New 400 Theaters

This cinema was called the 400 up until 1996 when the
village theater purchased it.

Anyone know why it was called the 400?

"The Four Hundred" is an old term for the highest of high society. That's probably what the namers were going for.

This is an article about the Village North Theater nicknamed the "Ghettoplex". The article isn't dated but it appears to be a few years old.

In the late '70s I saw the cult film Rock-n-Roll High School starring the Ramones. As a kid growing up on the westside it was my first time in Rogers Park.

The description above for this theatre should be changed. The Adelphi has been demolished so now the Village North is the only movie theatre left in Rogers Park.

Also, a few years ago, there was a proposal to build a new multi-plex across from the CTA's Howard Street L Stop (Red Line). Anybody know whatever became of that plan?

See comments on the Norshore Theatre Paul.

Also, I think the building remained a single auditorium until the 90's. I went there a few times late 80's / early 90's. It looked like they started to twin it, then ran out of money and continued to operate while everything was in shambles. There were holes punched for the second projection booth for instance. It made the Plaza Theatre on Devon look like the Uptown!

LTS,

It has been awhile since I was at the Village North. It was okay. The floors were clean, as were the rest rooms. The Village North gets significant walk-in trade from the community.

Once when I was there, circa 1997-1998, there was a petition being circulated protesting the proposed multi-plex. So, perhaps indirectly, Village Theatres won on that one.

Village is now advertising legal movie downloads on its website.

Is it me, or is it just plain wrong for a movie theatre chain to do this?

Here are photos of this theater.

Oh, shoot. I forgot to edit that before linking.

Here are photos of this theater.

This is one theatre that Village seems to have improved. See photos of the theatre the way I remember it in this gallery:

http://www.mekong.net/random/cinema6.htm

It was a dump in the 80's & 90's. They put up that 400 Twin sign and seemed to start twinning the place. Then all work stopped. But they continued to operate in a state of shambles.

Note that these photos may not be reproduced without permission of their owner.

NEWS ITEM, when the Village was previously called the 400 Theatre:
Chicago Daily News, Thursday, October 7, 1954, p. 53, c. 1:
Retreat From TV Ending: CLOSED MOVIES TO REOPEN
by Sam Lesner
Four of Chicago's closed movie houses are reopening!
The Essex theater, Sheridan rd. near Lake Shore dr., closed for two years, reopens Friday with the widely acclaimed French-Italian omnibus film, "The Seven Deadly Sins."

The Calo Theater, 5406 N. Clark, another victim of the theater-devouring TV giant, will be reopened Oct. 22, with Jack Webb's "Dragnet," the first feature length film version of Webb's TV program which was No. 1 in the Hooper ratings for September. (Isn't that poetic justice, or something?)

The 400 theater, another North Side film house that has been dark for some time, is being remodeled for a new lease on its former movie life.

The Armitage, 3545-51, also an early TV victim, is being remodeled for an early reopening---as a film house, of course.

Did the Essex ever have another name? I'm not finding much about it here, or elsewhere.

The entry for the Guild Theater at 717 West Sheridan in Chicago shows that it was known as the Essex as well as the Pine Grove, Panorama, and Little.

This will probably be the last of Village's theatres to survive. It gets good walk-in trade from Loyola and the neighborhood.

The website should be shown as www.villagetheatres.com

You sure about that, Catherine?
Village Theater For Sale?

Oh snap, I better get down there ASAP. Maybe next weekend.

Cinemark Fan...

Remember that the link is to a blog about the Village North's building for sale, nothing official. But it does add to my theory that Village Theatres will be out of business by next year.

Does anyone have any photos of one of the four auditoriums at Village North? Because I've searched for showtimes, and there's no listing. I called them, but no voice giving showtimes. It's just ringing. I belive it's closed. I hope I'm wrong though.

Uh-Oh! That's not good news for those who live in Rogers Park.

Village's website says that the theatre is still open. I think that once this place goes, that'll be it for Village's chain.

Try calling again. I heard showtimes for today and tomorrow.

Hard to say what will happen here. Either way, I am not sure anyone needs to rush out to experience the old 400. It is a productive neighborhood movie house, but no movie palace to be sure.

