Des Plaines Theater

Hi!
Although I am a resident of Arizona now, I did grow up in Des Plaines as a child, and have many vivid memories of the Des Plaines Theater and have often wondered if it still existed. Many theaters have been demolished coast to coast. The last time I was in Des Plaines was 1972.

I am not only interested in old movie theaters in general, but I am also interested in the pipe organs that once graced these theaters. At one time in the 1960's I even appeared on stage at the Des Plaines theater playing an electronic organ for intermission music, a gimmick by a local music dealer. I still have the tape I made of the event!

The manager of the theater at that time related to me that the Des Plaines theater did have at one time a pipe organ, but it was sold to a mortuary. Now if this Gulbransen Rialto analog electronic organ sounded that great, just think what a real pipe organ would sound like!

Coast to Coast, pipe organs are being re-installed in movie theaters/performing arts centers and are being used in the programs with great success!

What I am trying to say is this. If the city of Des Plaines wants to convert the Des Plaines Theater to a performing arts center, I hope that they will do it right. Such as restoring the building to it's original splendor, (as was the case with the Orpheum Theater here in Phoenix), and since the Des Plaines theater has organ chambers, why not fill them with an organ, so the city of Des Plaines can enjoy this wonderful form of entertainment that other communities are enjoying? I often wonder if anything at all of the previous Des Plaines theater organ remains in the chambers.

If you want to see a pipe organ in a theater locally, contact members of the American Theater Organ society, or e-mail me for names in the Chicago area. I was a member while I lived in Des Plaines.

I would like some feedback. What do you think about this idea? I know of several instruments available now on the internet!

Also I was shocked to learn that the Des Plaines Theater suffered a fire that almost destroyed the building. What happened? Where was this fire? What caused it? Once again I would like feedback. I grew up with this theater!

I certainly hope that Des Plaines will use this as a performing arts center, and I certainly hope that they can transform the Des Plaines theater into a real gem, a masterpiece, and something for all to behold and enjoy! Many communities are doing this exact thing! Why? Because it is so profitable! E-mail me. Lets talk!

Sincerely,
Bill Hagey
Sbilly69@aol.com

Des Plaines Theatre Restoration Project

We have formed a committee to restore this theatre which was constructed by the Polka Brothers. We are looking for drawings or photos of the old interior. Please e-mail me if you have pictures or are interested in helping us restore the Des Plaines Theatre.

Thanks!
Deborah Hill
deborah_hill@peoplesoft.com

By coincidence, the film playing at the DesPlaines Theatre on the day of the 1982 fire was "The End".

Hi this is Evan,im 10 years old.My dad use to work at des plains theater,and he said that a old man told him that he saw a ghost,and that I might wanta visit it someday.He has told me other creepy stuff about the theater,also I heard about saving the theater so when you email me tell me the stuff I can do to save the theater bye.

What a great place the Des Plaines Theatre was in the early to mid '70s. Two second-run features for 60 cents on a large, curved screen. The place wasn't terribly fancy but the picture and sound were great and what else was really important? As this was the time before home video the Des Plaines Theatre made it easy to catch up on movies you missed in first run.

The last movie I saw at the Des Plaines was "Slave Girls from Beyong Infinity" in the late eighties. I grew up going there, and am surprised that the Bollywood programming didn't help to ensure its survival, since they had sort of cornered the market. Still, I bet with a renewed downtown, the Des Plaines could be remade into a success, providing the physical state isn't too bad. I would be interested in finding out the cost of the building, etc.

The Des Plaines is again open. For more information, visit http://www.desplainesperformingartscenter.org/

Firm should be Betts & Holcomb.

The above comment is wrong. The film playing at the time of the 1982 fire was "Taps", as locally published photos of the fire show.

Also regarding the aforementioned comment, films entitled "The End" came out in 1953 and 1978 according to the IMDb. A movie called "The End" that was released in 1982 does not exist.

