Des Plaines Theater
1476 Miner Street,
Des Plaines,
IL
60016
1476 Miner Street,
Des Plaines,
IL
60016
20 people
favorited this theater
Showing 126 - 134 of 134 comments found
The above comment is wrong. The film playing at the time of the 1982 fire was “Taps”, as locally published photos of the fire show.
Firm should be Betts & Holcomb.
The Des Plaines is again open. For more information, visit http://www.desplainesperformingartscenter.org/
The last movie I saw at the Des Plaines was “Slave Girls from Beyong Infinity” in the late eighties. I grew up going there, and am surprised that the Bollywood programming didn’t help to ensure its survival, since they had sort of cornered the market. Still, I bet with a renewed downtown, the Des Plaines could be remade into a success, providing the physical state isn’t too bad. I would be interested in finding out the cost of the building, etc.
What a great place the Des Plaines Theatre was in the early to mid ‘70s. Two second-run features for 60 cents on a large, curved screen. The place wasn’t terribly fancy but the picture and sound were great and what else was really important? As this was the time before home video the Des Plaines Theatre made it easy to catch up on movies you missed in first run.
Hi this is Evan,im 10 years old.My dad use to work at des plains theater,and he said that a old man told him that he saw a ghost,and that I might wanta visit it someday.He has told me other creepy stuff about the theater,also I heard about saving the theater so when you email me tell me the stuff I can do to save the theater bye.
By coincidence, the film playing at the DesPlaines Theatre on the day of the 1982 fire was “The End”.
Des Plaines Theatre Restoration Project
We have formed a committee to restore this theatre which was constructed by the Polka Brothers. We are looking for drawings or photos of the old interior. Please e-mail me if you have pictures or are interested in helping us restore the Des Plaines Theatre.
Thanks!
Deborah Hill
Hi!
Although I am a resident of Arizona now, I did grow up in Des Plaines as a child, and have many vivid memories of the Des Plaines Theater and have often wondered if it still existed. Many theaters have been demolished coast to coast. The last time I was in Des Plaines was 1972.
I am not only interested in old movie theaters in general, but I am also interested in the pipe organs that once graced these theaters. At one time in the 1960’s I even appeared on stage at the Des Plaines theater playing an electronic organ for intermission music, a gimmick by a local music dealer. I still have the tape I made of the event!
The manager of the theater at that time related to me that the Des Plaines theater did have at one time a pipe organ, but it was sold to a mortuary. Now if this Gulbransen Rialto analog electronic organ sounded that great, just think what a real pipe organ would sound like!
Coast to Coast, pipe organs are being re-installed in movie theaters/performing arts centers and are being used in the programs with great success!
What I am trying to say is this. If the city of Des Plaines wants to convert the Des Plaines Theater to a performing arts center, I hope that they will do it right. Such as restoring the building to it’s original splendor, (as was the case with the Orpheum Theater here in Phoenix), and since the Des Plaines theater has organ chambers, why not fill them with an organ, so the city of Des Plaines can enjoy this wonderful form of entertainment that other communities are enjoying? I often wonder if anything at all of the previous Des Plaines theater organ remains in the chambers.
If you want to see a pipe organ in a theater locally, contact members of the American Theater Organ society, or e-mail me for names in the Chicago area. I was a member while I lived in Des Plaines.
I would like some feedback. What do you think about this idea? I know of several instruments available now on the internet!
Also I was shocked to learn that the Des Plaines Theater suffered a fire that almost destroyed the building. What happened? Where was this fire? What caused it? Once again I would like feedback. I grew up with this theater!
I certainly hope that Des Plaines will use this as a performing arts center, and I certainly hope that they can transform the Des Plaines theater into a real gem, a masterpiece, and something for all to behold and enjoy! Many communities are doing this exact thing! Why? Because it is so profitable! E-mail me. Lets talk!
Sincerely,
Bill Hagey