Whew, that was a close one. You see, two of my brothers snuck off and saw Escape From LA here back in 1996. They lied and said it was at Water Tower so our mom wouldn't know. But I didn't go because I was too young for them to take me that far. Ever since they said it was such a great throwback theater, I've been trying to get down there.

Isn't it odd that they didn't book a new movie like Fantastic Four: Silver Surfer? Anyway, I'll see what I can do about going here this week and snapping some auditorium shots.

Cinemark Fan,

I still stand by my prediction that Village Theatres (aka Village Entertainment) will be no more by the end of 2008.

I did some research a few weeks ago, and when Village first became a chain circa 2000-2002, the company DID advertise its cinemas and did appear to be a legitimate chain and not a "crash-and-burn-operation". The December 20, 2002 edition of The Chicago Tribune shows the following cinemas that Village advertised and the movies playing there:

HINSDALE: Lord of the Ring: The Two Towers
GLENWOOD: Two Weeks Notice, Wild Thornberry's, & Lord of the Rings 2
BURNHAM PLAZA: Gangs of NY, Lord of the Rings 2, Drumline, Empire
BLOOMINGDALE: Gangs of NY, Two Weeks Notice, Lord of The Rings 2, Drumline, Star Trek Nemesis, Die Another Day.
STRATFORD: Wild Thornberry's , Lord Of the Rings 2, Hot Chick, Harry Potter & the Chambers Secrets, Analyzze That.
WATER TOWER: Personal Velocity, Standing in the Shadows of Motown, Emporer's Club,Ararat.
BIOGRAPH: Analyze That, Two Weeks Notice, Gangs of New York.
VILLAGE: Gangs of NY, Rodger Dodger, Emporer's Club, Man From Elysian Fields.
VILLAGE NORTH: Lord of the Rings 2, Drumline, Star Trek Nemesis.
GOLF GLEN: Two Weeks Notice, Gangs of NY, Wild Thornberry's, Lord of the Rings 2, Harry Potter, and Analyze That.

Apparantly, Village Entertainment was promoting its cinemas and had decent bookings (although it still gets decent bookings). And Water Tower was showing art films! The questions are what happened and when did Village become a "crash-and-burn" operation?

I have a friend who was at The 400 Theater on December 7, 1941, when the movie was interrupted with an announcement that Pearl Harbor had been bombed. How can I find out what movie was playing?

Look up the microfilm for a newspaper. Let me take a look, perhaps I can find it.

Errol Flynn & Fred MacMurray in "Dive Bomber" and Joan Bennett & Henry Fonda in "Wild Geese Calling"

Thanks, BWChicago, that was fast work. Did you find that on line or at a library? I really appreciate it. My friend who was at the theater in 1941 is 87 years old now & has some memory problems. But talking about movies & songs triggers all kinds of interesting conversations with her. She used to write a lot & part of her autobiography that she wrote in 2001 contains a detailed description of being in the theater (she just couldn't remember the name of the film). Ginnie wrote, "...the action on the screen stopped. Since this was a frequent occurrence, someone called up to the projectionist to wake up, or change the reel, when we all realized the screen was fully lit and we could see the silhouette of fingers working with a strip of yellow paper. Suddenly,the statement was clear: THE JAPS HAVE BOMBED PEARL HARBOR! There was a murmur through the theater...Lou said, 'Most of our Pacific Fleet is there. If they did real damage'...someone else finished the thought, 'It would mean we'd be in the war!'...The theater lights came on and I looked around at so many people, just like us, ordinary middle-class, in a state of bewilderment...we started to file out of the theater soberly, quietly. We had all been through so much with the Depression that we seemed to know we just had to face up to this next impossible situation..."

The Tribune's archive is online. I wonder how the projectionist would have projected that message.

Thanks, again, BWChicago. I wonder if Ginnie might have had a false memory about the projectionist. It seems more likely that someone made a verbal announcement about the bombing.

Speaking of memories, I spent time as a child at the Avalon in the 1950's. Very fond memories. I moved from Chicago in 1970, so did not keep up on the theater (the New Regal?) until recently. I found some photos on-line of the Avalon. Can you recommend a good book with more Avalon interior photos and/or on-line sites?

