I remember going to the Des Plaines when I was a little kid. At the time it was a twin second run theatre. It was dark. It also had a strange shape (like all such conversions): graceful curve on one side, straight wall on the other. I remember a few plaster details covered with one color of paint. But that was the only vestige of the old days. If you can say anything about the 70’s & 80’s it is that twin conversions kept some of these places from being demolished long enough for alternative uses to arise.
I honestly didn’t think anything good was going to happen here, based on what I perceived to be the attitude of the owner. But it seems like better days may be ahead.
I think the Urban Remains listing is inaccurate. That sign is not from the 30’s, if memory serves. I think it is a recreation installed at the time of the multiplex conversion.
It seems like there’s been consistent interest in restoring the Varsity over the last few years. Every time I think the subject has died down I hear from someone that it is being dicussed again by people who seem to matter. I’d love to see the project come to pass. But what would they do with it?
This doesn’t seem like a big deal to me. The St. Francis has been sitting for a long time, and this project seems like it will be good for the area. San Francisco also has a fair number of classic venues in decent condition. The real crime in this town was committed decades ago when the Fox was torn down. I would give you the Golden Gate, the Castro and all the rest if we could just have that one back.
Lot is vacant. No coming soon signs for the development project. The theatre seemed so big, but the vacant lot seems so small. It’s amazing how much they fit onto a limited piece of property.
There was a time when nobody would have considered selling the name of an important public place, because it was understood that some things are sacred. Then along came the baby boom generation with their up-yours, I’m going to what I want attitude, and here we are. The one that really kills me is the “Willis Tower” in Chicago. I’m glad to hear about the Mayor of Boston. Maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel after all.
That’s too bad. It was a really nice-looking room.
When it was divided, did they go left and right or front and back?
Vintage postcard:
http://flickr.com/photos/streetsofdc/4333794382/
Picture about halfway down. The large trusses you see were for the theatre:
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This place looks disgusting:
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/macwagen/393245066/
Flickr photos. The future does not look bright:
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I went here once. It was a decent place: similar to the Belvidere in Waukegan and very much a blast from the past. This was probably around 1999-2000.
Looking good:
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Many not-so-cool modern phtos here:
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Interesting, but I’m not sure what the angles it:
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Many cool Kenosha Theatre pictures at this link. Scroll through using thumbnails at right:
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I remember going to the Des Plaines when I was a little kid. At the time it was a twin second run theatre. It was dark. It also had a strange shape (like all such conversions): graceful curve on one side, straight wall on the other. I remember a few plaster details covered with one color of paint. But that was the only vestige of the old days. If you can say anything about the 70’s & 80’s it is that twin conversions kept some of these places from being demolished long enough for alternative uses to arise.
I honestly didn’t think anything good was going to happen here, based on what I perceived to be the attitude of the owner. But it seems like better days may be ahead.
Photo toward the bottom:
http://news.racinepost.com/2009_05_10_archive.html
I think the Urban Remains listing is inaccurate. That sign is not from the 30’s, if memory serves. I think it is a recreation installed at the time of the multiplex conversion.
It seems like there’s been consistent interest in restoring the Varsity over the last few years. Every time I think the subject has died down I hear from someone that it is being dicussed again by people who seem to matter. I’d love to see the project come to pass. But what would they do with it?
I’ve never seen that before. It makes a certain amount of sense.
Was there any relationship between Van Gunten and Van Gunten and Eugene De Rosa? To me the Tivoli looks similar to this place:
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The organ console is in one of the boxes?
This doesn’t seem like a big deal to me. The St. Francis has been sitting for a long time, and this project seems like it will be good for the area. San Francisco also has a fair number of classic venues in decent condition. The real crime in this town was committed decades ago when the Fox was torn down. I would give you the Golden Gate, the Castro and all the rest if we could just have that one back.
Lot is vacant. No coming soon signs for the development project. The theatre seemed so big, but the vacant lot seems so small. It’s amazing how much they fit onto a limited piece of property.
Is that the organization that runs all the PX outlets?
Interior, also from Jack Coursey:
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They won’t quit. Pretty cool.
There was a time when nobody would have considered selling the name of an important public place, because it was understood that some things are sacred. Then along came the baby boom generation with their up-yours, I’m going to what I want attitude, and here we are. The one that really kills me is the “Willis Tower” in Chicago. I’m glad to hear about the Mayor of Boston. Maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel after all.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bwchicago/2519349554/