Beverly Theatre
1543 W. 95th Street,
Chicago,
IL
60635
1543 W. 95th Street,
Chicago,
IL
60635
8 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 73 comments
Grand opening ad posted.
Links to the Getty Images photos of the Beverly Theatre.
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/exterior-view-of-the-beverly-theater-located-at-95th-and-news-photo/99252539?irgwc=1&esource=AFF_GI_IR_TinEye_77643&asid=TinEye&cid=GI&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=TinEye&utm_content=77643
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/exterior-view-of-the-beverly-theater-showing-the-ticket-news-photo/99252692?irgwc=1&esource=AFF_GI_IR_TinEye_77643&asid=TinEye&cid=GI&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=TinEye&utm_content=77643
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/interior-view-of-the-beverly-theater-showing-seating-in-the-news-photo/99254722?irgwc=1&esource=AFF_GI_IR_TinEye_77643&asid=TinEye&cid=GI&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=TinEye&utm_content=77643
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/interior-view-of-the-beverly-theater-showing-seating-in-the-news-photo/101596485?irgwc=1&esource=AFF_GI_IR_TinEye_77643&asid=TinEye&cid=GI&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=TinEye&utm_content=77643
1935 photo added courtesy of J.J. Sedelmaier.
I remember seeing Mary Poppins there and then going next door to the Toy/Hobby Shop and wanting a Mary Poppins umbrella, I didn’t get it…but, I did get one several years ago when I saw it on stage at the Oriental. Childhood dreams can come true!
Boxoffice of July 27, 1935, said that the Beverly Theatre was designed by architects Ronald F. Perry and Helmuth Bartsch. >This web page about Helmut [sic] Bartsch has seven photos of the Beverly Theatre (and also four apparently unrelated photos mistakenly labeled as depicting the Beverly Theatre.)
Helmuth Bartsch was an associate of Holabird & Root or its successor firms from 1928 through 1965. Ronald Perry was not mentioned in an exhaustive list of the Holabird & Root’s associates, so he must have been an independent architect.
I use to live down the street from the theater, I remember seeing King Kong when it was playing, and after it became a church, I attended the Sunday School services provided. It was walking distance from me. Now living in MN, I look at these photos and I realize that this is a part of me and my family history
As noted in earlier comments, Mason Rapp of Rapp & Rapp did remodeling work in the 1950s.
Confused…why is this listed under Rapp and Rapp Architects?
During a screening of the desert epic “Lawrence of Arabia" in 1962, during intermission, the Beverly blocked the water fountains on each side of the lobby with lemonade stands.
The building is now the Third Baptist Church of Chicago. http://www.flickr.com/photos/zol87/4796931252/ http://www.movie-theatre.org/usa/il/chicago/IL%20Chicago%20City.pdf The Zip code should be 60643 and the Google street view map needs to be updated
Thank you for posting pictures of the Beverly Theater. I well remember my Dad taking me there as a child in the early 70s to see the classic Disney films that ran on Saturday afternoons. I saw my first features there as well and if I was lucky I might get something from the hobby shop next door.
I have great memories of those early days in Chicago and the Beverly was part of that. A beautiful venue that the State Street venues at the time could not match and would outshine today’s multiplexes.
Thank you for hosting such a fine establishment. It was very appreciated and sorely missed from the day it closed.
My grandmother was Ethel Nortman Henricks and her father, Fred Nortman, owned several theaters on the south side (Fecher and Nortman). Ed Schell also was a theater owner and was Fred Nortman’s brother-in-law. We had free passes to the Beverly Theater when I was growing up because the Costans were associates/friends. Does anyone remember the Nortman/Fecher theaters?
I had the privelege to work with Sam Coston and his sons, Nick and Jim, during the late 70’s with Plitt Theatres (Orland Square 1-4). In my 30+ years in this business, Sam is at the top of a short list of the best, a true gentleman. He will be missed.
Sam Coston, longtime Warners employer, Beverly Theatre operator, and Ops Manager for Plitt Theatres, Midwest, passed away suddenly while traveling in Europe with his wife, Demetra, October 8th, 2010. He was 87. Funeral arrangements in Chicago will be posted.
I remember Molly from Le Bon Bon. I was about 10, helped her put different color whipped cream on everything. I should be in Chicago the weekend of August 20th am hoping to swing by The Bev (aka Church) and arrange a weekend day in the fall when we can all meet there for a reunion. Does anyone know where we can find John Kenney, Ray’s son?
Thanks,fyi had an awesome Beverly dream a few nights ago where we re-opened it. Place looked great, and was filled up. Too many bourbons, I guess.
