AMC Loews Norridge 10

The correct address for the Norridge 10 should be 4520 N. Harlem Ave., Norridge, Il.

Actually the Norridge was open in the late 60's and was a twin then. I don't know if it opened as a single screen or twin but it's been around a lot longer then listed above. It was a fourplex in 1978 when I saw a sneak preview of "Halloween" there.

It was a twin, my dad's company was contracted for the carpentry work on it. I remember seeing Doctor Doolititle being screened prior to its opening. When you walked in there was a large ticket counter and ropes behind stretching back to the popcorn candy counter dividing it into a twin. The bathrooms and smoking area were raised a couple of steps behind the candy counter. These were large screens and one of the first twins I can remember. The Hillside was another large twin screen indoor.

The theater had 70mm projection and later SDDS (Sony Dynamic Digital Sound) capability.

This is a comment on the popcorn used at this Loews Theatre. I've noticed that the bins are filled with popcorn that comes in plastic bags even though they appear to have kettle poppers. Who knows how long these bags of popcorn have been in storage. It's not as good as the truely freshly popped corn available in most Theatres at least during high peak hours. Is this typical of Loews Theatres to use bagged popcorn or is it just this Theatre. This may be me being picky, but good popcorn for me is a big part of going to a Theatre. Anyone with knowledge about this?

Jeffrey, Loews did this in several locations. In St. Louis the pop corn was pre-popped and shipped to the theatre on a daily basis according to what was needed. The Loews State, Loews Orpheum and Loews Mid City did not have poppers but warmers. The popcorn was loaded before the opening each day to be heated and added as needed.
The Granada in South St. Louis had a large cretors popper and popped the popcorn before the theatre opened and moved it to warmers on the side of the popper and popped fresh as needed. The warmers at the Granada were to keep the product warm. I do agree that there is nothing like going to the movies and the smell of freshly popped corn though.

That's not good news. I hope that practice doesn't become a trend with other theatre chains. I haven't been to this particular theatre in 8 months for this reason alone. I doubt wheather I will ever go back as I'm lucky enough to have many other choices where the corn is popped on an as needed basis.
I thought theatre chains were working on providing better concessions and improved amenities to their modern theatres in order to intice people out of their homes and into the theatre. For Loews, this is a step in the wrong direction.

As a side note, I was outside of Chicago one night so I went to a 2nd run theatre in one of the suburbs. I ordered popcorn with horrible results. It had obviously been popped earlier in the day and was cold and stale. I had it with the vegetable oil with butter flavoring and the oil turned out to be rancid. Bad experience.

Ok, you caught me, I am a popcorn nut. I admit it. No need to ridicule me.

For a while in the late 70's/early 80's this was a great place to see big-budget movies in 70mm and surround sound. I saw Aliens, Dracula, Scarface and Empire Strikes Back here. They sounded and looked great. The main auditorium, as I recall, was very large with good sightlines. I haven't been here to see a movie since this time. They appear to be very popular and busy screens.

This theatre was originally owned by M&R. M&R also, at one time or another, owned the Lawrencewood, the Old Orchard, the Portage Park, and a few others. M&R also owned the Hub Roller Rink, which was next door to the Norridge. Later on, the Hub was called the Axle--but still owned by M&R. M&R also had an Axle Roller Rink in Niles, near the Golf Mill Theatres. Both roller rinks closed circa 1983, I beleive.

Later on, M&R was bought by Sony-Loew's and the Norridge had the Sony Theatres logo on it.

Paul,
Thanks for mentioning the Axle Roller Rink next to the Norridge Theater, I almost forgot about that place! I remember that I had my 10th birthday party there. I think they had an organist, and I seem to remember they had special lighting and a disco ball (okay, I'm dating myself!). I believe the Axle building still stands but is used as a pizza place and stores now.

Yes, the Axle did have an organist.

The Axle in Niles closed in either late 1977 or early 1978. The building was sold to Syms (which is still there). M&R also had an Axle Roller Rink in Countryside, which closed at roughly the same time.

The original twin opened June 26, 1970 with "Paint Your Wagon" and "A Boy Named Charlie Brown". It featured rocker seats and the architects were Edward Cohon and Associates. This must be one of the only theaters of this era still operating in Chicagoland.

