WOW was that restaurant ever GAUDY! I don’t think I’d ever be comfortable in a place like that.
Greenpoint,
No, those projects were likely Cabrini-Green on the city’s Near North Side. Fortunately, over the past decade, Cabrini-Green has largely been torn down.
The Deleware Building across Dearborn Street from the Woods looks better today than it ever has. I believe it is one of the oldest buildings in the Loop.
I thought that the re-opening of the Hollywood might also help garner interest in getting this place re-opened. Now that the Hollywood failed, will that hurt this place’s chances too?
What a shame that Village operated that way. When they took over a lot of local theatres in the early 2000s, those sites were almost all still potentially good theatres. They were even still getting decent bookings into the Water Tower Theatres.
At the beginning, it appeared that Village Entertainment could have been a successful firm. A Projectionist, you certainly did try to breathe life into the Village Art. Given the right film, the location could still draw a big crowd. The last three films I saw at the Village, “Stranger Than Fiction”, “Venus”, and “Children of Men” certainly had decent sized crowds.
The Village could still make money today with the proper management.
I didn’t realize that. I went to the Thursday night free film program almost every week and noticed that the auditorium was nearly full. Plus they staggered the show times so that the regular movies would not start anywhere around the 8pm starting time. The last free movie I saw there was the original “Exorcist” and so many free tickets were issued, it was played in the biggest auditorium, which was full.
I’m not doubting you though—I’ll bet a few people did try to sneak into the other films.
The La Grange will be raising it’s admission prices to $3.50 to help cover the costs of renovations. I wonder if that will affect the attendance at this second run house.
From the theatre’s website:
‘Remember When…
The Blues Brothers were on a “Mission from God"
"ET Phone home” made you cry
You were shocked that Vader was Luke’s Father
These were playing the last time La Grange Theatre raised ticket prices! Starting April 2nd, we will be raising our ticket price to $3.50, to help in the continued renovation of our theatres.'
Please continue to patronize this theatre everybody. The owners are making an earnest attempt to stay in business.
The telephone message for this theatre is now warning people where NOT to park. The message is also telling people that their cars will be towed by Lincoln Towing and is also giving Lincoln Towing’s phone number and address out.
Before Loews and AMC merged, the 600 North Michigan Theatre in Chicago used to have a free movie every Thursday night at 8:00pm. Of course, you’re talking about a major chain able to afford to do that every week.
What a shame. I bet that if Keresotas took over this place, they would do well with it like they did with the Webster Place. The Norridge can still draw large crowds from what I understand.
I haven’t been here since the late 1980s. What’s this place like? How is the movie-going experience here?
Interesting what Movie534 said about chains in the above post. I’ve liked what Kerasotes has done here in the Chicago area. And we also have Classic Cinemas too. I’ve been taking my business to Kerasotes and Classic Cinemas a lot lately.
You are right about that. Lincoln Village still has the waterfall curtains, although I understand that they are no longer in use.
You are right and C-O did try to modernize the movie-going experience for theatre patrons. I just find it interesting that so many of the theatres that they built between 1985 and 1990 in the Chicagoland Area are now closed. The Grove has even been demolished after standing for only 15 years or so.
This is why, at least in the Chicagoland Area, the cinemas built for Cineplex-Odeon in the late 1980s did not survive. Several of them like the Grove Cinema in Downer’s Grove have already been demolished. Others like the Bricktown were turned into health clubs. The Lincoln Village is about the last of these and it is barely hanging on.
That is why when Keresotas took over the Webster Place, the company invested a boatload of money into it, gutting it, and doing a total rehab on it. Although the Webster has always been a popular place, the investment paid off handsomely.
“Paul, are you familiar with Ross Miller’s 1996 book, ‘Heres the Deal: The Buying and Selling of a Great American City’? It tells the story of the history and politics behind Block 37, from its earliest years up until the clearing of the block in the late 80s/early 90s. It’s really interesting reading, and has some nice vintage photos and drawings of the site, especially during its later years, from the 70s on.”
