A Victory for Biograph
Two years after the projectors stopped running, the Biograph Theatre stands ready to reopen, this time under the auspices of The Victory Gardens Theater. The theater will officially open its doors with "Time Goes By," a gala celebration on October 14. Sandy Shinner, Victory Gardens' associate artistic director, says that the party will cement the bond between the theater and the cinema, "The gala is going to be the icing on the cake. It's been a very long road that has taken five years, from planning to the opening. It's going to be this glorious celebration. We have a fabulous band, fabulous food, all the details have been meticulously planned." The 1920s-themed celebration includes a performance of "Denmark," by Chicago playwright Charles Smith, as well as an appearance by "CSI"'s William Peterson. Shinner says that the community waits eagerly to welcome the new venue, which serves to preserve a piece of Chicago history.

From Records to Reggies
Hoffman Estates' seminal indie record shop Record Breakers is set to close the curtain next Friday--but have no fear, owner Robert Glick's reopening the spot at 2105 South State. "With technology and downloading and stuff, it really hurt the business," Glick says of the move. "It really can't stand on itself anymore." Glick's plan is to, first of all, keep the Record Breakers name, but also to open Reggies in the same building, for live music. "For the last few years I've been looking for a building in the city to open a rock `n' roll club...it'll be like the Empty Bottle or the Double Door." Glick, who intends to open the venue/shop in February '07, has hope for the future of the indie record store. "I think there's always gonna be a place for the indie record store," he says. "I just don't know where CDs are gonna go. I kind of think [stores will have] less and less CDs, and more vinyl and paraphernalia."

(2006-10-10)

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