I saw the photographs from Mekong (as linked in one of the posts above). This theatre was also named the 400 Twin at one point.

I'm not sure what the future of this theatre will be, so I'm going to try to make it up there with my husband or some of my friends to see a show there soon.

I might be able to get down here & see 1408 after July 6th. Maybe during one of the following weekdays.

One look at Village Entertainment's garish and useless Website, at www.villagetheatres.com, should tell you much of what you need to know about this company's (lack of) smarts. Most of the theaters they purchased in the last decade have since closed. Wthout exception, the company will blame some circumstance beyond their control for a theater's demise. It's doubtful that they have a vision or even a viable business plan.

Went here often during the 1990s, when it was the 400, and only very sporadically since (my last visit was probably around 2005). This theater has been rotten for a while, before and after Village bought it and later put up the garish signs reading "Now First-Run and First-Class!" The improvements were minor and mostly cosmetic.

When the theater was 'plexed out in the 1980s, some of the projection booths ended up off-center and the result is a fair bit of keystoning in certain theaters. I can't say I've ever noticed this at another dedicated movie house.

The 400 Theatre has special memories for me. During the early to mid 1960's an annual Halloween party was held, where a Master of Ceremonies tossed candy to the kids all dressed in costume, a Best Costume award was given, followed by a "scary" movie, such as Frankenstein, The Mummy, Dracula or an Abbott and Costello fright/comedy film. I also worked there (age 14-15) on school weekends and during the summer restocking the Concession stand and general cleanup duties. I would let my friends in through the door behind the screen (on the Columbia street side) and we sneak in during the movie. Of course, the double wide seats were great for dates and I had my first kiss there at age 13. I lived on Columbia just up the street and worked at Frankfort's Drug Store as a delivery boy and stock boy. Next to the theatre was a club called the Pink Fink, where the cleaners is located now. There was a barber shop on the other side, which later became a head shop. I worked there, too. A great theatre, indeed.

Speaking of theatres in Rogers Park, in the late 1950's there were two I recall being open; One on Morse Avenue, just east of the "L" on the north side of the street. I believe the building is referred to now as Cobler's and the second is on Devon just east of Clark, now the Clark-Devon Hardware. I live in Miami now and came across this website by accident and found it interesting as I looked at the theatres I went to that, unfortunately, are mostly closed or gone. Of course the grand ladies were the Granada, the Century and the Uptown, with the Adelphi as a special place with the "star" ceiling. Is the Uptown still being considered for opening again? With the neighborhood upgrading, the theatre would be a grand addition back in business.

Architects were Grossman & Proskauer.

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/newsstar/news/605382,SN-Sheridan-101707-s1.article

At least they want to keep the movie theater. I'm still planning to get down there to check it out, and go to that pizza place a few blocks away.

Cinemark Fan,

You should combine that with a trip to see the Lincoln Village. All you have to do is take the 155 bus west from Sheridan/Devon. Do this while you still can. That is, while these theatres still exist and the bus route still exists.

Speaking of which, how will the proposed horrendous CTA/PACE/Metra cutbacks affect your movie-going? For me it will likely mean no more trips to the LaGrange, the Tivoli, the Lake, the York, etc. Sports-wise, it will likely mean no more trips to the Schaumburg Flyers and far fewer trips to the Chicago Wolves.

Village has not updated its website since September 21, 2007. What's that all about?

Well, they finally updated their website. Braaaaaa-vo to Village Entertainment for not letting people know which movies were playing at their theatres for the past 6 weeks!

(Must be those stealth movies I've heard so much about)!

OMG, there's actually an ad for the Village North in the Sun-Times today!

I saw "The Mist" at the Village North this past weekend. the theater was clean enough, but the staff was indifferent (they left me and several other patrons standing on the sidewalk until five minutes before showtime), the bathroom was poorly maintained (how do you run out of paper towels five minutes after opening?) and it wasn't well heated (a sign in the window said they were having "problems with Peoples Energy"). I would chalk this up as a bad day at a good theater if I hadn't had a near identical experience at the Lincoln Village a couple of weeks before. That points to poor management. I hope Village North survives--I believe it's the oldest active movie house in Chicago, and it would be a shame to see it go.