It seems that M&R got into all kinds of side-business. They had a car wash next to the Old Orchard Theatre. Now I know they had roller rinks. What other business lines did they get into?

I believe the M&R corporate entity still exists. But they don't get into entertainment anymore. I think it's basically a real estate speculation outfit now. I actually made a business call to the outfit one day years ago, and the guy who picked up the phone got into the story with me.

They had the Howard Bowl at Clark and Howard for years, too. I thought I read somewhere they were getting back into movies again.

I passed this place on the way home last night. Given that I had just been discussing it, decided to drive off of Harlem Ave. and take a look. It seems pretty cool. Reminds me a lot of the original Old Orchard, which is cool because I saw many great films there. There was a big crowd coming out of the place. This was something like 11:45 at night.

I took a ride by it tonight. It looks to me like they had the twin, added a third screen the same size as the first one, split the original twin 3 ways each, and added more screens in the annex part. In other words the original twin is auditoriums 5-10 and the 1-4 is annex. The roller rink is some kind of kiddie amusement place now. I'm sort of surprised this theater is still around - and under loews/amc - since it's not really in a shopping center, although there is a very busy shopping area surrounding it. Presumably it was also built to sap the audience from the old Harlem Outdoor.

I've never been inside here, but my brother says it's huge. I think it has something like 4400 seats in total. Anyway, is this theater doing well? Because Cinemark at Melrose Park is not far away.

Cinemark in Melrose Park is far enough away that I don't think there's a hell of a lot of mutual draw. Someone who lives at Harlem & I-90 is not likely to drive all the way down Harlem and out North Ave. to get to the Cinemark when the film offerings are similar at both theatres.

Life's Too Short:

The Old Orchard and the Norridge were both originally in the M&R chain. I grew up around here and frequented this place. It is good to see that it is doing well, still. But as you say, there's no real competition within MILES of this place.

Cinemark Melrose Park is a distant away from the Norridge. Even though the Cinemark is the closet theater to my house I also go to the Norridge to see a movie that is not playing at the Cinemark.

Brian Wolf: here's a research project for you, should you choose to accept it. I remember seeing ads for a theatre called River Run back in the 80's. It would have been GCC or M&R. I got the impression that it was similar to Norridge, or the original Old Orchard or Randhurst Cinemas. No idea what town it would've been in. Don't see a listing on this site. Could be remembering wrong, but am 99% sure that I am not.

Nah, it's on here as the Lansing 8. I'll look it up and see if I can refine any further though.

The nearest theatres are the Melrose Park and the Pickwick. Even the new Golf Mill theatres won't harm this place's attendence.

Paul is correct with regard to M&R history. However, the Niles Axle Roller Rink closed on August 8, 1984, not 1978 (as Steven Hill mentioned). My family members managed many of the M&R chains, including the Twin Drive-In, Evanston Theater, Niles Theater, etc.

Great memories!

(Apologies for the roller rink discussion...)

Well, here's where I'm coming from on the Niles Axle closing. My dad (Warren) was manager and my mom was cashier there. I was there when the building was sold and they shut down - I remember them taking the globe lights and disco ball down - and our family moved to Florida from 1978 to 1982. If it really did close in August 1984, something is seriously wrong with time, and I shouldn't have stepped on that butterfly. :)

(More apologies for the roller rink discussion...)

Hi Steven - Here's the scoop. The managers of the Niles were Bill Simpson and Elaine Calabrese. When I called Elaine about your comments, she totally remembered you and Warren. Warren was the manager of Countryside. (I too remember that rink shutting down in the late 70s. For whatever reason, we took those mushroom seats apart.)

My parents hope you are doing well and are curious to know how your father is doing. Drop me an email if you can.

Didn't mean to mislead, yes, dad was only assistant manager of Niles before going to Countryside as manager. My email is shill (at) harpercollege.edu - drop me a line, I couldn't pull up an email address for you.

Here are pictures of this theater

I remember the Theater reopening and seeing Bad News Bears. If it wasn't the first movie after the reopening it was close to it. 1978 sounds right.

keep the roller rink discussion going

Are there any roller rinks left in Chicagoland? I thought they were pretty much a thing of the past.

There's the Orbit in Palatine

There is a handfull in the suburbs. There might be some in Chicago left on the south side.

