Cascade Drive-In
1100 E. North Avenue,
West Chicago,
IL
60185
1100 E. North Avenue,
West Chicago,
IL
60185
13 people
favorited this theater
The Cascade Drive-In opened in 1961, and is one of the only remaining drive-in theaters in the Chicagoland area in operation. It is also the largest in Illinois with parking for over 1,200 cars.
The Cascade Drive-In screens double-features, and is open from April to October, seven nights a week.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 27 comments)
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/pstao/470910158/
Here is part of a September 1989 article from the Illinois Daily Herald:
Jeffrey Kohlberg is a drive-in movie nut. He began working at his father’s drive-in when he was eight years old â€" painting, cutting grass, working the concession stands, picking up golf balls at the driving range that was part of the old 53 Drive-In in Palatine. His dad, Stanford Kohlberg, at one time operated 50 theaters. Today, Kohlberg, 42, is back in the drive-in business after being out of it since 1987, when a Palatine drive-in .that he and his sister, Jarrol Cataldo, rented from their dad, was sold. The two own 53 Drive-In Management Inc., in Lincolnshire, which has operated the Des Plaines Theatre since 1985 and which this year took over operation of the Cascade Drive-In in West Chicago.
“The finest drive-in in the U.S.,” Kohlberg calls it, speaking admiringly of how well maintained it was by its previous operator. While it was built in the 1950s, it looks new, he said. “That place is like it’s been in a time capsule all these years,” he said.The previous owner, Spiro Charuhas, sold the drive-in to an investment group when he decided to retire, and Kohlberg was able to lease the theater until some other plan comes along for the land.
Cascade Drive-In marquee.
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MY wife and I went to the drive-in theater last nite (7/30)with our two dogs and had a very nice time. However,according to their web site the first feature was to start a 8 PM and the second feature was to start at 10:05 PM. The first feature did not start until after 9 PM. They should either put the correct information on their website or make announcements at the theater as to the correct starting times.
August 3rd, 1961 grand opening ad uploaded in the photo section.
Correct address is 1100 East North Avenue.
I’m surprise it has not been twined yet with a parking ramp that big? Can they fill it ever night? But, since it is the only drive-in left in the area…
An article from the Daily Herald from 9/17/12 about the Cascade’s conversion to digital projection can be seen here.
Another article about the options the Cascade is considering as it struggles to meet the digital challenge can be read here.
When I worked there in the late 60’s to mid 70’s, we would fill the place when we played family movies like Disney. The Charuhaus' were talking then about converting to a twin, but the private sewer system in the back made it difficult. Plus the projection building is in located in row 4 of the 12 row theater.