Yes, they were attached to the mall. Photo here. Interesting note, before 7-8, it was a Jewel Foods store from the mall’s opening. Theaters 7-8 & McDonalds went in the Jewel space in ‘83. And thanks JRS40, I had a feeling the capacites might be close to 400. I always remembered them being big, but not like 11-12, or even the larger screens in the mall.
PS: I saw “Most Wanted”, “Art of War”, and “The Score” at 7-8. Funny story, when my parents went to see the 10:15pm showing of “What Lies Beneath” there, some women started arguing/cursing, and one of them said to the other “I’ll cut ‘your a$$ and no one will be watching this movie!”. Thankfully, management had police to take them out.
I agree Movie534. In order for a movie to have staying power today, the movie has to be extremely good, as was the case for TDK. Last year, “No Country was in theaters into March/April, and that was released in November.
Going to 1979, I wasn’t born for 11 years, but some movies that I enjoy today came out that year. While Sci-Fi was the thing, other greats include “Apocalypse Now”, “The Warriors”, “The Onion Field”, “All That Jazz”, etc… My father took my siblings to see “Alien” in 70MM at the River Oaks #2 (500 seat auditorium, now an Office Depot) in Calumet City, IL. I saw it about 12/13 years ago on the Encore channel. Perhaps when most studios are run by people (not bankers) again, then we could have intelligent films coming out all year around, and not just the end of the year for oscar consideration.
It’s sad really. It was just shy of it’s 20th birthday. I don’t know what will become of it now. But if I can’t reopen it, then are there any good spots nearby for a new theater?
Damn, this leaves Rivertree Court, Bloomingdale, and the Nova (AKA Westridge Court) as the only CO’s still remaining with their respective interiors. North Riverside is going strong, but it’s been remodeled.
Due to a last minute wrinkle in the plans, I wasn’t able to see WSS like I wanted. However, I emailed the GM of the Music Box, and he said that they plan to run 70MM again this year.
And on another flipside, I’m trying to get the Super Vista Coporation to show a demo of the SDS-70 system here in Chicago.
Meanwhile image quality isn’t as good as real IMAX film projection. I mean really, who would want to spend $15 on a screen which is nothing more than a 1.85: 1 screen with digital projection?
Pretty soon, IMAX will end up phasing themselves out with this move. Mark my words.
“IMAX will face challenges down the road. It only holds a slight technological edge in the digital projection market and any theater with stadium seating willing to double stack two 4K digital projectors and beef up its sound system could create a similar viewing experience.”
All Steven Spielberg (or another director with clout) needs to do is shoot a movie in 70MM, strike up a select few of these prints, and this whole DIET-MAX stuff will be put to shame.
I don’t think there’s ever been a theater in South Holland. I know that the Kerasotes Showplace 16 in nearby Schererville, IN took a bite out of RO when it opened in ‘96. Anyway, even with the ones in the mall, it still did great business. I think that the problem was management. The upkeep began to get bad, and the slection of movies went down (mainly in 9-10). I mean, who books “Roll Bounce” (good movie though) in 9-10 over “Flightplan”?
BTW, River Run showed “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” and “Lethal Weapon 2” in 70MM.
You know that either AMC or Regal is next. The reason being their spree in buying up other chains, and spending hundreds of millions in converting to digital cinema.
Audiodude, when you say ‘Tinseltown complex in South Holland’, are you refering to the River Run (built & opened by M&R in ‘88) up the street in Lansing? Of course, it’s now called the Lansing Cinema 8.
Anyway, the last time I was in #9 was back in June 2004 to see “Chronicles of Riddick”. And the auditorium while big, was in bad shape. I nearly slipped while walking along the isles. And this was because of uncleaned popcorn butter. And most of the seats were so dirty that it made the blue look nearly black. Today, the windows and doors are all boarded up. So I can kinda tell that the insides ain’t pretty. This may be a rough estimate, but to get that building back to all it’s splendor, I might be looking at 2.5 to 3 million. I want the redo to look like these places
Back when I was going there, my only complaint was that the restrooms were too small. That’s what I also aim to fix. Seating may be reduced to 880-900 in #9, and about 700 in #10 to create expanded concessions and restrooms. It will be complicated, but I think it can happen.
