I visited the museum last year and stopped by the Old Time Street to see the Nickelodeon. They were still showing old silent films. A Chaplin one at the time I was there. I didn’t notice a projector. I believe its digital now. Its possible they are looping a string of films onto a projection screen. They also had piano music playing, coming from speakers. No actual real piano playing. I remember back in the 70’s when they used a projector to show 16mm movies on the screen. I think they had a piano player too. That’s about all I remember on this theater. Now there is a working ice-cream stand near the entrance of the Old Time Street. Good ice-cream!
This theater has a lot of special event showings. They will show new and old movies and have a actor or two from the movie in the lobby signing autographs. I been there many times and think its a nice theater. Food is good too. If you ever get to go there make sure you check out the museum section and all the theater sections. Each section has a different theme. Worth checking out.
The link address will take you to Polo Cafe (also known as the Polo Nut Company) which is also the owner of the Eagle Theater. The short film is mostly about its banquet hall which is the old Eagle Theater. You will see the Eagle Theater sign near the beginning of the film. The Polo Cafe also is a Bed & Breakfast which is touched on briefly in the film. Enjoy the film.
http://www.polocafe.com/
I ate there recently and the food was excellent.
Side note: My sister-in-law lived south of, right next door to the Eagle theater building when it was a car body shop before Polo bought the two buildings. The building south next to the Eagle was later demolished and became the Polo parking lot. The cafe part was a family owned grocery store for a while. Us kids called it the candy store.
In the noval THE BOOK OF RALPH by John McNally, he tells a story about the Sheridan Drive-In. The book is about a kid growing up in the south suburban Burbank/Bridgeview/Chicago area in the 70’s.
Since nobody has brought up any of this… The Ramova Theater had a parking lot down the block a little across the street. I believe at 35thPlace. To the north next to the theater was the Ramova grill which closed in 2012. It was mentioned on the Chicago news and papers and the theater was also mentioned. Above the grill in the same building I believe there were martial arts classes. And across the street from the theater was a hobby shop that I would go to often when I was a kid. It closed long ago. 1956 the Ramova was the 1st theater I ever was in. My mom took me to see Trapeze, a Tony Curtis, Burt Lancaster movie. My dad didn’t want to go see it and my mom did, so she took me with her to see it. I can hardly remember the movie but after that I seen many movies there until around the 80’s. I have a lot of memories about the Ramova and the area. I hope someday they restore the old show.
Across the street from the theater use to be a Hobby Shop that I would go to often. The Ramova Grill was next door to the theater. It closed in 2012. The Hobby Shop closed a long time ago. I believe martial arts classes were taught above the grill on the 2nd floor. Ramova Theater had a parking lot a little down the block across the street. Just about from were this photo is taken.
Here is the link to the current Ford City Mall directory map. http://shopfordcitymall.s3.amazonaws.com/shopfordcitymall/files/Ford_City_Directory_9.91.png
The original theater was located across from Carson’s on 76th St. The theater was moved to were a car dealer was once located on 77th St. in a new building. More like the theaters today. They still use their old address for some strange reason. Maybe cause its still in the mall area? I live near there in Burbank so I know the area pretty well and still go to this mall a lot. I remember the old theater quite well. Nice theater as I remember. I’m not a fan of the newer one though.
I go to this theater most often. I have no complaints with it. Nice theater. Close to home. I like coming in from the East Ave entrance. Much easier to find. And if your in the area there’s a reataurant worth checking out called Buck’s Pit Stop.
I live just a few blocks behind from were the drive-in was. Saturday mornings they had fleamarkets. Sometimes at night while the movie was going you could hear some of the stuff from the movie. If you were driving east on 79th you could see the movie screen from the top of the bridge in Bridgeview. After the drive-in was taken down, Ventures and Awshawns was built there and a bank and pet shop. The pet shop is still there but one of the buildings was demolished. Haunted Trails is still in the area where it always was and running. Spent many a time at the drive-in and flea market. Good fun!
Photo of the Ramova around 1975 – 76.
