I don’t buy that Melrose Park stuff. Every time I go by this place on a Friday night there is a good crowd, and Melrose Park has been open for years now. I think Melrose Park is a convenient story. In reality it probably comes down to a bunch of money changing hands. But such is life.
I have also heard that it is pretty trashed. But maybe they will be able to retain design elements here and there. Any way you cut it, this project is better than having a crumbling ruin on Washington St.
The problem with Bricktown seems to be centered around location. I worked in Elmwood Park at one time, and one of my co-workers would always call Brickyard Mall the “Spic-yard” and talk about how people got assaulted over there.
Now, I don’t know if there was actually a ton of crime. It could have been a cultural, us vs. them kind of thing. But either way a divide existed.
It has become a very murky situation. There are so many issues to resolve. I think it is possible that the building will eventually be restored as part of an Uptown entertainment district. I also think it is possible that some sort of compromise project like the one you describe could come to pass. I just wish that something constructive would happen. It is desressing to watch the property decay year after year. Also, having a hulk of an unusable theater towering over the neighborhood certainly isn’t a positive force for development.
It would take at least half an hour, for God’s sake. I started reading it and didn’t find my answer. I thought one of you people in the know might write a couple of sentences to fill me in. Instead you wrote a couple of sentences giving me attitude.
The auditorium did seem large. You could have told me there were more than 960 seats in there and I would have believed it. I was inside in 1993 for a show when it was the Columbia College Dance Center. It seemed to be more or less intact at that point. Who knows what it is like now.
Really? I thought I donated an old catalog to them about ten years ago that had some photos of the lobby and auditorium when new. Maybe I didn’t, which would mean it is up in my parents' attic. I visit them every month or two and will try and remember to look next time.
I was just looking at your photos B. It looks to me, going by the alley views, that the second story of the auditorium might still exist above the first floor stores. Do you have any insight on the matter?
I stopped here the other night while travelling through the neighborhood. It still looks the same as it did the last time I saw it in the late 80’s. The only difference is that the lobby isn’t open anymore. In the late 80’s they were using the lobby for storage, and both high ceiling and original tile floor were visible. Now there is a drop ceiling and floor coverings for retail use. Hard to say what is left of the auditorium at this point. But the shell is definitely still there, albeit with a large rolling steel door punched in the side facing the alley.
I think you need to develop a thicker skin Fernando.
When you did that work on the building, you drew the attention of the preservation community. Now you are hearing our opinions.
Think of it as being like a new movie release. A movie comes out and journalists everywhere have opinions about how good or bad the movie is.
Volunteer labor is commendable, and I am glad the building was not demolished. But I think the work you carried out on the exterior exhibits extremely poor judgment. That is my opinion, and there is no reason I should have to apologize for it.
I don’t appreciate you trying to heap shame on us for voicing our displeasure.
Nice item B. That’s what Ronnie’s dining room looked like as well. Only:
1) Remove the fine light fixtures and replace them with plastic models
2) Remove the carpet and put in cheap tile floor
3) Get rid of the tables and linens and put in lunch room furniture
4) Turn the light level down by about half
5) Put an enclosed night club sort of VIP area at the top of the stairs in the rear
It sounds awful. But it was actually pretty cool in a seedy, 70’s, 42nd Street sort of way.
Randolph Street is definitely great today. But despite what some say, I don’t think it is better than it was in the 70’s and 80’s. I think it is just great in a different way now.
I don’t buy that Melrose Park stuff. Every time I go by this place on a Friday night there is a good crowd, and Melrose Park has been open for years now. I think Melrose Park is a convenient story. In reality it probably comes down to a bunch of money changing hands. But such is life.
It is amazing. Definitely one of America’s finest buildings.
I have also heard that it is pretty trashed. But maybe they will be able to retain design elements here and there. Any way you cut it, this project is better than having a crumbling ruin on Washington St.
How big was the crowd at the Ziegfield for that?
Who said any of these buildings you are asking about are on the open market?
