Yesterday (May 24) was the 20th Anniversary of the opening of this theatre. Hmmmm…..I wonder if Loews initially signed a 20 year lease….which means….it should be up……..if that indeed is the case. Of course, I merely speculate…..and hope that AMC pulls out of here and a new, more ambitious tenant will take over.
Hey David. The State Street Gall, er, um, I mean Mall was planned while Mayor Richard J. Daley was in office. They closed State Street in June, 1978 to begin destruction, er, um, I mean construction on State Street. Mayor Michael Bilandic was in office at that time. So it wasn’t really Mayor Jane Byrne’s fault of the Mistake by the Lake. Thank God Mayor Richard M. Daley put an end to this debacle.
Rich, I think you saw this double feature somewhere else. Believe me……The Woods Theatre NEVER showed an Ingmar Bergman movie in the 1970s. Maybe you saw this double bill at the Esquire or Playboy, but at the Woods………….no way.
Here is a 2006 video tape from CLTV News in Chicago. At the end of the report is footage of the auditorium of the Studebaker Theater a.k.a. Fine Arts Theatre #1.
The Oriental presented its final kung-fu triple on this date, 30 years ago, and closed its doors. The theatre finally re-opened in 1998 as a live stage venue.
Today, September 13, is a sad anniversary. It was on this date in 1981, the Cinema Theatre showed its last picture show: ATLANTIC CITY with Burt Lancaster and Susan Sarandon. The theatre was torn down about 3 days later. As a matter of fact, all the theatres that were in operation around that area at the time are all gone. I still miss the Cinema Theatre. It was my first movie theatre gig.
I just went by the Village Theatre earlier tonight. They finally took off that sign on top of the marquee that said: “For Lease Summer 2006”. Now, there’s a new sign that reads: “For Lease 8000 square feet. Price Associates (312) 445-6300.”
As I’ve mentioned up above, there are many successful venues in bad areas. The Riviera and Aragon Ballroom are in bad areas and, yet, people go to them. The Congress Theatre is in a bad area and, yet, people go there to watch concerts. There was once a time when Wrigley Field was in a bad area and, yet, people went there to see Cubs games (of course, I’m talking 40 some years ago). Now, we Cinema Treasures fans can do one or the other: we could sulk about how bad an area is and let a wonderful theatre just sit there and rot; or, we could support Mr. Valentine and encourage him to re-open the Colony Theatre if he wants to, and turn it into a successful concert venue. If there’s a concert there that people want to see, they will park their cars in the lot next to the theatre and go. Of course, they won’t roam around that area late at night, but hopefully they’ll have a wonderful experience at the Colony.
It was a Loews-Cineplex theatre from 1998 until 1999. It became a Loews-Cineplex theatre after the Cineplex Odeon/Loews merger took effect in 1998; however, by orders from the Justice Department, Loews Cineplex had to sell a bunch of their theatres to avoid a monopoly, so the Biograph was sold to the newly formed, but short-lived Meridian Theatres. Other theatres that were sold were Water Tower, Burnham Plaza, Broadway Cinema, Old Orchard, Hyde Park, and Bricktown Square. These theatres would all go out of business within a couple of years.
I just watched an episode of the late 1950s television series, M SQUAD, starring Lee Marvin. The exteriors were filmed in Chicago. In tonight’s episode, Lee Marvin can be seen getting into a car and across the street is the Esquire Theatre.
I was brave and made a trip earlier tonight to see GREENBURG. The Pipers Alley is still the same: pathetic. The staff has low morale; the presentation was lousy; the complex was empty as usual. AMC; please sell this place. You obviously don’t care about it. Sell it to Cinemark Fan; or, sell it to some independent operator who would like to return the Pipers Alley to it’s 1990s glory days. It’s amazing that this theatre is still open. It’s downright depressing.
Oh, contraire………… The Michael Todd WAS twinned in 1986. Here’s what happened: M&R Theatres took over the Michael Todd in 1985 after it was closed for 6 years. They also wanted to take over the next-door Cinestage Theatre, but the owners of that porno palace put up a short fight. Eventually, M&R got both theatres and changed the name to Dearborn Cinemas. The plan was to twin both theatres. M&R did manage to twin the Michael Todd; however, they never got around to the Cinestage. The Cinestage side of the Dearborn Cinemas was occasionally opened, but the Michael Todd twinned side remained open until 1988. The M&R Dearborn Cinemas was a complete failure.
Yesterday (May 24) was the 20th Anniversary of the opening of this theatre. Hmmmm…..I wonder if Loews initially signed a 20 year lease….which means….it should be up……..if that indeed is the case. Of course, I merely speculate…..and hope that AMC pulls out of here and a new, more ambitious tenant will take over.
Hey David. The State Street Gall, er, um, I mean Mall was planned while Mayor Richard J. Daley was in office. They closed State Street in June, 1978 to begin destruction, er, um, I mean construction on State Street. Mayor Michael Bilandic was in office at that time. So it wasn’t really Mayor Jane Byrne’s fault of the Mistake by the Lake. Thank God Mayor Richard M. Daley put an end to this debacle.
