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Before AMC & Kerasotes: What’s left of M&R, Plitt, & C-O in Chicagoland?
posted by
Paul Fortini
on
February 17, 2009 at 10:45 am
I’ve been on CT for a few years now, and I need a little help here. As most Chicago CT'ers know, AMC and Kerasotes have become the dominant players in Chicagoland. I’d like to know what has become of their antecedants, especially those of AMC. I’d like to know which theatres of Cineplex-Odeon, M&R, & Plitt still function as movie houses (or are able to). Here’s what I came up with:
M&R: Lansing (f.k.a. River Run), Norridge, Portage, & Webster Place.
Plitt: LaGrange, Gateway.
Cineplex-Odeon: 600 North Michigan, Quarry, North Riverside, Bloomingdale Court, Rivertree Court, Chicago Ridge, Gardens at Old Orchard.
Essaness: Davis, Lake. (Golf-Glen is reportedly under renovation to re-open as Phoenix/Ad-labs).
Also, does anyone know if the Mesbur & Smith “free-standing” Cineplex-Odeons (such as the now-closed Lincoln Village 1-6, Bircktown, and Burnham Plaza) remain open as cinemas? North Riverside is now run by Classic Cinemas and is in the mall. Chicago Ridge was not originally built for C-O and the Quarry, Gardens of O.O. and the 600 North were of later designs.
Comments (8)
The Chicago Theatre was Plitt at the end. Although last I heard they do not own projection machines, the provisions for film do still exist.
Also, the Esquire is still in one piece for the time-being. Was it M&R that conducted the multiplex renovation?
M&R in partnership with Loews due to the fact of them taking over M&R in 1988.
Another CO with the M&S design remains open, the Rivertree Court, operated by Kerasotes!
I took a tour of the Chicago and it was revealed there is no projection equipment left in the building and on the rare occasions that they do show a movie (such as the opening of the Chicago Film Fest) they rent the equipment.
Chicago Ridge opened in 1981 by Essanes as a triplex. Cineplex Odeon took over this theatre in 1987.
Does the Gateway even show any movies anymore? If not, it is possible that the LaGrange is the last Plitt and Balaban & Katz still in business.
JRS40 is correct. What I was trying to say is that they have not turned the projection booth into a luxury suite, or some such thing. When they want to they can bring projection machines in and set them up.
The Stratford Square theatre is also was left of Plitt even though Century/Cinemrk made it into a 16-screen digital cinema.
Update:
M&R: Norridge – AMC Theatres
Lansing Cinema 8 – Jenco
Portage – Independent
Webster Place – Regal Cinemas
Plitt: La Grange – Independent
Gateway – Independent
Stratford Sq. – Century/Cinemark
Cineplex Odeon: 600 N. Michigan – AMC Theatres
Quarry Cinemas 14 – AMC Theatres
North Riverside – Classic Cinemas
Bloomingdale Court – Picture Show Entertainment
Rivertree Court – AMC Theatres
Chicago Ridge – AMC Theatres
Gardens At Old Orchard – Regal Cinemas
Essaness: Davis – Independent
Lake – Classic Cinemas
Golf Glen – Big Cinemas