Hinsdale Theater
29 E. 1st Street,
Hinsdale,
IL
60521
29 E. 1st Street,
Hinsdale,
IL
60521
7 people
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Circa 1961 photo as Hinsdale Summer Theatre added credit Tim Crowe. The marquee was modified with that name for stage productions. This from the below 2009 Tribune article by Vikki Ortiz Healy confirms it was used for such in the early `60s, and should be added to the Overview.
“The theater, used for both cinema and stage productions, at the time was one of the only independently owned and operated theaters in the Chicago area, Glass said. This appealed to Hollywood stars looking to make extra cash by acting in summer stock productions.
Sidney Blackmur, a well-known actor, produced the Hinsdale Theater’s summer plays, calling on big names including Charlton Heston, Margaret O'Brien and Robert Q. Lewis to star in his shows, said George Avgeris, Charles' son.
“Hinsdale was a good community to do (the summer stock productions) in because there were a lot of artistic people and it was a relatively well-to-do community,” Glass said.
Opening night parties for the plays became must-be-seen-at black-tie events. Meanwhile, theater apprentices — drama students from the Goodman Theater and other Chicago acting schools — threw raucous parties for the college-age crowd in houses rented near the theater in Hinsdale, George Avgeris said.
In 1962, Blackmur stopped producing the summer plays and the Avgerises turned it over to a local theater group, which lasted just two years."
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2009-12-11-0912090303-story.html
Some sets of pipes went onto the
Pipes in the PeaksCompton in Derbyshire EnglandThe former theater will now house a Mexican restaurant called Cine. View article.
I understand the console went to australia, a number of the pipes went to a project in england, and others remain in storage
it was parted out
Sort of. The lobby end seems to have been destroyed for the store that’s now there, and the stage end is separated and operates as a bar & restaurant.
Looks like they split the auditorium into two floors for two tenants, and included the lobby space in the lower one. Was that how it happened Brian?
As I said, much of the plasterwork is intact. They put walls and floors in but kept as much as possible. http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/ctid808/
If it was converted to retail, then I assume the auditorium was gutted.
Love the 1983 marquee shot,Great.great actor.
The retail establishment occupying the first floor of this building has closed.
Much of the plasterwork is intact.
This theatre was equipped with a Norelco AA-2 (70MM/35mm) projector and a Dolby CP-100 sound system.
Here’s an article about the Hinsdale and its history, including a picture from the time it housed summer stock productions:
View link
There is a circa 1978 photo on page 27 of this survey:
http://tinyurl.com/6pgkls
Terrible outcome—I’ll miss this charming old hardtop. Took my kids there many times, even tho we’re NW Chicagoans; my oldest son was fascinated by their pipe organ. Probably saw there MR. HOLLAND’S OPUS and MISSION IMPOSSIBLE (#1).
Lobby
Updated Russell Phillips link:
Hinsdale Auditorium
What happened to the organ after the place was converted to retail?
I remember seeing some really good films at the Hinsdale—“Patton,” “The Poseidon Adventure,” and a double feature of “MASH” and “The Paper Chase” to name a few. This is going to sound weird, but one of the things I liked about the Hinsdale was that the restrooms were right in the back of the auditorium. You didn’t have to go out to the lobby to get to them. In fact, you could still hear the soundtrack of the film while “taking care of business.” It was nice, because—as long as you could still hear dialogue—you didn’t feel like you were missing any of the movie!
I recently moved back to the Hinsdale area and frequently drive past what used to be the theater. It’s a retail outlet now; the new facade suggests that it used to be something other than a store, and I have to admit it’s quite attractive—but I miss checking that marquee to see what’s playing as I cruise past!
I walked by here today. Nothing remains to indicate that this was a movie theatre. However, it does look better than what was the Varsity Theatre in Evanston, IL (which is now a Gap store with a facade that looks like it was grafted onto the building). At least they did a good job converting the theatre.
Only was here once; however, what a movie! Abel Gance’s Napoleon. Turned out to be one of my all time favorite movies. It was cool seeing it in a theater built during the same era as when the movie was made.
Here are renderings of what the Hinsdale would have looked like renovated
Here is a 1985 photo of the auditorium, Of the lobby. Does anyone know what became of the organ? I saw it up fr sale on theatreorgans.com once, but I never heard where it sold to.
Here’s a link with photos of the theatre. View link