Jackson Park Theatre
6711 S. Stony Island Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60649
6711 S. Stony Island Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60649
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I have started writing a novel about the Jackson Park decision and the breakup of the Hollywood studio system, focusing on my great-uncle Richard Salkin, the long-time manager. I would like to contact “Broan,” “Silky1” or anyone else with personal memories of the Jackson Park Theatre itself and/or Richard and/or Leo Salkin. My email address is . Please contact me off list.
Thanks to “Broan” (comment on 2/15/17), I have now learned that my great-uncle Leo B. Salkin managed the “JP” starting in 1918 (the silent era) and in 1922 also managed the Kenwood, which I assume was the old “Ken” at 1225 E. 47th St. where I watched 25-cartoon Saturdays as a little kid. When I was alive (starting in 1940), Leo had moved on to being a talent agent. He must have passed managership of the “JP” to one of his younger brothers, my great-uncle Richard Salkin. As a talent agent, Leo’s biggest client was the actor and comedian Danny Thomas. He also booked the Courtesy Motors Variety Hour on early Chicago television, sponsored by “Jim Moran the Courtesy Man” and featuring a vaudeville-like array of acts. The Courtesy Hour was one of the most popular shows on Chicago TV during the ‘40s and/or early '50s, the dawn of broadcast television in America.
Held an reopening on October 26th, 1935. Another ad posted.
Erected by Edward I. Bloom. Initially booked by Ascher Bros. The Jackson Park gained a reputation for music starting in 1918, when Leo B. Salkin replaced W.P. Clement as manager (Clement went on to build the Stratford). (Moving Picture World, April 17, 1920). Starting in 1922, Salkin also managed the Kenwood. Renovated in 1936 (pictured above). Bloom would later build the Shore theater.
This opened on November 29th, 1916. Grand opening ad in the photo section
Several other photos can be found there through search.
Here is a photo of the Jackson Park. It strongly resembled the Portage.
I remember Mr. Salkin. My grandmother was the candy lady at Jackson Park until it closed. She then went to the Avalon, then the Capitol and finally to the Chicago Theater. As my mom says, I grew up in a movie theater. So many wonderful memories and adventures! I saw Hit the Deck 21 times. Mr. Salkin gave me a autographed picture of one of it’s stars, Ann Miller. When the Mummy played, they had a guy dressed up like the mummy walking the aisle. It still creeps me out.
My late uncle Richard Salkin managed the Jackson Park most or all of his adult life. He was the manager when the famous Jackson Park case and decision were adjudicated. When I was a kid, the “JP” was our go-to family movie theatre, partly no doubt because we got in free. I remember seeing “Red River” with John Wayne and Montgomery Clift (1948, I would have been 8 years old); “Stage Door Canteen” (1943, very likely the first movie I ever saw); and National Velvet (1944, Elizabeth Taylor as a child star), to name just three. Whenever we went to the “JP,” we never failed to stop first for Karmelkorn next door.
You are absolutely correct — The Jackson Park lawsuit started the Federal government investigating Paramount Pictures and ALL their theatre operating partners. Thisled to the consent decree that required Paramount to reorganize and sell off a lot of their theatres. This is what ruined the motion picture industry for many years.
I believe this theater – for better or worse – had a tremendous national impact on the U.S. motion picture industry: the owners of the Jackson Park filed, and won, an anti-monopoly lawsuit against the major studios, which resulted in the 1948 Supreme Court ruling that ultimately forced the studios to divest themselves of the exhibition aspect – and sell their theaters – by 1953
i saw king creole there 16 times in one week and bought karmelkorn next store
This was the theatre I walked to when I was a kid in the 1940’s and into the 1950’s. Remember seeing “Yellow Rose of Texas” there. On Saturday mornings I watched dance lessons in a dance studio that was located upstairs in the same building. Couldn’t afford the lessons, but was allowed to sit and watch. Then I would go home to practice on my own. Being strongly influenced by all the wonderful MGM movie musicals of that time, really believed that was to be my destiny. Lovely old theatre and great popcorn………..
On Sunday,May 10, 1959, the Jackson Park theatre was showing “TEENAGE THUNDER” plus “CARNIVAL ROCK” according to the Chicago Sun Times. On Sunday, Jan.17, 1960, the Jackson Park had a triple feature: “BEATNIK”, “WASP WOMAN”,“BEAST FROM HAUNTED CAVE”.(from the Chicago Tribune).
A senior citizen’s complex stands on the site today