Bill and I are putting together a memorial site for the adelphi theater. If anyone has pictures that would like to see posted on the site or memories they want to share please e-mail me at If you have photographs that you would let us scan and post, please send them or visit us at QUEST – 7301 N. Sheridan Rd. in Chicago. The memorial site is www.adelphitheater.com
Well, she is officially gone now. I went to visit the site. There is nothing left of the structure. The lobby and its ajacent store fronts have been taken down. The basement is now exposed and being filled in with dirt. There is now an open wound on Clark street that was once occupied with the theater for 88 years! Rogerspark will never be the same. There are no more historic theaters in Rogerspark.
Well, this will be my last post on the demolition page for the Adelphi Theater. Today, March 2nd 2006, the last of the theater was taken down. Now the only thing left is the exposed basement. The lobby and it’s ajacent storefronts have been demolished. You almost have to do a double take because it looks so horrible, it’s almost like an open wound in the middle of Clark street. All you see now is the scafolding and fencing surrounding the property that once was the theater. I as I feel many of us will truly miss the Adelphi Theater. Rest in Peace….
When Bill & I first stepped foot into the theater, we were just in aww as to how she looked. We both looked at each other and knew that she had potential. After we got the keys and started working, I went off to the hardware store and purchased all the screw in fuses that had for sale, and tons of light bulbs. One of the things we noticed was that much of the lights didn’t work. I screwed in one by one until all the empty circuts were filled. And one by one lights started comming on. It was like she was becoming alive all over again. Then I ran back to my store, and loaded my car up with some old 8mm cartoons and an old revere 88 projector. Went over to the theater and told Bill, let’s try to see if we can get this to work. So bill set-up a row of seats in the auditorium as they were fallen over. I went up into the projection booth, set-up my grandmas old Revere, put on an old black and white Woody Woodpecker silent cartoon and watched. It was so amazing to see a cartoon on the screen. At one moment, as the light flickered it looked from upstairs that rows and rows of seats appeared with people sitting in them. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. So I ran downstairs, but when I got there, what I had thought I saw was gone. I asked Bill if he saw anything, but he said all he noticed was a cold draft. I just can’t believe she’s getting destroyed…. All she needed was some little love, care and money to save her. The last owners had no intension on saving the theater. In the eighties when she still had her 1930’s marquee, they removed it and replaced it with the one that is on the building today. In addition to that, they errected drywall right in front of the beautiful detailed plaster that Bill and I took pictures of that was STILL INTACT. Yes, the Adelphi Theater had a hidden treasure right behind the drywall inside the auditorium. She stood tall, the test of time, the threat of demoltion and lasted for 88 years. It’s a shame she couldn’t last another 88 years. Boy they really knew how to build buildings then. Those arches that you see exposed in the picture are NOT made of steel. They are BRICK morterd together to form those arches. In 1917 I-Beam Steel wasn’t around yet. The entire walls and ceiling were had done by master platerman. Who with the art of their hand formed those curves and molded those ornimations. One can only imagin what that would take today, and how much money it would take to recreate that. It is true, once these works of art are gone, they are gone forever and can never be replaced!
A sad day in Chicago today. On Friday, January 20th, 2006, the Adelphi Theater, which was built in 1917 around 2pm the demolition crew and its crane has started to rip into the back wall of the theater exposing the inside to the elements. By 4pm the entire back wall was a pile of rubble. Today, the wrecking crew ripped into the plaster and screen and tossed it to the corner of Estes and Clark. The condo developer has won his case to demolish one of the last remaining historic buildings in Rogers Park to install a 5 story monster condo building to over shadow Clark street that has no historic value and is just plain, boring cinderblock. It’s a damn shame how money is more important than saving something historic. I have posted a story in the demolition section of this site. Please visit the citizens for the Adelphi Theater site for more pictures and articles of the theater. http://www.adelphitheater.org
This is what is proposed to replace the Adelphi Theater on Clark Street and it’s a damn shame!! Please read on… View link
ALSO: I received another e-mail with a petion attached to try and save the theater. I’ll post it here below…
-Kris
a petition
instructions : To save the Adelphi Theater, and oppose a re-zoning that may cause it’s demolition, please sign your name on the bottom of this petition and forward this message to all 50 e-mail addresses listed below the signatures.
