New McVicker's Chicago, A "Dream"
House of 2,500 Capacity Built in Six Months—Opened Last Week
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Source: Variety, 3 November 1922, pg. 46.
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It is the fulfillment of the
showman's dream," observed Aaron Jones, of the firm of Jones,
Linick & Schaefer, at the new McVicker's Saturday night.
Mr. Jones explained that the new theatre had opened at 6:30
Thursday night and there had not been an empty seat and never a time
when there was not a line of people out in front.
"I dread to wake up," laughed Mr. Jones. "The crowd
on the opening night was to have been expected," he continued. "But
there was a line reaching to State and Dearborn on Madison at 9 o'clock
Friday morning and by the time the house opened the crowd was large
enough to fill it."
The new McVicker's theatre, which is located on the spot the other
McVicker's occupied, opened October 26, just a year to the day from the
opening of the Chicago theatre. It required 19 months to build the
Chicago theatre and six months to build the new McVicker's. The last
vaudeville show was given at the previous McVicker's May 1st, last.
The opening was a gala occasion. Floral pieces represented
expenditures of at least $25,000. Telegrams from every picture star of
prominence were displayed in the lobby. Marcus Loew, Adolph Zukor and
Jesse Lasky were present for the opening. Frank Bacon, Ed Wynn, Irene
Bordoni and other stage stars dropped in to see the new theatre Friday.
The new McVicker's seats 2,500. It is a beautiful theatre in every
respect and the second largest local user of electricity. There is a big
sign in front of the same kind as that at the Chicago theatre. The
McVicker's is to play Paramount pictures exclusively. This is emphasized
in some of the billing matter displayed in front of the house. In
addition there will be presentations directed by S. Barret McCormack. A
special feature for the opening show, which started last Thursday and
continues all this week, is the Adolph Bolm Ballet, presenting the
Tartar Dance from Borondin's opera "Prince Igor," which Mr.
Bolm originated with the Fokine creation of the Diagileff Ballet Russe
last season. The principals at McVicker's include Konstantin Kobeleff,
Amata Grassi and (Miss) Franklin Crawford.
J. G. Burch, manager of the previous McVicker's, is manager of the
new theatre, which is the fifth house of Jones, Linick & Schaefer's
in Chicago in which he superintended the building.
It is planned to move the general offices of Jones, Linick &
Schaefer into the new building from the Rialto.
[End of news article]
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Page compiled: 18 February 2000
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