This would have been on Garfield Blvd/55th, not 55th Place. Historic Aerials show that it stood until at least 1972. It seems to have operated as a series of dance halls and bars after closing as a theater, most notably the Rhumboogie Cafe.
The Columbus was noted for its diagonal auditorium, with the screen in one corner, similar to the Town/Park West. After the Columbus was closed in 1926 in favor of Ascher’s West Englewood, the building was remodeled into Queen Recreation Parlor, three floors of billiards & bowling.
The theater occupied the north half of the lot at the NW corner of Western & Fullerton where the limestone building now stands. The theatre itself is demolished.
A 1925 Tribune article on the fire which started in the basement notes that the building was a north side landmark, serving as Brand’s Hall, a dance hall, going back to 1877. A lithograph of Brand’s Hall (not the corner building, but next to it) is at http://nucius.org/graphics-engravings/brands-hall-chicago-1883/
The Erie suffered fires in 1912 and 1925. The Erie Amusement Company in 1911 also owned the Huron at 703 N Clark and the Republic at 3916 N Lincoln. The Erie was known as the Town Talkie at least from 1932-1938.
Check out lantern.mediahistory.org as you research these theaters, you can find a lot of stuff the Tribune might have missed.
The Norridge is currently being gutted to prepare for redevelopment of the original twin (later screens 5-10) into 4-6 AMC cinemas. The later addition 4 screens will be converted into retail.
I uploaded a diagram to make the sequence of additions and splits easier to understand. I think it is correct.
Sanborn Maps show 3825 as a motion picture theater while 3828 lies in the middle of Avers Street. Most likely the person who set the type for the newspaper mistook a 5 for an 8.
Uploaded a photo of the auditorium. Looks like this was one of Ascher’s oddball “cornerwise” theaters, with the screen off in a corner.
This might be it: http://archive.org/stream/motography56elec#page/192/mode/2up
http://archive.org/stream/filmindex06film#page/n381/mode/2up
This would have been on Garfield Blvd/55th, not 55th Place. Historic Aerials show that it stood until at least 1972. It seems to have operated as a series of dance halls and bars after closing as a theater, most notably the Rhumboogie Cafe.
http://archive.org/stream/movpict31chal#page/n339/mode/2up
They never had 5. That was probably two films sharing the same screen.
The Hippodrome/Atlas must have been a very minor theatre on the site prior to the West Englewood, which was almost certainly built from scratch.
http://archive.org/stream/motionpicturenew23moti_7#page/3076/mode/2up has a nice section on the opening of the Roosevelt.
Queen Recreation lasted until at least 1962.
The Columbus was noted for its diagonal auditorium, with the screen in one corner, similar to the Town/Park West. After the Columbus was closed in 1926 in favor of Ascher’s West Englewood, the building was remodeled into Queen Recreation Parlor, three floors of billiards & bowling.
The lobby storefront and theater are currently available for lease.
This must be one of the oldest theaters in Chicago still standing.
Sam Katz, of Balaban & Katz, was one of the early operators of the Avon.
This should be 1656 W Roosevelt Road (12th Street), not Place.
The 5 year old Bismark theater on the same site was razed in 1916 to build the Armitage.
Real estate listings (active for several years) note that demolition of the auditorium is planned
The building still stands, the theater is now a weave salon and vacant store.
Opened fall 1914.
AKA Lyric, 1909
The theater occupied the north half of the lot at the NW corner of Western & Fullerton where the limestone building now stands. The theatre itself is demolished.
A 1925 Tribune article on the fire which started in the basement notes that the building was a north side landmark, serving as Brand’s Hall, a dance hall, going back to 1877. A lithograph of Brand’s Hall (not the corner building, but next to it) is at http://nucius.org/graphics-engravings/brands-hall-chicago-1883/
The Erie suffered fires in 1912 and 1925. The Erie Amusement Company in 1911 also owned the Huron at 703 N Clark and the Republic at 3916 N Lincoln. The Erie was known as the Town Talkie at least from 1932-1938.
Check out lantern.mediahistory.org as you research these theaters, you can find a lot of stuff the Tribune might have missed.
The Norridge is currently being gutted to prepare for redevelopment of the original twin (later screens 5-10) into 4-6 AMC cinemas. The later addition 4 screens will be converted into retail.
I uploaded a diagram to make the sequence of additions and splits easier to understand. I think it is correct.
Sanborn Maps show 3825 as a motion picture theater while 3828 lies in the middle of Avers Street. Most likely the person who set the type for the newspaper mistook a 5 for an 8.
The Shapiro Ballroom is scheduled to open October 3. Looks like it was gutted.