Chicago Theatre
175 N. State Street,
Chicago,
IL
60601
175 N. State Street,
Chicago,
IL
60601
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Showing 76 - 100 of 304 comments
Here is another
Here is a 1949 view (color!)
Here is a 1987 view, with the vertical sign looking very worn
View link another photo from the lens of Stanley Kubrick
This photograph of the Chicago Theatre was taken in 1933 by George Mann of the comedy dance team, Barto and Mann.
From the Tribune movie directory dated Friday, December 5, 1941: CHICAGO OPEN 10:15A.M. TODAY The sky’s the limit for stage revelry and screen deviltry! CLAUDETTE COLBERT RAY MILLAND BRIAN AHERNE “SKYLARK” oo- LA-LA ON STAGE! CLIFFORD C. FISCHER’S ALL NEW Folies Bergere of 1942 70 Dazzling Minutes 53 Entertainers 10 Lavish Scenes 30 Gorgeous BEAUTIES featuring GENE SHELDON SENOR WENCES LUCIENNE & ASHOUR ANDRE RATOUCHEFF LITTLE FRED & CO. (and a few other names I’ve never heard of- with the exception of Senor Wences on the Ed Sullivan show?).
On Dec.7, 1941. My Dad took me to a Matinee at the Chicago Theater. When we came out,the streets were full of newspaper Boys. Extra, Extra “WAR”. We saw a very funny Vaudville act that I’ll never forget. A Man, A chair And a Banjo. The guys fingers and hands kept getting stuck on everything. But for the life of me, I can’t remember what else was playing that life changing day. Can someone out there help me ?? Its one of those things that we all suffer from. I just gotta know.
Thanks. Billjr.
Here’s a picture of the “Little Chicago” screening room. The film was, of course, 101 Dalmatians. View link
Very nice.
I saw “Bye Bye Birdie” at the Chicago Theatre (the town in which I lived didn’t get first bookings of films so we came to downtown Chicago to see movies). A long time elapsed, into the mid-1980’s I believe when a friend and I saw Liza Minnelli perform at the Chicago (her Dad had worked there before he became a film director). The theatre was in some need of rehabbing but nothing that couldn’t be done with reinvestment, which is what happened. The Chicago Theatre is a difficult theatre to do theatrical shows in (I saw “My Fair Lady” on tryout tour with Richard Chamberlain as well as “South Pacific” with Robert Goulet) as I believe it has a very small orchestra pit – the latter show had a four-piece combo as I remember!
Those are some great photos. I assume they were taken pre-restoration.
Interesting article. Thanks B.
http://www.catoe.org/chicago.html
I just scanned the entire nine year-long string above. Surprisingly I don’t see any discussion on the organ. Is the current organ original to the Chicago? If not, where did it come from and what happened to the original?
Just a quick FYI. The Jewel/Osco on Howard St. near McCormick has some two sided tote bags at the registers with a really nice full color scanned picture of the Chicago Theatre on them.
Not sure if they are available at all Jewel stores or not, but it’s worth a look if there’s one nearby.
They are probably inexpensive as it appears there are multiple designs of other Chicago scenes and/or landmarks.
Point of purchase stuff usually is.
They aren’t all working, last time I saw them lit.
Why doesn’t the Chicago light all the lights adorning the building?
How is the Vaudville show at the Chicago is it any good? Has the Chicago been busy with this production? I know after its run in Chicago it will open at the Beacon in New York City.brucec
In the summer of 1951, I was first in line to see Milton Berle and buxom Dagmar… after staying for 4 shows… Uncle Miltie had me kicked out of the theater for heckling him! A few years later I watched a film with Jeff Chandler and Joan Crawford, and a stage show that had Patti Page and Bill Halley and the Comets on the same bill for a buck!
I am looking for interior shots of the Chicago. I would especially appreciate it if someone could post a shot of the seating area as seen from the stage.
Thanks in advance!
I am looking for interior shots of the Chicago. I would especially appreciate it if someone could post a shot of the seating area as seen from the stage.
Thanks in advance!
There are great Technicolor views of the Chicago in these 1948 short documentaries:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaMGqzkNwLY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi9VrrVLMn0
LIFE 1948 photo,
View link
FYI. If you enlarge Lost Memory’s May 2009 pic, you can just make out the painted wall signage I mentioned above.
FYI. In BWChicago’s April 19th post of a 1944 photo, the word Chicago can be seen painted on the side alley wall. Directly behind the Marshall Fields clock trajectory wise.
I cut through that very alley today, and the painted remnants of the sign are still there. It says Chicago Theater Entrance, with a giant arrow pointing towards the State Street entrance. It should be noted that it spelled Theater with the “er”, and not Theatre with an “re”.
Those old signs painted directly on to brick, were usually done using lead based paints. Paint which could withstand the elements, and the porousness of brick.
It is the reason most are still visible and survive today. I unfortunately didn’t have a camera with me.