Comments from Paul Fortini

Showing 351 - 375 of 649 comments

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Ho-Chunk Cinemas on Jan 24, 2007 at 4:16 am

Ho Chunk is the name of the Indian tribe that operates the casino.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Cine Lounge at Niles on Jan 23, 2007 at 3:08 am

A belated reply to Cinemark Fan’s comment:

You are right in that this place had the “1980s-Cineplex-Odeon-Look” to it. Even though it was originally an Essaness, C-O did renovate it into their look. I went to the Golf-Glen just before it closed to see KING KONG and I thought I’d warped back to the then-recently closed Burnham Plaza (I’d only been to the G-G once before and that was circa 1990 to see THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER). And yes, the carpet was the same, the zig-zag things were on the wall.

A poster on the Lincoln Village 1-6 page stated that the remaining
C-Os from the 1983-1990 have “a creepy Cineplex-Odeon vibe” to them.
I beleive that the survivors from that era are now only the Bloomingdale Court, the Lincoln Village, the North Riverside (not sure what that one looks like on the inside—interesting that all three of these are Village Theatres) and possibly the Chicago Ridge. As I’ve said before, I wonder how long these places will remain.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Burnham Plaza Cinemas on Jan 23, 2007 at 2:59 am

Gene-Paul,

Your comment says that this place was converted to high-end apartments. Not to doubt you, but I don’t see how. The building being a former cinema has few windows (unless they plan on cutting in new windows). And a banner on the rear of the building, facing the L, says that medical-office space is for lease.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Wheaton Grand Theater on Jan 20, 2007 at 10:08 am

Brooklyn Jim and Ray Mazzolini,

A little off-topic here, but the CA&E actually ended at Laramie Avenue and Congress Street. East of Laramie, it had operating rights over the Chicago L so that it could operate into Downtown. Conversely, the Chicago L had operating rights over the CA&E west of Laramie into Forest Park (and before 1951, Westchester).

The CA&E was cut back to Forest Park in 1953 to allow for construction of the Congress Street (now Eisenhower) Expressway. The L had to be torn down to allow for this construction. During this construction, the CTA L used a temporary right-of-way, which the CA&E refused to do, thus forcing passengers to transfer to the L at Forest Park. This cost an immediate loss of ridership to the CA&E, which abruptly shut down at noon on July 3, 1957 and stranding many people.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Wheaton Grand Theater on Jan 17, 2007 at 2:58 am

I agree with LTS. Although I don’t live in Wheaton and I’ve never been to the Wheaton Grand, I’ve been thru it many times as I love bike riding. Wheaton is the center point of the two branches and main stem of the Illinois Prairie Path. There are a lot of forest preserves nearby in which to hike, bike ride, and participate in other outdoor activities too. Wheaton’s downtown seems fairly active too if one wants shopping and restaurants while avoiding the malls, strip malls, and Walmarts.

Incidentally, LTS, is your term “Dumpwater, FL” a reference to a certain MARRIED WITH CHILDREN episode?

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about B & B Theatres Vicksburg Mall 6 on Jan 15, 2007 at 12:35 pm

Yep, two Village Theatres closed in one month. That’s a record for them!

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Lakehurst Cinema 12 on Jan 15, 2007 at 12:34 pm

And now it’s closed. Cinemark Fan gets the cigar in the “Village Theatres Dead Pool” (i.e. which Village Theatre will close next.)

There are now mannequins sitting in the paybooth. I find that totally hilarious!

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Former titan of multiplexes to be demolished on Jan 15, 2007 at 12:29 pm

Give Cinemark Fan a ceegar!

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about AMC Desert Star 15 on Jan 14, 2007 at 9:33 am

The designer (although I’m not sure he is the architect) was Joe McNally Building Construction of Middleton, WI. Here is a link with some building specifications and a great photo:
http://www.nbs-inc.net/abc_kahlihari.jpg

Here are consturction photos:
http://www.commercialblock.com/lake_delton1.htm

As you can see, it is a very substanital building.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Chicago Theatre on Jan 14, 2007 at 9:18 am

Per Cinemaven’s comment of 12/16/2006.

The hamburger place you’re referring to may have been “King Castle.” I think the chain existed ‘til the early 1980s and , yes, they served “White Castelesque” burgers.

