I never thought about that issue CSWalczak, but I bet you’re right that AMC put that in their leasing clause, as a condition of sale of this property. As for this theater, it’d be nice if Classic Cinemas were to bring this theater back to life, but who knows. They interestingly did take a chance and brought North Riverside Mall 6 back to life, despite the Kerasotes/AMC 14 theater a few miles east in Cicero.
Heck yes davidplomin, I agree that’d be another good one to see! Especially since I remember as a kid, seeing that theater abandoned for years and years. Dunno if I ever saw one movie there as a kid(was born in 82), before whenever it closed in the 1980s.
I never knew about Ald. Cullerton even going as far as trying to help the owner get a city grant to fix the air conditioning system, and he rejected it still? WTFH, really? That’s really sad to hear, thanks for mentioning that unfortunate bit of news GFeret. I remember hearing that sad bit of news, about the owner putting the theater up for sale as well. Makes me real disappointed, especially since I WAS one of the many who contributed to the Kickstarter project for this theater to get a digital projector. Really wish the owner had used Kickstarter, to fundraise enough money to completely fix the heating and A/C issues, even if it would’ve taken a total overhaul to successfully do.
Anyway, enjoy my album of Patio Theater pics, with a final update coming soon that I haven’t uploaded yet(projection booth pics): https://www.flickr.com/photos/prfsnlwannabe/sets/72157632194833202/
I visited this theater on the Saturday of the Open House Chicago weekend, and was the last person to come in to visit that day, plus to leave when they locked it up that day. Dunno if you got lucky BobbyS, but it was a challenge to shoot pics in the auditorium IMO, due to the fact some of the lights that are supposed to illuminate the theater were sadly not on. I couldn’t even get one smart phone shot off on my phone inside the auditorium, and only could get phone shots off in the lobby. Also unfortunately, the balcony wasn’t open either.
But it was a very enjoyable visit, and I hope the new owner is able to reopen this theater at some point, even if not by fall 2015(guy locking the theater up for the day when I left, said that was the goal of the new owner). For myself, it was my first visit here in over 20 years(once did a school field trip here to see something(can’t remember what), back in the early 90s), and I really hope so darn much this theater doesn’t face the same decaying fate as the Palace Theater(another John Eberson theater) in Gary where it becomes nearly impossible to save, 20 miles east.
Yeah, same here. In a way, I’m not surprised it finally closed, since it was hemmoraging in its attendance for years. Muvico especially put a nail into the coffin(when it came to its attendance), as well as the opening of newer theaters in surrounding areas in recent years(i.e. Showplace 12(Golf Mill) in Niles, etc.).
The last several times I saw a movie here in recent years(and as recently as December 2011, primarily since it was the only theater it was playing at), I always got the impression AMC put next to no investment into this theater, vs. other ones they own(i.e. Village Crossing 18 in Skokie). I must say that I always got the impression the last few times I saw a movie here that if a company other than AMC owned Norridge(and threw some money to improve it, a la when Kerasotes renovated Webster Place), that it would’ve really helped things a lot. If this theater ever were to reopen(and I really doubt it, especially with the digital projection deadline being December 2012), I couldn’t see it being viable except as a 2nd-run theater.
To answer lostmemory’s question, yes this is the Fountain Square neighborhood of Indianapolis. Too bad there aren’t any interior photos of this theater, that have been uploaded.
I’m very surprised how much of the theater’s look remains, in the storage area for Foremost. I never would imagine it’s been preserved that well. And agree that’s what I love about this site, learning about buildings and sites that I never realized were once theaters.
I’m really looking forward to the fact this will be reopening on Friday. I’m very glad it’ll no longer be a twin theater, a la what occurred with the Portage.
Hopefully, pics of the renovated interior emerge somewhere online…
Okay, thanks for the clarification Broan. I’ll go by your word then. I was definitely not trying to confuse anyone with that comment, or be speculative. I see I wasn’t totally correct, and I apologize.
Ah, okay. For whatever weird reason, I was thinking it was C-O that eventually took control of this theater, but I see it wasn’t. Thanks for answering.
This theater SO should’ve been saved, and not torn down. I do wonder if this theater had been inducted into the National Register of Historic Places, if it would’ve perhaps been saved?
Too bad there wasn’t a major campaign to save this theater from demolition, years ago. I remember this theater well(though never saw a movie, as it closed when I was 12), from my drives as a kid going up the Edens to the Chicago Botanic Garden.
I very vaguely remember this theater, if just for seeing its name in newspaper ads. Does anyone remember if this was a Cineplex Odeon, or a Loews theater? I thought it did get into the hands of one of those chains, and wouldn’t be surprised if they chose to close this theater, as a result of their merger in the late 90s.
