Glen Art Theatre
540 Crescent Boulevard,
Glen Ellyn,
IL
60137
540 Crescent Boulevard,
Glen Ellyn,
IL
60137
12 people favorited this theater
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1934 photo added via 1934 photo via Stephen Regier‎. Original marquee and a 1934 Pontiac Eight 2 door Touring Sedan parked out front.
There was a previous Glen theater in Glen Ellyn. It opened in 1914 at 481 Main Street, designed by George Awsumb for T. Stuart Smith. It was operated by Sam Bowden. In 1923 Polka Brothers took over the lease, intending to demolish it and build a new 1000 seat theatre. However, voters shut down Sunday movies, which killed these plans, but they proceeded without Polka Brothers. Later, a theater was proposed for Main & Duane streets, but went unbuilt, as did a proposed theater in conjunction with a Masonic Lodge. The Glen opened February, 1927.
This theater was featured in the film ‘'Lucas’‘ (1986) Starring: Corey Haim & Charlie Sheen.
What a horrible movie"MONSIGNOR" we played it first run,but wasn’t charging $1.50 a seat like GlenArt was doing.
Here is a night shot from 1982:
http://tinyurl.com/d3ymgw
Here is another photo:
http://tinyurl.com/deb2fx
Here is a 1982 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/dzxbdw
Here is a photo, circa 1920s:
http://tinyurl.com/2oohrl
A scene in the movie “Lucas” (1986) was shot outside with 2 clear shots of the marquee and also inside one of the theaters.
whar are the seating arrangements like at this theater? spread out? close together? arm rests?
In the late seventies, I lived in one of the small apartments above the Glen. Just before film time the smell of popcorn would waft through the building. The projectionist’s booth was a short walk across the flat roof. In the theater’s basement was a small shuttered bowling alley. That arrangement reminded me of the old Villard theater in Villa Park, designed by the same people, Betts and Holcomb.
I’d like to know this too. Recently a large number of interior photos was posted to http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=6473 . It looks pretty blitzed to me, but you never know.
Was the original auditorium entirely gutted or is it hidden behind sheetrock and drapes? The interior of the theatre looks a bit drab and uninviting.
The Glen Art’s official website is http://glenarttheatre.com/ and includes another early picture of the theatre.
View link Shows a night view of the picture, and the ebay offerings gallery on the same page includes the above postcard and an alternate view.
The theater was built by the same firm that built the des plaines, catlow and deerpath theaters, the latter two of which share many exterior similarities. From the looks of it, I would guess the 60s modernization craze took its toll on the Glen. In the photo on this page you can see details like divided-pane windows, scrollwork over the brick, and detailed columns adding to the unusual tudor revival look. In the current photos, the brick has been replaced with plain, non-matching brick, one-over-one windows, storefronts modernized. A shame it’s lost so much of its architectual integrity.
Brian: After viewing the photos on the cinematour.com site you posted I can see the facade in color much better. I do feel that the former squared-off marquee was in better keeping with the square lines of the tudor style building and that the curved marquee lends itself more to the art deco curves ‘look’! So just wonder how this change got approved?
Brian: Upon closer inspection I do now see some similarities i.e. the above windows and exterior moldings so these theatres are ‘one in the same’!
Actually, it is. The facade has been modernized somewhat. http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=6473
In Popcorn Palaces there is an art deco theatre with curved marquee listed on page 121 called the Glen which also in Glen Ellyn, Illinois at 540 Crescent Boulevard, but it is not this one!
Firm should be Betts & Holcomb.