Esquire Theatre
58 E. Oak Street,
Chicago,
IL
60611
58 E. Oak Street,
Chicago,
IL
60611
28 people
favorited this theater
Showing 76 - 100 of 188 comments
M. Coate: tone down your rhetoric.
I believe the SW display ads did omit the matinee Edens showtimes; check again.
Most of us can tell a 70mm screeining vs. an anamorphic one, simply by virtue of circular vs. elliptical cue marks for reel changeovers.
This is how one verifies, despite what the advertising may claim. Or you can just peer into the ptojection booth opening(s), if possible.
“Generally unadvertised matinee”
“5/27 matinees weren’t common knowledge”
What the hell do you mean??? As I write this reply, I’m staring at my photocopy of the Chicago Tribune’s opening-day ad, and the EDENS was clearly advertising an early-afternoon matinee.
The EDENS' showtimes were 1:30, 3:40, 5:50, 8:10, 10:15 (and a midnight show on Fridays & Saturdays). And they were NOT promoting a 70mm presentation on opening day or at any point in its seven-month run.
M.Coate;
Me +2 buddies are one of the few who can truthfully say we saw SW before it was a hit—specifically about 2-3 hrs before.
At the EDENS they had generally unadvertised matinee SW shows Fri. 5/27, and at the very first reel changeover point of the 1:15 pm show the 70mm print broke and the screen went dark until they fixed it. About 30 secs. of film was lost at this point, and the EDENS never in their entire run bothered to replace it, 70mm replacement footage being non-existent. This gap became well-known in these parts, a kind of an in-joke about where you last saw the film. When the EDENS closed its doors, a magazine article explained something relating to this, that their deal w/ FOX for this film was unique among local theaters in that they technically owned the print, which is why their exibition of it was of a maverick nature.
Back to me and my 2 buddies, because the 5/27 matinees weren’t common knowledge that day the EDENS had just us handfull for the 1:15 show, and a slightly bigger audience for the 3:45 show (which I stayed for). For the 6pm SW show however the floodgates did open, and it was ‘swimming against current’ just to exit the EDENS.
G. Feret:
Regarding you post of Nov. 6, 2007, I do not believe your details are correct. Are you posting from memory, or can you cite any documentation?
Anyway, here’s what I have been able to research for the original “Star Wars” bookings in the Chicago area:
05.27.1977 … Calumet City – River Oaks 1-2-3 (29 weeks)
05.27.1977 … Chicago – Esquire (18 weeks) Dolby Stereo
05.27.1977 … Lombard – Yorktown Cinema I-II-III-IV (30 weeks)
05.27.1977 … Northbrook – Edens 1 & 2 (29 weeks) Dolby Stereo
06.15.1977 … Waukegan – Genesee (13 weeks)
06.17.1977 … Norridge – Norridge 1-2-3-4 (27 weeks)
06.17.1977 … Orland Park – Orland Square 1-2-3-4 (26 weeks)
07.08.1977 … Joliet – Jefferson Square Cinema I-II-III (18 weeks)
07.13.1977 … Carpentersville – Meadowdale Cinema I-II-III-IV (16 weeks)
07.13.1977 … Crystal Lake – Showplace I-II-III (22 weeks)
07.22.1977 … Aurora – West Plaza Cinema 1-2-3 (13 weeks)
07.22.1977 … Chicago – Ford City I-II-III (22 weeks)
07.22.1977 … Chicago – Nortown (21 weeks)
07.22.1977 … Merrillville, IN – Y&W Drive-In (5 weeks)
07.22.1977 … Mount Prospect – Mt. Prospect (22 weeks)
07.22.1977 … Naperville – Ogden 6 (#1: 22 weeks)
07.22.1977 … Naperville – Ogden 6 (#2: 13 weeks)
07.22.1977 … Wheeling – Twin Drive-In (12 weeks)
07.29.1977 … Chicago – United Artists (21 weeks)
12.21.1977 … Vernon Hills – Hawthorn 1-2-3-4 (26 weeks) Dolby Stereo
12.23.1977 … Oak Brook – Oakbrook (30 weeks) 70mm-Dolby Stereo
Here is a blog with some photos of the Esquire:
http://tinyurl.com/249upt
My mistake; that was in fact a Sun-Times article.
The Esquire appears to remain doomed, but the plans for the site have again changed. Chicago Tribune article
Correction re. above post – 70mm STAR WARS here in Chicago area: the EDENS in NorthBrook ran it in 70mm right from the (May ‘77) start. Also they seemed to be the very last house to play it – a total of about a year.
as late as early summer, the marquee was still lit up at night too.
So I was on Oak Street last week and I noticed that demolition has not yet begun on the Esquire. The marquee is still being used for public service announcements and Citibank is still occupying the first floor. I thought that demolition would begin in April or May, 2007.
Great looking building but inside- cold as ice. Shouldnt be makeing way for redevelopment tho.
