The Chicago Movie Palaces of Balaban and Katz (IL) (Images of America) [Paperback]

David Balaban (Author), Foreword by Joseph R. DuciBella (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2006

The Balaban and Katz Theater Corporation perfected the

"movie palace" concept in Chicago, reating an extremely

popular pastime that contributed greatly to Chicago's

cultural identity. The Balabans started in the movie theater

business in 1908 by leasing the 100-seat Kedzie

Nickelodeon on Kedzie Avenue. Balaban brothers Barney

and A. J. dreamed of operating 5,000-seat movie palaces,

so in 1916, they joined family friends Sam and Morris

Katz to form the Balaban and Katz Theater Corporation.

Their mission was to offer an unrivaled theater-going

experience with the finest live performances and service.

They built ornate theaters, such as the Chicago, the Uptown, and the Congress Theaters, filling them with fine

furnishings, antiques, and artwork. Balaban and Katz

produced live stage shows between the movies with

the likes of Bob Hope, Louis Armstrong, and Benny

Goodman. Sadly, only a few of these gorgeous theaters

still stand today.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Author David Balaban--named after his grandfather, one of the seven Balaban brothers who ran Balaban and Katz--grew up on stories of his grandfather and great-uncles' movie theaters. He currently teaches television production and film at Gordon Parks Academy in East Orange, New Jersey.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (May 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738539864
• ISBN-13: 978-0738539867
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #959,382 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a good handbook-sized coffee table book, June 19, 2007

By 

Robert Reid (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Chicago Movie Palaces of Balaban and Katz (IL) (Images of America) (Paperback)

The vast library of historical works on Chicago has an unfortunate tendency to overlap coverage on the same events, at the expense of the countless neighborhoods, cultural movements, and social movements that shape the city. It's great that such a specialized book, focusing solely on Balaban and Katz's numerous Chicago movie palaces, even exists.

Inspired by David Balaban's personal research into his ancestry, the initial chapter on the sprawling Balaban family may feel tedious to the casual reader. But following is an eclectic collection of photography of (now mostly demolished) cinema palaces, as well as scrapbook movie flyers. Though the narrative skimps a bit on detail, there's still some interesting background information about movie theaters' role in introducing air conditioning into society, as well as the surprisingly intensive professional training once required of cinema staff- backed up by photos of posters promoting such initiatives.

6 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Balaban and Katz, May 9, 2006

By 

Lee Johnson - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Chicago Movie Palaces of Balaban and Katz (IL) (Images of America) (Paperback)

This book features beautiful photographs and unusual images from a near forgotten era of motion picture history. A must have!