Cine Lounge at Niles
9180 W. Golf Road,
Niles,
IL
60714
9180 W. Golf Road,
Niles,
IL
60714
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Showing 51 - 75 of 81 comments
I went to Omega restaurant 3 weeks ago and noticed the closure of Golf Glen, one of its last new showings was King Kong. It was a craphole for the last 15 years and I have no idea how it remained open so long.
It was 1980 when I moved into the area and remember the theater as an A&P which closed later that year (severe bankruptcy – A&P is a facinating story in itself but that has little relevance here). It then became an Army/Navy or Salvation Army store from early 1981 to late 1982 then closed until the creation of the Golf Glen theaters in June 1984 (I first seen the sign from a school bus when I was going on a field trip. I was one of the goofs who liked break dancing and wanted to see Beat Street…the 80’s will never be cloned).
Theatres closed by the Village Entertainment chain and the years Village operated them:
Biograph: 2002-2004
Burnham Plaza: 2002-2005
Fox Valley: 2002-2003
Golf Glen: 2002-2006
Hinsdale: 2002-2003
Water Tower: 2002-2003
Notice that all came from Village’s expansion in 2002. Undercapitalized and over-expanded in such a short time
Brian W,
This article explained to me the whole Plitt/Essaness/Cineplex sequence. I’ve seen the article before and if you look at my comments under the Mercury (Elmwood Park), you’ll see how I charted what happened to all of the cinemas opened by Cineplex-Odeon circa 1985-1989. Very few remain in operation as cinemas today. The champ must be the Bricktown, which operated only between 1989 and 2000.
Plitt was sold to Cineplex in June 1985 and finalized in November of that year. They continued using the Plitt name for a while after that happened. See this article.
Essaness was sold to Cineplex in May of 1986. And yes, Chestnut was also remodeled. See this article.
There was a time in August of 1986 when Plitt had it. The theatre directory had it saying, Plitt/Essaness Theatres. Now that you said CO renovated Golf Glen a little, did CO ever do the same for Chestnut Station? My brother only went there once to see Predator. He said something about that place having gray carpets with black stripes on it, and the theatres themselves having the CO decor, the zig-zag stuff on the auditorium walls like at Burnham Plaza, or Lincoln Village 1-6. Can anyone elaborate on this?
Regarding Glen, I think it might be divided into retail. And, me and my dad plan to check out the new Showplace at Golf Mill when it opens. Let’s hope they play homage to the old 4 plex somehow.
I’m quite sure it will never return. They took the unusual step of removing the signage from the front of the building. And with Kerasotes' new multiplex set to go in at Golf Mill, nobody would want to compete. It’s a little sad, the place had that 80s timewarp character, so few of these early multis are left. The Golf Glen opened Friday, June 8, 1984 with The Natural, Moscow on the Hudson, Beat Street and the other three screens opening shortly thereafter with Pope of Greenwich Village, Karate Kid, Conan the Barbarian, and Bachelor Party. It was touted as featuring Dolby Stereo, Plush Seating, and Acres of Parking. Tickets were 2.25 for matinees. Also, I don’t think that Plitt ever operated this – both Essaness and Plitt were absorbed by CO, not each other. CO also renovated the theater somewhat in 1987-1988.
I’m putting the finshing touches on it now. It’s a part of my school project. After Essaness, I’ll do M&R, General Cinema, Plitt, Cineplex Odeon etc… It’s about the difference between moviegoing now and moviegoing before I was born. I’m trying to start a theatre corp someday and I’d like to pay tribute to them somehow.
Cinemark Fan,
It’s hard to say. I can’t say whether or not the strip mall this theatre is in is within the Niles City Limits, or if it’s in the unincorporated area of Cook County. There are a lot of ramshackle apartments in that area (and some nice condos too). The strip mall itself is blah. As the Golf Glen theatre was once a grocery store, it would be relatively easy to convert it back to retail use. One thing’s for sure—English is definitely not the first language spoken in this area.
By the way, did you ever do your Essaness Theatres project? If so, how did it go.
