Comments from aek316

Showing 26 - 50 of 61 comments

aek316
aek316 commented about Lincoln Village 1-6 on Mar 15, 2010 at 10:39 am

Another Cineplex cinema destroyed. Can anyone tell me if any CO’s are left w/original decor (open or closed)? Why would anyone go through the expense and trouble of removing seats, screens etc if it’s going out of business anyways? So many good cinemas pointlessly destroyed by Village Entertainment. It’s criminal!

aek316
aek316 commented about AMC Oakbrook Center 4 on Mar 15, 2010 at 10:36 am

Someone can correct me if I’m wrong, but weren’t there always stores on the oppisite side of the theater? When I was last at the mall 2 or so years ago, I did see the box office covered up. I guess whether they built in the theater space or not, sadly I don’t think it’s ever goign to function as atheater again. Sad story indeed. All the old Cineplex’s are almost gone…

aek316
aek316 commented about AMC Oakbrook Center 4 on Dec 2, 2009 at 6:26 am

Does anyone know if Oak Brook 1-4 was converted into anything or is it still unoccupied?

aek316
aek316 commented about North Riverside Luxury 6 on Oct 7, 2009 at 9:59 am

Drove by this theater a couple of weeeks ago. All Cineplex signage is gone having been replaced by Clasic Cinemas logos. The thetaer must be doing okay under it’s new management, but a part of me is sad that there’s even less evidence of cineplex left-

aek316
aek316 commented about Picture Show at Bloomingdale Court on Oct 7, 2009 at 9:57 am

This is great news that some of these old theaters can live on as a second run. It’d be cool if the old theaters that village ruined like Lincoln Village or other long shuttered vacant theaters could be reopened. Especially given our economy, I think second run places like this could be very profitable-

aek316
aek316 commented about Deerbrook Cinema on Oct 7, 2009 at 9:54 am

This one sounds like it could be a prime candidate to become a 2nd run theater. What does everyone think?

aek316
aek316 commented about Cine Lounge at Niles on Apr 17, 2009 at 8:38 pm

I went to dinner in the area today and drove by the theater afterwards. What a difference a couple of months makes! It looks from the outside like a modern theater all shiny and new! The poster cases were illuminated outside and even the marquee was redone. I couldn’t really see inside because the doors were still covered in paper, but it looks like from the lighting that there was a complete overhaul done in the lobby too. I was kind of hoping to see some 2nd run movies shown here, but regardless, I definitely have to stop in and check out what they’ve done to the place when it opens (anyone know when that is?). A part of me is a little sad there will be no more Cineplex Odeon decor inside, but I guess Village Theaters is the only chain that does zero renovations to the theaters they reopen. All in all, good to see someone do something positive to an older theater rather then carve it up for retail or make it into a church or gym.

aek316
aek316 commented about Geneva Stage on Mar 7, 2009 at 12:44 pm

I was in lake Geneva last week and it looks like they’re showing movies again. They were showing “Frost Nixon”, “Slumdog Millionaire”, and “Revolutionary Road”. It also looks like they do live performances as well. Good to see this place alive again!

aek316
aek316 commented about AMC Norridge 6 on Jan 30, 2009 at 5:21 am

Thanks for the good news nightshadezero! Based on what you said about your job, they must’ve just told you! I remember at this time last year I asked the manager if they were closing, and he said it depended on Costco building on the site. If they said no, the theater would remain open. Apparently, Costco has passed on the space. I’m so glad! Nightshadezero, how’s business? Do you know if the property is still for sale? The theater still looks fairly busy when I drive by it at night. I really think with some proper renovations, this theater could thrive for a long time. Good location, big screening rooms. It’s good to see history prevail over blah big box retail for once (at least for now)! Thanks for the update nightshadezero, and good luck with your new job!

aek316
aek316 commented about AMC Norridge 6 on Jan 29, 2009 at 9:22 pm

There may be a ray of hope for the Norridge! I just read online that Costco WILL NOT be building on the Maurice Lenell lot or the surrounding property. Maybe the theater will have a stay of execution? If so, one word for AMC: Renovate!

