Under Wraps: Three shuttered Chicago movie palaces

A look at the current state of three of Chicago's most beautiful, shuttered movie palaces: the Central Park Theatre, New Regal Theatre and Uptown Theatre. Read the story at www.chicagotribune.com/palaces. (John Owens, Chicago Tribune)

[@valentinhabermacher332]

Thanks to all the people who keep these most beautiful buildings alive ! Thanks a lot !

[@litochicago6058]

I’m so excited to see the theater again the inside looks like on masterpiece imagine when they open it

[@JeremyForest]

I'm glad that someone bought The New Regal Theater on E. 79th Street. I kinda miss the old Regal Theater that was located in the Bronzeville neighborhood. I wish the person all the best in finding investments.

[@philiphatfield5666]

If he makes it a mecca for ALL cultures then it might work out, but if he makes it a mecca for just ONE culture, then he can forget it!

[@mikewmount]

Fantastic video! Thanks to all that are involved with these restorations.

[@krumet8]

It's good to see these theaters in all their splendor, most of them had Theater pipe organs installed in them, and it would be great to see these magnificent musical instruments restored to the venues.

[@davef.2811]

Probably all long since gone by now.

[@johnnyjames7139]

Quite a few theater pipe organs still exist but most of those are in storage. I have a small instrument in my home that I play.

[@The_best_days_are_yesterdays]

I have a deep and abiding appreciation for these beautiful masterpieces. I only wish I had the money to restore and maintain them.

[@LaurenceDay-d2p]

That makes two of us. I wish people like Bill Gates would restore them. He can afford it.

[@robertgraziano]

Thanks for keeping this movie shrine alive.

[@BoratWanksta]

Great video! I wish luck to all these 3 Chicago theaters to continue operating, and finishing whatever renovation work needs to be done. The New Regal Theater(nee Avalon) btw has been open the last few years for Open House Chicago, and I HIGHLY recommend doing a visit that weekend in October 2017, if you hadn't visited it during a past OHC event! I wonder if its ever opened up, for other special tour events? I went a few years ago for OHC to see the New Regal, and it was great to see it for myself. Hopefully it'll again be an OHC site, for 2017. I'm surprised the city of Chicago cited the Central Park Theater for building code violations, since the inside looks in good shape from seeing this video. This video btw, should've noted that the Modjeska Theater in Milwaukee is being renovated for a future reopening. I went there a few years ago for Doors Open Milwaukee(which I do each year), and its restoration looked promising to me when I visited(I think in September 2014 or 15?). Hopefully they're close to completion, by now. Weird a pic of its inside was only shown at the beginning, but that there wasn't any interview with the owner later on in this video.

[@justintai8725]

fabulous, beautiful i want one!

[@stepheneggert7388]

I hope all these theatres get help..befor there all gone.. Big movies producers have money to help these theatres get up and running..lets get back to the good old days..put in your comfee seats..food...bar. Why not..?. People will go..if. Big movies will get involved..help restore these places..everyone theses days are in a hurry..u cant bring back these places..once there gone..bring back the entertainment..and the nabborhoods will be rebiult. When they see theses places they rebuild. You rebuild it they will come back..

[@sonicmastersword8080]

Are they going to restore this masterpiece?

[@theresaglassford4812]

The Ramova theater in Bridgeport was just reborn after being closed for 38 years!!

[@Beth9228]

These old theaters are so beautiful!! I will be impressive on the ceilings of these places.

[@johnnyjames7139]

The Paradise theatre in Chicago was very beautiful, like being in a outdoor Italian garden. The hugh domed ceiling which was like the sky made sound movies garbled. Paradise was demolished in the mid '50's.

[@LaurenceDay-d2p]

Alas. What replaced it? A parking lot?

[@luisreyes1963]

I'm hoping that the Uptown Theater will be restored somewhat before the decade is over.

[@cubdukat]

I'd just be happy if it gets done before I die (I'm just 55, and hopefully have a little bit more left :)) But no, seriously, they need to get a move on it. I know it's not going to be a movie palace anymore (the last movie I saw there was "King Kong" with Jessica Lange), but at least do something.

[@rainscratch]

Excellent report. As the project manager at the end said, buildings like these were built on a massive scale at the height of the movie industry. They were investments that were successful in the era and purpose for what they were built for. Times changed radically for these edifices from the 1950s onward. Their original purpose was no longer being served. Unless other uses were found, and huge investment capital being poured into restoration and preservation from decay, their demise was unfortunately imminent. Millions of dollars get swallowed up very quickly in projects like these. State and Civic and philanthropic organization funding is critical to saving these incredible, out of place and time, architectural gems. Commercial funding and incentive on its own is not a formula that usually works. Saving, preserving and restoring is only half a giant battle. Then there is finding uses for the theatre, keeping it maintained, staffed and running with all the enormous overhead expenses large properties in big cities bring with them.

[@stephaniedykes4157]

Very interesting. I hope these movie palaces can be saved.

[@musicman257]

wonder if its haunted lot of these old theaters usually are. I agree its a beautiful building rode past it several times when I lived in Chicago but never got to visit it

[@michaelsix9684]

so sad to see venues like this close

[@WO2411]

I never forget the last time I was in the regal on 79th it was around like 2007 new ownership had just brought the building they had a bunch CPS schools there they threw a big event. Good memories

[@kirkpagels5785]

I worked at the old McVickers Theater in the Chicago loop. There is a dull looking skyscraper there now.

[@LaurenceDay-d2p]

The Fox in San Francisco was replaced by a hideous concrete apartment house.

[@zestomuch999]

kino der toten looks pretty lit irl

[@maggiewild5974]

What about the Capital theater across the street ?

[@phoebecatgirl9968]

So sad.........

[@philiphatfield5666]

These great theaters would stand a better chance of surviving if there weren't already too damn many 'entertainment' venues in the U.S.----period!

[@1rat_]

Why did they copy Kino der Toten ?

[@Sonic_Hedgehog853]

Bruh that is kino der toten