– Citizens for the Adelphi Theater
message :
First off, We would like to thank everyone of the 2,000 Rogers Park residents, and over 10,000 residents from every other ward in the City of Chicago who signed our online and paper petitions opposing a re-zoning of the Adelphi Theater. They were all sent to 49th ward Alderman Joe Moore, to a response that “we obviously need more time to discuss the Clark Street re-zoning”
In our quest to show opposition to a proposed re-zoning of the corner property located on 7070-7078 N. Clark St, we have met with many potential investors who are showing a great interest in purchasing the property from developer Chad Zuric, with the intent of re-opening the theater as a revenue-generating movie theater/music venue and community center. If the zoning changes for the 7070-78 Clark St. property, these plans cannot be accomplished.
This is a petition to all 50 Aldermen of every ward within the City of Chicago, the City Council of Chicago.
We the people of the City of Chicago, oppose a re-zoning of the corner property of 7070-7078 N. Clark Street in Chicago’s 49th ward.
We the people of the City of Chicago, oppose the proposed development of residential units on the corner property of 7070-7078 N. Clark Street in Chicago’s 49th ward.
We the people of the City of Chicago, oppose the proposed raising of the Adelphi Theater on the corner property of 7070-7078 N. Clark Street in Chicago’s 49th ward.
We the people of the City of Chicago, support the proposed Grand Re-Opening of the Adelphi Theater on the corner property of 7070-7078 N. Clark Street in Chicago’s 49th ward.
Thank you,
Citizens for the Adelphi Theater
Name :
Current Address:
for everyone else who agrees in the room :
Name :
Current Address:
Name :
Current Address:
Name :
Current Address:
Name :
Current Address:
Please copy and paste, or forward this e-mail to the following addresses.
Alderman Manuel Flores
Alderman Madeline Haithcock
Alderman Dorothy J. Tillman
Alderman Toni Preckwinkle
Alderman Leslie A. Hairston
Alderman Freddrenna M. Lyle
Alderman William M. Beavers
Alderman Todd H. Stroger
Alderman Anthony Beale
Alderman John Pope
Alderman James A. Balcer
Alderman George A. Cardenas
Alderman Frank J. Olivo
Alderman Edward M. Burke
Alderman Theodore Thomas
Alderman Shirley A. Coleman
Alderman Latasha R. Thomas
Alderman Thomas W. Murphy
Alderman Virginia A. Rugai
Alderman Arenda Troutman
Alderman Howard Brookins Jr.
Alderman Ricardo Munoz
Alderman Michael Zalewski
Alderman Michael D. Chandler
Alderman Daniel Solis
Alderman Billy Ocasio
Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr.
Alderman Ed Smith
Alderman Isaac Carothers
Alderman Ariel E. Reboyras
Alderman Ray Suarez
Alderman Theodore Matlak
Alderman Richard F. Mell
Alderman Carrie Austin
Alderman Rey Colon
Alderman William J.P. Banks
Alderman Emma Mitts
Alderman Thomas R. Allen
Alderman Margaret Laurino
Alderman Patrick J. O'Connor
Alderman Brian G. Doherty
Alderman Burton F. Natarus
Alderman Vi Daley
Alderman Thomas M. Tunney
Alderman Patrick J. Levar
Alderman Helen Shiller
Alderman Eugene C. Schulter
Alderman Mary Ann Smith
Alderman Joseph A. Moore
Alderman Bernard L. Stone
Thank you, the time you have taken to do this, makes all the difference to show the City Council of Chicago how we feel about the Adelphi Theater at 7070-78 N. Clark Street.
The Adelphi Theater is ENDANGERED!!!!! In a recent e-mail I have received as stated below….
[The Adelphi Theater has been purchased by a developer. We had a chance to chat with him about his project, and he stated that demolition will occur within 4 months. A proposed 57 unit condo will stand in it’s place. But to accomplish this he will need the property to be re-zoned for residential. Let’s make sure this doesn’t happen. There 3 things we can do :
Attend the meetings. There are 4 meetings between September 20th and September 29th.