Thanks for your comment, aek. I haven’t been out there since late 2008, hence my question about the status of this building. And totally agree that Kerasotes at least did at least try to maintain their theaters, unlike AMC.
It stinks to think about the Norridge(since I have a friend who works there), and she reported to me that the theater was closed for a short while this past summer(forget how long it was for), when the roof started to leak into some parts of that building. Proof that AMC doesn’t care much about their older theaters. Not to forget they shuttered both this one, and Pipers Alley. (the latter I feel is definitely possible to reopen as a theater again, but who knows what’ll happen with that one in the future)
Darn, that’s sad to hear the man who brought this theater back to decent shape up till 2001 passed away. I’m glad his son chose to reopen it, and will hopefully keep it going for years and years to come.
Heck, I remember the recorded answering machine greetings that I believe he probably recorded each week, back when Alex ran the theater.
I certainly hope this theater could be restored one day. If the Patio and the Portage can be restored, why not both the Ramova and this theater as well?
Anyone know what the status of this theater building is? I remember reading from some source that Gordman’s was considering opening a store on this site(per a suburban newspaper website owned by either the Trib or Sun-Times), but I have no idea if Rivertree Court is still standing, or what.
I was worried with the AMC-Kerasotes merger that older theaters like this one were at risk of closing and/or sold, and sadly my fear turned out to be right here. Too bad too, since under Kerasotes, this was a really cheap place to see movies.
It’s sad to think about the deterioration of this theater, since I agree this was a decent theater to see movies at years ago. (and like whaler, for a while this was my go-to first run theater, at least till the end of my teenage years) So much wasted opportunity that this never became a 2nd-run theater(Picture Show should’ve taken over this theater, a la Bloomingdale Court), but I know the parking lot issue with the Metropolitan Reclamation Water District would have to be resolved for this theater to be viable(and of course, for its parking lot to be totally repaved). Though I don’t know for sure, I wouldn’t be surprised if the parking lot issue it had(under Village Entertainment) did hurt its business.
I pass by here at least a few times a month, and I wonder if the Jewish school that I supposedly heard took out a lien to acquire this building will ever finally follow through and turn it into classrooms? I guess if the lien expires, Cinemark could consider taking over this theater, along with River Oaks. :) Too bad I remember reading here before I became a member here, that McClurg Court was gutted in early 2011.
I never thought about that issue CSWalczak, but I bet you’re right that AMC put that in their leasing clause, as a condition of sale of this property. As for this theater, it’d be nice if Classic Cinemas were to bring this theater back to life, but who knows. They interestingly did take a chance and brought North Riverside Mall 6 back to life, despite the Kerasotes/AMC 14 theater a few miles east in Cicero.
Heck yes davidplomin, I agree that’d be another good one to see! Especially since I remember as a kid, seeing that theater abandoned for years and years. Dunno if I ever saw one movie there as a kid(was born in 82), before whenever it closed in the 1980s.
I never knew about Ald. Cullerton even going as far as trying to help the owner get a city grant to fix the air conditioning system, and he rejected it still? WTFH, really? That’s really sad to hear, thanks for mentioning that unfortunate bit of news GFeret. I remember hearing that sad bit of news, about the owner putting the theater up for sale as well. Makes me real disappointed, especially since I WAS one of the many who contributed to the Kickstarter project for this theater to get a digital projector. Really wish the owner had used Kickstarter, to fundraise enough money to completely fix the heating and A/C issues, even if it would’ve taken a total overhaul to successfully do.
Anyway, enjoy my album of Patio Theater pics, with a final update coming soon that I haven’t uploaded yet(projection booth pics): https://www.flickr.com/photos/prfsnlwannabe/sets/72157632194833202/
Very cool. The logo of the New Regal Theater is more similar to the Avalon Theater’s logo(when it opened), than I thought!
I visited this theater on the Saturday of the Open House Chicago weekend, and was the last person to come in to visit that day, plus to leave when they locked it up that day. Dunno if you got lucky BobbyS, but it was a challenge to shoot pics in the auditorium IMO, due to the fact some of the lights that are supposed to illuminate the theater were sadly not on. I couldn’t even get one smart phone shot off on my phone inside the auditorium, and only could get phone shots off in the lobby. Also unfortunately, the balcony wasn’t open either.
But it was a very enjoyable visit, and I hope the new owner is able to reopen this theater at some point, even if not by fall 2015(guy locking the theater up for the day when I left, said that was the goal of the new owner). For myself, it was my first visit here in over 20 years(once did a school field trip here to see something(can’t remember what), back in the early 90s), and I really hope so darn much this theater doesn’t face the same decaying fate as the Palace Theater(another John Eberson theater) in Gary where it becomes nearly impossible to save, 20 miles east.
