This was the site of my one drive-in visit. I made the effort to go out here and see a movie about six years ago because I figured these places were on their way out. It was pretty cool. People backed up their minvans to the screen, pulled out lawn chairs, tuned the sound in on the radio, and had a picnic. In the distance there was bustling in and out of the seedy concession building while kids jumped around on play structures in front of the screen. The movie towered above us against the night sky, and it was of decent quality. Definitely one-of-a-kind environment in my experience.
Wow: It has gone downhill in the last five years. The last time I walked around in there quite a few stores were still around. Counting the days until their leases expired maybe.
I have had to drive by this place on a regular basis lately. In the 80’s & 90’s they lit up the veritcal sign. It blinked LOGAN off and on in pink neon. All the letters blinked off and on at the same time. It was well-maintained back then. The letters never flickered. Now they don’t turn it on anymore, although the marquee is still maintained. The chaser motor went out a couple of weeks ago and they paid to have it fixed.
I gave a small donation to this cause. I encourage the rest of you to do the same. We spend a lot of time in this forum discussing how things should be. The Senator situation is an opportunity for preservationists of all economic classes to help save one of the nation’s great cinema sites without putting forth much effort.
This place has one of the best sky effects I have seen in a restored movie house. Usually it seems the sky is cut at some point to allow for modern lighting. At least from the pictures I have seen, the ceiling in this place has not been altered.
I have heard that it is not the greatest sound-wise, although I have never been there myself. If that is true it doesn’t seem to keep the customers away.
Last I heard the Evanston Theatres were still standing, although somewhat neglected and supposedly headed for demolition. The Portage on Milwaukee Avenue was M&R for a number of years. So was the Oriental on Randolph Street.
Here is a fascinating photo set showing the theatre’s interior during the last years it stood empty. It was in far better shape than I would have ever guessed from looking at the outside:
My attitude up until this point has been that the building was put out of its misery. Now I wonder if something couldn’t have been done with that old auditorium.
Rapp & Rapp did indeed conduct the 1942 renovation. Keep in mind that this was a time of war. They had to ask the Federal Government for permission to move forward. Permission was granted due to the fact that a large amount of steel was removed and replaced with a heavy wooden structure of some kind.
It was a dump in the 80’s & 90’s. They put up that 400 Twin sign and seemed to start twinning the place. Then all work stopped. But they continued to operate in a state of shambles.
Note that these photos may not be reproduced without permission of their owner.
I think they just built a new performing arts facility unfortunately. I would certainly rather have the theatre serve as as a student center, along the same lines as the gym, than have it demolished.
I’ve heard the guy put equity from his home into the project. That is certainly a high level of dedication.
It seems clear to me that something needs to change about this situation, otherwise the Senator will end up in trouble again.
I am not sure it is a sign of any current attitudes. They have done this jazz showcase before:
View link
View link
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=3976
This was the site of my one drive-in visit. I made the effort to go out here and see a movie about six years ago because I figured these places were on their way out. It was pretty cool. People backed up their minvans to the screen, pulled out lawn chairs, tuned the sound in on the radio, and had a picnic. In the distance there was bustling in and out of the seedy concession building while kids jumped around on play structures in front of the screen. The movie towered above us against the night sky, and it was of decent quality. Definitely one-of-a-kind environment in my experience.
That is the dumbest thing I have ever read.
How many people from Lombard does it take to screw in a light bulb?
Wow: It has gone downhill in the last five years. The last time I walked around in there quite a few stores were still around. Counting the days until their leases expired maybe.
I have had to drive by this place on a regular basis lately. In the 80’s & 90’s they lit up the veritcal sign. It blinked LOGAN off and on in pink neon. All the letters blinked off and on at the same time. It was well-maintained back then. The letters never flickered. Now they don’t turn it on anymore, although the marquee is still maintained. The chaser motor went out a couple of weeks ago and they paid to have it fixed.
Those are great photos. The building is not in terrible shape: certainly no worse than many others that have been restored.
Well stated, Luis. Your posting pretty well sums up my attitude on the situation.
I gave a small donation to this cause. I encourage the rest of you to do the same. We spend a lot of time in this forum discussing how things should be. The Senator situation is an opportunity for preservationists of all economic classes to help save one of the nation’s great cinema sites without putting forth much effort.
This place has one of the best sky effects I have seen in a restored movie house. Usually it seems the sky is cut at some point to allow for modern lighting. At least from the pictures I have seen, the ceiling in this place has not been altered.
I have always heard this was a later Rapp & Rapp design.
View link
Man, I haven’t heard about this place in years. Figured it was long gone by now.
Those are obviously pre-restoration photos. The place looks like it was a time capsule, with the exception of some dirt on the walls.
Quite a photo collection. Thank you for sharing.
I have heard that it is not the greatest sound-wise, although I have never been there myself. If that is true it doesn’t seem to keep the customers away.
Last I heard the Evanston Theatres were still standing, although somewhat neglected and supposedly headed for demolition. The Portage on Milwaukee Avenue was M&R for a number of years. So was the Oriental on Randolph Street.
Here is a fascinating photo set showing the theatre’s interior during the last years it stood empty. It was in far better shape than I would have ever guessed from looking at the outside:
http://www.mekong.net/random/theatres.htm
My attitude up until this point has been that the building was put out of its misery. Now I wonder if something couldn’t have been done with that old auditorium.
I had not realized that the theatre’s attorney was working pro-bono, nor had I realized that the tried and true defamation card had been thrown down:
View link
Dig this excellent photo set:
http://www.mekong.net/random/theatres.htm
Note the obligatory swastika spray-painted on the wall of the abandoned lobby.
Interesting photo. Houses all around apparently. I guess it was a neighborhood theatre in the truest sense of the word.
Rapp & Rapp did indeed conduct the 1942 renovation. Keep in mind that this was a time of war. They had to ask the Federal Government for permission to move forward. Permission was granted due to the fact that a large amount of steel was removed and replaced with a heavy wooden structure of some kind.
A great photo gallery of the Sheridan can be seen here:
http://www.mekong.net/random/cinema7.htm
It loomed over what was otherwise a pretty low-rise neighborhood for years and years.
Please note that these photos cannot be reproduced without permission of the owner.
This is one theatre that Village seems to have improved. See photos of the theatre the way I remember it in this gallery:
http://www.mekong.net/random/cinema6.htm
It was a dump in the 80’s & 90’s. They put up that 400 Twin sign and seemed to start twinning the place. Then all work stopped. But they continued to operate in a state of shambles.
Note that these photos may not be reproduced without permission of their owner.
A fantastic photo gallery from a former Adelphi employee:
http://www.mekong.net/random/cinema4a.htm
The 1989 photo of the auditorium reflects the theatre I knew. Hard to believe it was once very ornate.
Note that these photos cannot be reproduced without permission of the owner.
I think they just built a new performing arts facility unfortunately. I would certainly rather have the theatre serve as as a student center, along the same lines as the gym, than have it demolished.
That is a sweet photo gallery Cam. Really first rate.
This is brilliant marketing. I personally think that it would really help the film exhibition business to do more things like this.