They are as follows..
September 20th at 7:00 p.m.
Gale Community Academy
1631 W. Jonquil Terrace, Chicago. 60626
September 22nd at 7:00 p.m.
Loyola Park
1230 W. Greenleaf Ave., Chicago. 60626
September 26th at 7:00 p.m.
St. Scholastica
7416 N Ridge Blvd., Chicago. 60626
September 29th at 7:00 p.m.
Chicago Public Library Rogers Park Branch
6907 N. Clark St., Chicago. 60626
Contact Alderman Joe Moore and his assitant Michael Land.
We need to let them know that there is opposition to the re-zoning
of the 7070-78 Clark Street property. Until November 1st, they will be weighing the options … and this is our chance to make a difference.
The following is their contact information :
Alderman Joe Moore’s 49th Ward office
7356 N. Greenview Ave.
Chicago, IL 60626
Phone: 773-338-5796
Fax: 773-338-5989
Alderman Joe Moore’s City Hall office
121 N. Lasalle St.
Room 300, Office 24
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-744-3067
Fax: 312-744-3080
Alderman Joe Moore’s e-mail address:
We also need to express our concern to ..
the Chicago Department of Zoning
(312) 744-3508
the Chicago Department of Planning and Development
(312) 744-4190
the Metropolitan Planning Council
(312) 922-5616
Is there anyone else out there who feels the way we do about this theater? Has anyone noticed, how some people complain that all of these theaters are being demolished, but do nothing to save them ?
This is your chance to step forward and save the theater,
Bill Morton,
Citizens for the Adelphi Theater
p.s.
I’ll upload the photo to View link
. It’s a 300dpi, 11mb lossless TIFF, so it should look
just about as perfect as possible. If you ever need a
higher res scan, let me know. I went through and
removed the worst of the dust and scratches, so it
should look pretty great. Feel free to use it as you
wish- one thing you might do is take it to Walgreen's
and have it printed photo-size so it’s easy to take
around. Or you could photoshop “Save Me” on the screen
or something. It’s all your call, or I could do it
too.]
Bill and I are putting together a memorial site for the adelphi theater. If anyone has pictures that would like to see posted on the site or memories they want to share please e-mail me at If you have photographs that you would let us scan and post, please send them or visit us at QUEST – 7301 N. Sheridan Rd. in Chicago. The memorial site is www.adelphitheater.com
Thank you,
Kris
Well, she is officially gone now. I went to visit the site. There is nothing left of the structure. The lobby and its ajacent store fronts have been taken down. The basement is now exposed and being filled in with dirt. There is now an open wound on Clark street that was once occupied with the theater for 88 years! Rogerspark will never be the same. There are no more historic theaters in Rogerspark.
Well, this will be my last post on the demolition page for the Adelphi Theater. Today, March 2nd 2006, the last of the theater was taken down. Now the only thing left is the exposed basement. The lobby and it’s ajacent storefronts have been demolished. You almost have to do a double take because it looks so horrible, it’s almost like an open wound in the middle of Clark street. All you see now is the scafolding and fencing surrounding the property that once was the theater. I as I feel many of us will truly miss the Adelphi Theater. Rest in Peace….