Tick, tick, tick...that's time running out for Village Theatres!

And the clock continues to tick! Village's website has expired! The site is pending renewal or deletion. The company must be on it's last legs to have their website expire! I better run out to their theaters while I still can! I've never been to Village North or Lincoln Village and haven't been to North Riverside since Village took it over-

Sam Burrows managed the 400 Theatre -- now called the Village North -- through most of the 1980s. At one point, in about 1980 -- Burrows no longer remembers exactly when -- a very old woman walked up to the box office.

"Excuse me," she said. "I have a free pass to this theatre. I think it may have expired, but I was wondering if you would still honor it."

She handed him her pass. It read:

Admit One
REGENT THEATRE
6746 N. SHERIDAN ROAD
When Accompanied With One Adult Paid Admission
TO ANY PERFORMANCE
Up To And Including April 17, 1925

Needless to say, he let her in.

A scan of the pass can be seen at http://www.mekong.net/random/freepass.htm

http://www.chitowndailynews.org/Chicago_news/Developers_seeking_TIF_funds_for_Rogers_Park_theater_rehab,14777

A somewhat distressing plan to replace terra cotta with reinforced concrete

This line is somewhat more distressing:

"Fox said he is satisfied with the property's current mix of tenants, though ADC does have an eviction order pending against the operator of the theater."

I don't know why they feel they need to screw with it. Last time I was there it was a really nice little plaza.

Hey,

I will be in the area on Thursday, so I will probably go & see a movie here. Is it still a decent place?

I called the Village North's telephone number. According to the recorded message, it is no longer the "Village North". Instead, it's now called "Visionary Theatres".

Methinks Village Entertainment is no more.

If Village isn't dead, it's on life support! I read online recently that the city was evicting Village Entertainment from Village North over the summer. Based on Catherine's above post, it sounds like someone else is already running the theater currently. And of course, we all know that Village was also recently evicted from North Riverside. Classic Cinemas took it over, and did many renovations to it in a month that Village never did in 2 years! As posted on this site, I think a Bollywood chain runs Lincoln Village and Bloomingdale. Isn't that all the theaters they had left? Lest we forget the website that hasn't been updated in 3 months...

Truly amazing. Evicted from two different theaters?! Who ever heard of such a thing?! It is truly a shame. I have gotten a real education on the Village chain per this site. Sounds like they bought a lot of great theaters with lots of life left in them and they either killed them or got kicked out of them. It's a nice story that Classic Cinemas took over and renovated North Riverside. Too bad they couldn't have saved more of these theaters like Biogrpah and Water Tower, etc. Oh well, guess I'm beating a dead horse here...

The 400 was another one that in the `80's had midnight runs of the "Rocky Horror Picture Show". I heard from a friend that it was pretty much a free for all, where attendees threw their toast and what not with no apparent intervention by management.

I seem to remember they did get a crack at some pretty good 2nd run films at one time. Maybe even first run since the closest theatre still operating in the 90's was the Adelphi.

The only film I remember seeing at the 400 was some indie action romp, starring John Matusak formerly of Oakland Raiders and "North Dallas Forty" fame. He died not long after the film was released. So maybe 1988 or so.

The Oasis was/is a 4am tavern just across the street on Sheridan. It was pretty much necessary after that.

The Glenwood is another Village Entertainment cinema that's up for lease, but apparantly still operating.

Village had some cinemas in the south. The Pemberton was clsoed a few years ago, but apparantly has re-opened. And Nova Cinemas (according to Yahoo Movies) now operates either the one in Blountville or the one in Bristol.

Update, the one in Blountville is now a Nova Cinemas, per Yahoo Movies.

Does anyone know how I can obtain a picture of the 400 Theater to use in a tribute video about my parents for their upcoming 59th anniversary?

They met at the 400 in 1946 and used to go there to see films while dating. They were married in late 1950.

Also needed are some stills of Sullivan High School from that same era.

I must complete the editing by Nov 25th 2008. Contact me at: vidkid1@tell-my-story.com

Your help is much appreciated.

Does anyone know how I can obtain a picture of the 400 Theater to use in a tribute video about my parents for their upcoming 59th anniversary?

