Castle Theater

I'm the new owner of the Castle Theater here in Bloomington. I'm just starting my renovation and I'd love to provide you with any information you'd like.

Hey Ben, I don't know if you remember me, but I went to High School with you. I now live in Texas and I've started a film production company. I wanted to know if the Castle theater would be finished anytime soon. We're nearing completion of film and would like to set up a premiere in Bloomington. Let me know what you think and maybe we talk about it at a later date. Until then take care.

Dave Jackson

New website now running for this theater with updated photos on the restoration progress: http://www.thecastletheater.com/

I was an asst Mgr of the Castle Years49-50 It was owned by Balaba Katz Public Great States Inc. I was pleased to hear the old theater is back in action. To bad the Irving didnt make it. I was an Usher at the irving. Chalmers Dean was The city Mgr.

What a grand theatre. it's great that you are restoring it. Fomr the clips I rad and photos you are doing a great job, hats off to you.

This is a great insert from the site that describes how the Castle Theatre operates today. Quite unique.
The Castle Theater is the area’s only independently owned and operated movie theater and will offer its patrons a unique and stylish alternative to the traditional movie going experience. Going to the movies should be an exciting event and while renovating the theater, we’ve tried to recapture some of that old time magic while adding some modern perks. What sets the Castle apart from other theaters is what’s in store for our guests once they walk through the door. The Castle will be furnished with a variety of café tables, comfortable couches and love seats, as well as traditional auditorium seating. A wide variety of movies will be shown, ranging from independent films to big Hollywood blockbusters. The original stage has been restored so that guests can enjoy bands and other live performances in an elegant and intimate setting. Last but certainly not least, the Castle will give new meaning to the idea of “dinner and a movie” as we’ll offer pizzas, sandwiches, desserts, as well as a wide variety of beers and wines.



Guests of the Castle purchase tickets and order food at the ticket booth located in the main lobby. After paying, they're issued a ticket with an order number on it. They then go pick up their order at one of the two concession booths located in the theater. For an additional charge, you can sit up in the balcony where you'll be waited on by one of our servers. It's that easy!

They need something like that here in Detroit, it would be a hit!

Ben: Congratuations upon the purchase of this theatre. It's too bad that the Corvette meet, Bloomington Gold doesn't meet in Bloomington anymore as your theatre would have been a great night out for the Corvette owners! I see you are showing Polar Express and Ray...both great movies, but we recently saw Polar Express in 3D and, in my opinion, that is the ONLY way to see THAT movie!

William: If you have information about the Irving and your experience as an usher, please add it to the list under Add a Theatre...it's easy.

Chuck Parker: I can't seem to bring up thecastletheater.com as I'd love to see the restoration photos!

It's funny but nobody has ever tried the Brew & Movie idea in New York. There are still loads of closed neighborhood houses to adapt. Anyone have any thoughts on why this never was tried here?

Restoration photos:
http://www.wjbc.com/xwjbc-castletheater.htm

TC: These restoration photos are very interesting. We have Bloomington Illinois friends so will have to ask them their Castle memories! Would love to see some current interior photos. Was the theatre returned to originality or a cafe/theatre venue?

Ben: I just read your July 2001 post about being the current owner so would like to know how the cafe venue at the Castle is working out. I will say that I'm a purist, at heart, and enjoy seeing the theatres brought back to originality if at all possible.

Ben: Would like to talk to you about your restoration. We are getting ready to restore the Southtown in Springfield Illinois and would like to hear about problems/solutions. Looks like you have figured it all out as it looks great!
Jim

Here is another pre-restoration photo:
http://www.cinemaphotogallery.com/photos/large/castle.jpg

Is there a formula for knowing what location could support a movie theater? With so many MegaPlex locations going up...I would like to bring cinema back to some smaller towns. I'm not sure how large a community would need to be to support a twin screen complex or how far away from another theater.

I just attended my first movie at the Castle theater. It is GREAT!!!! I really don't know where to begin. Very reasonable prices, beautiful theater, VERY comfortable couches, free refills on drinks - and they don't cost $5 per drink, the bathroom has the sound of the movie playing, food tastes good and the server brings it to your seat / couch.

The sound seems to need some improvement and it was actually a little distracting at times but it certainly would not keep me away from enjoying another movie there soon. Most of the movies there seem to be targeted towards young kids and families. I hope they continue to show movies aimed at a little older audience.

I hope people continue to support this place. It REALLY is a local treasure!

Ben,

I love the Castle! But, I tried to have a party for my son there last year and it was a mess, that resulted in me making a last minute location change, even after invitation were done. I am very nervous I will have a repeat of last year. And, already had told several people we were having the party there...can you help me?

Thanks so much,
Julie

Wilson "Bob" Tucker, former Castle Theatre projectionist, passed away Friday 10/6/06. Bob was also a stagehand and electrician for touring shows that came to Bloomington/Normal. He was also a pioneering and hugely respected author of mystery and science fiction novels in the 40s 50s and 60s, and is credited with coining the term "space opera" as it relates to large, sweeping science fiction sagas like "Star Wars". He was living in St. Petersburg, Florida at the end. R I P, Bob . . .

Unfortunately, the Castle Theater is closed and the future of theater is now uncertain. The Pantagraph - the local newspaper in Bloomington has an article on the Castle Theater's closing which can be found here: http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/01/04/money/doc459b2ba88a818668972325.txt

I sincerely hope that Ben Slotky has other succesful ventures here in Bloomington. He seems to have a great personality that is needed here in Bloomington.

After reading the above article I can't figure out why the theatre can't make it if it is being used as a church now, too. This theatre dates back to the early 1900's and deserves to remain open and especially after a major renovation.

Perhaps the "brew and view" concept didn't sit well with the folks who used it as a church. Nobody wants to sit in church on Sunday a.m. and smell the brew from Saturday night.

Here is a night view of the Castle Theater.

Lost Memory: Thanks as this marquee is very nice especially with the white lights underneath. It's always fun to walk underneath a marquee like this and just....look up! My hometown theatre, the Grand had lights like this except it was a curved marquee..sure wish I could still walk underneath those lights today, but its only a memory now as the theatre was demolished in the mid 90's. I didn't live in the area at the time, but if I had I would have protested with signs and gotten signatures to save it!

http://cinematreasures.org/theater/2953/ Grand Theatre/Westfield NY

I believe the Castle Theatre opened with a seating capacity of 1,000. Through the 1940's it is listed as being an 889 seat theatre operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidairy John Balaban. The 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook lists it with a seating capacity of 893.

Here is a 1/12/07 article that follows up on the possible sale of the Castle:
http://tinyurl.com/2zevrx

Last week the Castle Theater had a foreclosure auction. The bank which held the loan purchased the theater for roughly $250,000 with the intent to sell it. The Theater is easily worth double or triple that amount. There was some talk of converting the upper floors into condos but no mention of that had been made in quite a while.

Here is a February 2008 article about the church that uses the theater building:
http://tinyurl.com/64js2f

Here is the website for the ClearView Church.

LM, is this now exclusively a church with no intentions of any type of theatre in the future?

1982 Photo

1982 Photo

1984 Photo