Echo Theatre

undated post card

The Echo Theatre was the first movie theater built in Des Plaines. Constructed in 1910, the 250 seat theater hosted silent movies, vaudeville acts, and other special events. In 1926 as the popularity of silent movies increased, the original theater was torn down and replaced at the same location by a larger, more modern 750 seat theater. By 1936 the theater closed permanently due to the Depression and competition from other local theaters. But the building still stands. Over the years it has undergone several transformations and is now an office building. The exterior has been preserved and is still recognizable.

1910s

post card, ca. 1913-1915

At the beginning of the twentieth century silent movies were a curious and inexpensive new form of entertainment. Geisen’s Saloon, at Miner and Pearson Streets had a dance hall upstairs and Dr. Melze showed one reel movies when the room was not in use. As movie popularity increased, Dr. Melze bought a piece of land and seized the opportunity to build a theater where movies could be shown every day in a larger environment. The Echo Theatre was built on 680 Lee Street, near Ellinwood Street and opened on Saturday, March 19, 1910. The architecture was modest baroque. Inside, a frieze of crenelated plaster decked the walls and rows of fleur de lis bordered the ceiling. Wrapped in plaster veils at the center of the ceiling was the bas relief of a buxom woman. There were two main aisles and approximately 250 seats. The theater had two curtains. The first curtain was an elaborately painted Italianate country scene depicting a lake and weep willows. The second curtain was a crazy quilt of local advertisements. Outside, a modest sign hung over the sidewalk for passersby to read: “Echo" written in large script and “Theatre" in small square letters below.

Ticket prices were 10¢ for children, 15¢ for adults, and 20¢ for adults on week-ends and holidays. Newspaper advertisements for the Echo read "Nothing but clean, censored pictures shown, right in your home town where you will pass a sociable evening, meet friends, have a good seat, and your money’s worth".

A typical show would start off with a short comedy, then advertisement slides for local merchants, and a final slide that announced: “Will the ladies with the large hats please remove same so the people behind you can see". When the piano player entered the orchestra pit the audience clapped for the feature to begin. During the movie the pianist kept his/her eyes on the screen because the songs had to change to fit the mood of a love scene, chase scene, or comedy routine.

The Echo Theatre was a popular gathering place of vaudeville acts, local talent, plays, concerts, and fund raisers. In 1915 a performance of Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Mikado", by local talent, was given to raise money for new street lights which was very successful. In the same year a Republican rally was held including the candidates, orchestra, and chorus. In the summer of 1918 the theatre held a fundraiser to buy bonds for World War I. It was the fundraising committee’s responsibility to publicly post the names of those who wouldn’t give to the drive. In the end residents surpassed the goal of $210,000 with a whopping $250,000 which was quite a feat at that time.

By Fall, 1918 the Spanish Influenza epidemic struck Des Plaines so badly that the Echo was close in October and November. A sign was posted on the theater doors and a warning in the newspapers regarding the Echo: “Closed by Order of the Board of Health On Account of the ‘Flu’ Epidemic". In October alone over 100 new cases were reported in Des Plaines.

1920s

Movies were so popular in the 1920s that prices increased and a second, larger theater was built in Des Plaines just a block away from the Echo Theatre. Probably because of the competition, in 1925 then owner, Mr. Magee, engaged architect Elmer F. Behrens to draw new plans for a larger, 750 seat Echo Theatre. The old theatre was torn down (except for the north wall) and the new theater was built on the same location. The front section was two stories tall, with two store fronts, larger lobby, and offices upstairs. The new interior motif consisted of an art deco black and silver color scheme with novel electric lighting features. Outside, a lighted marquee stretched out over the sidewalk announcing the latest movies and ‘E-C-H-O’ was spelled out vertically above in lighted block letters. The new theater opened in January, 1926 unfortunately during a snow storm.

1930s

By the 1930s the Depression hit and throughout Des Plaines businesses closed. The Echo changed hands in 1933 and the new owner, B. J. Cooney, re-opened the Echo on December 29, 1933 with reduced prices and bargain double features on Fridays and Saturdays for 5c and 10c. He brought the theatre back to life and residents could escape the Depression for a little while. He started a Movie Club loyalty campaign with prizes. Advertisements read: "…does not require beauty or popularity to win. Just come to the movies often for a better chance to win". In September, 1934 he held a long-awaited drawing for a first prize of $25, second $10, third $5, plus several $2 prizes. Other club campaigns included prizes of flatware, dishes, and one time a Plymouth 2-door Sedan fully equipped (or $500 cash).

The temporary surge in business could not be maintained. The owner of the larger Des Plaines theater down the street, Harry Balaban, purchased the Echo in 1935 for $26,000. The Echo Theatre re-opened on Saturday, December 28, 1935 for week-ends only of continuous movie showings. After a short recovery the Echo Theatre closed permanently on January 12, 1936. At that time is was unclear what would happen to the building. Only the storefronts continued to operate.

Post-theater period

Charles Hodlmair Sr. bought the building in the late 1930s and his partner moved his realty company to the offices upstairs. (Charles' mother played piano in the Echo during the showing of silent movies.)

Schaefer’s Barber shop and Ralph’s Barber Shop occupied one of the storefronts continuously for 55 years. The other storefront held the Echo Sweet Shop, Romano’s Tavern, which eventually relocated to a larger location, The Old Theater Book Store and The Tobacco Tin. The theater section was only used for an occasional school event.

In 1963, Scott and Jerry Hodlmair, owners of the Echo building and Eidamiller & Company, renovated part of the property. The Echo building consisted of three sections: the front 2 story building, the one story seating area, and the 3 story stage house. In October, 1963, a few days before renovation began, a “Demolishing Party" was held at the Echo Theatre building for old timers who reminisced about the old “Nickel Show" and the times they slipped in the side door when they couldn’t afford the nickel. A few days later the seating section of the Echo was torn down. A small, one story 40’x44’ colonial style brick addition was added to the back of the two story section, the interior of the front area was updated, and Eidamiller & Co. moved their offices downstairs to the expanded floor space. Outside, in the remaining space where the seating section once stood, was a small parking lot.

Although the middle seating section of the Echo was torn down, the disconnected concrete block stage house was left standing. A glass door and windows were added to fill the open space that once was the proscenium stage and a rough wooden second floor and staircase was added to provide more storage space. This building was rented by the bank next door for storage purposes.

In 1988, Scott Hodlmair began a major renovation to the Echo building. The project contractor was John Behrens, descendent of the Behrens family which built many of the original downtown Des Plaines buildings withing the last 100 years. The store fronts and second floor were gutted to accommodate new state of the art electrical, plumbing heating, insulation, and front windows. Most of the front first floor ceiling was removed and two large skylights were inserted to allow an open air, atrium effect. A staircase, banisters and bookcases were built on site. The exterior of the building was preserved. The realty company occupied the whole building.

Over the years companies have tried to make use of the concrete block stage house. In 1984, an office and restaurant renovations company planned to modernize the building to house their home offices. Although they had City approval for the project, nothing came of it. In 2004, the Des Plaines Art Guild considered purchasing the building to use as a combination art gallery, studio, classroom, and meeting facility. An inspection and evaluation showed the building would need a lot of work. The economics of rehabilitating the stage building was too costly so the idea was dropped.

The Echo stage building continues to be used for storage and the front building houses realty and investment companies. When walking by on Lee Street, you can still recognize the Echo building by its original ornamentation above the windows.

Written by Kathy Vana