Golf Mill Theatres 1-2-3
9210 N. Milwaukee Avenue,
Niles,
IL
60714
9210 N. Milwaukee Avenue,
Niles,
IL
60714
11 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Cineplex Odeon, Essaness Theaters Corp.
Firms: Liebenberg, Kaplan & Glotter, Melco Engineers
Functions: Gymnasium
Previous Names: Golf Mill Theater, Golf Mill I & II
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Jun 18, 2010 — "Jaws"... Happy 35th!
- May 21, 2010 — Happy 30th, "Empire"
- May 14, 2010 — Please Post Today, May 14 --- "Jaws," Happy 35th
- Aug 21, 2009 — "Alien" 30th Anniversary
- Aug 15, 2009 — "Apocalypse Now" 30th Anniversary
- Sep 30, 2005 — Movies To Return to Niles' Golf Mill Mall
The Golf Mill Theater opened on December 28, 1961 with Jerry Lewis in “The Errand Boy”. The opening was two years after the adjacent shopping center of the same name opened. Originally a single screen theatre, seating over 1,800.
Costing nearly $2 million to construct, the Golf Mill Theater was Kennedy-era modern but still had elegant touches, like a long, airy lobby complete with sunken lounge areas with sofas and large metal fireplaces.
In 1969, the large auditorium with its vast 50 by 22 foot screen was twinned and the theatre became the Golf Mill I & II.
In 1973, the theatre was triplexed, becoming the Golf Mill Theatres 1-2-3.
With both declining attendance due to larger and more modern theaters sprouting up nearby, as well as the declining shape of the Golf Mill in general, Cineplex Odeon, which operated the theatre in its last few years, closed the nearly four-decade old movie house on January 4, 2001.
In early-2003, the Golf Mill was completely gutted and converted into a fitness center.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 101 comments)
I uploaded the grand opening ad from December 28th, 1961 in the photo section for this theatre. You may notice it was “Transistorized”
looks like a most impressive theatre in its day.
Yeah to Xsport.
As of 1973 when screen 3 was added, Golf Mill had the most seats outside of the largest palaces like the Chicago, Oriental, Granada, and Uptown, with 3200 seats.
My father, Bene Stein, was the manager of the Golf Mill Theatres and I worked as an usher. Here’s some trivia: one of the ushers I worked with in 1965 was Steve Goodman,the wonderfully talented singer/songwriter who wrote among many great tunes “City of New Orleans” and “Go Cubs Go”. It was his first job.
If you are on Facebook Leemstein, here is a great fan page for Goodman. Copy and paste to view.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/123065691046871/
It’s called “Fans and Friends of Steve Goodman” if the link doesn’t work.
Opened on December 28, 1961 with Jerry Lewis in “The Errand Boy” (with no extra short subjects only on grand opening day. A one-hour cartoon marathon was added on the day after grand opening).
Closed on January 4, 2001.
Once operated by Essaness Theatres, and was taken over by Cineplex Odeon in 1986.