Nick Coston
I am confused about the opening date for the Beverly theater. There was a grand opening that featured a raffle for a great bike that came with a portable radio on the handlebars. My father and I were there and I won the raffle. I was not able to ride the bike so we walked it to our home in Brainard. I was six years old and was born in 1933. So the opening was in 1939?
The bike was never ridden and was sold at an estate sale in Phoenix in 1991 for $900.
Nice image:
View link
Haven’t read the article, but it is probably good too.
I was an usher at the Beverly for most of 1948 and a parking lot attendant throughout 1949 and into 1950, a promotion that got me a raise from 35 cents an hour to 45 cents. The manager was Ray Kenney, a decent guy but deathly afraid of the owner, Jim Coston. The names I remember were Brady (assistant manager), DePaul (head usher) and his brother, the Hennessey brothers, Leo and Bernie, the Cummings brothers, and the candy-counter girl, Betty Hallstein. We had a good softball team in the (unofficial) Warner Brothers theater league. Lots of good memories. My family attended movies at the Beverly from its opening until a year before it closed. Larry Smith
Haven’t heard about John Kenney Nick. I know Ray Kenney Jr. passed away awhile ago; by the Way Nick, thanks so much for the info on your movie.
Mike Kenney is still around and still Married to Betty (Hannifin), remember her mom Molly, used to work at La Bon Bon,– in the kitchen, preparing sandwitch’s a few days a week. Jean Latere was there at lunch most of the time.
Nick, most of this is after you time. I’m speaking about a time from 1964-1967, for me.
Yes, I do have many Pictures of the old Warner Brothers group.
They go WAY, back, to the day’s my Dad was an usher and Fire Marshall,prior to the depression.
Wonderful wide shots of Warner manager’s at Dinner Parties, even a Photo of my Dad, with Ann Sheridan,this was my dad’s most treasure Photo.
I worked as an usher at the Beverly Theatre between 1961 and 1962 while still attending Mendel High School. I used to tell people I was in show business or I worked at “The House of Usher.”. It was a lot of fun seeing all those movies for free, filling the pop machine with green river, and changing the letters on the marquee. My first movie there was “Swiss Family Robinson” with John Mills and Dorothy McGuire. The smell of pop corn will always remind me of the Beverly Theatre and our wonderful candy girls: Mary McNally, Margie Brennan, Betty and Maureen Hannifin, etc. Sadly, I have attended the wakes of two of my friends and co-workers Ray Kenney,Jr.and Mike Hennessey.
Hi and thanks to Dan McClowry for the name of the soda shop (boy, that sure dates me) next to the Beverly in the late 40s early 50s. My niece was 6 years behind me at AOL (Longwood) — she was a bridesmaid at my wedding the summer before she started high school and I thought it was called something else. I guess she was right about it being Joy’s. Those were good days and we had a lot of fun there. Thanks again Sheila S.
The store next to the Beverly theatre, prior to Le Bon Bon, was called “Joy’s.” It was primarily an ice cream parlor. We lived at 97th & Beverly Ave., and we went there often.
Hello everyone. My name is Tim O'Neill, former South Sider, now current North Sider. I saw my first movie at the Beverly Theatre in 1968. The movie was THE JUNGLE BOOK. Since next year will be the 75th Anniversary of the Beverly, would anyone be interested in getting a 75th Anniversary show going. Now I don’t know how the church would feel about this, but if somehow some funds can be raised, we could temporarily install a projector in the booth (assuming if the booth is still there) and maybe show a movie from 1935, or spend an entire weekend showing various films. Obviously this is a pipe dream on my part, but I am an experienced projectionist and I can find someone to do the temporary installation job. All I need is the money to do it. If anyone has any ideas please let me know at Thank you all for reading
I was in 5th grade during that storm. Ray Kenney and Al Kapp had to spend the night in the Theatre. Luckily, they had The Bon Bon next store so they had plenty of food and ice cream. I remember the igloo’s we dug out back. My Dad, Sam, had to put chains on his tires to get thru. We picked up Karl Heyl first, then headed to The Bev.
Am all in if you guys can get a Bev Theatre reunion up some weekend, I’ll get us into the theatre too.
Anyone know where John Kenney is, Ray’s son?
All the best to all of you.
Somehow I made it out to the Theatre.
I was a Senior @ LEO High School, got home somehow and then went to work @ the Bev. ($1.50 an hour-For the Chief of Service—ME).
My Friend Bill Partman and his girlfriend, and the girl who was my steady, wound up getting to the SHOW, witch wa closed and we shovedled and had such a great time.