Pickwick Theatre
5 S. Prospect Avenue,
Park Ridge,
IL
60068
5 S. Prospect Avenue,
Park Ridge,
IL
60068
28 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 61 comments found
The Pickwick is about 1/3 of the way through replacing the seats in the main auditorium with high-back, vinyl, rocker chairs. It’s… different.
I went here last night with my wife to see “The Descendants” in the main theater.
While it is a treasure, the place needs some work. Some of the tiles on the stairway leading to the men’s room are loose. I’d like to see the old water fountains restored too. And the men’s room needs some work.
Absolutly gorgeous theatre. I do hope that when the owner states that the new screen will be “huge” that he isn’t planning to install it in front of the procienium. But still a treasure to be loved and protected.
A 1930 photo of the Pickwick auditorium can be seen here.
An unexecuted lobby scheme
The Pickwick is set for renovations:
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I really hope the owner tries to do this with historic accuracy. Iannelli’s work was such a total architecture, and the finishes were a crucial part of the whole. The harmony was a huge part of the power.
I’ve added a number of historic photos to http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/ctid302/
The marquee needs a little renovation
Very,Very, Nice.
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2010 photos of the Pickwick Theatre.
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Close up of the marquee detail.
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A 3/11 Wurlitzer (model 225) was installed in the theatre in 1928.
Theatre appears at # 121 on the 150 places to visit in illinois
http://www.illinoisgreatplaces.com/
Here are some more photos of the Pickwick Theatre. Click ecah photo for a larger view.
http://www.agilitynut.com/06/7/decot2.jpg
http://www.agilitynut.com/06/7/decot.jpg
http://www.agilitynut.com/06/7/decot5.jpg
A nice recent night photo is here.
Here is a November 1928 ad from the Daily Herald:
http://tinyurl.com/n9jtt5
Here are more 1982 photos:
Photo1
Photo2
Photo3
Photo4
Photo5
Here is a July 1941 ad from the Daily Herald:
http://tinyurl.com/q7hq6e
Here are some 1982 photos:
http://tinyurl.com/qeaxjr
http://tinyurl.com/q4mn9c
http://tinyurl.com/qr5uhn
This is a 2009 photo.
How wide is the screen in the main auditorium?
I haven’t been here yet, but I wonder if some 70MM revivals could be run in the future?
Here is the Pickwick at night.
And the screen is bigger, the audience is better behaved, and the sound is probably better, too.
A personal recollection regarding seeing a movie (the first BATMAN w/Michael Keaton) @ the PickWick;
Took my 2 young sons here and it was (almost) their first time at a theater, and what they did spontaneously and totally on their own just bowled me over.
Because I’d long since forgotten, but I did it too when I was their age—when the movie started they just got up from their seats and sat themselves comfortably right down in the aisle! (And there remained).
On a different subject: if you find yourself frustrated, even mad when you’re at one of the chain multiplex cinemas (there’re 2 not terribly far from PW) because the big blockbuster pic that just opened is seats sold-out when you arrive there, remember the PickWick is a relatively fast drive down Greenwood/Cumberland or up Touhy Aves. And they certainly won’t be sold-out in their huge main auditorium.
This is another photo of the Pickwick Theater.
I don’t think this is true: “Currently, the theater is a performing arts venue, managed by the Pickwick Theatre Council.”