Wow, what a great photo on the homepage of the Belmont Theater. It looks like the marquee (obviously a later modernized one) remained into its era as a bowling alley.
On another note, how was the theater converted into a bowling alley?
I know the Holiday Ballroom hung on until the mid 1980s. I have a photo of the back of it on my Flickr photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/52209513@N03/6307805652/in/set-72157628174409751
The CTA “3400 Series” Flxibles spent their last few years on routes serving the Jefferson Park Transit Center. Note the mural proudly advertising shopping in Jefferson Park.
The theatre looks like it was really close to the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin Railroad’s Villa Park Station. The CA&E ceased operations in 1957 and that’s possibly why the theatre closed. As the map indicates, it was on a side street and when the CA&E RR abandoned operations, it’s likely what foot traffic the RR generated dried up.
I went here recently on a Friday afternoon to see “Moonrise Kingdom”. It was almost a private screening as my wife and I were the only ones in the theatre.
Maybe it was the wrong movie for the 600 North. AMC usually shows fare like this at the nearby River East and they usually show the blockbusters ar the 600 North.
I was hoping to find photos of it as a cinema. I don’t think Cinema Tour is correct. A gym went in there, not a Sportmart. Although that arch on the Sportmart makes it look like a 1990s Loews design.
“There MUST be separation between church and cinema!!!”
Absolutely Tim. Another storefront church will NOT benefit Chicago.
Nor will it benefit the redevelopment of the Six Corners area. I was hoping that with the revival of the Portage Theatre, some new restauarants would open. There’s still no good place to eat around this theatre and the presence of a church would hinder restaurants from opening. You can’t get a liquor license within a certain distance of a church in Chicago.
Not surprised this theatre is closed. The strip mall it’s in is nearly moribund and the Marquette Mall across the street ain’t doin' much better either.
This theater is tucked into the back lot of the Marquette Mall. Structurally it appears to be in good shape, but I’m not surprised it closed.
Marquette Mall itself isn’t doing well except for maybe the Carson’s, Sears, & Penney’s stores and Applebees. The Dunes Theater is across the street in another dead strip mall.
And now Gorilla Tango might be selling the theater
http://skokie.patch.com/articles/is-skokie-s-gorilla-tango-theater-for-sale?ncid=newsltuspatc00000001
Wow, what a great photo on the homepage of the Belmont Theater. It looks like the marquee (obviously a later modernized one) remained into its era as a bowling alley.
On another note, how was the theater converted into a bowling alley?
Interesting how severa Jerry Lewis’s later became porno houses.
So sad that this place closed.
I rode past the Adelphi site on the Metra recently. It’s still a pit and whatever steel beams the builders did erect are gone now.
Has this theater reopened yet?
Here is a circa 1991 or 1992 photo of the Hub http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmklein/3439742729/in/set-72157607401896889/
I know the Holiday Ballroom hung on until the mid 1980s. I have a photo of the back of it on my Flickr photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/52209513@N03/6307805652/in/set-72157628174409751
The CTA “3400 Series” Flxibles spent their last few years on routes serving the Jefferson Park Transit Center. Note the mural proudly advertising shopping in Jefferson Park.
This would be a great cinema for Classic Cinemas to take over.
David Plomin.
The theatre looks like it was really close to the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin Railroad’s Villa Park Station. The CA&E ceased operations in 1957 and that’s possibly why the theatre closed. As the map indicates, it was on a side street and when the CA&E RR abandoned operations, it’s likely what foot traffic the RR generated dried up.
I was thinking. It’s too bad someone like Classic Cinemas doesn’t step in and renovate this place. Look how well CC did with the North Riverside.
Here http://gallery.bustalk.info/displayimage.php?album=83&pos=66 is a 1982 photo.
Great demolition photo. On the other hand too bad this theatre couldn’t have been saved. I’ll bet it would have done well as a second run house.
I went here recently on a Friday afternoon to see “Moonrise Kingdom”. It was almost a private screening as my wife and I were the only ones in the theatre.
Maybe it was the wrong movie for the 600 North. AMC usually shows fare like this at the nearby River East and they usually show the blockbusters ar the 600 North.
Here is another view of the Esquire http://www.flickr.com/photos/mbernero/6913045218/in/pool-1609870@N23
If it opened in 1992, did it have the famous Cineplex-Odeon designs, such as the zig-zags?
CSWalczak,
I was hoping to find photos of it as a cinema. I don’t think Cinema Tour is correct. A gym went in there, not a Sportmart. Although that arch on the Sportmart makes it look like a 1990s Loews design.
Does anybody have any photos of this place?
Is this building still standing?
Has this building been demolished?
I wonder if it kept its C-O decor up until the end, including under independent management.
“There MUST be separation between church and cinema!!!”
Absolutely Tim. Another storefront church will NOT benefit Chicago.
Nor will it benefit the redevelopment of the Six Corners area. I was hoping that with the revival of the Portage Theatre, some new restauarants would open. There’s still no good place to eat around this theatre and the presence of a church would hinder restaurants from opening. You can’t get a liquor license within a certain distance of a church in Chicago.
Not surprised this theatre is closed. The strip mall it’s in is nearly moribund and the Marquette Mall across the street ain’t doin' much better either.
This theater is tucked into the back lot of the Marquette Mall. Structurally it appears to be in good shape, but I’m not surprised it closed.
Marquette Mall itself isn’t doing well except for maybe the Carson’s, Sears, & Penney’s stores and Applebees. The Dunes Theater is across the street in another dead strip mall.
David,
Wow, those movies were out about 4 years ago!