River Oaks Theatre
130 River Oaks Center Drive,
Calumet City,
IL
60409
130 River Oaks Center Drive,
Calumet City,
IL
60409
13 people
favorited this theater
Showing 76 - 100 of 243 comments
When I worked at RO #1 and then after #4 was built on, there was no ice cream sold behind the counter. The only ice cream sold in the building was vending machine next to the woman’s bathroom. This was in 1976-8. Perhaps RO 1 sold ice cream behind the counter when it first opened, but I think it went away in a hurry.
The far west theaters weren’t built/opened yet. Dunno maybe the picture is from a store in the mall. Does anyone recall a car hop in the area. A drive in food joint would make sense. But it could pass for a drive in movie joint stand.
Oh yes, I remember when River Oaks was all outdoors, it was really nice, at least on a nice day. The “concession stand” is stuck in with other photos of the River Oaks area, so I don’t know about it being part of a drive in and would it be completly seperate from the rest of the other food? No pop corn, hot dogs etc. are listed on the menu. Strange to have a name of Intermission. Perhaps it was next to the theaters on the far, far West side of the West mall on the West side of Torence Avenue (I forgot what number they had)???
I sent the photo to my grandfather. He thinks that could be the old concession stand from the Halsted Drive In, or possibly Bel Air. Both places had an ice creamish stand back in the days. But yes he indeed confirmed that wasn’t a stand at RO #1.
Back in the 70’s River Oaks was an outdoor mall such as Oakbrook still is. You only went inside if it was in one of the stores. I truly don’t recall an ice cream shop in the mall but I think seeing the word INTERMISSION on the menu board tilts it towards being a drive-in.
Perhaps the “concession stand” was some shop in the River Oaks Shopping Center. Comments?
I can ask my grandfather about it. He was there in the seventies. But I think he’ll say the same thing. RO #1 was a classy joint. Not one of these ghetto looking multi plex’s. Back in the days every employee was dressed up. Even the projectionists wore suits and ties.
And to answer the D-150 question. That system was disconnected along time ago. The rack still exists but the D-150 equipment doesn’t. It was all removed when Dolby surround came out.
I don’t think that is a concession stand from RO. At least not the big one. Back in those days, management would never allow ice cream or anything that could drip into the theater. I have to agree with JRS, that picture looks like it came from a drive in. Or maybe an old ice cream parlor.
Actually when you look at it closer I don’t know that it is River Oaks at all. I don’t ever remember them serving cones and shakes. RO was a classy operation and I think they wouldn’t have allowed that in their theaters. Plus the concession board says INTERMISSION which makes it sound like a drive-in. The whole front counter was glass for candy and there doesn’t appear to be any glass there. I don’t think this is RO after all. Someone either mis-identified or was just guessing.
Yeah it’s too hard to tell but it must be. If I remember correctly the stand at 2-3 was one big area sharing both theaters but, again, from that angle who knows? But it had to be one of those two buildings.
I found a picture of the concession stand of RO in 1976. I can’t tell if it’s from #1.
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CplexAlumni96…Welcome aboard Cinema Treasures.
Let me guess – Travis AFB?
When you went to the D-150 River Oaks did they ever open and close that giant curtain? I always thought that was a big thrill when they did.
I didn’t know about River Oaks closing till after it did. I did manage to get a hold of some paper stuff with Cineplex Odeon and Loews Cineplex on it. If you want some for your archives and to bring back memories please contact me.
I am also gathering info on every military base theater I can get info on so I can add them to Cinema Treasures. Give me a list of bases you have been stationed at and I can send you what info I have and perhps you can fill in some additional info.
Meanwhile that big D-150 theater sits empty.
“Old Navy Chief’s never die, they just get a little dinghy!”
I have fun memories of working @ RO 1-6. In the mid 90’s this was my first job. I grew up in Cal City / Lansing. I’ve since then made a career in the military and come home from time to time. My family doesn’t live in that area anymore but I sometimes get off the highway just to drive past RO to see what has changed. It’s sad to see the area deteriorate, and the theaters close. Sure they were old and run down,… but they had a lot of character and each one was unique as mentioned above. Seeing movies on the big screen @ 9&10 was the best. You just don’t get that experience anymore.
I’ve enjoyed reading the comments above although some of the history is before my time, its very interesting to read and learn. I worked for Cineplex Odeon for 4 years. Met and worked with some good people. I remember getting a crash course on how to run the projectors when the union projectionists were on strike or locked out in the late 90’s. And eventually I took a management postion out in Orland Park which was less fun. By that time it was Loews Cineplex.
Good Times.
The info I was told is pretty accurate. The way I understand it, when Loew’s shut down RO they did just that. And nothing was removed. If anything was, it must have happened earlier or later. All I know is, if everything is still there, it’s gotta be in pretty bad shape.
Regarding nothing being removed, how recent is the info? I often get worried because the windows are blacked out, and for the past few months, trailers have been parked far in the lot. Other than that, the building is still there. 1-6 and 7-8 is still there too.
