From the Kankakee, Illinois Daily Journal, April 24, 2006. The theatre closed in January 2006 and opened April 21 2006, under a new name and new ownership (renting). It’s now called the REEL TO REAL I (II will open soon in the PRINCESS II at 103 W. Oak St.). First-run family-oriented films will be shown. 815.432.4461
vito, first of all the sad thing is that both these theatres are gone! Second of all, I was interested in the fact that you were a projectionist at this theatre and pehaps you or someone else can answer some questions about D-150 for me. As far as I can recall I have only been in two D-150’s, the UA 150 in Oakbrook, Illinois which was later twined and then torn down years and years ago, and the River Oaks 9 in Calumet City, Illinois. Both of these are in the Chicago suburbs and I haven’t been to the River Oaks in years. The first thing I noticed was that you could see very plainly where the different maskings on the screen had been when it was opened to a bigger screen. Was the part of the screen covered most of the time what was dirty or was it the part that was exposed the most that was dirty, I can’t remember. In other words did the maskings rubbing on the screen make it dirty or was it from the air in the theatre? On the curtain, masking and ? control box, can you remember what all the buttons were for? Could you change the maskings with the curtain open, that would have been neat to see? Did you ever get to really show one of the two D-150 movies? Did you ever use the D-150 lens to show a regular 70mm movie? Any thing else you can think of that would be interesting about D-150 to those of us out in the non projectionist world? Thirdly about CINERAMA at the “other” theatre, you should know, you were the projectionist! I took my info from some CINERAMA lists, the Cinema Treasures, Syosset Triplex site, [url=http://cinerama.topcities.com/syosset.htm,] I see that box on the side of the building, is this picture of some other Syosset? and http:www.in70mm.com/news/2003/syosset/syosset_li.htm. I’m doing this by long distance from Chicago, so what do I know? It would be nice if you would put an entry on the other theatre site to straighten this all out.
Could be more, but the only two that I think were CINERAMA were the Clairidge in Montclair and the Bellevue in UPPER MONTCLAIR. On the other hand, not to make you feel bad, but at one time or another New York State had about 13 CINERAMA Theatres!
“70mm In NY” is a great site. It does have a bit of confusion. It lists Cinema 150/The Syosset and on the next line Syosset/Syosset Triplex/The Syosset. I think the real “The Syosset” was the CINERAMA/Todd-AO/70mm roadshow theatre down the street not this D-150 theatre. I’ve seen a picture of the back of this theatre and it has a curved wall that matches the screen. Loews Cineplex River Oaks 9 in Calumet City, Illinois in the South Suburbs of Chicago has the same neat kind of back wall. At least the River Oaks D-150 is still standing, is still a theatre and has not been twined. tonite 10/13/04 it is showing TAXI. The Cinema 150 in Syosset was not a CINERAMA Theatre, but a D-150 Theatre, perhaps a new style for D-150’s needs to be made. Alas as far as I know only 38 D-150’s got built world wide!
That is an awesome site and it lists Syosset/Syosset Triplex/The Syosset and the theatre down the road Cinema 150/The Syosset. Some confussion when The Syosset gets listed twice. As best as I can tell this theatre opened in 1956 and started out as a 70mm Todd-AO Theatre showing roadshows. It went to 3 strip CINERAMA from 6/25/59-5/26/64. I have seen photos of the Able and Charly booths sticking out of the sides of the building. It played CINERAMA type travelogue programs until August 1961. When no CINERAMA product was available other films would be shown. It had a 146 degree louvered screen with a 30 foot radius that was placed in front of the Todd-AO screen. It went to 70mm CINERAMA on 5/27/64. The style of this theatre should not be listed as unknown, but should be CINERAMA.
I think this theatre was at one time also called the Cooperstown Theatre. I’ve looked at my various CINERAMA Theatre lists and do not see this theatre listed.
I see the Cinerama was removed from the style of this drive-in and I think that is correct. As things would happen the day after I made the above entry I found information on the second Cinerama Drive-In. The Mann, France Avenue Drive-In at 7800 (HWY 494) France Ave South, Bloomington, Minesota (Mineapolis suburb). It opened June 15, 1966 and the ad says it was equipped for Cinerama (most likley 70mm), Todd-AO, 70 MM, and all other film processes. The ad goes on to say it had the “World’s Largest Screen!” 150ft by 92ft (the Cinerama expert Roland Lataille writes that the screen size has not been confirmed) and had a 1700 car capacity (that seems awful big), but it did end up with 3 screens. It closed in 1982, was demolished in 1986 and is now the Minnesota Center office complex. Now, is there a third Cinerama Drive-In?