They met at the 400 in 1946 and used to go there to see films while dating. They were married in late 1950.

Also needed are some stills of Sullivan High School from that same era.

I must complete the editing by Nov 25th 2008. Contact me at: vidkid1@tell-my-story.com

Your help is much appreciated.

On line reviews are now showing it as Visionary Theatres.


http://chicago.metromix.com/movies/movie_theater/visionary-theatre-rogers-park/reader-review/82971/view

Robin,

I think it is official. The Fandango website is now showing it as "Visionary Theatres" http://www.fandango.com/chicagovillagenorththeatre_aahvl/theaterpage

So the name of this theatre should be "Visionary Theatres".

And they have first run films!
What a comeback.
Cheers to them!

I wonder who owns it and operates it. Is it independent?

According to the Illinois Secretary of State, Visionary Theatres Incorporated began operations on 9/24/2008. The agent is listed as Dawn Russo of Bolingbrook.

Village Entertainment, meanwhile, was involuntarily dissolved on 9/12/08.

Paul and BW, how are you guys willing to bet that in the next few months, improvments will start being made?

I finally went here in August to see the latest "Mummy" flick, and I was impressed with the place. For an old building with management who runs good theaters (Water Tower, Burnham Plaza, Stratford Square) in the ground, it was in decent condition. What I hope Visionary will do is install new carpeting, improve bathrooms, new decor, because the current state makes it look like a seedy nightclub. This is really evident in the hallway leading to auditoriums 3-4. Of course new seats and lighting in the auditoriums themselves would be swell. The current condition is a lot better than what some user reviews at yelp.com make them out to be. But then I was at an afternoon showing. All and all, I will return soon, and combine it with another trip to Carmen's Pizza (great stuff) a few blocks away.

I can't remember the exact seating count, but #1 seats 140. 2 seats 100, 3 and 4 both seat about 120.

Everyone give props to Paul, who predicted that Village Theatres would be gone by 2008. With my theater corporation yet to get off the ground, this was a lesson in how NOT to run a business. It is truly sad how some once good or great theaters have died early deaths under Village's reign. Had someone with a plan entered the business, Burnham Plaza and the Village in old town would've been around longer. Same can be said for Stratford Square, which could've survived in it's original carnation. I would've added 2-4 screens to it, then remodel the nearby Bloomingdale Court. Yeah I know the new Century/Cinemark is the thing, but I still love those early 80s mall theaters with big screens and simple decor. And SS opened in March of 1981.

Anyway, rant over. But looking at some of their theaters, Water Tower's days were numbered long ago. They really went under when ICE management took over, then couldn't pay taxes. And I don't know how long Lincoln Village has. The current mix of Bollywood and first run movies aren't bringing in LOTS of people needed to stay strong. And it needs improvments badly. And on another note, Phoenix Theaters is reopening Golf Glen soon. And me, I'm going after River Oaks (keep fingers crossed everyone!). I have a name for my potential corporation too, but I want to suprise everyone.

Rant really over. And happy thanksgiving everyone!

I drove by this building last night by chance. It still looks exactly the same. There were not any "Visionary Theatres" signs, etc.

Yeah, I'm not sure it's time yet to change the name, since Visionary Theatres is obviously a corporate name.

When you call their phone #, the recording says "Visionary Theatre formerly the Village North".

To CinemarkFan: If you are going after the River Oaks not only 1-6, but hopefully go can go after 7-8 and especially 9-10 if it is still standing and not converted to retail or demolished.

As for the Golf Glen, why bother reopening it when you have the Showplace 12 at Golf Mill.

The Village North/Visionary theaters is dirty at times but it reminds me of the old theaters they had downtown. This theater also offers midnight shows and this gives 3rd shift workers like myself a chance to see movies at the theater at a time that's convenient for me.

Jimpiscitelli, no doubt I'm aiming to reopen 7-8 and 9-10. 9-10 still sits off Torrence Ave in the mall lot, boarded up and all.

Uh, I think they have closed. I tried calling their phone number and a recording is saying that it cannot receive calls at this time. Also, Yahoo Movies is showing nothing for tomorrow.

Postings from the Bristol TN theatres indicate that Russo is a former general manager for Village.

