I highly doubt there was a James Brown concert at the McVickers Theatre. By 1983/1984, the McVickers was showing mostly kung fu movies. I don’t ever recall hearing about a concert there at the time.
Somebody wrote to me and told me that the Germania Theatre might have opened on June 24, 1916; although he said that is unconfirmed. Does anyone out there know an exact date of the Germania’s opening? I can’t find any ads in the June 24, 1916 Tribune.
It turns out the United Artists was still in operation as of February, 1988. Here’s a newspaper ad from February 26, 1988. Cineplex Odeon pulled out of there , I believe, in late 1987 and Henry Plitt took it back briefly, if I’m not mistaken.
The Water Tower 1-4 closed in May, 2000. The Water Tower 5-7 closed in November, 2000. Village Entertainment re-opened the 5-7 theatres in August, 2002. Closed one year later.
I wanted to correct something in the “previous operator” section of this overview. Cineplex Odeon never operated the Webster Place Theatres. In order, since 1988: M&R Amusement Companies; M&R Loews; Loews; Sony; Loews Cineplex; AMC Loews; Kerasotes; Regal.
Kenneth Kwilinski; Do you know if this theatre projects the silent films in 16mm or digital projection? I went to this theatre in 1976 and I’m quite certain it was 16mm back then. I have a feeling it’s digital today. Do you know how silent movies are projected in this little theatre?
Main auditorium: 2 Century JJs (35mm/70mm). NEC digital projector. 16mm Eastman projector. Small auditorium (Theatre 2): Barco digital projector. Two 35mm projectors recently installed. I don’t know what kind; I will try to find that out and post info later.
Bravo!!! One thing I noticed; you mention the small theatre was renamed the Fine Arts in 1908 and then you mention that the small theatre was renamed the Fine Arts in 1912. Is this an error in naming of the smaller theater?
We’re not not “bitching” about bad writing; we’re mentioning the fact that the description has way too many historical inaccuracies. For an excellent piece of writing on the history of the Fine Arts Theatres, and other Downtown Chicago movie houses, pick up a copy of “Downtown Chicago’s Historic Movie Theatres”, by Konrad Schiecke. I couldn’t have written it better myself.
Theatre 9 has 107 seats. Theatre 10 has 95 seats.
I’m writing this on September 13, 2016. Today is the 35th Anniversary of the closing of the Cinema Theatre.
Hey, Barry. Check out the photo section. I just posted a photo of the auditorium.
Chicago Tribune photo.
Chicago Tribune photo.
I highly doubt there was a James Brown concert at the McVickers Theatre. By 1983/1984, the McVickers was showing mostly kung fu movies. I don’t ever recall hearing about a concert there at the time.
Somebody wrote to me and told me that the Germania Theatre might have opened on June 24, 1916; although he said that is unconfirmed. Does anyone out there know an exact date of the Germania’s opening? I can’t find any ads in the June 24, 1916 Tribune.
GONE WITH THE WIND premiered simultaneously at the Woods and Oriental Theatres. Maybe GWTW played at the Esquire later in 1940; I’m not sure.
February or March, 1944.
I believe the actual closing date was Sunday, January 4, 1981.
STRAIGHT TIME is on TCM tonight. 12:30 a.m. central time. 1:30 a.m. eastern time.
October, 1981.
You’re right, David. Maybe the building was completed in late 1917 but the theatre took a little longer to complete in early 1918.
Paul Fortini: Brotman & Sherman operated the original LV; which would later get triplexed by Essaness Theatres. The LV 1-6 was build by CO.
https://youtu.be/hDoRf3VQ0zY
A 1984 article with some inaccuracies.
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1984/10/24/page/112/article/community-news
It turns out the United Artists was still in operation as of February, 1988. Here’s a newspaper ad from February 26, 1988. Cineplex Odeon pulled out of there , I believe, in late 1987 and Henry Plitt took it back briefly, if I’m not mistaken.
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1988/02/26/page/123/article/display-ad-112-no-title
The Water Tower 1-4 closed in May, 2000. The Water Tower 5-7 closed in November, 2000. Village Entertainment re-opened the 5-7 theatres in August, 2002. Closed one year later.
I wanted to correct something in the “previous operator” section of this overview. Cineplex Odeon never operated the Webster Place Theatres. In order, since 1988: M&R Amusement Companies; M&R Loews; Loews; Sony; Loews Cineplex; AMC Loews; Kerasotes; Regal.
Webster Place Theatres now have recliner seats. See photo in photo section.
I did a little newspaper research. The Capitol Theatre closed in 1974.
Kenneth Kwilinski; Do you know if this theatre projects the silent films in 16mm or digital projection? I went to this theatre in 1976 and I’m quite certain it was 16mm back then. I have a feeling it’s digital today. Do you know how silent movies are projected in this little theatre?
Main auditorium: 2 Century JJs (35mm/70mm). NEC digital projector. 16mm Eastman projector. Small auditorium (Theatre 2): Barco digital projector. Two 35mm projectors recently installed. I don’t know what kind; I will try to find that out and post info later.
Bravo!!! One thing I noticed; you mention the small theatre was renamed the Fine Arts in 1908 and then you mention that the small theatre was renamed the Fine Arts in 1912. Is this an error in naming of the smaller theater?
We’re not not “bitching” about bad writing; we’re mentioning the fact that the description has way too many historical inaccuracies. For an excellent piece of writing on the history of the Fine Arts Theatres, and other Downtown Chicago movie houses, pick up a copy of “Downtown Chicago’s Historic Movie Theatres”, by Konrad Schiecke. I couldn’t have written it better myself.