Rich, I think you saw this double feature somewhere else. Believe me……The Woods Theatre NEVER showed an Ingmar Bergman movie in the 1970s. Maybe you saw this double bill at the Esquire or Playboy, but at the Woods………….no way.
Here is a 2006 video tape from CLTV News in Chicago. At the end of the report is footage of the auditorium of the Studebaker Theater a.k.a. Fine Arts Theatre #1.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxJvqOEjbLs
95th Anniversary this year for the Village.
The Oriental presented its final kung-fu triple on this date, 30 years ago, and closed its doors. The theatre finally re-opened in 1998 as a live stage venue.
The Marquette Theate closed on this date in 1981 with its final movie being THE ARISTOCATS.
The theatre was never twinned.
Judging by the website for this theatre, it looks like it is all digital projection. Can anybody confirm that?
They put a new screen up. Finally!!!!
Join the Facebook page!!! Village Theatre-Chicago.
Today, September 13, is a sad anniversary. It was on this date in 1981, the Cinema Theatre showed its last picture show: ATLANTIC CITY with Burt Lancaster and Susan Sarandon. The theatre was torn down about 3 days later. As a matter of fact, all the theatres that were in operation around that area at the time are all gone. I still miss the Cinema Theatre. It was my first movie theatre gig.
Jay Warren for Mayor, 2011
I just went by the Village Theatre earlier tonight. They finally took off that sign on top of the marquee that said: “For Lease Summer 2006”. Now, there’s a new sign that reads: “For Lease 8000 square feet. Price Associates (312) 445-6300.”
As I’ve mentioned up above, there are many successful venues in bad areas. The Riviera and Aragon Ballroom are in bad areas and, yet, people go to them. The Congress Theatre is in a bad area and, yet, people go there to watch concerts. There was once a time when Wrigley Field was in a bad area and, yet, people went there to see Cubs games (of course, I’m talking 40 some years ago). Now, we Cinema Treasures fans can do one or the other: we could sulk about how bad an area is and let a wonderful theatre just sit there and rot; or, we could support Mr. Valentine and encourage him to re-open the Colony Theatre if he wants to, and turn it into a successful concert venue. If there’s a concert there that people want to see, they will park their cars in the lot next to the theatre and go. Of course, they won’t roam around that area late at night, but hopefully they’ll have a wonderful experience at the Colony.
It was a Loews-Cineplex theatre from 1998 until 1999. It became a Loews-Cineplex theatre after the Cineplex Odeon/Loews merger took effect in 1998; however, by orders from the Justice Department, Loews Cineplex had to sell a bunch of their theatres to avoid a monopoly, so the Biograph was sold to the newly formed, but short-lived Meridian Theatres. Other theatres that were sold were Water Tower, Burnham Plaza, Broadway Cinema, Old Orchard, Hyde Park, and Bricktown Square. These theatres would all go out of business within a couple of years.
The Esthena Theatre was located at 3709 N. Southport. It was a liquor store for many years until it got torn down in 2000. It’s now a condo.
I just watched an episode of the late 1950s television series, M SQUAD, starring Lee Marvin. The exteriors were filmed in Chicago. In tonight’s episode, Lee Marvin can be seen getting into a car and across the street is the Esquire Theatre.
Yes, Jerry was there. He was at the Village from October, 1981 until early 2004. He was also at the Cinema from 1970 until 1981. He died in May, 2004.
Hey, Jim. Type in “Marquette Theater 63rd Street and South Kedzie Avenue.”
The Marquette Theatre now has a Facebook page. Check it out.
I was brave and made a trip earlier tonight to see GREENBURG. The Pipers Alley is still the same: pathetic. The staff has low morale; the presentation was lousy; the complex was empty as usual. AMC; please sell this place. You obviously don’t care about it. Sell it to Cinemark Fan; or, sell it to some independent operator who would like to return the Pipers Alley to it’s 1990s glory days. It’s amazing that this theatre is still open. It’s downright depressing.
Back in the summer of 1977, I went to the Colony Theatre to watch MURDER BY DEATH and TAXI DRIVER.
MAD MAX was intially released in the United States in 1980. Orion re-released MAD MAX in the spring of 1983. I saw it at the McClurg Court Theatre.
Oh, contraire………… The Michael Todd WAS twinned in 1986. Here’s what happened: M&R Theatres took over the Michael Todd in 1985 after it was closed for 6 years. They also wanted to take over the next-door Cinestage Theatre, but the owners of that porno palace put up a short fight. Eventually, M&R got both theatres and changed the name to Dearborn Cinemas. The plan was to twin both theatres. M&R did manage to twin the Michael Todd; however, they never got around to the Cinestage. The Cinestage side of the Dearborn Cinemas was occasionally opened, but the Michael Todd twinned side remained open until 1988. The M&R Dearborn Cinemas was a complete failure.