Patio Theatre

6008 W. Irving Park Road,
Chicago, IL 60634

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Showing 151 - 175 of 267 comments

mp775
mp775 on March 19, 2008 at 9:30 am

Here are a couple of photos of the lobby. The auditorium is reportedly in similarly excellent condition.

MKuecker
MKuecker on March 18, 2008 at 10:21 pm

I wonder what the inside looks like?

Broan
Broan on December 1, 2007 at 11:34 am

Disregard that. It’s always said that. Means nothing.

MKuecker
MKuecker on December 1, 2007 at 11:10 am

I ride past this on the bus every morning. The marquis said “renovating.” Anyone have any news?

Quadrama
Quadrama on September 12, 2007 at 10:12 pm

Very nice of Patiomike to mention that Alex will be taking part in the panel discussion (and many are very pleased Alex will be making this appearance and sharing his insights,
I have received many calls and emails about it!) However, the actual date is Saturday, September 15 at the Historic Portage Theater. This panel discussion will close the two day ‘Preserving Palaces’ Film Festival. I will not be a part of the panel, but will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about the Patio Theatre, and classic movie palaces in general. My film about the Patio and Alex, ‘The Wizard Of Austin Boulevard’ will be shown that same night of the Festival. Hope to see you all at this wonderful event.
Thank You,
Louis Antonelli
Quadrama/Film

kingchaos341
kingchaos341 on September 12, 2007 at 11:52 am

Bill Morton, formerly of the Adelphi can do wonderful things. I will see if I can contact him.

Patiomike
Patiomike on September 12, 2007 at 11:47 am

Louis Antonelli informed me that Alex, the owner of the Patio Theater, will be part of a discussion panel at the Portage screening on 9/16. Bring your questions to Louis and Alex. You’ll find them to be interesting and knowledgeable characters.

CathyC
CathyC on August 28, 2007 at 12:03 am

The film, ‘THE WIZARD OF AUSTIN BOULEVARD’ (mentioned in prior posts,), will be shown at the Portage Theater on Saturday, September 15, as part of the “Preserving Palaces” festival. For more information, go to the Portage Theater website, www.portagetheater.org Also, an entire evening will be devoted to the films of Louis Antonelli on Sunday, September 16. Just thought true Patio Theater admirers would want to know.

robabank1
robabank1 on August 2, 2007 at 1:04 pm

P.S. left off my e-mail

robabank1
robabank1 on August 2, 2007 at 12:57 pm

I am writing an article on old movie houses in or near Jefferson Park, Chicago; if anyone has any photos available inside or out of the building, either as the Times or the Holiday Ballroom please contact me. Also looking for photos of the Jefferson Nickelodeon, Gateway, Portage and PATIO. Were there any others nearby that I didn’t mention? I will try the Library and Historical Society files too. Roughly looking between Cicero & Austin, Irving and Bryn Mawr Ave’s.

Life's Too Short
Life's Too Short on July 10, 2007 at 11:22 pm

I am curious, bing, about your client’s business plan. It is not often at all that someone wakes up one day and decides to open up a chain of theatres comprised of vintage real estate. It is even less often that they succeed.

kingchaos341
kingchaos341 on July 6, 2007 at 11:38 am

What about the guy who owns the card shop next door to the patio? I have been in there a few times(being an avid Magic player and all),I believe that is part of the building, does anybody know where he stands in all this?

CathyC
CathyC on July 6, 2007 at 11:31 am

A possible remedy for impatience – enjoy a few glasses of Dago Red while humming the tune “The Ants Go Marching.”

Quadrama
Quadrama on July 5, 2007 at 3:02 am

Yes, I have a suggestion – ask some of the business owners located on the property of the Patio Theatre site if they have a contact number for the owner(s), or leave your number with many of them including a note to pass on. The post above by Mike is quite correct; it’s not impossible, but it will be VERY expensive to reopen The Patio Theatre. The theatre SHOULD be open, as she is one of the crown jewels of Chicago! I can tell you (first hand) that it took one man alone; a dreamer, a singular man of GREAT ingenuity, practical strength, and character to bring her back to life in the first place, circa 1987 (and keep her beautiful & open, with pride for 14 years without pause). One man alone, damning the torpedoes! I wonder how many here really appreciate what that means? I am sorry if I sound hardened, but I just don’t see another of his kind coming along to bring the kind of selfless love & devotion The Patio needs anytime soon – good intentions aside.

