Here is the Uptown Borders/Goldblatts/Loren Miller, across from the riviera, in its original form as a bank. Note that the windows didn’t go as low and there was a pediment that was not replaced in the restoration. Also a balustrade along the top.
Today’s was a trip to the Harold Washington library, to use the Art Institute’s Avery Index. I was looking to see if there was anything on the Adelphi, Pickwick, and Esquire, (I copied beautiful photos of all three,) and while I was waiting for more journals to be pulled I thought i’d look up the renovation architect’s name in the Tribune archives. So that’s how. I had the name before, for the Adelphi, but I guess it never occurred to me to look.
The Adelphi’s 1935 Streamline Moderne modernization was by architect and part-owner Mark D. Kalischer, who also did the remodels at the Harper (Hyde Park) and Portage. It was hailed in the July 1935 issue of Architectural Forum.
The 1938 art deco remodel, costing $30,000, was carried out by architect Mark D. Kalischer, who also did remodels at the Adelphi and Portage, as well as the Drake Bowl.
I went by there. It looks like they’re just removing the collapsed portion, for now at least. I say this because there was no scaffolding on the facade, which there would certainly be if it were all being demolished.
My god, the post office is actually opening? It was supposed to open at the beginning of the year. The Post Office does not occupy any of the former theater space; it is in one of the former shops flanking the lobby back into office space that was constructed long ago where the auditorium once stood, with a few parking spots in the rest of the space. The stagehouse is also still there, although I don’t believe it’s occupied presently. The former lobby is still in pretty good shape except that the terrazzo is covered by carpet, and is used as a meeting room for a branch of Athena Investments, which opened early this year. Previously the rear office space had been connected to the former lobby, but this was shifted for the Post Office.
Here is an exterior view.
Here is another a few years later.
Here is another.
Here is another.
Here is another.
Here is a postcard view of the Oriental.
Here is a postcard view.
Here is a postcard view.
Here is a postcard view.
Here is a postcard with the marquee partly visible.
Here is another from the same time.
Here is another postcard view
Here is a photo of State Street in the 60s.
Here is a postcard view of the Majestic building.
Here is a postcard view of the Orpheum.
Here is the Uptown Borders/Goldblatts/Loren Miller, across from the riviera, in its original form as a bank. Note that the windows didn’t go as low and there was a pediment that was not replaced in the restoration. Also a balustrade along the top.
Well, the Esquire wasn’t Cineplex until they merged with Loews/Sony in 1997. As a 6-plex, it was M&R/Loews and then Sony.
Today’s was a trip to the Harold Washington library, to use the Art Institute’s Avery Index. I was looking to see if there was anything on the Adelphi, Pickwick, and Esquire, (I copied beautiful photos of all three,) and while I was waiting for more journals to be pulled I thought i’d look up the renovation architect’s name in the Tribune archives. So that’s how. I had the name before, for the Adelphi, but I guess it never occurred to me to look.
Here is more on the more recent developments.
The Portage’s 1940 modernization was by Mark D. Kalischer, who also remodeled the Adelphi and Harper (Hyde Park)
The Adelphi’s 1935 Streamline Moderne modernization was by architect and part-owner Mark D. Kalischer, who also did the remodels at the Harper (Hyde Park) and Portage. It was hailed in the July 1935 issue of Architectural Forum.
The 1938 art deco remodel, costing $30,000, was carried out by architect Mark D. Kalischer, who also did remodels at the Adelphi and Portage, as well as the Drake Bowl.
View link
I went by there. It looks like they’re just removing the collapsed portion, for now at least. I say this because there was no scaffolding on the facade, which there would certainly be if it were all being demolished.
My god, the post office is actually opening? It was supposed to open at the beginning of the year. The Post Office does not occupy any of the former theater space; it is in one of the former shops flanking the lobby back into office space that was constructed long ago where the auditorium once stood, with a few parking spots in the rest of the space. The stagehouse is also still there, although I don’t believe it’s occupied presently. The former lobby is still in pretty good shape except that the terrazzo is covered by carpet, and is used as a meeting room for a branch of Athena Investments, which opened early this year. Previously the rear office space had been connected to the former lobby, but this was shifted for the Post Office.