CEGU

The Tower Theatre, designed by Fridstein & Company in 1926, quickly asserted itself as a cultural cornerstone in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood. With an initial cost of $3-4 million (equivalent to $53-70 million today) and a 3,000 seat capacity, it was the largest in the Lubliner & Trinz theater circuit, surpassing both the Harding and Congress Theatres.Early programming at the Tower included vaudeville, live performances, and motion pictures, reflecting the transitional nature of entertainment during that era.

Far more than an entertainment venue, the Tower fostered economic activity in the surrounding area. Retail spaces providing women’s fashion, dining, and floristry—under the management of the Tower Building Corporation—capitalized on the theater’s draw, while 110 apartments integrated commerce and residential life into a singular, vibrant entity.

In 1928, the theater was absorbed into the Balaban & Katz empire, which augmented its appeal through luxury upgrades and grand stage productions. Despite these refinements, the Tower Theatre struggled to contend with the other theaters within the Balaban & Katz portfolio. Shifting entertainment paradigms and economic pressures further compounded its challenges.

The Tower Theatre ultimately closed in 1956, with demolition soon following. Although long demolished, it served as a marker of Woodlawn’s heyday.

Starting in the spring of 1966, First Presbyterian Church became the home of the Blackstone Rangers, a youth-gang and youth organization whom the church hoped to assist in ending an ongoing turf war and uplifting the Woodlawn’s youth. As part of their efforts to quell the violent turf-war, the Rangers made a July 4th agreement with the Chicago Police Department to lock their weapons away in a vault within the church, in return for lowered police pressure and a similar agreement being brokered with their rival gang.

Nonetheless, tensions persisted throughout the summer and into the autumn, culminating in an evening raid of the First Presbyterian Church weapon vault by CPD on November 10th, 1966. Even though Chicago Police officers were witnesses to the initial storage of the weapons—a fact highlighted by the church’s pastor, Rev. John Fry—CPD claimed that they were tipped off to the location of the weapons by local youth. The story of the raid was covered locally by Chicago newspapers, but also picked up by the Associated Press and published in papers nationwide.

The Stefanos brothers arrived in the United States from Messinia, Greece in the 1920s and 1930s. It wasn’t long before they were each the owner of a successful South Side confectionery chain.

Peter Stefanos, the first to arrive, founded Joy Candies. He ran the company alongside Alexander G. Kanelos, a fellow Greek immigrant. By 1947, Joy Candies had fifteen stores in operation. In 1936, Polyhronis (“Paul”) opened Cupid Candies, which would become a Southwest-side staple, known for its popcorn, caramel, and fudge. The business finally closed its doors in 2020, after its founder’s death. While Peter was running Joy Candies, Leo Stefanos created Dove Candies, now known for their popular chocolates. The company was eventually sold to M&M/Mars Inc.