I saw Sweeney Todd here yesterday. GREAT new theater. Sound was awesome. The chairs in the theater rock. The food counter was sort of a cafe stye line. Very clean and new. I much prefer this place over some other nearby theaters. I still miss the original 4 upstairs theaters at Stratford but it was time for them to go.
On a side note a saw an article about the Bloomingdale Court theaters and how they are successfully showing Baliwood movies. Maybe Bloomingdale Court will survive these new theaters at Stratford.
Last week the Castle Theater had a foreclosure auction. The bank which held the loan purchased the theater for roughly $250,000 with the intent to sell it. The Theater is easily worth double or triple that amount. There was some talk of converting the upper floors into condos but no mention of that had been made in quite a while.
I am wondering if this is where the current Michael’s restaurant is located today. The fascade of the building looks like it may have been a theater and there is a marquee. I have not been inside this building but I have wondered if it was a theater at one point.
My wife and I visited Galena last week and we came across this building. It currently houses mostly crafts and art work for homes. This building could easily be converted back to a theater. The stage is still in place as well as the curtain. Much of the lighting seems to be in place as well. No seats are currently in what was the theater. Galena seems to be a place that would support a small art house theater. I think they are really missing the boat by not using this space as it was intended. My wife and I had to drive to Dubuque to see a movie – a good 15 miles away.
Attended a showing of the 3rd Pirates of the Carribbean movie this past week. The movie theater was great. Large auditorium, pretty clean, decent prices. However, the place was EMPTY. I am afraid this place will not be open much longer. The Kennedy Mall Theaters across the street look as if they have gone out of business as well.
I think the owner of the theater tried in the mid 90’s to turn it into a liquor store or warehouse but was denied by the city. Shortly after being denied I think the theater had a fire. I’m sure the city of Decatur has ordered this theater to be torn down by now. I am just guessing on all of this and I could be wrong.
This was the place where I saw Rocky Horror Picture Show for the first time. We used to drive well over an hour to get there but we always had a great time. The cast there was great. Some of the regular people that came EVERY Saturday night were interesting to say the least. I saw the Rocky Horror at a couple other theaters but the Mundelein Theateer was by far my favorite.
I saw one movie at t his theater shortly after it opened, I believ it was Crimson Tide. I really was disappointed with the theater. Even though it was new it had VERY small theaters and screens, I don’t believe it had any stadium seating and it was expensive. I much preferred the Barrington 6 and latter the AMC South Barrington 30. I also think the Marcus Addison hurt this place as people from Roselle, Bloomingdale, and addison who used to drive to Streamwood now only had to go to Addison.
This is very sad. I much preferred the Castle over the other nearby theaters. The couches were GREAT! The food was good and prices were more than reasonable. I especially enjoyed watching Bears Games here during the football season. I hope someone purchases the Castle soon and reopens it. It seems to be in GREAT shape. Honestly aside from an upgrade in sound I think it is in better shape than most of the other theaters in town.
Unfortunately, the Castle Theater is closed and the future of theater is now uncertain. The Pantagraph – the local newspaper in Bloomington has an article on the Castle Theater’s closing which can be found here: View link
I sincerely hope that Ben Slotky has other succesful ventures here in Bloomington. He seems to have a great personality that is needed here in Bloomington.
I just attended my first movie at the Castle theater. It is GREAT!!!! I really don’t know where to begin. Very reasonable prices, beautiful theater, VERY comfortable couches, free refills on drinks – and they don’t cost $5 per drink, the bathroom has the sound of the movie playing, food tastes good and the server brings it to your seat / couch.
The sound seems to need some improvement and it was actually a little distracting at times but it certainly would not keep me away from enjoying another movie there soon. Most of the movies there seem to be targeted towards young kids and families. I hope they continue to show movies aimed at a little older audience.
I hope people continue to support this place. It REALLY is a local treasure!
I saw Sweeney Todd here yesterday. GREAT new theater. Sound was awesome. The chairs in the theater rock. The food counter was sort of a cafe stye line. Very clean and new. I much prefer this place over some other nearby theaters. I still miss the original 4 upstairs theaters at Stratford but it was time for them to go.
