Comments from jimpiscitelli

Showing 51 - 75 of 148 comments

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about AMC Norridge 6 on Oct 24, 2007 at 5:59 am

I agree with Catherine that the Muvico in Rosemont would be the oe that robbed the Norridge Theatre of the attendence. I used to go to the Norridge where certain movies were not booked at the Cinemark Melrose Park. I still attend the Cinemark and if certain movies are not booked there, I go to the Kerasotes Showplace 12 at Golf Mill in Niles. (Who knows if the Showplace 12 at Golf Mill is also responsible for robbing the Norridge Theatre’s business).

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Regal City North Stadium 14 IMAX & RPX on Sep 26, 2007 at 8:43 pm

Bigred, The Ford City 14 opened in 1990.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about AMC Dine-In Rosemont 12 on Sep 17, 2007 at 11:15 am

I noticed that it is not heavily advertised in the newspaper unlike other grand opening new theaters. Also, this is the second all-digital theater in the Chicago area (Century Stratford Square is the first). Another second was the six-screen VIP premier (General Cinema Yorktown was the first to have a premium cinema in 1998 before AMC took over in 2002). I will check out the regular screens. Hopfully, they will book more art/independent films.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about River Oaks Theatre on Sep 14, 2007 at 10:32 am

Also my mistake 7 & 8 closed in October 2005. To be honest with you, I have never been to the River Oaks Theater even though I know info about it other than Cinema Treasures. I wish I have went to those theaters especially 1 & 4 (later 9 & 10). I saw pictures on Mike Rivest’s website and the theater is beautiful. I wish they would reopen those theaters and show art films on 7 & 8 and show big movies on 9 & 10 and put back the rocking chair seats back on theater 9.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about River Oaks Theatre on Sep 13, 2007 at 9:41 pm

My mistake, it should be January 2006 for 1 & 4 (later 9 & 10).

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about River Oaks Theatre on Sep 13, 2007 at 9:39 pm

When the mall 1-6 was opened, 2 & 3 were closed. Theaters 1 & 4 became 9 & 10, theaters 5 & 6 became 11 & 12, theaters 7 & 8 retained their numbering.

The only ones still open is the mall 1-6. 2 & 3 closed in 1989, 5 & 6 (later 11 & 12) closed in the early 90’s, 7 & 8 in fall 2006, 1 & 4 (later 9 & 10) closed in January 2007.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Lincoln Village 1-6 on Sep 5, 2007 at 6:12 pm

The River Oaks 6 is currently runned by Jenco (as the Lansing Cinema 8) and the Rivertree Court is currently runned by Kerasotes Theaters.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Randhurst 16 Theaters on Aug 3, 2007 at 8:28 am

By the time “Spider Man” (May, 2002) came out, it had just changed from General Cinema to AMC Theatres.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Made in Chicago on Aug 2, 2007 at 3:59 pm

How can anybody omit the Oscar winner “Ordinary People” which was filmed in the North Shore suburbs? As for “The Blues Brothers” the church scene was filmed in Northwest Indiana. Parts of “Silver Streak” and “Wayne’s World” was filmed in the Chicago area.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Century Stratford Square on Jun 29, 2007 at 12:57 pm

Went to the new Cinemark/Century Stratford Square today. The theater is beautiful. All 16 screens have digital sound and digital projection. Even though a few of the same movies are at the Blommingdale Theaters and the new Stratford Theater, the new Stratofrd Theater is presenting them in digital projection while the Bloomingdale is presenting them in traditional 35MM projection.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about River Oaks Theatre on Jun 20, 2007 at 8:14 am

I also remember in 1986, the River Oaks played the sequel “Aliens” in 70mm Dolby at the same time as “Top Gun” in 70mm Dolby on another screen.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Picture Show at Bloomingdale Court on Jun 13, 2007 at 8:48 am

To Catherine: Besides the LaGrange and the Buffalo Grove, the Bensenville and the Silver Cinemas in Joliet (not advertised in the Chicago Tribune or Sun-Times) are the only second-run theaters around.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Theater Closing on Chicago's Westside on Jun 13, 2007 at 8:22 am

I could not imagine Village Theaters taking over. They will run it down for a few years and then close again. Kerasotes Theaters and Classic Cinemas can run these theaters better than Village Theaters.