I did finally read this book. I bought a used copy of it from www.amazon.com for $1.00 plus shipping. You are right, it is a fascinating book and the story of “Block 37” goes back some 20 years prior to the actual demolition of the structures on the block. It all goes back to how “Hizzoner” was riding in his limousine to work one day and saw the buildings on the block and decided they had to go. It also briefly mentions how the single story structures that replaced the Roosevelt and stood there briefly (less than ten years) were merely intended to be “tax earners”—places that could temporarily be on the tax rolls while something permanent was being planned. Oddly enough, the Walgreens across the street from Fields/Macy’s was intended to be such a building, but it lasted for many years.
Further complicating Block 37 was Stop-n-Shop, Hillman’s, and Gapers. For those of you unaware, they were all part of an amazing bakery/supermarket that existed on the block and with all of the people living Downtown these days, would be most useful. The problem was that they had been owned by the same family and the family owned the building they were located in. They were offered a deal in which they could occupy the new building (that never came) as tenants. The catch was that their space would have been smaller and that they would have been paying many times in rent what they were paying in taxes. Plus, no provision was made for an alley, which would have been required for produce deliveries. In short, it was a ploy to get a profitable business out of there. Stop-n-Shop was profitable until the day it closed.
It appears to me that, in common with other Loop theatres in the 1970s, standard fare would occasionally play here in addition to the horror and blaxploitation and action movies. For example, GIVE EM HELL HARRY was a one-man show about Harry Truman. LOGAN’S RUN was a huge sci-fi blockbuster. SILVERSTREAK was a huge hit as was ALIEN.
I would like to see a list of what played here when the theatre was briefly known as the Dearborn.
BK,
Per your description above, I thought M&R was the last operator of the Oriental?
BW
WOW was that restaurant ever GAUDY! I don’t think I’d ever be comfortable in a place like that.
Greenpoint,
No, those projects were likely Cabrini-Green on the city’s Near North Side. Fortunately, over the past decade, Cabrini-Green has largely been torn down.
The Deleware Building across Dearborn Street from the Woods looks better today than it ever has. I believe it is one of the oldest buildings in the Loop.
I thought that the re-opening of the Hollywood might also help garner interest in getting this place re-opened. Now that the Hollywood failed, will that hurt this place’s chances too?
LTS
Yes, Meridian went under because they failed to pay city and county amusement taxes.
What a shame that Village operated that way. When they took over a lot of local theatres in the early 2000s, those sites were almost all still potentially good theatres. They were even still getting decent bookings into the Water Tower Theatres.
At the beginning, it appeared that Village Entertainment could have been a successful firm. A Projectionist, you certainly did try to breathe life into the Village Art. Given the right film, the location could still draw a big crowd. The last three films I saw at the Village, “Stranger Than Fiction”, “Venus”, and “Children of Men” certainly had decent sized crowds.
The Village could still make money today with the proper management.
Destinta really did a number on Pittsburgh Area theatres.
You remember Omni? Wow! I think they merged into Safeway/Dominick’s sometime in the 1990s.
John,
I didn’t realize that. I went to the Thursday night free film program almost every week and noticed that the auditorium was nearly full. Plus they staggered the show times so that the regular movies would not start anywhere around the 8pm starting time. The last free movie I saw there was the original “Exorcist” and so many free tickets were issued, it was played in the biggest auditorium, which was full.
I’m not doubting you though—I’ll bet a few people did try to sneak into the other films.
Does Linen & Things still occupy the building? I heard that Linens & Things went bankrupt and will close several locations.
Interesting tale of the Esquire’s last day: View link
The La Grange will be raising it’s admission prices to $3.50 to help cover the costs of renovations. I wonder if that will affect the attendance at this second run house.
From the theatre’s website:
‘Remember When…
The Blues Brothers were on a “Mission from God"
"ET Phone home” made you cry
You were shocked that Vader was Luke’s Father
These were playing the last time La Grange Theatre raised ticket prices! Starting April 2nd, we will be raising our ticket price to $3.50, to help in the continued renovation of our theatres.'
Please continue to patronize this theatre everybody. The owners are making an earnest attempt to stay in business.
