No, in fact 2-3 closed the year before I was born. Thanks to JRS40, I am able to indentify the movies that played on whatever screen according to the microfilm ads. Of course, there may be a misprint or two there, but it’s mostly accurate.
My complaint about the 3-D is that it makes the image dim when it’s supposed to be big and bright. But since the moviegoing public will accept that, then wait until 3-D becomes avalible en-masse for home viewing. After that, they’ll say, “why spend $12-15 dollars at the movie? It will come out in a few months on Blu-ray 3-D”.
Oh, and I should tell you, the system is suited for screens 50-80ft wide with side-masking. So this means that unless some new AMC theaters have side-masking on their screens, they would be out of luck. But again, the filmmakers need to know about this. And even if Michael Bay is the one to step up to the plate, then so be it.
I agree Movie534. I think we all should band together and start writing to cinematographers and directors, and get them in on Robert Weisgerber’s “Super Dimension 70” system, which projects 70mm film at a display rate of 96 images per-second without projection weave or flicker. The best thing is that no new construction or costly conversion is needed. And you don’t pay for the projectors, you rent them from the Super Vista Corporation for the duration of the film’s run.
If you read this, I would like to team up with you to write a list of films shown in it’s main auditorium from it’s 1971 opening ‘til it’s 2003 closing. JRS40 has provided the listing from 1971-1980. I will start from 1981 to it’s brief closing in '87 when CO walled in the balcony for two screens. After it’s triplexing, #1 was indentified via the movie presented in THX or in some cases, 70mm THX.
Before the triplexing, #1 held 1271 (including balcony). After 12/18/87, #1 held about 760. The two screens in the former balcony held about 230-240 each.
Very touching story indeed Mr. Parsons. It sounds like your father was a great man.
KingBiscuits,
If I were running the theaters now, the 3-D films would probably be in the mall, seeing that those screens are perfect for it. #9 would be difficult seeing that the screen is 40 by 85ft wide, and a digital projector doesn’t have the power (or light) to fill such a mammoth screen, or at least for the time being. Now it’s possible that #10 could get away with one, seeing that it’s about 60ft wide or so.
JRS40, Audiodude, in my marketing plan, I will advertise the fact that these screens are the largest in the Chicago area (outside of IMAX). And I will show art films, the kind that NW Indiana doesn’t get for a while. The business plan is coming along. Pretty soon I will take it a step further and seek out financial investors.
3/14/86 – GUNG HO
11/13/87 – THE RUNNING MAN
12/11/87 – WALL STREET
5/25/88 – CROCODILE DUNDEE II
12/9/88 – TWINS
10/20/89 – HALLOWEEN 5 (moveover from #13 aka #2) of note: my father turned 47 that day
3/23/90 – THE FOURTH WAR
8/3/90 – MO' BETTER BLUES
8/24/90 – DELTA FORCE 2: OPERATION STRANGLEHOLD
11/16/90 – ROCKY V
12/25/90 – THE GODFATHER PART III
2/15/91 – THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
6/14/91 – ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THEIVES
3/6/92 – THE LAWNMOWER MAN (of note, this was my second b-day!)
9/11/92 – SNEAKERS
2/18/94 – BLUE CHIPS
5/19/95 – DIE HARD WITH A VENGENCE
10/13/95 – JADE
12/13/96 – THE PREACHER’S WIFE
12/19/97 – TITANIC
2/26/99 – 8MM
With the economy in the state it’s in right now, I wouldn’t expect to hear anything anytime soon.
In a perfect world, this or McClurg Court would reopen as indie houses. This could be restored to a triple or a quad, with a large movie place-esque screen. But those developers just love high-rises that the area has enough of.
Thank you for posting the info KenC. Multiplexes these days only have about 2 big rooms, and the rest are little screening rooms with 80-90 seats. I hope Costco will go elsewere, so Norridge may soldier on.
Who knows, maybe when my chain kicks off, perhaps I’ll pick it up from AMC and give it a much needed facelift.
Regarding nothing being removed, how recent is the info? I often get worried because the windows are blacked out, and for the past few months, trailers have been parked far in the lot. Other than that, the building is still there. 1-6 and 7-8 is still there too.
PS: The business plan is coming along nicely. It prepares you for building from the ground up, but I’m revising to fit my buy and remodel plan.
I tell ya, someone needs to take over the 6 screener, remodel, and maybe expand if possible. Perhaps using retail space. If done right, it can hold it’s own against the Kerasotes 14.
I still haven’t gotten the chance to get down here yet. Does anyone know what the new seats from the remodel are like?
No, in fact 2-3 closed the year before I was born. Thanks to JRS40, I am able to indentify the movies that played on whatever screen according to the microfilm ads. Of course, there may be a misprint or two there, but it’s mostly accurate.
My complaint about the 3-D is that it makes the image dim when it’s supposed to be big and bright. But since the moviegoing public will accept that, then wait until 3-D becomes avalible en-masse for home viewing. After that, they’ll say, “why spend $12-15 dollars at the movie? It will come out in a few months on Blu-ray 3-D”.
Well, the first two were hits without 3-D, so they’ll be okay.
Or the curved screens at the Seattle Cinerama or the nearby Pacific Place.
All of which will be outdated and needed to be replaced in a decade.
But how many times does a 35/70 projector need to be replaced?
