River Oaks Theatre

130 River Oaks Center Drive,
Calumet City, IL 60409

Unfavorite 13 people favorited this theater

Showing 101 - 125 of 243 comments

CinemarkFan
CinemarkFan on January 21, 2009 at 9:58 pm

Don’t quote me on this, but I have a wild hunch as to why it was called the Diana. When it opened in 1975, it was owned by Essaness Theatres. Perhaps the head of Essaness named the theater after a family member? That could be a reason. Because had someone like General Cinema or Plitt got the project, it would’ve been called the Washington Square Theatre, named after the mall it was located in.

I myself never went inside the theater or the mall. I remember going by there in ‘97 or so, and I saw the CO logo around the outside of the mall. It’s page says it closed in 1994, but it was open until 1998. I have a copy of a “Movie Facts” from early 98, and Diana was listed under CO’s other area locations. My brother saw quite a few flicks there, and he remembers that neverending hallway to the concessions/screens after you bought tickets.

audione74
audione74 on January 21, 2009 at 8:57 pm

I don’t want you to think I’m disagreeing with you JR or anyone for that matter. It’s all too confusing. I think I’m even confusing my grandfather a bit. But its good for him and his mind. I’m trying to get him to join cinema treasures because he has lots of memories of working at River Oaks. Plus all my info comes second hand from him.

I checked the Diana page and not much activity over there. That would be a good question for grandpa. Now if I can only get him away from the Texas Hold'em site. lol. That’s all he uses his computer for.

JRS40
JRS40 on January 21, 2009 at 4:03 pm

Audio – According to the River Oaks 1-6 page the renumbering wasn’t done until after 2-3 closed so maybe that is why I don’t remember it being known as 13-14. But since my memory is a bit suspect I won’t disagree further.

On a different note I would love to go over to the Diana page and hear some stories as I frequented that theater in the 80’s as well. If you can find out I would love to know how the theater got its name.

audione74
audione74 on January 21, 2009 at 2:58 pm

I don’t remember the exactyear 2-3/13-14 reopened. It may have been earlier. River Run may have played a factor into the reopening but not sure. Grandpa said he’ll look through his stuff and find out the exact reasons of that and other things. He even has many tales of the Diana Theaters in Homewood and the old Halsted Drive In. A few more movie houses he worked at.

audione74
audione74 on January 21, 2009 at 2:34 pm

Cinemark do you remember all the murals they painted on the wall of 1-4? If you get opportunity to buy it you should consider murals.

audione74
audione74 on January 21, 2009 at 2:30 pm

JR, yes at one time all 14 operated. 2-3 were closed in 89 for two reasons. One was the lease, the other was code violations. Cineplex Odeon who was the owner in 89 decided instead of correcting the problem, just shut them down. They even attempted to put the building up the market for sale but no takers. Sometime later maybe 91 or so they fixed the violations reopened it for a while and then closed again only this time for good. Basically they found a buyer and in which case the theater was turned into stores.

The violations were building and rodent problems. My grandfather told me 2-3 were the worst for rodents around that time. He said it was so bad when the inspectors came in they found droppings all around and on the food prep areas.

But yes there was a point in time all were operating.
Grandpa said he recalls operating the projectors at 2-3/13-14 in 91 on several occasions.

JRS40
JRS40 on January 21, 2009 at 1:16 pm

Yeah I think you are right about the sign, which is still there by the way but it still seems to me 2-3, which may have been slated to be number changed, closed before 1-6 opened thus negating the chance to re-number it.

Cinemark – You seem to have good research on this. Was there ever a time all 14 screens were open at the same time? I seem to remember being told 2-3 closed for two reasons: One the lease had expired and it was too costly and two, because a new group (1-6 obviously) of screens were being constructed.

audione74
audione74 on January 21, 2009 at 1:05 pm

2-3 were part of the numbering. 13-14. If you drive by 1-4 and look at the old Cineplex Odeon marquee, if it’s still there, you’ll notice 14 spaces used to advertise all the movies and what theaters they were playing in. The marquee had little arrows pointing to the direction of where that certain theater was located. 2-3 also known as 13-14 were open for a short time after 1-6 opened. Maybe a month or so at best. 1-6 were operating before the mall construction was complete.

audione74
audione74 on January 21, 2009 at 12:53 pm

I like it. That would make a nice lobby area for 1-4. Would be even cooler if you make a balcony. Only problem I see is vandalism. That’s not exactly a good area anymore. You would to some type of material to put over the interior. If you do open it again, my grandfather said he’ll work for you in the booth.

