The Pickwick Theater is located in Park Ridge, Illinois at 5 S. Prospect Avenue.  It opened in 1928.  It operated as a movie and a vaudeville venue.  It had one screen and a seating capacity of 1476 seats.  The architects were Roscoe Harold Zook, William F. Mc Caughey, and Alfonso Iannelli.  The building style is art deco.  There is a distinguished marquee and a 100 foot tower.  The theater auditorium was built to resemble an Aztec or Mayan temple.

In 1975, the theater was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Seating capacity was reduced by 200 in 1968; by 400 in 2012.

In 1990, 3 smaller auditoriums and screens were added to the rear of the theater.

In 2007, the Bog Theater Company presented live theatrical shows at the Pickwick.

In 2012, there was a major 1.2 million dollar renovation at the Pickwick.   Included in the project were:  a new roof; mechanical  improvements; exterior renovations; restoration of the original auditorium to its art deco style.

In 2017, owner Dino Vlahakis added a small 39 seat theater to the rear of the second floor.

     The Valencia Theater was located in Evanston, Illinois at 1580 Sherman Avenue.  It was originally known as the Evanston Theater.

     It was constructed in 1911.  The architect was John E.O. Pridmore.  It opened as a vaudeville venue but was later converted to a movie theater with one screen.

     In 1925, it was renamed the New Evanston Theater.

     It underwent a complete renovation in 1932. Seating capacity was increased to 950.  Its style was changed to art deco. It was renamed the Valencia.

     Shortly after this, the theater was acquired by the Balaban and Katz Chain.  Later, it was managed by the B and K successors  ABC and Plitt.

     The theater closed in 1975.  The building was demolished in the 1980’s.  It was replaced by an 18 story building.  This is the world headquarters of Rotary International.

Unless otherwise indicated all photos and text are copyrighted.

Unless otherwise indicated all photos and text are copyrighted

Unless otherwise specified all photos and text are copyrighted

     In 1915, a theater opened in Evanston, Il at 817 Chicago Avenue.  It was called the Triangle.  It had one screen and seating for 811. Its style was art deco.   In the 1920’s, it was renamed the Park.   In the later 1920’s, there was another name change to the New Main.

     In the 1936, the theater was acquired by Balaban and Katz.  It underwent remodeling in the same year.  The architects were Periera and Periera.  Another name change occurred in the 1937–the Coronet.

    For many years, the theater continued to show first run features.  However, beginning in the 1970’s, the Coronet was unable to compete with larger multiplex theaters in the area.    It stopped function as a movie theater in 1984.    It operated as an occasional concert venue until the 1990’s.  It was demolished in 2000.

Unless otherwise indicated all photos and text are copyrighted

The first permanent station  at Linden Avenue was built in 1912–1913.    Its was the last of many proposals. The architect was Arthur Gerber.   It was a small boxed shaped building.  Its style was a mix of bungalow/ Praire  School style.    It has stucco walls.  During the years, it underwent multiple modifications.     In the late  1980’s, the CTA began considering a replacement.  The structure had not kept up to the  station  volume.  Building of a new station began in 1991-1993.

Rather than  demolish the original station.   It was decided to preserve the structure.   The first tenant of the building was North Shore Community Bank.   It used the structure from 1998–2015.    The current tenant is the Wilmette Kenilworth Chamber of Commerce.    In  1984, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Spaces.

All photos and text are copyrighted

Unless otherwise indicated, all photos and text are copyrighted