That’s an interesting ad, Ken MC. Only the Catlow and the Liberty 1&2 remain open, all of the others have been closed.
Robin,
The telephone message for this theatre is now warning people where NOT to park. The message is also telling people that their cars will be towed by Lincoln Towing and is also giving Lincoln Towing’s phone number and address out.
Before Loews and AMC merged, the 600 North Michigan Theatre in Chicago used to have a free movie every Thursday night at 8:00pm. Of course, you’re talking about a major chain able to afford to do that every week.
What a shame. I bet that if Keresotas took over this place, they would do well with it like they did with the Webster Place. The Norridge can still draw large crowds from what I understand.
I haven’t been here since the late 1980s. What’s this place like? How is the movie-going experience here?
I think it’s an excellent idea. The area needs more 2nd run houses.
MP775,
Have they announced a closure date yet?
Interesting what Movie534 said about chains in the above post. I’ve liked what Kerasotes has done here in the Chicago area. And we also have Classic Cinemas too. I’ve been taking my business to Kerasotes and Classic Cinemas a lot lately.
BW
You are right about that. Lincoln Village still has the waterfall curtains, although I understand that they are no longer in use.
You are right and C-O did try to modernize the movie-going experience for theatre patrons. I just find it interesting that so many of the theatres that they built between 1985 and 1990 in the Chicagoland Area are now closed. The Grove has even been demolished after standing for only 15 years or so.
Any news on this theatre? When is it supposed to close.
This is why, at least in the Chicagoland Area, the cinemas built for Cineplex-Odeon in the late 1980s did not survive. Several of them like the Grove Cinema in Downer’s Grove have already been demolished. Others like the Bricktown were turned into health clubs. The Lincoln Village is about the last of these and it is barely hanging on.
That is why when Keresotas took over the Webster Place, the company invested a boatload of money into it, gutting it, and doing a total rehab on it. Although the Webster has always been a popular place, the investment paid off handsomely.
To Bryan K, per your comment of two years ago:
“Paul, are you familiar with Ross Miller’s 1996 book, ‘Heres the Deal: The Buying and Selling of a Great American City’? It tells the story of the history and politics behind Block 37, from its earliest years up until the clearing of the block in the late 80s/early 90s. It’s really interesting reading, and has some nice vintage photos and drawings of the site, especially during its later years, from the 70s on.”
I did finally read this book. I bought a used copy of it from www.amazon.com for $1.00 plus shipping. You are right, it is a fascinating book and the story of “Block 37” goes back some 20 years prior to the actual demolition of the structures on the block. It all goes back to how “Hizzoner” was riding in his limousine to work one day and saw the buildings on the block and decided they had to go. It also briefly mentions how the single story structures that replaced the Roosevelt and stood there briefly (less than ten years) were merely intended to be “tax earners”—places that could temporarily be on the tax rolls while something permanent was being planned. Oddly enough, the Walgreens across the street from Fields/Macy’s was intended to be such a building, but it lasted for many years.
Further complicating Block 37 was Stop-n-Shop, Hillman’s, and Gapers. For those of you unaware, they were all part of an amazing bakery/supermarket that existed on the block and with all of the people living Downtown these days, would be most useful. The problem was that they had been owned by the same family and the family owned the building they were located in. They were offered a deal in which they could occupy the new building (that never came) as tenants. The catch was that their space would have been smaller and that they would have been paying many times in rent what they were paying in taxes. Plus, no provision was made for an alley, which would have been required for produce deliveries. In short, it was a ploy to get a profitable business out of there. Stop-n-Shop was profitable until the day it closed.
It appears to me that, in common with other Loop theatres in the 1970s, standard fare would occasionally play here in addition to the horror and blaxploitation and action movies. For example, GIVE EM HELL HARRY was a one-man show about Harry Truman. LOGAN’S RUN was a huge sci-fi blockbuster. SILVERSTREAK was a huge hit as was ALIEN.
I would like to see a list of what played here when the theatre was briefly known as the Dearborn.
I wonder what the ownership of this theatre is. The theatre still appears on the Village Entertainment website and is still showing first run films.