\"The End\" came out in 1978 according to imdb.com. Was it re-issued by some chance four years after its release?

Hi- I'm interested in any info yu might have regarding the Old Temple Building in Des Plaines that housed the DesPlaines theatre Guild for 35 years - the theatre was on the 2nd floor of the Masonic Temple Building just down the street from the Cinema mentioned here- I'm trying to research how the Temple Building was built, how the theatre came to be, what it looked like inside, any actual building or architectural plans that exist- I'm currently a partner in a children's educational charitable theatre group that is working on rennovating this wonderful old theatre but have had no luck in finding original plans. Thankyou- Gay Miezin

http://www.agilitynut.com/p/desplth.jpg


Here is a recent pic

The Pioneer Press ran a nice article about what is going on with the Des Plaines Theatre. The link below is to the article and has a picture of the theatre today.

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-thisweek/diversions/ed

There is a good-sized article in today's Chicago Tribune about the Des Plaines Theater that also features snapshots of various other Chicagoland movie theaters that have been restored (the Genessee, the Raue Center/El Tovar), and ones that are still waiting to be (the Uptown, New Regal/Avalon, DuPage).

This is a 2006 photo of the marquee.

Hey everybody

I am a Michael LeVan. I have lived in the city of Chicago my entire life. I am a filmmaker and a attendee of Columbia College, heading into my final year. I love all the old movie palaces of Chicago. It has been my intent for sometime to Make a documentary on the history, and the ongoings of these historic theaters in the present. The means to make this documentary are finally in my grasp. I planned on featuring 3 theaters, the Copernicus Center(formally The Gateway), The Patio(Formally The Avalon), and The Uptown. While the Documentary will focus on the entire history, These are the three that will be visual examples, and the ones i would like to film in. I have spoken with the People at The Gateway Theater, and they are estatic that i am doing this. The only problem now is The Uptown and the The Patio. These two theaters seem to have ghosts of owners , or even managers. If somebody could help me in finding someone to talk too, i would be very appriciative. Also, this documentary will require interviews, and finding old information as well. If anybody would be kind enough to do either that would be fantastic. My somewhat set date to start filming is June 10 ,2006. My goal with the entire project is to help and benifit these theaters. Help alot more people to gain interest, and all the profit that i attain, if any, will be donated to help with these theaters. I am going to submit it to Wttw(Pbs Chicago) , and also the History Channel. So if anyone would like to help in anyway, they can contact me at my email.

Bleedingchicagoproductions@gmail.com

or by phone (773)-656-5821

Well i appriciate if you read that entire thing, and hopefully i will be hearing from you

Michael Levan of Bleeding Chicago Productions

Greetings!
I stumbled across this site while searching for 'Polka Brothers'. Martin Polka was my great-uncle and I'm collaborating with his son to research family history. If anyone knows where I could find out more information about the Polka Brothers movie chain, I would be most appreciative.

Oh, excellent! I have a fair amount on the Polka Brothers that i've collected researching the theater. Email me by clicking my name. Some interesting stuff, and maybe you can help me, too!

Wow, I just found this website a couple of weeks ago while looking up some info from another theater, and thought I'd try to look up the Des Plaines.
I remember growing up in Des Plaines and watching many movies here. I was sad when the fire hit, (but I wasn't there), and remember walking to work at the First National Bank of Des Plaines, past the theater and thinking it looked kind of spooky. I was glad when they fixed it up and re-opened it, although I never went inside the theater after that because I moved away shortly thereafter.
I'm glad to see it's still open and running.
Mary

This is a recent b/w photo of the Des Plaines Theater.

This is a recent color photo of the Des Plaines Theater and here is another.

