Milford Theatre
3311 N. Pulaski Road,
Chicago,
IL
60641
3311 N. Pulaski Road,
Chicago,
IL
60641
7 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 33 comments
Circa 1984 photo added courtesy of William Nichols.
I lived down Milwaukee Avenue from the Milford from 1973 to 1976. At sixty cents admission, it was probably the cheapest entertainment around. However, you had to be careful about going to a Saturday matinee. If it was a movie that kids could attend, station wagons full of kids (each with sixty centers in his or her hands) would pull up and disgorge their contents. Before long, there would be screaming kids running up and down the aisles. (Maybe there was one aged usher.) I also remember that the Milford had Polish films once a month or so. Sorry to learn that it is gone.
http://archive.org/stream/motography17elec#page/503/mode/1up/search/newhouse
I moved into the area in 1985, and saw one film at the Milford. Being a suburbanite, the novelty of walking to a theater was part of “city life”. At the time, the ballroom was an Hispanic night club, and the young people dressed for the evening.
The back wall of the theater is part of then auto parts store now auto zone. I found out later that you get a deal from the city for “renovation”, but all that you need is 1 wall to get it.
One additional memory is that the demolition of the Milford and the Oak Theater (Armitage and Western) started the same week. I was picking up a friend from that neighborhood when I saw them demolishing the Oak.
Small world; The Milford! Remember the ticket agent, the long lines, and the sticky floors? We grew up at Addison and Pulaski also. Hung out on Eddie street every day by the Orlick’s or by the Kreigers. We loved the secret sauce at Jack In The box, and busting the ketchup packets on the table to splatter all over the window. The whole neighborhood is unforgettable. Best years of our lives.
Gosh, it is sure nice to see that the Milford Theatre still lives on in other people’s memories. I grew up on Eddy street right by Addison and Pulaski. I can not tell you how many memories this topic, and location hold for me. I remember my Dad taking us there to see Towering Inferno, the line went all the way around the block. I remember the Jack in the Box across the street, Keystone drugstore, the whole area is some how ingrained in Technicolor inside of me. I really would like to go back, if only for one day, and ride my Schwinn Scrambler down for Baseball practice at Kilbourn Park, and wait on the porch for my day to come home from work. Well, he’s gone now, and the area doesn’t look the same. A bit sad.
Link to a photo of the Milford Ballroom when it “had seen better days”:
http://chuckmanchicagonostalgia.wordpress.com/2011/12/16/photo-chicago-milford-ballroom-when-it-had-seen-better-days/photo-chicago-milford-ballroom-when-it-had-seen-better-days/
This opened on February 24th, 1917. Grand opening ad posted here.
http://tribune-files.imagefortress.com/attachment1s/887187/medium_wm/ANR-230-CT_F.JPG?1290820562
Wonderful to see pictures of that fine old theater that no longer exists, except in my memory. Spent loads of my childhood there in the 1950’s. I sure miss it. Joanm65
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Another view of the Milford Theatre and Ballroom
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Postcard view of the inside of the Milford Ballroom
Hi my name is Bill Boshears, My mom was the popcorn lady there. I to have alot of good memories from the Milford theatre, so when they were tearing it down i had to have the Milford sign, i bought the blue and yellows for $50 from the wreckers.I brought it to rockford,IL to hang up in a rec room and three letters were taken , and now i have to hang it up the MIL and the D and say some SOB stole my FOR, i was pretty upset for awhile of them taking those letters , but they cant take the memories.what a conversion piece now it is.
I remember my brother taking me to see E.T. And Windwalker there. I remember I was maybe 7 at the time. I remember walking out, and seeing some of the Lawndale GL hanging out front. Just smoking waiting on someone. I seen a few movies there, before leaving the area in 1987
My father use to take us here when we were Kids . We loved to spend time with him at the show here . I remember the MIlford Theater very well . They use to show two movies for 90 cents or so . You dont get a double feature no More , thats a thing of the past . We use to look forward to see the show with my dad that use to pick us up on the bus . I think back in 1990 or 1994 they tore it down for cvs . Its like all the other theaters in chicago north side that got torn down . The gate way was one of them too . I seen the return of the jedi there . Man this site brings back memorys in chicago , I love Chicago very much . I wish I had the money to move back there . I miss it very much and all the memories as well .
I think the building burned in the 90’s. I seem to remember driving by and seeing it scorched and borded up. If that is correct, I would have to assume this is what spelled demolition for this property.
Here are two 1982 photos:
http://tinyurl.com/cw7usg
http://tinyurl.com/cx8voz
We had a freinds brother sneak us in to see Little Darlings because it was rated R. Man we were there every weekend.Jaws…Rocky…Star Wars…The Muppett Movie….and the best second movie of a double Feature, Gray Lady Down. When we were kids it was 50 cents for kids and 60 cents for adults. After a double feature my ass was so sore. I can still smell the popcorn. I think I lost a pair of shoes on that floor.
Uptairs of the Miford was a dance hall. It was called the Over 30 Dance. It had a flashing neon sign visable from Milwaukee Ave.
John Pitt
Park Ridge IL
My grandfather passed away on January 4th, 2007 at the age of 82. He leaves behind a long legacy, having been a major pioneer in the in-house, as well as drive-in, motion-picture movie theater industry, having owned LaGrange, Milford, Des Plaines, and Berwyn Theatres 1983-2000, residing as general manager of Kohlberg Theatres 1963-1983, as well as managing and supervising Schoenstadt Theatres 1946-1962. I loved him greatly, and will miss him dearly.
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In the early ‘60s the MilFord tried its’ hand as a ‘mature audiences'
art house (i.e., topless nudies, before X-rated) for a few years, even offering serve-yourself free coffee. But that changed and in the '70s alternating weekly between US sub-runs and Polish films,
earning itself the nickname 'cinema Polski’ among the locals. Screen was in bad shape when I last saw Beetlejuice (M.Keaton) there
myself.
Here is a profile from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency’s HAARGIS system. It includes a small picture.
Saw a few films here, including Lethal Weapon 2 (or was it 3?). It was raining during that film and leaks began to drip down into the auditorium. The seats were OK, although dirty. Not a terrible crowd that night. The place was probably 20% full. They sold “Milford Theatre Double Feature” t-shirts with a film reel emblem on them in the lobby. I bought one, which is now at the Theatre Historical Society. It was showing it’s age but still had charm. Now that I think about it I miss the place.
Henry L. Newhouse was architect
I am amazed that this theatre lasted as long as it did. In the 1970s and early 1980s, it still drew a big crowd. It was cheap and dirty and had the least comfortable seats anywhere.
I saw a totally ‘70s sci-fi flick here called CAPRICORN ONE. It starred Elliot Gould, James Brolin, OJ Simpson, Hal Holbrook, Karen Black, Telly Savalas, Brenda Vaccaro, and Sam Waterston.