Comments from DavidZornig

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DavidZornig
DavidZornig commented about Uptown Theatre on Jan 14, 2011 at 2:53 pm

Just ran across an old Chicago Tribune Magazine dated April 25, 1993, which has an article about the Uptown Theatre called “Sleeping Beauty”.(Pages 16-18)

Tribune Photographer Charles Osgood included 9 pictures and wrote the piece as well. It cites 1983 as the year it was boarded up.
Though `81 I believe was still the year of the actual closure.

The front page of the magazine has a line at the bottom that reads:
“A movie palace in search of a happy ending.”
After another 18 years on top of those first 12, how true.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig commented about James M. Nederlander Theatre on Jan 8, 2011 at 7:06 am

Well this must be a first.
This February The Oriental will be hosting the upcoming Chicago mayoral debates and telecasting them live on ABC Channel 7.

It will be interesting to see if they do any exterior or interior panoramic shots to showcase the theatre.
Someone needs to snap a pic of the marquee advertising this event if they do so.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig commented about Congress Theater on Jan 2, 2011 at 10:22 am

The Congress made the news this morning. Apparently Chuck Berry collapsed and had to be helped off stage during his show last night. But returned later to a thinning crowd.

At 84, he had supposedly done 2 New Years shows the night before in New York.
One story has him being checked out by paramedics before the Congress show. Only to fall ill during it as well.
He left in a limo though, not an ambulance.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig commented about James M. Nederlander Theatre on Dec 24, 2010 at 8:03 am

There is a local group that offers Haunted Chicago tours of some sort. Might even be called that.
I know that the former Iroquois site & the original Chicago Historical Society (later Limelight/now Excalibur), is on their tour. The latter being where bodies were brought after the Eastland disaster.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig commented about Pantages Theatre on Dec 19, 2010 at 6:55 am

A televsion program that aired on NBC Chicago-12/18/10 called “LX.TV 1st Look”, included a segment about the Pantages. Celebrating their 80th Anniversary and currently running a stage version of “West Side Story”.
Also mentioned was the Pantage’s history of hosting 11 Academy Awards presentations.

Plenty of nice footage showcasing the Pantage’s interior and some backstage dressing shots.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig commented about Carnegie Theatre on Dec 16, 2010 at 11:51 am

Sorry captain54, didn’t see your question until today. I’ll have to ask around about Isbells. It appears from ken mc’s 04/18/09 photo to be in the building that housed The Athenian Room in the late 60's, and later Faces in the70’s. It’s now the “new” Barney’s of New York who vacated the old Oak Tree spot across the street.

To ken mc, the Singapore Room was indeed a restaurant. I posted previously about the colorful, animated neon monkeys that adorned that very marquee. A sign that was also seen in the opening montage of WGN’s old Night Beat news program with Jack Taylor, and later Marty McNeely. Good old Carl Greyson hosted a few times as well.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig commented about Azusa Foothill Drive-In on Dec 16, 2010 at 11:32 am

The Azusa Foothill Drive In Theatre is featured in the Bloodhound Gang’s 2000 music video/remake of The Association’s “Along Comes Mary”.
The opening shot is the neon marquee at night. The rest is a bit of a mess.
Can be easily found on YouTube.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig commented about TCL Chinese Theatre on Dec 13, 2010 at 3:03 pm

Page 13 of the December/January Reminisce Magazine, has a half page 1953 photo of Grauman’s exterior. Depicting the Cinemascope showing of “The Robe”. A special Cinemascope marquee appears to have been built spanning the front entrance.

It might be available for viewing at Reminisce.com
If not, someone would have to scan it and properly credit the owner/source.

It appears to have been sent from a personal collection.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig commented about RKO Fordham Theatre on Dec 10, 2010 at 2:51 pm

The very first post about this theater mentions it’s placement in “The Wanderers” opening credits. Now available on YouTube, which probably wasn’t around in 2004.
An interesting observation I made is, the films advertised on the RKO Fordham marquee in “The Wanderers” are “Battle Cry” & “War Is Hell”. This was obviously supposed to be an establishing shot that it was set in 1963. JFK’s assassination plays a part later in the film.
In reality though, the two films playing at the Texas Theater when Oswald was caught were “Cry Of Battle” & War Is Hell". Oddly “Battle Cry”-1955 & “Cry Of Battle”-1963 both starred Van Heflin. Was “The Wanderes” director just going from memory, or did “Battle Cry” ring with more resonance given the films gang theme? Guess we’ll hve to rent the director’s cut.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig commented about New 400 Theaters on Dec 8, 2010 at 7:52 am

I’d suggest posting your 12/07/41 query over on the Chicago Theatre page. More people will see it on that page than here. Some of the downtown theatre pages have lists of what played when. But only back to the `60’s in most cases as I recall.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig commented about Fox Theatre on Dec 7, 2010 at 3:34 pm

Last night on “American Pickers”, the boys unearthed a vintage wooden lobby card display from the Brooklyn Fox Theatre.
It appeared to stand about 6 feet tall with intricately carved edges and a glass door still intact.
It was part of a massive collection of stuff abandoned in a huge Manhattan storage locker. Original Coney Island ride cars & carriages were also a focal point.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig commented about Rex Theatre on Nov 24, 2010 at 8:34 pm

TCM ran a program titled “Brother Can You Spare A Dream” this evening. It was about the birth of the motion picture industry & moguls in California, through 1939.

