chicago's historic village theater reduced to facedectomy after its auditorium demolished

a few months ago (see blog entry below) i documented the village theater (built in 1916 as gemania) shortly before the building's auditorium was set to be demolished. as of this afternoon, only the theater's facade is left standing - still concealed in part by 53-foot storage containers stacked three high.

with the auditorium demolished, chicago caisson contractor revcon has deposited their machines and equipment onsite to drill deep into the ground to make way for the caisson foundation needed to erect the new residential development dubbed "1550 on the park."

VILLAGE THEATER'S POLYCHROME TERRA COTTA FACADE STAYS, BUT THE BUILDING'S AUDITORIUM GOES