mobile icon
Toggle Nav
My Cart
Close
  • Menu
  • Setting

ornamental terra cotta panel from rapp & rapp's southtown non-extant theater joins bldg. 51 museum american building artifact collection

the building 51 museum and archive recently acquired an all original and historically important heavily ornamented terra cotta panel rescued from rapp and rapp's southtown theater during its unfortunate demolition in 1991. the single-sided polychromed exterior theater panel features foliated scrollwork with centrually located petalled flower. the terra cotta block consists of a two-tone glaze, with the raised ornament finished in tan. the recessed regions contain a reddish-brown glaze with allover crazing evident. the theater's ornamental terra cotta was fabricated by the northwestern terra cotta company, chicago, ills.

the spanish revival style southtown theater (demolished) was designed and built for balaban and katz by the notable chicago-based architectural firm of rapp and rapp (chicago, uptown, etc.) in 1931. located on the south side of chicago, the southtown was one of the last major movie palaces ever built in chicago. the stucco-covered theater's most distinctive exterior feature was its massive tower, which was more than 90 feet tall with brightly lit oversized neon letters containing the word “southtotwn" adorning all four sides.

the cavernous auditorium housed 2,200 seats on the main floor and an additional 1000 seats in the upper balcony. the theater's grand lobby was originally outfitted with a flamingo pool and fountain featuring a running waterfall and live fish. dioramas located on the mezzanine floor, featured notable city of chicago historical events (e.g., the great chicago fire of 1871). the theater was equipped with a twin box office, children’s recreational rooms and, smoking lounges for men and women. the southtown was converted into a department store for carr's, shortly after it closed in 1958. the theater succumbed to the wrecking ball in 1991.

a well-documented c. 1931 american depression era interior southtown theater or movie palace auditorium alcove full-figured "flapper girl" statue to the illustrious chicago-based architectural decorating company. the finely crafted life-size nude female statue is comprised of cast plaster and reinforced with horse hair - a popular binding agent used during this period in time. the female's striking upright pose consists of an outstretched arm, headed tilted upward, standing on a single leg and the left hand grasping a clam shell. the original square-shaped base or stand is intact and structurally sound. the statue contains a uniform metallic gold enameled finish. an identical statue was used in the lobby of the non-extant paradise theater designed in 1928 by john eberson. images of the statue as it was displayed in the southtown and paradise theaters are shown below.

Leave a Reply
Sorry, you must be logged in to post a comment.


Some Of Our Clientele

WORDLWIDE SHIPPING

If required, please contact an Urban Remains sales associate.

NEW PRODUCTS DAILY

Check back daily as we are constantly adding new products.

PREMIUM SUPPORT

We're here to help answer any question. Contact us anytime!

SALES & PROMOTIONS

Join our newsletter to get the latest information

Close