A Tribune article today about passing the Plan Commission includes this quote:
For the most recent plan, “the developer worked closely with us every step of the way,” Marilyn Miglin, a member of the Oak Street Council, told commissioners. Miglin said the new use is more appropriate for the high-priced retail corridor than the theater or a previous M Development plan for a boutique hotel, both of which lacked adequate parking.
Anybody here think parking was really an issue at the Esquire?
But it was unquestionably the same building.
Examine the Satellite Photos. Comparing to the Sanborn maps that showed the outlines of the building when it was the Jeff, the current building has the same exact footprint and is also single story. It has a clear-span roof that would be necessary for a theater but offer no advantages for offices. Unless someone tore it down and built the exact same thing in its place, it is the same.
This is getting off-topic, and probably better suited for the Century page, but the Phoenix was known as the Paradise Chicago after 1982, and was said to hold over 1500 dancers at 25,000 sq ft. Before the phoenix closed, it was Country & Western for a while. It had opened in 1975. Before that, it was Ski’s Lounge, Thumbs Up, and Poppy’s, and after the Paradise it closed from 1985-87, became the Phoenix again (ironically enough), Paramore, Chaplin’s Comedy Club (a 600 seat comedy club for about a month in 1991), and Noa Noa. The big room was a converted garage. In 1996 it was all torn down for the large retail and parking garage on the site; initially 16 General Cinemas screens were in this plan, but neighborhood opposition killed it.
Opened September 9, 1907. Closed Late 1936/Early 1937
The building may actually be still standing although heavily remodeled several times over
http://cinematreasures.org/news/19690_0_1_0_C/
Link does not work.
A Tribune article today about passing the Plan Commission includes this quote:
For the most recent plan, “the developer worked closely with us every step of the way,” Marilyn Miglin, a member of the Oak Street Council, told commissioners. Miglin said the new use is more appropriate for the high-priced retail corridor than the theater or a previous M Development plan for a boutique hotel, both of which lacked adequate parking.
Anybody here think parking was really an issue at the Esquire?
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View link A recent interior shot of the Studebaker is shown on a project website.
View link MSG apparently does have upgrades planned for the Chicago, including possibly moving the Radio City Christmas Show there.
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Here is a picture from the Lincoln Village. I assume it was a similar setup at Chestnut.
No, no great loss.
But it was unquestionably the same building.
Examine the Satellite Photos. Comparing to the Sanborn maps that showed the outlines of the building when it was the Jeff, the current building has the same exact footprint and is also single story. It has a clear-span roof that would be necessary for a theater but offer no advantages for offices. Unless someone tore it down and built the exact same thing in its place, it is the same.
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The Essex is listed as the Guild.
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This postcard shows what it looked like before remodelling
This is getting off-topic, and probably better suited for the Century page, but the Phoenix was known as the Paradise Chicago after 1982, and was said to hold over 1500 dancers at 25,000 sq ft. Before the phoenix closed, it was Country & Western for a while. It had opened in 1975. Before that, it was Ski’s Lounge, Thumbs Up, and Poppy’s, and after the Paradise it closed from 1985-87, became the Phoenix again (ironically enough), Paramore, Chaplin’s Comedy Club (a 600 seat comedy club for about a month in 1991), and Noa Noa. The big room was a converted garage. In 1996 it was all torn down for the large retail and parking garage on the site; initially 16 General Cinemas screens were in this plan, but neighborhood opposition killed it.
View link 1939
http://img326.imageshack.us/img326/4303/424vl.jpg Oak Street in the 70s
Actually given the billboard I suppose that would be 90s
View link 1980s
View link 1959
http://www.streetsandsoul.com/chicago/old34.jpg Not sure if this shot has been posted.
http://www.streetsandsoul.com/chicago/old17.jpg Here is an unusual 80s angle on the Woods.