Lost Memeory,
Thanks for posting those photos. In your last post on July 28, I scanned through some of the pictures and I had forgotten all about the Sugar Bowl and the Choo Choo. I used to eat at these restaurants all the time when I worked downtown Des Plaines. There was another restaurant I used to eat at too that was right next to the theater, (not the Chinese Restaurant but on the other side of the theater) only I can't remember the name. (This was in 1985-1988). Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Mary

Glad to hear that you enjoy the photos Mary. I wish that I could help you with the name of the restaurant but I'm not from that area. Maybe someone will come along and help to refresh your memory.

In 1985-1988 it would have been Andy's Grill, I believe. Before that it was Windy's Italian Beef.

Windy's! That was it. Thanks for the help Brian. I remember eating lunch there and when we left, you could still smell the grease on your clothes. But the food was good, so we went there alot anyway.
Mary

Article in yesterday's Chicago Tribune: "Des Plaines Theater's restoration at standstill"

Here is a night photo of the Des Plaines Theater.

Here is the lineup on 9/15/60:

DES PLAINES THEATRE
FREE PARKING
Comfortably Cool
VA 4-5253
* FREE PARKING *

Last Time Tonight
ICE PALACE
LOST WORLD
Friday for 7 days, Sept. 16-22
At Popular Prices . . .
52 Best Picture Awards and World-Wide Honors
MICHAEL TODD'S
Around the World in 80 days
Weekdays 9:00, Saturday 3:30, 8:30, Sunday 3:00, 8:00
Plus
"MY FAIR LADY" OF FILM DOM!
The NEW musical in COLOR by the "My FairLady" composer
Weekdays 7:00, Saturday 1:30, 6:30, 11:20, Sunday 1:00, 6:00, 11:00

PLEASE NOTE FEATURE TIMES
Due to the length of the program, on weekdays each
film will be shown only once.

Cool, where did you get that

It's a website that has copies of old newspaper pages. Unfortunately I can't post the actual pages as the link fails in less than a day.

Controversy over the marquee in 1983:

Local sign ordinance doesn't play at Des Plaines Theater

Rows of Hollywood-style bulb lights and orange neon lettering remind some old-timers of the days when the Des Plaines Theater marquee advertised 10-cent movies, the kind that didn't need to be rated for sex and violence. But a city ordinance regulating business signs has no similar sense of nostalgia, and under its provisions the theater marquee has to come down by 1985. However, most city officials and members of the business community say the marquee should be granted an exemption from the sign law.

"The marquee is something that should be preserved," 2nd Ward Alderman Herb Volberdeng said at a recent bearing on the ordinance. City merchants, particularly those in the downtown area where the
theater is located, fear that a strict interpretation of the 1978 ordinance could mean the old marquee would be replaced with a flat, plain modern sign out of character with the 64-year-old theater building. "If we have to tear the canopy down, people are going to think there's no theater here anymore. It's part of Des Plaines," theater manager John Fraught said at a bearing this week on the sign law. Also, theater owner Richard Balaban estimated the cost of removal at $25,000.

The marquee has been sheltering theatergoers from rain and snow since the building went up in the early 1900s. It survived a theater war that occurred when the now-demolished Echo Theater, a block away on Ellinwood Street, played serials — old-time soap operas — which were drawing big crowds. The Des Plaines Theater countered with live vaudeville acts and first-run movies, said James Williams, president of the Des Plaines Historical Society, which also opposes replacing the marquee. During the years, the 990-seat theater, unable to keep up with the new shopping mall theaters, began showing second-run films at cheaper ticket prices, Williams said.

Williams said the marquee is part of "what makes the character of an old town like Des Plaines," and the historical society plans to make the theater building and marquee a candidate for national landmark status.

The sign ordinance goes into effect Jan.1,1985. Sometime before that, the city council can enact a list of proposed changes, which includes a special waiver for the marquee. "I don't think there will be any problem getting that through," said Alderman Robert Martin, 3rd, a member of the building code committee. Committee members say the proposed changes will be considered by the council some
time after Christmas. Chamber of Commerce members have long battled the sign ordinance, which outlaws most overhanging street signs and restricts the sizes of other types of signs. They too are expected to support the marquee waiver.

