United Artists Theatre (Chicago)
Encyclopedia
The United Artists Theatre was a popular movie theatre located in Chicago
. It was constructed in 1921 and was originally titled The Apollo. It was purchased by the Balaban and Katz
cinema chain and re-named in 1927. The theatre began life showing live theatre and later exclusively showed films. It was located at the southeast corner of Randolph and Dearborn. It was later operated by ABC/Great States and Cineplex Odeon
. It continued operation until late 1987, and was demolished in 1989.
The United Artists was located on Randolph Street, which was once known as Chicago's Great White Way and continues to be the center of Chicago's theatre district. The theatre featured ornate interior design common of the movie palaces of its era. It was known for showing exclusive runs and premieres of top Hollywood films. In the 1970s, the theatre focused mostly on the action and horror films popular at the time, with the occasional blockbuster, such as the house-record breaking run of Jaws
.
From the 1950s until its closing, the theater featured an elaborate marquee
, which wrapped around the building's curved corner entrance. This marquee can be seen in many films including The Blues Brothers
, Adventures in Babysitting
, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off
.
The building was located on Block 37, a parcel in the Chicago Loop
that saw nearly every building demolished in 1989. Various projects were proposed for the site before construction began on a new structure in 2005. The retail section will feature a new 7-screen movie theatre from Muvico Theatres.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. It was constructed in 1921 and was originally titled The Apollo. It was purchased by the Balaban and Katz
Balaban and Katz
The first incarnation of the Balaban and Katz Theatre corporation appeared in 1916 in Chicago by A. J. Balaban, Barney Balaban, Sam Katz, and Morris Katz. It held its first meeting as a Delaware corporation on January 21, 1925. Famous Players-Lasky Corporation bought a controlling interest in...
cinema chain and re-named in 1927. The theatre began life showing live theatre and later exclusively showed films. It was located at the southeast corner of Randolph and Dearborn. It was later operated by ABC/Great States and Cineplex Odeon
Cineplex Odeon
Cineplex Odeon Corporation was one of North America's largest movie theatre operators, with theatres in its home country of Canada and the United States...
. It continued operation until late 1987, and was demolished in 1989.
The United Artists was located on Randolph Street, which was once known as Chicago's Great White Way and continues to be the center of Chicago's theatre district. The theatre featured ornate interior design common of the movie palaces of its era. It was known for showing exclusive runs and premieres of top Hollywood films. In the 1970s, the theatre focused mostly on the action and horror films popular at the time, with the occasional blockbuster, such as the house-record breaking run of Jaws
Jaws (film)
Jaws is a 1975 American horror-thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Peter Benchley's novel of the same name. In the story, the police chief of Amity Island, a fictional summer resort town, tries to protect beachgoers from a giant man-eating great white shark by closing the beach,...
.
From the 1950s until its closing, the theater featured an elaborate marquee
Marquee (sign)
A marquee is most commonly a structure placed over the entrance to a hotel or theatre. It has signage stating either the name of the establishment or, in the case of theatres, the play or movie and the artist appearing at that venue...
, which wrapped around the building's curved corner entrance. This marquee can be seen in many films including The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers are an American blues and soul revivalist band founded in 1978 by comedy actors Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi as part of a musical sketch on Saturday Night Live...
, Adventures in Babysitting
Adventures in Babysitting
Adventures in Babysitting is a 1987 American comedy film written by David Simkins, directed by Chris Columbus, and starring Elisabeth Shue, Maia Brewton, Keith Coogan, Anthony Rapp, Penelope Ann Miller, Bradley Whitford, and a brief cameo by blues singer/guitarist Albert Collins...
, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a 1986 American teen coming-of-age comedy film written and directed by John Hughes.The film follows high school senior Ferris Bueller , who decides to skip school and spend the day in downtown Chicago...
.
The building was located on Block 37, a parcel in the Chicago Loop
Chicago Loop
The Loop or Chicago Loop is one of 77 officially designated Chicago community areas located in the City of Chicago, Illinois. It is the historic commercial center of downtown Chicago...
that saw nearly every building demolished in 1989. Various projects were proposed for the site before construction began on a new structure in 2005. The retail section will feature a new 7-screen movie theatre from Muvico Theatres.