I can’t answer all of your questions but I can give you this much information:
This is from the local newspaper THE LEADER dated 11/19/86:
“The Will Rogers Theater, a Belmont Central landmark since the 1940’s, was boarded up and listed for sale last week. The asking price is half a million dollars and there is a stipulation that the
buyer cannot show movies in the building.”
The article goes on to state that the orignal owners were Balaban &Katz but later was owned by Plitt and that in the spring of 1985 was purchased by Cineplex Odeon of Toronto. The article also stated
that the head of the Belmont-Central chamber of commerce inquired of what the chain intended to with the Will he was told by a Linda
Friendly of their PR dept. that “we have no plans to stop showing films at the theatre at this time. It’s a good theatre for us.” and
that the rumor about razing the Will was “ridiculous” and “we don’t want to see it boarder up.”
Well boarding it up and razing it is exactly what they had in mind.
BJ & Dirty Dragon was one of the last live kids shows to air from Chicago. Now it’s all animated and syndicated.
I was by the spot last Sunday. The strip mall where the Will stood is still cheezy as ever but the old Goldblatts building across the street is now an interesting European fruit and deli market.
I ran across a story about a female usher at the Ritz who was murdered at the theatre by 3 armed 20 year old punks back in the late 1920’s. There are stories about it if you go to the Chicago Tribune archives.
Thanks for the post of the Will pictures. These must have been taken right before they shut down the theatre for good. Perhaps Russell was tipped off as to the Will’s demise.
The irony of this theatre is that ABC owned it in the end and closed it because they were opening a multi-complex at the Brickyard Shopping Center. When they put the Will on the sale block ABC stipulated that it could not be used to show movies! They didn’t want any competition for the new screens. So, the Will gets demolished and the multi-plex goes belly up and is now a fitness center.
The Rialto was built on the location that once held Elgin’s opera house. The theatre met a tragic end in the early 1950’s when it burned down to the ground. The Rialto was located on Grove St. (one block north of the recently demolished Crocker Theatre) on the south end of Fountain Square. The only photo I have is of the rear of the theatre by the Fox River and shows a Chicago Aurora & Elgin train and a neat Meister Brau beer ad on the back of the building.
The Elgin city fathers are so near sighted. Look at downtown Elgin—it’s a ghost town. What is needed are good resturants and a movie theatre. Now none exist in Elgin. Elgin never recovered from the watch company closing down and the casino hasn’t brought in vistors who would stay and shop in the downtown area.
I thought the building complex of the Montclare was interesting with its white trim terra cotta and apartments and small store fronts. However though I have great memories as a kid seeing Blackboard Jungle, Rebel Without a Cause and Help! just to name a few, I never thought the interior was anything special like the Patio or Will Rogers was. I should be noted that as a kid Hugh Heffner went to and ushered at this theatre. However, no theatre should ever be demolished.
The photos are now on this site.
What is the web address?
I think the Avaloe was smashed in the early 60’s. I know I was by there often in ‘64 and it was gone.
Thanks for the shots. It is painful to see any movie house being demolished.
Most likely. I don’t ever remember seeing the name C-O anywhere at the Will.
Paul,
I can’t answer all of your questions but I can give you this much information:
This is from the local newspaper THE LEADER dated 11/19/86:
“The Will Rogers Theater, a Belmont Central landmark since the 1940’s, was boarded up and listed for sale last week. The asking price is half a million dollars and there is a stipulation that the
buyer cannot show movies in the building.”
The article goes on to state that the orignal owners were Balaban &Katz but later was owned by Plitt and that in the spring of 1985 was purchased by Cineplex Odeon of Toronto. The article also stated
that the head of the Belmont-Central chamber of commerce inquired of what the chain intended to with the Will he was told by a Linda
Friendly of their PR dept. that “we have no plans to stop showing films at the theatre at this time. It’s a good theatre for us.” and
that the rumor about razing the Will was “ridiculous” and “we don’t want to see it boarder up.”
Well boarding it up and razing it is exactly what they had in mind.
BJ & Dirty Dragon was one of the last live kids shows to air from Chicago. Now it’s all animated and syndicated.
I was by the spot last Sunday. The strip mall where the Will stood is still cheezy as ever but the old Goldblatts building across the street is now an interesting European fruit and deli market.
It was Rich Koz—and the place was packed.
Thanks for the sad photos, Bryan
I ran across a story about a female usher at the Ritz who was murdered at the theatre by 3 armed 20 year old punks back in the late 1920’s. There are stories about it if you go to the Chicago Tribune archives.
Can someone take pictures and share them with us?
I was a Shamrock too, class of ‘66. A movie theatre is an anchor of a community and when the Will was shuttered and wrecked so went BC.
Another memory I have is taking my young daughter and nephew to the Will on a Saturday afternoon around 1980 to see Svengoolie live.
You can tell a B&K theatre by the marquee and the color scheme on it.
Thanks for updating the information. It would be nice to see a photo of the Avaloe.
FYI
There is a tavern located on the same block where the theater stood and it is called the Avaloe.
I remember going to the Avaloe as a very young kid in the 1950’s and I can assure you it held more than 299 seats. The site now houses a gas station.
The Evanston is set for demolition. The City Council just voted to allow its destruction so someone can build condos on the site.
Another blow for preservation.
I thought this theatre was damaged by fire near its end. Can anyone confirm this?
Thanks for the post of the Will pictures. These must have been taken right before they shut down the theatre for good. Perhaps Russell was tipped off as to the Will’s demise.
The irony of this theatre is that ABC owned it in the end and closed it because they were opening a multi-complex at the Brickyard Shopping Center. When they put the Will on the sale block ABC stipulated that it could not be used to show movies! They didn’t want any competition for the new screens. So, the Will gets demolished and the multi-plex goes belly up and is now a fitness center.
It’s just another useless strip mall standing now where the theatre and ajoining shops used to stand.
Yes, it was an M&R theatre
The Rialto was built on the location that once held Elgin’s opera house. The theatre met a tragic end in the early 1950’s when it burned down to the ground. The Rialto was located on Grove St. (one block north of the recently demolished Crocker Theatre) on the south end of Fountain Square. The only photo I have is of the rear of the theatre by the Fox River and shows a Chicago Aurora & Elgin train and a neat Meister Brau beer ad on the back of the building.
View link
The Elgin city fathers are so near sighted. Look at downtown Elgin—it’s a ghost town. What is needed are good resturants and a movie theatre. Now none exist in Elgin. Elgin never recovered from the watch company closing down and the casino hasn’t brought in vistors who would stay and shop in the downtown area.
I remember seeing the art film YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT here around 1969 and recall the Aardvark became a prono movie house before it closed.
I thought the building complex of the Montclare was interesting with its white trim terra cotta and apartments and small store fronts. However though I have great memories as a kid seeing Blackboard Jungle, Rebel Without a Cause and Help! just to name a few, I never thought the interior was anything special like the Patio or Will Rogers was. I should be noted that as a kid Hugh Heffner went to and ushered at this theatre. However, no theatre should ever be demolished.