Central Park Theatre

The stage end of the auditorium ahead of the balcony was entirely remodeled, with the original walls, murals, and proscenium removed, the roof raised, and a full vaudeville stage with fly space installed as well as new organ chambers and a new orchestra pit. The seat count was reduced to 1746. The stage opened in April, 1924.

Central Park Theatre is part of Open House Chicago, Saturday October 14 10am-5pm. No cameras per the link below.

https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/central-park-theater/?fbclid=IwAR2nXciaH3UX445ZXjm-2v4_ToyY6ShEdrXbgZYI1UoW6vlHBHUwXpsYMc4#controls

Harry Silverstein, about 25, was shot and killed at the rear of the Central Park Theatre on January 4, 1931. An ex-employee named Rappaport, 20, was on the back of the stage that night with electrician Herbert Imlach, Irving Riffkind and Robert Ross. About 8:30 P. M. a Bob Lewis approached Rappaport to say that Silverstein was outside and that Rappaport went to the stage door and that two shots were heard. Witnesses rushed down to see Silverstein grappling with Rappaport, who ran away to be apprehended at Mansfield, Ohio in February, 1935. He claimed self-defense, great fear of Silverstein, and a history of attacks by Silverstein from high school on combined with death threats without justification. Silverstein was 5'10" tall and weighed 180 pounds, while Rappaport was 5'5" and weighed but 115 pounds.

On the night of the homicide, Rappaport testified that he and some others played cards in the theatre for awhile and he later played solitaire. When made aware that Silverstein was present, he ran to the stage door, opened it and stepped into the alley where he was felled with a powerful blow and that they grappled; that the gun was in the pocket of his coat; that Troubles tore the pocket and the gun fell on the ground; that they both reached for it and in the struggle the gun was discharged; that he believed he was in danger of great bodily harm from Silverstein; that he did not see Ross, Riffkind or Imlach there at that time; that he left the gun on the ramp where it dropped after the shooting; that he immediately ran away, went to New York, assumed the name of Milton Stein, and traveled with a New York salesman through five or six states until he was arrested at Mansfield, Ohio. Riffkind testified that the noise of shots was a part of the picture then playing in the theatre.

Three links, a Go Fund Me page, restoration committee website and official Facebook page.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/central-park-theatre-restoration?fbclid=IwAR3GHRN_iNKjTM2GwM7ubCO876bFchwBhuaS_V_FdtUWOoeMBWx1l3xUMiM

https://centralparktheater.org/

https://www.facebook.com/The-Central-Park-Theater-101889271740886/

A 2013 video found by Tim O'Neill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SetJ4B-Z8X0&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR14zmIodyKYoxf4ieQ8xS0QXv7ex_XF72P1EHvPWXtiwJQOEDmP4i-JI7w

Contrary to the popular narrative, the Central Park did not open with air conditioning and was not the first in Chicago with air conditioning. Its sister, the Riviera, announced its “freezing plant” June 12, 1919. The Central Park’s was announced June 21, 1919. Ad is posted in Photos section.

It’s a hassle to write in the link HTML for everything when it can be copy-pasted just the same.

Try clicking this again. I have no idea why this isn’t working for you, but it’s an April 1918 issue, page 734

Just copy and pasted it in three different browsers and it worked fine.

Thank you DavidZornig for honoring my legendary uncle Dr. Lincoln Scott in your blog. He will moat definitely be missed. However, his passion to restore the amazing Central Park Theater lives. A not for profit Alternative Village is prepared to take to helm on Dr. Scotts behalf.The Central Park Theater has such an historical value to the North Lawndale community, we feel that yhe message muat be continued to be uttered throigh this restorative process.

Named by Landmarks Illinois to their 2015 Most Endangered Historic Places list.

Upon comparing the historic interior photo with photos and videos of the church that is currently in the building, I have noticed that they don’t match. Clearly the historic photo has a “CP” on the valance of the proscenium opening so I take it that is for Central Park. Photos of the proscenium in the church don’t match nor does the ceiling. Can anyone help?