Morton Grove Theatre

7300 Dempster Street,
Morton Grove, IL 60053

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Kohlberg Theaters

Firms: Footlik-Rose Associates

Functions: Gymnasium

Nearby Theaters

Morton Grove Theatre

This 1960’s-era shopping center theater, which opened as a single-screen house, was eventually carved into five small auditoriums.

The theater’s most notable feature, however, was the huge tent-like awning over the main entrance, soaring like a boat’s prow over the parking lot.

The Morton Grove closed in 2001. The building first served as a shoe store, and is now a fitness center.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

Recent comments (view all 29 comments)

Trolleyguy
Trolleyguy on June 22, 2010 at 4:45 pm

Reactivate notification status.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini on July 19, 2010 at 4:33 pm

I miss this place. I think the last movie I saw here was “Bulworth” and as I recall, the place was packed!

My sister lived nearby at the time. I also recall her saying how she was so surprised this place closed.

rollem
rollem on September 17, 2010 at 3:01 pm

I grew up going to this theater and have very fond memories of the time I spent there. My father was the projectionist there from the time it opened (I think) until late November of 1984. When I was allowed to go to work with my Dad I would sometimes sit down in the house and watch with the other patrons but more often I liked to stay up in the projection booth with him. I watched him splice film, make changeovers from one projector to the other and change carbon arcs, etc. My Dad had a large reel to reel music library that he selected from to play for the moviegoers when the pictures were not running. When she was old enough, my cousin worked there at the candy counter. I remember that upstairs next to the projection booth there was a huge room full of HVAC equipment and it was very loud and I had to stay out of there. I really do appreciate seeing the picture that was posted by “Life’s Too short”. I loved going to the Morton Grove. Thanks for the memories…..

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on September 17, 2010 at 4:10 pm

Nice looking theatre i bet with one screen,but they just have to mutiplex everything for that buck.Good stories to read.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on September 17, 2010 at 7:52 pm

Great Theatre Story roolem,good to hear that from someone who lived it.Welcome to Cinema Treasures.

rollem
rollem on October 10, 2010 at 1:52 pm

Thanks for the welcome. Does anyone know what the upper floor of the building is being used for now?

Trolleyguy
Trolleyguy on December 24, 2011 at 2:46 pm

Drove by yesterday and saw that the facility is now a fitness center. This seems to be the fate of a lot of these older multiplexes, just like what happened to the nearby Golf Mill 1-2-3.

rivest266
rivest266 on June 23, 2012 at 6:38 am

June 24th, 1966 grand opening ad uploaded here.

Broan
Broan on October 15, 2013 at 7:12 am

Architects were Footlik & Rose

Mike
Mike on August 10, 2022 at 3:15 am

I saw a lot of 2nd run movies here in the 90s, especially in the $1.50/ticket era. Like Predator 2 in early 1991 and Ricochet, that same year I believe. It had already been split up into a 4-plex by that time, I believe, if not more. Would’ve loved to have visited the theater in earlier eras, especially when it was single screen theater.

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