As for the State-Lake, it was never demolished. The building now houses WLS-TV (ABC Channel 7) studios.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Logan Theatre on Jan 8, 2007 at 9:37 am

I’ve never been here. Has anybody been here recently? Are the floors clean? How are the crowds, obnoxiuous or respectful? My girlfriend and I are considering going here.

Logan Square was once considered a rough area, but apparantly it is not becoming “Yuppy-ized.”

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about LaGrange Theatre on Jan 6, 2007 at 3:24 am

I recently saw THE PRESTIGE here with a friend of mine who lives in the area.

Despite being awkwardly configured, this ain’t a bad place to see a show. And granted, it’s all 2nd run “right-before-the-movies-are-out-on-DVD-and-sometimes-even-after.” But the staff is friendly. The place seems to get good “walk-in” trade from the locals. And where else can you get a movie with popcorn and soda, all for $6.50?

(Okay, so I did spend over $6.00 round-trip on the nearby METRA train to get here).

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Michael Todd Theatre on Jan 5, 2007 at 11:20 am

Weren’t the Todd and the Cinestage in the Plitt chain for awhile?

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about B & B Theatres Vicksburg Mall 6 on Jan 4, 2007 at 5:36 pm

This theatre is no longer on the Village website, so I assume it’s closed. Let’s do a “Dead Pool” for the next Vllage Theatre to go. I say Bloomingdale Court!

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Studio Movie Grill Wheaton on Jan 4, 2007 at 4:35 pm

As did the Golf Glen, although that opened up as an Essaness, passed to Plitt, and then became a C-O. The G.G. was renovated into the C-O style, which it retained until it closed last year.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Studio Movie Grill Wheaton on Jan 4, 2007 at 3:06 am

Cinemark Fan,

Are any cinemas remaining in the Chicagoland Area with the C-O look of the 1980s (i.e. As you put it “Zig-Zag stuff on the auditorium walls, seats with cream colored backs, carpeting etc.”)? The only two possibilities I can think of are the Rivertree Court and the Lincoln Village.

I think that the last two Cineplex-Odeons opened in the Chicagoland Area were the 600 North and the Quarry (a.k.a. Hodgkins). But these of course were done in a ‘90s style, similar to the three ICE Theatres.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Northgate Theaters on Jan 2, 2007 at 9:23 am

This place was apparantly very similar to the Harlem Corners Cinema. Same architect? Both were operated by Value Theatres.

The Bricktown, the Northgate, and the Rolling Meadows are probably Chicagoland’s shortest-lived multi-plexes (11 years for the Bricktown, 8 years for the Northgate, and 7 for the Rolling Meadows.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Nortown Theater on Dec 31, 2006 at 4:52 am

Any news on this theatre? Has it been sold? Will it be demolished?

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Will Rogers Theater on Dec 31, 2006 at 4:49 am

The Russell Phillips photos show that GHOSTBUSTERS was playing here, which would date the photo to 1984. That this place made it into the Cineplex-Odeon chain means that it would have had to exist into 1985-1986. Even if the photo seems re-touched, it is still a great shot!

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Casino Cinema on Dec 31, 2006 at 4:36 am

Has any of the Cinema Treasures “Faithful” ever been to this theatre? If so, could anyone describe it to me?

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Studio Movie Grill Wheaton on Dec 31, 2006 at 4:32 am

This sounds like it was THE place to see movies when it first opened. When I drove past here last week, I saw the Linens-n-Things and if I didn’t know any better, I’d'a never known such a short-lived multi-plex was ever in this place.

Was this place a Cineplex-Odeon or a Sony (M&R/Sony/Loews) when it first opened?

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Lincoln Village 1-6 on Dec 30, 2006 at 8:52 am

The architect should be Mesbur & Smith.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about B & B Theatres Vicksburg Mall 6 on Dec 30, 2006 at 6:04 am

LTS,

Possibly they do. Probably they don’t care. They could stay in business a LONG time by buying/leasing older multi-plexes, running ‘em a couple of years 'til they close, then moving on. And all the while, they just have to concentrate on making the Village and Village North the only profitable ones.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Pemberton 4 to close on Dec 30, 2006 at 5:42 am

Village’s website states that this theatre is open and that it will be so on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about B & B Theatres Vicksburg Mall 6 on Dec 30, 2006 at 5:42 am

Village’s website states that this theatre is open and that it will be so on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.