On the north side of Devon Avenue West of Clark Street at 1618 W. Devon once stood the New Devon Theater.  It was designed by Henry Ross.  It was built in 1912.  It had white glazed brick with dark green glazed brick trim.   It had one screen and 556 seats.  The theater opened in 1913 and closed in 1917.  It was a smaller theater and was unable to compete with larger venues.

     Over the following years, the building served many purposes.  In 1923, it was a Ford Dealership. (Hughey Motor Company).  In 1936, it served as an American Legion Hall.  In 1941, it housed a chapter of America First–an anti-war group.  In the 1950’s, it housed Devon Clark Radio Store which later morphed into Devon Clark TV Store. Since 1963, it has served as a site for the Assyrian American Association of Chicago.

Site of Prior New Devon Theater

Site of New Devon Theater

Site of New Devon Theater

Site of New Devon Theater

Site of New Devon Theater

Site of New Devon Theater

Site of New Devon Theater

     On the north side of Devon Avenue just east of Clark stands a long time Rogers Park establishment known as the Devon Clark Hardware Store.  Many people are unaware that this was the site of a movie theater.  

     Built in 1919, it was a 1200 seat theater.  It had only one screen. The architect was Robert Smith.  It opened on March 1, 1919.  The theater name was the Ellantee.  It was managed by Lubliner and Trinz.  It was closed in 1928.  

     In September of 1930, the building reopened as the Ridge Theater. It closed in 1952.

Ridge Theater Internet Photo

Ellantee Theater

Ellantee  Theater

    It sat empty until September 17, 1930 at which time it reopened as the Ridge Theater.  This business ran until November, 1952.   For a brief time in the 1950’s, it was known as the Capri Ballroom.

     Clark Devon Hardware, the urrent business at this location actually started at a different site in 1924 and relocated to the current site in 1980.

West Fork South Branch Chicago River

Same as above

     At one time, there was a West Fork of the South Branch Chicago River. It roughly followed the tour of the Chicago Portage.   For all practical purposes, the West Fork no longer exists.  It was filled in by the city in the 1920’s.  There are few traces.

     This is an impressive structure located along the North side of the Main Branch Chicago River at McClurg Court.  There is a water canon.   During warm weather water is shot across the River in an eighty foot arc.  This occurs every hour for ten minutes.  The water fountain has an impressive stepped granite pavilion representative of the eastern continental divide.

     The fountain marks the Centennial of the Metropolitan Sanitary District.  The structure was built by Blinderman Construction at a cost of $3.65 million.

Fountain Plaque

Fountain

Same as above

Stepped Granite Wall Representing Eastern Continental Divide

     The fountain was named after Nicholas J. Melas.  He had a long history as a commissioner and President of the Metropolitan Sanitary District.

Greenleaf Red Line Viaduct

Same as above

Greenleaf Avenue Red Line Viaduct. Chicago

Greenleaf Avenue Red Line Viaduct Chicago

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