Downtown Chicago's Historic Movie Theatres

Downtown Chicago's Historic Movie Theatres PDF Author: Konrad Schiecke
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 0786488654
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 202

Get Book Here

Book Description
The story of downtown Chicago--its early development, later struggles, and current restoration--is mirrored in the history of the theatres that occupied its streets. This vivid chronicle tells the tale of the Windy City's theatres, from mid-nineteenth century vaudeville houses to the urban decline and renewal of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Discussed are the rebuilding efforts after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the first nickel theaters showing "moving pictures," the ornate silent movie palaces, the move to "talkies," the challenges of the Great Depression and the introduction of television, and urban decline. Today, Chicago has preserved some of its most historic movie palaces, landmarks of cultural vibrancy in its reawakened downtown. With nearly 200 photographs from the Theatre Historical Society of America, this work brings to life all of the theatres that have enlivened Chicago's entertainment district, reflecting the transformation of downtown Chicago itself.

Downtown Chicago's Historic Movie Theatres

Downtown Chicago's Historic Movie Theatres PDF Author: Konrad Schiecke
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 0786488654
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 202

Get Book Here

Book Description
The story of downtown Chicago--its early development, later struggles, and current restoration--is mirrored in the history of the theatres that occupied its streets. This vivid chronicle tells the tale of the Windy City's theatres, from mid-nineteenth century vaudeville houses to the urban decline and renewal of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Discussed are the rebuilding efforts after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the first nickel theaters showing "moving pictures," the ornate silent movie palaces, the move to "talkies," the challenges of the Great Depression and the introduction of television, and urban decline. Today, Chicago has preserved some of its most historic movie palaces, landmarks of cultural vibrancy in its reawakened downtown. With nearly 200 photographs from the Theatre Historical Society of America, this work brings to life all of the theatres that have enlivened Chicago's entertainment district, reflecting the transformation of downtown Chicago itself.

Historic Movie Theatres in Illinois, 1883-1960

Historic Movie Theatres in Illinois, 1883-1960 PDF Author: Konrad Schiecke
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 1476610703
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 415

Get Book Here

Book Description
This history and catalog of the movie theaters of Illinois follows their evolution from the early opera houses, to the storefront nickelodeons, to the awe-inspiring movie palaces, to the post--World War II theaters and the advent of the multiplex. Each theater has its own story, and together these stories make up a fascinating history of cinema viewing in Illinois. This richly illustrated book--the first dealing exclusively with Illinois theatres-- contains nearly 3,000 descriptions of historic movie houses, from the early 1880s to 1960. The alphabetically arranged entries, which include such information as the theater's name, location, number of seats, and the dates it opened and closed, cover cities and towns from Abingdon to Zion, including Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. The book opens with a history of the movie house, beginning with silent movies shown on walls and ending with the multiplex era. It also includes a chapter on television's impact and information on renovated historic theatres in the state. Appendices include lists of Illinois-operated movie theatre circuits, theatre websites and include a bibliography.

The Chicago Movie Palaces of Balaban and Katz

The Chicago Movie Palaces of Balaban and Katz PDF Author: David Balaban
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
ISBN: 9780738539867
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 134

Get Book Here

Book Description
A pictorial history of the movie theater business of the Balaban and Katz Theater Corporation in Chicago.

Detroit's Downtown Movie Palaces

Detroit's Downtown Movie Palaces PDF Author: Michael Hauser
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
ISBN: 9780738541020
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 132

Get Book Here

Book Description
The spokelike grid of wide grand avenues radiating out from downtown Detroit allowed for a concentration of theaters initially along Monroe Street near Campus Martius and, after the second decade of the 20th century, clustered around Grand Circus Park, all easily accessible by a vast network of streetcars. In its heyday, Grand Circus Park boasted a dozen palatial movie palaces containing an astonishing total of 26,000 seats. Of these theaters, five remain today, fully restored and operational for live entertainment. Detroit, more so than any other North American city, illustrates how demographic and economic forces dramatically changed the landscape of film exhibition in an urban setting.

