“It will take music promoters, producers, actors, musicians, theatre historians, preservationists, architects, construction estimators, professional theatre consultants, REAL developers with REAL money, dreamers, workers, finance people, grass roots groups and the politicos to save this theatre”
I don’t see scam artists in that list Paul. You have serious balls to continue posting here after you were run out of the Uptown Theatre under a cloud of controversy.
The REAL question is:
WHEN did they start allowing PRISON INMATES to use the INTERNET?
I have always wondered what made the Roosevelt go so early. I don’t think any other vintage buildings on that block went down until everything got leveled during the 90’s. The larger State-Lake and Chicago Theatres continued to operate for a few more years after this (in the same theatre chain as the Roosevelt), which is counter-intuitive.
The sad thing about this place is that even at the end, when it had been open to the winds for a long time, it wasn’t in terrible shape. I was given a couple of different opportunities to visit the builidng during it’s last years. I can’t understand why they couldn’t have at least saved the front of the building and tacked it onto that condo tower. it was a work of art (and I don’t throw terms like that around lightly).
I photographed this place in the early 90’s. At the time there was retail in the lobby, although no current tenant. Building appeared to be in good shape. It’s a shame they couldn’t have at least saved the shell.
I think that she would be getting some P.R. value out of it if there was a charity involved. She knows that she can charge that much and get away with it.
Check out this link to see what I am talking about with respect to the auditorium damage:
Kings interior photos are pretty close to the bottom. The PlanetPLG photo zooms in on the one area at the back left of the shot you will see looking out from the stage. Most of the theatre looks musty, dusty, and in need of attention…but not devastated like the area in that closeup. I heard somewhere that the roof was repaired some years ago too. So that damage to the sidewall could very well predate the repair.
Well, in all fairness I think that is a close-up of the one most severely damaged area of the theatre (based on other photos I have seen). I don’t think the entire building is in that bad of shape.
If you had told me that the Jersey would be renovated by volunteers and bring in half-decent crowds showing classic movies, I would have said you were crazy.
If you had told me someone would spend the money to restore the Bronx Paradise and end up packing in nice crowds with ethnically-flavored events, I would have said you were crazy.
I think this place can serve a useful purpose again. I am not sure exactly what that purpose is. But my skepticism has certainly been challenged!
Theatre Historical Society of America
York Theatre Building
152 North York, 2nd floor
Elmhurst, Illinois 60126-2806
Telephone (630) 782-1800
Fax (630) 782-1802
e-mail:
I am sure they must have material on the Rockne, which you can purchase copies of for a small fee. I think Richard Sklenar still runs the archives: a very cool and knowledgable person.
It’s kind of a bummer the way they altered it. But it looks like the building is getting good use, and many decorative elements remain. All in all not a bad situation.
I’m with you Brian…I like the old marquee better. The red and white color scheme fit better with the building, and that corny “W” on the front had been a staple of Downtown Wilmette my entire life.
All that being said, I am glad it is still with us. It’s pretty cool to think about how many generations of North Shore resident have gone to the movies there.
I was back at the gym again last night. The Keresotas employees look pretty lame compared to the AMC staff(based on how they were dressed). The Loews signs have been torn down and not replaced. So there are ugly black marks on the bulding. The electrical signs in the box office aren’t working. So they had Microsoft Word printouts displaying all the show times hanging from the eletrical signs.
I’ll admit that they may need more time to get settled. But my first impression is that they wandered into the big city from the corn fields and bought a cinema. Hope they don’t wreck the Webster Place. I’ve always liked it.
The memory I have of the Pilgrim involves someone trying to sell me reefer under the marquee during the early 90’s. The theatre was showing porn that day and looked somewhat run down.
No: but I agree. I was there some years ago to see a show. It looked OK. But when you compare how it looked then with the post-renovation photos it was pretty bad!
I was just at the Bally Total Fitness next door tonight. They appear to be cleaning and stocking the place. Staff members are outside telling the customers that the theatre will reopen tomorrow.
That’s cool. No problem Jim. I haven’t listed an email address on purpose. From time to time I get into it with people who I think are trying to use and abuse the preservation community, like Paul Warshauer. I don’t need messages from guys like that.
550!! That’s a decent crowd! What do they charge, 5 bucks or something? That’s not bad at all! I’m very excited to hear this. Honestly, I have been a skeptic of this classic movie thing. But maybe it works!
Leave Mary Brush alone. I will not be pleased with you, my little friend, if I find out that you have bilked her.
“It will take music promoters, producers, actors, musicians, theatre historians, preservationists, architects, construction estimators, professional theatre consultants, REAL developers with REAL money, dreamers, workers, finance people, grass roots groups and the politicos to save this theatre”
I don’t see scam artists in that list Paul. You have serious balls to continue posting here after you were run out of the Uptown Theatre under a cloud of controversy.
