This entry appears to refer to two separate theaters.
The Shakespeare was built as the Shakespeare for the Alfred Hamburger circuit in 1914 and stood at 940 E 43rd. It was never named the Ellis and is demolished.
The pictured building at 932-934 E 43rd is probably the Ellis. I wasn’t able to find much on the Ellis; it was a vaudeville theater in the area but no listed address I could find. It seems to have operated 1910-1915. It was definitely closed by 1925, used by then as a laundry. The architecture is typical of a 1910 theater and it had a small balcony. Probably they closed the Ellis and opened the Shakespeare across the alley.
Trivia: the Curtiss One-Hour Dry Cleaners building at 935 Curtiss was constructed to be a movie theater. However, the Tivoli was begun soon after and the other project was dropped due to inability to compete with B&K. The unfinished auditorium of the theater on Curtiss was later used as an auto dealership and garage.
There’s not likely to be much out there. The Theatre Historical Society in Elmhurst may or may not have anything. I find that the building permit was listed in the November 9, 1912 issue of American Contractor, so it was likely opened in 1913. The architect was David Saul Klafter, who designed a number of mostly inexpensively-built small movie theaters in the early teens. The most recognizable of these today is now the Fluevog store in Wicker Park. The theater was built for owners Louis and Samuel Ogus and Frank Rabinovich and leased to Alvin Alberti. The building was sold to Herman R. Misch in November 1914. It was being run by George L. Levine and showing Triangle and Universal Pictures. The association with Triangle may explain the triangle decorations on the exterior. George Levine was an interesting guy who grew up with the motion picture industry. He started as a peanut boy at the Iola Theater in Wicker Park as a peanut boy and became assistant manager there by age 12. By 16, he became manager of the Alvin. At 19, he left to work for Universal’s Chicago branch as a salesman. At 21, he became manager of their short film distribution in Chicago. The next year, he became manager of Universal’s Milwaukee Film Exchange. At 28 he was promoted to manage all short subjects for Universal in New York, but moved back to run Milwaukee again after a few months of outcry. He remained Carl Laemmle’s right hand man in the Midwest until 1935. He remained in the business, operating theaters independently until the 1960s.
Seems to have been originally planned for Lubliner & Trinz and designed by David Saul Klafter. http://archive.org/stream/movpicwor63movi#page/n43/mode/2up/search/klafter
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160123/business/160129472/ The Cascade may be threatened in the future by property owners, over the objections of its operators.
This entry appears to refer to two separate theaters.
The Shakespeare was built as the Shakespeare for the Alfred Hamburger circuit in 1914 and stood at 940 E 43rd. It was never named the Ellis and is demolished.
The pictured building at 932-934 E 43rd is probably the Ellis. I wasn’t able to find much on the Ellis; it was a vaudeville theater in the area but no listed address I could find. It seems to have operated 1910-1915. It was definitely closed by 1925, used by then as a laundry. The architecture is typical of a 1910 theater and it had a small balcony. Probably they closed the Ellis and opened the Shakespeare across the alley.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/skokie/news/ct-skr-old-orchard-luxury-movie-theaters-tl-0630-20160627-story.html
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/skokie/news/ct-skr-old-orchard-luxury-movie-theaters-tl-0630-20160627-story.html
These passed to regal and are now closed pending remodeling by a new operator.
These passed to regal and are now closed pending remodeling by a new operator.
It also looks like Louis I. Simon was really more of a structural engineer so Edward Steinborn may deserve more credit as design architect.
Must have been a typo, it was actually August 21. It’s not in that archive – not a complete archive – but I’ve posted it in the photos section.
http://archive.org/stream/exhibitorsherald97unse#page/n727/mode/2up Very interesting article and original blueprints
Yes, the concession area is now on the opposite side of the lobby than before and is now more of a counter
The Oasis sign was recently removed. victim of road widening for the I-90 interchange rebuild.
I’m surprised they’re actually interested in reusing the building.
Trivia: the Curtiss One-Hour Dry Cleaners building at 935 Curtiss was constructed to be a movie theater. However, the Tivoli was begun soon after and the other project was dropped due to inability to compete with B&K. The unfinished auditorium of the theater on Curtiss was later used as an auto dealership and garage.
Rapp & Rapp did the remodel. Maybe not George & Cornelius by that point in time.
Architect was E.P. Rupert for R. Levine & Co.
Architect was E.P. Rupert for R. Levine & Co
Architect was E.P. Rupert for R. Levine & Co
Here is a photo of the Loomis from THSA.
The La Grange was NOT designed by Rapp & Rapp. It was designed by E.P. Rupert for R. Levine & Co. Article in photos section.
Architect was E.P. Rupert for firm R. Levine & Company
It would be great if you could post some renovation photos here.
There’s not likely to be much out there. The Theatre Historical Society in Elmhurst may or may not have anything. I find that the building permit was listed in the November 9, 1912 issue of American Contractor, so it was likely opened in 1913. The architect was David Saul Klafter, who designed a number of mostly inexpensively-built small movie theaters in the early teens. The most recognizable of these today is now the Fluevog store in Wicker Park. The theater was built for owners Louis and Samuel Ogus and Frank Rabinovich and leased to Alvin Alberti. The building was sold to Herman R. Misch in November 1914. It was being run by George L. Levine and showing Triangle and Universal Pictures. The association with Triangle may explain the triangle decorations on the exterior. George Levine was an interesting guy who grew up with the motion picture industry. He started as a peanut boy at the Iola Theater in Wicker Park as a peanut boy and became assistant manager there by age 12. By 16, he became manager of the Alvin. At 19, he left to work for Universal’s Chicago branch as a salesman. At 21, he became manager of their short film distribution in Chicago. The next year, he became manager of Universal’s Milwaukee Film Exchange. At 28 he was promoted to manage all short subjects for Universal in New York, but moved back to run Milwaukee again after a few months of outcry. He remained Carl Laemmle’s right hand man in the Midwest until 1935. He remained in the business, operating theaters independently until the 1960s.
Seems to have been originally planned for Lubliner & Trinz and designed by David Saul Klafter. http://archive.org/stream/movpicwor63movi#page/n43/mode/2up/search/klafter
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160123/business/160129472/ The Cascade may be threatened in the future by property owners, over the objections of its operators.
They had a party yesterday, but do not close until tomorrow.
Here is a THSA photo of the art deco exterior.