The stairs inside the Chicago Theatre are directly modeled after those in the Paris Opera House and indirectly after The Titanic ( which subsequently employed a similar style ). Also, the exterior sign uses more than 8,900 light bulbs.
These were just two of the tidbits house manager Deric Gochenauer told people on a special Oct. 26 backstage tour of the venue as it marked its 92nd anniversary.
When it opened in 1921, the Chicago Theatre was the first large, lavish movie palace in America. Gochenauer said that the venue featured open seating for everyone, regardless of class, gender or even racehe even referred to the national landmark as a "shrine of democracy." However, this egalitarianism didn't extend to the ushers, who had to be male of a certain height and weight, since the uniforms were pre-made.
The movie palace was constructed for $4 million by owners Barney and Abe Balaban and Sam and Morris Katz; Cornelius and George Rapp designed it. The Chicago Theatre first opened its doors with Norma Talmadge on screen in The Sign on the Door. A 50-piece orchestra performed in the pit and Jesse Crawford ( who was almost known as much for his infidelity as his skill as a musician ) played the Wurlitzer pipe organ.
The venue's history has been long and varied, with a major change taking place in the 1980s. In 1986, Chicago Theatre Restoration Associates, with assistance from the City of Chicago, bought and saved the theatre from demolition. It reopened Sept. 10, 1986 with a gala performance by Frank Sinatra.
The special tour also involved walking backstage and viewing the thousands of autographs that adorn the walls and stairs. The event concluded with samples of Eli's cheesecake.
To go on a tour, visit www.thechicagotheatre.com/tour.html .
Photos by Andrew Davis