I wonder if it’s headed for the wrecking ball?
Now it’s closed.
I meant to say “for the first time in a long time.”
I was here for the first time recently (on a Saturday afternoon) to see KING KONG. I hadn’t been here in a long time and it reminded me of the Burnham Plaza Theatre—another 1980s theatre, once owned by Village (and many others). While basically clean, it looked a little down at the heels and like the Burnham, there are still Cineplex-Odeon signs.
It was like having a private screening as we were the only ones in the auditorium. It seems to me that Village Theatres tries to make an earnest go with the older theatres they’ve purchased/leased. But Village also seems to lack capital and they should advertise their theatres in the papers. They have, however, recently re-started their website, so that’s a positive sign.
If Keresotas does indeed build a new cinema at Golf Mill, then this places days are certainly numbered.
Cinemark Fan:
Some of the theatres that Essaness opened up immediately prior to their take-over by Plitt (or was it Cineplex-Odeon) include
1) Chestnut Station
2) Forest Park
3) Foxfield
4) Golf Glen
5) Plaza
6) St. Charles
These opened up 1982-1985.
Thank you guys for your help. I’m gonna get right on it this weekend.
If you have a Chicago Public Library card, you have access to the archives of the Chicago Tribune from 1853-1985 online. You can use the search function to find any old ads or articles on Essaness theatres. Particularly useful are the showtime listings. Often renderings were published when theaters were announced. If you don’t have a CPL card, some suburban libraries also have access although it may be harder to find out about.
Cinemark Fan,
I spoke with a family member who is a retired librarian. In order to get old photos of Essaness Theatres, you should go do the following:
1) Check the list of Essaness Theatres on Cinema Treasures to see where the theatres are/were located.
2) Then go to the historical societies and libraries in the cities that the theatres were listed in. You should go in person and not use the web for these as the people at those places should be able to help you and recommend additional resources.
3) The Sulzer branch of the Chicago Public Library. located at Lincoln Avenue and Montrose, should be able to help you with the Davis Theatre. They maintain an extensive collection of resources on that neighborhood.
4) For the Lake Theatre, contact the Oak Park Public Library and the Oak Park Historical Society.
5) For the theatres that are still extant, (i.e. showing movies or live theatre or concert halls), contact the owners and see if you can take photos inside.
I hope this helps.
Email me.
Thanks guys. Oh Brian, I’d like to see that artist rendering of the Lincoln Village. And Paul, I’ve never been to the Lake, but I plan on going there soon.
Cinemark Fan,
I believe that the Lake was also an Essaness. There are abundant photos of that place around the ‘net and in books. You can also get current photos of it yourself.
I have an artists rendering of the Lincoln Village, but as I said, it wasn’t opened as an essaness.
Cinemark Fan,
Photos of some of the theatres you mentioned above can be seen at www.cinematour.com The Davis is still in business, so (assuming you’re from the Chicagoland Area), you can get photos yourself. If you want the Plaza that was across the street from Lincoln Village, that building still stands, although it had been taken over by a K-mart (which I understand is now closed).
Essaness owned WSNS-TV, channel 44 in Chicago.
Uhh, you lost me on that one. I forgot Essaness owned a TV station.
Speaking of Essaness, does anyone know where I can find photos of their theatres? I’m doing a school article on theatres and this could be useful. I’m also trying to obtain photos of Chestnut Station, Diana, Lincoln Village 7-9, The Plaza etc… The photos would go in my article. Thanks to anyone in advance.
This theatre was one of a handful opened by Essaness immediately prior to that chain’s being taken over by Plitt/Cineplex Odeon. Some of the others included Forest Park Mall, the Plaza, the Foxfield, and I believe the Chicago Ridge. This is similar to General Cinemas having theatres built immediately prior to takeover by AMC.
Trivia question: Can anyone name the Chicago TV station which was owned by Essaness?
It is interesting that of all the theatres that were once in the Morton Grove/Niles area, only this one remains.
Does anybody know what month this place opened in 1984?