When Bill & I first stepped foot into the theater, we were just in aww as to how she looked. We both looked at each other and knew that she had potential. After we got the keys and started working, I went off to the hardware store and purchased all the screw in fuses that had for sale, and tons of light bulbs. One of the things we noticed was that much of the lights didn’t work. I screwed in one by one until all the empty circuts were filled. And one by one lights started comming on. It was like she was becoming alive all over again. Then I ran back to my store, and loaded my car up with some old 8mm cartoons and an old revere 88 projector. Went over to the theater and told Bill, let’s try to see if we can get this to work. So bill set-up a row of seats in the auditorium as they were fallen over. I went up into the projection booth, set-up my grandmas old Revere, put on an old black and white Woody Woodpecker silent cartoon and watched. It was so amazing to see a cartoon on the screen. At one moment, as the light flickered it looked from upstairs that rows and rows of seats appeared with people sitting in them. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. So I ran downstairs, but when I got there, what I had thought I saw was gone. I asked Bill if he saw anything, but he said all he noticed was a cold draft. I just can’t believe she’s getting destroyed…. All she needed was some little love, care and money to save her. The last owners had no intension on saving the theater. In the eighties when she still had her 1930’s marquee, they removed it and replaced it with the one that is on the building today. In addition to that, they errected drywall right in front of the beautiful detailed plaster that Bill and I took pictures of that was STILL INTACT. Yes, the Adelphi Theater had a hidden treasure right behind the drywall inside the auditorium. She stood tall, the test of time, the threat of demoltion and lasted for 88 years. It’s a shame she couldn’t last another 88 years. Boy they really knew how to build buildings then. Those arches that you see exposed in the picture are NOT made of steel. They are BRICK morterd together to form those arches. In 1917 I-Beam Steel wasn’t around yet. The entire walls and ceiling were had done by master platerman. Who with the art of their hand formed those curves and molded those ornimations. One can only imagin what that would take today, and how much money it would take to recreate that. It is true, once these works of art are gone, they are gone forever and can never be replaced!
A sad day in Chicago today. On Friday, January 20th, 2006, the Adelphi Theater, which was built in 1917 around 2pm the demolition crew and its crane has started to rip into the back wall of the theater exposing the inside to the elements. By 4pm the entire back wall was a pile of rubble. Today, the wrecking crew ripped into the plaster and screen and tossed it to the corner of Estes and Clark. The condo developer has won his case to demolish one of the last remaining historic buildings in Rogers Park to install a 5 story monster condo building to over shadow Clark street that has no historic value and is just plain, boring cinderblock. It’s a damn shame how money is more important than saving something historic. I have posted a story in the demolition section of this site. Please visit the citizens for the Adelphi Theater site for more pictures and articles of the theater. http://www.adelphitheater.org
This is what is proposed to replace the Adelphi Theater on Clark Street and it’s a damn shame!! Please read on…
View link
ALSO: I received another e-mail with a petion attached to try and save the theater. I’ll post it here below…
-Kris
a petition
instructions : To save the Adelphi Theater, and oppose a re-zoning that may cause it’s demolition, please sign your name on the bottom of this petition and forward this message to all 50 e-mail addresses listed below the signatures.
– Citizens for the Adelphi Theater
message :
First off, We would like to thank everyone of the 2,000 Rogers Park residents, and over 10,000 residents from every other ward in the City of Chicago who signed our online and paper petitions opposing a re-zoning of the Adelphi Theater. They were all sent to 49th ward Alderman Joe Moore, to a response that “we obviously need more time to discuss the Clark Street re-zoning”
In our quest to show opposition to a proposed re-zoning of the corner property located on 7070-7078 N. Clark St, we have met with many potential investors who are showing a great interest in purchasing the property from developer Chad Zuric, with the intent of re-opening the theater as a revenue-generating movie theater/music venue and community center. If the zoning changes for the 7070-78 Clark St. property, these plans cannot be accomplished.
This is a petition to all 50 Aldermen of every ward within the City of Chicago, the City Council of Chicago.
We the people of the City of Chicago, oppose a re-zoning of the corner property of 7070-7078 N. Clark Street in Chicago’s 49th ward.
We the people of the City of Chicago, oppose the proposed development of residential units on the corner property of 7070-7078 N. Clark Street in Chicago’s 49th ward.
We the people of the City of Chicago, oppose the proposed raising of the Adelphi Theater on the corner property of 7070-7078 N. Clark Street in Chicago’s 49th ward.
We the people of the City of Chicago, support the proposed Grand Re-Opening of the Adelphi Theater on the corner property of 7070-7078 N. Clark Street in Chicago’s 49th ward.
Thank you,
Citizens for the Adelphi Theater
Name :
Current Address:
for everyone else who agrees in the room :
Name :
Current Address:
Name :
Current Address:
Name :
Current Address:
Name :
Current Address:
Please copy and paste, or forward this e-mail to the following addresses.