Patrons of the theater also seem to like the old marquee. "It's a part of a heritage, I think," Ralph Tobar, a resident of Des Plaines for 18 years, said as he was leaving the theater after a showing of "Mr. Mom." "The theater and the marquee have been here for a long time and they never bothered anybody before."

My grandfather passed away on January 4th, 2007 at the age of 82. He leaves behind a long legacy, having been a major pioneer in the in-house, as well as drive-in, motion-picture movie theater industry, having owned LaGrange, Milford, Des Plaines, and Berwyn Theatres 1983-2000, residing as general manager of Kohlberg Theatres 1963-1983, as well as managing and supervising Schoenstadt Theatres 1946-1962. I loved him greatly, and will miss him dearly.

http://www.legacy.com/ChicagoTribune/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=85859142

The Des Plaines Theater Preservation Society appreciates the role your family played in keeping the theater going over all those years, and wishes to express our condolences for your loss. Should you come across any materials (photos, memorabilia, etc) relating to the theater that you'd like to share, please contact us at DPTheatre@gmail.com

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003

Des Plaines Theater (added 2003 - Building - #03001198)
1476 Miner St., Des Plaines
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event
Architect, builder, or engineer: Nissen, Ed, Betts & Holcomb
Architectural Style: Mission/Spanish Revival
Area of Significance: Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture
Period of Significance: 1925-1949, 1950-1974
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Business, Theater
Current Function: Vacant/Not In Use

It wasn't added; it was deemed eligible. The owner refuses to sign the form to add it. However, National Register eligibility carries with it all the same protections; the addition is a formality.

I don't know what was or wasn't signed but this theater is on the National Register of Historic Places list for Cook County, Illinois.

That depends on if you're looking on the official National Park Services list or the website www.NationalRegisterOfHistoricPlaces.com, which appears to be a privately run website with no contact information or links to government entities.

Your link doesn't work and I don't understand the point your trying to make. Are you saying that there is some website that gives out "questionable" statistics on these buildings or that this information is fabricated for some reason?

The official website of the National Register of Historic Places is http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/ . There also exists what appears to be a privately-run website at http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/ , which I assume from your format is what you're using. The latter website does not have any information or links to government websites, nor does it contain any contact information of its own. A WHOIS search on the latter site reveals that it is registered to "American Dreams, Inc."; I have no idea what their objective is, but their data is unofficial and in cases like this, inaccurate. Also their page title is "National Register of HistoricaL Places", which is somewhat suspect.

If their data is inaccurate, this is the first time I have seen it. The inaccuracy here is, if this theater is really listed on the National Register of Historic Places. If you say that the Des Plaines Theater is not officially on the list, I have no reason to doubt you. The website that this info came from is http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/ I have no idea where their info comes from or why they would have a website giving this info. Like I said, the rest of the information appears to be accurate except for this theater officially being on the list.

I want to make a correction to a previous comment that I made on this page. The Des Plaines Theater is not listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The website that this information came from is incorrect. The National Park Service website does not list the Des Plaines Theater. Thanks to BWChicago for clearing this up.

Have they stopped showing Bollywood films here? Yahoo Movies says that they are showing BLOOD DIAMOND and THE QUEEN.

No, they're still showing Bollywood, and those definitely aren't playing. Online listings have been like that for a while, I have no idea where they're coming from.

True crime, October 1950:

Des Plaines theater safe with $200 taken

Sometime between midnight Saturday and 6 a.m. Sunday, October 22, burglars entered the Des Plaines theater manager's office and removed a small safe containing $200 cash, tickets and valuable papers. They then dragged or carried the safe to the first exit door on the east wall of the theater and left the building. The safe was transported to a waiting automobile in the parking lot to the rear and east of the building in which the burglars fled the scene.