I see the style is listed as Cinerama. I could be wrong, but the only Cinerama Drive-In I ever heard of was the Century Drive in Los Angeles (Inglewood) California.
I never heard of a chain called Cinerama. I notice that the style is listed as Cinerama which is OK if the theatre is old enough, but an 8 plex? Was the Cinerama theatre divided up and/or had additional theatres added to it?
A long time ago I saw a 35MM print of “How The West Was Won” at the Commodore Theatre, not quite the same as seeing it over in Norfolk at the Ronsa in CINERAMA!
Yes I know “Zorba the Greek” was not a 70MM release, something got messed up in editing. It was just a little 35MM, non widescreen black and white film. If I remember right they only used as much of the screen as was used in Lowel Thomas’s intro to “This Is Cinerama”.
On April 9, 1958 Grauman’s Chinese Theatre had the world premiere of “WINDJAMMER” projected in the CineMiracle process. CineMiracle was almost the same as 3-strip CINERAMA and in fact was shown in many CINERAMA theatres and ended up being owned by CINERAMA.
I went looking for the Hinsdale yesterday and had a little trouble finding it. I wouldn’t say it is on a main street, but sorta on a side street. To help others find it, it is in downtown Hinsdale at 29 E First, between Washington and Second ST.
When I sent the comment earlier today I didn’t realize that it just so happens that the Chicago Theatre is 80 years old today! 26 October 1921 – 26 October 2001. I hope I last till 80 and look that good!
Park Forest has been trying to bring the shopping center these theatres are in back to life. The shopping center is now called DOWNTOWN PARK FOREST. I hope it works. Nevertheless, these Classic Cinemas are another CLASS ACT!
I think after it closed in 1981 no one ever thought it would open again and so the theatre pipe organ was removed, but I can’t recall what happened to it? They were wrong it did reopen!
I helped work on it’s WURLITZER THEATRE PIPE ORGAN some> What a great place and especially interesting to explore spaces most folks never get to see, such as the basement, attic etc..
From the Kankakee, Illinois THE DAILY JOURNAL “has been closed since 1998 and is offered for sale”.
From the Kankakee, Illinois Daily Journal, April 24, 2006. The theatre closed in January 2006 and opened April 21 2006, under a new name and new ownership (renting). It’s now called the REEL TO REAL I (II will open soon in the PRINCESS II at 103 W. Oak St.). First-run family-oriented films will be shown. 815.432.4461
vito, first of all the sad thing is that both these theatres are gone! Second of all, I was interested in the fact that you were a projectionist at this theatre and pehaps you or someone else can answer some questions about D-150 for me. As far as I can recall I have only been in two D-150’s, the UA 150 in Oakbrook, Illinois which was later twined and then torn down years and years ago, and the River Oaks 9 in Calumet City, Illinois. Both of these are in the Chicago suburbs and I haven’t been to the River Oaks in years. The first thing I noticed was that you could see very plainly where the different maskings on the screen had been when it was opened to a bigger screen. Was the part of the screen covered most of the time what was dirty or was it the part that was exposed the most that was dirty, I can’t remember. In other words did the maskings rubbing on the screen make it dirty or was it from the air in the theatre? On the curtain, masking and ? control box, can you remember what all the buttons were for? Could you change the maskings with the curtain open, that would have been neat to see? Did you ever get to really show one of the two D-150 movies? Did you ever use the D-150 lens to show a regular 70mm movie? Any thing else you can think of that would be interesting about D-150 to those of us out in the non projectionist world? Thirdly about CINERAMA at the “other” theatre, you should know, you were the projectionist! I took my info from some CINERAMA lists, the Cinema Treasures, Syosset Triplex site, [url=http://cinerama.topcities.com/syosset.htm,] I see that box on the side of the building, is this picture of some other Syosset? and http:www.in70mm.com/news/2003/syosset/syosset_li.htm. I’m doing this by long distance from Chicago, so what do I know? It would be nice if you would put an entry on the other theatre site to straighten this all out.
Could be more, but the only two that I think were CINERAMA were the Clairidge in Montclair and the Bellevue in UPPER MONTCLAIR. On the other hand, not to make you feel bad, but at one time or another New York State had about 13 CINERAMA Theatres!
“70mm In NY” is a great site. It does have a bit of confusion. It lists Cinema 150/The Syosset and on the next line Syosset/Syosset Triplex/The Syosset. I think the real “The Syosset” was the CINERAMA/Todd-AO/70mm roadshow theatre down the street not this D-150 theatre. I’ve seen a picture of the back of this theatre and it has a curved wall that matches the screen. Loews Cineplex River Oaks 9 in Calumet City, Illinois in the South Suburbs of Chicago has the same neat kind of back wall. At least the River Oaks D-150 is still standing, is still a theatre and has not been twined. tonite 10/13/04 it is showing TAXI. The Cinema 150 in Syosset was not a CINERAMA Theatre, but a D-150 Theatre, perhaps a new style for D-150’s needs to be made. Alas as far as I know only 38 D-150’s got built world wide!
