Cascade Drive-In

1100 E. North Avenue,
West Chicago, IL 60185

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Cascade Drive-In, West Chicago, IL

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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

Recent comments (view all 27 comments)

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on February 28, 2009 at 9:33 pm

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.

Chuck1231
Chuck1231 on April 26, 2010 at 10:05 pm

Cascade Drive-In marquee.
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krebs
krebs on July 31, 2011 at 9:46 pm

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.

rivest266
rivest266 on June 24, 2012 at 11:26 am

August 3rd, 1961 grand opening ad uploaded in the photo section.

jwmovies
jwmovies on September 18, 2012 at 12:50 pm

Correct address is 1100 East North Avenue.

Drive-In 1954
Drive-In 1954 on September 18, 2012 at 1:07 pm

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…

btkrefft
btkrefft on September 21, 2012 at 2:11 pm

An article from the Daily Herald from 9/17/12 about the Cascade’s conversion to digital projection can be seen here.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on October 30, 2012 at 12:33 am

Another article about the options the Cascade is considering as it struggles to meet the digital challenge can be read here.

margo200
margo200 on December 10, 2012 at 12:53 am

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.

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