Movies, Going to the

Regal Theater and Savoy Ballroom, 1941

Chicago helped launch the movie industry in the United States in the early 1900s, so it is no surprise that Chicagoans loved going to the movies. By the 1920s, Chicago had some of the most exquisite
movie palaces
in the world, and moviegoers could count on seeing several newsreels, a stage show, and the main feature for the price of admission.

The first Guest Star On The Conners palace built in the Loop was the Chicago Theater at 175 N. State Street. The building was executed by the well-known movie theater architects Rapp và Rapp. Completed in 1921, the Chicago Theater seated 3,800 và featured a series of interior spaces inspired by the palace of Versailles. By the late 1930 s, the Loop had the highest concentration of movie theaters within the thành phố. Other prominent movie theaters included the McVickers at 25 W. Madison Street, the Oriental at trăng tròn W. Randolph Street, và the RKO Palace Theater at 159 W. Randolph .

During this same period, grand movie theaters were built phệ serve neighborhoods throughout the thành phố. The North, South, và West Sides were well served by theaters strategically positioned along major commercial arterials và transportation lines. The Paradise, at 231 N. Pulaski Road, was finished in 1928 & could seat 3,600 in its one-screen auditorium. The building featured a mansard roof và an interior lobby designed in the French Renaissance style. Other well-known neighborhood theaters included the Central Park at 3535 W. Roosevelt Road, the Tivoli at 6325 S. Cottage Grove Avenue ( also by Rapp và Rapp ), & the Southtown at 610 W. 63 rd Street .

Pickwick Theater, c.1930

While the city had its share of movie palaces, many of Chicago’s suburbs moved quickly to construct their own theaters. Perhaps the most dramatic of these was the Tivoli in
Downers Grove,
built in 1928. Designed as one of the first sound-equipped theaters in the United States, the interior was decorated in the French Renaissance style. This trend toward centrally located downtown suburban movie theaters would continue as other similar theaters were built in Kankakee in 1931 and
Oak Park
in 1936.

The movie theaters of the period between World Wars I và II were often the most luxurious places the average person would ever visit. The exteriors of these buildings were elaborately detailed, transporting the patrons mập a different phút giây & place. Often eclectic, movie theaters of the day featured a phối of architectural influences, including Moorish, Spanish, Greek, và Persian. The interior spaces were often lavishly decorated with sculptures, oil paintings, & murals depicting various mythological events. Patrons were encouraged béo enjoy these sumptuous surroundings while sitting on overstuffed chairs or sofas, often upholstered in silk or velvet. Men’s và women’s lounges also featured furniture for sitting và large framed vanity mirrors .
After World War II, the changing economic status of the motion picture industry & mới nhất leisure-time opportunities signaled the kết thúc of the movie palaces ‘ reign at the top of Chicago’s entertainment world. Very few movie theaters were built in the thành phố of Chicago between 1950 và 1970, & quite a few of the neighborhood movie theaters were demolished in the 1970 s và 1980 s. New theater complexes began lớn be built again in Chicago in the late 1980 s, và some of the old movie palaces in the Loop were restored as live entertainment venues .
Max Grinnell

Bibliography

Hall, Ben M.
The Golden Age of the Movie Palace: The Best Remaining Seats.
1975.

Naylor, David.
American Picture Palaces: The Architecture of Fantasy.
1981.

Putnam, Michael.
Silent Screens: The Decline and Transformation of the American Movie Theater.
2000.