JRS40
JRS40 on January 21, 2009 at 12:43 pm

2-3 closed in 1989 so I don’t think they were part of the re-numbering. The last film I saw there was “Breaking In” with Burt Reynolds. A few weeks later it closed. I don’t believe 1-6 opened until 90 or 91.

JRS40
JRS40 on January 21, 2009 at 12:40 pm

Funny you mention it Cinemark but I can remember in the 70’s eagerly waiting to see the movies that would be playing at 1-2-3 because often times they would play movies that didn’t open in NW Indiana. “Chinatown,” “The Godfather Part II,” “The Drowning Pool,” “Day of the Locust,” “Airport 1975,” “The Ritz,” “Star Wars,” “Revenge of the Pink Panther,” “The Bad News Bears Go To Japan,” “Alien,” “The Fury,” “Barry Lyndon,” “Network,” “Logan’s Run,” “Return of a Man Called Horse” and “The Sting” are just some of the movies we ventured to Calumet City to see. And sometimes even if a movie was in NW Indiana we would go to River Oaks if it was in #1. I know we did that for “King Kong,” “Close Encounters,” “Magic,” and “Superman” just off the top of my head. Not to mention the “Star Wars” sequels and the “Indiana Jones” films (the first two anyway).

audione74
audione74 on January 21, 2009 at 12:36 pm

Not exactly when Cineplex but a while later. The renumbering of those two were not for long though.
And old 2-3 were numbered 13-14 because everyone knew these would be the first to close. After 1-6 opened in the mall Cineplex’s plan was to only have 12 theaters. Not 14. But they left them open for a short time.

CinemarkFan
CinemarkFan on January 21, 2009 at 12:05 pm

I’m glad nobody built one megaplex at RO. The way the theaters were set up were very unique. Back when my father was taking me and the rest of us there, I couldn’t wait for the friday paper to see which location our movie would be playing. Even if it weren’t 9-10, I would still get giddy if it were playing in 1-6, 7-8, or even 11-12. It seems as if each building had their own character. Remember the smell of burnt popcorn in the lobby of 7-8? The red carpeting and cream colored lobby of 11-12? Remember the thin hallway leading to the spacious screens of 11-12? The neon colors and marble floors of 1-6? Those are the kind of touches you don’t find in today’s megaplexes. And what’s even worse is the top-down masking/shrink-scope of the screens in said megaplexes.

Anyway, I want to say that should I build 2 screens next to 9-10, they would hold about 300-350 each. Also, the revamped lobby of the building will look somewhat like this.

audione74
audione74 on January 21, 2009 at 11:24 am

So grandpa told me some more info on those two theaters. He actually asked another former projectionist who worked there. He always told me of all theaters he worked River oaks was the most confusing. Anywho the ones by Fields were 7-8. These two opened last. But they opened under Plitt. When Cineplex came these two were renumbered around 86 to #5-6. And the ones over by west were renumbered 7-8. The reason Cineplex thought it made more sense to renumber these two because of their locations. Then the other six in the mall were built, resulting in renumbering the ones by Fields back to 7-8.

Yes it is confusing especially when RO had several different owners. Plitt, Cineplex, Loews/Cineplex. It makes your brain hurt.

audione74
audione74 on January 21, 2009 at 10:51 am

I dunno about those two. Talked to my grandfather via skype last night. He recalls sometime during the 80’s the theater by Fields were numbered 5-6. And the ones over by west were 7-8. He says they were both numbered this way because it more sense since the two over at west were not close like the others. I kinda have to with grandpa on this one since he worked there for 31 years. And I spent almost every weekend in those theaters watching movies.

