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Another Chicago landmark gone.
Looking through yesterday’s Tribune, I came across a small article mentioning that the Esquire Theater on Oak Street was shutting down, and the last movies were to be shown yesterday. Well, I am sure it is no surprise that my first thought was that I needed to go up there and take pictures on its final night. I arrived at about 6:40 PM. and spent the next hour and a half shooting more than 125 images. In addition to the images on today’s post, you can view several more in my Esquire Theater set on flickr.
Completed in 1938, the streamline and gracious theater once served matinee tea and held art exhibits. Unfortunately, the theater fell under the multiplex spell and was chopped up into six screens and retail stores in 1990. Very little remains of what was there on the inside.
Even though I only saw a dozen or so movies there (most recently The Devil Wears Prada, on its opening weekend), each time I was inside the lobby, I could tell that it was once an amazing art deco space.
So as I wandered around the outside with my tripod, other people came and went with their cameras. Mostly people trying to get a last chance shot for themselves, but there were a few photographers like myself that spent some time with their camera. I was surprised to be the only person I saw with a tripod. To which I say… Night shots people, Night shots.
One of the close ups of the neon, and all of its associated bugs and dirt. Neon is challenging for me to photograph.
This shot is of the reflection of the marquee on the black glass in the retail store across the street. I used a four second exposure, my camera appears to be unattended. There is a different version of this shot here.
A shot of the vertical marquee. The rapid somewhat random flashing lights are known as scintillating lights in the industry.
The letter “E” at the bottom wasn’t working, and the other letters lit in a sequential top to bottom pattern. I had to time my shots to get all of the remaining letters when they were lit. I always use a two second timer when doing night shots to reduce vibration, so timing was a challenge. I found that if I released the shutter when the “I” came on, It was open just after the “R” came on. Then they all flashed off.
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WOW!!! Lovely shots …
I never use my tripod … never …
got to begin that!
Comment by Intern — 15 September, 2006 @ 9:18 am
That movie house was the pits inside, but your boxed letters spelling out “ESQUIRE” is an awesome effect!!!! To bad the owners never saw what a gem they had on their hands.
Comment by Mike Doyle — 15 September, 2006 @ 10:51 am
Kind of sad to see it go (well mainly because I like the name and signs/marquee).
Whatever replaces it will probably be some dull, poorly designed brick/stone building that looks awkward because it tries to replicate the past while trying to be modern for tenants.
Which is too bad really, because considering the price of space there you could build a beautiful new building.
Comment by spy — 15 September, 2006 @ 7:28 pm
I always loved that theater because it was never crowded and didn’t attract the Water Tower crowd.
Comment by Michael — 7 October, 2006 @ 8:57 pm
It is too bad really because the price of space
Comment by willims — 29 May, 2008 @ 1:33 am
Wonderful photos! I worked there a few Summers ago, brings back memories! Sad to hear its gone now, the staff were really nice2!
Comment by Ruth — 13 August, 2008 @ 7:25 pm