Paul, it opened July 31st 1981 (was supposed to open on the 24th, but didn’t because of a union strike) as a three screener under Essaness Theaters. Sometime in 1982 or 83 for reasons unkown, it became an independent theater. Not very long after, they added a fourth screen. It remained an indie until about 1987, when Cineplex Odeon took over. In 1994, CO remodeled it, and cut up the large screen and another screen to create screens 5 & 6.
And of course, it became a Loews Cineplex in June 98, then AMC in January 2006. To my knowledge, it still does great business. For a place that turns 26 in a few weeks, it looks good too.
Say JRS40, when River Oaks Mall 1-6 opened in December 88, how soon after did the orginal theaters get re-numbered? And since it closed in the fall of 89, was RO 2-3 ever known as 13-14?
7/18/86- ALIENS
1/16/87- PLATOON
4/24/87- EXTREME PREJUDICE
8/5/87- STAKEOUT
9/18/87- FATAL ATTRACTION
2/12/88- SHOOT TO KILL
¾/88- SCHOOL DAZE
5/6/88- SHAKEDOWN
6/24/88- WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT
7/15/88- THE DEAD POOL(?)
7/22/88- DIE HARD
6/23/89- BATMAN
1/12/90- GLORY
3/30/90- TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES
5/18/90- BIRD ON A WIRE
2/7/92- THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE (may have opened here eariler)
5/22/92- ALIEN 3
6/19/92- BATMAN RETURNS
11/6/92- PASSENGER 57
Well, that’s it for now. I’ll see what else I can come up with next time. Special thanks to JRS40 on teaching me how to identify what films played at River Oaks’s large screen.
JRS40, thanks to your knowledge about how the ads for River oaks were set up, I’ve been able to find out through some of the microfilm I have that the following movies played at RO 1 at one point or another. Here it goes:
4/23/82- DEATH WISH II (why?)
6/4/82- STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN (Of note, Poltergeist was in 5&6)
6/11/82- E.T
9/3/82- AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN (Of note, it may have opened here earlier)
12/8/82- FIRST BLOOD (may have opened here earlier)
4/15/83- FLASHDANCE
5/25/83- RETURN OF THE JEDI
5/11/84- FIRESTARTER
5/23/84- INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM
4/26/85- STICK
5/22/85- RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD PART II
6/7/85- THE GOONIES(?)
6/21/85- COCOON
Re-opened as Century Stratford Square today. And while Bloomingdale is showing some of the same movies as Stratford, Stratford is showing the same movies and more in digital sound. That’s light years ahead from what Village Theatres offer. Maybe I’ll get down here & take photos sometime this month.
I’ll be checking out the new Showplace at Galewood tomorrow. They’re showing movies for free before noon. I’ll give everybody a report when I get back.
Okay, but the movies aren’t set up like the old Plitt directories, it’s just top-to bottom. BTW, I looked at the Plitt directory from this day 25 years ago, and I know Blade Runner was in 2. The ad was like this
Thanks JRS40. I never knew that. Now the River Oaks ad/movie directory from 8/5/87 is set up/arranged just like this
Stakeout [R] 70MM dolby
The Lost Boys [R] 70MM dolby
Full Metal Jacket [R]
The Living Daylights [PG]
La Bamba [PG-13]
Robocop [R]
Adventures in Babysitting [PG-13]
Dragnet [PG-13}
So does this mean that Stakeout was in 1, with Lost Boys being in 4? I’m gonna go through the Plitt directories from the early 80s to practice this. Again, thanks.
Wow, So does this mean River Oaks 2-3 was equipped for 70MM?
Another question for anyone who can remember. Which River Oaks screen played Stakeout in 70MM? I have a microfilm ad from 8/5/87, which is Stakeout’s opening day, and it’s showing in 70MM. Also, The Lost Boys was showing at RO in 70MM too.
I’m only 17, so the first time I saw Blade Runner was about 10 years ago on my oldest brother’s recording off Showtime. I loved it. The look, the acting, everything about the movie. Here’s something funny: 25 years ago in July, my Dad took my then pregnant Mom (who was pregnant with my third bro) & two brothers to see this, along with Enter the Ninja at the then Ford City 3 in Chicago. It was a two-for one special, and Ninja started first. Of course, they all enjoyed Blade Runner and laughed at how bad Ninja was. Whenever they talk about that day, I wish I had a time machine so I could go with them.
Whew, that was a close one. You see, two of my brothers snuck off and saw Escape From LA here back in 1996. They lied and said it was at Water Tower so our mom wouldn’t know. But I didn’t go because I was too young for them to take me that far. Ever since they said it was such a great throwback theater, I’ve been trying to get down there.