Another thing I found out, at one point there was talk of expanding the old 1-4. Adding two more theaters the same size as #4. This was talked about sometime in the seventies but never happened.

I’m just surprised another company never came and built a complex. One those type that have 16+ theaters in one building. Grandpa told this was another idea that was talked about when Cineplex owned them. They wanted all the theaters in one area, but instead decided on the six in the mall.

JRS40
JRS40 on January 21, 2009 at 6:40 am

Funny but every time I visited the curtain remained open. Maybe it is selective memory on my part. Yeah the flood lights, which were the lights the janitors used when they cleaned the house after closing, were a great annoyance. Last time I was there was for “King Kong” and you couldn’t read the credits at all. I can remember back in the 70’s (and it may have been like this for you in the 90’s) that when you walked in only the sidelights and curtain lights were on and they weren’t overly bright so it was hard to see the seats. But it added a bit more ambiance to the place.

I love the 70MM idea. Maybe you could do like the Music Box and run some weekend morning classics and midnight movies for the younger crowd. There’s so many things you could do. There is a plethora of ideas and movie lovers who would welcome it all.

CinemarkFan
CinemarkFan on January 20, 2009 at 9:05 pm

KingBiscuits,

The indie festival for area filmmakers is a great idea. I’ll put that in my notes. I had classic titles already in mind. In fact, I hope to run a 70MM festival every year. And I hope to show a demo of the Super Dimension 70 system.

JRS40, the last time I can remember 9-10 using the curtains was in the late ‘90s. I saw “Phantom Menace” there, and the curtain covered the screen. When I returned to see “MI:2”, the screen was exposed from that point on. And what was the deal with those flood lights? Every time they came on, I could barely make out the credits on the screen. River Run had lights that came on after shows, but I could still see credits. That really sticks out in my mind from when I saw “Scream 2” and “The General’s Daughter” there.

If my plan becomes a reality, then I’ll take you up on that offer. And the price will be right.

JRS40
JRS40 on January 20, 2009 at 7:54 pm

Cinemark, I, too, would vote for traditional seating if only in 1 and 4 (or 9-10) because I am a traditionalist naturally. But at this point whatever it takes to get them open and as clean and beautiful as I remember them. One thing I know was an issue on the big screen was that back in the late 80’s the curtain machine broke and they never bothered to fix it so the curtains remained open from then on. I would love to see that fixed and get that big, beautiful curtain to open and close per each show. Incidentally, I used to work in management in General Cinema in NW Indiana for many years so if you ever get that big screen open I would be happy to come work for you (if the price is right of course..hehehe) if you need management.

KingBiscuits
KingBiscuits on January 20, 2009 at 7:22 pm

You should also play some alternative fare and classic titles so to satisfy everyone. Maybe even host a independent film festival of area filmmakers.

CinemarkFan
CinemarkFan on January 20, 2009 at 5:53 pm

I also want to add that should I operate the theatres, I will install signs around the mall so shoppers will know where to go. If you’re headed in the direction of Sears, I will have a sign (possibly with arrows) saying, “Showmanship Cinemas 1-6 this way”. And if you’re heading towards Westwood College, “Showmanship Cinemas 7-8 this way”. And if you’re heading to Macy’s, “Showmanship 9-10 this way”. I also want to make a point that 9-10 have the largest screens outside of IMAX in the suburbs.

Also, I need some votes here. Should there be stadium seating or traditional staggered seating? I favor the ladder, but a few insiders (investors) suggest the former. If I have to go stadium, then fear not. I hear this screen became a stadium house, and they say it’s still a great experience. We’ll see.

