McClurg Court Cinemas
330 East Ohio Street,
Chicago,
IL
60611
330 East Ohio Street,
Chicago,
IL
60611
18 people
favorited this theater
Showing 76 - 100 of 149 comments found
That is a great idea, CinemarkFan. You should do the same thing for Oakbrook 1-4. Speaking of Oakbrook 1-4, it needs a new marquee since they removed the Cineplex Odeon marquee about a year ago.
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?
Cinemark Fan:
Was the exterior color on this place a Cineplex-Odeon re-do? It sure looks like the same color brick used on the Burnham, the Bricktown, the Lincoln Village, etc.
As we’ve mentioned many times, the interior received a C-O re-do just like the Biograph did.
I found an article online in the trib regarding Mcclurg Court adding room service for residents of the complex. The article said that no plans have been announced or decided as of yet regarding the fate of the theater.
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.
Another painful loss. I didnt discover this theater until high school when during the summer months me and my best friend would trek all the way downtown Chicago from Evanston and catch sneak previews on their huge screen.
It could open up again in some form. I never thought the Water Tower Cinemas on street level would open again, and yet they have.
Mike I don’t believe there was ever another theater even nearby before AMC River East 21 opened.
I echo Cinemark Fan’s sentiments. This place had better not be gutted and turned into stores. I can’t imagine what else they’d do with the space though. What a shame.
Looking at the photot posted by Cinemark Fan, it look slike the restaurant had what look slike a movie marquee. Was there another theater in the spot where the restaurant was?
I can tell you with 100% certainty that the McClurg Court residential building was just sold. It is to remain a rental property. No condo conversion plans at present. I would assume that sale included the theatre and restaurant as well.
Anymore updates about this place? Also, people should check out this photo: View link
Now it’s it just me or does that look like the theater and the restaurant next door may face(God I hope not) the wrecking ball? Something about that picture gives me bad feelings.
Woah, that’s waaay before my time. I don’t remember the screen with gold curtains. It was always dark blue/purple when I went. Thank you so much for posting that. It makes me want McClurg Court back even more.
Here’s a Russell Phillips Photo from before Cineplex:
Auditorium Entrance
My gut says the McClurg Court will not become a church. I don’t such an idea would be well-received in that area.
Thanks for the update, Cinemark fan. That sucks that no one is cooperating with your plan. How can the realty company not call you back?! It’s not like they’ve been overwhelmed with offers since the theater has been vacant for over 3 years! Judging by the positive responses above, I think Mcclurg could definitely be revived as an art house. It’s a shame how so many unique theaters have been shuttered over the years in favor of multiplexes with small screens, and multiple tiny rooms where you can barely even find a seat especially if you go with a group. I can’t fathom why people would rather pay 10 bucks to sit in environment like that rather than go to a place with a huge screen like Mcclurg and have a real experience.
I hope things turn around for you in your plans to buy this theater. It does concern me though that someone has purchased it since the for lease sign is down. It would indeed be a tragedy if this place became stores or the most popular fate of all the old theaters near where I grew up-a church.
My Plan to buy this place has been put on a big hold. Most of the investors I’ve talked to didn’t want to take a chance, “would be risky”, “would be this and that” etc… Hell, Baum Realty didn’t call me back. I don’t know what’s going on with this place now, but I promise everyone this, if I don’t ever reopen McClurg Court, I’ll try and build another art-house in the area with a huge screen like McClurg. Now I know my plans sound like a dream, but I do know that AMC will not give in to people’s demands to put more art fare at River East. They may show an art film here and there, but not enough like the Landmark Century for example.
Anyway, as long as they don’t gut this place and turn it into shops, I’m a happy camper. I love McClurg Court to death, and I’ll protest if they try and put a TJ Maxx or some shop in there.
Thanks to all for the updates on the McClurg. As I mentioned above, I lived in the area and enjoyed the theater in the mid to late seventies. I sure hope they re-open. I’ll follow your posts with interest. A gazillion people live within walking distance. Surely the place would make money.
I was in the area this morning, and drove around the block a few times. The For Lease sign is down, and most of the windows are covered in paper. The one window I could see through I saw the poster display cases were still up. The neon bulbs were even still in there. Does anyone know if someone bought this place? I hope it reopens in some form as I never got to see a movie here and it sounds like it was the place to be. Growing up in Oak Park, there were so many theaters nearby (which are mostly gone too like Hillsides, Oak Brook, Bricktown Square, Harlem-Cermak and Forest Park) that we never really ventured downtown to see movies. What happened to one of the above users plans to buy this theater?
I did in fact drive by again today. The attraction sign has definitely been stripped of all neon. Seems like an odd step to take. I don’t know why they wouldn’t just rip the thing off the front of the building.
I wonder what’s going on with this place?
Some of the neon was missing from the sign when I happened to drive by last week. It might be that it was hidden underneath the FOR LEASE banner or they might be stripping the sign. I have to travel back to Streeterville next week & will try to remember to take a look.
Episode II is Attack of the Clones. I believe the red-faced villain you are referring to is Darth Maul who was introduced in Episode I, The Phantom Menace.
Which one was Episode II? Was that the one with villain who had the bright red face? I worked with a guy at the time who attended the opening of the red-faced villain Star Wars movie. He got his picture in the paper because he was wearing a costume of the red-faced villain (complete with colored contacts) that was near perfect.
The FOR LEASE sign is down.