a closer look at alfonso iannelli's distinctive ornament adorning park ridge's 1928 pickwick theater

photographic study of alfonso iannelli-designed exterior architectural ornament adorning the pickwick theater (1928) located in park ridge, ills.

the pickwick theater (1928) is a mixed-use building with distinctive tapered limestone tower and ornamental marquee designed by roscoe harold zook, william f. mccaughey, and alfonso iannelli.

the theater was named by the mayor of park ridge, william h. malone i, for the title character samuel pickwick in charles dickens' novel the pickwick papers.

the theater’s unique design program is the product of the distinguished partnership of r. harold zook and william f. mccaughey, two former apprentices of architect howard van doren shaw, and sculptor alfonso iannelli, who was responsible for much of the building’s ornamental work, including sculptures, murals, fire curtain, plaster panels, marquee, and the ornament for the theater’s mighty wurlitzer organ console.

images courtesy of eric j. nordstrom and the bldg. 51 archive. all rights reserved. 2022.