Esquire Theatre

NEWS ITEMS:
Chicago Tribune, Tuesday, February 25, 1964, s. 1, p. 22, c. 2:
Tower Ticker, by Herb Lyon

“… . ‘Dr. Strangelove,’ the nightmarish flicker satire on the bomb, is doing positively explosive biz at the Esquire. All box office records are going up in a mushroom cloud … .”

Chicago American, Friday, August 8, 1958, p. 11, c. 4:
RECORD SET AT ESQUIRE
An attendance record was set when “The Matchmaker” had its Midwest premiere at the Esquire Theater. The film, boasting such stars as Shirley Booth, Anthony Perkins and Shirley MacLaine, played to sell-out crowds.

Yep, all times of day it can be seen on. Last night I had to go down Lake Shore Drive, and the vertical sign was on.

Every time I drive down Michigan Avenue they have the marquee turned on. Go figure…

That’s messed up. Just replace it with some more high-rise mumbo jumbo that Oak St’s got already.

When the ESQUIRE was still single-auditorium it had what must’ve been the steepest projection angle from booth down to screen that I’ve ever seen. Plus they were still operating w/ carbon arc lighting then—about the last to change-over to xenon I’d guess. The point I might be trying to make is the picture there was incomparable when SUPERMAN I, STAR TREK I, & CLOSE ENCOUNTERS first opened.

Around 1973 Mr. Linwood G. Dunn gave a neat special-effects reel presentation at the ESQUIRE. In early ‘70s they were also big on running the “stereo-phonic sound” version of FANTASIA, plus the un-cut original KING KONG.

http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=6155 has pictures of the Esquire on it. These pictures include those taken on the final days of operation. Notice how several lights on the still-impressive marquee are burnt-out. But there are also pictures of what the place looked like before plex-ing, including the auditorium. Did retail go in where the old auditorium was?

One can get a sense of what changed and what remained after the plex-ing. The contours of the old auditorium remained. So did the light fixtures in the lobby and the art-deco railings. The small cashier’s station (used on lighter days when the main, outdoor ones weren’t in use) View link and View link is approximately where the entrances to the ladies' and men’s lounges were View link

These are Brian Wolf’s photos and I am grateful that he posted photos of the original auditorium too because I never had the chance to visit this place when it was a single screener.

Purists may bemoan the plex-ing of this place and a lot was lost. But even as a six-plex, I liked the Esquire. It still had nice touches and there was nothing wrong with it that some renovations couldn’t have corrected.

As the band Living Colour once sang “Now you can tear a building down, but you can’t erase the memories.”

I have the bookings of the Esquire from 1963-1980 so I looked it up. The picture with “The Gambler” on the marquee would have been taken between 10/18 and 11/7, 1974.

Well, the Esquire wasn’t Cineplex until they merged with Loews/Sony in 1997. As a 6-plex, it was M&R/Loews and then Sony.

It’s a real shame that the monied of Chicago have no respect for the city’s great history as represented by its unique landmark buildings and retailers. If The Esquire were in Charleston, S.C. it would gladly have been saved. But then, I think this is just another aspect of a larger social phenomenon that looks only to the moment and the bottom line dollar.

Fabulous pictures Brian Wolf! Always wondered what the inside of the Esquire looked like. Can’t believe they are going to tear down this lovely theater! What a waste…what a shame. It looks like it would have made a terrific specialty cinema showing independent, foreign and art films. Too damn bad someone couldn’t have saved this. Oh well…that’s progress, but what a loss. I know what it’s like, having lost many wonderful theaters here in Toronto. Sometimes I just wish progress would go away…

Hey, CinemarkFan,

Don’t fool yourself. Since Mark Cuban bought Landmark Theatres, that company has no interest in preserving old theatres. In fact, they’ve put small, independent art houses out of business in Washington D.C. and Indianapolis. Furthermore, he’s focused on building a megaplex in L.A. and introducing a series of “rock'n'roll” theatres, where teenagers are encouraged to make noise and send text messages during the films.

This is to say nothing of his day-and-date movie releasing that threatens to put more theatres out of business.

More on this here: http://www.markcubanhasnoclothes.com

Brian, I do remember seeing you.
Funny, I went in at about 6:30 and asked about taking shots, and was told no. Having been nearly arrested for taking photos on other private property, I have learned to not push it too far. They must have been intimidated by my tripod and black semi-fancy camera (I wouldn’t have used the tripod inside, and I am not a professional). Your point and shoot may have felt harmless to them.

I am glad you did get the shots you did, and thanks for posting the early shots as well. Oh, and thanks for the compliment on my blog.

I didn’t note that specifically but I want to say it was brownish.