Comments from Beeblebrox

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Beeblebrox
Beeblebrox commented about Naper Theater on Sep 18, 2005 at 10:30 pm

The Naper actually closed in the late 70’s, right around the time the Ogden 6 theaters, and the theaters around the Fox Valley Mall were just opening up.

I remember riding my bike across town (to the Ogden 6) to see Star Wars, I Wanna Hold Your Hand, and possibly even Animal House, and the Blues brothers. So, I’m assuming the Naper closed right around that time.

After the Naper closed, the building became the home of Wherli appliances, and later turned into the antique mall Bryan mentioned.

I remember seeing movies at the Naper such as The Legend Of Boggy Creek, Who Slew Auntie Roo? (which gave me the creeps well into high school), American Graffiti, The Posidon Adventure, The Bugs Bunny Road Runner Movie, Willy Wonka, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, The Shaggy D.A., Soylent Green (mom made us leave the theater right as Heston yelled “Soylent Green is people!!!”), Sleeper and many more.

The snack bar was small (we usually bought our treets across the street as Oswald’s (Rexall) Pharmacy, they (oddly enough) are still in business (although at a recently opened new location).

When we did buy treats at the Naper, we usually bought Necco wafers (although at this point, I can’t imagine why, as I can’t stand them now).

I don’t belive the Naper had a soda fountain, just a vending machine that dispensed soda in paper cups. My choice was always Green River.