The REAL question is:
WHEN did they start allowing PRISON INMATES to use the INTERNET?
That is how it looked when it closed.
I have always wondered what made the Roosevelt go so early. I don’t think any other vintage buildings on that block went down until everything got leveled during the 90’s. The larger State-Lake and Chicago Theatres continued to operate for a few more years after this (in the same theatre chain as the Roosevelt), which is counter-intuitive.
The sad thing about this place is that even at the end, when it had been open to the winds for a long time, it wasn’t in terrible shape. I was given a couple of different opportunities to visit the builidng during it’s last years. I can’t understand why they couldn’t have at least saved the front of the building and tacked it onto that condo tower. it was a work of art (and I don’t throw terms like that around lightly).
I photographed this place in the early 90’s. At the time there was retail in the lobby, although no current tenant. Building appeared to be in good shape. It’s a shame they couldn’t have at least saved the shell.
Brian:
Was the theatre abandoned for a period of time before the House of Prayer moved in and is that how the upper auditorium decayed?
Is the theatre still sitting there?
I think that she would be getting some P.R. value out of it if there was a charity involved. She knows that she can charge that much and get away with it.
Check out this link to see what I am talking about with respect to the auditorium damage:
http://www.silverscreens.com/thsa.php
Kings interior photos are pretty close to the bottom. The PlanetPLG photo zooms in on the one area at the back left of the shot you will see looking out from the stage. Most of the theatre looks musty, dusty, and in need of attention…but not devastated like the area in that closeup. I heard somewhere that the roof was repaired some years ago too. So that damage to the sidewall could very well predate the repair.
Well, in all fairness I think that is a close-up of the one most severely damaged area of the theatre (based on other photos I have seen). I don’t think the entire building is in that bad of shape.
No problem. Good luck with your project. It sounds like a very nice gift.
If you had told me that the Jersey would be renovated by volunteers and bring in half-decent crowds showing classic movies, I would have said you were crazy.
If you had told me someone would spend the money to restore the Bronx Paradise and end up packing in nice crowds with ethnically-flavored events, I would have said you were crazy.
I think this place can serve a useful purpose again. I am not sure exactly what that purpose is. But my skepticism has certainly been challenged!
Yeah right. Let’s just say it didn’t look too inviting!!!
The best sources for historical theatre material is the Theatre Historical Society of America in Elmhurst, IL. Visit their web site:
http://www.historictheatres.org/
Other contact info:
Theatre Historical Society of America
York Theatre Building
152 North York, 2nd floor
Elmhurst, Illinois 60126-2806
Telephone (630) 782-1800
Fax (630) 782-1802
e-mail:
I am sure they must have material on the Rockne, which you can purchase copies of for a small fee. I think Richard Sklenar still runs the archives: a very cool and knowledgable person.
It’s kind of a bummer the way they altered it. But it looks like the building is getting good use, and many decorative elements remain. All in all not a bad situation.
I’m with you Brian…I like the old marquee better. The red and white color scheme fit better with the building, and that corny “W” on the front had been a staple of Downtown Wilmette my entire life.
All that being said, I am glad it is still with us. It’s pretty cool to think about how many generations of North Shore resident have gone to the movies there.
I was back at the gym again last night. The Keresotas employees look pretty lame compared to the AMC staff(based on how they were dressed). The Loews signs have been torn down and not replaced. So there are ugly black marks on the bulding. The electrical signs in the box office aren’t working. So they had Microsoft Word printouts displaying all the show times hanging from the eletrical signs.
I’ll admit that they may need more time to get settled. But my first impression is that they wandered into the big city from the corn fields and bought a cinema. Hope they don’t wreck the Webster Place. I’ve always liked it.
The memory I have of the Pilgrim involves someone trying to sell me reefer under the marquee during the early 90’s. The theatre was showing porn that day and looked somewhat run down.
Randolph Street was fun back then. I had forgotten about that arcade. Put many quarters into the great standup video games in that place!
I’ll take that over Block 37 any day.
No: but I agree. I was there some years ago to see a show. It looked OK. But when you compare how it looked then with the post-renovation photos it was pretty bad!
Why would Village be interested? Village only wants hopelessly outmoded locations. What an awesome business plan. Their web site is also sweet.
I was just at the Bally Total Fitness next door tonight. They appear to be cleaning and stocking the place. Staff members are outside telling the customers that the theatre will reopen tomorrow.
Nice one. What a roof sign!
That’s cool. No problem Jim. I haven’t listed an email address on purpose. From time to time I get into it with people who I think are trying to use and abuse the preservation community, like Paul Warshauer. I don’t need messages from guys like that.
550!! That’s a decent crowd! What do they charge, 5 bucks or something? That’s not bad at all! I’m very excited to hear this. Honestly, I have been a skeptic of this classic movie thing. But maybe it works!