Granada Theatre

A question for thoose of you that know or remember.

Did any of the Chicago theatres have the fabulous stage machinery that Radio City Music Hall has and the the Roxy and the Center Theater had?

The February 5th edition of the Chicago Reader was titled The Rogers Park & West Ridge Issue. It included a column titled The Savages Of Time, which was accompanied by 3 pictures of the Granada Theater. The author dedicated a few paragraphs to his memories of the Granada. Albeit climbing onto it’s roof.

A slight correction to the column, the neighboring bar was called Huey’s. Not Baby Huey’s.

My father owned the popcorn and candy store next to the Granada in the late 20’s and early 30’s, before I was born. He then began to make his own popcorn machines and established the Kripy Kist Korn Machine Co. at 120 so. Halsted in 1933, eventually renamed Krispy Kist Co. manufacturing all sorts of machines for the snack food industry.

His strongest wish was that all popcorn be cooked on a gas popper without oil and that “pure creamery butter” be used as the flavoring. His company was very involved in the snack food industry in the post WWII period up until it was sold about 10 years ago.

Caramelcorn was his specialty and I still make the original recipe for the holiday season. The Karamelcorn stores in downtown Chicago were users of our machines as well as a competitor’s machines.

If anyone remembers his original store or has any further info, I’d appreciate hearing from you.

Richard Jacobson,
Granada Hills, Ca. (I just realized the coincidence of where I live)

I grew up in Rogers Park. Going to the movies on Saturdays was a favorite pass time during the early to late 60’s. Admission was 25cents, pop corn – 15cents….double features were the norm. Took many a date there during high school. I even remember it before the apartment building on the corner to it’s south was built.

Eventually the Granada closed as a movie palace and live shows moved in.

In late 1981 we used the interior as a location for a short sales film. We used the dressing rooms downstairs, backstage and the stage. It was a dream come true for me as I was able to see behind the scenes of one of my favorite theaters from my childhood. So sad to see it go to the ash heap of history.

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.

Hello, I was one of those who let themselves in during the late 80’s. A friend and I had ##### the Laser security systems in place and for about 8 months or so, had the greatest club-house on the North-side. The Theatre was amazing and seemed in very good shape at the time. I dont want to get into too much detail but our small group of friends really did care about the Theatre and it was only after letting a certain girl in did things take a turn, for she had showed and told friends who were gang members how to get in! Needless to say they ransacked the place destroying and spray painting every thing in sight. We were distraught, we did the only thing we thought we could do at 15… We, on the main floor pulled a couple display cases together and lit them up. We wanted the police, fire, etc there to close everything down and stop the Gang from returning. Not sure how effective it was tho, we walked up devon ave. watching the fire trucks go by and never returned. I still have the Zippo to this day.

Despite the graffiti The Granada could have been saved. The damage wasn’t as bad as I thought even then. So any who would say otherwise is just looking for excuses.

-Lev1

Hi Geo, good to have you back! As I posted above, I grew up attending The Valencia and I’ve attended films in the newly restored Jersey. I still haven’t been to The Paradise and The Loews 175th St (though still technically a church) is very much one of New York’s premier concert facilities. The one black eye has been the sad state of Loew’s Kings in Brooklyn. However, a lot is going on behind the scenes there and I would ask you to go to the Kings CT page to see my post there about today’s tour of the theater for developers interested in restoring the city! I was there and it was exciting to finally see some real movement on restoring one of the nation’s most beautiful and opulent palaces ever constructed!

Thanks BWChicago :)
I guess that was from the original GoogleEarth huh? :)
Evanstone Ave? Which was Evanstone? The curved street just off the motorway?

That is the first picture I have ever seen of the original vertical sign from the north. As fantastic as it must have been, I can’t help but notice how much it blocks the facade from view. The Granada’s facade is the definitely the greatest example of terra cotta workmanship I have ever seen firsthand.

Thanks. I downloaded the program, let me see if I can make it work.

The San Francisco Fox is also one of the greatest movie palaces ever built. The Paramount in Oakland is also an Art Deco masterpiece.brucec

Hello LuisV,

I take it you were aiming that at me since I made the comparisons of the three. I believe the words I used above were ‘more elaborate’…in which case both the Roxy and Uptown ARE more elaborate than Radio City. But then again both the Roxy and Uptown are more elaborate styles. Going by Genre now, yes, Radio City it at it’s very best in reference to the Art Deco style…which is plainer than the styles of the other two theatres. You simply must see interior pictures of the Uptown to understand what I am referring to.
I am NOT saying that Radio City isn’t a beautiful theatre. But if you do try to compare it to the Roxy or Uptown in terms of how elaborate the decor is…there is no comparison. Radio City has and always will be a favorite theatre of mine. So will the others, even though I never been to them. If you are from the NYC neck of the woods, the recently restored Loews Paradise in the Bronx is a definite must see.

JG