A Theater of Our Own

A Theater of Our Own PDF Author: Richard Christiansen
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 346

Get Book Here

Book Description
Who produced the first stage adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz" in 1902-nearly forty years before the movie classic?

Historic Movie Theatres of New Mexico

Historic Movie Theatres of New Mexico PDF Author: Jeff Berg
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
ISBN: 1439664811
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 129

Get Book Here

Book Description
New Mexico's theatrical ties span over one hundred years. The Fountain Theatre, once a Civil War hospital and headquarters, produced plays, opera and vaudeville performances until 1929, when the venue started airing talkies. Today, it holds the title of oldest operating theatre in New Mexico. Albuquerque drive-in attendees enjoyed personal screens for each car at the Circle Autoscope. And Rio Grande Theater operated for over seventy years before showing its final screening of U.S. Marshals in 1998. Author Jeff Berg details the Land of Enchantment's iconic movie houses.

A Historical Review of the Decline of Movie Theaters in Chicago, Illinois Neighborhoods

A Historical Review of the Decline of Movie Theaters in Chicago, Illinois Neighborhoods PDF Author: Barbara Elaine Whitfield
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Amusements
Languages : en
Pages : 68

Get Book Here

Book Description


Hollywood on Lake Michigan

Hollywood on Lake Michigan PDF Author: Michael Corcoran
Publisher:
ISBN: 1613745753
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 354

Get Book Here

Book Description
Previous edition: Chicago, Ill.: Lake Claremont Press, 1998, by Arnie Bernstein.

From SWEETBACK to SUPER FLY

From SWEETBACK to SUPER FLY PDF Author: Gerald R. Butters
Publisher: University of Missouri Press
ISBN: 0826273297
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 271

Get Book Here

Book Description
Racial politics and capitalism found a way to blend together in 1970s Chicago in the form of movie theaters targeted specifically toward African Americans. In From Sweetback to Super Fly, Gerald Buttersexamines the movie theaters in Chicago’s Loop that became, as he describes them, “black spaces” during the early 1970s with theater managers making an effort to gear their showings toward the African American community by using black-themed and blaxploitation films. Butters covers the wide range of issues that influenced the theaters, from changing racial patterns to the increasingly decrepit state of Chicago’s inner city and the pressure on businesses and politicians alike to breathe life into the dying area. Through his extensive research, Butters provides an in-depth look at this phenomenon, delving into an area that has not previously been explored. His close examination of how black-themed films were marketed and how theaters showing these films tried to draw in crowds sheds light on race issues both from an industrial standpoint on the side of the theaters and movie producers, as well as from a cultural standpoint on the side of the moviegoers and the city of Chicago as a whole. Butters provides a wealth of information on a very interesting yet underexamined part of history, making From Sweetback to Super Fly a supremely enjoyable and informative book.

Chicago Movie Palaces of Balaban and Katz

Chicago Movie Palaces of Balaban and Katz PDF Author: David Balaban
Publisher: Arcadia Library Editions
ISBN: 9781531623814
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 130

Get Book Here

Book Description
The Balaban and Katz Theater Corporation perfected the "movie palace" concept in Chicago, reating an extremely popular pastime that contributed greatly to Chicago's cultural identity. The Balabans started in the movie theater business in 1908 by leasing the 100-seat Kedzie Nickelodeon on Kedzie Avenue. Balaban brothers Barney and A. J. dreamed of operating 5,000-seat movie palaces, so in 1916, they joined family friends Sam and Morris Katz to form the Balaban and Katz Theater Corporation. Their mission was to offer an unrivaled theater-going experience with the finest live performances and service. They built ornate theaters, such as the Chicago, the Uptown, and the Congress Theaters, filling them with fine furnishings, antiques, and artwork. Balaban and Katz produced live stage shows between the movies with the likes of Bob Hope, Louis Armstrong, and Benny Goodman. Sadly, only a few of these gorgeous theaters still stand today.