My memory of the Bijou dates from 1965. It was a prominent presence, in all its elegantly creepy elaboration, on the approach to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge via Race Street. Don’s remember whether it was open or not. The area indeed was skid row; the Bijou in its last days had become a skid row burlesque/film venue.
You might revised your overview statement. The Lincoln opened on Lincoln’s Birthday, February 12, 1916. It was designed by William H. McElfatrick. Note that the film announced on the marquee in your photo was a 1918 release.
Stopped by the nickelodeon when visiting the museum in about 1964. The pianist was Litta Burlingame, who had played in silent-era Chicago theaters. She was full of wonderful stories about the early days.
I forgot to mention in my previous comment that this church, New Bethel Baptist was pastored by the Rev. C. L. Franklin, whose daughter Aretha became a music legend.
According to the GoogleEarth image of August 2015 the Oriole is standing tall in its use as a church. Both street facades have been resurfaced and the entrance moved from the corner to the rear of the auditorium. Partial interior photos show it simplified in detail but attractive within its original form.
According to the Google Earth image of August 2015 the former Oriole is standing tall. It has been refaced on both street sides and the entrance moved from the corner to the rear of the auditorium. Interior photos are incomplete, it seems to have been simplified in detail within its original form.
Many years ago the custodian of Metropolitan Methodist Church, near the Duplex, praised its arrangement to me. According to him it showed the same movie in both auditoriums but staggered the starting time. He liked that if you arrived in the middle of a movie, you didn’t have to wait around a long time to see its beginning.
The Spa was at 314-316 Ouachita Avenue. Seems to be extant in use as a store.
The other theater was the Best, at 714 Hobson. It remains standing, in alternative use.
My memory of the Bijou dates from 1965. It was a prominent presence, in all its elegantly creepy elaboration, on the approach to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge via Race Street. Don’s remember whether it was open or not. The area indeed was skid row; the Bijou in its last days had become a skid row burlesque/film venue.
You might revised your overview statement. The Lincoln opened on Lincoln’s Birthday, February 12, 1916. It was designed by William H. McElfatrick. Note that the film announced on the marquee in your photo was a 1918 release.
Stopped by the nickelodeon when visiting the museum in about 1964. The pianist was Litta Burlingame, who had played in silent-era Chicago theaters. She was full of wonderful stories about the early days.
Another new name. As of December 2015 the Majestic/Shubert will be called the PrivateBank Theatre.
I forgot to mention in my previous comment that this church, New Bethel Baptist was pastored by the Rev. C. L. Franklin, whose daughter Aretha became a music legend.
According to the GoogleEarth image of August 2015 the Oriole is standing tall in its use as a church. Both street facades have been resurfaced and the entrance moved from the corner to the rear of the auditorium. Partial interior photos show it simplified in detail but attractive within its original form.
According to the Google Earth image of August 2015 the former Oriole is standing tall. It has been refaced on both street sides and the entrance moved from the corner to the rear of the auditorium. Interior photos are incomplete, it seems to have been simplified in detail within its original form.
Many years ago the custodian of Metropolitan Methodist Church, near the Duplex, praised its arrangement to me. According to him it showed the same movie in both auditoriums but staggered the starting time. He liked that if you arrived in the middle of a movie, you didn’t have to wait around a long time to see its beginning.
Am I missing something? Is this theater the Big Sky or the Blue Sky?