aek316
aek316 commented about McClurg Court Cinemas on Dec 10, 2008 at 9:29 pm

CinemarkFan,

I will keep my fingers crossed for you. Your plans for Mcclurg sound great!I am glad that Baum’s retail plans are failing. This is too unique a theater to turn into same blah retail. I don’t know near enough about real estate, but you’d think they’d at least entertain offers to reopen the space as a cinema! However as I said before, better it remain vacant and largely untouched then the alternative…Best of luck!

aek316
aek316 commented about McClurg Court Cinemas on Oct 31, 2008 at 5:01 am

Cinemark Fan,

I can kinda picture it now. Makes me even more upset that I never saw a movie here! No theaters around here have screens that big! That would give anyone interested in reopening it a leg up! I can’t believe that the Mcclurg has sat vacant for 5 years now and no one has done anything with it. Whenever I go downtown, I try to go by the site and you can barely tell a theater was there since they covered the windows and took down the marquee. Is there even any hope that anyone could purchase the space if they could?

aek316
aek316 commented about AMC Norridge 6 on Oct 30, 2008 at 8:53 pm

I am finally commenting on my displeasure with the decision to close this theater. the Norridge in my eyes was (and to me still is) a northwest side institution. 40+ years in business for a movie theater is no small feat, especially in this day in age when movie theaters typically don’t make it to 20 years old anymore before they’re replaced with newer, bigger cinemas. As posted by many above, Norridge has been a survivor for years, and I think still has the potential to be one. Sadly, we’ll never know as yet another non descript big box store will soon take it’s place-

I see the logic of replacing the Norridge, even if I don’t agree with it. The theater is deteriorating inside and out. My fiance refuses to go to a movie there because of how dated and dirty it is on the inside. This obviously has had an effect on business. But the plain truth is IT DIDN’T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY! AMC with their inactivity and poor management, has let this once beautiful multiplex turn into a deteriorating relic. As Paul posted above, Kerasotes took a dated Webster Place theater and totally redid it and by all accounts, the place is jumping again. Why couldn’t AMC do this to the Norridge?! With it’s big screens, it has an experience to offer moviegoers that few of today’s multiplexes can provide!

I remember seeing Batman here in 1989. It was a matinee, but the place was packed and we got to sit in one of the big theaters with the reclining chairs. At that time 10 screens at a theater was unheard of in our area. Over the years, I have seen many a blockbuster at the Norridge and have had many great experiences. As the years progressed though, things began to look dated and almost like a time warp. The last 2 times I was there, even I had to partially agree with my fiance that they weren’t keeping things up well.

I have seen this theater through the years packed with people for the right feature, but over the years attendance has seemed to dwindle because AMC has allowed it to become an eyesore. The front and outside looks dated, the marquee looks as if it’s falling apart (and only half of it is even used anymore they strangely covered the bottom half with an ugly white board a year ago), the insides of the theaters look EXACTLY as they did when I was a kid. Why?! Doesn’t the AMC chain realize no one will come to your theater if the buzz is bad?

It’s is truly a shame a landmark theater like this has to close simply because management was too lazy to keep it clean and updated with the times. Other AMC theaters in my area like the Old Orchards and even Streets of Woodfield (though that has held up better) also look very dated when compared to some of my new favorites like Kersotes Glen 10 or Golf Mill Showplace or the Movieco in Rosemont. For their refusal to change with the times and keep once flourishing cinemas like Norridge thriving and in business, I hope Kerasotes, Movieco and all other chains draw in the customers and the customers neglect the AMC chain like AMC has neglected it’s once proud theaters! Here’s hoping the zoning does not get passed to build Cost Co, and a chain that actually cares takes this theater over! ‘Nuff said!

aek316
aek316 commented about New 400 Theaters on Oct 30, 2008 at 8:19 pm

If Village isn’t dead, it’s on life support! I read online recently that the city was evicting Village Entertainment from Village North over the summer. Based on Catherine’s above post, it sounds like someone else is already running the theater currently. And of course, we all know that Village was also recently evicted from North Riverside. Classic Cinemas took it over, and did many renovations to it in a month that Village never did in 2 years! As posted on this site, I think a Bollywood chain runs Lincoln Village and Bloomingdale. Isn’t that all the theaters they had left? Lest we forget the website that hasn’t been updated in 3 months…