There will be a benefit for the Des Plaines Theater at the Pickwick on Thursday, April 12 at 8:00 P.M. Acclaimed theatre organist Jay Warren will accompany The Pawn Shop starring Charlie Chaplin (1916), Never Weaken starring Harold Lloyd (1921), and Sherlock Jr. starring Buster Keaton (1924). Visit www.dptheatre.org for more information.

Here is a 2007 photo of the Des Plaines Theater.

While a great picture, it had to have been taken some time between 2000-2004, probably closer to the latter, as it looks like Fannie Mae is closed. It is probably a scanned photo, which would account for the inaccurate date.

I should have known that there was something odd about that photo. It reads Uploaded on April 30, 2007 but it was Taken on May 1, 2007. LOL

May Day. Must have been a communist conspiracy.

This is a 2007 photo of the Des Plaines Theater.

This is from the Chicago Daily Herald, 3/8/82:

Fire raged through the landmark structure housing the Des Plaines
Theater and three other shops Sunday afternoon, destroying two businesses and causing more than a half-million dollars damage.
About 30 patrons were evacuated from the theater, 1476 W. Miner St., as the blaze flashed across a common basement area in the half-block long building. No one was reported injured. The cause of the fire was undetermined. The three-alarm fire burned for nearly three hours and Des Plaines firefighters called in engine companies from five suburban departments.

Smoke was reported pouring out of the Mar-El Discount shoe store, 1480 Miner, about 2:30 p.m. just as the afternoon showing of the movie "Taps" began playing In the 63-year-old theater, firefighters said. The shoe store, Rappoport watchmakers and jewelers, the theater and Wlndy's restaurant are located in the same building and share a common basement and roof, according to firefighters. Moviegoers praised the action of John Praught, the theater manager on duty when fire broke out next door.

The fire was later determined to have been started when ashes from an incinerator were dumped into a cardboard box. Brilliant idea.

Here is a photo of the 1982 fire from the Herald:
http://tinyurl.com/3cccwv

Here is a March 1960 ad from the Arlington Daily Herald:
http://tinyurl.com/2se7bw

Photos of this theater are HERE

Here is a small update regarding the Des Plaines Theater ~

The Des Plaines Theater Preservation Society held a fundraiser at the Pickwick Theater, featuring memorabilia and a program of silent comedies. They have nothing planned so far for any future fundraisers (according to the lack of information on their website), and the Pickwick attracted a modest (if not sold-out) crowd. Unfortunately they do not update their site much.

The Indian ownership still runs Hindi and Bollywood films, tho not on a seven-day basis.

Also, the Des Plaines city council turned down a request for the city to possibly buy the building from the current ownership, which is sad givin their desire to continue to build more high-rise condo buildings. With the closing (again) of the Sugar Bowl restaurant, and Sims Bowl across the train tracks for sale, it seems there will be no change for the theater itself. And some historical landmarks of the downtown area are slowly fading away.

New Years Eve saw the theater rented by AM1300 (Radio Disney) for a screening of High School Musical 2 as part of the city's new years festivities. There are no other plans for any other screenings at the theater at this time. Sad isn't it?

Eric

This is another recent photo.

And here is a recent night view.

I don't know if anyone's noticed, but it looks like the Des Plaines Theater is shut down. Now, I might be wrong, but they've been advertising the same film (a Hindi film) since early January. Granted, the theater is only open on weekend evenings, but in driving in the area during those times it seems to be closed.

Does anyone have any information regarding the status of the theater?

If the Indian owners don't want to keep the place open (not enough attendance to keep the lights on perhaps?) why don't they sublet the theater back to individuals who can bring some income to the place? I realize it might not happen, but one can always hope.

