Great photos. I saw the site was unsecured during demolition but never tried going in, and I’ve always regretted it. Thanks for getting the photos I couldn’t. Now if only I’d gotten a better souvenir fragment than a piece of zigzag foil wallpaper.
The famous local store Abt Electronics had its start in the corner store here from 1936 to the mid 70s. Perhaps a little ironic – it started as a theater, and now Abt is one of the leading home theatre companies.
Interestingly, a 1927 issue of Exhibitor’s Herald announcing the Oriental and Senate(?) theatre projects in Milwaukee names Gurda & Gurda as the architectural firm. Anyone know what the story is there?
Curiously, only a month after the architects were announced as Rissman & Hirschfeld, another article came out with the probable actual identity of the architects, William P. Whitney with the R. Levine Co. The building’s description of program remained exactly the same. This includes a rendering which matches the building as built, and is similar to Whitney’s other works, the Symphony on Chicago avenue (announced a month later and as similar to the Lawndale as the Marbro was to the Granada) and the Montclare on Grand. Some of its features included concealed lighting inside and out, four stores, 12 apartments, bowling, billiards, a “living room” (whatever that means) and various other unspecified novel features. The “million dollar theater” opened at 5:30 pm October 19, 1927 with “Girl from Rio”. On the stage was “Rags Rubin, the syncopation king and his band; Coaster & Rich (International Dance Team); May and June (Radio’s Melody Stars); and the sparkling and colorful Feliz Ballet.”
It opened November 24 1995, so Goodfellas and Total Recall are out. It might’ve played the others but it was family-focused second run, so I would think it unlikely. It was at first planned as a 4-screen discount second run operated by the Pickwick management. This was supposed to be at the north end of the mall, in a free standing building. The Town Center was envisioned as a sort of downtown for the community when first built in the late 80s, but as it failed to take off, redevelopment was necessary. With the town stepping in, they forced the addition of the theater to raise bonds. The project then passed to Mark Stern of Chicago Area Theaters, the same Stern family with a long history of theaters in Chicago, most notably the Wilmette, Cinema, Devon, and Three Penny. Architect was Barry Weinstein. It shared some interior accents with Marche restaurant in chicago, such as “free-form metal accents in several places. Among the most obvious are the numbers that identify each of the five theaters inside the multi-screen complex.” created by Jerry Kleiner. It also featured handpainted walls and designated rows for birthday parties.
I called the Village showtimes line and it said that the following films are playing – Bee Movie 4:55 7:00 9:05, Beowulf 4:30 7:05 9:40, 30 Days of Night 5:10 7:35 10:05 Om Shanti Om (2 screens) 5:30 6:45 9:00 10:00 Bell (Tamil) 6:30 9:45 . So either they’re going to run mixed Eng/Ind with Village management remaining, or Village has bookings it still needs to run out. It will be interesting to see how this impacts the Des Plaines Theater. Funasia also seems to be running some shows at the Lincoln Village – perhaps they are intervening and that’s why it hasn’t closed yet?
It was renamed the (New) Dale when it reopened November 20, 1936. It adopted a western policy under H&E Balaban in 1949 as the Round Up, like the Julian. By 1957 it had become a furniture store. A photo of it just after becoming the Dale is posted at http://www.chicagotheatrehistory.com/
I should point out that the change from Lawndale to Rena coincided with the rapid shift in population from Jewish to Black in the 1950s white flight. I’m not so sure it was ever the Arena; it may have just been sloppy reporting.
It appears that it may have become the (New) Rena in 1955, and remained open through its conversion to the church in 1964, which came shortly after an unruly patron was shot by the assistant manager. In this time, it featured not only movies but live performances by such artists as Count Basie, Dina Washington, and Sonny Boy Williamson on weekends.
I think EP Rupert’s plan was actually scuttled. That article was older and mentioned a 6-story building in conjunction when it was actually built with 3. A later announcement in 1926 names Rissman & Hirschfeld, which probably were the actual architects. Incidentally a 1923 article also shows an even earlier plane by Crane and Franzheim; there must have been a lot of difficulty getting this project going. Also, it was the Arena, not Rena. The theater closed in the early to mid 50s and the church moved in in 1964. Here is a HAARGIS profile.
Still standing. Built 1910, architect F.W. Fischer.it is the slightly lower part of the brick and terra cotta building on the corner, next to the frame storefront church. It appears to have served as a storefront church itself as it is marked by a glass-block cross.
Architect was David Saul Klafter.
More are Here
Great photos. I saw the site was unsecured during demolition but never tried going in, and I’ve always regretted it. Thanks for getting the photos I couldn’t. Now if only I’d gotten a better souvenir fragment than a piece of zigzag foil wallpaper.
