Shangri-La Theater
222 N. State Street,
Chicago,
IL
60601
222 N. State Street,
Chicago,
IL
60601
1 person
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Pre 1969 photo:
https://collections.carli.illinois.edu/digital/collection/uic_pic/id/30367?fbclid=IwAR0E8yAgonvHQv-aYRnzS_wu0sSYzNKfkoysrnzWsv3uiv9f_lq7_DWvuWA
April 3, 1979 photo credit John McCarthy/Chicago History Museum.
https://collections.carli.illinois.edu/digital/collection/chm_pp/id/1169/rec/30?fbclid=IwAR37nGYzU7J1KphQbLcuz01XlJAgBIUsmu8TLx3K0f-k3L0VEub09dRjSNE
One not in the gallery, May 1974 photo credit MasMiguel.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/masmiguel/7998302992?fbclid=IwAR2J2YF41bnQ8gD_M6lQMQ46MCzZN5mRASw5qpMI8M_jsySdrrQFGgZNpZ4
Flickr link with proper credit for the previously posted 1964 photo. rivest266 incorrectly believed it was 1968, but Marina City pictured opened to tenants in 1963. The square hotel portion on the left opened in 1964. Other aspects of the buildings were completed by 1968. I live in Chicago and ice skated at Marina City in the `60s.
1964 photo credit Jeanette William via Flickr link below.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jarchie/3552239967/in/photostream/
Photos of Loop, Chicago & Shangri-La Theatres in below link.
https://www.pappaspost.com/vintage-greek-independence-day-parade-photos-chicago/
It appears the Shangri-La was still open in mid `79. Just added a photo that shows the State Street Mall nearing completion, and the Shangri-La still seems possibly active.
“Happy Birthday Kup” in a brief glimpse of the Shangri-La marquee at the head end of this 1965 film on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_6iHXm_3Jw&feature=share
1982 photo added credit John P. Keating Jr., that shows the parking structure continued to stand operational after the demolition of the Shangri-La in 1981. Additional parking was created were it had stood as well. So the subsequent demolition of the parking structure and hotel development happened later.
This opened on June 26th, 1970. Grand opening ad in the photo section. Adult programming by the end of 1970 until it closed.
1973 Tribune photo by Quentin C. Dodt in the link below.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBNnW9xqS0K/
Saint Patrick’s Day Parade 1959 photo added, courtesy of the Chicago’s Extinct Businesses facebook page.
I’ve added some more images to the Photos Section. One is of the Rhumba Casino that preceded the Shangri-La Restaurant, but in the same building.
It should be noted that Jazz Legend Art Tatum was a frequent piano player at the Three Deuces Night Club on this site back in the late 1930’s. Art was then and still is now the greatest Jazz pianist of all time. And in 55 years since his passing at age 47, no one has been able to equal his extraordinary technical skills at the piano. He was one of a kind.
A night photo of the Shangri-La when it was still a restaurant: View link
I saw a John Holmes double feature at this theater. It was a little strange – not like a real movie theater. Now I know it was really a restaurant it makes more sense.
I’m pretty sure we saw the Ali bio pic “The Greatest” at the Shangri-La. Before it went XXX or karate.
That black awning across the street was Govner’s Pub. They’d actually let people cash their paychecks at the bar, and then kept them there drinking. That building was also torn down a few years back as I recall.
Footage of Cabrini-Green WAS used for the “Good Times” TV show open. As well as other B-Roll of Chicago. But that was it. The interiors were filmed in California. “In front of a live studio audience”, as they said at shows end.
BK,
Per your description above, I thought M&R was the last operator of the Oriental?
BW
WOW was that restaurant ever GAUDY! I don’t think I’d ever be comfortable in a place like that.
Greenpoint,
No, those projects were likely Cabrini-Green on the city’s Near North Side. Fortunately, over the past decade, Cabrini-Green has largely been torn down.
Here is a photo of the Shangri-La’s interior while it was a restaurant.
Hey Paul the only thing I knew about Chicago was the projects from Good Times..were those down near the loop.
Here is a mid-1970s view of the Shangri-La.
View link
That the bus is in CTAs “Bi-Centennial” paint scheme would place the photo from 1974 to 1978.
I’m glad that places like this aren’t in the Loop (Chicago’s Downtown) anymore. The Loop is certainly a far nicer place than it was 25-30 years ago.