Lost Chicago Building 6 - The Granada Theater
By Roger Jones, August 2023
I only saw a movie at the Granada Theater once, in the late 1970s; I believe the offering was Murder by Death. Nonetheless, I always marveled at the movie palace's facade every time the el train passed the Loyola stop on Chicago's north side.
Granada Theater from the CTA Loyola platform, found photograph, Flickr, probably 1970s
Opened: Tuesday, September 21, 1926
Status: Closed/Demolished Sunday, September 30, 1990
The Granada Theater was a 3,400–seat movie palace located at 6427-41 North Sheridan Road, in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago and adjacent to Loyola University. Constructed in 1926 for the Marks Brothers, major theatre operators in the U.S., Edward E. Eichenbaum was the principal designer for the architectural firm of Levy & Klein. Eichenbaum also designed the Marbro, Regal, and Century theaters in Chicago.
The Marks Brothers operated the theatre until 1934, when Balaban and Katz purchased the property. That firm and its successors—United Paramount Theatres, ABC Great States Theatres and Plitt Theatres—operated the facility until approximately 1978. From then until the mid-eighties, it was used sporadically for rock concerts and presented midnight showings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show for several years.
Despite all attempts to save the theater, Senior Life Styles Corporation purchased the property and demolished it in 1989-90 for a planned apartment/commercial structure.
The new 16–story apartment tower and shopping arcade constructed in 1991 was named "Granada Center.” Loyola University eventually purchased the structure and transformed it into 12 floors of student apartments over a base containing parking, retail and university offices.
1920s photo, credit John G. Chuckman Collection
Following are scanned pages from The Chicago Movie Palaces of Balaban and Katz, by David Balaban:
Granada Theater under construction
Architectural rendering, front elevation (no date)
Thanks to Cinema Treasures for the following details:
Built in 1926 for the Marks Brothers circuit, this was one of the largest movie palaces on Chicago’s Far North Side, located in Rogers Park. The Granada Theatre was opened September 18, 1926 with a Jack Haskell stage show “Eastern Nights” and on the screen Belle Bennett in “The Lilly”. The Wurlitzer 4 manual 20 rank theatre organ was opened by organist Alfred F. Brown The proscenium was 60ft wide and the stage 32ft deep. Seating was provided for 3,448, with 1,833 in the orchestra level and 1,615 seats in the balcony.
On November 18, 1932, the theatre was acquired by the Publix/Balaban & Katz chain and it was briefly closed, reopening on July 29, 1933 with John Barrymore in “Reunion In Vienna” & Laurel & Hardy in “Me and My Pal”. The Granada Theatre was originally designed by Edward Eichenbaum (of the firm of Levy & Klein) for both live stage shows and movies, but by the 1940’s, was only showing films. On November 19, 1975 the World Premiere of Jack Nicholson in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” was held at the Granada Theatre, with Jack Nicholson & Louise Fletcher appearing ‘in person’. It remained open as a movie theatre, operated by Plitt Theatres until the late-1970’s.
Information from the HABS Report on the Granada:
The report goes on to say that the primary reasons for the Granada’s historic significance include:
its size, as it was one of the three largest movie theatres ever built in Chicago, the other two being the Uptown and the Chicago theatres;
its elaborate design, often cited as the most ornate in the city; its place as the flagship of the Marks Brothers empire, who were second only to Balaban and Katz in the construction and operation of opulent movie palaces; and its association with architect Edward Eichenbaum.
Perhaps the most heartbreaking element of the HABS report is one of its closing statements: “The Granada had survived in essentially unaltered condition until the past two years (1988-89), when it was left unattended and the weather and vandalism were allowed to proceed unchecked.” This was a demolition that could have been avoided.
The HABS report included several dozen photos of the interior and exterior of the Granada Theatre, taken shortly before demolition. While it is depressing to see the damage the theatre suffered in its final two years, especially during a time when movie palaces across the country were being renovated to the benefit of communities large and small, these photos do show in great detail the artistry of Edward Eichenbaum.
Source: Compass Rose Cultural Crossroads
...the Granada was still in remarkably good shape as recently as 1987. While it was allowed to deteriorate after that, eyewitnesses to the demolition mourn the fact that there was little wrong with the theatre structurally, that it could, in fact, have been saved.
Despite efforts to landmark the theatre or get it reopened, the Granada’s fate was sealed. Much of the terra cotta of the facade was stripped and sold off, as were many of the interior decorative elements. One of the large chandeliers from the lobby was salvaged and now hangs in the Riviera Theatre. Another, smaller, chandelier hangs in the Music Box on Southport.
Source: Compass Rose Cultural Crossroads
Photographs from the HABS Report, Library of Congress:
VIEW OF BLOCK FROM NORTHWEST LOOKING SOUTHEAST, 1980s, N. Sheridan Road
MAIN LOBBY CEILING FROM GROUND LEVEL
HORIZONTAL VIEW FROM STAGE LOOKING SOUTH
VIEW OF CEILING FROM STAGE
ALCOVE 2ND FLOOR LOBBY WALKWAY, during demolition
LOOKING EAST, VIEW OF COMMERCIAL OFFICE SECTION, NORTH PORTION OF THEATER COMPLEX
VIEW OF BLOCK FROM SOUTHWEST LOOKING NORTHWEST - during demolition
Photos during the theater's destruction can be viewed in the Flickr set by Genial23 Ruined and abandoned.
A final view: Granada Theater, 1920s - Cinema Treasures, photo by Chicago Architectural Photographing Company
An incredibly detailed description of the building can be found on Historic Structures.
"Completed in 1991, Granada Center hosts residential apartments, a parking garage, office space for Loyola University, and several store fronts. The Center was built to help aid the growth and development of the Rogers Park neighborhood, as well as to provide more space for Loyola University." Loyola University Chicago Digital Special Collections
Finally, if you're interested in fragments, view the Urban Remains site for some interesting pieces of the Granada Theater.
