The Ramova Theater, Reopened, 12/22/2023 #1

For a YouTube video of the reopening event, click here: youtu.be/C3iW1BF6YD8
For more exterior Ramova Pics on Flickr before the rehab: flic.kr/s/aHsjyDJDh5
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramova_Theater

My memories of the Ramova start in the 1960's and '70's, when it was still a movie theater. They preserved most of the exterior, minus the marquee you can see in the before-rehab pictures, and some of the interior ornament, including the auditorium sidewalls that resembled a Spanish courtyard. The auditorium is similar to the Music Box Theater in West Lakeview, that opened the same year (1929).

This video was shot at a community event that introduced neighborhood residents to the renovated theater. It was a long, hard fight to bring it back to life -- a former alderman (Chicago's name for city councilmen), without whose cooperation nothing in Chicago gets done, called the theater "an albatross".

During the renovation, there was a great deal of hand-wringing about "parking". Relax. The 8 Halsted bus from both the north and far south sides drops visitors right outside the door and across the street. The Orange Line from the southwest side and the Green Line from the south side both have Halsted stations from which you can catch the #8 bus. Both the Red and Green Lines have 35th St stations -- a transfer to the westbound 35 35th St bus drops you at 35th and Halsted, a half block north of the theater.

There's not much parking around Wrigley Field, either, but it doesn't seem to hurt attendance, either games or concerts. And if you're going to the northside's art house Music Box Theater, either on the Red or Brown Lines or the Addison or Irving Park bus lines, you're either walking part of the way from public transit, or you're taking a huuuge chance with on-street parking.

Funny thing, though. Neither the Music Box or Wrigley Field has any problem with attendance. Comiskey Park, with all its parking lots, one that they tore a neighborhood down to install, is struggling to get people in the door. Maybe they can make a little money by leasing the lot on 35th St west of the Norfolk Southern tracks to the Ramova, which is a ten minute walk from there, or selling it to them outright. Just a thought, lol. Also, maybe the Ramova can arrange with nearby McClellan Elementary School to use its parking lot for nighttime and weekend events, just as the Music Box used to have a parking arrangement with neighboring Blaine School.

The upshot: If it's something the public really wants to see, they WILL come, by car or public transit.

Taken in: United States / Illinois / Chicago / Bridgeport (show map)

Taken on: December 22, 2023

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Spanish courtyard

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Sets appears in: • Grand Opening of the New Ramova Theater, 12/22/2023 • Ramova Theater more » • Around Chicago « less

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Camera: QCOM-AA QCAM-AA, f/2.0, 1/30 sec, 4.5mm, ISO 863 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	QCOM-AA QCAM-AA
Aperture:	f/2.0
Exposure Time:	0.033 sec (1/30)
Focal Length:	4.5mm
ISO:	863
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Average
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop CS2 Windows
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