Plaza Theatre

https://archive.org/details/variety20-1910-10/page/n151/mode/1up?view=theater

This first opened as the Comedy Theatre December 15, 1909. It was apparently a huge failure initially, as crowds stuck to Sittner’s Theatre across the street. It soon reopened as the Plaza.

theater in 1962. it became an adult house in 1962.nthe playmates sold popcorn and posed for photos in the lobby. the dancer were hired for the stage shows. one of the playmates wore a topless swimsuit on north avenue beach as a publicity stunt on June 20, 1964. at one time the plaza, kim, oak and town (now the park west) were all operated by the same owners. I believe that they still own the park west. a tragic homicide occurred there after hours around 1968 and 1969.

Thanks for the pic, Compass. I remember the huge vertical sign ;had forgotten what the marquee was like. What was playing that day- HOLLYWOOD NUDIST REPORT and ADOLESCENT SHAME?? And the sidewalk sign by the curb states FREE PARKING…? Just want to make one correction- if the pic is from 1964, the Plaza was not close to demolition. I have the Sun Times movie listings from May 8, 1968- the Plaza was still open, showing AGONY OF LOVE plus THE NAKED CAPER.It may have been in operation til 1969 or even to 1970. Anyway, thanks again for posting.

Ogden north of North Avenue was removed in 1967 as part of an urban renewal project for Lincoln Park.
A very detailed description of Ogden can be read on the awesome site Forgotten Chicago:

http://www.forgottenchicago.com/ogden1.php

I think Ogden at one time ran past North all the way to Clark St. Someone once told me that you can spot the former path pretty easily by looking at an aerial photograph.

Yes, the Plaza Playmates were more like Playboy bunnies -without the bunny ears and tail- than real strippers. Good looking, although the one who sold me the popcorn had lots of makeup and bright red lipstick. The Plaza must have had huge AC and heating bills; the place was that big. That was probably a factor in its closing-and, of course, the competition.

I meant Plaza not Plaze but it double posted.

So in other words the Plaze Playmates were more like Playboy Bunnies than actual strippers. Pretty interesting.

This one I completely drew a blank on. I went to high school right up the street at St. Michaels in 1974. So I rode the bus past here every day for a year. Can’t see how I missed it unless it was then recently gone. The address would put it where that giant subsidized housing high rise is near North-North Park Street, West of Weiland St. I’m not sure it’s Orleans on the North side of North Ave.
I worked at Old Town Players on North-North Park & Eugenie, and don’t remember the Plaza at all. Unlike the Aardvark, which I remember all to well.

I’ll ask my friend who grew up on Weiland about the Plaza.

P.S. So needless to say I know nothing of the Plaza Playmates. Now the Key Club though on Burton-(now Burton Place), I remember from delivering pizzas. There was always an instant dispute as to which driver would deliver there. And why it took so long to return.

Perhaps the Plaza closed in the mid 50s, but it definitly reopened- and went through two name changes.From the Chicago Sun Times movie listings,Wed. May 1, 1963: New PLAZA 308 W. North Phone 337-4356 Last Week “LADY WITH THE DOG” Plus “GOOD NIGHT, SOCRATES” Op. 6p.m.-Last Complete Show 9:50. Not long after, the Plaza went to soft core adult films- similar to what the downtown Monroe theatre was showing at the time. From the Chicago Sun Times movie listings Monday May 2,1966: PLAZA ART THEATRE FREE PARKING ADULTS ONLY Continuous Daily Noon to Midnite Midnite Show FRI. & SAT. Last 2 Days! “MUDHONEY” LEAVES A TASTE OF EVIL! IN PERSON Frisco Style GO-GO GIRLS! Plus 2nd SURPRISE ADULT HIT! I went to the Plaza once as a teenager; my memories are few:a very large neighborhood theatre, lots of empty seats on the afternoon I attended, got a box of popcorn from a young lady who looked like a Playboy bunny, sitting in the auditorium watching many trailers, mostly black and white, among them “ONE SHOCKING MOMENT” “COPENHAGEN CALL GIRLS”. To Life’s too short: I’m pretty sure the Plaza was closed for good by the late 60s; for sure by the early 70s.The Aardvark theatre opened in 1966(1967?), just a few short blocks east of the Plaza. The competition was too much for the Plaza. If memory serves, the Aardvark lasted to 1974, maybe 1975 ,showing hard core porno. The Plaza was long gone.