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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
Bigred, The Ford City 14 opened in 1990.
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.
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.
My mistake, it should be January 2006 for 1 & 4 (later 9 & 10).
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.
The River Oaks 6 is currently runned by Jenco (as the Lansing Cinema 8) and the Rivertree Court is currently runned by Kerasotes Theaters.
By the time “Spider Man” (May, 2002) came out, it had just changed from General Cinema to AMC Theatres.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
When did the Golf Mill Theatre change from Fink Enterprises to Essaness Theatres?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In the Chicago area from 1981-1985 we had ON-TV (WSNS-Channel 44) and Spectrum (WFYN- Channel 66 before WGBO).
Yes, I meant Classic Cinemas sorry for the error.
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.
As of March 2, 2007, it is now part of Kerasotes Theaters along with the Crown Glen 10 theaters.