Who is Patiomike? (I’ll tell you, as he is too modest to give you a full picture) Mike is a terrific, warm hearted, VERY dedicated man who learned (to mastery) the craft of carbon arc projection on vintage dual Simplex E7’s, faster than anyone I ever met. He saved my a** on many occasions at The Patio when other professional business took me away (I was her chief projectionist for 9 wonderful years, & Mike was my right arm – second operator). If anyone reopens The Patio – you are an idiot if you don’t try to hire Mike, and PAY HIM WELL! I’m glad you are helping folks out with some info on this site Mike – God knows you have more patience with Cinema Treasures (Re: Patio Theatre) than I do.
Louis Antonelli

Bing00
Bing00 on July 5, 2007 at 12:51 am

Found the number. It doesn’t work. Any other suggestions?

Bing00
Bing00 on June 18, 2007 at 12:40 am

Patiomike, what is you connection with the Patio? Thanks for your suggestion about the number on the office. Actually, I stopped by the place tonight before I saw your post. As mentioned above, I’m sad to say it looks like the marquee has been hit by a couple trucks. Most of the neon is gone. At some point all the bulbs were removed from the underside of the marquee as well, not sure why.

I am in real estate. My interest is related to some clients who are interested in acquiring some theatres to create a chain of classic cinemas.

I’ll go back and look for the number. Thanks.

CathyC
CathyC on June 16, 2007 at 2:13 am

Patiomike, That is very thoughtful of you, but I was hoping to see more interior shots of the Patio. There have been many exterior images shared on this site, but only one or two of the interior. It would be nice for those truly interested in the Patio to see what it looks like on the inside.

Patiomike
Patiomike on June 14, 2007 at 10:01 am

I don’t have photos but, I shot a brief video as a college project just before the theater reopened in 1987. Mostly pans of the interior with no script, just theater organ music. I remember the theater in its evil period. Dirty, usually closed, litter strewn… then I saw work getting done so I poked around. I met Alex and pitched the idea. Soon, I was setting up lights and lugging around a giant video camera. I don’t remember my grade but Alex was pleased with his copy. I’ll dig up the tape and make you a copy. How can I get it to you? Maybe someone can post it on this site.

CathyC
CathyC on June 13, 2007 at 9:55 pm

Patiomike, I’m SO glad that you have been posting to the site and have been able to share your experiences and knowledge of the Patio Theatre. Any chance you have any photos to share as well?

Patiomike
Patiomike on June 13, 2007 at 2:55 pm

It wouldn’t be impossible, just expensive. The building is basically sound, the organ and projection equipment is in place and should need minimal work to get going. We had a giant ventilation motor rewired a few months before closing and the boiler was recently repaired. We also had a new popcorn machine. Updated wiring and such would help make it what it once was.

kingchaos341
kingchaos341 on June 13, 2007 at 10:56 am

Keeping the original dynamics intact would be the best thing for this theatre. If they can be reconditioned or repaired I think it would help add to the unseen feel the Movie Palaces project. I have seen a boiler, and original electrical system firsthand in a like theatre(RIP), and think that even though they are bigger and maybe largly ineffecient when compared to todays technology, if they can still be reused it would help the theater to stay true to what it is.

Patiomike
Patiomike on June 12, 2007 at 9:43 am

As far as I know, the building is not for sale. Renting may be a possibility but many upgrades would be needed. Codes were strengthened after a recent incident at a Chicago night club. An electric generator sufficient to replace power during an outage would be needed. Also, the air conditioner needs to be replaced. The electrical system, while sound, is original to the building and would probably need to be upgraded. The nearby Portage Theater has been modernized this way and is a success. There is a phone number on the building’s office entrance. It might be worth a try.

Bing00
Bing00 on June 11, 2007 at 11:51 pm

Is the Patio currently for sale/rent?