They Once Showed Movies Here Too
Today I'm continuing with Monday's post about movie theaters that hold a very specific
film memory for me, that I've discovered are now closed.
[Village Theatre, terra-cotta ornament detail, July 9, 2009 /Image & Artwork: designslinger]
The Village Theatre sits empty and forlorn on Clark Street just south of North Avenue.
There is still some wonderful glazed, terra-cotta ornamentation on the exterior, but I've read that the original 1916 interior is gone - divided into 4 small screening spaces.
[Village Theatre, 1548 N. Clark St. Chicago; Ornament detail /Images & Artwork: designslinger]
I saw On Golden Pond here in 1981, which was only one of probably a hundred or more
movies I saw at this theater. I can't remember any of the other films. However, I vividly recall sitting in the old auditorium watching Katherine Hepburn - well - be Katherine Hepburn. I'd heard the film was hokey and sentimental and it was, but I can still remember how shocked I was when I found myself, at the end of the film, all weepy with a big lump in my throat.
The Village was constructed in 1916, next door to a beautiful old building, the Germania
Club, which had been built in 1888. The name of the theater, appropriately, was the Germania. During World War I when Americans hated all things German, the name was changed to the Parkside, which was another good name since the southern edge of Lincoln Park is just across the street. The building was threatened with demolition in the 1960s when the neighboring, gigantic Sandburg Village housing complex was built, but the little theater survived, and the named was changed to the Village.
As you can see, it's for rent now and sits vacant. Apparently, there were rumors that the
building had a definite date with a demolition company, but the new alderman is working to get the place landmarked. But what's with the Weber Grill sign hanging from the marquee, does this mean that a Weber Grill restaurant may be moving in?
[Esquire Theatre, William Pereira, 1938 /Image & Artwork: designslinger]
Ah the Esquire, an Art Moderne gem. Well, at least it was when my friend Mike and I
stood in a long line along Oak Street to see Star Wars. What a movie, and what a great theater auditorium to have seen that epic in. It was a truly memorable experience.
[Esquire Theatre, 58 E. Oak St., Chicago, July 9, 2009 /Images & Artwork: designslinger]
The theater was built in 1938, and designed by Chicago native, William Pereira. The
Esquire was an early work in a long and prolific career. Pereira designed over 400 buildings, his most popular: The Transamerica Building in San Francisco.
All that remains of the original Esquire is the exterior. In the late 1980s that wonderful
1,400 seat auditorium and amazing Streamline Moderne lobby, were demolished to make way for a multi-plex which was constructed behind the 1938 facade. The new lobby was redone in a style that was meant to mimic the '38 version, but it looked like what is was - a bad 1980s imitation of a classic interior.
The theater sits empty like its neighbor to the north. But, there is no landmark status for
the Esquire, and if the economy wasn't in the toilet, the building would have already had its date with the wrecking ball, which was scheduled for Spring 2009. At least now I have a few pictures of the place - to go along with my memories.
film memory for me, that I've discovered are now closed.
The Village Theatre sits empty and forlorn on Clark Street just south of North Avenue.
There is still some wonderful glazed, terra-cotta ornamentation on the exterior, but I've read that the original 1916 interior is gone - divided into 4 small screening spaces.
I saw On Golden Pond here in 1981, which was only one of probably a hundred or more
movies I saw at this theater. I can't remember any of the other films. However, I vividly recall sitting in the old auditorium watching Katherine Hepburn - well - be Katherine Hepburn. I'd heard the film was hokey and sentimental and it was, but I can still remember how shocked I was when I found myself, at the end of the film, all weepy with a big lump in my throat.
The Village was constructed in 1916, next door to a beautiful old building, the Germania
Club, which had been built in 1888. The name of the theater, appropriately, was the Germania. During World War I when Americans hated all things German, the name was changed to the Parkside, which was another good name since the southern edge of Lincoln Park is just across the street. The building was threatened with demolition in the 1960s when the neighboring, gigantic Sandburg Village housing complex was built, but the little theater survived, and the named was changed to the Village.
As you can see, it's for rent now and sits vacant. Apparently, there were rumors that the
building had a definite date with a demolition company, but the new alderman is working to get the place landmarked. But what's with the Weber Grill sign hanging from the marquee, does this mean that a Weber Grill restaurant may be moving in?
Ah the Esquire, an Art Moderne gem. Well, at least it was when my friend Mike and I
stood in a long line along Oak Street to see Star Wars. What a movie, and what a great theater auditorium to have seen that epic in. It was a truly memorable experience.
The theater was built in 1938, and designed by Chicago native, William Pereira. The
Esquire was an early work in a long and prolific career. Pereira designed over 400 buildings, his most popular: The Transamerica Building in San Francisco.
All that remains of the original Esquire is the exterior. In the late 1980s that wonderful
1,400 seat auditorium and amazing Streamline Moderne lobby, were demolished to make way for a multi-plex which was constructed behind the 1938 facade. The new lobby was redone in a style that was meant to mimic the '38 version, but it looked like what is was - a bad 1980s imitation of a classic interior.
The theater sits empty like its neighbor to the north. But, there is no landmark status for
the Esquire, and if the economy wasn't in the toilet, the building would have already had its date with the wrecking ball, which was scheduled for Spring 2009. At least now I have a few pictures of the place - to go along with my memories.
Posted by designslinger at 7/15/2009 2:21 AM 
Categories: Architecture, History
Tags: Village Theatre Esquire Theatre William Pereira
Categories: Architecture, History
Tags: Village Theatre Esquire Theatre William Pereira
NO!!. That's the American way. They must tear it down. It's too old and there's too much history.
Reply to this