original neon sign adorning a newer structure.
I remember seeing “Little Big Man” with Dustin Hoffman at the Howard Theatre. It was around Christmas maybe 1971 or `72. When we went in it was sunny. When we came out, it was already dark and snowing profusely. After leaving the Howard we visited the then Rogers Park home of Chicago Artist Tom Skomski.
He was working on an exhibition that included plastic replicas of human arms.
After having just seen Custer’s massacre during the movie, my nightmares would now be complete.
P.S. I notcied on the film list above, that in it’s final years the Cinema Theatre must have bounced back & forth from Art films to 1st or 2nd run films to bolster viewership. Kramer Vs. Kramer, Blue Lagoon, & Private Benjiman were all released in the years they are listed as showing. Only the Great Santini appears it was a 2nd run.
Thank you CinemaMary for generously donating the Cinema marquee to the Chicago Historical Society, now History Museum. I’m sure it is a long story. For even storing an item of such size must have been costly.
I have seen it and it is beautiful. Brought back many memories.
Along with the “Gas For Less” sign that adorned Lincoln Ave. a block South of Hutchinson St. for decades.
Thanks for the clarification. I must have thought Water Tower Place opened in 1979, but maybe that was the year some marble slabs started falling off.
I remember the gigantic Pearson Hotel being torn down in order to build Water Tower Place, and I was still on a bike. Which would have been like
73 or74. So it must have been completed a few years later. The interior of the mall was the showcase at the time.In a perfect world, a replacement Cinema Theatre could maybe have been built into the same space it occupied once that new building was done.
But multi-plexs and video rental stores were definately on the rise at that time. And who’s to say the land owners were ever big movie fans to begin with.
It’s nice the actual vintage Water Tower annex building across from both, has been outfitted with at least live theatre space.
The Granada was indeed a beautiful place. I remember seeing the `60’s cartoon “The Aristocats”, Bond film “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” & “Taxi Driver” all at the Granada. After OHMSS, we went to a carnival set up on Loyola’s then track field. Behind and to the East.
It was a shame the Granada couldn’t be saved. Loyola also tore down their own vintage dark brick athletic building just North & behind the tracks.
The one that long had their 1963 Basketball Championship signage on it. Visible from the “L”.
I drove by when the Granada was being torn down. I’m sure Loyola had their own plans in mind long before it all happened. Just as they did on Pearson Street, down on the Near North Side. Quigley beware.
They also took over what was called Mundelien College, East on Devon near the lakefront. Fully incorporating it all into their campus.
I didn’t know that there was a different, classic marquee originallyon the Granada. I can’t wait for Mr. Kuecker’s new website.
For the record, Broadway was originally called Evanston Avenue. Probably because it led to where else, Evanston.
Years back, there was a church that burned & was torn down about 3 blocks North of Belmont on Broadway. When it was being razed, the exposed corner stone said “Evanston Avenue Church”. Northbound Broadway turns into Sheridan at Devon.
North of the Granada on Sheridan in the
70's &80’s, were Loyola bar Ramblers, Minstrels, & Hueys. Hueys was a bar with live bands that you had to go up a long stairwell to enter. The bouncers knew the advantage of their stairwell quite well. They’d stage guys at the top & street level. Trouble was oddly beaten UP the stairs, to avoid whatever scene was caused.Across the street was a breakfast joint called The New Old Place. It was 24 hours for a while. They did great biz after the bars closed. Loyola then took it over as their Fine Arts studios. But it still retained it’s restaurant, Tudor style roofline & huge parking lot until it was all torn down. It had one large peak over the entrance, and smaller peaks over the rest.
I wish I’d known Harry Chapin was at the Granada. I wasn’t far from there then, and would have made the effort.
I wonder if any program/handbills still exist from the Granada when it briefly ventured into concerts. I’m also curious what year the giant, vertical Granada sign was removed, and if it coincided with the newer marquee.
P.S. I just did a Google search on Sally’s Stage, and the first wiki/answers.com page that came up, had a brief but thorough history of it.
It mentons the Barton theater organ, but didn’t name the Nortown. It did however mention the organist from the Hinsdale Theatre played it at Sallys.
The owner Joe Bortz also owned the two Dr. Jazz Ice Cream stores. One on Montrose & one in Evanston.(Down the street from the Coronet Theatre)
Maybe the CT administrator can put up the link here and/or on the Nortown page.
I was at the Genesee about 3 years ago to see Olivia Newton John. The theatre had been beautifully restored. One of the employees describing the original theatre said there was a tunnel underneath that brought cool water directly over from the lake, which operated as air conditioning back in the day. (And Genesee recently paid what for HVAC?)
He also said I think Jack Benny had his own special office somewhere in the building. One he could sleep in overnight if need be.
Pay for a hotel? Pleeze.
That extra lobby foyer under the marquee seemed to have been added at a later date. It’s where they staged the ticket holders prior to entry. Unfortunately the table that sold all the ONJ stuff was just inside as well. Causing a bigger back up than already happening.
Our seats were underneath the balcony wings on the left. The further back the seats were under these wings, the less you saw of the top of the stage. In ONJ’s case, she had a ever changing video montage running up & behind her during the show. This was a little difficult to see fully, but was workable.
The only real problem was, they have small speakers mounted on the underside ceilings of these wings. Presumably to increase the performer’s sound to those not directly in front of the stage. However, the overall volume even with these additional speakers, was drastically inadequate.
So much so that more than a few people kept yelling back to turn it up. To no avail. When I kindly mentioned this deficeincy to the sound engineer on the way out, he snapped as if every single person in the house had already told him the same. And boldly stated that “that is how it is”.
He also was rather rudely telling fans that “she was already long gone from the building”.
Elvis couldn’t have left that fast.
Out front was one non descript bus. So we instinctively went around back to find a much nicer bus with Oregon plates. Idling away and giving a contact diesel high to the few who were waiting by the two swinging stage doors.
I will never in my life forget, the stunned face of the poor dude who came out first to a storm of flashbulbs.
Carrying two small, metal water bowls for ONJ’s dogs.