Comments about Patio Theatre in Chicago, IL

BobbyS on July 17, 2012 at 3:48 am

Didn’t know about the Norridge closing. It was opened last week. Is this for sure? If only the Patio had parking. I find it hard to believe the Loews Norridge patrons would travel down the street to a second-run house and not to a nearby multi screen house. I think the Pickwick would benefit because they show first-run and have parking aplenty!

Broan on July 16, 2012 at 9:03 pm

Norridge closing should be good for the Patio. Hope they can get the word out.

BobbyS on July 13, 2012 at 4:51 pm

btkrefft, I don’t remember the Gateway having a vertical sign. The Portage of course did and quite high and I don’t know what year in came down. I was impressed by the Patio’s picture you posted. I always thought a vertical with chasing lights was the icing on the cake for a movie palace..

BobbyS on July 13, 2012 at 8:07 am

Great picture of the vertical. I wonder why it was removed? Nice to see trolley buses too. No polution and cheap to operate I imagine.

CSWalczak on July 7, 2012 at 9:39 pm

An article about the fund-raising effort to enable the acquisition of digital equipment: View link

rivest266 on June 26, 2012 at 11:55 pm

This opened on January 29th, 1927. I uploaded the grand opening ad in the photo section for this cinema.

Trolleyguy on May 23, 2012 at 3:30 pm

Rather than requesting donations, perhaps the owner of the theater should incorporate and sell shares to raise the funds to purchase digital equipment. Donations work best when there is a tax write-off from a non profit.

Tim O'Neill on May 23, 2012 at 8:29 am

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1911305952/save-the-historic-patio-theater

DaveM on December 10, 2011 at 7:34 pm

See the attached letter from Demetri Kouvalis on rogerebert.com;

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111129/LETTERS/111129984

It would be a shame to lose the Patio at this point. We’ve been out to see Thor, Drive, Fast Five, Crazy Stupid Love, Puss in Boots, Back to the Future, Pirates and Columbiana since the Patio reopened, and we don’t even live in Portage Park. It would be a shame to lose the theater again.

Go Patio!

whtesoxfan56 on October 13, 2011 at 5:25 am

Darn, that’s sad to hear the man who brought this theater back to decent shape up till 2001 passed away. I’m glad his son chose to reopen it, and will hopefully keep it going for years and years to come.

Heck, I remember the recorded answering machine greetings that I believe he probably recorded each week, back when Alex ran the theater.

Paul Fortini on October 5, 2011 at 2:23 pm

I’m sad to report that Alex Kouvalis has passed away http://www.suntimes.com/news/obituaries/8021778-418/alexander-kouvalis-remembered-as-savior-of-patio-theater.html

Life's Too Short on July 13, 2011 at 1:29 am

Brian and I are thinking alike on this one. The theatre clearly adds something to the city. But it is also clearly not a highly lucrative operation. Little is gained and much is lost by taxing it to death.

Broan on July 12, 2011 at 4:56 am

I think it would be possible to exempt four screens or less since they’re at a competitive disadvantage to the larger screens, or exempt second run, or a combination of the two

BobbyS on July 12, 2011 at 4:38 am

I think the amusement tax is helpful for the city when it concerns ball games, rock concerts etc. They probably can’t exempt classic movie theaters because it is for profit as well as the movie theaters located in the city. That is why a first-run movie house costs more in the city vs.suburbs. I hope the crowds keep up the attendence.

Life's Too Short on July 11, 2011 at 7:55 pm

I think that city amusement tax is a dinosaur from a bygone era. Back in the day running a movie theatre was lucrative. Nowadays assessing this tax is like trying to get blood from a stone. Not surprisingly it is taking government officials many decades to catch up to this fact.

EricV on July 11, 2011 at 4:26 pm

Saw “Super 8” this past Saturday, theatre looks great. I hope it gets the business it requires to be a success. http://patiotheater.net/

BobbyS on June 7, 2011 at 5:18 am

The Patio also looked great Sat night. Another large crowd and the stars were twinkling and the clouds were a drifting. Everybody applauded when the picture was over. The marquee needs some work.

WHALER66 on June 7, 2011 at 4:02 am

Sounds like the Portage all over again; the city trying to squeeze a potential owner until they have to say uncle and walk away.

DaveM on June 7, 2011 at 3:38 am

The Patio looked great last Friday. There was a large and appreciative crowd, and the projection and sound were excellent. The print of Thor was pristine as well—it looked brand new.

BobbyS on June 3, 2011 at 3:42 pm

The best of luck Patio Theatre on this day of re-opening! A rare day indeed when a Chicago movie gem re-opens! Bravo..

DanLon on June 3, 2011 at 1:01 pm

Also, you have the neighborhood listed as “Pottage Park” it actually “Portage Park”

DanLon on June 3, 2011 at 12:53 pm

Status should be changed to OPEN. It is reopening today, June 3, 2011 at 4pm!!! Just like Shirey, I too am excited about it being reopened!

shirleym1227 on June 3, 2011 at 2:51 am

I am VERY excited that the Patio is going to reopen. I will be there to support the theater as much as I can afford and as long as there are movies I like. A HUGE THANK YOU making this happen!!1

CSWalczak on May 30, 2011 at 12:43 am

Sun-Times article about the reopening with a picture; the article indicates the reopening will be June 4: http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/5550964-417/patio-theater-gets-a-second-run-at-success.html

Trolleyguy on May 27, 2011 at 3:51 pm

According to the website, the Patio will reopen on June 3 with a screening of “Thor.”

http://patiotheater.net/

Hope it works out OK.

Patio Theatre

6008 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago, IL 60634

6008 W. Irving Park Road,
Chicago, IL 60634