Thanks for the info, folks.
I was the manager at the Esquire during the initial Star Wars run in Chicago, Memorial Weekend 1977. It did premier here (and at 3 other theaters in the outlying areas) and it was a 35mm print. It was also craziness on steroids.
It wasen’t in 70MM. I have the ad from 5/27/77. In fact, there wasn’t a 70MM engagement of Star Wars in the Chicago area until 12/23/77 when Oakbrook played it 70MM.
It did open at the Esquire. Not sure whether it was 70 or not.
Loss of memory cells here. Can anybody either verify or disprove the notion that a 70mm print of “Star Wars” played here either from the opening in May, 1977 or beginning at some point thereafter? Thanks
Here is a rather artistic interpretation of the Esquire Theater Marquee.
Yes.
Was the granite facade (or whatever material that is) later extended to cover Citibank’s part of the building? The vintage photos on www.cinematour.com seem to indicate so.
Why are the lights being left on (on the marquee)? Is it so that they’ll burn out?
It seems odd that they made such a drastic turn in planning.
The lights, constantly on, are slowly dying. So sad.
Curiously, they have changed their plans for what the Esquire will be replaced with. View link
Here is a list of the movies to play here from 1964-1980.
1/02/1964 – WHO’S BEEN SLEEPING IN MY BED?
1/15/1964 – ALL THE WAY HOME
1/31/1964 – ANY NUMBER CAN WIN
2/19/1964 – DR. STRANGELOVE
5/20/1964 – THE SERVANT
6/19/1964 – MURDER SHE SAID plus MURDER AT THE GALLOP
6/26/1964 – TWO ARE GUILTY
7/01/1964 – HONEYMOON HOTEL
7/24/1964 – YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW
9/16/1964 – BECKET
10/23/1964- LOS TARANTOS
10/30/1964- WAR AND PEACE
11/4/1964 – THE OUTRAGE
12/4/1964 – MURDER AHOY
12/25/1964- THE PUMPKIN EATER
1/22/1965 – TOPKAPI
3/05/1965 – SEANCE ON A WET AFTERNOON
4/28/1965 – THE MAGNIFICENT CUCKOLD
5/14/1965 – MASQUERADE
5/28/1965 – THE BATTLE OF THE VILLA FIORITA
6/18/1965 – WHITE VOICES
7/07/1965 – THE COLLECTOR
8/20/1965 – THE KNACK AND HOW TO GET IT
10/1/1965 – BAMBOLE
10/15/1965- SITUATION HOPELESS BUT NOT SERIOUS
10/29/1965- REPULSION
11/19/1965- THE MARRIED WOMAN
12/3/1965 – YOU MUST BE JOKING plus HARVEY MIDDLEMAN, FIREMAN
12/17/1965- BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S plus SABRINA
12/24/1965- THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD
2/11/1966 – THE SLENDER THREAD
2/25/1966 – MOMENT TO MOMENT
3/16/1966 – LORD LOVE A DUCK
4/01/1966 – A THOUSAND CLOWNS
5/26/1966 – BORN FREE
7/15/1966 – THE GLASS BOTTOM BOAT
8/17/1966 – THE WRONG BOX
10/14/1966- THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW
10/21/1966- BOLSHOI BALLET 67
11/2/1966 – ALFIE
2/15/1967 – A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS
8/31/1967 – LUV
9/21/1967 – THE BOBO
10/11/1967- REFLECTIONS IN A GOLDEN EYE
12/1/1967 – BONNIE AND CLYDE
12/20/1967- FITZWILLY
1/05/1968 – HOW I WON THE WAR
1/26/1968 – BEDAZZLED
2/28/1968 – POOR COW
4/03/1968 – THE PARTY
5/10/1968 – HERE WE GO ROUND THE MULBERRY BUSH
5/29/1968 – INSPECTOR CLOUSEAU
6/26/1968 – THE SWIMMER
7/31/1968 – INTERLUDE
9/18/1968 – RACHEL, RACHEL
10/31/1968- THE LION IN WINTER
6/19/1969 – WAR AND PEACE
7/31/1969 – ME, NATALIE
9/24/1969 – EASY RIDER
1/30/1970 – GAILY, GAILY
3/06/1970 – ZABRISKE POINT
3/27/1970 – FANTASIA
5/22/1970 – CINEMA COLLEGE FESTIVAL
6/17/1970 – GETTING STRAIGHT
8/19/1970 – SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
9/16/1970 – PERFORMANCE
10/7/1970 – JUSTINE
10/21/1970- FIVE EASY PIECES
2/03/1971 – HUSBANDS
3/05/1971 – GIMME SHELTER
4/23/1971 – MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN
5/21/1971 – TAKING OFF
6/18/1971 – THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN
