I never saw a movie here. I was going to see “Rocky Balboa” here, but my brother ended up taking me, my other brother and my mom to Ford City to see it. In fact, I almost saw it at the Logan too. But after I found out how small the small auditoriums are at this place, I kinda got put off from going. I should’ve went though, considering how old the place is, and how much history goes with it. With a better and smarter owner, it could’ve survived.
Now Paul, you belive that the remaining Village locations will be gone by December 08? I kinda belive you there. I know Bloomingdale Ct’s fate is sealed, and watch out for news of it’s closing. Lincoln Village ain’t well kept from what I’ve heard. That’s bad news, because it didn’t look all that great last summer when I was there. North Riverside: Will close soon because of the popular Showplace 14 nearby. I think the only Village that might come out alive would be the Village North. I’ve haven’t been there yet, but I’ve heard that lots of Loyola students and Rogers Park residents fill the place up. With a good remodel and up-to date projection systems, it will stay. If I get started with my corp soon like I hope, I plan to save it.
If this place gets the wrecking ball, I hope Mitchell’s restaurant next door doesn’t go too. I love that place. As for the theater, I thought it would go after Bloomingdale Ct, guess I was wrong. But it seems that Village Entertainment CEO Ron Rooding is a cheap man. With that mindset of his, he’ll be out of business very soon.
It’s rough right now. I’ve been trying to get my business plan written well, and I’ve been going through lists of investors that would give me the time of day. Over the next few weeks, maybe months, I’ll be talking to some investors to convince them that reopening McClurg wouldn’t be a bad idea. Of course, the hardest part will be trying to get Baum Realty who own the McClurg, to listen. But I think I’ll be okay. I have so much ideas that would make this place a winner again. And that’s not including theater 1, which has an epic screen that’s 75ft wide, and 3 and a half, maybe 4 stories tall. Seeing an indie flick on a screen this big would bring in lots of people.
I do remember that they couldn’t pay their taxes and they gave up after a while. They took over the Water Tower, Bricktown, Hyde Park, Burnham Plz, Biograph, Broadway and Old Orchard around April, maybe early May of 99. I remember it well too. I still have my Meridian ticket stub from when I went to the WT street level theaters in April 00. I just wish they could’ve keept the WT mall screens open a bit longer.
The #9 Ashland stops a few blocks away on Ashland & Clybourn. After I get off the bus there, I eat at the Wendy’s across the street before I walk to the theater. Of course, I haven’t been here in a while. I’ll have to see how Kerasotes is running things.
M&R opened the Dearborn Cinemas in November 85. My brother saw Aliens (for the fourth time I think) here in 86. The Hitcher was also shown here earlier that year. Other movies played at Dearborn: Manhunter, Star Trek 4, Angel Heart, Extreme Prejudice, The Hidden, Red Heat etc…. I gathered those up through earlier microfilm research. Hope this helps.
Cineplex re-did it a tad bit. I belive they just re-painted the bricks. According to my oldest brother, the marquee was a new one added by CO.
PS: I walked by here today after seeing Last King Of Scotland, everything is still intact. Which is a good thing for me. River East is great and all, but they put art-house fare in tiny screening rooms that sell out fast on weekends. That’s why if I can get through to the heads of the people who own McClurg, I’ll turn it into an art-house with a mini resturant, 70MM film-festival, and new bathrooms near theaters 2-3. If I succeed, I could buy the space next door and expand it into theater space. Thoughts, anyone?
In the photo set provided by Billymac, look at this concession photo View link
That looks like the same design AMC used back in the 80’s. Now, I wonder if Essaness Theatres used Mesbur & Smith as architects for Chestnut Station and Golf Glen. For those who don’t know, Mesbur & Smith designed theaters for Cineplex Odeon exclusively from 1983-1990. Now maybe they designed a few theatres for Essaness before they entered the partnership with CO. Think about it, my brother saw Predator at Chestnut St back in June 87, and he said it looked like a CO theatre. CO didn’t really start the remodel for it until later that year. Do you think I’m on to something here?
