Holiday Star Theater
340 Main Street,
Park Forest,
IL
60466
340 Main Street,
Park Forest,
IL
60466
5 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 31 of 31 comments
I woke up this morning after having dreamt about the Holiday Theatre. I lived in Park Forest from 1954 to 1967. In 1966 and 1967 I worked as an usher at the Holiday Theatre in Park Forest. This was before the era of multiple screen theatres. I have to be honest I miss those theatres. I know they can not be profitable in today’s market, but all the same there was something majestic about those theatres, even the ones that were not opulent. We could seat somewhere are 1000 to 1200 people, I believe. And we did have sell out nights. Lots of them. Friday and Saturday nights usually were full for the first two shows. The theatre opened at 5:30 during the week and Saturday had a matinee movie for the kids then opened for the regular show again at 5:30 or 6:00. Sundays we opened around 12:30 or 1:00 PM. Big difference than today’s movie business.
When I first started the ushers, all males at that time, wore a uniform consisting of a red coat, dark blue pants with a stripe down the outside seam, white shirt and a dark blue bow tie. In 1967 we went to a green paisley jacket, black slacks, white shirt and, I believe, a paisley matching bow tie. This was the time of old style service and we seated people. We stood at the back of the auditorium at the head of the aisles to assist people. I saw Battle of the Bulge 32 times this way. I still remember many of the lines from the scenes to this day. I saw Mary Poppins 25 times.
The owner I believe was a Mr. Williams. He also owned a theatre in Fort Wayne Indiana. The Assistant Manager at the time was a Mr. Parker, who later became manager of the Lans theatre in Lansing, Illinois.
I feel like the theatre has a flavor all it’s own. All it needs is a little TLC and perhaps a theme of some kind. Maybe the 80s’s.
When and if it does open, I hope you will keep that popcorn machine. That’s your trademark, fresh popcorn no longer exist in many movie houses. As long as the washrooms are kept spotless, the personnel friendly and the prices low, your in business. Speaking of business, for some reason the owners stopped advertising in the local The Star newspapers and the majors ones too. Also, you could benefit by having an articulate person advertise the dates,time etc. Well, I’ll be looking forward to your grand reopening soon. Thanks, CJ
Park Forest Theatres will reopen in late June/early July under new ownership. We look forward to serving the community.
Eric Gubelman
Park Forest Cinemas, Inc.
Per Sensible Cinemas website (the above link), the Park Forest Theatre is under new management. However, niether phone number shown is a working number—both have been disconnected with “no further information”. Presumably, that means the Park Forest Theatre has been closed.
If there is one business that can bring people back it will be the movie theater.I’ve been a resident of Park Forest all my life. 47 years. I can remember this theater being packed for a showing of James Bond’s Goldfinger.
What they have done to it now is pretty interesting. Gives the us additional movies to see, at a discounted price. I like that. But what I don’t like, is the way it has become rundown lately. Walls being patched and unpainted,carpet torn and pulling apart on the stairs, and just a feeling of disregard of the potential the business
can produce if they put some real money into it.
The way prices are for first showing theaters, you could be a real competiter of them.By the looks of the number of other theaters you run,you could probably do a great deal more, here.
I’m not alone in my feelings abot this place.
Please consider this business a lot closer. It will bring people back to the plaza.
Thanks, Kris Wakeford
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!