Sticky Fingers

Ever Have Sticky fingers?

Funny how this could mean a bunch of different things.   A propensity to steal maybe!?  There are those people who go into a store and get the "stickies".  Even thought they have money in their pockets, the thrill to pocket an item must overcome them.  They grab an item, which is usually an inexpensive thing and slip it into their pocket.  Sticky fingers has hit!  Right now I bet the store security are finding old Stickies right and left ..... the Stickies are doing their Christmas Shopping the cheap way....unless caught.

Of course sticky fingers could mean you have been to a place to eat and your fingers got sticky.  Good old BBQ ribs will do that to you every time.   And so will fried chicken.....icky sticky fingers and then the napkin starts sticking to your fingers and you try to get it off with the other hand and then you have two hands stuck to the blasted napkin.  Ah ha, you finally manage to pull the napkin from both hands but there are huge pieces of napkin stuck to your stickies.  Restroom trip is inevitable. 

Did you know there is a southern chain of restaurant named Sticky Fingers?? Some of the places are Chattanooga, Charlotte, NC, Macon, GA, Myrtle Beach, SC.  There are lots more locations in the southeast ..... and they have good food.

How could I forget the popular Rolling Stones album called Sticky Fingers.  I always called this album Stinky Fingers as I just didn't care too much for this album.

Here we are at an impasse ..... to have sticky fingers or not ..... the eating stickies ones of course.  Will it be good old BBQ ribs or greasy old Fried Chicken......it's a toss up, but the BBQ seems to be the heavy weight contender.  That good old sticky BBQ sauce not only gives you sticky fingers, it goes down the hatch and sticks to your ribs .... Ribs it is.  Bring 'em on.  I'm dying to have good old Sticky Fingers!!

The Orpheum Theater - Springfield

Sadly, progress forced us to give up a beautiful theater in Springfield.  This massively decorated theater cost over $2 million when built and it showed.  Each cornice of the place, each area of wall, and even the restrooms were extravagant pieces of art.  Oil paintings, bronze benches with magenta mohair, gilded plaster relief work.

The Orpheum opened in 1927 and contained 2,764 seats.  A 7 foot wide chandelier hung from the ceiling.  The rich colors of gold, magenta and turquoise rested on walls of ivory.  You can click on the pictures for an enlarged view.

It began here 1926, builders Reuban Bros, Joliet, IL, 5th street, Springfield, IL

Soon after opening, in 1927........with a talking picture marquee display.

The construction left this wonderful theater......picture in 1958.

The inside capacity was once filled to capacity, downstairs and the balcony.

         An elaborate stage.

Beauty displayed throughout.

Note the Beautiful Barton Organ on the left side of the state......the organ was placed in Springfield High School and still exists.

And the impressive lobby with its 7 foot wide chandelier.  And sweeping staircases and ornate beauty.....fit for a queen....and she was a queen. 

Then we had to say goodbye.  The end of a legend. Big star celebrities like Duke Ellington, Count Bassie, Guy Lombardo, and Lawrence Welk once stood on her stage, but the last curtain fell and she was no more.  Demolition occurred shortly after the last show ran, The Monkey's Uncle, on July 31, 1965.  The Illinois National Bank needed a drive up......and there wasn't enough support to save the Queen, although years later George Kerosotes wished he had tried to save her in order for Springfield to have a fine arts center.  It sold for $600,000. Thank goodness her ornate furnishings were saved although I have never been able to find anyone who knows what was ever done with them.   After the curtain went down for the last time, a special concert on the Barton organ was given at 11:15 p.m.   This was the last sound anyone heard from the stage.   I have fond memories which I have forever.   Memories and pictures just aren't the same as the real Queen of Theaters.

Demolition of the Queen.  The INB bank

stands waiting for its drive up.

Note:  Most of these pictures are from the Sangamon Valley Collection, Lincoln Library, which I researched and photographed with my digital camera in order to reproduce these.  Others were given to me by various friends who knew that I have a love of history and I don't know where these photographs originated.  I'm bringing these to you today in hopes that the Queen of Theater memories will live on in history.

Today's post ends with the majestic

Queen's story.  No additional words are necessary......it doesn't seem right to

say anything else.

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