The Coachlite in Roselle (western suburbs) is where the Riverview Roller Rink and Axle (Hub) reunions are held in October

Has anyone heard the rumor that this theatre is being closed to make room for a Big Box store?

I have noticed for the last few months the Marquee on Harlem Avenue hasn't been listing the movies but the theatre has remained open.

I hope that this place does NOT close for another big box store. There are too many of them there. Norridge and Harwood Heights already have Target, Best Buy, etc.

It is hard to believe, but this place has lasted almost forty years--that's an eternity for movie theatres these days. It has outlived its contemporaries like the Golf Mill, the Old Orchard, the Lawrencewood (the latter two were also M&Rs). It was built some twenty years before the Bricktown (which SHOULD have given it stiff competition) and has remained open seven years after that place closed.

I lived for many years near Austin & Montrose, until 1990, and almost always saw first-run films here. Even my former grade-schoo, St. Robert Bellarmine, would rent the place out for special showings (in the era before VCRs). I haven't been here in many years, however the Norridge is a survivor!

What's the place like these days?

Typo: Should be "grade-school", not "grade-schoo"!

I have heard that it is not the greatest sound-wise, although I have never been there myself. If that is true it doesn't seem to keep the customers away.

I go to the Hub/Riverview/Axle reunions at the Orbit in October, they've been doing it for over 12 years. Rollerskating is alive and well, check out Orbit's website.

We love the Catlow Theatre in Barrington. Does the York theatre still have the organ that comes up out of the floor?

Does anyone know what screen here is the largest?

Has anyone heard anything about whether this theater is closing or not? I drove by it the other day and saw half the marquee was ripped down. Could be a bad sign. I hope it doesn't close, it's one of the few remaining places I went to as a kid.

An interesting article on the family that owned this theater (and the rest of the M&R chain) appears here http://www.pioneerlocal.com/skokie/business/464392,sk-Bananas0071207-s3.article

The article states that the family owned the building since the 1920s. That can't be correct.

Question :

Does any on recall any other theatres along Harlem Ave.
In Norridge i rember going to see "MI VIDA LOCA" back in the 90`s with some friends and the only place showing theis flim was a small place on North Harlem Ave. it was small only one screen the best example i can give would be the LaGrange Theatre in LaGrange Illinois. I was in Norrige a few days ago and i could not find the theatre i think it was before the intersection of North Harlem And Irvin Park Road .

I also recall that once you bought the pop and popcorn (i just love this this part) FREE REFILLS!!!!

Thank You for you time .
I hope some one can help with this . :)

CHI74 are you talking about the Mercury which would have been on North Avenue just west of Harlem. It was multi-screen at the end. The only other one which comes to mind is the MontClair which was on Grand one block east of Harlem and that was a single screen till the end, but I'm sure closed through the entire 1990's.

I certainly don't want to spread rumors, but I heard that Costco is looking at building a big box store on this site. Just what Norridge, IL needs! But I believe that the Norridge Theatre still draws good crowds. The place should be renovated ala what is being done with the Webster Place--another former M&R Theatre.

Recent photos of this theatre are HERE

We must get in there to take photos of every last detail. Those sloped roofed houses always make me giddy.

I would love to see photos of the large screens here.

There may be even fewer traces of M&R soon. I was at a party Saturday Night and a man who is a Norridge police officer said that plans are definitely afoot to replace the Norridge with a Costco. He said that the Cinemark in Melrose Park took away a lot of business.

He did mention, however, that there may be plans to build a new theatre in the area of the Harlem-Irving Plaza (HIP).

The white (or is it grey) trim certainly looks austere! Like when the CTA simply whitewashes its older stations! I miss the green trim that used to be on the building. It provided some contrast.

I don't buy that Melrose Park stuff. Every time I go by this place on a Friday night there is a good crowd, and Melrose Park has been open for years now. I think Melrose Park is a convenient story. In reality it probably comes down to a bunch of money changing hands. But such is life.

LTS,

You are probably right because the Melrose Park is actually quite a distance from the Norridge. If anything, the Muvico in Rosemont would be the one that robs this theatre of attendance.

