This opulent palace of a theater was originally built in the 1920s as a movie theater. Now, after a several year renovation and restoration project, it's one of the main theaters in Chicago's theater district where shows like Wicked had their multi-year run and touring companies perform (we were there last night for Motown the Musical, along with an audience predominantly of the baby boomer generation -- this was our music in the 1960s). Anyway, I took several interior shots but it's hard to capture it all. As over the top in some ways as yesterday's Jim Thompson Illinois Center building, but of a different era.
Thank you all so much for your wonderful response to that bizarre, surreal Illinois Center shot! It's quite a strange place and warrants more photos -- but even a regular photo looks heavily processed in HDR! And thank you so so so much for putting my sunset (Beaver Island Greets Us) on TT this week, and number 1. It really is a thrill and made fighting the mozzies so worth it.
OH MY...this is really amazing!! What a job it must have been to restore it. We have a lovely old theater (not quite as opulent as this) that started out as a stage theater then became a movie theater..which was almost its demise. It has been beautifully restored (actually still a work in progress) after years of neglect and abuse. This is really amazing!
This is an absolutely gorgeous structure, Taffy - so ornate! How great that it's been restored and that you've been able to enjoy some great theatre there! Makes me think of The Fox Theatre in St. Louis where I saw "The Producers."
Wow so much detail to take in! Definitely over the top but beautiful all the same. I do so admire your architectural shots and it is on my wish list to find a good building as a subject and get a good image!
Congratulations on the number one spot on the TT, so well deserved. This shot is just gorgeous, there is so much going on, it is very beautiful. Your shot certainly does it justice.
That's a theater whose interior design alone is worth the price of admission! How absolutely stunning! (When we were at the theater the other night, I had to check my camera before going in...you? ...of course everyone with a cell phone was taking photos...) I was so happy for you to read that you and Jim had a nice date night before you head out of town! I'd have loved an evening like that as well, being of the same generation!
This just knocks my socks off, Taffy! The angle of the photo perfectly captures the airy height of the ceiling, the detailed beauty of the artwork, and even some of the patrons below. Super fav!
This is just beautiful! If ever you're in Chicago there are guided theater tours. The Oriental and the Palace. The lobbies are so amazing. I am glad not all the old movie houses in Chicago have been taken down.
Yes, Chicago seems to be full of "overdone" buildings....I would find it hard to pay attention to the play in a space this.....my eye just seems to wander everywhere! BTW, try eating lots of garlic for the mozzies! I hear it repels them....along with everyone else! ;-)
