Regarding the triplex. I was so tired last night that I forgot just now it was split. What they did was close off the balcony to make 1 theater up there and the main floor was split in 2. Just like they did with the Skokie theater years ago.
The painted walls had to have been done after the place closed as a theater. I remember all the lovlies were still there during the triplex years. I still think that was the dumbest thing they could have done to that place.
Hopefully I can get to waukegan before the end of time and stop by at night to take a picture. I actually live about a half hour due west of there, but would love to see what the theater looks like. I remember seeing the building sitting closed back in 99 when I took night classes at CLC (which is down the street fromt there).
If I can, and I remember, I’ll take a few pictures and send them your way. that is if you’re still looking for some.
Well I’d like to see where they plan on putting that mall. I lived directly across from there on Claremont, well more like the building next to Sally’s Stage. Anyway, directly across from there’s the city parking lot. Unless they demolish Sally’s Stage, that place next to it and the Chinese restaraunt as well, this will be an interesting mall. Especially since that parking lot is small and well, not enough spaces for a mall, much less what they plan on doing with the place in general.
BUT (and I haven’t read the article yet) at least it sounds like there’s some hope for the old place. Here’s hoping the guy stays true to what it actually looked like, and doesn’t change things.
heh I can imagine. Actually when we went to see it, my older brother stayed for the next show, while my sister and I went home. It was a few hours later that everyone noticed he hadn’t been around the house. Turned out he stayed for the remainder of the day. LOL
It’s funny, I was talking to my sister (Belle) about this Friday night and she was trying to see if she recognized anyone on here. ;P
That would suck big time. It wasn’t until I was in my 20s that I went to a drive in for the first time. After moving up this way, I went to the Grayslake one (that being close to where I live) but didn’t go all the time, just a few times. Then it closed and is now a frickin’s Jewel! (sorry, I used to work there back in high school and college, so to see them build over something like this can be frustraing/annoying)
But I’ve only driven past the McHenry theater and keep saying I’m going to go one of these days. I have yet to go, and would be very annoyed if this goes the way of the dinosaur along with the rest of the outdoor theaters and old palaces.
I find it both funny and annoying that corporations are trying recapture the old palaces by coming up with themed multiplexes. How stupid, they had these gold mines right under their noses. But rather than maintain them, they let them die out and ultimatly tore then down for boring, looks like every other modern, building.
Yeah and I remember you taking us to see those movies, as well as many others through the years. I just thought of when you, me and mom saw Temple of Doom there. lol
I have to say, in all honesty. In all the years we lived there, I don’t think I ever called the place to check show times. I can’t even tell you what the phone number was.
man I miss that place.
I do have a great idea though. They need to restore that to it’s former glory, and then to kick off the reopening, show New Hope. THAT’D be awesome! I’d drive back there for that.
It’s heart breaking to hear how Nortown’s just fallen apart like it has. I lived across the street on Claremont from 73-97 and remember seeing Star Wars there in 77! Some of my most vivid memories of that expereince are of everyone cheering every single time Vader came on screen.
I remember what it was like when they split it into a triplex, that was such a shame. It was a waste because they split the main floor in 2 and the rooms were tiny. Shoot, I remember when they did that to the Skokie theater and that was smaller than this!
I’ll always remmeber Nortown the way it looks in those pictures that you posted Brian. I’d love to see more! In fact, had it not been for a post by an online buddy of mine on live journal aobut the new themed multiplexes (which in reality are corporate america’s attempt to recreate the movie palace, something we HAD but is long gone), I would have never gone looking into this, or found this site.
Does anyone know of a pettion to save this? This has to be conisdered a historical landmark if for no other reason than the fact that it’s an old palace. There has to be something done to preserve this. It can’t die!
Regarding the triplex. I was so tired last night that I forgot just now it was split. What they did was close off the balcony to make 1 theater up there and the main floor was split in 2. Just like they did with the Skokie theater years ago.
The painted walls had to have been done after the place closed as a theater. I remember all the lovlies were still there during the triplex years. I still think that was the dumbest thing they could have done to that place.
If anyone that’s near there can get current pictures I think we’d all appreciate it.
Kevin,
Hopefully I can get to waukegan before the end of time and stop by at night to take a picture. I actually live about a half hour due west of there, but would love to see what the theater looks like. I remember seeing the building sitting closed back in 99 when I took night classes at CLC (which is down the street fromt there).
If I can, and I remember, I’ll take a few pictures and send them your way. that is if you’re still looking for some.
That’s a very interesting article. Thanks for the cool find. :)
Well I’d like to see where they plan on putting that mall. I lived directly across from there on Claremont, well more like the building next to Sally’s Stage. Anyway, directly across from there’s the city parking lot. Unless they demolish Sally’s Stage, that place next to it and the Chinese restaraunt as well, this will be an interesting mall. Especially since that parking lot is small and well, not enough spaces for a mall, much less what they plan on doing with the place in general.
BUT (and I haven’t read the article yet) at least it sounds like there’s some hope for the old place. Here’s hoping the guy stays true to what it actually looked like, and doesn’t change things.
that’s so wrong
heh I can imagine. Actually when we went to see it, my older brother stayed for the next show, while my sister and I went home. It was a few hours later that everyone noticed he hadn’t been around the house. Turned out he stayed for the remainder of the day. LOL
It’s funny, I was talking to my sister (Belle) about this Friday night and she was trying to see if she recognized anyone on here. ;P
That would suck big time. It wasn’t until I was in my 20s that I went to a drive in for the first time. After moving up this way, I went to the Grayslake one (that being close to where I live) but didn’t go all the time, just a few times. Then it closed and is now a frickin’s Jewel! (sorry, I used to work there back in high school and college, so to see them build over something like this can be frustraing/annoying)
But I’ve only driven past the McHenry theater and keep saying I’m going to go one of these days. I have yet to go, and would be very annoyed if this goes the way of the dinosaur along with the rest of the outdoor theaters and old palaces.
I find it both funny and annoying that corporations are trying recapture the old palaces by coming up with themed multiplexes. How stupid, they had these gold mines right under their noses. But rather than maintain them, they let them die out and ultimatly tore then down for boring, looks like every other modern, building.
Yeah and I remember you taking us to see those movies, as well as many others through the years. I just thought of when you, me and mom saw Temple of Doom there. lol
I have to say, in all honesty. In all the years we lived there, I don’t think I ever called the place to check show times. I can’t even tell you what the phone number was.
man I miss that place.
I do have a great idea though. They need to restore that to it’s former glory, and then to kick off the reopening, show New Hope. THAT’D be awesome! I’d drive back there for that.
It’s heart breaking to hear how Nortown’s just fallen apart like it has. I lived across the street on Claremont from 73-97 and remember seeing Star Wars there in 77! Some of my most vivid memories of that expereince are of everyone cheering every single time Vader came on screen.
I remember what it was like when they split it into a triplex, that was such a shame. It was a waste because they split the main floor in 2 and the rooms were tiny. Shoot, I remember when they did that to the Skokie theater and that was smaller than this!
I’ll always remmeber Nortown the way it looks in those pictures that you posted Brian. I’d love to see more! In fact, had it not been for a post by an online buddy of mine on live journal aobut the new themed multiplexes (which in reality are corporate america’s attempt to recreate the movie palace, something we HAD but is long gone), I would have never gone looking into this, or found this site.
Does anyone know of a pettion to save this? This has to be conisdered a historical landmark if for no other reason than the fact that it’s an old palace. There has to be something done to preserve this. It can’t die!