Comments from GFeret

Showing 176 - 200 of 282 comments

GFeret
GFeret commented about Tiffin Theatre on Dec 8, 2008 at 1:11 pm

Kathy L.: your above comments are very helpful in my placing things better, i.e., that soda fountain place nextdoor to Grand Theatre with popcorn overflowing w/ butter topping. The pharmacy at St.Louis & North was RexAll and on the SW corner IIRC, on SE corner was a little apparel/dept store. No? Plus the ABC Popcorn company a few doors west of there.

P.S.: trivia – St.Louis St. a decade or two earlier had a different name – Ballou St.

GFeret
GFeret commented about Chicago Theatre on Nov 5, 2008 at 7:47 am

and in a week or so BRIAN WILSON w/ back-up band The Wondermints

GFeret
GFeret commented about Woods Theatre on Oct 31, 2008 at 11:25 am

The very first flick I saw there was the Beatles HELP! Even remember just what part of the film I walked-in on (w/ my friend Johnny C.) – when they were setting-up the play the song You’re Gonna Lose That Girl in the mock studio,

In 1982 at the WOODS I saw a typical exploitation triple-feature there: 10 COMMANDMENTS OF KUNG-FU, GARDEN OF THE DEAD, & GRAVE OF THE VAMPIRE. Certainly the very last of the paid-admission triple-features for me (or perhaps anyone).

I wish someone could quote those 10 K-F commandments for me. They were printed on a little card that was handed-out in the theatre lobby then, and as I barely recall were hilarious.

GFeret
GFeret commented about AMC Classic Galewood Crossings 14 on Oct 1, 2008 at 12:40 pm

P.S.: to the posting above mine about the stolen TREK bike, I say go now to the Craigslist Chicago website and you’ll actually find there someone wanting to return a stolen TREK HYBRID (search this, posted 9/28) bike to its rightful owner (in case this be yours) for $1.

GFeret
GFeret commented about Oak Theatre on Sep 30, 2008 at 11:06 am

No, not a bank (at the former OAK Theatre site),

but a DRIVE-THRU (for a bank)!

Talk about your ignoble afterlife.

GFeret
GFeret commented about AMC Classic Galewood Crossings 14 on Sep 30, 2008 at 10:35 am

I’m not sure the above post’s complaining the Galewood bike-rac’s too easily seen or too concealed. IMHO it is in plain view and that to me is the preferred way. But….

Nevertheless I too was a victim. My bike didn’t get stolen (cable locked)—my bike HELMET (not cable locked) disappeared there! It was in my bike basket while I was watching TROPIC OF THUNDER L-D weekend afternoon. Now who’d wanna steal somebody’s scuzzy used helmet anyway?

That there’s a bike carcass still there at the rac isn’t remarkable, it just means that was one lock the thieves couldn’t cut (and bikes can be just abandoned). You see bike carcasses at so many bike racs over town, the city eventually puts a warning sticker on it so owner can claim before they come and send the thing to its 2-wheeled grave.

Still a fan though, and the theatre appears to be doing better-and-better business.

GFeret
GFeret commented about Jeff Theater on Sep 18, 2008 at 1:00 pm

I went by this place a few days ago and it looks as if it’s going, as in being demolished, and taking a few adjacent addresses with it. No doubt future Milwaukee Ave redevelopment.

I maintain no great loss. Because, I was never in full agreement that particular bldg still had any part of the old JEFF Theatre still intact. Really, I scrutinized up close front and rear (not inside I admit), and believe it’s entirely post-JEFF construction. Or at least it was. Sorry.

GFeret
GFeret commented about Piper's Alley Theatre on Sep 12, 2008 at 7:55 am

What a terrible spectre to raise in the previous post.

I have no problem at all w/ AMC ownership. They’re good to me.

What need for remodeling? Tell me. Everything looks and works fine

I just saw there RIPPLE EFFECT (still showing). Talk about an obscure title, but a very good character piece. It could’ve gone on longer for further development and denouement.

GFeret
GFeret commented about Chopin Theatre on Aug 8, 2008 at 1:15 pm

(….at the risk of sounding like I’m plugging this show….)