Right now I’m trying to build up discrestionary funds, because I’ve heard that most financial investors will want a show of faith or something to that effect.
I like the idea of a John Hughes film festival. And nice list of movies there. I don’t know I would’ve been able to book all of them, due to the Lansing down the street.
Has anyone heard of the roadshow style release of “Che”? If McClurg were open, it would be the ideal place for it.
Aek316, I still hope to purchase it someday. I know Baum Realty has no plans to reopen it as a cinema, but stranger things have happened. Their plans to turn it into retail have apparently fallen on their heads quite a few times. But with the bad economy, maybe Baum will give up the property. If that happens, I’m back in business. IMO, I would add 2 to 3 screens by buying adjoining retail space. This way, you can show more art films while getting a regular first run booking in #1 (downstairs) and #2 (upstairs). And I would add bathrooms and a snack bar upstairs.
When it was triplexed in 1987, #1 sat nearly 760, and 2-3 were around 230-250.
Yes, they were attached to the mall. Photo here. Interesting note, before 7-8, it was a Jewel Foods store from the mall’s opening. Theaters 7-8 & McDonalds went in the Jewel space in ‘83. And thanks JRS40, I had a feeling the capacites might be close to 400. I always remembered them being big, but not like 11-12, or even the larger screens in the mall.
PS: I saw “Most Wanted”, “Art of War”, and “The Score” at 7-8. Funny story, when my parents went to see the 10:15pm showing of “What Lies Beneath” there, some women started arguing/cursing, and one of them said to the other “I’ll cut ‘your a$$ and no one will be watching this movie!”. Thankfully, management had police to take them out.
JRS40 or Audiodude,
Can you remember the seating capacity for RO 7-8? I want to put this in my business plan.
How wide is the screen in the main auditorium?
I haven’t been here yet, but I wonder if some 70MM revivals could be run in the future?
I agree Movie534. In order for a movie to have staying power today, the movie has to be extremely good, as was the case for TDK. Last year, “No Country was in theaters into March/April, and that was released in November.
Going to 1979, I wasn’t born for 11 years, but some movies that I enjoy today came out that year. While Sci-Fi was the thing, other greats include “Apocalypse Now”, “The Warriors”, “The Onion Field”, “All That Jazz”, etc… My father took my siblings to see “Alien” in 70MM at the River Oaks #2 (500 seat auditorium, now an Office Depot) in Calumet City, IL. I saw it about 12/13 years ago on the Encore channel. Perhaps when most studios are run by people (not bankers) again, then we could have intelligent films coming out all year around, and not just the end of the year for oscar consideration.
It’s sad really. It was just shy of it’s 20th birthday. I don’t know what will become of it now. But if I can’t reopen it, then are there any good spots nearby for a new theater?
Damn, this leaves Rivertree Court, Bloomingdale, and the Nova (AKA Westridge Court) as the only CO’s still remaining with their respective interiors. North Riverside is going strong, but it’s been remodeled.
It was developed by Robert D. Weisgerber. It is an updated version of 70MM projection. Check out these
http://www.superdimension70.com/history
View link
http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/wizard_fixed.htm
I am really hoping somebody will give it a shot.
I thought I posted this already, but…
Due to a last minute wrinkle in the plans, I wasn’t able to see WSS like I wanted. However, I emailed the GM of the Music Box, and he said that they plan to run 70MM again this year.
And on another flipside, I’m trying to get the Super Vista Coporation to show a demo of the SDS-70 system here in Chicago.
You best believe I will make it there ASAP.
My first 70MM, I can’t wait.
Meanwhile image quality isn’t as good as real IMAX film projection. I mean really, who would want to spend $15 on a screen which is nothing more than a 1.85: 1 screen with digital projection?
Pretty soon, IMAX will end up phasing themselves out with this move. Mark my words.
DietMAX, Movie534.
