Argmore Building on Argyle at Kenmore

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Originally uploaded by BWChicago

You've probably walked past it before, but did you know the Argmore building was once a theatre? Here is the info from CinemaTreatures.org:

"The Argmore was opened in 1913, and two years later, was acquired from its original independent operator by the Alfred Hamburbger circuit. It was located... near the intersection of Argyle Street and Kenmore Avenue, hence the theater's name. In 1922, the Gumbiner Brothers took over operation of the Argmore. Acquired by the Essaness circuit in the 30s, it continued to be operated by that chain until closing in the early 1950s."

The Argmore was later converted to retail use. It currently houses La Patisserie P, Foremost Liquors, and other businesses. Click on image for larger view at Flickr.

The Chateau, a Reader Writes in With Additional Details

Editor's Note: Alan left these comments to an earlier post on The Chateau. We felt it deserved a post of its own. Thank you so much, Alan, for sharing your research with us!

I grew up near here and still pass frequently so was interested in this comparison btw the current Chateau and the former one (of which I was unaware until your postcard post.) I did some follow-up research and found a number of articles and ads in the Chicago Tribune archives.

The old Chateau’s address was 819 Sheridan and it was built in about 1907. The owner, Albert Fuchs, became quite the real estate baron and was featured in numerous articles in the Trib, starting in 1892. He owned greenhouses in the area and started as a florist, lived at 1149 Sheridan, appeared in debtor's court, was accused by his musician wife of forcing her to pose with other women and she sought “separate maintenance” in court, sued a Congressman for rent money, got into tiffs over the flag and defended German officers behavior during WW1, had to endure his son changing his last name to "Fox" (less Germanic), had other real estate dealings on Bittersweet and downtown, moved to California in 1927, offered all his wealth to cancer research upon his wife's death in 1928, was arrested in Santa Monica to face morals charges in 1934, was acquitted and was “penniless” although he lived in mansion. I dug a bit into the LA Times archives to find out what ultimately happened to him, but no luck without paying.

From a Trib article on 10/11/22, the old Chateau was to be demolished to make way for a new (current) hotel which was to be called The Broadway, to be built in 3 sections and include a 5,000 seat theater. But a subsequent 1927 article refers to Fuchs leasing his holdings of The Broadway Hotel, the Chateau apartments and a 1,600 seat theater (that also contained a bowling alley and "bachelor apts") to a syndicate when he moved to California. So apparently he built the hotel but left the courtyard apartments, or at least part of them. Also, it looks like the courtyard was there in the 1962 historic aerial, so perhaps the Chateau was built adjacent to them and then they were eventually torn down.

Regarding the Chateau Theater, a 1930 article gave the theater's address as 3810 Broadway. Apparently Fuchs owned the entire block to Grace. There is a good article on Cinema Treasures about the Chateau, later called Vogue, Theater (see http://cinematreasures.org/theater/4504/).

Two of the Dillinger gang’s girfriends, Pat Cherrington and Opal Long, lived at The Chateau and were arrested there on June 2, 1934.

Alan

The Piper Came to Our Town, A Folklore Collection by a Local Author

Joanne, your blog host at Uptown Chicago History, has just released a new book of folklore and mythology that is all about bagpipes and pipers!

Barnes and Noble and Amazon are the first of the major booksellers to have The Piper Came to Our Town listed.

You can learn more about the book by visiting Bagpipe Folklore, Legends, and Fairy Tales. There you will find vintage photos, engravings, and other images of bagpipes and pipers from around the world, as well as stories, legends, and true-life tales related to piping.

Lunt at Ashland, Rogers Park, Chicago

This one is a little further afield than what we usually cover, but unlike many Childs real picture postcards, this one features people, breathing life into a vintage scene. Click to see the larger version.

Etching of Uptown Baptist Church, 1986

An etching by Sister Rose Marie Conway showing Uptown Baptist Church, circa 1986. It is currently available here. Her bio, as found on the Sinsinawa Dominicans Web site, reads:

Sister Rose Marie finds her art, her life, and her work constantly overlapping. She makes drawings, and her drawings grew into prints. “I have come to define myself as an artist” said Sister Rose Marie. “I’ve grown into this definition by claiming my right to make art, by making art, and by realizing that this engaging activity is fulfilling for me. I think of artmaking as a spiritual act, a centering process, and a healing occupation.”

Aragon Ballroom Menu Cover, circa 1930s

Love how the smoke from her cigarette forms the word "Aragon."

Vintage View of Andersonville, Clark at Foster, Chicago

1950s view of Clark Street looking north from Foster Avenue, Chicago.

Young Dancers at Honolulu Harry's, 804 Wilson, Uptown Chicago

An incredible collection of memorabilia from Honolulu Harry's, once located at 804 Wilson in the Uptown neighborhood, can be found at TikiRoom.com.

Honolulu Harry's Waikiki 804 Wilson, Uptown Chicago

See also Beach View Garden, once at the same address.

The location today:


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Sheridan From Sunnyside, Uptown, Chicago

This stretch of Sheridan Road certainly has changed!


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While we don't have an exact date for this image, it is prior to the construction of the hotel at Sheridan and Agatite.

Beach View Garden, 804 Wilson, Uptown, Chicago

This looks like it was housed in the fabulous terra cotta building that was demolished, like so many of Uptown's buildings, long ago:



For a modern view of this same corner, go here.

The Chateau, Sheridan and Clarendon, Chicago

One of Chicago's largest high class and most unique apartment houses, 1150 feet front, with lagoon, tennis courts, conservatory, etc. Circa 1911.

1950s Montrose Harbor, Chicago

I think this vintage postcard image is from the 1950s.