CIBC Theatre

Looks like the logo was updated, looking at the Broadway in Chicago site.

It would be nice if the theater had a more fitting name that had something to do with Chicago and its theatrical history. How about Joseph Jefferson, an early stage performer who was noted for playing Rip Van Winkle and the theater awards in Chicago is named after?

FYI: It was the first theater built in downtown Chicago after the ill fated Iroquois Theater Fire of December, 1903.

Link with a 1970 photo of the Shubert marquee featuring “Hair. Photo credit & copyright Gary J. Siblo.

https://www.clickasnap.com/i/33qhtjjvvfqw3kz7?fbclid=IwAR2fjFy0mOTtCO9cqHgrBqijYWdB3tAVNIF4pVQ0DikF_vqKZ-71hHQAsq4#.XU0InY-dQow.facebook

“Private Bank” was a poor name for a theater let alone a bank. It’s unusual how all the live theaters were spread all across the Loop in contrast to the Movie houses that were concentrated around Randolph and State.

Another new name. As of December 2015 the Majestic/Shubert will be called the PrivateBank Theatre.

Added a 1910 photo copyright Corbis Images. Address on BoA Theatre website is 18 W. Monroe BTW, not 22 as listed in the Overview.

When it was the Shubert, I was stage productions of My Fair Lady and How To Succeed in Business… as a teenager on dates – we actually dressed up for such occasions back then.

Following is a series of vintage images of the Majestic. 1 2 3, the lounges supposedly designed by a young Rapp & Rapp 4

Does anyone know during what periods this theatre showed movies? The description above is not clear.

Not as ugly as the name though.

Lots of cool Chicago photos in this set:

View link

Worth your time to look around.

The Shubert is one of my favorites. I walked by there every night on my way to a security job at the old USG building at Monroe & Wacker in the early 80's. A unique early60’s structure in it’s own right with heated sidewalks, etc., now gone though.

However my favorite story about the Shubert is seeing “A Little Night Music” with Jean Simmon’s and Margaret Hamilton there in late 1977.
We all waited in the ornate lobby as it was promised Ms. Hamilton would come out and say hi.
Almost 40 years from Oz, after a short wait a door slowly opened and she shuffled out carrying shopping bags.

Hauntingly, many children who had waited to see her, and surely understood nothing of “ALNM” which they just sat through, all in unison took one step backwards for every step she took forwards. Always keeping themselves at at least a 5 foot distance.
A chilling site that Ms. Hamilton surely but understandibly, must have encountered her entire life after Oz.
I was 17, but still for a brief second felt the fireballs might come flying.

Kind of sad really since it’s documented that she was a kindergarten teacher before ever taking the Wicked Witch role. And surely adored children early on. Even as Cora the Coffee lady, she was sweet.

In 1991 I saw Robert Morse as Truman Capote in “Tru” at the Shubert. Currently in AMC’s “Madmen”.
He too greeted well wishers in the lobby afterwards. Yet pointed at his throat, and could only shake hands, smile & sign what was put before him.
Then he just casually walked out the front door alone, and off to his hotel. No entourage or TMZ back then.

About a year ago I shot a piece for Cable 25’s “Your Town Chicago”, about Broadway In Chicago. We interviewed the top lady of BIC, in one of the upper side balconies at the Shubert.
The stage was set up for “12 Angry Men” with our own George Wendt.
However we couldn’t shoot the stage, and had to supply all our own power.
BIC graciously provided all other footage we needed from current shows though. It was just the interview, theatre facade & background we needed anyway. I guess I didn’t notice that it was now BoA Theatre when there.