I’m glad you’re covering this Michael. My fellow young generation needs a greater understanding of showmanship of the past.
PS: If you ever need help with 70MM in Chicago, let me know. I have a small listing.
“IMAX will face challenges down the road. It only holds a slight technological edge in the digital projection market and any theater with stadium seating willing to double stack two 4K digital projectors and beef up its sound system could create a similar viewing experience.”
Ahem
http://www.superdimension70.com/history/
View link
All Steven Spielberg (or another director with clout) needs to do is shoot a movie in 70MM, strike up a select few of these prints, and this whole DIET-MAX stuff will be put to shame.
I’ll wait for an indie theater corp to install a SDS-70MM projector. THAT, will be something.
I don’t think there’s ever been a theater in South Holland. I know that the Kerasotes Showplace 16 in nearby Schererville, IN took a bite out of RO when it opened in ‘96. Anyway, even with the ones in the mall, it still did great business. I think that the problem was management. The upkeep began to get bad, and the slection of movies went down (mainly in 9-10). I mean, who books “Roll Bounce” (good movie though) in 9-10 over “Flightplan”?
BTW, River Run showed “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” and “Lethal Weapon 2” in 70MM.
You know that either AMC or Regal is next. The reason being their spree in buying up other chains, and spending hundreds of millions in converting to digital cinema.
Audiodude, when you say ‘Tinseltown complex in South Holland’, are you refering to the River Run (built & opened by M&R in ‘88) up the street in Lansing? Of course, it’s now called the Lansing Cinema 8.
Anyway, the last time I was in #9 was back in June 2004 to see “Chronicles of Riddick”. And the auditorium while big, was in bad shape. I nearly slipped while walking along the isles. And this was because of uncleaned popcorn butter. And most of the seats were so dirty that it made the blue look nearly black. Today, the windows and doors are all boarded up. So I can kinda tell that the insides ain’t pretty. This may be a rough estimate, but to get that building back to all it’s splendor, I might be looking at 2.5 to 3 million. I want the redo to look like these places
http://www.in70mm.com/festival/2009/index.htm
View link
Back when I was going there, my only complaint was that the restrooms were too small. That’s what I also aim to fix. Seating may be reduced to 880-900 in #9, and about 700 in #10 to create expanded concessions and restrooms. It will be complicated, but I think it can happen.
Right now I’m trying to build up discrestionary funds, because I’ve heard that most financial investors will want a show of faith or something to that effect.
I like the idea of a John Hughes film festival. And nice list of movies there. I don’t know I would’ve been able to book all of them, due to the Lansing down the street.
Jimpiscitelli, no doubt I’m aiming to reopen 7-8 and 9-10. 9-10 still sits off Torrence Ave in the mall lot, boarded up and all.
I cited IMDB as a source. It’s at the below the list of Chicago area theaters that played “Impact”.
Wow, the A.D.D./I WANT IT NOW!! generation strikes yet again!
I tell ya, there’s never been a greater time for a new 65MM production.
Must get Spielberg to shoot “Lincoln” in 65MM
Of course, I wrote this on 12/9, which was the actual 25th anniversary.
Has anyone heard of the roadshow style release of “Che”? If McClurg were open, it would be the ideal place for it.
Aek316, I still hope to purchase it someday. I know Baum Realty has no plans to reopen it as a cinema, but stranger things have happened. Their plans to turn it into retail have apparently fallen on their heads quite a few times. But with the bad economy, maybe Baum will give up the property. If that happens, I’m back in business. IMO, I would add 2 to 3 screens by buying adjoining retail space. This way, you can show more art films while getting a regular first run booking in #1 (downstairs) and #2 (upstairs). And I would add bathrooms and a snack bar upstairs.
When it was triplexed in 1987, #1 sat nearly 760, and 2-3 were around 230-250.
If debt this bad can get to National Amuesments, then it most certainly will get to Regal in a few years.
Anyway, I saw a rendering of this place. I wish we Chicagoians had a theater this big right now.
Aww man, I wish this could come to the Chicago area. I know this will be a feast for the eyes.