AMC Ford City 14

On September 9, 1975, a few months after “Jaws” arrived in theatres, 45-year old Elmer C. Sommerfield attended a screening at Ford City Cinema with his wife Marilyn. Forty-five minutes into the film, Sommerfield collapsed of a heart attack. Sommerfield’s wife alerted the theater manager, Vince Tripodi, of the situation and he called for an ambulance. In the meantime, two doctors in the audience administered CPR for ten minutes until paramedics could arrive. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough—Sommerfield died on the way to the hospital, and Tripodi told The Chicago Tribune that he had never experienced such an incident in his 27 years working in theatres.

August 10th, 1990 Grand opening ad for the Ford City 14 in the photo section.

Hey CinemarkFan, bit late reading your post but I was in Old Ford City 3 after I lucked out with Harlem Corners and River Oaks 7-8. The main area of the space is still looking good no one has been inside since 91-93 for lease. The concession area is still up, the second floor projector rooms looked alright. The problem is the bathrooms were completely gutted and not repaired, all 3 screens are torn to shreds, and alot of seats were broken or totally removed.

Sorry I took so long to respond! The Ford City East shopping center (still called that, I think), which included the theaters, now has a Gertie’s Ice Cream/Lindy’s Chili restaurant and some other small businesses. It’s partially empty and looks kind of desolate (except for Gertie’s). It’s not in a very good location for businesses.

Here’s a realtor’s link with info on the property:
View link

Yes, as of last summer, the space once occupied by the old theaters contained some stores which are part of the Ford City Mall: Marshall’s, Famous Footwear and Old Navy. This is at approximately 74th St., just east of Cicero Ave.

Gccguy – No.. It was not my mom.

There was only one woman who went into labor during the showing of Earthquake at Ford City Cinema while I was there. I hope it was not your mom!

I worked at Ford City for a few months in the late ‘80’s, under Tom…I forget his last name…Greenan?. Anyway, by then, the District Office was at Woodgrove Festival Cinema, in Woodridge, and was occupied by Charles Wesley.

Anyway, working at Ford City was great. It was always busy, and I enjoyed it. If I ever win the lottery, I will work at a theater somewhere, selling popcorn…what a great time.

Yeah, Jack Springer! That’s the name. I remember Bernie very well. He had a deformity to one of his arms and did everything with one hand. I started under Vince Tripodi, so I never knew Mr. Craig. When Vince became the DM, my mother became his secretary until he quit. He died a few years later I heard.

You will probably recall listening to Boots Randolf’s Yakety Sax during every intermission. It is the only thing Vince ever allowed to be played during his time as manager. I think one Christmas season he did have some holiday music for a few days, but quickly changed his mind and went back to Boots.

All of the GCC seats were red vinyl seat and red fabric backrest. They snapped in and out of a white enamel metal shell. When the seat got cut, we used to remove the seat, uncover and recover it, and snap it back in. When the back of the seat got grafitti on it, we had a fast drying, alcohol based, white paint to cover it. It was the carpet in all GCC cinemas that was a red plaid.

I worked at Ford City Cinema in 1971-1973 when it was only a twin, and before the Division Manager moved his office there. Vince Tripodi was the manager. He later became a Division Manager. I remember that the Booking Office was on the second floor. The booking manager, I forget his name, was responsible for booking all of the movies in all of the GCC theaters in the division area which included all of Chicagoland and southern Wisconsin.

There once was a time when a tornado hit the roof of the bowling alley and theater, bounced off and came down on the hotel just west of the cinema and removed the wall and roof from the top floor at the southeast corner. It also did some damage to the Red Baloon restaurant that was right in front of the hotel. It crossed Cicero avenue and damaged a Golden Bear pancake house too.

The roof of the building was described to me as a tornado resistant roof because of its corregated design. I don’t know if it was true or not, but it seemed to have worked that time. We never even stopped the movie and the people inside did not know until they came out and saw the damaged hotel.

This Theater was General Cinema’s first 2-screen theater in the Chicago area. It was GCC’s 3rd area indoor theater, following single screen houses in Mt. Prospect (now gone)and at Randhurst (now a 14 screen AMC Theater). (GCC’s first area theater was the 66 Drive-In in LaGrange). The original theater was on the north side of parking lot on the east side of Cicero. I was at the opening in 1966, and watched many movies there from my Father’s upper floor office (he was GCC’s Division Manager) which had windows and speakers for each auditorium. There were no plaid seats in this or any other GCC theater. At the time, all of GCC’s screens were illuminated with blue lights.

Thanks guys. I’m going to look up those opening dates when I go back to the library.

But who else thinks the 14 plex should get a makeover?

The old ones were on the east side of Cicero Avenue, set back maybe half a block. I’m pretty sure the Best Buy is on the west side of Cicero. Sorry, I don’t remember the seats – I guess it was too dark! I’m not sure I understand about the shadow box. I do remember that they were the first theaters I’d been to that didn’t have a curtain over the screen. Before the movie started, they just had blue lights illuminating the screens.