That is an awesome site and it lists Syosset/Syosset Triplex/The Syosset and the theatre down the road Cinema 150/The Syosset. Some confussion when The Syosset gets listed twice. As best as I can tell this theatre opened in 1956 and started out as a 70mm Todd-AO Theatre showing roadshows. It went to 3 strip CINERAMA from 6/25/59-5/26/64. I have seen photos of the Able and Charly booths sticking out of the sides of the building. It played CINERAMA type travelogue programs until August 1961. When no CINERAMA product was available other films would be shown. It had a 146 degree louvered screen with a 30 foot radius that was placed in front of the Todd-AO screen. It went to 70mm CINERAMA on 5/27/64. The style of this theatre should not be listed as unknown, but should be CINERAMA.
I think this theatre was at one time also called the Cooperstown Theatre. I’ve looked at my various CINERAMA Theatre lists and do not see this theatre listed.
I’ve looked at my various CINERAMA Theatre lists and do not see this theatre listed.
I see the Cinerama was removed from the style of this drive-in and I think that is correct. As things would happen the day after I made the above entry I found information on the second Cinerama Drive-In. The Mann, France Avenue Drive-In at 7800 (HWY 494) France Ave South, Bloomington, Minesota (Mineapolis suburb). It opened June 15, 1966 and the ad says it was equipped for Cinerama (most likley 70mm), Todd-AO, 70 MM, and all other film processes. The ad goes on to say it had the “World’s Largest Screen!” 150ft by 92ft (the Cinerama expert Roland Lataille writes that the screen size has not been confirmed) and had a 1700 car capacity (that seems awful big), but it did end up with 3 screens. It closed in 1982, was demolished in 1986 and is now the Minnesota Center office complex. Now, is there a third Cinerama Drive-In?
I see the style is listed as Cinerama. I could be wrong, but the only Cinerama Drive-In I ever heard of was the Century Drive in Los Angeles (Inglewood) California.
I never heard of a chain called Cinerama. I notice that the style is listed as Cinerama which is OK if the theatre is old enough, but an 8 plex? Was the Cinerama theatre divided up and/or had additional theatres added to it?
A long time ago I saw a 35MM print of “How The West Was Won” at the Commodore Theatre, not quite the same as seeing it over in Norfolk at the Ronsa in CINERAMA!
Yes I know “Zorba the Greek” was not a 70MM release, something got messed up in editing. It was just a little 35MM, non widescreen black and white film. If I remember right they only used as much of the screen as was used in Lowel Thomas’s intro to “This Is Cinerama”.
On April 9, 1958 Grauman’s Chinese Theatre had the world premiere of “WINDJAMMER” projected in the CineMiracle process. CineMiracle was almost the same as 3-strip CINERAMA and in fact was shown in many CINERAMA theatres and ended up being owned by CINERAMA.
I think the River Oaks #9 in Calumet City, Illinois (a suburb just south of Chicago) still is a D-150 theatre.
I’ve seen it mentioned that the Plaza has been in both the Interstate and Publix theatre chains.
I went looking for the Hinsdale yesterday and had a little trouble finding it. I wouldn’t say it is on a main street, but sorta on a side street. To help others find it, it is in downtown Hinsdale at 29 E First, between Washington and Second ST.
When I sent the comment earlier today I didn’t realize that it just so happens that the Chicago Theatre is 80 years old today! 26 October 1921 – 26 October 2001. I hope I last till 80 and look that good!
Park Forest has been trying to bring the shopping center these theatres are in back to life. The shopping center is now called DOWNTOWN PARK FOREST. I hope it works. Nevertheless, these Classic Cinemas are another CLASS ACT!
Really nice theatre. The four newer theatres carry the art deco theme over really nice. Classic Cinemas is a CLASS ACT!
I went to movies here and it really became run down, but it sure is great now! WOW!
Just to set things straight, East Chicago is really across the state line and is in Indiana.
I have a brick from this theatre. It broke my heart to see it being torn down.
I think after it closed in 1981 no one ever thought it would open again and so the theatre pipe organ was removed, but I can’t recall what happened to it? They were wrong it did reopen!
I helped work on it’s WURLITZER THEATRE PIPE ORGAN some> What a great place and especially interesting to explore spaces most folks never get to see, such as the basement, attic etc..