These theaters were originally opened by Cineplex Odeon and later taken over by Loews/Cineplex. Somehow General Cinema took over the Lawndale and 62nd and Western. In 2002, when AMC bought General Cinema, Marcus bought all three theaters.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Four ways to save big on movie tickets on Jun 12, 2007 at 5:31 pm

The best thing is, go to the bargin matinee showing of the movie which is usually shows before 6pm in most theaters. My nearby Cinemark is $6.50 for shows before 6pm.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Buffalo Grove Theater on Jun 12, 2007 at 5:19 pm

This is a great second-run theater. They are not too many in the Chicago area now. Saw “Miss Potter” in theater #3, after a few of the theaters had played it and a couple of sneak preview showings in regular theaters and no wide release. On Tuesdays admission, is $1.00 all times and $2.00 all times for the rest of the days.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Golf Mill Theatres 1-2-3 on Jun 1, 2007 at 9:19 am

When did the Golf Mill Theatre change from Fink Enterprises to Essaness Theatres?

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Happy 30th, Star Wars! on May 26, 2007 at 3:35 pm

I too was little when “Star Wars” came out. I originally saw it on ON-TV (scramble signal) on a black and white TV with a radio (stereo)simulcast (to hear the audio). I did later saw it on the Disney Channel in 1990 (when it was a premium channel) on a recorded VHS tape. “The Empire Strikes Back” I saw on VHS the first time and “Return Of The Jedi” the first time at Classic Cinemas Lake Theatre in Oak Park, IL. In 1997, I saw the Special Edition of “Star Wars” at the Marcus Cinema in Addison, IL. I do own the original unaltered versions on RCA SelectaVision CED discs and the Special Editions on VHS.

As far as the prequel trilogy, “The Phanthom Menance” and “Revenge Of The Sith” I saw at the Cinemark Melrose Park, IL and “Attack Of The Clones” at the Crown Village Crossing 18 in Skokie, IL. I own the first two on VHS and “Sith” on DVD.

I did not realize that “Star Wars” was in limited release the first time it came out.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about River Oaks Theatre on May 10, 2007 at 6:44 pm

As looking at the dates from opening in 1969 through 1981, the movies ran from two weeks to several months (depending on how popular the movie was) especially the time gap of “Star Wars” and “The Empire Strikes Back”. Too bad today’s megaplexes would not keep a movie for several months.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Do you remember seeing Return of the Jedi in the theater in '83? on Mar 30, 2007 at 6:43 am

I do remember seeing “Return Of The Jedi” back in late 1983 at the Lake Theatre in Oak Park (when they showed second-run movies). This was when that theatre was a single-screen before it was spilt into three theatres in 1985.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Meridian Theatres on Mar 16, 2007 at 1:29 pm

The only theater runned by Meridian that I attended was the Old Orchard in Skokie. A great theater that could not be saved after the closing in late 2000.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about McClurg Court Cinemas on Mar 8, 2007 at 5:58 pm

That is a great idea, CinemarkFan. You should do the same thing for Oakbrook 1-4. Speaking of Oakbrook 1-4, it needs a new marquee since they removed the Cineplex Odeon marquee about a year ago.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about STOP PAY TV: Remember this 1960's campaign ??? on Mar 2, 2007 at 5:47 pm

In the Chicago area from 1981-1985 we had ON-TV (WSNS-Channel 44) and Spectrum (WFYN- Channel 66 before WGBO).

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Village Entertainment vs. Classic Cinemas on Mar 2, 2007 at 5:31 pm

Yes, I meant Classic Cinemas sorry for the error.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Village Entertainment vs. Classic Cinemas on Mar 2, 2007 at 7:29 am

I wish Cinema Treasures or Kerasotes Theaters could take over the North Riverside Theaters. Kerasotes Theaters has taken over the Crown Village 18 in Skokie and the Crown Glen 10 in Glenview.

Those two chains know how to run a theater unlike Village Entertainment when they promise something and they don’t do it.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about AMC Showplace Village Crossing 18 on Mar 2, 2007 at 7:11 am

As of March 2, 2007, it is now part of Kerasotes Theaters along with the Crown Glen 10 theaters.