McClurg Court Cinemas
330 E. Ohio Street,
Chicago,
IL
60611
330 E. Ohio Street,
Chicago,
IL
60611
22 people
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As the one-year anniversary of its closing nears, is there any news to report on plans for the former McClurg Court Cinemas space?
this was, for my generation, the best place to see a film in chicago. i saw “that’s entertainment” there with my mom. later in my teen years i saw star wars, empire, superman2, apocalypse, and many more. the screen was huge, the sound was awesome, the seats were plush. it was heaven. it will always have a place in my heart.
i will miss this place.
One of my most magical nights was spent at the McClurg Court reliving a treasured childhood memory. It was opening night of the reissue of Star Wars and I happened to be lucky enough to get tickets to the 7pm show. It was a packed house, yet even though there were 1000 people there, the place was strangely reverent, and crackling with excitement. I remember sitting in the vastness of the theatre before the lights went out and feeling how special it was to know that we all were either going back to a special time in our lives, or creating a new childhood memory, which really connected us all. As the lights went out, people began cheering with excitement, and when the first strains of the overture (it really is too symphonic to be a theme song) started, tears streamed down my face, and many other faces, too. As we left the theatre, everyone looked renewed and young again. It was such a gift. To see this movie on such a screen was for movie lovers like going to the altar of Notre Dame for a devout catholic. I will truly miss it.
The Mc Clurg Court began its life in 1972 and for the first 18 months played only two movies (Fiddler on the Roof; Last Tango in Paris). In the mid 70’s they had exclusive premieres of movies much like the palaces located in the Loop did. I can remember seeing “Lenny”, “The Sunshine Boys”, and “Rollerball” there when there was nowhere else to see them. The theatre was amazing and it was a shame when they cut up the balcony level to make 2 other screens. But it had to be done as the Mc Clurg was hit and miss with its bookings. The big screen was still the place to see a movie and in its final years I was lucky enough to see “Apocalypse Now Redux”, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, and a reissue of “Vertigo” there. In its final year or so they ended up playing second and third run movies, foregoing any hope of being saved. A true beauty of a theatre is gone, probably forever.
What are they going to do with this closed theater?
demolish it? or reopen it?…I would really like to know.