I agree with Catherine that the Muvico in Rosemont would be the oe that robbed the Norridge Theatre of the attendence. I used to go to the Norridge where certain movies were not booked at the Cinemark Melrose Park. I still attend the Cinemark and if certain movies are not booked there, I go to the Kerasotes Showplace 12 at Golf Mill in Niles. (Who knows if the Showplace 12 at Golf Mill is also responsible for robbing the Norridge Theatre's business).

The Norridge's days are numbered; currently it's pegged at a year. Chicago Sun-Times

What a shame. I bet that if Keresotas took over this place, they would do well with it like they did with the Webster Place. The Norridge can still draw large crowds from what I understand.

I haven't been here since the late 1980s. What's this place like? How is the movie-going experience here?

I have been there throughout the years and it is still a good place to see a movie. I have heard the Costco rumor for the past 2 years now. I was online trying to find out if there is a closing date. I used to work there during the early/mid 80's. It was great working there, even if it was a teen soap opera at times! I'm going to be so sad when it closes. I have many great memories there.

The closing time of the year is here. Will AMC close the Norridge? Piper's Alley? Chicago Ridge? *shudders at that thought* Or will Pillage Theatres close the Lincoln Village? North Riverside? Will they cease to exist altogether? As with August/September of '03, '04, '05, and '06, we will find out soon.

I unfortunately, won't be able to make the trek out to Norridge. If anybody has the chance to get here one last time, please do so, and take lots of photos.

I am finally commenting on my displeasure with the decision to close this theater. the Norridge in my eyes was (and to me still is) a northwest side institution. 40+ years in business for a movie theater is no small feat, especially in this day in age when movie theaters typically don't make it to 20 years old anymore before they're replaced with newer, bigger cinemas. As posted by many above, Norridge has been a survivor for years, and I think still has the potential to be one. Sadly, we'll never know as yet another non descript big box store will soon take it's place-

I see the logic of replacing the Norridge, even if I don't agree with it. The theater is deteriorating inside and out. My fiance refuses to go to a movie there because of how dated and dirty it is on the inside. This obviously has had an effect on business. But the plain truth is IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY! AMC with their inactivity and poor management, has let this once beautiful multiplex turn into a deteriorating relic. As Paul posted above, Kerasotes took a dated Webster Place theater and totally redid it and by all accounts, the place is jumping again. Why couldn't AMC do this to the Norridge?! With it's big screens, it has an experience to offer moviegoers that few of today's multiplexes can provide!

I remember seeing Batman here in 1989. It was a matinee, but the place was packed and we got to sit in one of the big theaters with the reclining chairs. At that time 10 screens at a theater was unheard of in our area. Over the years, I have seen many a blockbuster at the Norridge and have had many great experiences. As the years progressed though, things began to look dated and almost like a time warp. The last 2 times I was there, even I had to partially agree with my fiance that they weren't keeping things up well.

I have seen this theater through the years packed with people for the right feature, but over the years attendance has seemed to dwindle because AMC has allowed it to become an eyesore. The front and outside looks dated, the marquee looks as if it's falling apart (and only half of it is even used anymore they strangely covered the bottom half with an ugly white board a year ago), the insides of the theaters look EXACTLY as they did when I was a kid. Why?! Doesn't the AMC chain realize no one will come to your theater if the buzz is bad?

It's is truly a shame a landmark theater like this has to close simply because management was too lazy to keep it clean and updated with the times. Other AMC theaters in my area like the Old Orchards and even Streets of Woodfield (though that has held up better) also look very dated when compared to some of my new favorites like Kersotes Glen 10 or Golf Mill Showplace or the Movieco in Rosemont. For their refusal to change with the times and keep once flourishing cinemas like Norridge thriving and in business, I hope Kerasotes, Movieco and all other chains draw in the customers and the customers neglect the AMC chain like AMC has neglected it's once proud theaters! Here's hoping the zoning does not get passed to build Cost Co, and a chain that actually cares takes this theater over! 'Nuff said!

Does anyone know the seating capacity for each of the ten screens?

The Maurice Lenell outlet has closed...

There may be a ray of hope for the Norridge! I just read online that Costco WILL NOT be building on the Maurice Lenell lot or the surrounding property. Maybe the theater will have a stay of execution? If so, one word for AMC: Renovate!

I currently work at AMC norridge and I can tell you that it is staying open for at least another year! It's too bad they took so long to tell us that since i've already found another job!