If it were open today, here’s what would be playing. This is in order of the auditoriums.
Cinemas 1-6
“Paul Blart: Mall Cop”[PG]
“Bedtime Stories”[PG]
“The Unborn”[PG-13]
“Slumdog Millionare”[R]
“Seven Pounds”[PG-13
“The Reader”[R]

Cinemas 7-8
“Notorious”[R] on 2 screens

Cinemas 9-12 (11-12 attached to #10)
“Gran Torino”[R]
“Defiance”[R]
“Curious Case of Benjamin Button”[PG-13]
“Revolutionary Road”[R]

At River Run/Lansing 8
“Not Easily Broken”[PG-13]
“Hotel for Dogs”[PG]
“My Bloody Valentine 3D”[R]
“Yes Man”[PG-13]
“Bride Wars”[PG]
“Marley & Me”[PG]
“Last Chance Harvey”[PG-13]
“Valkyrie”[PG-13]

So you see, they still get a good piece of movie pie. With all the theaters, Cal City/Lansing will become a top moviegoing destination.

JRS40
JRS40 on January 20, 2009 at 5:26 pm

Yes Office Depot and not Circuit City. My mistake. Cinemark it was great moviegoing in the 70’s and early 80’s. Sorry you missed out.

CinemarkFan
CinemarkFan on January 20, 2009 at 5:18 pm

Wow, JRS40 answered before I did. And I have the ad for the opening date for “Tron”. While that played in #5, “The Thing” and another movie(might be “Firefox”) with it was playing in #6. If only I were alive back then. Summer ‘82 must’ve been a great time to be at the movies.

Also, when you walk in Office Depot, my brother says you can make out where the screens were.

CinemarkFan
CinemarkFan on January 20, 2009 at 5:13 pm

No, the theater in the photo was always 7-8. In the 10/21/83 Plitt Theatre guide, they announce the grand opening of 7-8. The ad says, “2 all-new theatres to entertain you! River Oaks 7-8. Located 1 block N E of River Oaks 1-4. Grand openings tonight at 5:45pm”.

5-6 (later 11-12) was at the River Oaks West mall near the post office. Address was 520 RO West. This is where I saw “A Low Down Dirty Shame” and “Mercury Rising”. My family saw “Poltergeist” there back when it came out. It opened in December of 1980. The opening day ad for that said, “GRAND OPENING TODAY! River Oaks 5-6 Calumet City, Located in the west mall”. First movies to play there were “Resurrection” and “Mountain Family Robinson”. It’s very easy to get the bulidings mixed up, since they built so much in and around that area. Another thing, even when it was under CO, the building always had the sign, “River Oaks”, and then “Plitt Theatres” under that. It closed in ‘98. It was torn down (along with the old Kohl’s next to it) in late '07 to make way for the Sam’s Club that’s open now. When 2-3 closed, it became a Silo eletronics store. That lasted until the late 90’s. It was gutted inside and out, and turned into an Office Depot and Men’s Warehouse.

Like 9-10, 1-6 and 7-8 are still sitting, closed. I’m still writing by business plan and gathering up some funds. Perhaps if my proposed theatres get off the ground, it could lead to the mall getting more upscale stores/resturants.

On another note, I hope Cinematour can correct the info in that photo, because they have it has aka RO 2-3.

JRS40
JRS40 on January 20, 2009 at 5:08 pm

Audiodude,

No the pic is of 7-8 and was always 7-8. The original 5-6 were River Oaks West. I saw TRON out at 5-6 and I remember because the film was sold out and a group of us went down the parking lot and played touch football for two hours until the movie started. 7-8 opened in 1984.

To answer your other questions – 2 & 3 is CIRCUIT CITY now. The building was not demolished but shelled and painted. 5-6 is empty or at least it was the last time I was by there. I can remember just a week after it closed I went by there and was able to walk in to the area and it was completely empty. 7-8 still has the marquee up so I imagine there is nothing in there now.

audione74
audione74 on January 20, 2009 at 4:22 pm

Oh Cinemark, talked to my grandfather a few days ago. He believes all the gear is still sitting in 9-10.
All the projectors, DLP projector, the platters, sound equipment, etc. Not sure what kind of condition the stuff
is in considering it’s been idle for three years.
I told him about your plan, he wishes you much luck. It needs a good owner. Every once in awhile he’ll drive past it and still can’t believe it’s condition. But like he told me, it looks just like everything else around it.