At one time , there was a small movie theater at 3709 North Southport Avenue in Chicago.  It was named The Esthena.  It opened 1913.  It had one screen.  Its capacity was 299 seats.

     It was renamed the Southport in 1923.  It closed later in the same year.  For several years, the old theater building was used by th Crown Liquor Store.  The building was eventually demolished.  During the demolition process, the front sidewalk was torn up.  Underneath, was a marble sidewalk that read Esthena Theater.

Copy of Ad Chicago Herald 1914

Bishop Building Rogers Park

Bishop Building

Bishop Building

Bishop Building Rogers

Bishop Building Rogers Park

     The Bishop Building is located in Rogers Park.  Its address is 1511 Howard.  It is  at the intersection of Rogers and Howard.  It is a 2 story flat iron building  with a stone facade.  There is retail space on the first floor.  It appears to have apartments on the second floor.

     The property where the building was located was purchased by Harry Bishop in 1911.    He was a Chicago pioneer.  He lived on Sheridan Road.  The building was constructed in 1924.  It was called the Bishop Building Mall.

     Over the years, the building has been used for various purposes.

     In the 1920’s, it was the home of a night club called Club Detour. Many famous artists played there including Louis Armstrong, Count Basey, and Ella Fitzgerald.  

     In 1969, Charlotte Drobny-Simmons and William Carrey Simmons purchased the building from the Bishop family.    They opened a store called the Sandpiper.  It was a combination health food store and an import gift shop.  Apparently, all of the Simmons children worked in the store at one time or another.

     Fast forward to 1985, Charlotte Walters established Lost Eras in the building.  It is an establishment for finding obscure, unusual and overlooked items.   Examples include clocks, appliances, jewelry, masks,costumes and Theater props. Currently Charlotte and her son Casey manage the business.  It is still in operation.

     It is alleged that the building is haunted by Harry Bishop

     The Mercury Theater is located at 3745 N. Southport Avenue in Chicago.  It is located in close proximity to the Music Box Theater.

     It opened as a Nickelodeon in 1912.  It was called the Blaine.  Later it featured silent films.  It had one screen.  The theater closed in 1920. It operated as carpet cleaning factory until 1947.  

     The building was purchased in 1947 by the DeKoven family.  The building was used  by multiple retail establishments..

     In 1994, it was purchased by Michael Cullen and Joe Carlucci.  They converted the building into a 300 seat legitimate theater. It was named the Mercury.  The debut play was Pope Joan in 1996.  There were two restaurants in the building.

     In 2005, the Mercury Building was auctioned by Inland Real Estate Auctions.

     In 2010, The Mercury and it’s two adjacent restaurant spaces were purchased by an investment group.

Mercury Theater

Mercury Theater

Mercury Theater

Mercury Theater

Mercury Theater

Site of Former Rogers Park Hospital

Photo of Rogers Park Hospital

Sketch of Second Hospital

     In 1927, Rogers Park Hospital opened at 6970 N. Clark Street in Chicago. The president of the new hospital was Dr. Francis Patrick Machler.  The hospital was a replacement of a two story structure built in 1921 also by Dr. Francis Patrick Machler.

     Dr. Machler lived in Evanston, Il.  He was a Rogers Park physician and surgeon for 35 years ( his office was at 7001 N. Clark),  a drummer boy in the Spanish American War, a U.S. Army Captain in World War 1, and a veteran leader. He died in 1950 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

     The new hospital was six stories high.  There was a solarium on the top floor.  The building was constructed with reinforced concrete.  The exterior was brick and terra cotta.  Construction costs were $402,000. Architect was Dwight Wallace.

     Bed capacity was 102.  There were two operating rooms.  There was one delivery room.  There was X-Ray capability.

     In June 1930, the hospital was sold by Dr. Francis Patrick Machler and Thomas Sullivan and Company to the Rogers Park Community Hospital Association.  The sale price was $400,000.  Judge Harry Olson was the new chairman of the board.  Dr. Nappe was the New President.  The hospital name was changed to Rogers Park Community Hospital.