Granada Theatre
6427 N. Sheridan Road,
Chicago,
IL
60626
6427 N. Sheridan Road,
Chicago,
IL
60626
38 people
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Showing 176 - 188 of 188 comments
Thanks, Bryan Krefft, for that link. In fact, there are over 30 photos of the Granada, exterior and interior, available at the Library of Congress Web site at the following Web address:
View link
Most of these pictures were taken shortly before this irreplaceable treasure was torn down, so they show the theater in heartbreakingly bad shape. Nonetheless, the grandeur of the Granada shines through.
I was there only once, in November 1981 for the opening night of the Chicago International Film Festival and a showing of the classic 1924 silent film Peter Pan, complete with a live orchestra playing the original score. Steven Spielberg and Francois Truffaut were presented with awards. If I am correct, King Vidor was in the audience that night.
It was unforgettable—and so was and is the Granada.
One of the Theatre Historical Society of America’s recent annuals covers the work of Edward Eichenbaum, who designed the Granada’s interior. Does anyone know of any other sources of photographs, historical information, or other material on this theater?
In my hometown of Milwaukee,we’ve already lost many wonderful theaters of our own; the Avalon, our city’s last atmospheric theatre, is in grave danger of being gutted for offices. You can find more information about this on this Web site at its entry for the Avalon. Sad.
I second (and third) the sentiments of a previous poster. Whether or not you live in Chicago, don’t let what happened to the Granada (and what almost happened to Chicago’s Oriental and Chicago Theatres!) happen to Chicago’s incomparable Uptown Theatre!
Scott Enk
I grew up three blocks from the Granada, and I saw many classic movies there. I saw the movie Easy Rider there, which changed my life – good or bad? – both! One flew over the Cuuckoo’s Nest premiered there, and I saw Taj Mahal and a couple of other bands there. I wax poetically about the Granada in this prose poem I wrote about growing up in Rogers Park…
http://www.sduros.com/Beaches.html
My understanding is that the Granada met its end because it was allowed to deteriorate by a known slumloard, and Rep. Dan Rostenkowski worked the ropes to get funding from Congress so that a seniors building could be constructed there. Lo, after the old Granada was torn donw, the senior housing failed and the building went to Loyola University, of which Rosty is an alum.
I worked as an usher at the Granada in the late 60’s. What a masterpiece it was. It was once included in a list of the top 50 Balaban and Katz “Movie Palaces”. Another one that was allowed to die was the Howard, also in Rogers Park. I understand the crowds have been gone for a long time. But preservation of history has to have some priority! We must not let this continue.
Seeking information about a painting of the Granada Theater that I saw in the late 1980’s – do not know artist – please contact me if you have any information – I would like to obtain this painting.
I believe I attended the very last program at the Granada (though no one could have known it then), a Three Stooges festival in the winter of 1986 promoted by a local radio station. The half-filled auditorium was quite cold, but the audience seemed to hardly notice. Afterwards I treated myself to a personal tour of the theatre, something I’m glad I didn’t decide to postpone. (Most vivid memories: the massive proscenium, and the huge fireplace in the mezzanine alongside the main arched window.) I also recall a last-ditch preservation effort led by a brave lady (whose name escapes me) that was publicized in the Chicago Tribune. And I want to reinforce what others have said here: the Granada Theatre was indeed in very good condition both inside and out on that night I was there, which I believe was its last night open.
Nate Ruttenberg was the last operating manager of the Granda. He was the brother-in-law of Harry Balaban.
I was actually in the building during a delay in the demolition. There was very little wrong with this building.Loyola U wanted the land.This was the second theatre they had demolished in the area.The Uptown must be saved, although in my opinion it did not have the beauty and grandeur of the Granada. There is also a small chandelier from the Granada in the Music Box theatre on southport.
Hi,
I was in the Granada many times for films in the 70’s and saw a production of Rocky Horror live, as well. The theater was NOT falling down, just purposely neglected. Loyola University also wanted it closed for their own purposes…SAD…..Let’s not have this happen to the Uptown Theater!
I have a brick from this theatre. It broke my heart to see it being torn down.
I think Styx actually rehearsed for their ‘83 “Kilroy Was Here” tour in the Granada as well. Kudos to Dennis DeYoung for the entire Paradise Theatre concept.
Shawn S.
The facade of the Granda is considered by many to be the model for the Paradise Theatre featured on the front and back cover of the STYX album “Paradise Theatre”. The marquee is not modeled after the Granada’s.
I have to agree with SBGrieg’s assessment. The original decline in business in the 70’s was caused by the building of a high-rise on the adjacent lot and another building project across the street on Sheridan Rd. This took away most of the available parking spots in the area. It was all downhill from then on.
I followed the Granada quite a bit in its last years and I question if it was closed due to its “poor condition”. The land banker that came to possess the theater at the end purposely let it go to pieces in the mid-late 1980s. Before that, from my recollection, it was in good shape.