Crocker Theater

Here is an item from the May 5, 1923 issue of The Moving Picture World:

“Ralph Crocker of Elgin, prominent in the film circles of the northern part of the state, now says that the new house he is building in Elgin will be ready by June 1st. and will be known as the Crocker Theatre. It will seat 1,700.”

(Elgin Daily Herald, 1998) – CROCKER DEVELOPER HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS By Brad Hahn Daily Herald Staff Writer

Five months after unveiling his plan to transform Elgin’s Crocker Theater into a thriving downtown mecca, a Chicago-area developer is having second thoughts. Jeff Maher said he’s frustrated by the lack of progress in turning the abandoned landmark into a discount movie house. A tentative agreement to purchase the Crocker expires today, and the developer said he’s unsure if he’ll continue pursuing the building. “I don’t know if I’ll accept or not,” said Maher of an opportunity to extend the agreement. “I don’t know if anyone wants to play ball.“ Specifically, Maher is looking for a response to a preliminary plan he submitted to the Elgin Chamber of Commerce months ago. In that proposal, the developer said it would cost between $2 million and $2.4 million to rehabilitate the gutted auditorium. But to be successful, Maher said, he needed the city’s help. Exactly how much Elgin would have to pitch in was not specified. That detail was left out on purpose, said the developer, who made a success of a similar project in Kenosha, Wis. “Nothing was engraved in stone for price,” he said. “I wanted to see what they’re willing to do and go from there.” But the omission has caused the project to stall, said Jim McConoughey, vice president for economic development at the chamber. After a series of meetings with Maher, McConoughey reviewed the preliminary report and asked for more specifics. Serving as a conduit between developers and the government, McConoughey said he wants to make sure any plan submitted is complete and practical. “A project scope has to come from the developer with details of what his project would be and what the city’s role would be,” McConoughey said. Underlying the discussion is Maher’s tentative pledge to buy the Crocker from current owner Dominic Buttita for $800,000. Some officials at city hall believe the price is too high, given Buttita paid about half that amount for the building two years ago. They’re wary of taxpayer money being used for the owner to make a profit. But Buttita said improvements to the building — including a new roof — bring his investment to more than $1 million. “I think they think I’m making money on this deal and I’m not — I’m going to be losing money,” he said. If Maher can work out financing, a discount movie theater is in line with the city’s plan for downtown, McConoughey said. The question now — as it was months ago — is whether the city and developer can reach a consensus. “I think it would be something people would go to,” McConoughey said. “It would bring folks downtown that historically have not gone downtown.”

Man,why didn’t they take them.Bet someone got them.

Photo two shows what looks like one-sheets in the poster frames,But nothing on the marquee.Did they just shut down and left the one sheets in or were they too lazy to put a title up.Strange!

just found this, on a related note:
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I don’t know where these number are coming from, but according to the book I have right beside me and the Elgin history web site, the correct seating capacity for the Crocker should be 1,600.

Proof can be found under “.4 Silver Screen and Crystal Sets” under chapter VII at this web site:

http://www.elginhistory.com/eaah/

according to our records, as of October 1, 1949, the crocker was part of the B and k Chain. for a complete list of theatres operated by B and k go to www.balabandkatzfoundation.com

David Balaban
Balaban and katz Foundation

You can tell a B&K theatre by the marquee and the color scheme on it.

This was the last theater built in Elgin until the Marcus Fox Theatre opened more than 70 years later.

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.

Here are 2 pics I took during one visit. One is a drawing of the “current” facade. The second was of a historical photo of the theatres early look.

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Michael

Yes,

It was gutted. I first saw it in the winter of 1992-1993. I was doing a research paper for school on the Chicago, Aurora, & Elgin RR which had a power station to the north of the Crocker theatre. The Railroad track was located just behind the Crocker and the Rialto theatres.

When I went to take some research pics of the railroad property, I was able to look into the front doors and see clear through to the back wall of the stage house. Even the lobby was ripped clean of all finishing’s, except for the staircase. There was also a small hole in the rear loading dock door in which you could see the stripped auditorium. I do have exterior shots from that trip,and subsequent visits, but I was never equipped to get shots of the dark interior.

I too will miss this one.

~Michael