. I was shocked to learn that not all theatres looked like cookie-cutter mall cinemas. No, these buildings were fantastic: colossal, gaudy, ornate, fabulous palaces. Sadly, they were rapidly falling into decay. I realized that something truly amazing was disappearing. An era was ending, and I decided to do what I could to document it. Weekends, evenings, days off: whenever I had a little time, I'd head to a theatre and take a few more photos.
In doing this, I learned something: if you are willing to click the shutter thousands of times, eventually, you will wind up with a few interesting pictures.
Sets of these photos can be viewed by clicking on the images below. Alternatively, you can preview each set from the photo preview pages. High-resolution copies of these photos can be downloaded from the high-resolution images page.
Please note that these photos are protected by copyright. If you would like to use any of these images, you can contact the photographer at cambodia@aol.com.
A true palace: Photos taken in 1987, prior to the beginning of demolition, and 1989 and 1990, during the demolition.
Click here for previews
|
|
More photos from the exquisite Granada, taken in 1989 and 1990, during the demolition of the theatre.
Click here for previews
|
|
|
For sentimental reasons, my favorite theatre: I worked there for years. The Adelphi, in later years, was renamed the North Shore Cinema.
Click here for previews
|
|
|
An original art deco beauty, a modern retro throwback, a few old neighborhood theatres, and a well-manicured adult theatre.
Click here for previews
|
|
An oldie from Rogers Park, the 400 was originally the Regent, and has at various times been called the 400 Twin and the Village North. It's now the New 400.
Click here for previews
|
|
|
|
The Brighton and the Coronet are gone; the Belmont morphed into a bowling alley, then condos. The Jefferson, originally a nickelodean, is a woodworking shop; the Albany, part of a warehouse.
Click here for previews
|
|
Vanished cinemas from the heart of the city: The United Artists, the Woods, the Dearborn... gone, all gone.
Click here for previews
|
|
The Howard, the Southtown and the Englewood, shared a common fate: they fell victim to blight and decay.
Click here for previews
|
|
Few people would recognize that any of these buildings were once theatres. But look for an eloquent farewell on the pic of the Varsity...
Click here for previews
|
|
The Sprague? A little theatre in Wisconsin. The Showplace? A multiscreen house in Naperville. The Portage? Nicely restored. The Riviera and the Broadway? I've never been inside.
Click here for previews
|
|
The Biograph's claim to fame was that Dillinger was shot outside; the Music Box, meanwhile, is a triumph of restoration. The Highland and the Beverly are now churches.
Click here for previews
|
|
The Three Penny recently closed; the Village was split years ago, and also recently closed; and the lovely Patio has been closed for years.
Click here for previews
|
|
|
A renowned beauty in Baraboo, Wisconsin, the immaculately maintained Al Ringling was one of the world's first movie palaces.
Click here for previews
|
|
The Morse Theatre (known in later years as the Co-Ed) was converted to retail space and stripped of most of its original features. Renovation is now underway to resurrect it as an entertainment venue.
Click here for previews
|
|
The Cadillac Palace and Waukegan's Genesee are nicely restored, and feature live performances. The Congress is less well-known and less well-preserved, but it's still hanging on.
Click here for previews
|
|
The Chicago is not merely one of the city's most beautiful theatres; it's also a genuine landmark. After a period of decline, the building was immaculately restored in the mid-Eighties.
Click here for previews
|
|
|
|
The venerable Wilmette soldiers on, year after year. The Arcada in St. Charles is old and pretty; the Muvico in Rosemont is new and gorgeous. The Loews Streets of Woodfield is a new multiplex.
Click here for previews
|
|
An old "atmospheric" theatre on Chicago's northwest side. It's beautifully restored, and is now known as the Copernicus Center.
Click here for previews
|
|
|
|
The Cascade in West Chicago is one of Illinois' few remaining drive-ins. The Loews Garden, actually two separate buildings, is a multiplex in Skokie.
Click here for previews
|
|
The Devon, originally the Knickerbocker, closed in 1984 and was demolished years ago. The Lincoln Village closed in 2008, and its future looks bleak.
Click here for previews
|
|
|
|
The Oriental Theatre, also known as the Ford Center for Performing Arts, is an over-the-top Balaban and Katz house, located in downtown Chicago.
Click here for previews
|
|
|
Time permitting, I'll add some pages with additional information about some of these theatres. For now, die-hard theatre fans may find this very brief anecdote from the 400 Theatre a little amusing.
There was once a time when I loved movies. I had the good fortune to work in a movie theatre, so I saw lots of movies.