TONY CLIFTON live (after a fashion) now at the CHOPIN!

What makes this particularly interesting is who T.C. really is – Mr. Bob Zmuda, who some may be aware hails from the Humboldt Park neighborhood here originally himself.

So I can’t help but wonder if Bob is getting a special kick out of playing the CHOPIN of all places, where he probably saw flicks at (when it was last a cinema in the ‘50s) when he was a kid (I believe he’s old enough).

And I’ll close by stating I think his Clifton shtick is am absolute scream and I’ll be seeing it. Even if this is interpreted as a plug no-one should mind greatly because all the ticket proceeds go to the charity COMIC RELIEF, which Bob runs.

GFeret
GFeret commented about Uptown Theater sold to Jam Productions on Jul 30, 2008 at 11:47 am

It seems to me JAM went for the UPTOWN lock, stock, & barrel because:

a) they already had a stake in it, this was an easy next move;
b) having it effectively blocks competition; why not? Monopoly time;
c) @ $3.2 mil. I judge it a steal for the type of property it is.
This is after all the time of a buyers market.

I say things like this because since JAM already has the RIVIERA plus books other places nearby, I ask do they really need the UPTOWN for more shows? No, somehow I don’t think so.

The issue of restoration they’re supposed to do on it I maintain is a distant secondary matter. It’ll happen but only how and when they feel like it. “Why rush?”

Yeah, cynical mood. But I like to breathe more often than not, so I ain’t gonna hold my breath now that UPTOWN ownership is clearly resolved for a magical new lease on life to occur that’ll please people like us on CinemaTreasures.org.

GFeret
GFeret commented about Uptown Theater to be auctioned on Jul 28, 2008 at 6:15 am

WHAT??!! You’re giving only 3 days to come up with the money? Help!!

I went by UPTOWN coupla days ago. Some terra-cotta near the top is tarpaulined over I noted , I presume to protect against injury from falling.

GFeret
GFeret commented about Remembering "Die Hard" on Jul 15, 2008 at 11:04 am

Ahh…Alan Rickman—SNAPE from Harry Potter, the Spock-derived character in GALAXY QUEST, and recently in SWEENEY TODD. What I remember most about the 1st DH is Bruce W. still having a measure of hair topside. The last, DH #4 wasn’t much good, with a terrible ending.

GFeret
GFeret commented about State-Lake Theatre on May 23, 2008 at 2:16 pm

Saw many films over the years myself at STATE-LAKE, earliest I can remember being BON VOYAGE (a real yawner from Disney I think), maybe ending w/ J.Carpenter’s THE THING. Always top-notch projection—you couldn’t go wrong.

Perusing the above posts I can’t seem to find mention of one thing though (is it true?). That, entrance to the S-L projection booth was gained through a penny.

A friend of mine who worked there (early ‘70s) described a inconspicuous bit of wall ornamentation in the theatre lobby, where if one dropped in a regular U.S. cent, contact was made and a concealed doorway slid open! That led up a stairwell to the booth(s).

Can anyone confirm/refute this? Sounds neat.

GFeret
GFeret commented about Where to see Indiana Jones? on May 22, 2008 at 2:15 pm

Well, for someone to extemporaneously recall a trivial calendar date (+ co-feature) 27 yrs later, and be but 1 wk off (assuming M. Coates' dilligent research is accurate), can still be considered remarkably good (if I do say so). And I did say ‘probably’ in my post, anyway. So there.

Something else just come to mind about the first INDY then: there was an almost apologetic tone in the various printed press releases, that Spielberg had ‘learned his lesson’ so to speak from having wasted so much money on the unpopular “1941,” and therefore ROTLA was filmed while not on the cheap but without the benefit of a lot of expensive camera set-ups, etc. Afterwards came ET and Steven was solidly back in the publics' good graces.

GFeret
GFeret commented about Where to see Indiana Jones? on May 22, 2008 at 10:57 am

The time’s now here—too bad 70mm INDY was just a rumor, but no Digital projection either, at least not in my vicinity.

Strangely the INDY bookings seem to me a little restrained, when one considers this exact weekend the competition is only PRINCE CASPIAN; IRON MAN was well received but past its peak. SPEED RACER’s still around but it turned out weakly.