On a side note a saw an article about the Bloomingdale Court theaters and how they are successfully showing Baliwood movies. Maybe Bloomingdale Court will survive these new theaters at Stratford.
Last week the Castle Theater had a foreclosure auction. The bank which held the loan purchased the theater for roughly $250,000 with the intent to sell it. The Theater is easily worth double or triple that amount. There was some talk of converting the upper floors into condos but no mention of that had been made in quite a while.
I am wondering if this is where the current Michael’s restaurant is located today. The fascade of the building looks like it may have been a theater and there is a marquee. I have not been inside this building but I have wondered if it was a theater at one point.
My wife and I visited Galena last week and we came across this building. It currently houses mostly crafts and art work for homes. This building could easily be converted back to a theater. The stage is still in place as well as the curtain. Much of the lighting seems to be in place as well. No seats are currently in what was the theater. Galena seems to be a place that would support a small art house theater. I think they are really missing the boat by not using this space as it was intended. My wife and I had to drive to Dubuque to see a movie – a good 15 miles away.
Attended a showing of the 3rd Pirates of the Carribbean movie this past week. The movie theater was great. Large auditorium, pretty clean, decent prices. However, the place was EMPTY. I am afraid this place will not be open much longer. The Kennedy Mall Theaters across the street look as if they have gone out of business as well.
We were in Dubuque this past weekend and this theater sure looked closed.
I think the owner of the theater tried in the mid 90’s to turn it into a liquor store or warehouse but was denied by the city. Shortly after being denied I think the theater had a fire. I’m sure the city of Decatur has ordered this theater to be torn down by now. I am just guessing on all of this and I could be wrong.
This was the place where I saw Rocky Horror Picture Show for the first time. We used to drive well over an hour to get there but we always had a great time. The cast there was great. Some of the regular people that came EVERY Saturday night were interesting to say the least. I saw the Rocky Horror at a couple other theaters but the Mundelein Theateer was by far my favorite.
I saw one movie at t his theater shortly after it opened, I believ it was Crimson Tide. I really was disappointed with the theater. Even though it was new it had VERY small theaters and screens, I don’t believe it had any stadium seating and it was expensive. I much preferred the Barrington 6 and latter the AMC South Barrington 30. I also think the Marcus Addison hurt this place as people from Roselle, Bloomingdale, and addison who used to drive to Streamwood now only had to go to Addison.
This is very sad. I much preferred the Castle over the other nearby theaters. The couches were GREAT! The food was good and prices were more than reasonable. I especially enjoyed watching Bears Games here during the football season. I hope someone purchases the Castle soon and reopens it. It seems to be in GREAT shape. Honestly aside from an upgrade in sound I think it is in better shape than most of the other theaters in town.
Unfortunately, the Castle Theater is closed and the future of theater is now uncertain. The Pantagraph – the local newspaper in Bloomington has an article on the Castle Theater’s closing which can be found here: View link
I sincerely hope that Ben Slotky has other succesful ventures here in Bloomington. He seems to have a great personality that is needed here in Bloomington.
I just attended my first movie at the Castle theater. It is GREAT!!!! I really don’t know where to begin. Very reasonable prices, beautiful theater, VERY comfortable couches, free refills on drinks – and they don’t cost $5 per drink, the bathroom has the sound of the movie playing, food tastes good and the server brings it to your seat / couch.
The sound seems to need some improvement and it was actually a little distracting at times but it certainly would not keep me away from enjoying another movie there soon. Most of the movies there seem to be targeted towards young kids and families. I hope they continue to show movies aimed at a little older audience.
I hope people continue to support this place. It REALLY is a local treasure!
New Article about the restoration of the theater from the Herald & Review today. Here is the link:
View link
Nice picture of the “teaser"that they are doing.
Nick Digilio of WGN radio has an Interview with a member of the Friends of the Uptown Theater at 11:05 pm tonight on 720 am (6/4/06).