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a closer look at the "old ivory" glazed terra cotta reproduced for the iconic chicago theater

a theater-related acquisition this week joins the bldg. 51 collection, as a rare remnant of restoration efforts that took place at the iconic chicago theater over twenty years ago. the highly ornate floral terra cotta fragments were fabricated by boston valley, the decorative cream-colored terra cotta made to hold a central bulb, protruding from the floral motif. the segments prove similar to other atmospheric theater elements in seamlessly combining form and function.

the terra cotta segments are an unusual acquisition for being reproductions, however, they are a significant remnant derived in renovation work rather than demolition (a fate that almost came to pass in the 1980’s). the terra cotta seems an appropriate artifact to represent the longevity of the “wonder theater” and alterations it has undergone. most notably, even the iconic marquee gracing the exterior is far from original to the building. as the chicago theater aimed to register its historic status in the late 1970's, its marquee had already been replaced twice.

1926

according to the historic register nomination form, the original marquee was a relatively basic canopy that held two lines of space for announcements on each side. a year or two into its existence the theater sign acquired more elaborate lighting elements, with flashing pinwheels, swirls and garlands of colored lights. it also boasted larger milk glass letter attraction boards, and “chicago” appeared in large letters on three sides. a third marquee was installed in 1949 of similar quality, with larger attraction boards and “chicago” appearing in larger letters only on the front side. at the time it could be considered the last remaining example of the old, ornate cinema marquees of chicago.

in 1969 when ownership passed from balaban and katz to the american broadcasting company, the former’s name was removed from the marquee. in 1994, an entirely new marquee replaced this predecessor, closely imitating it in look. the chicago tribune detailed the project, undertaken as a result of irreparable deterioration. the painstaking restoration replicated everything, from “the seams between the metal pieces and obsolete maintenance ladders inside the top of the sign to intricate scrollwork.” the aluminum replica in turn weighed one-third of the previous 50,000-pound steel sign, putting significantly less stress on the building, and featuring a modern wiring system. eventually the original marquee was donated to the smithsonian institute.

the chicago theatre first opened its doors in 1921, a movie palace of unprecedented construction completed by rapp & rapp for balaban and katz. its french baroque-style façade was comprised of an off-white terra cotta built into monumental arches. the building’s many extravagant decorative elements stoked comparisons to versailles and displayed the influence of louis xiv french stylings.

despite its impressive design, the façade and the interior have undergone several major renovations during the 95 years of its existence. the chicago theater was first visited with changes in 1933, 12 years after its opening, in preparation for the century of progress exposition. again in 1949-1950, a renovation aimed to modernize the building and modify the interior. by the mid-1980’s the theater was neglected and demolition loomed before a major restoration effort was waged to return the building back to its historic 1930’s appearance. as detailed, the six story marquee signage was retooled multiple times, and completely replaced in the 1990’s. it was during this last renovation effort that the terra cotta in question was produced.

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