Advance screening reviews I’ve browsed are almost all positive, but many seem to add the “but it’s silly” dismissal. Super-serious nor intelectual plot we certainly never were expecting, but it better not be mindless CGI dazzling either. I’m soon to find out, at a fine old theatre, and I hope your response proves the wait worthwhile.

I’m reminding myself of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, when I saw it sneak-previewed (probably also Memorial Day weekend ‘81) w/ regular feature FOUR SEASONS (Carol Burnett, Jack Weston) at the old Golf Mill (now gone and replaced by the Showplace at Golf Mill where INDY #4 will play) theatre in Niles IL. Some friends asked how I’d liked it before it opened general release, and I recall describing the scene where the sword-brandishing arabian tries to pick a fight w/ Indiana in a crowded market, and finds quite matter-of-factly he’s out-gunned. At the time another new big opening was DRAGONSLAYER (actually quite a fine film), and the fickle public proved there was only room for one.

Thanks very much to all who responded—have a great Memorial Day weekend with a movie at your local Cinema Treasure.

GFeret
GFeret commented about Niles Square Cinema on May 12, 2008 at 12:48 pm

Nobody has anything good to say about the LW now, and unless I miss my guess, nobody had anything good to say about the LW even then.

I was there in the ‘70s and, unfortunately, can vouch for that poor estimation. I recall lumping it together w/ others of its type that didn’t even have the good sense to turn the lights way down when the picture played. And the screen might as well have been one wall painted matte white for all they cared.

The shopping center it was in took a major downturn in the ‘80s, and that probably took the LW with it. The anchor store there was a (now defunct) OMNI. But we know that shopping center has luckily rebounded since then.

The exact site of the old LW theater is where a Postal facility now stands.

GFeret
GFeret commented about Pickwick Theatre on May 9, 2008 at 10:06 am

A personal recollection regarding seeing a movie (the first BATMAN w/Michael Keaton) @ the PickWick;

Took my 2 young sons here and it was (almost) their first time at a theater, and what they did spontaneously and totally on their own just bowled me over.

Because I’d long since forgotten, but I did it too when I was their age—when the movie started they just got up from their seats and sat themselves comfortably right down in the aisle! (And there remained).

On a different subject: if you find yourself frustrated, even mad when you’re at one of the chain multiplex cinemas (there’re 2 not terribly far from PW) because the big blockbuster pic that just opened is seats sold-out when you arrive there, remember the PickWick is a relatively fast drive down Greenwood/Cumberland or up Touhy Aves. And they certainly won’t be sold-out in their huge main auditorium.

GFeret
GFeret commented about Edens I & II Theaters on Apr 17, 2008 at 1:38 pm

baslanides: I’m glad there’s someone else who remembers (and appreciates) Daniello’s restaurant you mentioned above. Their delicious, unique pizza was rectangular, and they gave out free wine samples to customers. A tiny place, that when it closed and re-opened the new name literally was ‘Hole-In-The-Wall’.

GFeret
GFeret commented about Tiffin Theatre on Apr 17, 2008 at 11:22 am

Scott: while I can’t exactly speak authoritatively re. JIMMY’S H.D. (on Pulaski/Grand) ownership, my strong hunch is yes it’s continuous.
I say this ‘cause there’s a fella behind the counter who’s obviously a part of their legacy—been (working) there since the '50s (!) in some capacity. He’s got a good head of white hair but a youthful face and is soft-spoken (no names please), if you recall who I mean.

JIMMY’S H.D. retains their custom of raising their prices in like 2 cent increments. Their stand was rebuilt late ‘80s (?), transforming them from a wooden shack to a cement block shack. One side benefit of all that was it’s probably the only time they (being forced to) changed their french-fry grease pit.

But JIMMY’S obviously’s developed a thick skin to the jokes from the locals. Such as their putting their product in a constant parade of bags imprinted by competitors or any old thing actually—including ‘barf bags’ (airsickness) from airlines! (Sounds like a joke, but no I assure you it isn’t).

