The Maryland, the Rhodes, and the McVickers were the IT theaters between 74 and 77. You go in the lobby and walk up an incline. Concessions on one side. Huge propped posters of widely seen films lined the other. Then you walked through the doors to the screen. Tucked away next to the 63rd L train between cottage grove and University ave., this place was the noise of my childhood. Never forget it.
This theater was a dark place when “The Exorcist” played here. I can remember the ambulance parked around the corner on a regular basis. What a time to be alive.
I came here every weekend on the train to watch the same movie over and over. This theater held the honor of premiering the movie “The Exorcist” Dec. 26th 1973. It played at this theater for the next year and ten months straight. All the hype, the lines, the ambulances, the fainting, all happened here from 73 to 75. What a time to be alive.
The Rhodes theater was ground zero for martial arts films that wormed the lines around the corner from 1972 through 77.My first movie there was “Willard” My last attendance a weeknight when I had nothing to do so I saw “Godzilla”. Something like that. It had classic Hollywood hand and foot molds in the lobby floor cartooned by a red velvet rope. Portraits of40’s Warner Bros. Movie stars. By the seventies, it all seemed archaic, Didn’t fit the black population there. But “Enter the Dragon ” sure did. August of 1973.Lines down the block in the rain. It was remodeled and enjoyed a brief revival but that was it. Its still an empty lot…and some of the floor molds are still there. Once symbols of fanfare are now grave markers in a concrete cemetery of memories.
Dec.26th 1973. A friday. Blowing snow. Cold. I stood with my Mom in a long long line stretched around Lake st. The line inched. I could see the movie title, “The Exorcist”. Inched again. Twirling red lights.Christmas lights? No. Ambulance. Then another one. Fire? No. Sick people coming out crying and throwing up. People were cheering. Some kissing crosses on a necklace. I looked at my mom. I was not ready to see this film. All happened here from 73 to late 75…The Exorcist.
Those Bruce Lee triple features were here. Lines around the corner for ticket holders. Second line for early arrivals. Just as long.
The Maryland, the Rhodes, and the McVickers were the IT theaters between 74 and 77. You go in the lobby and walk up an incline. Concessions on one side. Huge propped posters of widely seen films lined the other. Then you walked through the doors to the screen. Tucked away next to the 63rd L train between cottage grove and University ave., this place was the noise of my childhood. Never forget it.
The movie “The Godfather” played here for over a year then the martial arts movies lived here for a awhile. I think that was in 74.
This theater was a dark place when “The Exorcist” played here. I can remember the ambulance parked around the corner on a regular basis. What a time to be alive.
Now you see it, now you don’t. What a waste ! Really nice place. Badly handled.
I came here every weekend on the train to watch the same movie over and over. This theater held the honor of premiering the movie “The Exorcist” Dec. 26th 1973. It played at this theater for the next year and ten months straight. All the hype, the lines, the ambulances, the fainting, all happened here from 73 to 75. What a time to be alive.
The Rhodes theater was ground zero for martial arts films that wormed the lines around the corner from 1972 through 77.My first movie there was “Willard” My last attendance a weeknight when I had nothing to do so I saw “Godzilla”. Something like that. It had classic Hollywood hand and foot molds in the lobby floor cartooned by a red velvet rope. Portraits of40’s Warner Bros. Movie stars. By the seventies, it all seemed archaic, Didn’t fit the black population there. But “Enter the Dragon ” sure did. August of 1973.Lines down the block in the rain. It was remodeled and enjoyed a brief revival but that was it. Its still an empty lot…and some of the floor molds are still there. Once symbols of fanfare are now grave markers in a concrete cemetery of memories.
Dec.26th 1973. A friday. Blowing snow. Cold. I stood with my Mom in a long long line stretched around Lake st. The line inched. I could see the movie title, “The Exorcist”. Inched again. Twirling red lights.Christmas lights? No. Ambulance. Then another one. Fire? No. Sick people coming out crying and throwing up. People were cheering. Some kissing crosses on a necklace. I looked at my mom. I was not ready to see this film. All happened here from 73 to late 75…The Exorcist.