One of the early black film pioneers was profiled as well, and the segment was accompanied by an old photo of a building adorned with signage that read simply “Rex Theatre For Colored People”. There was no marquee, just painted signs above the doors of a two story building.

William’s 2004 comments make it possible that this might be the same theatre.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig commented about Nortown Theater on Nov 21, 2010 at 11:14 am

Yeah, all of the above.
Plus I’m sure the cost of heating & cooling such a large structure year round took it’s financial toll.
The basic overhead of such utilities was less of an issue back in the day when these old palaces had full houses.
I mentioned this of some of the downtown theater pages as well.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig commented about Mission 4 Drive-In on Nov 16, 2010 at 6:10 pm

Thanks for the pics Chuck. And may I say those are the fastest responding links I think I’ve ever encountered.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig commented about King Center Twin Drive-In on Nov 8, 2010 at 8:32 am

The Aug/Sept 2010 Reminisce Magazine has an article with stories about people’s experiences at old Drive In theatres.
One writer mentions that her Bethany Lutheran Church would host Easter services in various Houston Drive Ins.
The story includes a picture credited to RDA-MKE/Don Sanders, Dallas TX, of a giant cross erected in front of the screen at one such event. All the cars are mid to late `50’s.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig commented about Rose Theater on Nov 8, 2010 at 8:12 am

This theatre is mentioned in the Aug/Sept copy of Reminisce Magazine. It states that it was located right next to a set of railroad tracks. And that the theatre would shake when trains went by.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig commented about Miracle Mile Drive-In on Nov 8, 2010 at 8:08 am

There’s a story in the Aug/Sept 2010 Reminisce Magazine about a young married couple in 1951, going to the Telegraph Drive In. They won their honeymoon trip money in a Lucky License (plate) contest. I see no Telegraph or other Drive-In theatres listed in Toledo. Any clues as to where they were?

DavidZornig
DavidZornig commented about McVickers Theatre on Oct 17, 2010 at 9:37 am

Just in case a Google search doesn’t bring it up properly, the old Chicago Historical Society is now called the Chicago History Museum. And I’m petty sure it uses a Clark St address.

They made the change a number of years ago, I think to in order to qualify for different types of funding or grants.

Down at the Chicago Cultural Center, Tim Samuelson is also a great source for Chicago history.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig commented about UCLA Nimoy Theatre on Oct 4, 2010 at 9:21 pm

Sorry folks. I had to post this in order to deactivate my notification status for this particular theater.
My inbox has been overflowing with all the otherwise welcome activity this theater is receiving as of late.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig commented about Cadillac Palace Theatre on Sep 28, 2010 at 2:40 pm

Just caught an old matchbook cover of the Bismarck on Craigslist. The Swiss Chalet was the restaurant just East & connected to the lobby of the the theater/building. It appeared their own sign was mounted on the East end of the Bismarck overhang.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig commented about Capitol 6 Drive-In & Public Market on Sep 28, 2010 at 11:02 am

This theater just hosted the Hot San Jose Nights Car Show & Event. They ran the movie “American Graffiti”, and Candy Clark who played Debbie in the film made a personal appearance.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig commented about Cinema Theater on Sep 20, 2010 at 1:47 pm

Yes, the taxes. That unfortunately was first & foremost in the destruction of many Near North side buildings of significance. Multiple individual units upwards, meant far more money in the city & county’s pocket.

Even 1920’s low rises built by historic architects were sacrificed.
The real gall was when such demolitions were questioned or exposed by preservationists, public officials arrogantly claimed “they weren’t that significant”. The S/W corner of Superior & Wabash comes to mind. Where Zuverink was the anchor tenant.
Torn down around early 2000. Shameful.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig commented about Lorraine Theatre on Sep 16, 2010 at 10:41 am

If this place is indeed for sale, why don’t the sellers post a link with the sale information? Price, yearly taxes etc. Then anyone who may have other buyers who might be interested, would have some type of link to forward. Why all the mystery between this page, and the story on CT’s “For Sale” page?

DavidZornig
DavidZornig commented about Woods Theatre on Aug 13, 2010 at 9:18 pm

By the way, the film on the Woods marquee in “Mickey One” was “The Cardinal”. Which is the first film on JRS40’s 05/04/07 list of movies.
“Mickey One” itself would later play at the Woods as well when it was first released. Starting 10/27/65, according to the same list above.
Another notable Chicago site in the film was the old Gate Of Horn nightclub on the S/E corner Dearborn & Chicago Ave. Which doubled as a place called Xanadu in the film.
A club where Lenny Bruce had played and I believe was later arrested in.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig commented about Woods Theatre on Aug 9, 2010 at 3:32 pm

Just watched the 1965 Warren Beatty film “Mickey One” on TCM.
Filmed in Chicago, it showcased the seedy side of a nightclub comedian on the run from the mob.
The underside of Woods Theatre marquee & the Woods Building had a brief appearance. Also an interior shot looking outward from the Woods Building lobby. The plywood walls from the construction of the Daley Center across the street can be seen in the background.