GFeret
GFeret commented about Tiffin Theatre on Apr 11, 2008 at 1:18 pm

Now something’s started @ North/Pulaski NE corner (where was Ferndell’s)—a new foundation is poured but don’t know the destiny.

My Nov.‘07 post about Menards @ Kostner/North (where was Helene Curtis) may’ve been premature—essentially no construction activity there since that time, except to build a CVS store on the outlot (right at the intersection).

Dean H. mentioned ‘Wishniks’ (pharmacy?) in his Dec. post and been going quietly mad since trying to place it with certainty. One thing about the area that’s stayed since the ‘old days’ is the U.S. branch Post Office there on North Ave, ½ blk east of Pulaski on the south side. Also there’s of course Jimmy’s Hot Dogs on Pulaski/Grand which is an essentially unchanged link to the ‘50s.

Recently remembered, as may some other locals in my age group, that above (2nd flr) the Woolworth’s store formerly on North Ave right there was the neighborhood Junior Achievement branch, where you and your high school chums could start and run your own little company!

GFeret
GFeret commented about Where to see Indiana Jones? on Apr 10, 2008 at 12:39 pm

Ah – a common almost reliable thread is making itself apparent in your posts – that is the definite desire to see IJ#4 in 70MM out there!

I’ll go along with that hands down. CinemarkFan – I’ll 2nd your nomination myself for Kerasotes Golf Mill in 70MM. But can anyone confirm the Pickwick in P.R. has the machinery for it (it should)?

GFeret
GFeret commented about Where to see Indiana Jones? on Apr 9, 2008 at 11:43 am

Thanks everyone for all your responses so far. I say ‘so far’ because, while I can’t speak for Paramount, the exact screens and playdates of IJ#4 may not be set in stone just yet. If they decide to do 70mm @ Cannes (on May 18) then it’s quite feasible it’ll be one of a batch of 10 or 12 large-format prints. So please continue to make your opinions known here about how best you’d like to see it wherever you are.

My heading stated 22 May which I got from the imdb.com IJ#4 website, but maybe Friday the 23rd’s a more intelligent choice.

Some of the harder booking decisions will no doubt be made in these final weeks, and will result from just how strong a summer blockbuster Paramount & Spielberg think they have on their hands. The competition I think doesn’t appear very formidable at all to me: SPEED RACER (opens a week or so earlier). What else at that time? Usually if a studio opens in blitzkrieg fashion right from the start it can cause doubts, i.e., get the best box-office take you can for those first 2-3 wks because word-of-mouth won’t help sustain it—take the American GODZILLA for example. But with US economy screeching to halt, the public usually returns in droves to see familiar faces on the big screen nevertheless.

May I ramble one last time: I think bringing back Karen Allen from IJ#1 to be just what the doctor ordered, don’t you? Simply because she’s marvelously beautiful AND already established successful screen chemistry w/ Harrison Ford who’s 9 years her senior and on the wrong side of 65. This will definately serve to blunt the popular argument that he’s too far past his prime for this type of role again (plus it doesn’t hurt that Indy, when in character, always wears a hat).

GFeret
GFeret commented about Where to see Indiana Jones? on Apr 8, 2008 at 11:54 am

W.Huelbig: I too liked (parts of) TEMPLE OF DOOM. But not the very ghoulish, even grisly parts. I think many parents objected to having brought their young'uns to the latest Spielberg treat after ET, and it contained a long ritualistic pulling a heart out in a sacrifice sequence. Anything goes?!

GFeret
GFeret commented about Where to see Indiana Jones? on Apr 8, 2008 at 11:07 am

CinemarkFan: I too heard of IJ#4 in 70mm @ Cannes, a coupla days ahead of the 22nd. Now I know something of ‘Super-16’ myself, but can you (or someone) give us a capsule summary of what’s ‘Super-35’ please?

GFeret
GFeret commented about Concert promoters in tug-of-war over Uptown on Apr 8, 2008 at 9:32 am

uptownjen: well I snapped my figurative fingers and you came up with some parking. Of course the city’s strongly pushing that aspect, but it says ‘500 spaces’? Might need a few more than that, thank you.

Sorry for the somewhat flip attitude—you guys certainly are doing something of a great job. I shall watch carefully, even if I don’t (yet) understand .