The Regent must have opened in 1913. I have just posted a “Under Construction” notice from January 18, 1913 “The Construction News” and the earliest ad I have seen in the Tribune is from December 7, 1913.
It looks like they did a nice job.
Before: http://chicagopatterns.com/belpark-theater-a-chicago-movie-palace-revealed/
Construction videos: Video 1: https://vimeo.com/111057220
Video 2: https://vimeo.com/115832228
Video 3: https://vimeo.com/119613402
They seem to have preserved and exposed most of what remained, and walled over the rest. They partitioned off the rear part of the auditorium into classroom-type space. I’m sure they intend to dismantle that and move those functions to storefront spaces as their congregation grows. The one odd thing I noticed in the video was that the lunettes at the top of each archway in the theatre were removed for some reason.
Joe, The HARGIS system was redesigned and the report from my first comment is now Here. I don’t know if that’s a permanent link, so to find it in the future, the HARGIS system is at http://gis.hpa.state.il.us/hargis/ and you’d search for Broadway-Strand. Page 2 of the report still lists J.H. Gernfeld as architect. However, as you note, other, more primary, sources list Levy. But contrary to your suggestion, J.H. Gernfeld was an actual theater architect in Chicago, responsible for at least a renovation of the Marlowe per p136 of Konrad Schiecke’s Historic Movie Theaters in Illinois. So it’s possible that Levy was the original architect and Gernfeld did a renovation.
I don’t think this was ever named Garden Theater. It closed as the Liberty sometime in 1951 and became the Marcin Ballroom some time that same year, owned by Democratic Committeeman & later City Clerk John C. Marcin. It turned to the Garden Walk restaurant in the late 1960s.
Changed the name to Moviemax Cinemas last month. For the description, note that Phoenix Big Cinemas was just an arm of Phoenix Adlabs, so it’s misleading.
http://archive.org/stream/motionpicturenew18moti_7#page/3586/mode/2up
http://lantern.mediahist.org/catalog/motionpicturenew18moti_7_0964
http://lantern.mediahist.org/catalog/movingpicturewee78movi_1_0589
The architects for this theater are sometimes given as Stanley
D. Anderson and James H. Ticknor. Betts may have contributed.
Opening article with photo
Opening article at archive.org
http://archive.org/stream/exhibitorsherald07exhi_0#page/n441/mode/2up
Opened November 6, 1918. Report from Exhibitor’s Herald in Photos section.
Added a Chicago Tribune announcement which credited John Eberson as architect.
It was noted as being “Under Roof” by March 8
The Regent must have opened in 1913. I have just posted a “Under Construction” notice from January 18, 1913 “The Construction News” and the earliest ad I have seen in the Tribune is from December 7, 1913.
The Studebaker is apparently to reopen October 18. http://www.studebakertheater.com
It looks like they did a nice job. Before: http://chicagopatterns.com/belpark-theater-a-chicago-movie-palace-revealed/
Construction videos: Video 1: https://vimeo.com/111057220 Video 2: https://vimeo.com/115832228 Video 3: https://vimeo.com/119613402
They seem to have preserved and exposed most of what remained, and walled over the rest. They partitioned off the rear part of the auditorium into classroom-type space. I’m sure they intend to dismantle that and move those functions to storefront spaces as their congregation grows. The one odd thing I noticed in the video was that the lunettes at the top of each archway in the theatre were removed for some reason.
Joe, The HARGIS system was redesigned and the report from my first comment is now Here. I don’t know if that’s a permanent link, so to find it in the future, the HARGIS system is at http://gis.hpa.state.il.us/hargis/ and you’d search for Broadway-Strand. Page 2 of the report still lists J.H. Gernfeld as architect. However, as you note, other, more primary, sources list Levy. But contrary to your suggestion, J.H. Gernfeld was an actual theater architect in Chicago, responsible for at least a renovation of the Marlowe per p136 of Konrad Schiecke’s Historic Movie Theaters in Illinois. So it’s possible that Levy was the original architect and Gernfeld did a renovation.
I recently posted a still from an industrial film featuring the Wilmette.
Built by John S. Ahamnos, who also built the New Apollo at Pulaski & North
Probably was remodeled early on to provide a larger stage and screen.
Earlier this year, it was renamed the Diamond Garden, and the exterior has been remodeled slightly.
I don’t think this was ever named Garden Theater. It closed as the Liberty sometime in 1951 and became the Marcin Ballroom some time that same year, owned by Democratic Committeeman & later City Clerk John C. Marcin. It turned to the Garden Walk restaurant in the late 1960s.
I think that’s probably a sign for Wieboldt’s in the distance.
http://calumet412.com/post/96274729551/looking-north-west-on-division-at-ashland-1939
Changed the name to Moviemax Cinemas last month. For the description, note that Phoenix Big Cinemas was just an arm of Phoenix Adlabs, so it’s misleading.
1949
Holiday released in 1938
Robin Hood released in 1938