How big are the screens? How is the sound and picture quality? As long as the screens don’t look like this, View link I might finally go see Rocky Balboa here.
I know River Oaks 1-6 in Calumet City still contains CO’s trademark 80’s design. If I’m not mistaken, North Riverside and Bloomingdale Court still got the 80’s design too.
Okay, the AMC in Warrenville was closer to Rice Lake Square than the South Barrington. However, Streamwood was just 25/30 minutes away from RLS which had big auditoriums that sat about 500+ according to my brother. So when you look at it, Rice Lake was loosing patrons after 1994.
To Paul: It was a Cineplex Odeon in style and everything. I never went here, but according to some people I know, it’s decor looked almost like River Oaks 1-6. Of note: This may have been next-to the last Cineplex Odeon to be built with their typical 80’s style: Zig-Zag stuff on the auditorium walls, seats with cream colored backs, carpeting etc…You know, their trademark 80’s design by Mesbur & Smith. This place was killed off by the nearby Streamwood(Which had larger screens I’ve heard) and the AMC 30 in South Barrigton. Heck, just a year after Rice Lake closed, Streamwood was killed off by the AMC 30 too! How weird is that?
Oh yeah. Mesbur & Smith designed all Cineplex Odeons from 1983-1990. Then they did a few after that. The brick and interior color you talk about is at Bloomingdale Court, was at Bricktown Square,(from what I’ve heard) and many, many other CO theaters.
Re-opens July 4th. The nearby Bloomingdale Court’s days are numbered.
Is there any free parking nearby?
Also, do you know of a way you can get a list of films that played at River Oaks from 1982-1992?
How did you get ahold of that list? Thanks for sharing that information JRS, now I know where my Dad saw “Thief”.
Paul,
I never saw a movie here. I was going to see “Rocky Balboa” here, but my brother ended up taking me, my other brother and my mom to Ford City to see it. In fact, I almost saw it at the Logan too. But after I found out how small the small auditoriums are at this place, I kinda got put off from going. I should’ve went though, considering how old the place is, and how much history goes with it. With a better and smarter owner, it could’ve survived.
Now Paul, you belive that the remaining Village locations will be gone by December 08? I kinda belive you there. I know Bloomingdale Ct’s fate is sealed, and watch out for news of it’s closing. Lincoln Village ain’t well kept from what I’ve heard. That’s bad news, because it didn’t look all that great last summer when I was there. North Riverside: Will close soon because of the popular Showplace 14 nearby. I think the only Village that might come out alive would be the Village North. I’ve haven’t been there yet, but I’ve heard that lots of Loyola students and Rogers Park residents fill the place up. With a good remodel and up-to date projection systems, it will stay. If I get started with my corp soon like I hope, I plan to save it.
If this place gets the wrecking ball, I hope Mitchell’s restaurant next door doesn’t go too. I love that place. As for the theater, I thought it would go after Bloomingdale Ct, guess I was wrong. But it seems that Village Entertainment CEO Ron Rooding is a cheap man. With that mindset of his, he’ll be out of business very soon.
Aek316:
It’s rough right now. I’ve been trying to get my business plan written well, and I’ve been going through lists of investors that would give me the time of day. Over the next few weeks, maybe months, I’ll be talking to some investors to convince them that reopening McClurg wouldn’t be a bad idea. Of course, the hardest part will be trying to get Baum Realty who own the McClurg, to listen. But I think I’ll be okay. I have so much ideas that would make this place a winner again. And that’s not including theater 1, which has an epic screen that’s 75ft wide, and 3 and a half, maybe 4 stories tall. Seeing an indie flick on a screen this big would bring in lots of people.
I do remember that they couldn’t pay their taxes and they gave up after a while. They took over the Water Tower, Bricktown, Hyde Park, Burnham Plz, Biograph, Broadway and Old Orchard around April, maybe early May of 99. I remember it well too. I still have my Meridian ticket stub from when I went to the WT street level theaters in April 00. I just wish they could’ve keept the WT mall screens open a bit longer.