I passed by this place a few days ago. It is definitely closed. Newspaper over the windows, empty marquee, the works. So "Visionary Theatres" lasted what? about two months?

Can we agree now that changing this listing to "Visionary" was premature, since it was only a name used on the telephone for about a month?

Brian,
Premature or not, I have already changed the name back to Village North Theater, which is what it was best known as in recent years.

Fandango still has the place open and showing "Bedtime Stories", "The Spirit", "Valkyrie", and "Yes Man".

According to the ChiTown Daily News, the owner of the strip mall plans on renovating and reopening the theater himself. Perhaps this should be listed as "Closed/Renovating/Restoring"?

Here is a March 2009 article from the Chicago Tribune:
http://tinyurl.com/dja574

I've been a little out of the loop lately. Village Theatres has bitten the dust? Yeah, I'll shed a tear for them. They were one of the worst chains ever.

Reactivate Notification Status.

The 400, complete with old-school road sign:

http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=400+chicago&ProductID=26109

Hey LTS, that site has 4 pics of the Nortown, since you are able to post them.

That web site has pictures of everything. I am beginning to feel like a drug addict. It's easy to post links. Just right click the web address and copy it. Then you can paste into Cinema Treasures.

Thanks. But "Paste" & WebTV isn't really a good combo. It's "server" is too archaic, and it would just post/revert to that site's main page. If WebTV was able to do anything at all. I can send links to people, but not to other sites.
Alas, I must leave the link posting to the pros.

Does anyone know what happened to Ron Rooding?

http://www.aqharescue.com/

http://www.aqharescue.com/

The Village North sign has been demolished. There is a vinyl banner hanging above the doors now that says something like:

"coming soon, the NEW 400 THEATRE"

Saw this on my way down Sheridan last night. The power is on in the lobby, also a good sign.

Is that to say Ron Rooding is breeding horses?

Reopened today as the new 400 Theater. They're showing "Transformers 2", "Taking of Pelham 123", "The Hangover", and "Up" in 2D.

I will get down there again soon, but only when I can go to the nearby Carmen's Pizza.

I was happy to find show listings for the New 400 on Flixster on Friday. I drove down Sheridan on Saturday night and noticed the theatre looked dark which seemed odd since it was supposed to be open. On Sunday afternoon I went to the theatre to see a movie but it wasn't open. The sign on the door said it will open on July 1.

http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/film/2009/06/26/i-left-my-heart-400-theater-and-my-gum-under-seat/

4 million, wow

Looks like the current official name is the "New 400 Theater"

I'm just reacting on a gut level. But 4 million seems like an awful lot of money to spend on a renovation of the 400. I wonder if that figure is incorrect.

It's officially open today. Looks clean and new, and it's playing four first run movies. Going definitely to try it out today.
Will comment after.

Their website will be http://thenew400.com/ but it is not yet up.

I'm a reporter who will be covering the re-opening of 400 theater. If you happen to go there tonight, drop me a line to let me know what you thought. Email me at n.wasinski[at]gmail[dot] com. Please include your neighborhood, age and full name. Thanks, moviegoers!

So glad to see it re-opened. I'll jave to check it out.

The Little Theatre that Could.

Went there yesterday. Clean and fresh, with what looked like new carpeting and refurbished seats (at least I think they were refurbished--my butt didn't fall asleep during "Public Enemies"), and the faint smell of fresh paint was in the air. The biggest change? The staff. The previous crew looked like extras from a George Romero movie--slow, unenthusiastic, disinterested. The new crew? Bright, friendly, eager, helpful. I'll gladly go again.

Awesome news for us Northsiders. As soon as something I want to see comes in, I'll be excited to check it out!

Glad to see this place re-opened! At least this place and the North Riverside escaped the clutches of Village Entertainment.

Saw "Inglourious Basterds" there a couple of weeks ago with a decent-sized, enthusiastic crowd. So nice to see this place up & running well again. It's now one of my "go-to" theaters for affordable moviegoing (along with the Davis and the Logan). Options? Are good.

After six months operation under new ownership, this place remains a neighborhood gem. Saw UP IN THE AIR last week. $5.00 matinee. Fresh popcorn. Friendly and courteous staff. Clean auditorium and restroom.