6/30/1971 – FORTUNE AND MEN’S EYES
7/23/1971 – THE HELLSTROM CHRONICLE
9/24/1971 – CARNAL KNOWLEDGE
10/29/1971- SACCO AND VANZETTI
12/1/1971 – WAR AND PEACE
12/19/1971- THE LAST PICTURE SHOW
3/29/1972 – MADE FOR EACH OTHER
4/19/1972 – THE HELLSTROM CHRONICLE plus Z
4/28/1972 – SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY plus MIDNIGHT COWBOY
5/10/1972 – RUSSIA
5/26/1972 – HAMMERSMITH IS OUT
7/05/1972 – THE OTHER
9/22/1972 – THE SORROW AND THE PITY
10/18/1972- ELVIRA MADIGAN plus THE VIRGIN AND THE GYPSY
11/3/1972 – THE CHICAGO FILM FESTIVAL
11/17/1972- HEAT
12/20/1972- SLEUTH
3/01/1973 – SAVE THE TIGER
4/11/1973 – GODSPELL
6/15/1973 – LUDWIG
6/29/1973 – 40 CARATS
7/20/1973 – THE HIRELING
8/03/1973 – ROMEO AND JULIET
9/28/1973 – I AM A DANCER
10/19/1973- FANTASIA
11/7/1973 – JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL
12/18/1973- DON’T LOOK NOW
2/08/1974 – ALFREDO, ALFREDO
3/01/1974 – BLAZING SADDLES
5/31/1974 – BADLANDS
6/14/1974 – DAISY MILLER
7/19/1974 – ANIMAL CRACKERS
8/23/1974 – THE WHITE DAWN
9/27/1974 – FANTASIA
10/18/1974- THE GAMBLER
11/8/1974 – THE ABDICATION
11/29/1974- BLAZING SADDLES
12/18/1974- THE PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE
1/24/1975 – GONE WITH THE WIND
1/31/1975 – FACES plus ULYSSES
2/07/1975 – FIVE EASY PIECES plus THE LAST DETAIL
2/14/1975 – STARDUST
2/28/1975 – SHEILA LEVINE IS DEAD AND LIVING IN NEW YORK
3/21/1975 – THE PRISONER OF SECOND AVENUE
4/11/1975 – HEARTS AND MINDS
5/30/1975 – THE GODFATHER PART II
6/06/1975 – THE LONGEST YARD plus DEATH WISH
6/13/1975 – 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
6/20/1975 – STAVISKY
7/02/1975 – NASHVILLE
10/10/1975- A CLOCKWORK ORANGE plus DELIVERANCE
10/17/1975- TOMMY
10/24/1975- COCONUTS plus ANIMAL CRACKERS
10/31/1975- HORSE FEATHERS plus DUCK SOUP
11/7/1975 – THE LION IN WINTER plus A TOUCH OF CLASS
11/21/1975- ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST
2/20/1976 – THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING
4/09/1976 – ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN
6/18/1976 – THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT PART 2
7/21/1976 – THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH
8/27/1976 – OBSESSION
9/24/1976 – THE TENANT
10/15/1976- MARATHON MAN
12/24/1976- A STAR IS BORN
2/11/1977 – TWILIGHT’S LAST GLEAMING
3/18/1977 – THE PINK PANTHER STRIKES AGAIN
4/01/1977 – THE EAGLE HAS LANDED
4/29/1977 – NASTY HABITS
5/27/1977 – STAR WARS
9/30/1977 – KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE
10/21/1977- LOOKING FOR MR. GOODBAR
12/14/1977- CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND
3/17/1978 – AN UNMARRIED WOMAN
6/02/1978 – THANK GOD IT’S FRIDAY
6/16/1978 – GREASE
8/11/1978 – THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY
9/29/1978 – DEATH ON THE NILE
11/10/1978- MAGIC
12/15/1978- SUPERMAN – THE MOVIE
3/09/1979 – THE DEER HUNTER
6/01/1979 – FANTASIA
6/22/1979 – THE MAIN EVENT
8/03/1979 – THE MUPPET MOVIE
9/21/1979 – MONTY PYTHON’S LIFE OF BRIAN
11/9/1979 – THE ROSE
12/7/1979 – STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE
2/01/1980 – THE RUNNER STUMBLES
2/06/1980 – CHAPTER TWO
3/14/1980 – SIMON
3/28/1980 – GILDA LIVE
4/11/1980 – GREASE plus HEAVEN CAN WAIT
4/18/1980 – FOXES
5/02/1980 – A SMALL CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
5/21/1980 – THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
9/26/1980 – ORDINARY PEOPLE
11/14/1980- FANTASIA
12/12/1980- GLORIA plus THE ELECTRIC HORSEMAN
12/19/1980- THE JAZZ SINGER
What a dam shame-I hope it’s saved. I attended this theater and took photos back in 2002. It was beautiful inside and that marque is awesome.