Patio Theatre
6008 West Irving Park Road,
Chicago,
IL
60634
6008 West Irving Park Road,
Chicago,
IL
60634
42 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 275 comments found
An ad in the 1/29/27 dated Chicago Tribune placed by the Mandel Brothers department store reads:
“We congratulate the owners on the completion of the beautiful PATIO THEATER, Irving Park Blvd. and Austin Ave., which opens tonight.
All decorations, carpets and draperies were executed by experts from our hotel and contract department".
See the attached letter from Demetri Kouvalis on rogerebert.com;
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111129/LETTERS/111129984
It would be a shame to lose the Patio at this point. We’ve been out to see Thor, Drive, Fast Five, Crazy Stupid Love, Puss in Boots, Back to the Future, Pirates and Columbiana since the Patio reopened, and we don’t even live in Portage Park. It would be a shame to lose the theater again.
Go Patio!
Darn, that’s sad to hear the man who brought this theater back to decent shape up till 2001 passed away. I’m glad his son chose to reopen it, and will hopefully keep it going for years and years to come.
Heck, I remember the recorded answering machine greetings that I believe he probably recorded each week, back when Alex ran the theater.
I’m sad to report that Alex Kouvalis has passed away http://www.suntimes.com/news/obituaries/8021778-418/alexander-kouvalis-remembered-as-savior-of-patio-theater.html
Brian and I are thinking alike on this one. The theatre clearly adds something to the city. But it is also clearly not a highly lucrative operation. Little is gained and much is lost by taxing it to death.
I think it would be possible to exempt four screens or less since they’re at a competitive disadvantage to the larger screens, or exempt second run, or a combination of the two
I think the amusement tax is helpful for the city when it concerns ball games, rock concerts etc. They probably can’t exempt classic movie theaters because it is for profit as well as the movie theaters located in the city. That is why a first-run movie house costs more in the city vs.suburbs. I hope the crowds keep up the attendence.
I think that city amusement tax is a dinosaur from a bygone era. Back in the day running a movie theatre was lucrative. Nowadays assessing this tax is like trying to get blood from a stone. Not surprisingly it is taking government officials many decades to catch up to this fact.
Saw “Super 8” this past Saturday, theatre looks great. I hope it gets the business it requires to be a success. http://patiotheater.net/
The Patio also looked great Sat night. Another large crowd and the stars were twinkling and the clouds were a drifting. Everybody applauded when the picture was over. The marquee needs some work.
Sounds like the Portage all over again; the city trying to squeeze a potential owner until they have to say uncle and walk away.
The Patio looked great last Friday. There was a large and appreciative crowd, and the projection and sound were excellent. The print of Thor was pristine as well—it looked brand new.
The best of luck Patio Theatre on this day of re-opening! A rare day indeed when a Chicago movie gem re-opens! Bravo..
Also, you have the neighborhood listed as “Pottage Park” it actually “Portage Park”
Status should be changed to OPEN. It is reopening today, June 3, 2011 at 4pm!!! Just like Shirey, I too am excited about it being reopened!
I am VERY excited that the Patio is going to reopen. I will be there to support the theater as much as I can afford and as long as there are movies I like. A HUGE THANK YOU making this happen!!1
Sun-Times article about the reopening with a picture; the article indicates the reopening will be June 4: http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/5550964-417/patio-theater-gets-a-second-run-at-success.html
According to the website, the Patio will reopen on June 3 with a screening of “Thor.”
http://patiotheater.net/
Hope it works out OK.
I am afraid we may have to wait. I understand the city is making quite a few demands one being new doors with push bar openers due to the E2 night club diaster in Chicago a few years back. There is also many other problems. I hope they can overcome these. It would be a shame if after all the renovations they are not allowed to open and let us see the beauty again. I am amazed how the city and cook county for that matter has the highest taxes in the country. One only has to pass any gas station in the city to see the high price compared to lake or dupage county. I cannot understand how the residents allow this year after year…..and then there is the conditions of the pavements of the streets.
Bobby S.
Unfortunately yes the city tax is to blame. It’s pretty high. The Three Penny Cinema closed because the owner was unable to pay the high city/county amusement taxes.
I’m wondering when this place will re-open.
What is holding up the re-opening of this beautiful gem? I am eager to pay my admission at the box office. I recently paid a visit to the Music Box on a matinee during the week and was surprised to pay $8.25 senior. I thought that was high. The ticket agent said the city tax is to blame. Is that true?
The Patio has the inconvenience of no dedicated parking, where the Pickwick does. That is one of the major issues the Patio Theater faces.
Demetri, I wonder how the Pickwick theater does it in Park Ridge. They show first-run and have a pretty good attendance. I pay $5 because I am a senior citizen, but I see plenty of younger people there when the new film opens. I think the community would pay it. After all, the muli-plexes charge almost $10 and they could never give you the experience of your beautiful theater! But of course, I am prejudice. I think the Patio is a national treasure!
Hmmm, we never planned on showing first run films because we would be forced to charge a $7.50 admission fee. Back when the theater was open from 1987-2001 we had $2 and $3 admission prices. To re-open with a $7.50 admission charge for 1st run films might be to big of a leap for the community. That is…unless we have a lot of support and backup from the community for a $7.50 admission price for first run films?
A first-run film in a beautiful theater with a great screen and a pipe organ before the feature! Sounds like 1950’s Chicago! I am sure this will be a big hit not just for the neighborhood but for all of Chicago! The best of luck, and I and my friends will be regular patrons. Looking forward..