I visited the Merle Reskin Theatre during their OHC Open House Chicago event. I got the chance to ask about movies that were shown there. The expert they had there didn’t have much knowledge about which old movies that were shown there in the early days of the theatre. Today they use a screen set up on stage for special events like this (OHC). See Photo section for a photo of this. I was told “occasionally” they had movies. But as of right now there is no history as to what movies were shown at the theatre. During times when there were no plays being performed they would open doors to civic and fraternal organizations. Some times a movie was shown.
1916 the theatre was used for Women’s Suffrage Rally and Conference.
1925 the theatre had live broadcasts of stage performances that could be heard on Chicago-area radio station WTAS.
On May 27, 1966 Ford City Cinema I & II opened at 7601 S. Cicero Ave. Boasting Chicago’s first TWIN theatre. The movies shown that day were “A Thousand Clowns” and “The Great Race”. Ford City East Cinema opened in 1981 and was located at 76th & Pulaski. This theater had three screens. The first movies shown there were “On The Right Track” starring Gary Coleman, Blake Edwards “S.O.B.”, and “Arthur” starring Dudley Moore. Ford City East Cinema was actually a separate theater not connected with the Ford City Cinema I & II that was connected to the main mall at the time. In 1990 Ford City Cinema I & II was moved to the south side of the mall in a new building (not attached to the main mall, kept the original address) and became Ford City 14. A short time after Ford City East closed. AMC Ford City 14 still in business today. (2017)
Seen Airport ‘77 at the Studio Cinema. I remember they had a fish tank in the lobby. The aquarium was filled with water with a few goldfish, and sitting at the bottom of the tank was a model of a jet. Just like in the movie.
The correct address for the Elm Theater was 7540 W. Grand Ave. In the photo above you can see the address of the store (7542) next to the theater. Also old newspaper ads show the address as 7540. See posted ad in “Photo section”.
Jeff Frank was the theater owner.
There is a article about this theater in Scary Monsters Memories #4. Article titled “The Drexel North Closes: The End Of A Era”.
Newspaper ad from Oct. 6, 1979 Chicago Sun-Times showing when the Lake Shore Theater was to re-open on Oct. 12, 1979. (see Photos section) Ad says “We are installing new seats”.
July 13, 1960 actor David Hedison was at the Warner Theatre for the world premiere of “The Lost World”. He signed autographs and gave out free Lost World comic books to the children. (see Photo section pictures of this) This world premiere can also be seen on a Fox Movietone News Reel which is included in “The Lost World” home DVD special features.
There really needs to be a separate section in Cinema Treasures for places like the Japanese Cinema. The library where I live shows movies every week. So does our Park during the summer months. Every Comic Con, Godzilla Fest, Monster Bash, etc. has movies shown. Museums, Planetariums , schools, campgrounds, and amusement parks all show movies. Town Halls too; and starting to see a lot of them being posted recently. (Probably because whats being discussed here.)
The thing that separates the Japanese Cinema from the rest. It was promoted by Gene Siskel on television and in a article. Also it was advertised in newspapers among the regular movie theaters. But does that make it good enough to be a Cinema Treasure?
I think we can say that the Blackstone “was sometimes used as a movie theatre”. There’s enough evidence that has been found to substantiate “The Birth of a Race” was shown there. (Great find on the ad Comfortably Cool (posted in Photos section)) Now who wants to find other movies shown there to prove this wasn’t the only movie. There are hints that, from the depression era there may have been other movies shown there. Or is going on necessary?
I believe I cropped it right. Thats how it shows in the newspaper. I think they have the movie name wrong in the ad. I think it should be “The River Ki” as the novel.
This is one of those places that show movies but are not commonly known as a movie theater. It probably shouldn’t be in Cinema Treasures. A separate section in CT may be the answer. I was the one who suggested adding it to CT before I heard more about what Japanese Cinema really was. Old newspapers list it with the regular movie theaters.
Every year this theatre does a honor to the William Castle films by showing one of his scary films and including the gimmick that he would have for that movie. For instance; they would show the movie “Tingler” and have all the seats rigged to vibrate during the “Percepto” parts of the movie. Just like it was originally done back in the 60’s.
I too have read that links' site. There’s a lot to read. It appears they left out, or avoided, mentioning movies(?), radio broadcasts, or meetings held there. There were periods of time when plays were not being shown. It could be during those times they may have had movies there? I’m still on the fence about this place being a movie theater too. The only connection with “Movie Theaters” that I could find was the designer Benjamin Howard Marshall also designed the Illinois Theatre.
I wish I had evidence of “sometimes used as a movie theatre”. All I can say is I once read somewhere that the Theatre was to be called “The Movie Theatre” (or Palace). As far as movies being shown that was during its infancy. Pretty sure its been all plays for a long time now. Maybe occasionally, but definitely not a lot of movies. We could say that the Adler Planetarium is a theatre too because it shows movies in its auditorium. Places that do this sort of thing are not thought of as movie theaters. Depends on how you want to look at it.
I visited the Merle Reskin Theatre during their OHC Open House Chicago event. I got the chance to ask about movies that were shown there. The expert they had there didn’t have much knowledge about which old movies that were shown there in the early days of the theatre. Today they use a screen set up on stage for special events like this (OHC). See Photo section for a photo of this. I was told “occasionally” they had movies. But as of right now there is no history as to what movies were shown at the theatre. During times when there were no plays being performed they would open doors to civic and fraternal organizations. Some times a movie was shown.