Alderman Manuel Flores
Alderman Madeline Haithcock
Alderman Dorothy J. Tillman
Alderman Toni Preckwinkle
Alderman Leslie A. Hairston
Alderman Freddrenna M. Lyle
Alderman William M. Beavers
Alderman Todd H. Stroger
Alderman Anthony Beale
Alderman John Pope
Alderman James A. Balcer
Alderman George A. Cardenas
Alderman Frank J. Olivo
Alderman Edward M. Burke
Alderman Theodore Thomas
Alderman Shirley A. Coleman
Alderman Latasha R. Thomas
Alderman Thomas W. Murphy
Alderman Virginia A. Rugai
Alderman Arenda Troutman
Alderman Howard Brookins Jr.
Alderman Ricardo Munoz
Alderman Michael Zalewski
Alderman Michael D. Chandler
Alderman Daniel Solis
Alderman Billy Ocasio
Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr.
Alderman Ed Smith
Alderman Isaac Carothers
Alderman Ariel E. Reboyras
Alderman Ray Suarez
Alderman Theodore Matlak
Alderman Richard F. Mell
Alderman Carrie Austin
Alderman Rey Colon
Alderman William J.P. Banks
Alderman Emma Mitts
Alderman Thomas R. Allen
Alderman Margaret Laurino
Alderman Patrick J. O'Connor
Alderman Brian G. Doherty
Alderman Burton F. Natarus
Alderman Vi Daley
Alderman Thomas M. Tunney
Alderman Patrick J. Levar
Alderman Helen Shiller
Alderman Eugene C. Schulter
Alderman Mary Ann Smith
Alderman Joseph A. Moore
Alderman Bernard L. Stone
Thank you, the time you have taken to do this, makes all the difference to show the City Council of Chicago how we feel about the Adelphi Theater at 7070-78 N. Clark Street.
The Adelphi Theater is ENDANGERED!!!!! In a recent e-mail I have received as stated below….
[The Adelphi Theater has been purchased by a developer. We had a chance to chat with him about his project, and he stated that demolition will occur within 4 months. A proposed 57 unit condo will stand in it’s place. But to accomplish this he will need the property to be re-zoned for residential. Let’s make sure this doesn’t happen. There 3 things we can do :
They are as follows..
September 20th at 7:00 p.m.
Gale Community Academy
1631 W. Jonquil Terrace, Chicago. 60626
September 22nd at 7:00 p.m.
Loyola Park
1230 W. Greenleaf Ave., Chicago. 60626
September 26th at 7:00 p.m.
St. Scholastica
7416 N Ridge Blvd., Chicago. 60626
September 29th at 7:00 p.m.
Chicago Public Library Rogers Park Branch
6907 N. Clark St., Chicago. 60626
We need to let them know that there is opposition to the re-zoning
of the 7070-78 Clark Street property. Until November 1st, they will be weighing the options … and this is our chance to make a difference.
The following is their contact information :
Alderman Joe Moore’s 49th Ward office
7356 N. Greenview Ave.
Chicago, IL 60626
Phone: 773-338-5796
Fax: 773-338-5989
Alderman Joe Moore’s City Hall office
121 N. Lasalle St.
Room 300, Office 24
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-744-3067
Fax: 312-744-3080
Alderman Joe Moore’s e-mail address:
the Chicago Department of Zoning
(312) 744-3508
the Chicago Department of Planning and Development
(312) 744-4190
the Metropolitan Planning Council
(312) 922-5616
Is there anyone else out there who feels the way we do about this theater? Has anyone noticed, how some people complain that all of these theaters are being demolished, but do nothing to save them ?
This is your chance to step forward and save the theater,
Bill Morton,
Citizens for the Adelphi Theater
p.s.
I’ll upload the photo to
View link
. It’s a 300dpi, 11mb lossless TIFF, so it should look
just about as perfect as possible. If you ever need a
higher res scan, let me know. I went through and
removed the worst of the dust and scratches, so it
should look pretty great. Feel free to use it as you
wish- one thing you might do is take it to Walgreen's
and have it printed photo-size so it’s easy to take
around. Or you could photoshop “Save Me” on the screen
or something. It’s all your call, or I could do it
too.]