Bryn Mawr Historic District [Edgewater Presbyterian Church]

Monday, November 14, 2011

Sculptural Ornamentation: Fragments from Garrick Theatre

Posted on 1:05 PM by babli panday

Portrait bust on 827-831 N Dearborn Street..

Portrait busts on 827-831 N Dearborn Street..

Salvaged portrait busts from the demolished Garrick Theater..
Garrick Theater, or originally the Schiller Theatre was designed by Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler of the Adler & Sullivan firm. At the time of construction it was one of the tallest buildings in Chicago, with a magnificient 1,300 seat theater. In 1903, it was named Garrick Theater. In 1960, the Schiller/Garrick Theater was razed to ground and replaced by parking garage. The demolition instigated large outcry and is said to be the first wide spread preservation efforts in Chicago!

Some parts of the sculptural ornamentation, mainly the salvaged portrait busts, can be seen on some buildings in the city. These portrait busts are attributed to Richard Bock.

827-831 N Dearborn Street..
2421 N. Geneva Terrace..
1945 N Lincoln Ave...
The Second City Theater

2421 N. Geneva Terrace..

Portrait busts on 2421 N. Geneva Terrace..

Portrait bust on 2421 N. Geneva Terrace..

Portrait busts on 2421 N. Geneva Terrace..

Portrait busts on 2421 N. Geneva Terrace..

1945 N Lincoln Ave..

Portrait busts on 1945 N Lincoln Ave..

Portrait bust on 1945 N Lincoln Ave..

Portrait bust on 1945 N Lincoln Ave..
When I took these photographs of portrait busts on 1945 N Lincoln Ave., I had no idea that these were fragments from the Garrick Theater. Much later I found out these are salvaged fragments from the now demolished Garrick Theater.

Portrait busts on 1945 N Lincoln Ave..

Second City Theater..

Portrait busts on Second City Theater..

Portrait busts on Second City Theater..

The Second City Theater..
Address: 1616 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60614..
The facade features portraits of famous Germans. These are the salvaged piece from the Garrick Theater. Although noone knows for sure, who these portrait busts represnt, but Bob Burton has convincingly identified at least four busts found on the Second City theater..
Read the article, Who are the Overseers of The Second City Comedy Theater in Chicago? by R. M. “Bob” Burton, click here..

Giacomo Meyerbeer..

Fritz Reuter..

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart..

Gotthold Ephraim Lessing...

The Special Exhibit at Chicago Cultural Center, on Louis Sullivan's works..
"Louis Sullivan's Idea".. had some fragments from the Garrick Theater..

Monday, November 7, 2011

Lincoln Park [Reebie Storage Warehouse]

Posted on 4:42 AM by babli panday

Address: 2325-33 N.Clark St.
Year Built: 1921 - 1922
Architect: George S. Kingsley
Date Designated a Chicago Landmark: September 1, 1999..

Chicago Landmark..
Reebie Storage Warehouse
George Kinsley, architect
1920-21..
Noted for its highly accurate use of ancient Egyptian imagery and hieroglyphics, this building represents one of the nation's best examples of pure academic-style Egyptian Revival commercial architecture. It was built by a storage and moving company founded by John and William Reebie, who are represented by the twin statues of Pharaoh Ramses II. The terra cotta ornament was crafted by sculptor Fritz Albert.
Designated on Sep 1, 1999.
Richard M. Daley, Mayor
Commission on Chicago Landmarks..

The building was built by a storage and moving company, founded by John and William Reebie. They are represented by the twin statues of Pharaoh Ramses II flanking the main entrance.

Below are some of the details of the thecolorful, terra cotta ornament on the exterior. It was crafted by sculptor Fritz Albert.

I am not sure if anyone can enter into the lobby. I certainly did not go inside the building. However, The Chicago Landmarks website informs..
The interior lobby includes art glass windows, decorative metalwork, lotus-leaf column capitals, and plaster reliefs depicting ancient Egyptians moving grain on barges..

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Thursday, November 3, 2011

Alta Vista Terrace District [Part - I]

Posted on 4:56 AM by babli panday

Address: One block long street, running north-south, located 3800 north, 1050 west Chicago. Runs between W Grace Street on the south and W Byron Street on the north.
Year Built: 1900 - 1904
Architect: Various
Date Designated a Chicago Landmark: September 15, 1971..

The Chicago Landmark website descibes..
This street represents one of the last real estate developments of Samuel Eberly Gross, a highly colorful realtor responsible for the construction of thousands of houses in the Chicago area. Sometimes called "A Street of Forty Doors", Alta Vista Terrace displays a lively variety of architectural styles and detail, yet every townhouse on one side is duplicated with only minor variations at the diagonally opposite end of the block.

Chicago Landmark
Alta Vista Terrace District
1900-1904..
Alta Vista Terrace displays a lively variety of architectural styles and detail, yet every townhouse on one side is duplicated with only minor variations at the diagonally opposite end of the block. The distinctly human scale creates a unity and harmony rarely found elsewhere in the city.
Designated a Chicago Landmark on September 15, 1971
By the City Council of Chicago
Richard J. Daley, Mayor
Commission on Chicago Historical and Architectural Landmarks..

W Grace Street and Alta Vista Terrace..

W Byron Street and Alta Vista Terrace..

There are twenty pair of diagonally opposite matching houses. I have organized them in two parts..
NOTE: The west side of the street has even address numbers [3800 to 3846] and the east side of the street has odd address numbers [3801 to 3847] ..

Alta Vista Terrace District: Part I..
Alta Vista Terrace District: Part II..

[1] Diagonally opposite matching houses.. 3800 and 3847..
3800: First house from Grace Street
and it's diagonally opposite..
3847: First house from Byron Street

[2] Diagonally opposite matching houses.. 3802 and 3845..

[3] Diagonally opposite matching houses.. 3806 and 3843..

[4] Diagonally opposite matching houses.. 3808 and 3839..

[5] Diagonally opposite matching houses.. 3810 and 3837..

[6] Diagonally opposite matching houses.. 3812 and 3835..
Also notice the matching rectangular stained glass fanlight decorations, as shown in image below....

[7] Diagonally opposite matching houses.. 3814 and 3833..

[8] Diagonally opposite matching houses.. 3818 and 3831..

[9] Diagonally opposite matching houses.. 3820 and 3827..

[10 and 11] In the center are matching houses across the street..
3822 and 3824 on one side.. and
3823 and 3825 on the other side..
3822 and 3825 match diagonally..
3823 and 2834 match diagonally..