Today is September 13, 2011. Today is the 30th Anniversary of the Cinema Theatre’s last picture show. The last movie to play at the Cinema was ATLANTIC CITY. The theatre was torn down 3 days later.
I walked down the alley today. One of the original exit doors was cracked open a little bit. I peaked inside. It looks like the auditorium is being used as a storage space. Perhaps some type of auto repair garage. The door wasn’t open too much but I did hear some noise if as though it was a repair garage. Lots of junk inside. Hopefully, one day, the door will be propped open some more so I can get a better view. There is a church somewhere in the building but definitely not in the auditorium space.
Yesterday (May 24) was the 20th Anniversary of the opening of this theatre. Hmmmm…..I wonder if Loews initially signed a 20 year lease….which means….it should be up……..if that indeed is the case. Of course, I merely speculate…..and hope that AMC pulls out of here and a new, more ambitious tenant will take over.
Hey David. The State Street Gall, er, um, I mean Mall was planned while Mayor Richard J. Daley was in office. They closed State Street in June, 1978 to begin destruction, er, um, I mean construction on State Street. Mayor Michael Bilandic was in office at that time. So it wasn’t really Mayor Jane Byrne’s fault of the Mistake by the Lake. Thank God Mayor Richard M. Daley put an end to this debacle.
Rich, I think you saw this double feature somewhere else. Believe me……The Woods Theatre NEVER showed an Ingmar Bergman movie in the 1970s. Maybe you saw this double bill at the Esquire or Playboy, but at the Woods………….no way.
Here is a 2006 video tape from CLTV News in Chicago. At the end of the report is footage of the auditorium of the Studebaker Theater a.k.a. Fine Arts Theatre #1.
The Oriental presented its final kung-fu triple on this date, 30 years ago, and closed its doors. The theatre finally re-opened in 1998 as a live stage venue.
Today, September 13, is a sad anniversary. It was on this date in 1981, the Cinema Theatre showed its last picture show: ATLANTIC CITY with Burt Lancaster and Susan Sarandon. The theatre was torn down about 3 days later. As a matter of fact, all the theatres that were in operation around that area at the time are all gone. I still miss the Cinema Theatre. It was my first movie theatre gig.
I just went by the Village Theatre earlier tonight. They finally took off that sign on top of the marquee that said: “For Lease Summer 2006”. Now, there’s a new sign that reads: “For Lease 8000 square feet. Price Associates (312) 445-6300.”
As I’ve mentioned up above, there are many successful venues in bad areas. The Riviera and Aragon Ballroom are in bad areas and, yet, people go to them. The Congress Theatre is in a bad area and, yet, people go there to watch concerts. There was once a time when Wrigley Field was in a bad area and, yet, people went there to see Cubs games (of course, I’m talking 40 some years ago). Now, we Cinema Treasures fans can do one or the other: we could sulk about how bad an area is and let a wonderful theatre just sit there and rot; or, we could support Mr. Valentine and encourage him to re-open the Colony Theatre if he wants to, and turn it into a successful concert venue. If there’s a concert there that people want to see, they will park their cars in the lot next to the theatre and go. Of course, they won’t roam around that area late at night, but hopefully they’ll have a wonderful experience at the Colony.
It was a Loews-Cineplex theatre from 1998 until 1999. It became a Loews-Cineplex theatre after the Cineplex Odeon/Loews merger took effect in 1998; however, by orders from the Justice Department, Loews Cineplex had to sell a bunch of their theatres to avoid a monopoly, so the Biograph was sold to the newly formed, but short-lived Meridian Theatres. Other theatres that were sold were Water Tower, Burnham Plaza, Broadway Cinema, Old Orchard, Hyde Park, and Bricktown Square. These theatres would all go out of business within a couple of years.
Towards the end of this clip, Geoffrey Baer discusses the McVickers Theatre.http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2011/09/22/ask-geoffrey-922
Today is September 13, 2011. Today is the 30th Anniversary of the Cinema Theatre’s last picture show. The last movie to play at the Cinema was ATLANTIC CITY. The theatre was torn down 3 days later.
I walked down the alley today. One of the original exit doors was cracked open a little bit. I peaked inside. It looks like the auditorium is being used as a storage space. Perhaps some type of auto repair garage. The door wasn’t open too much but I did hear some noise if as though it was a repair garage. Lots of junk inside. Hopefully, one day, the door will be propped open some more so I can get a better view. There is a church somewhere in the building but definitely not in the auditorium space.
