Fox Valley Theaters

4001 Fox Valley Center Drive,
Aurora, IL 60504

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Cineplex Odeon, Plitt Theatres, Village Theatres

Firms: Finck, Stowell & Frolichstein

Functions: Bar

Previous Names: Fox Valley 1-2-3-4, Fox Valley 1-6, Fox Valley 7-10

Nearby Theaters

Fox Valley Theaters 7-10

Built as a quad and opening December 21, 1977 at the Fox Valley Center mall, the theater was originally part of the Plitt Theatres chain of Chicago. In the mid-1980’s, the theater was increased to six screens. By the late-1980’s, the theater was taken over by the Cineplex Odeon chain. Around this time, four more screens were opened in another building, bringing the Fox Valley Center’s total screens to ten.

In 2000, the theater was closed after Cineplex Odeon’s bankruptcy troubles, but the original six screen theater was reopened in 2002 by the Village Theatres chain but was closed once more a year later.

One of the two theater buildings has been converted into a sports bar. The other was demolished in early-2007.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

Recent comments (view all 17 comments)

theatrelifer
theatrelifer on December 15, 2012 at 1:30 pm

No Greg I worked the Oakbrook theatres till 1991 then went to manage River Oaks 7&8.I also worked at Orland in 1983 to 84 Then I opened Orland Sq 5-8. I worked with Mr. Studdert and Gilbert Tamm at 1-4 and Ed Butkovich at 5-8

theatrelifer
theatrelifer on December 15, 2012 at 1:33 pm

My former Brother in Law is Pat Burns He was vp under Irwin Choen at the time. I also have worked for Classic Cinemas,Century(Cinemark) Kerasotes (Regal)

DAL
DAL on December 16, 2012 at 10:23 am

I’m Dave. I also worked with Bill Studdert at Orland 1-4 and will be forever grateful for that opportunity, since Bill was my connection to the glory days of the old movie palaces. Gilbert Tamm was my assistant at Stratford 1-4. Crossed paths a lot with Ed Butkovich. And I was one of Pat’s DMs from 1988 until 2006, in Chicago and then Houston. I’ve worked for six different companies in 10 states in over 120 locations over 39 years. The sad thing, as this website proves, is that probably 75% of those theatres are now gone forever.

theatrelifer
theatrelifer on December 17, 2012 at 10:34 am

I think that you were at on time my DM. When I first came to Oak Brook I had Ed Konrandt,Then you Dave Lang,followed by Mike Sadigain,Jim Felker,Jay Schenkel.When I worked for Kerasotes I saw your name as a DM I was so upset that they sold to AMC but the theatre that I worked at City North along with Webster was not part of the sale do to a judges decree they went to Regal.Working for Plitt and then Century(Sufurys) and lastly the Kersotes was the best then came the chains and they let all the managers go. Regal gave me the Choice of making $8.25 down from $19.00 or loosing all benifets and to work part time so I left.Are you still in the Theatre game?

DAL
DAL on December 18, 2012 at 6:48 am

AMC graciously offered a lot of Kerasotes area managers management positions at theatres, and I was with them from the Kerasotes buyout until my location, Crestwood Plaza 10 in St. Louis, closed in May 2012. I’ve been looking for work since. (Finding employment is a lot harder in your 50’s than in your 40’s!) Kerasotes is a great organization with some of the finest professionals I have worked with in my long career, and I’m glad they still go on with their ICON concept.

glennimal
glennimal on January 28, 2013 at 10:28 pm

Wow, I was the assistant manager when Doug was there, and got shot. I also ran the smaller theater as a manager and left shortly before Ron took over. It was one of my first major jobs,loved it at the time. i will
be starting a new job soon at a casino, still kind of in the entertainment field. Good luck in your job search.I started at Oakbrook theater.

Jacs
Jacs on October 26, 2016 at 7:32 pm

I don’t know if you’ll see this but to theatrelifer and Dal, Ron Roberts was my uncle. Thank you for the kind words about him. It’s nice to know that others remember him and think as kindly of him as we all did and continue to do.

rivest266
rivest266 on November 16, 2016 at 2:39 am

This opened on December 21st, 1977 along with the Hawthorn 1-2-3-4. Its grand opening ad in the photo section.

DAL
DAL on November 16, 2016 at 4:13 pm

Jacs: Kind words aren’t enough to honor your uncle. He was the best combination of skill, dedication, and good humor, and he was sorely missed by a great many of his fellow managers. My sympathy to your family for the loss of Ron. Time is the comforter that helps us focus on the good memories, which no criminal can take away.

Curt_f
Curt_f on March 4, 2017 at 2:14 pm

My first job out of high school was working Usher at Fox Valley 1-6 in the summer of 1983. I worked there Summers and Christmas holidays. Most fun I’ve ever had at a job. Lots of great memories. Everybody got along. Free movies, popcorn, nachos, and pop. A group of us would party after work in the parking lot(sometimes even during work, but never got caught). I remember when “Return of the Jedi” opened and the crowds just kept coming. “Officer and a Gentleman” had a very long run because people kept coming to see it. I worked a lot of hours and was able to buy my first car and first stereo with this job. Those memories can never be replaced. I had moved to Arizona by the time I heard about Doug Lonsbury(mgr at 1-6) being shot. He was my manager. Nice guy. I hope he’s doing well today. And then the tragedy a few years later at building 7-10 with the mgr being killed by a former employee.

 I think it was around 2005 that I made a point of driving by the old theater and she was still standing--  vacant, but still standing.  It's sad that she no longer exists.  Thankyou, Plitt 1-6.  You've given me memories that will last a lifetime.
                  
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