Truly amazing. Evicted from two different theaters?! Who ever heard of such a thing?! It is truly a shame. I have gotten a real education on the Village chain per this site. Sounds like they bought a lot of great theaters with lots of life left in them and they either killed them or got kicked out of them. It’s a nice story that Classic Cinemas took over and renovated North Riverside. Too bad they couldn’t have saved more of these theaters like Biogrpah and Water Tower, etc. Oh well, guess I’m beating a dead horse here…

aek316
aek316 commented about North Riverside Luxury 6 on Oct 30, 2008 at 8:03 pm

I find the turn of events as it relates to this theater very interesting. I have not been here in almost 10 years, and the place needed work then. jimpiscitell, you said the theaters were repainted. What were the floors like? Did they do anything new on the inside of the theaters? I remember the seats in the old cineplex theaters being not very comfortable (although 600 N Michigan had good seats when I went there last year). I bet if they make enough money, the seats may gradually be replaced.

It’s interesting to hear what changes were made to the theater by Classic Cinemas in the space of a month while Village did none of the above for over 2 years (For selfish reasons, I’m bummed they replaced the carpeting. As a nostalgia freak, I liked that at least one theater still had the old CO zig zag design)! Everything sounds like an improvement that Classic has done, and as long as they make money off it, I bet the cons that were listed will be addressed. Why put money into new seats and signage if there’s no money being made? I think with the modifications done and especially the discounted tickets, this place has a chance to thrive again. It doesn’t seem that long ago when this place pushed the old Harlem-Cermak out of business simply due to the fact it was IN the mall. You couldn’t ask for a better location for a mall theater. It’s right in the thick of things which creates a lot of impulse business. I think a combination of the clientele and poor management (let’s not exclude AMC for their share of the blame, this place deteriorated long before Village took over and I largely blame them for letting the Norridge deteriorate to the point that it will be closed after 40+ years in busineess) brought this theater down. Let’s hope Classic Cinemas can breathe new life into it! I wanted to visit this theater while it was owned by Village to see what changes if any were made to a theater I grew up going to quite a bit, now with Classic Cinemas stepping in, i’m even more interested!

PS-I hope they keep the signage as is! That Cineplex logo is a time piece!

aek316
aek316 commented about Harlem Corners Theaters on Sep 18, 2008 at 9:57 pm

What a shame! I saw many a 2nd run movie here in my college days. The 2nd run theater is a dying breed, and this one was in pretty decent shape for a second run. I was always hoping someone would come in and revive it. In a city as big as Chicago, you’d think there’d be at least a few 2 buck shows! But now they’re all gone. Harlem Corners, Morton Grove and I hear the Lagrange is having problems too. Totally sucks! My kingdom for a value theater! Worst of all, it’ll meet a similar fate that a lot of my chilhgood theaters have: a freaking gym! It’d be better to let the building sit there for lease rather then have it gutted and turned into another blah gym like Bricktown Square, Golf Mill and so many others have. RIP Harlem Corners. Anyone know how this place went under anyways? I oftne went on dollar Tuesdays when I lived closer to the area, and it was almost always crowded no matter what the feature was-

aek316
aek316 commented about Patio Theatre on May 26, 2008 at 8:24 pm

Another classic I never got to go to (or if I did, I’m too young to remember). Truly a shame. I drive by this theater all the time and the marquee unfortunately looks like it’s collapsing. Looks like there may be too many roadblocks to reopen it. Really too bad in light of the Portage’s success and judging from some of the pictures, the inside of the theter looks to still be in pretty good shape-

aek316
aek316 commented about Cine Lounge at Niles on Apr 30, 2008 at 9:11 pm

Thanks for the link, BW. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of a range of films they show here and how exstensive the remodel is. I plan on visiting once it reopens. The Golf Glen is proving to have 9 lives! This will be it’s 3rd reopening! How many theaters can say that?!

aek316
aek316 commented about Cine Lounge at Niles on Apr 21, 2008 at 7:38 pm

I agree with BW’s comments about the probable future for Golf Glen, but I’d prefer a second run theater when it reopens. I have nothing against Bollywood, and look forward to seeing what Adlabs will do to the theater (last I was at Golf Glen maybe 3 years ago some general repairs and renovations were definitely needed, but the theater was in pretty good condition for a 20+ year old theater and as I’ve commented before it’s good to see an old Cineplex remnant revived), but I sorely miss having a 2nd run theater nearby. Second run houses are a dying art. I miss having value theaters like Harlem Corners and Morton Grove around. Great second run houses where you could see a movie for a buck on select days. Nowadays, where to go? Lagrange is kind of a trek for me, and the Logan is problematic due to lack of sufficient parking. Having a second run within 20 mins of me would be great.

