I don’t understand all the activity that took place around this property: it closing, the parking lot being closed off, the Jewish Center supposedly converting it. Somehow it all seems kind of weird. Hopefully something good will come out of all this. Right now it must be a mess inside.
Paul: This never made it to C-O. I’ve heard the Will Rogers was closed in favor of their new Brickyard Cinema. In hindsight, considering the ghetto reputation of the Brickyard, they might have been better off with the Will. I think it did OK business and there was no crime problem that I am aware of.
I am late to this discussion, and I haven’t read every comment. But here is my two cents: The Belpark has been positively serving the community as a bingo hall for many years. I really don’t know much about bingo. But it seems like people pay something to get in, play bingo and have a chance to win prize money, while at the same time socializing. That sounds like a good thing. I’d rather see this church take residence in a space that is currently vacant. In a city the size of Chicago there must be at least a few to choose from.
I remember going by on the El and seeing XXX on the marquee. Later I remember going by on the El and seeing concerts on the marquee. Then once I went by on the El and it was gone. Maybe it’s too bad the Oak couldn’t have hung on a few more years. I’ve heard that smaller concert venues are making money these days.
I never did understand why they had to stop doing concerts here. It seems like it was a reasonable business at least. That they didn’t continue with local shows while money was raised was always a question mark for me.
It’s too bad that something better couldn’t have happened here. To my knowledge the property is still a grass lot. But at least there is some measure of peace in the community now.
How soon we forget. The notion that Village Theaters ever existed completely slipped my mind. The fact that it was run like a criminal front operation probably has something to do with that.
There is still no new development on this property. Can anyone say: Pop goes the bubble?
In all fairness I’m not sure what future an aging, run down movie palace had in a middle class ethnic neighborhood. The end was probably just sped up by the real estate frenzy.
Whatever the eventual outcome it was sad to see it go.
I went by here a few weeks ago and was sorry to see that nothing has been done with the site. While this is a personal matter for us architecture fans it is not uncommon. There are unfinished projects from the boom all over Chicago. I remember going to the Adelphi in the late 80’s and early 90’s. It was kind of a dump at that point, and I’m sure the ten years after that didn’t help. But at least it filled the lot and was rented out for the occasional Bollywood film.
The photo gallery shows this place to be in much better condition than I would have thought. Hopefully a plan goes through one of these days. The cooling of the real estate market makes this less likely. But it also means the building will probably continue to stand.
Too bad. I remember seeing Superman here, as well as the first Star Trek movie. Definitely childhood highlights. This might have been the best twinning I ever saw. They split the long auditorium front to back. Both were pretty good screening rooms.
This was a Guitar Center for many years, well into the 90’s if not the 2000’s. You walked in on the lobby level, where there didn’t seem to be much visible ornament. Then you went down a short stairway to the main showroom. This was in the former auditorium, and the ceiling and sidewall decoration was still very visible. I don’t remember seeing the arch or organ screens, and as I recall the management offices were in that part of the building.
Every time I think the topic is dead it comes back around, which suggests a real civic interest in getting this done. I also thought that the above-mentioned Oriental in Chicago would be eventually converted to offices, and I was positive the Bronx Paradise would be destroyed. There is a lot of red tape and planning involved in something of this magnitude. So it could sit for a long time with little evidence of progress. Of course, there is always the real possibility that a project like this can stall. But my hunch is that this one will be completed.
Your best bet is calling the office. When the Oriental was under construction in Chicago I arranged a tour through the management office. I had to sign a waiver and wear a hard hat. But they took me up on the scaffolding, and we walked across the auditorium right under the dome. It was pretty neat.
I happened to be downtown Tuesday. It isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I still think it’s cheap to brand a traditional symbol of the city. But that is the way things have been going in the U.S. over the last ten years, and if it gets some cash flow for the theater you can’t complain too much.
I don’t understand all the activity that took place around this property: it closing, the parking lot being closed off, the Jewish Center supposedly converting it. Somehow it all seems kind of weird. Hopefully something good will come out of all this. Right now it must be a mess inside.
Paul: This never made it to C-O. I’ve heard the Will Rogers was closed in favor of their new Brickyard Cinema. In hindsight, considering the ghetto reputation of the Brickyard, they might have been better off with the Will. I think it did OK business and there was no crime problem that I am aware of.