As of August 10, 2011, the Webster Place is all-digital projection.
Hey, Cinemark Fan; any news on the Pipers Alley?
Very sad news…………http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/movies/6495723-421/bruce-s.-trinz-owner-of-legendary-clark-theater-dies#.Th5s0qgm9zg.facebook
Another outstanding piece of research from the Coate Man.
The P. Lekousis photo was actually taken in 1973.
Yesterday (May 24) was the 20th Anniversary of the opening of this theatre. Hmmmm…..I wonder if Loews initially signed a 20 year lease….which means….it should be up……..if that indeed is the case. Of course, I merely speculate…..and hope that AMC pulls out of here and a new, more ambitious tenant will take over.
Hey David. The State Street Gall, er, um, I mean Mall was planned while Mayor Richard J. Daley was in office. They closed State Street in June, 1978 to begin destruction, er, um, I mean construction on State Street. Mayor Michael Bilandic was in office at that time. So it wasn’t really Mayor Jane Byrne’s fault of the Mistake by the Lake. Thank God Mayor Richard M. Daley put an end to this debacle.
Rich, I think you saw this double feature somewhere else. Believe me……The Woods Theatre NEVER showed an Ingmar Bergman movie in the 1970s. Maybe you saw this double bill at the Esquire or Playboy, but at the Woods………….no way.
Here is a 2006 video tape from CLTV News in Chicago. At the end of the report is footage of the auditorium of the Studebaker Theater a.k.a. Fine Arts Theatre #1.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxJvqOEjbLs
95th Anniversary this year for the Village.
The Oriental presented its final kung-fu triple on this date, 30 years ago, and closed its doors. The theatre finally re-opened in 1998 as a live stage venue.
The Marquette Theate closed on this date in 1981 with its final movie being THE ARISTOCATS.
The theatre was never twinned.
Judging by the website for this theatre, it looks like it is all digital projection. Can anybody confirm that?
They put a new screen up. Finally!!!!
Join the Facebook page!!! Village Theatre-Chicago.
Today, September 13, is a sad anniversary. It was on this date in 1981, the Cinema Theatre showed its last picture show: ATLANTIC CITY with Burt Lancaster and Susan Sarandon. The theatre was torn down about 3 days later. As a matter of fact, all the theatres that were in operation around that area at the time are all gone. I still miss the Cinema Theatre. It was my first movie theatre gig.
Jay Warren for Mayor, 2011
I just went by the Village Theatre earlier tonight. They finally took off that sign on top of the marquee that said: “For Lease Summer 2006”. Now, there’s a new sign that reads: “For Lease 8000 square feet. Price Associates (312) 445-6300.”
As I’ve mentioned up above, there are many successful venues in bad areas. The Riviera and Aragon Ballroom are in bad areas and, yet, people go to them. The Congress Theatre is in a bad area and, yet, people go there to watch concerts. There was once a time when Wrigley Field was in a bad area and, yet, people went there to see Cubs games (of course, I’m talking 40 some years ago). Now, we Cinema Treasures fans can do one or the other: we could sulk about how bad an area is and let a wonderful theatre just sit there and rot; or, we could support Mr. Valentine and encourage him to re-open the Colony Theatre if he wants to, and turn it into a successful concert venue. If there’s a concert there that people want to see, they will park their cars in the lot next to the theatre and go. Of course, they won’t roam around that area late at night, but hopefully they’ll have a wonderful experience at the Colony.
It was a Loews-Cineplex theatre from 1998 until 1999. It became a Loews-Cineplex theatre after the Cineplex Odeon/Loews merger took effect in 1998; however, by orders from the Justice Department, Loews Cineplex had to sell a bunch of their theatres to avoid a monopoly, so the Biograph was sold to the newly formed, but short-lived Meridian Theatres. Other theatres that were sold were Water Tower, Burnham Plaza, Broadway Cinema, Old Orchard, Hyde Park, and Bricktown Square. These theatres would all go out of business within a couple of years.
The Esthena Theatre was located at 3709 N. Southport. It was a liquor store for many years until it got torn down in 2000. It’s now a condo.