The theater may not have shown anything until just after new year. Also, the Golf Glen is being renovated and reopened by the largest theater chain in India. This seems likely to impact the theater's future. http://www.journal-topics.com/business/08/biz080312.1.html

I've looked at the information from ADLABS online and yes, it's a big Indian movie chain, but I looked around at both their website and the blurb from the Des Plaines Journal, and there's nothing there that says it's going to be a Hindi/Bollywood multiplex. I'm wondering if it's a different ADLABS that's going in there. Golf Mill already has the multi-screen theater running which pulls a decent attendance, but what I'm wondering about is the fact that the Des Plaines, under the Indian ownership, did not EVER look busy. It wasn't open seven days a week, and pretty much shut down in January. The sad thing about the Des Plaines/Niles area is that there is no second run theaters close by. With the economy the way it is now, obviously a two or three dollar theater would do good business.

The current owner of the Des Plaines, according to a March 12, 2007 article, is now open to the idea of special movie presentations etc. at the theater. The Des Plaines Theater Preservation group claimed to have wanted to do more film showings but ownership decided to stop the 'sharing of the wealth' after the group (and others) assisted in refurbishing the theater several years ago. From what I've seen lately, the exterior (both upstairs and downstairs) have seen better days. When I see the overall condition of the exterior I automatically get flashbacks to the way the Patio looks on Irving Park and Austin nowadays. I certainly don't want to see the Des Plaines fall apart again. It's been that way before, and honestly, hasn't been well taken care of in years. One only needs to look at the Portage Theater and the successes it's having right now to say 'this could be done with the Des Plaines."

Let's hope so. Let's hope that FINALLY someone can get an agreement and do something with the theater again. Interestingly enough, "High School Musical 2" didn't do too bad, attendance-wise, during Des Plaines' New Years festivities.

Keep your fingers crossed.

Here is the link to the other write-up. It was written on March 14th, not March 12th. My bad. ;)

http://www.journal-topics.com/dp/08/dp080314.1.html

The 1935 modernization of the Des Plaines Theater was by Pereira & Pereira

Just a thought, if the Des Plaines had some success with the New Years/Disney HSM2 showing, maybe the managemnent would consider events of the same genre. The Music Box Theatre in Chicago had good success with some "Grease" sing-a-longs. Even a "Wizard of Oz" sing-a-long might garner some viewership not normally prone to come out to the movies.

It could still share the theatre with the Indian films if all scheduled correctly.

Odd to read the city council wouldn't purchase such a historic building when it had the chance to. If for no other reason, than to have a hand in regulating and revitalizing all the other storefronts within the building.
It could have been a flagship Des Plaines Cultural Center of sorts. Building out any vacant storefronts as they come & go, to highlight Des Plaines history. Also the Village would be more able to offer tax breaks to potential tenants on land it owns.

Well, there's only the two storefronts, and they don't seem to have any trouble keeping them filled, actually - a Mexican restaurant and a Thai restaurant. And if the government owned it, what kind of taxes would be paid? The theater is barely used now and is up for sale for $3.7 million - I don't expect it to sell any time soon. It is scheduled to hold another New Years show.

Greetings BWChicago. I guess I thought that if the village owned it, they wouldn't have to charge potential tenants as much in rent as the current owner might have to, in order to keep up with his own taxes. Which surely must be high if if's valued at 3.7 mil. Epecially if the buildings largest space/tenant goes largely unused. Then the only ground floor tenants are the restaurants. Are those rental apartments above everything?

Would the village have to pay the same taxes as a regular owner? If it was partly used for community use, it must be partly tax exempt somehow.

Also hypothetically if the village owned it, they could use or lease the theatre space out for community theatre events, etc. I thought they could pt mini Des Plaines museums in any vacant storefronts. I didn't know there were only 2, and both were active restaurants.

I drove by the Des Plaines a few months back after a car show at the Metra station. I seem to remember the marquee was lit, but only advertised a phone number, no movies.

Government facilities are tax exempt, as are non-profit entities. As for the building's assessed value, records show that it was billed approximately 70,000 in taxes this year. Keep in mind that the owner owns a number of businesses and properties, and if this enterprise is losing money, he may be able to write it off on his income taxes.