Thanks for the good news nightshadezero! Based on what you said about your job, they must've just told you! I remember at this time last year I asked the manager if they were closing, and he said it depended on Costco building on the site. If they said no, the theater would remain open. Apparently, Costco has passed on the space. I'm so glad! Nightshadezero, how's business? Do you know if the property is still for sale? The theater still looks fairly busy when I drive by it at night. I really think with some proper renovations, this theater could thrive for a long time. Good location, big screening rooms. It's good to see history prevail over blah big box retail for once (at least for now)! Thanks for the update nightshadezero, and good luck with your new job!

I think costco still has the space, but for whatever reason decided to hold off on buildong for another year. But this time, when they do decide to close, we will be given 3 months notice. That way, we won't have to worry about wether we need to order more items or find new jobs. But we still don't know if we're closing after our year is up. Because of that, the higher-ups won't find it worth their while to renovate. If that keeps people from returning to our theatre then they can to to the movico in rosemont. Much nicer there for the same cost. As for 'how's business', the only times we're really busy nowadays is for kids movies and those stupid PG-13 horror movies that teens go see thinking they're getting into a rated R movie (i.e. the unborn).

I still hope Costco will go elsewere. This theater has too much history to just vanish in the wind.

I mean, look at how many classic films played here in it's almost 39 year history. "Halloween", "Alien" etc...

Unfortunately, big companies don't care about history, and see everything in dollar signs.

Well, the newspaper articles quoted Costco as having no interest in the site, and said that the surrounding planned lifestyle center hinged upon it

The Norridge has a grand total of 3,952 seats. Auditorium #1-600 seats, #2-581, #3-304, #4-286, #5- 500, #6-524, #7-363, #8-365, #9-210, and #10- 219. The seating capacity is NOT posted outside each auditorium ;therefore, many thanks to the employee working the concession stand for screens 7 to 10 for the information.

Thank you for posting the info KenC. Multiplexes these days only have about 2 big rooms, and the rest are little screening rooms with 80-90 seats. I hope Costco will go elsewere, so Norridge may soldier on.

Who knows, maybe when my chain kicks off, perhaps I'll pick it up from AMC and give it a much needed facelift.

A correction: The employee who gave me the seating capacity for each auditorium was selling tickets and working the concession stand for theatres 1,2,3 and 4. This section is the one nearest to Harlem Ave. A little west is another section of the theatre, which houses auditoriums 5 through 10. This is where an employee is IN the boxoffice, and two more are working the concession...facing south. Across from the popcorn and candy is the managers stand- facing north. Even though the Norridge lacks stadium seating, it's still a very comfortable place. Lots of leg room, very high ceilings, and pretty wide auditoriums will make me come back. One negative- the marquee on Harlem is NOT inviting; one might think the theatre is closed or has only 5 screens. A very minor complaint- a few water stains on the ceiling of a few auditoriums. But, generally speaking, I give this decades old theatre a thumbs up. Hope it lasts!

KenC,

If you can, could you get the seat count for Chicago Ridge Mall and the Lake in Oak Park?

CinemarkFan- I have never been to Chicago Ridge Mall; it's unlikely I'll get there. Haven't been to the Lake in some time. Will try to get there in early June...it's a great theatre.

Went to the Norridge on Saturday to see "Drag Me to Hell." Hadn't been there in ages. Used to go there all the time when I was a kid (because the neighborhood theaters were falling apart and the downtown theaters were scary), so I'm happy it's still around and in pretty good shape, as far as I can tell.

Would anybody be willing to describe the theaters themselves to me? Like the color of the seats, walls etc.. And do all the screens have side-masking?

I just saw on the news that Costco is looking to build a store on the site of the now-closed Kiddieland in nearby Melrose Park. If that goes through, then that's more hope for Norridge.

Anyway, does all the screens have side-masking for scope films? I ask because I think of another M&R turned Loews theater, the Evergreen. And its original 2 screens were split to make 4, and all of them were pretty big screens. I'm wondering if Norridge's split auditoriums have the same effect.

Cinemark Fan,

A little off-topic, but it stinks that Kiddieland closed. That place was still profitable up until the end. I went there with my wife and my sister and her boyfriend the next-to-last weekend and we had a great time.

Does this theater still use the LOEWS name or has it changed?