I actually worked at this theatre when it first opened.
They made a terrible miscalculation on teh middle level(screen 4-5). According to the then-manager, the mid level screens would be used for rentals(free screenings,parties, ect) mostly during the week. Hence a concession stand on that floor. We rarely opened it, as 9 out of 10 customers just bought thier food at the larger main level stand, or at the 3rd floor stand where more screens were anyways. And the fabled rental biz? All in the bigger rooms(screen 1, 6-9) as studios want to pack in a big crowd for better buzz, and not many people liked paying downtown rates for parties.
Anyone interested in trying to resurrect this theatre?
I remember seeing the Big Lebowski in the big hall’s balcony. I made the trip to see it BECAUSE it was playing at the fine arts later in it’s run.(I had already seen the film opening weekend)
I needed a LOT of work even in 1998.
There’s no reason why this facility cant reopen, even as a live theatre.
Paul,
The Music Box DOES have a parking plan. They rent the Chicago Public School Lot at night for Valet/lot parking. But I agree, access to more methods of transportation is a key to thier survivial.
I have contacted AMC about problems in the past. They have responded most fo the time quickly and tried to resolve my issues. I even got free passes for it once!.
Gene Kelly
It’s still up, but I doubt it’ll ever re-open. There’s too much commercial re-development going on to convince the land owners(assuming it’s not loews/amc) to let a drive in operate instead of a big box retailer.
Ford City 14(in Chicago) HAD $4 “AMCinema” tickets but raised them to $5. It seems almost all AMC locations in Chicago raised thier prices, for AMCinema as well as regular matinee and nightime showings. (River East has an $8 matinee, 50 cents less than the old full price nighttime ticket at Ford City)
Is this where the Beatuy Salon(and later a subway franchise) was?
My stepfather owns a baseball card store not too far away (www.elitetradingcards.com) and I would walk past this every time i got off the montrose stop.
Dont forget that the Jesus Movie made $365 million dollars in the slower spring session. Which screwed 2005 more than anything.
Star Wars made $385 million.
Batman $205 Million
War of the Worlds $200 million.
King Kong $200 million.
Narnia $267 million.
These movies did thier job(and Star Wars grossed $50 million in a DAY in a “down year”).
Hollywood and Movie theatres need to capitalize on the tenpoles better. AMC had a TON of concession specials for the Star Wars midnight screenings. And River East(in Chicago) had 15 midnight shows all sellout, with screenings going for 24 hours. Now that’s one way to milk an event movie.
Also, Theaters need to make a better case for $10 tickets and $7 nachos. Hollywood Blvd(www.atriptothemovies.com) is a full service restaurant/bar/mothie theatre. For 8 bucks i get swivel back leather chairs(office furniture), a table infront of me, and a wide selection of food(with names such as Bill and Ted’s Excellent Nachos and Dr. Frankenfurter hot dogs). The Soda? Free Refills from a waiter for only $3.50.
Make the experience better(and not so goddam expensive), and you’ll see movies become a moreviable entertainment option.
Dont forget that the Jesus Movie made $365 million dollars in the slower spring session. Which screwed 2005 more than anything.
Star Wars made $385 million.
Batman $205 Million
War of the Worlds $200 million.
King Kong $200 million.
Narnia $267 million.
These movies did thier job(and Star Wars grossed $50 million in a DAY in a “down year”).
I saw Return of the Jedi: Special Edition here in 1997. I was working at 600 n. Michigan theatres at the time. Needless to say, I got in free with an employee pass.
It’s a shame this theatre didnt survive. The neighbor hood is WAY MORE upscale now. Sames goes for Burnham Plaza. Both could have survived as art houses. God knows we need them.
Oneperson suggested a digital “screen” to show movies during the day…it already exists at baseball stadiums…it’s a jumbotron…and some stadiums show movies when the team is on the road…..
I havent been to a drive in in years, but I do want them to survive.
Also, watch out for mis-priced shows on www.movietickets.com for amc’s am cinema.
I tried getting tickets for Snakes on a Plane at River East online, only for the site to tell me that tickets are $7.50, and not 5. But the box office’s prices were still $5.
Kerasotes also has the five buck movie club.
ALL MOVIES that are out for at least 10 days are 5 bucks when you show your member card.
The card’s FREE at www.fivebuckclub.com
I actually worked at this theatre when it first opened.
They made a terrible miscalculation on teh middle level(screen 4-5). According to the then-manager, the mid level screens would be used for rentals(free screenings,parties, ect) mostly during the week. Hence a concession stand on that floor. We rarely opened it, as 9 out of 10 customers just bought thier food at the larger main level stand, or at the 3rd floor stand where more screens were anyways. And the fabled rental biz? All in the bigger rooms(screen 1, 6-9) as studios want to pack in a big crowd for better buzz, and not many people liked paying downtown rates for parties.