Oh, and I should tell you, the system is suited for screens 50-80ft wide with side-masking. So this means that unless some new AMC theaters have side-masking on their screens, they would be out of luck. But again, the filmmakers need to know about this. And even if Michael Bay is the one to step up to the plate, then so be it.
I agree Movie534. I think we all should band together and start writing to cinematographers and directors, and get them in on Robert Weisgerber’s “Super Dimension 70” system, which projects 70mm film at a display rate of 96 images per-second without projection weave or flicker. The best thing is that no new construction or costly conversion is needed. And you don’t pay for the projectors, you rent them from the Super Vista Corporation for the duration of the film’s run.
Ah, we need to get this to Chris Nolan ASAP.
They may have turned screen six into a eatery or so.
Good to see that an 80’s era theater is still fighting the good fight. It’s 25th anniversary is June 8th.
Michael Coate,
If you read this, I would like to team up with you to write a list of films shown in it’s main auditorium from it’s 1971 opening ‘til it’s 2003 closing. JRS40 has provided the listing from 1971-1980. I will start from 1981 to it’s brief closing in '87 when CO walled in the balcony for two screens. After it’s triplexing, #1 was indentified via the movie presented in THX or in some cases, 70mm THX.
Before the triplexing, #1 held 1271 (including balcony). After 12/18/87, #1 held about 760. The two screens in the former balcony held about 230-240 each.
Great list guys. In fact, in my alternate universe, “Sunshine Cleaning” would be opening Friday in #7.
Very touching story indeed Mr. Parsons. It sounds like your father was a great man.
KingBiscuits,
If I were running the theaters now, the 3-D films would probably be in the mall, seeing that those screens are perfect for it. #9 would be difficult seeing that the screen is 40 by 85ft wide, and a digital projector doesn’t have the power (or light) to fill such a mammoth screen, or at least for the time being. Now it’s possible that #10 could get away with one, seeing that it’s about 60ft wide or so.
JRS40, Audiodude, in my marketing plan, I will advertise the fact that these screens are the largest in the Chicago area (outside of IMAX). And I will show art films, the kind that NW Indiana doesn’t get for a while. The business plan is coming along. Pretty soon I will take it a step further and seek out financial investors.
…And if I were running it today
1/30/09 – TAKEN
2/13/09 – FRIDAY THE 13TH
2/27/09 – SLUMDOG MILLIONARE (why this isn’t playing at Lansing is beyond me)
3/6/09 – WATCHMEN
More movies that played in #1 (9)
3/14/86 – GUNG HO
11/13/87 – THE RUNNING MAN
12/11/87 – WALL STREET
5/25/88 – CROCODILE DUNDEE II
12/9/88 – TWINS
10/20/89 – HALLOWEEN 5 (moveover from #13 aka #2) of note: my father turned 47 that day
3/23/90 – THE FOURTH WAR
8/3/90 – MO' BETTER BLUES
8/24/90 – DELTA FORCE 2: OPERATION STRANGLEHOLD
11/16/90 – ROCKY V
12/25/90 – THE GODFATHER PART III
2/15/91 – THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
6/14/91 – ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THEIVES
3/6/92 – THE LAWNMOWER MAN (of note, this was my second b-day!)
9/11/92 – SNEAKERS
2/18/94 – BLUE CHIPS
5/19/95 – DIE HARD WITH A VENGENCE
10/13/95 – JADE
12/13/96 – THE PREACHER’S WIFE
12/19/97 – TITANIC
2/26/99 – 8MM
With the economy in the state it’s in right now, I wouldn’t expect to hear anything anytime soon.
In a perfect world, this or McClurg Court would reopen as indie houses. This could be restored to a triple or a quad, with a large movie place-esque screen. But those developers just love high-rises that the area has enough of.
I’m fighting hard, real hard to reopen that theater.
PS: So did the McClurg Court. But thanks to the AMC 21 nearby, it sits vacant, with the building owners not knowing what to do with it.
Ah, if only Chicago had screens like that to show 70mm.
The best 3D/digital projectors cost up to $150,000. A 35/70mm projector costs about 35/40,000, and even less if it’s refurbished.
Note to Sony: Call me when ya’ll can install it on screens up to 80ft in width. That’s when this realD will really look good.
I found a picture of the concession stand of RO in 1976. I can’t tell if it’s from #1.
View link
Thank you for posting the info KenC. Multiplexes these days only have about 2 big rooms, and the rest are little screening rooms with 80-90 seats. I hope Costco will go elsewere, so Norridge may soldier on.
Who knows, maybe when my chain kicks off, perhaps I’ll pick it up from AMC and give it a much needed facelift.
M&R in partnership with Loews due to the fact of them taking over M&R in 1988.
Another CO with the M&S design remains open, the Rivertree Court, operated by Kerasotes!
Thanks for the info. How did you get ahold of it?
Oh well, looks like someone (me) will have come in and construct a new theater nearby.
Regarding nothing being removed, how recent is the info? I often get worried because the windows are blacked out, and for the past few months, trailers have been parked far in the lot. Other than that, the building is still there. 1-6 and 7-8 is still there too.
PS: The business plan is coming along nicely. It prepares you for building from the ground up, but I’m revising to fit my buy and remodel plan.
I tell ya, someone needs to take over the 6 screener, remodel, and maybe expand if possible. Perhaps using retail space. If done right, it can hold it’s own against the Kerasotes 14.