The famous local store Abt Electronics had its start in the corner store here from 1936 to the mid 70s. Perhaps a little ironic – it started as a theater, and now Abt is one of the leading home theatre companies.
See /theaters/4467/
Interestingly, a 1927 issue of Exhibitor’s Herald announcing the Oriental and Senate(?) theatre projects in Milwaukee names Gurda & Gurda as the architectural firm. Anyone know what the story is there?
Curiously, only a month after the architects were announced as Rissman & Hirschfeld, another article came out with the probable actual identity of the architects, William P. Whitney with the R. Levine Co. The building’s description of program remained exactly the same. This includes a rendering which matches the building as built, and is similar to Whitney’s other works, the Symphony on Chicago avenue (announced a month later and as similar to the Lawndale as the Marbro was to the Granada) and the Montclare on Grand. Some of its features included concealed lighting inside and out, four stores, 12 apartments, bowling, billiards, a “living room” (whatever that means) and various other unspecified novel features. The “million dollar theater” opened at 5:30 pm October 19, 1927 with “Girl from Rio”. On the stage was “Rags Rubin, the syncopation king and his band; Coaster & Rich (International Dance Team); May and June (Radio’s Melody Stars); and the sparkling and colorful Feliz Ballet.”
It opened November 24 1995, so Goodfellas and Total Recall are out. It might’ve played the others but it was family-focused second run, so I would think it unlikely. It was at first planned as a 4-screen discount second run operated by the Pickwick management. This was supposed to be at the north end of the mall, in a free standing building. The Town Center was envisioned as a sort of downtown for the community when first built in the late 80s, but as it failed to take off, redevelopment was necessary. With the town stepping in, they forced the addition of the theater to raise bonds. The project then passed to Mark Stern of Chicago Area Theaters, the same Stern family with a long history of theaters in Chicago, most notably the Wilmette, Cinema, Devon, and Three Penny. Architect was Barry Weinstein. It shared some interior accents with Marche restaurant in chicago, such as “free-form metal accents in several places. Among the most obvious are the numbers that identify each of the five theaters inside the multi-screen complex.” created by Jerry Kleiner. It also featured handpainted walls and designated rows for birthday parties.
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I called the Village showtimes line and it said that the following films are playing – Bee Movie 4:55 7:00 9:05, Beowulf 4:30 7:05 9:40, 30 Days of Night 5:10 7:35 10:05 Om Shanti Om (2 screens) 5:30 6:45 9:00 10:00 Bell (Tamil) 6:30 9:45 . So either they’re going to run mixed Eng/Ind with Village management remaining, or Village has bookings it still needs to run out. It will be interesting to see how this impacts the Des Plaines Theater. Funasia also seems to be running some shows at the Lincoln Village – perhaps they are intervening and that’s why it hasn’t closed yet?
It was renamed the (New) Dale when it reopened November 20, 1936. It adopted a western policy under H&E Balaban in 1949 as the Round Up, like the Julian. By 1957 it had become a furniture store. A photo of it just after becoming the Dale is posted at http://www.chicagotheatrehistory.com/
Zacatecas restaurant remains open, but the building is now up for sale.
I’d assume so, but at that point the whole marquee probably has to come off, and that gets ideas in people’s heads…
Well, that doesn’t bode well.
I should point out that the change from Lawndale to Rena coincided with the rapid shift in population from Jewish to Black in the 1950s white flight. I’m not so sure it was ever the Arena; it may have just been sloppy reporting.
An ad for one such performance is at http://hubcap.clemson.edu/~campber/drexel.html
It appears that it may have become the (New) Rena in 1955, and remained open through its conversion to the church in 1964, which came shortly after an unruly patron was shot by the assistant manager. In this time, it featured not only movies but live performances by such artists as Count Basie, Dina Washington, and Sonny Boy Williamson on weekends.
Much improved!
This should show as open
Here is a recent shot of the facade
Actually, now I do see some evidence that it was also the Rena. Maybe new management took the ‘A’ off.
I think EP Rupert’s plan was actually scuttled. That article was older and mentioned a 6-story building in conjunction when it was actually built with 3. A later announcement in 1926 names Rissman & Hirschfeld, which probably were the actual architects. Incidentally a 1923 article also shows an even earlier plane by Crane and Franzheim; there must have been a lot of difficulty getting this project going. Also, it was the Arena, not Rena. The theater closed in the early to mid 50s and the church moved in in 1964. Here is a HAARGIS profile.
It has since been demolished
The correct address is 624 W 31st, corner Lowe. It is currently a salon.
Still standing. Built 1910, architect F.W. Fischer.it is the slightly lower part of the brick and terra cotta building on the corner, next to the frame storefront church. It appears to have served as a storefront church itself as it is marked by a glass-block cross.
It is still standing.