Anyone interested in trying to resurrect this theatre?
I remember seeing the Big Lebowski in the big hall’s balcony. I made the trip to see it BECAUSE it was playing at the fine arts later in it’s run.(I had already seen the film opening weekend)
I needed a LOT of work even in 1998.
There’s no reason why this facility cant reopen, even as a live theatre.
This theatre space was converted to High Rent Appartments, not office space.
Paul,
The Music Box DOES have a parking plan. They rent the Chicago Public School Lot at night for Valet/lot parking. But I agree, access to more methods of transportation is a key to thier survivial.
I have contacted AMC about problems in the past. They have responded most fo the time quickly and tried to resolve my issues. I even got free passes for it once!.
Gene Kelly
It’s still up, but I doubt it’ll ever re-open. There’s too much commercial re-development going on to convince the land owners(assuming it’s not loews/amc) to let a drive in operate instead of a big box retailer.
Saw Star Trek 3 here. Got to watch the Enterprise go down in flame while on the swing set(I was a wee lil' lad at the time).
Ford City 14(in Chicago) HAD $4 “AMCinema” tickets but raised them to $5. It seems almost all AMC locations in Chicago raised thier prices, for AMCinema as well as regular matinee and nightime showings. (River East has an $8 matinee, 50 cents less than the old full price nighttime ticket at Ford City)
kerasotes should do this at all thier theaters.
City North 14 has more “disruptive” guests than Cicero.
Is this where the Beatuy Salon(and later a subway franchise) was?
My stepfather owns a baseball card store not too far away (www.elitetradingcards.com) and I would walk past this every time i got off the montrose stop.
Looks like it was sold and re-opened.
Dont forget that the Jesus Movie made $365 million dollars in the slower spring session. Which screwed 2005 more than anything.
Star Wars made $385 million.
Batman $205 Million
War of the Worlds $200 million.
King Kong $200 million.
Narnia $267 million.
These movies did thier job(and Star Wars grossed $50 million in a DAY in a “down year”).
Hollywood and Movie theatres need to capitalize on the tenpoles better. AMC had a TON of concession specials for the Star Wars midnight screenings. And River East(in Chicago) had 15 midnight shows all sellout, with screenings going for 24 hours. Now that’s one way to milk an event movie.
Also, Theaters need to make a better case for $10 tickets and $7 nachos. Hollywood Blvd(www.atriptothemovies.com) is a full service restaurant/bar/mothie theatre. For 8 bucks i get swivel back leather chairs(office furniture), a table infront of me, and a wide selection of food(with names such as Bill and Ted’s Excellent Nachos and Dr. Frankenfurter hot dogs). The Soda? Free Refills from a waiter for only $3.50.
Make the experience better(and not so goddam expensive), and you’ll see movies become a moreviable entertainment option.
Dont forget that the Jesus Movie made $365 million dollars in the slower spring session. Which screwed 2005 more than anything.
Star Wars made $385 million.
Batman $205 Million
War of the Worlds $200 million.
King Kong $200 million.
Narnia $267 million.
These movies did thier job(and Star Wars grossed $50 million in a DAY in a “down year”).
I saw Return of the Jedi: Special Edition here in 1997. I was working at 600 n. Michigan theatres at the time. Needless to say, I got in free with an employee pass.
It’s a shame this theatre didnt survive. The neighbor hood is WAY MORE upscale now. Sames goes for Burnham Plaza. Both could have survived as art houses. God knows we need them.
Pearl Jam played here in 1994.
The over-reliance on weekend grosses hurts more than helps. Give me a reason to go to a movie theatre on a Tuesday night.
Interesting article, as well as debate.
Oneperson suggested a digital “screen” to show movies during the day…it already exists at baseball stadiums…it’s a jumbotron…and some stadiums show movies when the team is on the road…..
I havent been to a drive in in years, but I do want them to survive.
The Best Way is to create incentives to go DURING THE WEEK.
Ask MLB how they do this.
kick ass!
CORRECTION: The Five Buck Movie Club’s site is www.fivebuckclub.net
Also, watch out for mis-priced shows on www.movietickets.com for amc’s am cinema.
I tried getting tickets for Snakes on a Plane at River East online, only for the site to tell me that tickets are $7.50, and not 5. But the box office’s prices were still $5.
Kerasotes also has the five buck movie club.
ALL MOVIES that are out for at least 10 days are 5 bucks when you show your member card.
The card’s FREE at www.fivebuckclub.com