Sal De Grazia was a neighbor of mine and it broke his heart that he couldn’t keep the place open. Economics were against him and the place declined. I would take my family there from time to time but the place was just too run-down and dreary.
The last film shown there was in 1985, the potboiler REMO WILLIAMS. The title remained on the marquee for months afterwards.
We are all humans, and therefore capable of deep emotion. Nothing to be ashamed about with that. As for myself, I bawled during “Bang the Drum Slowly” when the Robert DeNiro character was dying but continued bravely playing with his team.
On a recent trip to the Philippines, I found out that this theater is now closed, a victim of shopping mall theaters and bootleg DVDs. Towards the end, it showed porno, but was not successful.
Its space is now occupied by retail stores and warehousing.
To help relight the marquee, the Orpheum will be hosting an advanced presentation of the new WB movie, “We Are Marshall.” Proceeds from this will be put toward refurbishing the sign to its former glory. Details are on the official website above.
The Gard Theater building has been spruced up with fresh paint and stucco work. It sits on a corner, with a restaurant contained in the major section of the street frontage. The theater entrance is small,and the only thing resembling a marquee is a blue canvas awning with the words “Theater” printed in white.
Only open on weekends, showing family-oriented films at 7 & 9 on Fridays and Saturdays, and at 7 on Sundays.
Marcus Theaters has announced that the South Towne will be closed later this year. This is because they are constructing a new multiplex a few miles away at a business park. This new theater will have 1484 seats with 12 screens. Provisions are being made to add an additional 3 screens at a later date.
The closure of this theater was inevitable. This will leave only one bargain house in Madison.
The little multiplex is located in a building which does little to disguise its former use as a department store. The food is OK, but nothing special. Auditoriums are shoeboxes, each with circular tables having 2 to 4 swivel chairs placed around them, with no other seating available. Sight lines are just fair, and the tables' surfaces reflect light from the screen, which can be distracting.
This seems to be one way that small town theaters can continue to exist. Kind of a Chuckie Cheese approach to the movie experience.
The Cinema Paradiso is also a great example of a very beautiful church building in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, that was converted into a movie house. On the other hand, the Rockne in Chicago went from a porno house to a church, which is a much better use of the space, I believe.
This week, the Orpheum is showing a first-run, non-art house film, “Walk the Line,” the Johnny Cash biopic. Given its proximity to the newly restored and opened Capitol Theater and Overture Center just a block up the street, there might be enough traffic generated to provide an audience for mainstream films again.
Downtown Madison is transforming into a major destination again, with new upscale housing and expanded parking in the plans.
The Capitol should now be shown as open. It is a performing arts cnter and movie theater. They have kept the old carbon arc lamp houses and use reel -to-reel projectors because the owners of the classic films that will be shown there do not want them put on a platter system. They will hosting a silent film series accompanied by the Barton organ, called Duck Soup Cinema.
Stop the insanity! You people are only using up bandwidth that could be available for intelligent discussion and pleasant reminiscences, not rantings and personal attacks. Do any of you honestly believe that you are going to change anyone’s opinion on this topic with your venom and sarcasm?
I believe that it is time for a strictly moderated message board on this site. Other message boards in which I participate, use this approach to keep the drivel and irrelevant babbling down to a minimum. Volunteer moderators would be referees and keep the postings on topic. I was involved in one site where this had to be done after numerous flame wars broke out and the site degenerated into nothing but nasty name-calling. Most of us were appalled and petitioned the site’s webmaster to make the change, which was done.
Now, anyone who violates the rules sees his/her posting privileges suspended, and after repeat violations, taken away altogether. It works just fine and creates a more civil atmosphere, in which topics can be discussed in a reaasonable, relevant manner.
The South Towne is now a second-run $2 bargain house. The deterioration of the area around the mall where it is located made it a less-than-attractive destination for first-run patrons.
I thought this was a site for those who were interested in movie theaters. The negative trolls who have posted above not only lack manners, it is also obvious that they are either developers or others with a financial interest in seeing the theater demolished. Fine, if that’s their interest, then let them find another discussion board to promote their ideas.
DuPage Dude is right, Deb. Don’t encourage themn. It’s like waving a piece of raw meat at a dog.
An old adage puts it well: “If you lie down with dogs, you get up
with fleas.”
This restaurant was located south of the drive-in on Harlem Ave. just north of North Avenue. It disappeared in the 60’s and was replaced by a bank and a Sears auto store.
That picture is of the northwest corner of Madison and Central, whereas the Austin Theater was on the southwest side of the street. The picture that is posted is of the Cinderella Ballroom and Bowling Alley building. In the 50’s, I used to go bowling and shoot pool there, and went to high school just up the street. I also saw the original Godzilla at the Austin, went several times, in fact.
