Comments from Paul Fortini

Showing 526 - 550 of 654 comments

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Esquire Theatre on Apr 18, 2006 at 5:24 am

My research of movie ads circa 1997-1999 reveals that this was a Sony Theatre. Sony, which is the name Loews/Sony-Loews was trading under (in Chicagoland anyways), had taken over the old M&R Amusements chain.

But for some reason, I can recall this place being in the Plitt chain in the 1970s-1980s, although I could be wrong.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Eastland Mall Theatre on Apr 18, 2006 at 5:18 am

Rick, Bart

There are a couple of good links on the www.deadmalls.com site. These are to newspaper articles. They should answer many of your questions about the Eastland Mall.

The Jerry Lewis Cinema chain was a good idea that just never succeeded. You can read about it in the CINEMA TREASURES book. It’s a very worthwhile book.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Montclare Theatre on Apr 17, 2006 at 11:17 am

Per Brian Wolf’s comment above regarding the 1996 Sun-Times article:

“Mont Clare residents now can see their movies at the multiplex theater in the Bricktown Square shopping center.”

Ironically, that same multiplex would be closed just four years later after only 11 or so years of operation.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Harlem Outdoor Theater on Apr 17, 2006 at 10:57 am

Was this Outdoor Theatre operated by M&R Amusements?

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Eastland Mall Theatre on Apr 17, 2006 at 2:50 am

Rick,

Wow, what a mess! It looks like the owners just walked away from the theatre! I’m really surprised that the local delinquents haven’t broken in en masse to purloin some souvineers! This reminds me of photos I’ve seen of the Dixie Square Mall on such sites as www.deadmalls.com I’ve always been fascinated by pictures of ruins.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Holiday Star Theater on Apr 15, 2006 at 8:29 am

But for how long though? Look at how many companies have tried to operate this place over the past few years.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Plaza Theatre on Apr 14, 2006 at 6:23 am

I went to the Chicago Public Library today to do some research on local theatres (see, fellow cinema lovers, as good as Cinema Treasures is, sometimes we still have to use books and libraries!). In researching movie ads, I discovered that the Plaza made it into the Loews/Cineplex chain and was open until at least late 1998. Ads for 12/24/1999 do not show the Plaza.

When I lived in Rogers Park from 1996-1998, I went to the K-mart mentioned above and I don’t recall seeing the theatre there. Obviously, it lasted a lot longer than I thought it did!

When the Loews/Cineplex merger intially went through, it gave the new chain some 44 theatres in the Chicagoland Area! The three Inter-City Entertainment cinemas—Lawndale, Chatham, & 62nd & Western—were included. Obviously many, many theatres were divested and/or shuttered and as I recall, the merger was a mess.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Belvidere Cinema Gallery on Apr 12, 2006 at 3:03 am

Theatres closed by the Village Entertainment chain and the years Village operated them:

Biograph: 2002-2004
Burnham Plaza: 2002-2005
Fox Valley: 2002-2003
Golf Glen: 2002-2006
Hinsdale: 2002-2003
Water Tower: 2002-2003
Belvidere: -2004(?) 2005(?)

Notice that all came from Village’s expansion in 2002. Undercapitalized and over-expanded in such a short time

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Glenwood Theatre on Apr 12, 2006 at 3:00 am

Theatres closed by the Village Entertainment chain and the years Village operated them:

Biograph: 2002-2004
Burnham Plaza: 2002-2005
Fox Valley: 2002-2003
Golf Glen: 2002-2006
Hinsdale: 2002-2003
Water Tower: 2002-2003

Notice that all came from Village’s expansion in 2002. Undercapitalized and over-expanded in such a short time

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Village Art Theatre may close on Apr 11, 2006 at 8:22 am

Theatres closed by the Village Entertainment chain and the years Village operated them:

Biograph: 2002-2004
Burnham Plaza: 2002-2005
Fox Valley: 2002-2003
Golf Glen: 2002-2006
Hinsdale: 2002-2003
Water Tower: 2002-2003

Notice that all came from Village’s expansion in 2002. Undercapitalized and over-expanded in such a short time

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Cine Lounge at Niles on Apr 11, 2006 at 8:18 am

Theatres closed by the Village Entertainment chain and the years Village operated them:

Biograph: 2002-2004
Burnham Plaza: 2002-2005
Fox Valley: 2002-2003
Golf Glen: 2002-2006
Hinsdale: 2002-2003
Water Tower: 2002-2003

Notice that all came from Village’s expansion in 2002. Undercapitalized and over-expanded in such a short time

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Village Art Theatre on Apr 11, 2006 at 8:18 am

Theatres closed by the Village Entertainment chain and the years Village operated them:

Biograph: 2002-2004
Burnham Plaza: 2002-2005
Fox Valley: 2002-2003
Golf Glen: 2002-2006
Hinsdale: 2002-2003
Water Tower: 2002-2003

Notice that all came from Village’s expansion in 2002. Undercapitalized and over-expanded in such a short time

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Burnham Plaza Cinemas on Apr 11, 2006 at 8:17 am

Theatres closed by the Village Entertainment chain and the years Village operated them:

Biograph: 2002-2004
Burnham Plaza: 2002-2005
Fox Valley: 2002-2003
Golf Glen: 2002-2006
Hinsdale: 2002-2003
Water Tower: 2002-2003

Notice that all came from Village’s expansion in 2002. Undercapitalized and over-expanded in such a short time

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place on Apr 11, 2006 at 8:13 am

This theater had the Chicago priemier of “Rocky”, I believe.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Burnham Plaza Cinemas on Apr 11, 2006 at 7:57 am

Yeah, just look at the Lincoln Village (even Loews didn’t take down the sign there) and the recently closed Golf Glen.

