Nortown Theater
6320 N. Western Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60659
6320 N. Western Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60659
23 people
favorited this theater
Showing 226 - 237 of 237 comments
I truly believe my great passion for movies and cinema started in the halls of this beautiful theatre…. I also lived across the street(On Claremont). I have fond memories of running up to the third floor porch of our building Friday mornings to see what new movie was playing. After which I’d run to the phone and start planning a Saturday Matinee outing with my friends. It was at the Nortown that I, my kid brother and sister (along with just about every other kid in the neighborhood) saw the first, second and third (now fourth, fifth and sixth respectively) Star Wars. I remember looking up at the starlit ceiling and pretending that I too was in space….. It was hearbreaking when they destroyed it (multiplex) and it is even more heartwrenching to hear the condition that it is in now.
As a child I would fantasize that I was a princess and the beautiful Nortown was my palace ….. although I did wonder if a phantom lived in the basement……… Many, many happy memories linger in that old building, especially for the overactive imagination of one particular little girl. To me the Nortown will always conjure images of old movies, musicals, and a much quainter time. Things that should not be forgotten.
It’s heart breaking to hear how Nortown’s just fallen apart like it has. I lived across the street on Claremont from 73-97 and remember seeing Star Wars there in 77! Some of my most vivid memories of that expereince are of everyone cheering every single time Vader came on screen.
I remember what it was like when they split it into a triplex, that was such a shame. It was a waste because they split the main floor in 2 and the rooms were tiny. Shoot, I remember when they did that to the Skokie theater and that was smaller than this!
I’ll always remmeber Nortown the way it looks in those pictures that you posted Brian. I’d love to see more! In fact, had it not been for a post by an online buddy of mine on live journal aobut the new themed multiplexes (which in reality are corporate america’s attempt to recreate the movie palace, something we HAD but is long gone), I would have never gone looking into this, or found this site.
Does anyone know of a pettion to save this? This has to be conisdered a historical landmark if for no other reason than the fact that it’s an old palace. There has to be something done to preserve this. It can’t die!
I remember seeing a double-feature of Trading Places and 48 Hrs. when we lived just a few blocks in the early 1980s. Even then, the theatre was being rented for community events – remember attending a Soviet-era film or concert, as the surrounding area was heavily made up of Russian immigrants (myself included). Have an exterior photo or two taken during a 1999 trip back that I will post a link to as soon as I locate it.
Great pictures! I have some photos that I took in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s that I will have to dig out. Looking at these brought back many memories, including the summer that I spent painting the lobby walls when I was an usher. See the “Auditorium Entrance” image for the tan colored walls.
From Russell Phillips' Galleries:
Nortown Candy Counter, 1982
Nortown Upper Lobby, 1984
Nortown Auditorium Entrance, 1984
Nortown Auditorium From Balcony, 1983
Such a pity, the shape it’s in now. Life’s too short, if you e-mail me (see profile) I may be able to show you more recent photos.
Another great picture.
As I was driving up Western Ave recently, I noticed a protective walkway in front of the Nortown. Don’t know if they are getting ready to tear it down, getting ready to maintain it, or just protecting people from falling building fragments. Don’t know how much it matters at this point, as the building sounds thoroughly neglected.
View link Here is another 1960 view of the interior.
Both. The division seems to have caused a lot of undue damage and the fact that it’s been sitting for some 15 years hasn’t helped. I’m told the basement is flooded quite badly. And it is apparently poorly secured enough that people can get in. It’s really unfortunate.
Bryan…is the bad condition due to unfortunate building renovations, deferred repairs, both?
I started as an usher at the Nortown Theater in 1977. Eventually, I became a relief manager for Plitt Theatres. In addition to the Nortown, I also worked at the Gateway Theater in Chicago and the Varsity Theater in Evanston. But the Nortown was my favorite. It had suffered from water damage to the ceiling and walls but was still beautiful. Many times, especially on weeknights, the attendance was low. But we would still pack the theater with the right movie. We had to open the balcony during the early part of a half year run with the movie Star Wars. The last movie the theater showed as with a single screen was Footloose in 1984. After that, Plitt tripled the theater and added two screens that were placed in the balcony. The atmosphere of the theater was never the same after it was tripled. I still have fond memories of working there.
We lived a few blocks from the Nortown in the 50s and 60s and would go nearly every Saturday to watch Westerns for the admission charge of 25c. I remember seeing West Side Story in the early 60s. All the icons are disappearing. My other favorite movie venue, the Grenada, was demolished years ago.
Wow…that’s a nice photo. Even as a triplex, the lobby & upstairs theater were great. Don’t know what is left after the community center deal.