PS: The business plan is coming along nicely. It prepares you for building from the ground up, but I’m revising to fit my buy and remodel plan.
a long time the ceiling of 1 & 4 had a night time sky painted on it. It showed stars, planets, comets. When you entered the lobby, and if you looked above the concession stand there was wall. They had a night time mural of Chicago on it and it continued to the ceiling which was the sky. Behind that was the walkway used by the projectionist to get to the booths.
I like the star idea you have. Funny thing I kinda remember the Music Box. This was another theater my grandfather worked at. I just hope those theaters are not to far gone as far as renovation goes. All the gear is still there. Nothing was ever removed. From what I remember I heated heard rumors that some group from Cal City was looking into purchasing 1-4. But I heard they bailed on it.
As an occasional visitor to the Music Box I would say that’s not a bad idea. It would add some ambiance to an already beautiful theater. Keep me updated. I am eager to see you pull this off.
JRS40 and Audiodude,
What do you think about a night sky ceiling for #9? It would look almost like the one at the Music Box.
PS: The business plan is coming along nicely. Once I get it pristine, I will look for investors.
Now if I were running it today…
11/26/08 – TWILIGHT (moveover from #10)
12/19/08 – SEVEN POUNDS
12/25/08 – CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (in Sony 4K DLP)
1/16/09 – GRAN TORINO (moveover from #10)
1/30/09 – TAKEN
More from #1
4/2/82 – SOME KIND OF HERO
4/1/88 – BEETLEJUICE
4/8/88 – ABOVE THE LAW
9/30/88 – GORILLAS IN THE MIST
10/7/88 – ALIEN NATION
6/1/90 – TOTAL RECALL
6/8/90 – ANOTHER 48 HRS
5/28/93 – CLIFFHANGER
6/11/93 – JURASSIC PARK
Also, I got the Cineplex Odeon directory for 4/7/89, and “Lean on Me” was still playing (sixth week BTW) in #1, but what caught my eye was that #14 was closed. #13 was showing a movie called “Sing”. But I have a CO directory for May of ‘89, and #14 was up and running.
I also asked grandpa about the Diana. He thinks they were named for the owner of Esseness (sp) wife. I finally convinced him to join. Hopefully he’ll start posting here. He told me he checked out the RO posts and finally signed up. My grandfather said he’s impressed by all the posts. He also commented on the movie history you guys wrote up.
So found out a few more things about 2-3. 1-6 opened in December of 1988. Before the mall was enclosed. 2-3 were numbered 13-14 and were running till summer of 89. Those theaters closed because of costs. However, grandpa did say they were reopened in 1990 for maybe 3 weeks. Because crowds were so small and 13-14 were only showing stale movies no one ever showed. Grandpa was pretty sure about this cause he remembered running 13-14 in 90. Not 91. They opened in early 90, and then sometime later Cineplex sold 13-14 off to a developer. Later turned into stores. Before when they were 2-3 both theaters were closed for roof repairs and there was a rodent problem
I have a funny memory of working as manager at RO #1 and eventually #1 & #4 on the weekends. Management downtown got so concerned about the crowds that we used to have to hire Calumet City police to work as security. The great part was that they were half drunk when they finally showed up and they continued drinking throughout the night. I recall having to lock up a couple of cop’s gun in the safe until they were sober enough to hold them. How secure I felt. I always carried a sap in my back pocket for troublemakers, but the only movie I felt the slightest bit in danger during was The Warriors. There was plenty of violence and a couple of shootings at other theaters showing the film, so that one time i was happy to have a couple of rent-a-cops on duty.
So there was a small gap of maybe a year where all 14 screens were up and running. My apologies Audio – I simply can’t remember that. “Batman” opened in June of 1989 so chances are it was still around that time when it played on all 4 screens. I can’t imagine it was later then July due to a load of summer movies that year. I can remember that being the busiest year for summer movies I ever saw as a manager. Besides “Batman” there was “Indiana Jones,” “Ghostbusters 2,” “Weekend At Bernies,” “Field of Dreams,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “Parenthood,” “Roadhouse” “Dead Poet’s Society” and others.
The reason for the Diana naming is as good as any. Yes I remember the long walk from the box office to the theaters and concession. It wasn’t a bad place to see a movie in the 80’s and sometimes they played movies that GCC in NW Indiana or River Oaks didn’t play. It was always busy on weekends and I was shocked when they went to a second run discount house. I also remember that right next door was a big arcade which we always hit before and after the movie.
Oh yeah, Plitt took over operations of the Diana in December of ‘84.
JRS40, River Oaks 1-6 opened on 12/16/88. First movies to play there were “The Land Before Time”, “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”, “Tequila Sunrise”, and “Twins” on two screens. From what I got from the ad, the sixth screen opened the next friday with “Hellraiser 2”. Also, all 14 screens operated until about October, maybe early November ‘89. At least from what I’m getting via my mircofilm collection. My family says the last movie that they saw at 2-3/13-14 was “Do The Right Thing”. I have a microfilm for that date too, and it was on both screens. And interesting enough, “Batman” was on both 9-10 and 11-12. #9 being in 70MM.