Ridge Plaza Cinemas
960 W. Dundee Road,
Arlington Heights,
IL
60004
960 W. Dundee Road,
Arlington Heights,
IL
60004
4 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Cineplex Odeon, Loews Cineplex
Functions: Gymnasium
Nearby Theaters
The Ridge Plaza Cinemas opened on October 3, 1986 (at the same time as Grove Cinemas) by Cineplex Odeon at the Ridge Plaza Shopping Center. It had eight screens with rocking chair seats. It was equipped with 70mm projection, THX and later DTS (Digital Theater Sound).
On March 1, 2001, Loews-Cineplex closed the theater after Loews went into bankruptcy and declining attendance. In 2003, the building was gutted and a fitness center built in the space.
Contributed by
James Piscitelli, Bryan
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
Here is an article about the theater.
Here is another.
I remember seeing Air Force One here and also when some boxing movie (one of the Rocky’s maybe?) came out, they BUILT an almost full sized ring in the lobby.
-Brian
I loved working there, and I loved going to movies there.
Marbel lined floors and columns. Large concession stands. Spacious lobby. Comfortable seats. A true palace.
Sue P. we had a great time working side by side. I have lots of pictures from the construction stages of the theater.
I remember while the theater was still under construction, going to lunch with the contactors at Portillo’s.
Asst Mgr 1986-1988
Port Richey, Fl
Here is an ad from the Daily Herald dated 10/3/86:
http://tinyurl.com/ovr2s8
http://tinyurl.com/qpp93x
Kencmcintyre, I uploaded ALL of the ad for the Ridge Cinemas in the photo section for this cinema. They ran the same ad for the Le Fabourg Cinemas in Montreal and Cinemas Place Charest in Quebec City.
Also uploaded the Chicago Tribune ad for the same cimema along with the Grove Cinemas.
Does anybody have any pictures of what it looked like inside when it was open? I never got the chance to see the inside since it was closed.
I am reading “Off the Cliff” which is about the making of “Thelma & Louise.” They mention a test screening held at a CO Theatre in Arlington Heights, IL on Oct. 29, 1990. This could have been at T&C or at Ridge. (T&C would have been CO by this point.) My guess would be Ridge but I do not know.
It said they had an audience of 330.
At this point during a production, it is very likely they would be running the edited work print with splices between each shot and the sound would be a temporary mix running off a separate 35mm magnetic track. A conventional print with an optical soundtrack is remotely possible but less likely. Playing a magnetic track - unmarried it’s often called - means bringing in extra equipment that would play the track in sync with the projector.
Any former employees recall?
Actual closing date is March 1, 2001, and was last operated by Loews Cineplex.