The Aladdin page info should have been merged here then deleted.
The Shidle Lodge Masonic Hall uses 417 as it’s address.
Because it is a hallway entrance to the right.
The two retail spaces, State Farm Insurance and Crooked Creek Distillery use 415 as their addresses, so that should be correct.
Even though the Masonic Hall likely uses more of the former theatre space.
Address still needs updating to 7180 Manchester Avenue, not 7170.
Current street view confirms such.
The former entrance is today a gated tunnel, but no driveway to such.
I notified the Double Door with proof it ran films in 1915 and 1916.
Below is a print ad for the latter from the Gallery page.
Tim O'Neill can probably find more on a further search.
Per the Overview: “Today a Hobby Lobby and Lawton Mall occupy the property.” Which is still the case.
The later SW 11th St & Coombs Road location appears to still be vacant.
With what could be faint remains of the drive-in property per the March 2024 Google Street View.
Sometimes this site is really slow.
I’ve in the past had to convert photos from JPEG to PNG or back again to get them to post.
To get CT to read them differently or something.
Address appears to be 110 N. Second Street, which is US-522.
Building is still standing to the right of an F&M Trust drive thru facility.
July 1946 print ad added to gallery.
CinemaTour indicates it originally opened in 1938 on Main Street.
Did a Google street view and there are multiple buildings in which it could have been located.
Additional history and photo added credit The Windsor Star.
“A fire believed to have started from faulty wiring in the switch room destroyed the drive-in theatre. Estimate loss of $50,000 (about $515,000 in 2023 dollars).
The image shows the living quarters on fire below the theatres screen (back of) which also burned down. Three children and 2 adult parents (father was the projectionist) lived in the dwelling but were all safe. It was owned by John Dydzak for 11 years at that time. He lived next door to the drive-in.
It took 3 hours to extinguish the fire as Firefighters were hampered by water problems, experiencing freezing fire hose lines with minus -4 Celsius (28.4 Fahrenheit) weather that morning.
The theatre was covered by insurance and re-opened that spring.”
No announcement or schedule as of yet on their official website or Facebook page below.
I have reached out to them for confirmation.
Nothing in the news since a grant they received in mid June.
All links below.
This is the last paragraph.
Do they have the time line wrong?
I now remember seeing “Xanadu” the stage play there in 2007.
In the round, or half round maybe…
“In May of 2005, the former 5-7 screens of the movie house on Chestnut Street were reopened after a conversion into a single auditorium seating 549 as the Drury Lane Water Tower Theatre. Like the other Drury Lane Theatre in suburban Oakbrook Terrace, the theatre will present live musical theatre. In September 2010 it was renamed Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and is operated by Broadway in Chicago.”
Follies Theater in 1966 at the 0:54 mark in the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIqz4cLuD50
Rialto Theatre facade in 1966 at the 1:40 mark in the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIqz4cLuD50
Closed Sunday August 17, 2008. Trib Live article below with chronological ownership.
https://archive.triblive.com/news/norwin-cinemas-to-end-28-year-run/
The Aladdin page info should have been merged here then deleted. The Shidle Lodge Masonic Hall uses 417 as it’s address. Because it is a hallway entrance to the right. The two retail spaces, State Farm Insurance and Crooked Creek Distillery use 415 as their addresses, so that should be correct. Even though the Masonic Hall likely uses more of the former theatre space.
Facebook post credit Steven Gregory Cearley who recently saved the neon letters.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10223869173630852&set=gm.3479521619007129&idorvanity=1418370278455617
Full size version in Facebook link below.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=415296434966705&set=pb.100094590540986.-2207520000&type=3
Address still needs updating to 7180 Manchester Avenue, not 7170. Current street view confirms such. The former entrance is today a gated tunnel, but no driveway to such.
Here is a B&W version of the above photo.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=8647011198711335&set=gm.8063199013781390&idorvanity=583025058465527
Photo credit Chicago Public Library, Sulzer Regional Library.