What you say about hypotheticals is true. A private owner can also let not-for-profits use it and write it off as a donation in kind. And a village owned situation, as exists in many theaters, they certainly can use it for any purpose they see fit at any rate they see fit. Des Plaines did buy a storefront building two doors from the theater for future redevelopment not long ago. The vacant storefront there is currently being used for FEMA offices after the flooding.

Interesting. I hadn't known that the owner could pass in theory pass along a tax break, let alone write his losses off in the bigger picture.
I'm still surprised the village doesn't snatch it up. Of course who has almost 4 mil. lying around.

Do you happen to know how the Arie Crown or Auditorium Theatre's in Chicago are listed on Cinema Treasures? Thanks.

They are not, since they've never showed film on a regular basis.

Ah, thanks. Saw Ravi Shankar & a real early stage version of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Auditorium.
Ravi Shankar used a really strong, on-stage incense that worked it's way up to the balcony. And about knocked us out.

Here is a November 2008 photo.

Another update:

It seems as if the owners have occasionally been screening Hindi/Bollywood films from time to time. Most recently they advertised a film that screened only between Jan 30 - Feb 1. They don't use the marquee at all. It still lists advertising for the Des Plaines Journal.

An interesting ad can be found on the website - they're opening the theater to be rented. It still seems that it's still split into two screens. It's sad that someone didn't think to knock out that wall as the Portage did to open up the entire space. Has anyone even seen the inside of the building at all recently?

A

http://www.dptheatre.org/Des%20Plaines%20Theatre.pdf

The New Years Eve show was one such rental.

Scratch that - the correct link is http://www.scribd.com/doc/12141820/Des-Plaines-Theatre

And on another front, it seems like the Preservation Society hasn't done much of anything in the past two years. It's unknown if they even made enough to cover the rental of the Pickwick when the Silent Movie Society did a showing two years ago.

I am aware of the 2008 New Years screening of HSM2, did they rent the theater again last month as well? I didn't see any advertising for it....

No, the New Years Eve festivities were rentals by the DP Special Events Commission. The last shows DPTPS did were the Pickwick and Masonic Temple shows. Shows were ceased because they didn't really do much to further the cause. A relaunch and reimagination of DPTPS should be coming soon.

Well, if the DPTPS does decide to get rolling again, let's hope that someone does some updating of the website. A good chunk of the newspaper articles links don't work anymore. ;-)

its a real shame this place closed

A photo of the Des Plaines Theatre before the fire from 1982.


Photos from July of 1982 after the March 1982 fire at the theater.

here

and here

Reopened by the end of 1983 in this photo

Status Should Be Open

I would disagree with placing a permanent 'open' status on the DP Theater at this time. Reason being, the current owner seems to occasionally screen films but does not promote them on the marquee. You usually have to go to their website for any information on what is being shown - and that is infrequently.

Recently, a group called Deep Green had come to an agreement with the owner to screen English movies on weekends, beginning in May. Their plan was to alternate adult-themed films with childrens/family fare the following weekend. Last weekend was to feature Leonard DiCaprio's "11th Hour", while this weekend's film, "Bee Movie" (with the voices of Jerry Seinfeld, et al) was postponed to the following weekend due to worries over the swine flu. Initial agreements are to have films run on weekends at least through June. See this article.

http://www.journal-topics.com/dp/09/dp090422.2.html

Here are the related articles:

http://www.journal-topics.com/dp/09/dp090501.4.html

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=291721&src=27

Here are more 1983 photos:

Photo1

Photo2

Photo3

Reactivate notification status.
Great pics too!

You reactivated just in time. This is a nice shot of the Des Plaines.

I grew up in the Des Plaines Theatre: Silent Running, Fiddler on the Roof, Young Frankenstein, Mash, Pink Panther Strikes Again, Land that Time Forgot, Futureworld, Bug, and others including Taps.

