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

The Noyes Street Station is located at 909 Noyes Street in Evanston, Illinois on the CTA Purple Line.   The first station at this site was a ground level station.   It was removed when the elevated tracks were  constructed.

The current station was built in the 1930′ s.  It is elevated on a solid fill embankment.   There is no station house.   Two staircases lead to an area having a customer service booth, vending machines and turnstyles.    The station platform is concrete with a canopy.

In the past, the North Shore Line provided service at Noyes Street.   This was discontinued in 1955.

Unless otherwise indicated,all photos and text are copyrighted

     The Varsity Theater was located in Evanston, Illinois at 1710 Sherman Avenue.  It opened on December 24, 1926.  It was built for a former local resident Clyde Elliot.   The architect was E.O. Pridemore. There was one screen.  I have found two estimates of seating capacity 1850 or 2500.

     The Varsity was built as what was called an atmospheric theater.  It was designed to resemble a Royal French Chateau.  Its sidewalls were made of Italian Marble.  The stage resembled a drawbridge.  The lights in the ceiling mimicked twinkling stars.  Even the Geneva organ was modified to resemble a cottage.

     In the 1930’s, the Varsity became part of the Balaban and Katz chain.  The theater continued in business until the 1980’s.  In later years, it became part of the Plitt Chain.

     After the theater closed, the main level and lobby were gutted and the space was converted to retail space. 

     At one tme, a plan was floated to convert the space into a performing art center.  This never happened.

  Unless otherwise stated, all photos and text are copywrighted

 

There have been 3 bridges named Shippingsport crossing the Illinois River in LaSalle County, Illinois.    The designation of these bridges has changed from US 51, Business 51 to  IL 351.  The bridge was named after a civil war hero Harvey Shippingsport.

     The first bridge at this site was constructed in 1872.  The structure had a swing span.     This bridge was replaced in 1929.

     The replacement opened in November, 1929.  It consisted of 6 Parker Through truss spans.  Each of these were 180 feet long.  There was a single Waddell and Harrington lift span.  It was 200 feet in length.   The largest span was 200 feet.  Total bridge length was 1,679 feet.     The builders of the bridge were Illinois Steel Bridge Company of Jacksonville, Illinois and Stresenreueter Brothers of Chicago.  Construction costs were $500,000.  

    Over the years, the bridge deteriorated significantly and the IDOT considered closing the Highway 351 bridge.   Lobbying by local residents resulted in a change by the state department.  IDOT decided to rebuild the bridge.  Because the new bridge was to be built in the same location as the 1929 bridge, this bridge was removed before the new one was constructed.  This resulted in a lack of a river crossing at this site for two years.

     The third bridge is the current one.  It was built for a cost of 16 million dollars.  Contractor was Edward Kreamer and Sons.  Bridge type is steel girder with a concrete deck.  A new type of high performance steel was used.  The girders are  thin  and carried longer spans.  There are two lanes of traffic.  Length is 1,775 feet.

     In 2004, the bridge was almost damaged by a F 3 tornado missing by a mere 20 feet.

     The Riviera Theater is located in the Uptown Neighborhood of Chicago at 4746 N. Racine Avenue.  It opened in 1918.  Construction costs were $585,000.  The building style is French Renaissance Revival.  The theater was once called the Orpheum.   The architects were Rapp and Rapp.  The theater was built for Balaban and Katz.  Like other theaters in the area, a Wurlitzer organ was installed in 1920.    The capacity was 2500 seats.

     Since 2006, the Riviera is a private night club.  Its owner is Jan Productions. (Also the owner of the Uptown).   The seats have been removed.