Yeah, same here. In a way, I’m not surprised it finally closed, since it was hemmoraging in its attendance for years. Muvico especially put a nail into the coffin(when it came to its attendance), as well as the opening of newer theaters in surrounding areas in recent years(i.e. Showplace 12(Golf Mill) in Niles, etc.).
The last several times I saw a movie here in recent years(and as recently as December 2011, primarily since it was the only theater it was playing at), I always got the impression AMC put next to no investment into this theater, vs. other ones they own(i.e. Village Crossing 18 in Skokie). I must say that I always got the impression the last few times I saw a movie here that if a company other than AMC owned Norridge(and threw some money to improve it, a la when Kerasotes renovated Webster Place), that it would’ve really helped things a lot. If this theater ever were to reopen(and I really doubt it, especially with the digital projection deadline being December 2012), I couldn’t see it being viable except as a 2nd-run theater.
To answer lostmemory’s question, yes this is the Fountain Square neighborhood of Indianapolis. Too bad there aren’t any interior photos of this theater, that have been uploaded.
That’s an extremely unusual ATM! It does indeed look like a phone booth, so though I don’t know for sure, maybe it was once one?
I’m very surprised how much of the theater’s look remains, in the storage area for Foremost. I never would imagine it’s been preserved that well. And agree that’s what I love about this site, learning about buildings and sites that I never realized were once theaters.
I’m really looking forward to the fact this will be reopening on Friday. I’m very glad it’ll no longer be a twin theater, a la what occurred with the Portage.
Hopefully, pics of the renovated interior emerge somewhere online…
Thank you for uploading this, as this finally settles that this theater was indeed the New Devon.
Okay, thanks for the clarification Broan. I’ll go by your word then. I was definitely not trying to confuse anyone with that comment, or be speculative. I see I wasn’t totally correct, and I apologize.
Ah, okay. For whatever weird reason, I was thinking it was C-O that eventually took control of this theater, but I see it wasn’t. Thanks for answering.
This theater SO should’ve been saved, and not torn down. I do wonder if this theater had been inducted into the National Register of Historic Places, if it would’ve perhaps been saved?
Too bad there wasn’t a major campaign to save this theater from demolition, years ago. I remember this theater well(though never saw a movie, as it closed when I was 12), from my drives as a kid going up the Edens to the Chicago Botanic Garden.
I very vaguely remember this theater, if just for seeing its name in newspaper ads. Does anyone remember if this was a Cineplex Odeon, or a Loews theater? I thought it did get into the hands of one of those chains, and wouldn’t be surprised if they chose to close this theater, as a result of their merger in the late 90s.
Thanks for your comment, aek. I haven’t been out there since late 2008, hence my question about the status of this building. And totally agree that Kerasotes at least did at least try to maintain their theaters, unlike AMC.
It stinks to think about the Norridge(since I have a friend who works there), and she reported to me that the theater was closed for a short while this past summer(forget how long it was for), when the roof started to leak into some parts of that building. Proof that AMC doesn’t care much about their older theaters. Not to forget they shuttered both this one, and Pipers Alley. (the latter I feel is definitely possible to reopen as a theater again, but who knows what’ll happen with that one in the future)
Darn, that’s sad to hear the man who brought this theater back to decent shape up till 2001 passed away. I’m glad his son chose to reopen it, and will hopefully keep it going for years and years to come.
Heck, I remember the recorded answering machine greetings that I believe he probably recorded each week, back when Alex ran the theater.
I certainly hope this theater could be restored one day. If the Patio and the Portage can be restored, why not both the Ramova and this theater as well?
Anyone know what the status of this theater building is? I remember reading from some source that Gordman’s was considering opening a store on this site(per a suburban newspaper website owned by either the Trib or Sun-Times), but I have no idea if Rivertree Court is still standing, or what.
I was worried with the AMC-Kerasotes merger that older theaters like this one were at risk of closing and/or sold, and sadly my fear turned out to be right here. Too bad too, since under Kerasotes, this was a really cheap place to see movies.
It’s sad to think about the deterioration of this theater, since I agree this was a decent theater to see movies at years ago. (and like whaler, for a while this was my go-to first run theater, at least till the end of my teenage years) So much wasted opportunity that this never became a 2nd-run theater(Picture Show should’ve taken over this theater, a la Bloomingdale Court), but I know the parking lot issue with the Metropolitan Reclamation Water District would have to be resolved for this theater to be viable(and of course, for its parking lot to be totally repaved). Though I don’t know for sure, I wouldn’t be surprised if the parking lot issue it had(under Village Entertainment) did hurt its business.
I pass by here at least a few times a month, and I wonder if the Jewish school that I supposedly heard took out a lien to acquire this building will ever finally follow through and turn it into classrooms? I guess if the lien expires, Cinemark could consider taking over this theater, along with River Oaks. :) Too bad I remember reading here before I became a member here, that McClurg Court was gutted in early 2011.