City suing over needed immediate repairs.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/10/28/historic-portage-theater-deteriorating-as-city-pushes-owner-to-make-urgent-repairs-were-sick-of-this/
I notified the Double Door with proof it ran films in 1915 and 1916. Below is a print ad for the latter from the Gallery page. Tim O'Neill can probably find more on a further search.
https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/16568/photos/430040?fbclid=IwY2xjawGIegFleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHQPKlZDyFFx5WhgGA9wKOTvSkv1IfsIpwFy4mHly0U5GHt4VgTSlqh7l9g_aem_6hd3-QBivgnO5crINPhpbA
Per the Overview: “Today a Hobby Lobby and Lawton Mall occupy the property.” Which is still the case. The later SW 11th St & Coombs Road location appears to still be vacant. With what could be faint remains of the drive-in property per the March 2024 Google Street View.
Correct. Demolished in March 2023. I posted this link with demolition story and photos that November..
https://wgrd.com/demolition-of-the-legendary-orbit-room-in-grand-rapids-has-begun/
Updated website for The Ritz below. (original link not working above)
https://www.theritztheater.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFg-p1leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHW57GR6lhJFgUNeCSLGeMU6ZJdEGepGYZZXDQylAY_o__aKBXG0salpNYQ_aem_e6rZsFsGYKW8AxUzxMZvbQ
Update: 06/26/63 photo credit John Chuckman Collection. “Cleopatra” ran 06/26/63-02/04/64.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/chuckmans-collection-chicago-postcards-volume-16-photo-chicago-state-lake-theater-state-and-lake-ni–509399407827748539/
“The Side Show of Life” was released 7/21/24.
It is still Fellowship Bible Church today. Marquee appears restored since the 2010 photo.
Sometimes this site is really slow. I’ve in the past had to convert photos from JPEG to PNG or back again to get them to post. To get CT to read them differently or something.
Address appears to be 110 N. Second Street, which is US-522. Building is still standing to the right of an F&M Trust drive thru facility. July 1946 print ad added to gallery.
Per Double Door owners tonight: “Not yet! But soon.”
CinemaTour indicates it originally opened in 1938 on Main Street. Did a Google street view and there are multiple buildings in which it could have been located.
Photo taken January 3, 1978.
The Follies burned down the next day.
Additional history and photo added credit The Windsor Star.
“A fire believed to have started from faulty wiring in the switch room destroyed the drive-in theatre. Estimate loss of $50,000 (about $515,000 in 2023 dollars). The image shows the living quarters on fire below the theatres screen (back of) which also burned down. Three children and 2 adult parents (father was the projectionist) lived in the dwelling but were all safe. It was owned by John Dydzak for 11 years at that time. He lived next door to the drive-in. It took 3 hours to extinguish the fire as Firefighters were hampered by water problems, experiencing freezing fire hose lines with minus -4 Celsius (28.4 Fahrenheit) weather that morning. The theatre was covered by insurance and re-opened that spring.”
No announcement or schedule as of yet on their official website or Facebook page below. I have reached out to them for confirmation. Nothing in the news since a grant they received in mid June. All links below.
https://www.doubledoor.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0f31MMKG75VrgQm8Tyea3938h95GXZohe0VNa6XfCwNVDmFRuX-_kf4SA_aem_B-mMnyL-Mv4PCnIrfCZ0iw
https://www.facebook.com/DoubleDoorChi
https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/06/17/double-door-theater-restoration-in-uptown-gets-5-million-city-grant/
This is the last paragraph. Do they have the time line wrong? I now remember seeing “Xanadu” the stage play there in 2007. In the round, or half round maybe…
“In May of 2005, the former 5-7 screens of the movie house on Chestnut Street were reopened after a conversion into a single auditorium seating 549 as the Drury Lane Water Tower Theatre. Like the other Drury Lane Theatre in suburban Oakbrook Terrace, the theatre will present live musical theatre. In September 2010 it was renamed Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and is operated by Broadway in Chicago.”