This is the building at 5619 West Madison. Looks like a church has taken over the old space.
My sentiments exactly. It would appear that by giving it away, they are trying to avoid a potential liability issue and the attendant costs connected with disposal.
Yes, the ornate 1927 lobby was torn out then and has been demolished again. The new lobby will be the former section under the balcony, which has had its ceiling restored, as seen in this photo.
Targeted opening date for the new theater is in November 2005. Many original movie house items – including two chandeliers, a Barton organ and elegant balcony – remain, and Overture officials have been careful to maintain the theater’s vintage appearance.
Tattered and dusty curtains with loose tassels still hang from the theater stage’s proscenium arch to help designers recreate a similar-looking item with identical placement.
“It’ll be a new curtain,” said a representative for Overture Development Corp., “but it will be in keeping with the idea that we want the theater to have an old, familiar feel.”
The A&E series, “City Confidential” showcased Archer City in its 100th episode. The show centered around small-town crime and corruption, but also focused on the Royal. It has been lovingly restored as a Country & Western night club by Larry McMurtry, author of Lonesome Dove and other popular books. He also runs a book store in Archer City, which has helped it to become a sort of tourist mecca.
There was one in a strip mall in Justice, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. It went to porno and finally closed. I also remember newspaper ads touting the cinemas as a way to get into the movie business, utilizing 16mm films and equipment.
Hey, Bryan. Don’t wanna flame ya or anything. It’s just that I went to a lot of movies back then and would have loved to have had another theater to go to. The only other theater that hung on in Oak Park was the Southern over on Oak Park Ave and Harrison. Maybe that’s the one that the Historical Society is referring to.
Neat photo above. The tracks in the foreground belong to the Lake Street Elevated, which ran at ground level until 1964.
Growing up in the area,I attended many movies in Oak Park at the Lake and Lamar theaters from the late 40’s through the early 60’s and never were any films shown at this location during that time.
It probably stopped showing films much earlier than is indicated above.
Sal De Grazia was a neighbor of mine and it broke his heart that he couldn’t keep the place open. Economics were against him and the place declined. I would take my family there from time to time but the place was just too run-down and dreary.
The last film shown there was in 1985, the potboiler REMO WILLIAMS. The title remained on the marquee for months afterwards.
We are all humans, and therefore capable of deep emotion. Nothing to be ashamed about with that. As for myself, I bawled during “Bang the Drum Slowly” when the Robert DeNiro character was dying but continued bravely playing with his team.
On a recent trip to the Philippines, I found out that this theater is now closed, a victim of shopping mall theaters and bootleg DVDs. Towards the end, it showed porno, but was not successful.
Its space is now occupied by retail stores and warehousing.
To help relight the marquee, the Orpheum will be hosting an advanced presentation of the new WB movie, “We Are Marshall.” Proceeds from this will be put toward refurbishing the sign to its former glory. Details are on the official website above.
Converted in the 1950’s to a McCrory Dept. Store.
The Gard Theater building has been spruced up with fresh paint and stucco work. It sits on a corner, with a restaurant contained in the major section of the street frontage. The theater entrance is small,and the only thing resembling a marquee is a blue canvas awning with the words “Theater” printed in white.
Only open on weekends, showing family-oriented films at 7 & 9 on Fridays and Saturdays, and at 7 on Sundays.
The link is no longer valid. This former theater has now been turned into a bar called Burg.
Marcus Theaters has announced that the South Towne will be closed later this year. This is because they are constructing a new multiplex a few miles away at a business park. This new theater will have 1484 seats with 12 screens. Provisions are being made to add an additional 3 screens at a later date.
The closure of this theater was inevitable. This will leave only one bargain house in Madison.
The little multiplex is located in a building which does little to disguise its former use as a department store. The food is OK, but nothing special. Auditoriums are shoeboxes, each with circular tables having 2 to 4 swivel chairs placed around them, with no other seating available. Sight lines are just fair, and the tables' surfaces reflect light from the screen, which can be distracting.
This seems to be one way that small town theaters can continue to exist. Kind of a Chuckie Cheese approach to the movie experience.
The Cinema Paradiso is also a great example of a very beautiful church building in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, that was converted into a movie house. On the other hand, the Rockne in Chicago went from a porno house to a church, which is a much better use of the space, I believe.
This week, the Orpheum is showing a first-run, non-art house film, “Walk the Line,” the Johnny Cash biopic. Given its proximity to the newly restored and opened Capitol Theater and Overture Center just a block up the street, there might be enough traffic generated to provide an audience for mainstream films again.