Isn’t it odd that they didn’t book a new movie like Fantastic Four: Silver Surfer? Anyway, I’ll see what I can do about going here this week and snapping some auditorium shots.
Does anyone have any photos of one of the four auditoriums at Village North? Because I’ve searched for showtimes, and there’s no listing. I called them, but no voice giving showtimes. It’s just ringing. I belive it’s closed. I hope I’m wrong though.
To Catherine: It will take me a long, but well worth-it journey to get my corporation started. And yes, I belive the Bloomingdale & The Patio would make great 2nd run houses. I have a plan that would add 2 screens to the Patio. Don’t worry, it won’t put the balcony in any danger. I belive there is some space above the theater, or in one of the storefronts. I could add screens there. And I agree that we need more bargin theaters in the Chicago area. It’s become too expensive to go to the big chains like AMC or so.
Paul: North Riverside would do well as a 2nd run place even though the Showplace 14 is nearby. LV on the other hand, it needs to be cleaned up, the parking lot re-paved, (the photo on yelp makes it look soft) and new sound systems. If not, then expect a multiplex announced somewhere at the actual Lincoln Village center.
Thanks for the blessings, I will need them. I’m looking to bring movie theaters into the 21st century while having an old-school class to them.
I still need to visit this place. I’ve heard nothing but great things about it. Out of curiosity, does anyone have a photo of a Classic Cinema movie stub?
For some reason, ICE closed the Lawndale and 62nd & Western Cinemas last week. It’s safe to say that if anyone of these places get picked up, it’ll be the Lawndale. And that’s a strong if.
Paul, it opened July 31st 1981 (was supposed to open on the 24th, but didn’t because of a union strike) as a three screener under Essaness Theaters. Sometime in 1982 or 83 for reasons unkown, it became an independent theater. Not very long after, they added a fourth screen. It remained an indie until about 1987, when Cineplex Odeon took over. In 1994, CO remodeled it, and cut up the large screen and another screen to create screens 5 & 6.
And of course, it became a Loews Cineplex in June 98, then AMC in January 2006. To my knowledge, it still does great business. For a place that turns 26 in a few weeks, it looks good too.
Say JRS40, when River Oaks Mall 1-6 opened in December 88, how soon after did the orginal theaters get re-numbered? And since it closed in the fall of 89, was RO 2-3 ever known as 13-14?
Okay, more stuff from River Oaks 1
7/18/86- ALIENS
1/16/87- PLATOON
4/24/87- EXTREME PREJUDICE
8/5/87- STAKEOUT
9/18/87- FATAL ATTRACTION
2/12/88- SHOOT TO KILL
¾/88- SCHOOL DAZE
5/6/88- SHAKEDOWN
6/24/88- WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT
7/15/88- THE DEAD POOL(?)
7/22/88- DIE HARD
6/23/89- BATMAN
1/12/90- GLORY
3/30/90- TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES
5/18/90- BIRD ON A WIRE
2/7/92- THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE (may have opened here eariler)
5/22/92- ALIEN 3
6/19/92- BATMAN RETURNS
11/6/92- PASSENGER 57
Well, that’s it for now. I’ll see what else I can come up with next time. Special thanks to JRS40 on teaching me how to identify what films played at River Oaks’s large screen.
JRS40, thanks to your knowledge about how the ads for River oaks were set up, I’ve been able to find out through some of the microfilm I have that the following movies played at RO 1 at one point or another. Here it goes:
4/23/82- DEATH WISH II (why?)
6/4/82- STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN (Of note, Poltergeist was in 5&6)
6/11/82- E.T
9/3/82- AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN (Of note, it may have opened here earlier)
12/8/82- FIRST BLOOD (may have opened here earlier)
4/15/83- FLASHDANCE
5/25/83- RETURN OF THE JEDI
5/11/84- FIRESTARTER
5/23/84- INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM
4/26/85- STICK
5/22/85- RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD PART II
6/7/85- THE GOONIES(?)
6/21/85- COCOON
More will follow.
To Scott:
I belive Century took the fourplex, gutted it a little, and expanded into space next to it to create the 16 screener.
To Jimpiscitelli: Thanks for your report on the theater. I hope I can get out there sometime this month. Maybe when The Simpsons comes out.
Re-opened as Century Stratford Square today. And while Bloomingdale is showing some of the same movies as Stratford, Stratford is showing the same movies and more in digital sound. That’s light years ahead from what Village Theatres offer. Maybe I’ll get down here & take photos sometime this month.
