New Tivoli Called "Finest Theatre"
Balaban and Katz's $2,000,000 Masterpiece Opens.
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Source: Variety, 25 February 1921, pg. 9.
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What is generally called here "the finest theatre in the world," opened, when Balaban & Katz revealed the new Tivoli, at Sixty-third street and Cottage Grove avenue, a 4,500-seat house costing more than $2,000,000, eight miles from "the loop." To lay eye [on] the interior of the Tivoli makes anything ever seen on this continent in the way of theatre look inferior.
The Keith Circuit sent John Royal, manager of the Hippodrome, Cleveland, and Claude S. Humphrey, local representative, to see the Tivoli and report, as the new Keith Cleveland house, is of similar model.
A 55-piece orchestra, an organist brought here from California and many individual features in film presentation were shown. Vivian Holt and Lillian Rosedale, vocal harmonists, especially engaged, appeared in a marvelously staged song creation, "Hiawatha's Melody of Love," and were applauded to the fartherest [sic] echoes of the huge enclosure.
There is room in the grand lobby, which is in two stories, for 3,000 waiting patrons. The promenades are vast and luxurious. There is no straight wall expanse within the whole building. Lovers' lane and lighted niches and cozy nooks are embellished with art works. The entire structure is of palace plan rather than theatre model. Thousands of lights, projected and concealed, give myriad effects. By color arrangements the entire auditorium is lighted up, yet has the necessary effects for film projection usually accomplished only in darkness.
The opening was the biggest in Chicago history, fully 20,000 people gathering at the premiere. Business started and has remained capacity.
[End of news article]
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Page compiled: 18 February 2000
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