It wasn’t originally a Regal, not until 1999. It had been operated by Rhyan Management. In 1998 there were plans to make it 24-screen to head off the Deer Park theaters, but these never materialized. It originally had 10 screens, adding two, plus party rooms and drive-through ticketing in July 1998. During the planning process Rhyan assured residents that rumors that he would build a 10-, not 8-screen as announced, were untrue.
Broan
commented about
Rochauson
Apr 3, 2006 at 8:50 am
The above link now reads “Due to a sale of this property, Nova Cinemas will no longer be operating the Hilite 30 Drive-In. ” Anyone know what the story is?
The UA Marina Cinema 1, 2, and 3 were chicago’s first fully automated theaters and sat 296, 198, and 168 seats, for a total of 662 seats. I’m amazed they had any trouble filling such small rooms. Also notable is that they ran 16mm here. The theaters were beneath the WFLD-32 studios in what was originally designated as space for meeting rooms. The original plan for Marina City included live theater, and these were seen as a partial remedy. The design of the theaters was reverse of the norm; the theaters tapered away from the screen with the intent of intensifying the sound. Goldberg believed that theater was a necessary component to bring outside traffic into Marina City to patronize the services there; I think he’d be pleased with House of Blues. Goldberg had wanted to convert the studios into a live theater.
It opened October 17, 1925 and cost $90,000 to build. It originally seated about 400, and had a Barton organ. It contained “unusual light fixtures” and was “uniquely plastered”.
It’s about to reopen for the season. Also it did not open until August 4, 1961. It was built by independent exhibitors Basil Charuhas, Bill Galligan, and Milt Levy. It featured a 40-foot attraction sign with over 3000 lamps simulating a waterfall. It was touted as featuring the newest transistorized sound and having aligned viewing ramps to eliminate hard to see corners.
In contrast to the bustling six corners of the 1950s, as seen in this previously-posted picture, It was a much different place in the 1920s when the theater rose. Here are four pictures from the Chicago Daily News, taken in 1922. 1234 Notice that in photos 1, 2, and 3, the Portage Park Theatre’s smokestack is visible. The facade would probably be partly visible if the photos were higher resolution. Also notice that the corner store shown in these pictures remains there; here is how it looks now, for reference.
It looks to me like it was originally known as the Harding. Despite the fact that there was another Harding on Milwaukee. It apparently was not named Chopin until about 1940.
Here is its current function: http://www.keytechinc.com/news/KT_PR-mchenry.pdf
There was originally a plan to put a AMC 30 in Burr Ridge, too
It wasn’t originally a Regal, not until 1999. It had been operated by Rhyan Management. In 1998 there were plans to make it 24-screen to head off the Deer Park theaters, but these never materialized. It originally had 10 screens, adding two, plus party rooms and drive-through ticketing in July 1998. During the planning process Rhyan assured residents that rumors that he would build a 10-, not 8-screen as announced, were untrue.
It’s now called the Clearwater Theater. The present website is clearwatertheater.com and a recent photo is at View link
It was last operated as a discount venue by Rhyan Management
Here’s a blog entry mentioning its sale last year
The above link now reads “Due to a sale of this property, Nova Cinemas will no longer be operating the Hilite 30 Drive-In. ” Anyone know what the story is?
The UA Marina Cinema 1, 2, and 3 were chicago’s first fully automated theaters and sat 296, 198, and 168 seats, for a total of 662 seats. I’m amazed they had any trouble filling such small rooms. Also notable is that they ran 16mm here. The theaters were beneath the WFLD-32 studios in what was originally designated as space for meeting rooms. The original plan for Marina City included live theater, and these were seen as a partial remedy. The design of the theaters was reverse of the norm; the theaters tapered away from the screen with the intent of intensifying the sound. Goldberg believed that theater was a necessary component to bring outside traffic into Marina City to patronize the services there; I think he’d be pleased with House of Blues. Goldberg had wanted to convert the studios into a live theater.
The architects were named van guNten.
It opened October 17, 1925 and cost $90,000 to build. It originally seated about 400, and had a Barton organ. It contained “unusual light fixtures” and was “uniquely plastered”.
It’s about to reopen for the season. Also it did not open until August 4, 1961. It was built by independent exhibitors Basil Charuhas, Bill Galligan, and Milt Levy. It featured a 40-foot attraction sign with over 3000 lamps simulating a waterfall. It was touted as featuring the newest transistorized sound and having aligned viewing ramps to eliminate hard to see corners.
I have an artist’s rendering of what it looked like when it was remodeled as the Mode
In contrast to the bustling six corners of the 1950s, as seen in this previously-posted picture, It was a much different place in the 1920s when the theater rose. Here are four pictures from the Chicago Daily News, taken in 1922. 1 2 3 4 Notice that in photos 1, 2, and 3, the Portage Park Theatre’s smokestack is visible. The facade would probably be partly visible if the photos were higher resolution. Also notice that the corner store shown in these pictures remains there; here is how it looks now, for reference.
Here is a blurry 1922 picture of the Milford.
It was remodeled by Roy B. Blass in the 1940s
Remodeling was done by Roy B. Blass in the 1940s.
THe RKO Grand was remodeled in the 1940s by Roy B. Blass
It was remodeled by Roy B. Blass in 1942
The remodelings in 1957 were by reknowned architect Bertrand Goldberg.
A photographic record at the Chicago Historical Society says the Beverly was designed by Holabird & Root
Remodeling was by Roy B. Blass
Remodeling was done by Roy B. Blass in 1936
It looks to me like it was originally known as the Harding. Despite the fact that there was another Harding on Milwaukee. It apparently was not named Chopin until about 1940.
Here are some recent views of the Gateway.
Here are some recent photos of the first Terminal/Mode.