Downtown Madison is transforming into a major destination again, with new upscale housing and expanded parking in the plans.
The Capitol should now be shown as open. It is a performing arts cnter and movie theater. They have kept the old carbon arc lamp houses and use reel -to-reel projectors because the owners of the classic films that will be shown there do not want them put on a platter system. They will hosting a silent film series accompanied by the Barton organ, called Duck Soup Cinema.
Stop the insanity! You people are only using up bandwidth that could be available for intelligent discussion and pleasant reminiscences, not rantings and personal attacks. Do any of you honestly believe that you are going to change anyone’s opinion on this topic with your venom and sarcasm?
I believe that it is time for a strictly moderated message board on this site. Other message boards in which I participate, use this approach to keep the drivel and irrelevant babbling down to a minimum. Volunteer moderators would be referees and keep the postings on topic. I was involved in one site where this had to be done after numerous flame wars broke out and the site degenerated into nothing but nasty name-calling. Most of us were appalled and petitioned the site’s webmaster to make the change, which was done.
Now, anyone who violates the rules sees his/her posting privileges suspended, and after repeat violations, taken away altogether. It works just fine and creates a more civil atmosphere, in which topics can be discussed in a reaasonable, relevant manner.
Just a suggestion.
Peace.
The South Towne is now a second-run $2 bargain house. The deterioration of the area around the mall where it is located made it a less-than-attractive destination for first-run patrons.
I thought this was a site for those who were interested in movie theaters. The negative trolls who have posted above not only lack manners, it is also obvious that they are either developers or others with a financial interest in seeing the theater demolished. Fine, if that’s their interest, then let them find another discussion board to promote their ideas.
DuPage Dude is right, Deb. Don’t encourage themn. It’s like waving a piece of raw meat at a dog.
An old adage puts it well: “If you lie down with dogs, you get up
with fleas.”
Peace.
This restaurant was located south of the drive-in on Harlem Ave. just north of North Avenue. It disappeared in the 60’s and was replaced by a bank and a Sears auto store.
That picture is of the northwest corner of Madison and Central, whereas the Austin Theater was on the southwest side of the street. The picture that is posted is of the Cinderella Ballroom and Bowling Alley building. In the 50’s, I used to go bowling and shoot pool there, and went to high school just up the street. I also saw the original Godzilla at the Austin, went several times, in fact.
This is the building at 5619 West Madison. Looks like a church has taken over the old space.
View link
My sentiments exactly. It would appear that by giving it away, they are trying to avoid a potential liability issue and the attendant costs connected with disposal.
Yes, the ornate 1927 lobby was torn out then and has been demolished again. The new lobby will be the former section under the balcony, which has had its ceiling restored, as seen in this photo.
View link
Targeted opening date for the new theater is in November 2005. Many original movie house items – including two chandeliers, a Barton organ and elegant balcony – remain, and Overture officials have been careful to maintain the theater’s vintage appearance.
Tattered and dusty curtains with loose tassels still hang from the theater stage’s proscenium arch to help designers recreate a similar-looking item with identical placement.
“It’ll be a new curtain,” said a representative for Overture Development Corp., “but it will be in keeping with the idea that we want the theater to have an old, familiar feel.”
The A&E series, “City Confidential” showcased Archer City in its 100th episode. The show centered around small-town crime and corruption, but also focused on the Royal. It has been lovingly restored as a Country & Western night club by Larry McMurtry, author of Lonesome Dove and other popular books. He also runs a book store in Archer City, which has helped it to become a sort of tourist mecca.
Of course, everyone wants to see the Royal.
Thanks for the pic. The street didn’t look all that different in the 50’s, but the theater had a standard type of marquee as opposed to the one shown.
There was one in a strip mall in Justice, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. It went to porno and finally closed. I also remember newspaper ads touting the cinemas as a way to get into the movie business, utilizing 16mm films and equipment.
The Orpheum reopened Friday, January 28, 2005. The fire damage has been repaired.
Movies are being screened again and the restaurant in the lobby is doing business. Great place for lunch, which I have there at least twice a week.
Hey, Bryan. Don’t wanna flame ya or anything. It’s just that I went to a lot of movies back then and would have loved to have had another theater to go to. The only other theater that hung on in Oak Park was the Southern over on Oak Park Ave and Harrison. Maybe that’s the one that the Historical Society is referring to.
Neat photo above. The tracks in the foreground belong to the Lake Street Elevated, which ran at ground level until 1964.
Growing up in the area,I attended many movies in Oak Park at the Lake and Lamar theaters from the late 40’s through the early 60’s and never were any films shown at this location during that time.
It probably stopped showing films much earlier than is indicated above.