I visited the museum last year and stopped by the Old Time Street to see the Nickelodeon. They were still showing old silent films. A Chaplin one at the time I was there. I didn’t notice a projector. I believe its digital now. Its possible they are looping a string of films onto a projection screen. They also had piano music playing, coming from speakers. No actual real piano playing. I remember back in the 70’s when they used a projector to show 16mm movies on the screen. I think they had a piano player too. That’s about all I remember on this theater. Now there is a working ice-cream stand near the entrance of the Old Time Street. Good ice-cream!
Nice color photo. I added it to the photo section.
Is that a blimp mooring on top of the building? It sure looks like one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8X9ivsAgZo
This theater has a lot of special event showings. They will show new and old movies and have a actor or two from the movie in the lobby signing autographs. I been there many times and think its a nice theater. Food is good too. If you ever get to go there make sure you check out the museum section and all the theater sections. Each section has a different theme. Worth checking out.
The link address will take you to Polo Cafe (also known as the Polo Nut Company) which is also the owner of the Eagle Theater. The short film is mostly about its banquet hall which is the old Eagle Theater. You will see the Eagle Theater sign near the beginning of the film. The Polo Cafe also is a Bed & Breakfast which is touched on briefly in the film. Enjoy the film. http://www.polocafe.com/ I ate there recently and the food was excellent. Side note: My sister-in-law lived south of, right next door to the Eagle theater building when it was a car body shop before Polo bought the two buildings. The building south next to the Eagle was later demolished and became the Polo parking lot. The cafe part was a family owned grocery store for a while. Us kids called it the candy store.
In the noval THE BOOK OF RALPH by John McNally, he tells a story about the Sheridan Drive-In. The book is about a kid growing up in the south suburban Burbank/Bridgeview/Chicago area in the 70’s.
The newer AMC Theater is located across the parking lot from JC Penney. Right above the LEGEND on the map.
Since nobody has brought up any of this… The Ramova Theater had a parking lot down the block a little across the street. I believe at 35thPlace. To the north next to the theater was the Ramova grill which closed in 2012. It was mentioned on the Chicago news and papers and the theater was also mentioned. Above the grill in the same building I believe there were martial arts classes. And across the street from the theater was a hobby shop that I would go to often when I was a kid. It closed long ago. 1956 the Ramova was the 1st theater I ever was in. My mom took me to see Trapeze, a Tony Curtis, Burt Lancaster movie. My dad didn’t want to go see it and my mom did, so she took me with her to see it. I can hardly remember the movie but after that I seen many movies there until around the 80’s. I have a lot of memories about the Ramova and the area. I hope someday they restore the old show.
Across the street from the theater use to be a Hobby Shop that I would go to often. The Ramova Grill was next door to the theater. It closed in 2012. The Hobby Shop closed a long time ago. I believe martial arts classes were taught above the grill on the 2nd floor. Ramova Theater had a parking lot a little down the block across the street. Just about from were this photo is taken.
Here is the link to the current Ford City Mall directory map. http://shopfordcitymall.s3.amazonaws.com/shopfordcitymall/files/Ford_City_Directory_9.91.png
The original theater was located across from Carson’s on 76th St. The theater was moved to were a car dealer was once located on 77th St. in a new building. More like the theaters today. They still use their old address for some strange reason. Maybe cause its still in the mall area? I live near there in Burbank so I know the area pretty well and still go to this mall a lot. I remember the old theater quite well. Nice theater as I remember. I’m not a fan of the newer one though.
The newer Quarry Theater is just south of were this theater was. Surprised the Quarry wsn’t named Rt66 Theater since it’s right off route 66.
I go to this theater most often. I have no complaints with it. Nice theater. Close to home. I like coming in from the East Ave entrance. Much easier to find. And if your in the area there’s a reataurant worth checking out called Buck’s Pit Stop.
I live just a few blocks behind from were the drive-in was. Saturday mornings they had fleamarkets. Sometimes at night while the movie was going you could hear some of the stuff from the movie. If you were driving east on 79th you could see the movie screen from the top of the bridge in Bridgeview. After the drive-in was taken down, Ventures and Awshawns was built there and a bank and pet shop. The pet shop is still there but one of the buildings was demolished. Haunted Trails is still in the area where it always was and running. Spent many a time at the drive-in and flea market. Good fun!