Some of the other theaters in the area that show Bollywood movies like Blommingdale Court and Lincoln Village have both American and Bollywood features playing. Maybe Adlabs will do the same at Golf Glen? Time will tell I guess. I hope Robin S' rumor will prove to be true, at least partially!

aek316
aek316 commented about McClurg Court Cinemas on Mar 26, 2008 at 7:40 pm

Thanks, Life’s Too Short for the update. That’s too bad. Those Ciepex Odeon marquees are a real time piece. Only a few of those left in the city. I know Lincoln Village still has one (but they’re closing soon) and North Riverside does too. Can’t think of many others. Just seems to be an unusual step to remove such a big thing if nothing’s being done to the theater. It’s almost like they’re letting it blend in with the rest of the building kind of like they did with Oak Brook 1-4 I think. As long as they leave the inside alone, there’s still hope for a revival. I’m just trying to visualize that big auditorium and the huge screen in it’s hey day. Can any fellow users tell me where in the Chicagoland area I can have a similar experience in a large room with a huge screen?

aek316
aek316 commented about McClurg Court Cinemas on Mar 25, 2008 at 9:19 pm

Do you mean the whole marquee was removed Life’s Too Short? If so, that spells trouble. Why would they take that step unless the property was sold? Damn it, I was hoping somehow this place could be revived. Reading all these posts about what a great experience it was to catch a blockbuster here makes me really sad that I never caught a flick here and now probably never will. Has anybody heard anything regarding the sale of the site?

aek316
aek316 commented about Plitt and Cineplex-Odeon in Chicago on Jan 31, 2008 at 12:01 pm

There may be two less old Cineplex’s soon! Village Entertainment’s website has expired! The site is pending renewal or deletion. The company must be on it’s last legs to have their website expire! I better run out to their theaters while I still can! I’ve never been to Village North or Lincoln Village and haven’t been to North Riverside since Village took it over-

aek316
aek316 commented about New 400 Theaters on Jan 31, 2008 at 12:00 pm

And the clock continues to tick! Village’s website has expired! The site is pending renewal or deletion. The company must be on it’s last legs to have their website expire! I better run out to their theaters while I still can! I’ve never been to Village North or Lincoln Village and haven’t been to North Riverside since Village took it over-

aek316
aek316 commented about Cine Lounge at Niles on Jan 10, 2008 at 10:23 pm

I passed by this theater today and noticed there are no more for lease signs on the building like the last time when I was in the area. I took a look inside and it looks relatively the same inside as when I last saw a movie here circa 2004 aside from the neon signs being stripped from the concession stand, the poster cases removed from the walls and there were a few ceiling tiles on the floor of the lobby. Other then that, the place looked relatively intact. Is it possible someone bought this place again? If so, some remodeling is definitely in order. It’ll be interesting to see if anythin is happening with this Cineplex Odeon remnant. I have to admit in reading some other posts about other former cineplex odeon theaters (like Lincoln Village 1-6 or North RIverside), I have a somewhat curious fascination with the old CO theaters as well. It’d be kind of neat to keep a few of these late 80’s early 90’s timepieces alive. I plan on going to Lincoln Village before it closes (anyone know when it’s scheduled to close?) and may even consider a matinee at North Riverside where I saw many movies in my youth to see how or if they’ve changed any since CO’s demise. I find it fascinating that Cineplex opened multiple theaters in my area (Brickyard, Oak Brook, North Riverside) and they all closed so quickly. Village purchased many of the remaining ones, but they all went under so quickly. Truly a shame, a big piece of my early moviegoing experiences will soon be merely a footnote in the history of Chicago cinema. Anyhow, anyone hear anything about Golf Glen?

aek316
aek316 commented about McClurg Court Cinemas on Aug 18, 2007 at 10:51 pm

I was downtown today for the air and water show and drove by McClurg. The windows are all now covered with posters advertising Mcclurg Court apartments (maybe to discourage people like me from looking through the windows?). Strangely, the marquee was lit up. No for lease signs anywhere or anything. I wonder what is up with this place? Maybe they have given up trying to sell the space? That would be better then the alternative I suppose…If anyone knows anything, let me know.