Since its restoration the Paramount has been upgraded significantly. The original lobby was expanded into some kind of ballroom or party space. From what I can see it was tastefully done.
In response to earlier comments: The Norshore Building was not on the site of the bank or the Howard Bowl. It was in between these two. The Norshore was demolished and replaced with an office building while the bank and Howard Bowl remained. The bank, office building that replaced the Norshore and the Howard Bowl were all demolished for the development now situated there.
My hunch is that the Paramount will not be restored anytime soon. I think the University will probably continue using it for a variety of purposes. Even if they have a new gymnasium for official basketball games, this one can have other uses. When I was at U. of Illinois in Champaign there were several gyms around campus which were used for all sorts of things.
Aside from the fact that I believe the building is still viable for LIU, unless the Trustees are blind they must be aware of the growing likelihood of the Loews Kings restoration. They must also be aware of the Bronx Paradise recently being leased to a church. While these are not the only considerations with regard to restoration, any governing body with the capacity for thoughtful decision would have to take these things into account.
Wow! It looks like they did a nice job on the renovation. I was there once when it was still one screen and it was a pit. I went once more after they split it up and it wasn’t half bad. But I’d guess over twenty-five years it was probably well on the way to being a pit again.
Back in the 80’s THS was compiling a comprehensive Chicago theater directory. If that American Classic guy was taking pictures of things like the Nita I wonder if he had access to it.
With respect, I disagree Trolleyguy. For years I’ve been hearing that Portage Park wants to bring life back to Six Corners. Having a concert venue would do that. But it doesn’t seem to be an acceptable option. To me it seems that they want to have their cake and eat it too. Or specifically, it seems that they want to bring back the mid-20th Century glory days which isn’t going to happen.
Security, underage drinking and such are problems that come along with the business. People live near each one of the venues I mentioned above and neighbors have not raised concerns about these things.
My main complaint with this situation is that Dennis and his associates seem to have been treated with disrespect.
My secondary complaint involves building maintenance. I haven’t been to the Congress in a long time. But if Carranza is running it into ground and the Portage is next that is certainly not a good situation.
It seems like something better should have happened here. Wheaton doesn’t seem to be doing much better, and I don’t understand their decision-making process any better than Lombard’s. They were running successful rock concerts in the Grand and stopped so that a yet to be funded restoration could begin.
It’s nice to see the building is going to be renovated. Regarding the Portage: I seriously doubt the seats would be kept. Every converted old theater in the city that I am aware of removed them from the main floor.
Hopefully Dennis can pull of the financing. But, at the same time, having concerts there doesn’t seem like it would be the worst thing in the world. The obvious issues are there of course. But the Riviera, the Copernicus Center, the Park West, the Vic and others have been successfully dealing with it for years. Certainly the places I mentioned bring people to their respective neighborhoods and certainly those people spend money in nearby businesses while they are there. I can’t really see how it would hurt Six Corners.
New charges. Liquor license in jeopardy:
http://chicagoist.com/2013/01/21/bad_behavior_of_congress_theater_se.php
One of these days Carranza is going to run out of luck.
Digital projectors are in now from what I understand.
Since its restoration the Paramount has been upgraded significantly. The original lobby was expanded into some kind of ballroom or party space. From what I can see it was tastefully done.
In response to earlier comments: The Norshore Building was not on the site of the bank or the Howard Bowl. It was in between these two. The Norshore was demolished and replaced with an office building while the bank and Howard Bowl remained. The bank, office building that replaced the Norshore and the Howard Bowl were all demolished for the development now situated there.
Link to a photo of the Milford Ballroom when it “had seen better days”:
http://chuckmanchicagonostalgia.wordpress.com/2011/12/16/photo-chicago-milford-ballroom-when-it-had-seen-better-days/photo-chicago-milford-ballroom-when-it-had-seen-better-days/
The pastor exorcised the ground? Give me a break. I suppose he asked all parishioners to tithe 15% of their income to the church.
???????????
My hunch is that the Paramount will not be restored anytime soon. I think the University will probably continue using it for a variety of purposes. Even if they have a new gymnasium for official basketball games, this one can have other uses. When I was at U. of Illinois in Champaign there were several gyms around campus which were used for all sorts of things.
Aside from the fact that I believe the building is still viable for LIU, unless the Trustees are blind they must be aware of the growing likelihood of the Loews Kings restoration. They must also be aware of the Bronx Paradise recently being leased to a church. While these are not the only considerations with regard to restoration, any governing body with the capacity for thoughtful decision would have to take these things into account.
I took a few photographs of the Biograph in the 80’s. Those photos can now be found at the Theater Historical Society in Elmhurst, IL.
Wow! It looks like they did a nice job on the renovation. I was there once when it was still one screen and it was a pit. I went once more after they split it up and it wasn’t half bad. But I’d guess over twenty-five years it was probably well on the way to being a pit again.
Back in the 80’s THS was compiling a comprehensive Chicago theater directory. If that American Classic guy was taking pictures of things like the Nita I wonder if he had access to it.
Carranza sounds just plain crazy:
http://chicagoist.com/2012/11/29/congress_theater_owner_defaults_on.php
I love the marquee in the Water Winter Wonderland listing above: “Michigan’s Finest Adult Movies”. What a laugh.
Judgement should not be passed until they finish. But to me it looks like this is going to be an extremely clumsy-looking building.
With respect, I disagree Trolleyguy. For years I’ve been hearing that Portage Park wants to bring life back to Six Corners. Having a concert venue would do that. But it doesn’t seem to be an acceptable option. To me it seems that they want to have their cake and eat it too. Or specifically, it seems that they want to bring back the mid-20th Century glory days which isn’t going to happen.
Security, underage drinking and such are problems that come along with the business. People live near each one of the venues I mentioned above and neighbors have not raised concerns about these things.
My main complaint with this situation is that Dennis and his associates seem to have been treated with disrespect.
My secondary complaint involves building maintenance. I haven’t been to the Congress in a long time. But if Carranza is running it into ground and the Portage is next that is certainly not a good situation.
I wouldn’t pay my rent either if I had to shell out to repair the landlord’s building.
This whole situation strikes me as ridiculous five different ways. When all the dust settles I hope the Portage is still being used.
That’s awful. Why did they bother to save any of it?
It seems like something better should have happened here. Wheaton doesn’t seem to be doing much better, and I don’t understand their decision-making process any better than Lombard’s. They were running successful rock concerts in the Grand and stopped so that a yet to be funded restoration could begin.
I wonder if the lobby chandelier is original to the theater, or if it was added by one of the post-warehouse tenants.
Wow. I haven’t been following the details. But it sounds like Carranza is handing the situation in a very poor, most undiplomatic, manner.
Thanks for posting these. I’ve never seen good photos of the Deluxe before. It looks like the original design was really a dog.
It’s nice to see the building is going to be renovated. Regarding the Portage: I seriously doubt the seats would be kept. Every converted old theater in the city that I am aware of removed them from the main floor.
Hope something happens with this one. Seems like they were making progress six or seven years ago. It would be a shame if that was all for nothing.
Hopefully Dennis can pull of the financing. But, at the same time, having concerts there doesn’t seem like it would be the worst thing in the world. The obvious issues are there of course. But the Riviera, the Copernicus Center, the Park West, the Vic and others have been successfully dealing with it for years. Certainly the places I mentioned bring people to their respective neighborhoods and certainly those people spend money in nearby businesses while they are there. I can’t really see how it would hurt Six Corners.
Article about the original Lincoln Village Theater:
http://francesarcher.com/the-man-who-put-the-hollywood-in-hollywood-park-part-two/
It contains an exterior rendering.