Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State Street, Chicago, IL 60601

Designed by architects Cornelius W. Rapp and George L. Rapp, the Chicago Theatre opened October 26, 1921, becoming the flagship of the Balaban and Katz chain.

Forest Leaves, November 10, 1921:

"Balaban & Katz, than whom there is none more progressive or more artistic in the theatrical field, are the builders and sponsors of this gigantic playhouse."

Merely Colossal* by Arthur Mayer, former Paramount director of advertising, exploitation and publicity:
"It must be admitted, however that Balaban & Katz were responsible not only for the unprecedented comforts of the modern picture theatre but for many of its artistic atrocities. The repulsive splendor of rococo decorations, gargantuan crystal chandeliers, fake Doric columns and cathedral windows looking out on nothing, sinking carpets, rising pipe organs and overzealous, gold-braided service staffs were all theirs and they were quickly and widely copied all over the country with even greater pomp, less taste--and similar profits.

"Abe [Balaban] was the introducer of 'gigantic presentations.' When Valentino's Blood and Sand played the Balaban & Katz's houses, it was presented with sunlit patios and Spanish singers, dancers and guitar players. With Clara Bow's It (so called because Walter Wanger once heard Elinor Glyn say, 'That girl has it'), Abe came through with a hot jazz band and a not so hot version of a youthful petting party with more singing and dancing than insidious sex."

*Merely Colossal: The Story of the Movies from the Long Chase to the Chaise Lounge by Arthur Mayer, published by Simon and Schuster, 1953.

In discussing Balaban and Katz, Meyer does not mention the contributions made to the movie palace by Sid Grauman and "Roxy" Rothafel. 

1947 postcard showing three marquees on State Street  

Above photograph copyright by Betty Sword, all rights reserved

Both images are part of the Theatretalks collection, please ask permission to copy and/or use. At least give credit to source. We know that some people will not  honor this but it would be nice if they did.

Cezar Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, chosen 2010 Best Book of the Year by the Theatre Historical Society.

He is currently accepting theatre talks and walks for the fall and winter-historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.

The Garden of Allah on Stage and Screen

A sensation when first published in 1904, Robert Hichens' The Garden of Allah is a romantic tale of adventure set in the Algerian desert where a British woman traveling alone has an affair with a fallen Trappist monk.

It was adapted for the stage in 1911 by Hichens and Mary Anderson de Navarro (uncredited), making its debut at the Century Theatre in New York. Elaborately produced by Liebler & Co. the play was a smash hit. 

J. Parker Read, Jr., "a maker of scenic motion pictures", tried to acquire the rights for a film version in 1912.

Moving Picture World, June 8, 1912:

"Because of the beautiful scenic effects of the stage production, Mr. Read proposed to Liebler & Co. that he be allowed to make a picture version of the play but the price asked by the owners was prohibitive, so he decided to make a picture of the Garden itself."

Setting out from Paris by automobile, Read filmed a three-reel travelogue entitled A Motor Trip to the Garden  of Allah, produced through the co-operation of George Tyler, from the Liebler Company.

A Motor Trip to the Garden  of Allah

The first of three screen versions of The Garden of Allah was a Christmas release by the Selig Polyscope Company in 1916, with the Mojave Desert standing in for the Sahara.

The Garden of Allah at the Colonial Theatre in Chicago

Excerpts from Motography, September 1, 1917:

"A camel driven by an Arab attracted a crowd before the theater in Randolph Street and the young lady ushers were garbed after the mysterious manner of the Orient."

"Before the performance a dozen or more Arabs appeared and while one sang a song of the desert others bowed towards the east. The lights were dimmed on the desert set and the song died out and the film drama began."

The Garden of Allah was the opening attraction at Quinn's Rialto in Los Angeles

Excerpts from Moving Picture World, June 23, 1917:

"Selig's multiple reel feature The Garden of Allah has drawn capacity audiences from the first day of opening."

"Through Irving Lesser of the All Star Feature Disbributors, Mr. Quinn bought the entire rights for Los Angeles for The Garden of Allah."

Another silent version was released in 1927 directed by Rex Ingram and starring Alice Terry. Selznick International Pictures made the Garden of Allah as a talkie in 1936, the second film to be photographed in three-strip Technicolor. Star Marlene Dietrich described it as "trash." Other viewers were less harsh especially if one was able to "embrace the silliness."

The Garden of Allah aired on Campbell Playhouse, November 19, 1939 with Orson Wells and Madeline Carroll.

Colonial Theatre

Quinn's Rialto

Photo Credits:

1) Postcard part of the Theatre Talks Collection

2) Moving Picture World, June 8, 1912

3) Motography, September 1, 1917

4) Moving Picture World, June 23, 1917

Cezar Del Valle is available for theatre walks and talks in 2013. 

He is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, chosen 2010 Best Book of the Year by the Theatre Historical Society.