Speaking of the sign, how were the letters on the upper sign changed? Was there a catwalk, or was a long pole used?

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Village Art Theatre may close on Apr 11, 2006 at 6:47 am

Also, AP, I noticed that ads for the Lincoln Village and the North Riverside appeared in the Sun-Times last week. Then apparently they’ve disappeared again!

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Village Art Theatre may close on Apr 11, 2006 at 6:42 am

A Projectionist:

So you were an insider with Village Entertainment. I was wondering why (in your previous posts) you said that Village was not well run. I’ve often thought that Village should have run only the Village and possibly the Village North. Did you notice that all of Village’s problems have occurred since they’ve tried to become a chain.

Believe me, AP, I very much want to support the local chain (i.e. I buy Jays Potato Chips instead of Lays). However, Village’s history speaks for itself. You can compare and contrast Village to another local chain, Classic Cinemas. Although CC did close a few money-losing cinemas, the company seems to have a solid business plan. CC’s cinemas are clean, well-maintained, and the company acts like it is interested in film and good presentation. I’m sure Village has had the best of intentions. But the best of intentions doth not a good theatre chain make! Instead of taking over theatre after theatre and closing theatre after theatre, Village really needs to get some good business acumen.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Burnham Plaza Cinemas on Apr 10, 2006 at 1:13 pm

You can compare it to the photos of the Cinematour website. In this view View link (2004) we see that the Cineplex-Odeon logo has been removed and that the vertical sign is no longer used. Did Meridien cease using the sign or did Village?

And here is a photo of the pay-booth View link

I still say it’s a shame this place closed. Someone with good business sense could have made the Burnham profitable, what with several colleges and new housing nearby. But it was treated like an unwanted step-child fromt he beginning.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Village Art Theatre on Apr 10, 2006 at 1:02 pm

Cinemark Fan, how’s your theatre chain school project doing?

For some interesting reviews of the Village Theatre, click here View link and believe me they run the gamut!

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Village Art Theatre may close on Apr 10, 2006 at 12:48 pm

Brian Wolf,

I don’t think that paying rent was an issue. This theatre has been very popular and profitable for many years. I think that whoever owns this building received a better offer from someone else (i.e. condos again). Also, if Village hadn’t been paying its rent, the company would have been evicted much sooner (the “For Rent” sign went up around December).

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Burnham Plaza Cinemas on Apr 10, 2006 at 3:04 am

The function for this theatre should be “Office Space.”

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Village Art Theatre on Apr 8, 2006 at 5:02 am

Brian W, I think it’s probably more than a rumor that this place will close. The “For Rent” sign on the marquee does not bode well. I wonder why the closure. The land could be “too valuable” (but as Arlington Heights proved, there can be room for condos and a cinema and live theatre). Or it could be that the building isn’t in good shape—something that is stated in the above posts.

I’ve always associated this theatre with “indie” newspapers like THE READER. Like THE READER, it always seemed “funky” and “offbeat”. But as Village Theatres has grown and become more “corporate,” this place may not fit in with their business module anymore.

(Or it could be like the Wells Street “corridor”. Once “artistic”, the area is now a yuppified version, trading on how it used to be).

I’ve been meaning to get over to the Village, and I’d like to see one more movie there before it closes. But lately, they’ve been showing movies that I don’t particularly care to see.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Marbro Theatre on Apr 6, 2006 at 7:56 am

An excellent night time view of the Marbo’s marquee can be seen on the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) calendar. You can click on the following link: View link

If you need a lower resolution, click here: View link

The CTA’s annual calendar has many fascinating vintage views of its service are (Chicago and neighboring suburbs). This calendar is meant to be printed and used as a wall calendar.

While we’re on the subject, I wonder how many movie theatres, both vintage and multi-plex, are still served by streetcars or their modern descendants, light rail. This would be in the U.S. and Canada.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Milford Theatre on Apr 4, 2006 at 4:11 pm

I am amazed that this theatre lasted as long as it did. In the 1970s and early 1980s, it still drew a big crowd. It was cheap and dirty and had the least comfortable seats anywhere.

I saw a totally ‘70s sci-fi flick here called CAPRICORN ONE. It starred Elliot Gould, James Brolin, OJ Simpson, Hal Holbrook, Karen Black, Telly Savalas, Brenda Vaccaro, and Sam Waterston.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini commented about Nortown Theater on Apr 4, 2006 at 6:15 am

Post them, Brian. We need to see them, even if they aren’t pretty. As theatre enthusiasts, it behooves us to see photos of deterioration and destruction as well as preservation.