1916 the theatre was used for Women’s Suffrage Rally and Conference.
1925 the theatre had live broadcasts of stage performances that could be heard on Chicago-area radio station WTAS.
On May 27, 1966 Ford City Cinema I & II opened at 7601 S. Cicero Ave. Boasting Chicago’s first TWIN theatre. The movies shown that day were “A Thousand Clowns” and “The Great Race”. Ford City East Cinema opened in 1981 and was located at 76th & Pulaski. This theater had three screens. The first movies shown there were “On The Right Track” starring Gary Coleman, Blake Edwards “S.O.B.”, and “Arthur” starring Dudley Moore. Ford City East Cinema was actually a separate theater not connected with the Ford City Cinema I & II that was connected to the main mall at the time. In 1990 Ford City Cinema I & II was moved to the south side of the mall in a new building (not attached to the main mall, kept the original address) and became Ford City 14. A short time after Ford City East closed. AMC Ford City 14 still in business today. (2017)
The 231 was not a twin drive-in. What you are seeing in the aerial view is the Parkway Drive-In that was butted up next to the 231 drive-In.
Seen Airport ‘77 at the Studio Cinema. I remember they had a fish tank in the lobby. The aquarium was filled with water with a few goldfish, and sitting at the bottom of the tank was a model of a jet. Just like in the movie.
The correct address for the Elm Theater was 7540 W. Grand Ave. In the photo above you can see the address of the store (7542) next to the theater. Also old newspaper ads show the address as 7540. See posted ad in “Photo section”.
Jeff Frank was the theater owner.
There is a article about this theater in Scary Monsters Memories #4. Article titled “The Drexel North Closes: The End Of A Era”.
Newspaper ad from Oct. 6, 1979 Chicago Sun-Times showing when the Lake Shore Theater was to re-open on Oct. 12, 1979. (see Photos section) Ad says “We are installing new seats”.
Old newspaper ads show the address as 2745 W. Cermak. Newspapers have been known to make mistakes.
July 13, 1960 actor David Hedison was at the Warner Theatre for the world premiere of “The Lost World”. He signed autographs and gave out free Lost World comic books to the children. (see Photo section pictures of this) This world premiere can also be seen on a Fox Movietone News Reel which is included in “The Lost World” home DVD special features.
Dec. 1958 when these two movies opened.
Newspaper ads show the drive-in name as “Twilight” which is wrong. The drive-in marquee shows it as" Twi-Light"
Named that because of Interstate 72 by it.
There really needs to be a separate section in Cinema Treasures for places like the Japanese Cinema. The library where I live shows movies every week. So does our Park during the summer months. Every Comic Con, Godzilla Fest, Monster Bash, etc. has movies shown. Museums, Planetariums , schools, campgrounds, and amusement parks all show movies. Town Halls too; and starting to see a lot of them being posted recently. (Probably because whats being discussed here.)
The thing that separates the Japanese Cinema from the rest. It was promoted by Gene Siskel on television and in a article. Also it was advertised in newspapers among the regular movie theaters. But does that make it good enough to be a Cinema Treasure?
I think we can say that the Blackstone “was sometimes used as a movie theatre”. There’s enough evidence that has been found to substantiate “The Birth of a Race” was shown there. (Great find on the ad Comfortably Cool (posted in Photos section)) Now who wants to find other movies shown there to prove this wasn’t the only movie. There are hints that, from the depression era there may have been other movies shown there. Or is going on necessary?
By 1972 newspapers advertised both the Parkway and Woody’s Drive-In as Cobb Theatres.
By 1972 both Woody’s and Parkway Drive-In were advertised as Cobb Theatres.
I agree.
I believe I cropped it right. Thats how it shows in the newspaper. I think they have the movie name wrong in the ad. I think it should be “The River Ki” as the novel.
Somewhere, some place, sits the 1918 projector used in the Blackstone Theatre. Its probably sitting in some obscure museum or dusty attic right now.
This is one of those places that show movies but are not commonly known as a movie theater. It probably shouldn’t be in Cinema Treasures. A separate section in CT may be the answer. I was the one who suggested adding it to CT before I heard more about what Japanese Cinema really was. Old newspapers list it with the regular movie theaters.
Every year this theatre does a honor to the William Castle films by showing one of his scary films and including the gimmick that he would have for that movie. For instance; they would show the movie “Tingler” and have all the seats rigged to vibrate during the “Percepto” parts of the movie. Just like it was originally done back in the 60’s.
I too have read that links' site. There’s a lot to read. It appears they left out, or avoided, mentioning movies(?), radio broadcasts, or meetings held there. There were periods of time when plays were not being shown. It could be during those times they may have had movies there? I’m still on the fence about this place being a movie theater too. The only connection with “Movie Theaters” that I could find was the designer Benjamin Howard Marshall also designed the Illinois Theatre.
The Temple Theatre was still in business in 1962. There are newspaper ads to support this.
Still open in 1971.
I wish I had evidence of “sometimes used as a movie theatre”. All I can say is I once read somewhere that the Theatre was to be called “The Movie Theatre” (or Palace). As far as movies being shown that was during its infancy. Pretty sure its been all plays for a long time now. Maybe occasionally, but definitely not a lot of movies. We could say that the Adler Planetarium is a theatre too because it shows movies in its auditorium. Places that do this sort of thing are not thought of as movie theaters. Depends on how you want to look at it.