Catherine:
The #9 Ashland stops a few blocks away on Ashland & Clybourn. After I get off the bus there, I eat at the Wendy’s across the street before I walk to the theater. Of course, I haven’t been here in a while. I’ll have to see how Kerasotes is running things.
PS: You’re almost 6ft tall? Wow, that’s cool.
To Paul:
M&R opened the Dearborn Cinemas in November 85. My brother saw Aliens (for the fourth time I think) here in 86. The Hitcher was also shown here earlier that year. Other movies played at Dearborn: Manhunter, Star Trek 4, Angel Heart, Extreme Prejudice, The Hidden, Red Heat etc…. I gathered those up through earlier microfilm research. Hope this helps.
To Paul:
Cineplex re-did it a tad bit. I belive they just re-painted the bricks. According to my oldest brother, the marquee was a new one added by CO.
PS: I walked by here today after seeing Last King Of Scotland, everything is still intact. Which is a good thing for me. River East is great and all, but they put art-house fare in tiny screening rooms that sell out fast on weekends. That’s why if I can get through to the heads of the people who own McClurg, I’ll turn it into an art-house with a mini resturant, 70MM film-festival, and new bathrooms near theaters 2-3. If I succeed, I could buy the space next door and expand it into theater space. Thoughts, anyone?
Well, River Run is another M&R theater that’s still around. But it’s called Lansing Cinema 8, and it looks different now.
That’s messed up. Just replace it with some more high-rise mumbo jumbo that Oak St’s got already.
To Paul and BW:
In the photo set provided by Billymac, look at this concession photo
View link
That looks like the same design AMC used back in the 80’s. Now, I wonder if Essaness Theatres used Mesbur & Smith as architects for Chestnut Station and Golf Glen. For those who don’t know, Mesbur & Smith designed theaters for Cineplex Odeon exclusively from 1983-1990. Now maybe they designed a few theatres for Essaness before they entered the partnership with CO. Think about it, my brother saw Predator at Chestnut St back in June 87, and he said it looked like a CO theatre. CO didn’t really start the remodel for it until later that year. Do you think I’m on to something here?
Talking like like Yoda
Go to Elmhurst, I will.
How big are the screens? How is the sound and picture quality? As long as the screens don’t look like this, View link I might finally go see Rocky Balboa here.
I called it. Because it’s a 32 year old building, it was the most logical at this point.
Bloomingdale Court, another Village Theatres closing, coming soon!
I called it. Becaus it’s a 32 year old building, it’s the most logical at this point.
Bloomingdale Court, another Village Theatres closing, coming soon!
Paul:
I know River Oaks 1-6 in Calumet City still contains CO’s trademark 80’s design. If I’m not mistaken, North Riverside and Bloomingdale Court still got the 80’s design too.
Just walked past here the other day on my way to River East to see Blood Diamond. It looked like everything Cineplex Odeon-ish was still intact.
Okay, the AMC in Warrenville was closer to Rice Lake Square than the South Barrington. However, Streamwood was just 25/30 minutes away from RLS which had big auditoriums that sat about 500+ according to my brother. So when you look at it, Rice Lake was loosing patrons after 1994.
To Paul: It was a Cineplex Odeon in style and everything. I never went here, but according to some people I know, it’s decor looked almost like River Oaks 1-6. Of note: This may have been next-to the last Cineplex Odeon to be built with their typical 80’s style: Zig-Zag stuff on the auditorium walls, seats with cream colored backs, carpeting etc…You know, their trademark 80’s design by Mesbur & Smith. This place was killed off by the nearby Streamwood(Which had larger screens I’ve heard) and the AMC 30 in South Barrigton. Heck, just a year after Rice Lake closed, Streamwood was killed off by the AMC 30 too! How weird is that?
Oh yeah. Mesbur & Smith designed all Cineplex Odeons from 1983-1990. Then they did a few after that. The brick and interior color you talk about is at Bloomingdale Court, was at Bricktown Square,(from what I’ve heard) and many, many other CO theaters.
I hope my movie is playing in the rear two. Thanks for the info Brian.
Thanks for the imput. The auditorium isn’t small like this is it?
View link