Cascade Drive-In
1100 E. North Avenue,
West Chicago,
IL
60185
1100 E. North Avenue,
West Chicago,
IL
60185
16 people
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I worked for Basil Charuhas' son, Spiro (Spike), for 8 summers (and a few very cold winters). I even met my wife of 30 years there. She was a cashier and I was a ramp attendant.
I worked for Basil Charuhas' son, Spiro (Spike), for 8 summers (and a few very cold winters). I even met my wife of 30 years there. She was a cashier and I was a ramp attendant.
This was the site of my one drive-in visit. I made the effort to go out here and see a movie about six years ago because I figured these places were on their way out. It was pretty cool. People backed up their minvans to the screen, pulled out lawn chairs, tuned the sound in on the radio, and had a picnic. In the distance there was bustling in and out of the seedy concession building while kids jumped around on play structures in front of the screen. The movie towered above us against the night sky, and it was of decent quality. Definitely one-of-a-kind environment in my experience.
I saw E.T. at Cascade and I can say it’s one of my favorite childhood memories. There is something magical about pulling up to Cascade on a warm summer night and getting ready to do what people in the ‘burbs have been doing for over forty years. Get there early, get a good spot. Play some frisbee or throw around the football. Pile into the back of the truck with pillows and blankets and a jug of kool aid. Watch the kids faces as the opening credits roll for the hit of the summer. Nothing like it. Who can resist the flippy hot dog and the dancing ice cream? Not me! I hope Cascade is there for my son’s children, just like it has been for me and my parents.
The Ski-Hi Drive-In http://www.drive-ins.com/theater/iltskih Closed in either 1969 or 1970 replaced then by Dispensas Castle of Toys.
Does anyone remember the name of the drive in on Roosevelt Rd and Route 83 in Oakbrook Terrace???
I love love LOVE this theater!!!!! The place is truly old school retro and the whole ambiance and experience plays into it! I’m only 22 so I don’t know what it was truly like to go to the ACTUAL drive in like they used to, but I can get a feel for it when I go here! Make sure to come in a truck or convertible if you’re gunna stay in your car cuz tryin to see the screen from the backseat of a regular car sucks. And if you do come in a regular, bring camping style chairs to setup outside er something (and blankets since it does get chilly as the night sets in). The concession stand has an awesome variety of old school drive in foods…….BTW, all BIGGER cars have to park in the rear rows so as not to obstruct the view, keep that in mind!!! AND YOU CAN BRING PETS!!!!!!!!!! I HOPE THEY NEVER CLOSE THIS PLACE, IT NEEDS TO LIVE ON!!!!!!! THEY JUST CLOSED THE ONE IN AURORA SO HELP KEEP THIS ONE ALIVE, GO SEE A DRIVE IN MOVIE!!!!!!
It’s about to reopen for the season. Also it did not open until August 4, 1961. It was built by independent exhibitors Basil Charuhas, Bill Galligan, and Milt Levy. It featured a 40-foot attraction sign with over 3000 lamps simulating a waterfall. It was touted as featuring the newest transistorized sound and having aligned viewing ramps to eliminate hard to see corners.
It’s nice to see a throw-back to the way things used to be! Don’t like the food at the concession stands? Bring your own! We we were kids, money was tight for my folks so my mom used to pop a big brown bag of popcorn and fill a thermos jug with Kool-Aid. I saw some of the greatest movies ever at drive-ins; Willie Wonka, MAd Max, etc. I look forward to taking my kids to the Cascade in a few years as well. Hoppefully they stay around for quite a while, just like another instituion nearby, Sonny Acres!
I think it opens later this month!! Can’t wait.
This sounds like a great place, hope it stays open many years.
My boyfriend and I go there almost every weekend when it’s open. The women’s restroom is yucky. Other than that, everything inside is original and retro. We love it! We hope they do not sell the land to developers. It’s our favorite place to go on a Friday or Saturday night in the summer. My parents used to take us there once in awhile when I was young. It’s been around for a long time.
This is a great place, it’s like going back in time.
I live in Elgin with my husband and 12 year old twin sons.
We were at the cascade last month for the first time. We saw Spider Man 2 and White Chicks and it was fun for all of us. We even joyed coming back home at 1:00 a.m. It bought back many memories when I grew up in Chicago and my parents would take me movie hopping downtown.
I’ve been there several times. First run movies. great for kids. they allow PETS!!! come a little early for best spots. we took our own food & snacks to save $, but the concession building has a very wide offering. clean restrooms. depending on traffic and road construction the 35+ mile drive from Chicago will take 1 to 1.5 hours. THANKS FOR KEEPING THE EXPERIENCE ALIVE FOR ANOTHER GENERATION!
There are only a few drive in theatres left in our area and we live over an hour away but always check out what’s playing at the Cascade and have made the drive a few times.
I had the pleasure of visiting the Cascade for the first time this summer. It was the first time I had been to a drive-in in over ten years and I loved it. The speakers (yes they still use speakers but also offer the radio sound) blasted music from the 50’s and the 60’s and an old cartoon was shown before the first movie. The double feature was a bit odd (Spy Kids 3-D plus Freddy vs Jason) but the place was packed which was a beautiful sight. The concession area is huge and offers all the classic drive-in foods I had remembered plus more. It was a great experience and I hope to return next year.