I hope the crowds come back after they are done working. It doesn’t always work that way. People may develop new habits in the meantime.
The problem with Bricktown seems to be centered around location. I worked in Elmwood Park at one time, and one of my co-workers would always call Brickyard Mall the “Spic-yard” and talk about how people got assaulted over there.
Now, I don’t know if there was actually a ton of crime. It could have been a cultural, us vs. them kind of thing. But either way a divide existed.
It has become a very murky situation. There are so many issues to resolve. I think it is possible that the building will eventually be restored as part of an Uptown entertainment district. I also think it is possible that some sort of compromise project like the one you describe could come to pass. I just wish that something constructive would happen. It is desressing to watch the property decay year after year. Also, having a hulk of an unusable theater towering over the neighborhood certainly isn’t a positive force for development.
It would take at least half an hour, for God’s sake. I started reading it and didn’t find my answer. I thought one of you people in the know might write a couple of sentences to fill me in. Instead you wrote a couple of sentences giving me attitude.
That’s pretty weak.
I don’t have a clear idea of what happened here. Did they finish converting the theatre into another use, or is it still sitting there?
What a crazy situation.
The auditorium did seem large. You could have told me there were more than 960 seats in there and I would have believed it. I was inside in 1993 for a show when it was the Columbia College Dance Center. It seemed to be more or less intact at that point. Who knows what it is like now.
Really? I thought I donated an old catalog to them about ten years ago that had some photos of the lobby and auditorium when new. Maybe I didn’t, which would mean it is up in my parents' attic. I visit them every month or two and will try and remember to look next time.
I was just looking at your photos B. It looks to me, going by the alley views, that the second story of the auditorium might still exist above the first floor stores. Do you have any insight on the matter?
Looks like the condos might have been built next door. Or, I suppose, they might have decided to only build ½ condo towers due to market conditions.
In use since 1914. What a cool story!
Boy, they do everything except sell cigarettes out the stage door! They seem to be making a go of things, and that is great to see.
I stopped here the other night while travelling through the neighborhood. It still looks the same as it did the last time I saw it in the late 80’s. The only difference is that the lobby isn’t open anymore. In the late 80’s they were using the lobby for storage, and both high ceiling and original tile floor were visible. Now there is a drop ceiling and floor coverings for retail use. Hard to say what is left of the auditorium at this point. But the shell is definitely still there, albeit with a large rolling steel door punched in the side facing the alley.
I think you need to develop a thicker skin Fernando.
When you did that work on the building, you drew the attention of the preservation community. Now you are hearing our opinions.
Think of it as being like a new movie release. A movie comes out and journalists everywhere have opinions about how good or bad the movie is.
Volunteer labor is commendable, and I am glad the building was not demolished. But I think the work you carried out on the exterior exhibits extremely poor judgment. That is my opinion, and there is no reason I should have to apologize for it.
I don’t appreciate you trying to heap shame on us for voicing our displeasure.
What an ufortunate story.
I remember photographing this building in the 90’s when it looked to be a pretty bustling and well-maintained four screen complex.
These church jokers really messed up bad.
Mob connections?!?! What?!?!
Excellent photos of the Fox here:
View link
you could easily spend half an hour looking at them all.
It is, without a doubt, one of America’s magnificent buildings.
Any news on the Adams SNWEB?
Nice item B. That’s what Ronnie’s dining room looked like as well. Only:
1) Remove the fine light fixtures and replace them with plastic models
2) Remove the carpet and put in cheap tile floor
3) Get rid of the tables and linens and put in lunch room furniture
4) Turn the light level down by about half
5) Put an enclosed night club sort of VIP area at the top of the stairs in the rear
It sounds awful. But it was actually pretty cool in a seedy, 70’s, 42nd Street sort of way.
Randolph Street is definitely great today. But despite what some say, I don’t think it is better than it was in the 70’s and 80’s. I think it is just great in a different way now.
The related web site needs some help. Much of it does not work. I hope that does not mean bad things for this theatre. It looks like a great building.