I’ll be checking out the new Showplace at Galewood tomorrow. They’re showing movies for free before noon. I’ll give everybody a report when I get back.
I might be able to get down here & see 1408 after July 6th. Maybe during one of the following weekdays.
Never mind, I think I answered my question. I’ll explain a little later. I’m having so much fun with my research.
Okay, but the movies aren’t set up like the old Plitt directories, it’s just top-to bottom. BTW, I looked at the Plitt directory from this day 25 years ago, and I know Blade Runner was in 2. The ad was like this
ET 70MM Star Trek II 70MM
Blade Runner.
I’m gonna go through more old stuff. This is fun.
Thanks JRS40. I never knew that. Now the River Oaks ad/movie directory from 8/5/87 is set up/arranged just like this
Stakeout [R] 70MM dolby
The Lost Boys [R] 70MM dolby
Full Metal Jacket [R]
The Living Daylights [PG]
La Bamba [PG-13]
Robocop [R]
Adventures in Babysitting [PG-13]
Dragnet [PG-13}
So does this mean that Stakeout was in 1, with Lost Boys being in 4? I’m gonna go through the Plitt directories from the early 80s to practice this. Again, thanks.
Wow, So does this mean River Oaks 2-3 was equipped for 70MM?
Another question for anyone who can remember. Which River Oaks screen played Stakeout in 70MM? I have a microfilm ad from 8/5/87, which is Stakeout’s opening day, and it’s showing in 70MM. Also, The Lost Boys was showing at RO in 70MM too.
I’m only 17, so the first time I saw Blade Runner was about 10 years ago on my oldest brother’s recording off Showtime. I loved it. The look, the acting, everything about the movie. Here’s something funny: 25 years ago in July, my Dad took my then pregnant Mom (who was pregnant with my third bro) & two brothers to see this, along with Enter the Ninja at the then Ford City 3 in Chicago. It was a two-for one special, and Ninja started first. Of course, they all enjoyed Blade Runner and laughed at how bad Ninja was. Whenever they talk about that day, I wish I had a time machine so I could go with them.
Happy 25th Blade Runner!
Whew, that was a close one. You see, two of my brothers snuck off and saw Escape From LA here back in 1996. They lied and said it was at Water Tower so our mom wouldn’t know. But I didn’t go because I was too young for them to take me that far. Ever since they said it was such a great throwback theater, I’ve been trying to get down there.
Isn’t it odd that they didn’t book a new movie like Fantastic Four: Silver Surfer? Anyway, I’ll see what I can do about going here this week and snapping some auditorium shots.
Does anyone have any photos of one of the four auditoriums at Village North? Because I’ve searched for showtimes, and there’s no listing. I called them, but no voice giving showtimes. It’s just ringing. I belive it’s closed. I hope I’m wrong though.
To Sanford: I sent you an email. I may have been typing too fast though.
Just stumbled on to the comments left here.
To Catherine: It will take me a long, but well worth-it journey to get my corporation started. And yes, I belive the Bloomingdale & The Patio would make great 2nd run houses. I have a plan that would add 2 screens to the Patio. Don’t worry, it won’t put the balcony in any danger. I belive there is some space above the theater, or in one of the storefronts. I could add screens there. And I agree that we need more bargin theaters in the Chicago area. It’s become too expensive to go to the big chains like AMC or so.
Paul: North Riverside would do well as a 2nd run place even though the Showplace 14 is nearby. LV on the other hand, it needs to be cleaned up, the parking lot re-paved, (the photo on yelp makes it look soft) and new sound systems. If not, then expect a multiplex announced somewhere at the actual Lincoln Village center.
Thanks for the blessings, I will need them. I’m looking to bring movie theaters into the 21st century while having an old-school class to them.
Now that I really look at that list, did Alien ever play on the big screen when it came out?
Oh snap, I better get down there ASAP. Maybe next weekend.
I still need to visit this place. I’ve heard nothing but great things about it. Out of curiosity, does anyone have a photo of a Classic Cinema movie stub?
For some reason, ICE closed the Lawndale and 62nd & Western Cinemas last week. It’s safe to say that if anyone of these places get picked up, it’ll be the Lawndale. And that’s a strong if.
Does anyone know what screen here is the largest?
Sometime in 1981 I think. I have an ad from March of that year, and Golf Mill is advertised as an independent theater.
To BW Chicago:
See you at the new server! Hopefully we can post pictures again.
The new Century/Cinemark at Stratford Square opens July 4th. Here’s the official announcement: View link
Unless they switch to 2nd run bargin fare, the nearby Bloomingdale Court’s days are numbered. I can’t wait to visit this new complex.