Shangri-La, Chicago, IL (restaurant) - Locating Tiki

T TikiTomD Grand Member (6 years) Flagler Beach, FL Joined: Sep 20, 2009 Posts: 700	T TikiTomD Posted posted on Wed, Sep 28, 2011 5:27 PM Here’s some information on the history of the Shangri-La contributed by Bryan Krefft to the Cinema Treasures web site (http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/18139)... The Rhumba Casino, which opened in 1941, was built on the site of the Three Deuces nightclub (which was in business since the mid-1920s until it was destroyed in a fire in 1940. It got its name from its address at 222 N. State Street). In 1944, the space became the Polynesian/Far Eastern-themed Shangri-La restaurant. After the restaurant was closed in 1968, it was remodeled into the Shangri-La Theater in 1969-70. It was operated by Kohlberg Theaters, which was also the last chain to run the nearby Oriental Theatre as well as a number of other theaters and drive-ins around the Midwest. Opened in June 1970 with “The Strawberry Statement”, the Shangri-La began to show pornographic films within a year. Operating into the mid-70s, the building which housed the Shangri-La was demolished in 1981 along with the entire block it sat on including an office building and retail stores, a fire station and a parking garage, and replaced by a hotel, now the Renaissance Chicago. -Tom

Here’s some information on the history of the Shangri-La contributed by Bryan Krefft to the Cinema Treasures web site (http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/18139)...

The Rhumba Casino, which opened in 1941, was built on the site of the Three Deuces nightclub (which was in business since the mid-1920s until it was destroyed in a fire in 1940. It got its name from its address at 222 N. State Street). In 1944, the space became the Polynesian/Far Eastern-themed Shangri-La restaurant.

After the restaurant was closed in 1968, it was remodeled into the Shangri-La Theater in 1969-70. It was operated by Kohlberg Theaters, which was also the last chain to run the nearby Oriental Theatre as well as a number of other theaters and drive-ins around the Midwest. Opened in June 1970 with “The Strawberry Statement”, the Shangri-La began to show pornographic films within a year.

Operating into the mid-70s, the building which housed the Shangri-La was demolished in 1981 along with the entire block it sat on including an office building and retail stores, a fire station and a parking garage, and replaced by a hotel, now the Renaissance Chicago.

-Tom

Post #608392 by TikiTomD on Wed, Sep 28, 2011 5:27 PM