Remember the 80's with 50 cent Tuesdays? And sometimes those were double features as well! A quarter a movie!

The first time I walked out on a movie was at the Des Plaines: Masters of the Universe.

The first time I saw someone running up the aisle to vomit was during Fright Night 2. Unforgettable.

Blue Steel, Internal Affairs, Bad Influence, Mystic Pizza, Miami Blues.... Tuesdays were cheap, but sometimes you paid for it.

Here is a website for the Des Plaines Cinema. Seating on that site is given as 275 and 250. Other than the seat count, there isn't much information on that site.

The Vaudeville Revival Variety Show will be at the Des Plaines Theater. Maybe there should be a status for "occasionally open".

This is a September 2009 photo.

Things we need to do to make the Des Plaines theatre a fully restored performing arts/movie house/hot spot of the town of Des Plaines.

Paint the marquee.
Knock down the wall to make it back into a single screen theatre.
Uncover all the architectural elements covered by the drop ceiling in the lobby and auditoriums.
Paint the theatre.
Remodel the lobby, foyer, and auditorium into what is was after the 1930's renovation.
Replace the seats in the auditoriums.

Replace plasterwork and Grillework.
Try to get the pipe organ back.
Renovate Fly House.
Remodel dressing rooms.
Remodel back stage.
Re-do projection room.
Clear the smell of mold out of auditorium 1 and 2.

Theres a lot we have to do to get this theatre back on the map!

I remember fondly the Des Plaines theater growing up in the Chicago suburb during the 1940s. I still have memories of the Saturday afternoon matinees, featuring cowboy movies, serials and cartoons for a 9 cent admittance ticket and 10 cents for a box of popcorn. The theater often had specials for the local elementary classes and I can remember walking, as a member of the 1st grade at old North (Mrs. Nelson's class) to the theater. My uncle treated me to a movie when visiting us in Des Plaines and he "allowed" me to jump into the orchestra pit in order to look for treasure. We were both reprimand by one of the ushers. Great memories.
John Gustafson, Rockford, Illinois

Here's a post all about the 1982 fire: http://www.revitalizedesplaines.org/2009/11/now-on-youtube-1982-des-plaines-theatre.html

A 3m Geneva was installed in the theatre in 1926

It was installed in 1925 and is estimated to be about 16 ranks. It was removed and sold at a tax sale in the mid-1930s. Its whereabouts are unknown.

Thamk you bw. I needed info on its organ

If you need info on anything at all relating to Des Plaines, I'm the guy to talk to. Click my name for an email address.

Well first off, When did they under go the renovation that made the auditoriums smell bad and make the interior look like a peice of crap?

It was divided in 1987. The theater was well-maintained through about 1999. Spotty since then.

Is the owner even helping the preservation society raise money to renovate the theatre?

The two parties came to an impasse over rental arrangements and the owner was not interested in relinquishing any control. With nothing to raise money for - obviously nobody was interested in giving grants to an owner who would not commit - the society then changed its name to Revitalize Des Plaines! with a focus on advocating overall downtown rehabilitation and preservation. Currently it operates as a blog and facebook page at www.revitalizedesplaines.org Since that time, Alderman Mark Walsten's Deep Green Committee has run a film series and a Vaudeville Revival series was held. Currently the theater is used sporadically for special events and occasional screenings.

But is the owner even considering restoring it to its original appearance?

This is the most recent article, from June. Haven't heard a word about it since then. If someone else paid for it, I'm sure he'd let it be restored. But he also wouldn't sign the forms to put it on the National Register of Historic Places that would allow it to qualify for tax credits and other incentives. I have no ill will towards the owner, and have always had a good rapport with him, but I'm not confident it will be substantially rehabilitated as long as he owns it.

The owner barley cares about it.

He's kept the pipes from freezing, at least.

But when i went to se the sound of music their, all i could smell was mold. not popcorn