That was nothing. It was totally contained within the furnace room; I stopped in later that day and it was already vacuumed up. I wouldn’t have known anything had happened unless someone told me. Literally just a dirty furnace.
It is worth noting here that the landmark designation allows the demolition of the auditorium provided that the front facade and the store portion of the building, including rooflines, is restored. View link
This is the most recent article, from June. Haven’t heard a word about it since then. If someone else paid for it, I’m sure he’d let it be restored. But he also wouldn’t sign the forms to put it on the National Register of Historic Places that would allow it to qualify for tax credits and other incentives. I have no ill will towards the owner, and have always had a good rapport with him, but I’m not confident it will be substantially rehabilitated as long as he owns it.
The two parties came to an impasse over rental arrangements and the owner was not interested in relinquishing any control. With nothing to raise money for – obviously nobody was interested in giving grants to an owner who would not commit – the society then changed its name to Revitalize Des Plaines! with a focus on advocating overall downtown rehabilitation and preservation. Currently it operates as a blog and facebook page at www.revitalizedesplaines.org Since that time, Alderman Mark Walsten’s Deep Green Committee has run a film series and a Vaudeville Revival series was held. Currently the theater is used sporadically for special events and occasional screenings.
That was nothing. It was totally contained within the furnace room; I stopped in later that day and it was already vacuumed up. I wouldn’t have known anything had happened unless someone told me. Literally just a dirty furnace.
Sort of. The lobby end seems to have been destroyed for the store that’s now there, and the stage end is separated and operates as a bar & restaurant.
It is worth noting here that the landmark designation allows the demolition of the auditorium provided that the front facade and the store portion of the building, including rooflines, is restored.
View link
re: armyarch’s 3/18/10 post: The Chicago Theatre’s marquee was in fact replaced with a replica in 2004.
As I said, much of the plasterwork is intact. They put walls and floors in but kept as much as possible. http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/ctid808/
Much of the plasterwork is intact.
Architects were Betts & Holcomb
Here’s a picture of the “Little Chicago” screening room. The film was, of course, 101 Dalmatians. View link
View link This blog post of mine should have pretty much whatever you want.
Work has begun to return the Des Plaines Theatre to a single screen.
Certainly not – as a matter of fact, View link
only if someone buys it
It is used on a rental basis.
The McVickers was a different theatre that did show Cinerama, including How The West Was Won
Architect was Christopher Chamales
via David Zornig: View link
Here is a nice photo of the Sears store at Six Corners from the 60s.
View link
View link
I don’t think Classic wants to deal with the hassles of Chicago government.
View link More on the closing
The stained glass has reappeared and the building has now been reused as SmallBar. http://www.thesmallbar.com/fullerton/
http://www.catoe.org/chicago.html
They aren’t all working, last time I saw them lit.
in 1954 the alba became one of the first bowling alleys in chicago to go automatic.
This is the most recent article, from June. Haven’t heard a word about it since then. If someone else paid for it, I’m sure he’d let it be restored. But he also wouldn’t sign the forms to put it on the National Register of Historic Places that would allow it to qualify for tax credits and other incentives. I have no ill will towards the owner, and have always had a good rapport with him, but I’m not confident it will be substantially rehabilitated as long as he owns it.
The two parties came to an impasse over rental arrangements and the owner was not interested in relinquishing any control. With nothing to raise money for – obviously nobody was interested in giving grants to an owner who would not commit – the society then changed its name to Revitalize Des Plaines! with a focus on advocating overall downtown rehabilitation and preservation. Currently it operates as a blog and facebook page at www.revitalizedesplaines.org Since that time, Alderman Mark Walsten’s Deep Green Committee has run a film series and a Vaudeville Revival series was held. Currently the theater is used sporadically for special events and occasional screenings.