I am late to this discussion, and I haven’t read every comment. But here is my two cents: The Belpark has been positively serving the community as a bingo hall for many years. I really don’t know much about bingo. But it seems like people pay something to get in, play bingo and have a chance to win prize money, while at the same time socializing. That sounds like a good thing. I’d rather see this church take residence in a space that is currently vacant. In a city the size of Chicago there must be at least a few to choose from.
I remember going by on the El and seeing XXX on the marquee. Later I remember going by on the El and seeing concerts on the marquee. Then once I went by on the El and it was gone. Maybe it’s too bad the Oak couldn’t have hung on a few more years. I’ve heard that smaller concert venues are making money these days.
I never did understand why they had to stop doing concerts here. It seems like it was a reasonable business at least. That they didn’t continue with local shows while money was raised was always a question mark for me.
It’s too bad that something better couldn’t have happened here. To my knowledge the property is still a grass lot. But at least there is some measure of peace in the community now.
Wow! This is what it looks like now?
How soon we forget. The notion that Village Theaters ever existed completely slipped my mind. The fact that it was run like a criminal front operation probably has something to do with that.
There is still no new development on this property. Can anyone say: Pop goes the bubble?
In all fairness I’m not sure what future an aging, run down movie palace had in a middle class ethnic neighborhood. The end was probably just sped up by the real estate frenzy.
Whatever the eventual outcome it was sad to see it go.
I went by here a few weeks ago and was sorry to see that nothing has been done with the site. While this is a personal matter for us architecture fans it is not uncommon. There are unfinished projects from the boom all over Chicago. I remember going to the Adelphi in the late 80’s and early 90’s. It was kind of a dump at that point, and I’m sure the ten years after that didn’t help. But at least it filled the lot and was rented out for the occasional Bollywood film.
Interesting photo posted on this blog:
http://bowlinghistory.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/palace-bowl.jpg
The photo gallery shows this place to be in much better condition than I would have thought. Hopefully a plan goes through one of these days. The cooling of the real estate market makes this less likely. But it also means the building will probably continue to stand.
It still looks like they haven’t sold the condos, after pushing so hard to destroy the theatre. Ha ha. Nicely done morons.
Too bad. I remember seeing Superman here, as well as the first Star Trek movie. Definitely childhood highlights. This might have been the best twinning I ever saw. They split the long auditorium front to back. Both were pretty good screening rooms.
I happened to drive by here the other night for the first time in years. It was odd to see it dark. Growing up I saw many films at the HP.
Holy shit. That really is desecration.
Astonishing. After sitting for quite a while and then getting hit by Katrina I thought this place was a goner. Good things do happen.
Fantastic photo Bryan. That’s the first one I’ve ever seen of it before it was a church.
This was a Guitar Center for many years, well into the 90’s if not the 2000’s. You walked in on the lobby level, where there didn’t seem to be much visible ornament. Then you went down a short stairway to the main showroom. This was in the former auditorium, and the ceiling and sidewall decoration was still very visible. I don’t remember seeing the arch or organ screens, and as I recall the management offices were in that part of the building.
I’m also glad to see that they finally cleaned up the scar left by that glass brick tower.
Wow, I hadn’t realized this placed didn’t even make it twenty years.
Every time I think the topic is dead it comes back around, which suggests a real civic interest in getting this done. I also thought that the above-mentioned Oriental in Chicago would be eventually converted to offices, and I was positive the Bronx Paradise would be destroyed. There is a lot of red tape and planning involved in something of this magnitude. So it could sit for a long time with little evidence of progress. Of course, there is always the real possibility that a project like this can stall. But my hunch is that this one will be completed.
Your best bet is calling the office. When the Oriental was under construction in Chicago I arranged a tour through the management office. I had to sign a waiver and wear a hard hat. But they took me up on the scaffolding, and we walked across the auditorium right under the dome. It was pretty neat.
Brings back memories. This was such a great place to see a movie back in the day.
I happened to be downtown Tuesday. It isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I still think it’s cheap to brand a traditional symbol of the city. But that is the way things have been going in the U.S. over the last ten years, and if it gets some cash flow for the theater you can’t complain too much.