Cinemark I am only going by memory here. 7-8 were the ones on the same side as 1-2 right? The ones attached to the mall itself? If I remember they were smaller then 2-3 and 5-6. I would guess they seated around 400 each but don’t hold me to it.
David – If you look at my booking lists for most of the palace theaters downtown you will notice it was quite rare for a movie to play too long from the late 70s until my list ends. The palaces were too expensive (at least more expensive then the suburbs), you had to pay to park and there was an inherent fear of crime – especially at night. That’s why it really sucks that many of these theaters are gone now and those that survive are either badly in need of extensive repair or don’t show movies anymore. But I guess I shouldn’t complain as long as they survive. This beautiful theater has no signs it ever existed – and that is the saddest thing of all.
Screens 2 and 3 closed in 1989 and not 1996 as posted above. I went to see “Breaking In” with Burt Reynolds there and a week later the place was closed. I was stunned. They were beautiful theaters though smaller then #1 and #4.
Thinking back to when I was a kid and when #10 showed “event” movies with the widescreen and the big sound I would have put Quantum of Solace in there for sure. Of the Christmas films that only one that really stands out as a #1 (10) screen movie is THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL. But, again, my mind is back in the 1970’s.
There is a restaurant right on the corner at Dearborn and Randolph where the Woods was. Perhaps the Goodman has part of where the Woods was but further North. Are you sure the Goodman doesn’t sit where the Todd and Cinestage were? I haven’t been inside the Goodman so I don’t know how far North it stretches.
Chicago229 I don’t believe there is an error in the bookings I listed so my guess would be if the Oriental did have Live Concerts it was likely done at night with the films still showing in the days.
CinemarkFan, I for one will keep my fingers crossed that you achieve that dream of getting that beautiful theater back on its feet showing movies the way they were meant to be seen. You can bet if you get it open I will be your best customer.
Your list is interesting but I tend to think back to the days of the 70’s when a movie opened and stayed in that theater through its run. For instance I would imagine if this were then that THE DARK KNIGHT would have opened in #1 and still been playing there right now as it remains in release. Much like films like STAR WARS and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS did. Hell even a movie like CHINATOWN played 10 weeks or so in that theater. All in all I like your list and oike the way you think. Well done.
Just walk up to the theater. The tours on the weekdays are at noon and they let us in about 11:50. Saturday, I think, there are two tours – one at 11am and one at noon. Double check on the website Cinemark. Earlier it said that the tours were only through September which would mean you would need to go on Tuesday at the latest but we couldn’t find where it said that on the website so perhaps they changed the policy. If you go let me know what you thought.
I have just returned from a tour of the theater. They are open to the public every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for $10 per person and it lasts just over an hour. I must say it was worth every penny. We went from the lobby to a suite box to the balcony down to the main floor again to view the original organ. Then we got to go on stage and then backstage. In the backstage area Frank Sinatra (who re-opened the theater in the 80’s) started a tradition by signing the wall in the hallway. Ever since every performer has signed including entire casts of shows. We got to see the star dressing room and then down to the basement to see some great pictures of the Chicago through the years (one from 1956 with the Chicago playing “Giant” and one from 1957 with the Chicago playing “Brigadoon” while the State Lake across the street was playing “The Bridge on the River Kwai”). Someone above mentioned the condition of the projection room and while we didn’t see it we were told no film projection equipment remains and is rented for the rare time a movie is shown. The guide also claimed cleaning people have seen ghosts at night but he was quick to add he had never seen one himself. It was a great time and I highly recommend it to anyone who can get to it. The tour group was small – only about 14 of us so it was perfect.
The Carnegie was also the first theater to hold a public sneak preview of THE DEER HUNTER back in late 1978 (it opened in March of 79 I believe). I still have the ad which trumpets Robert DeNiro and also warns that the film is not for anyone under the age of 17. I remember reading later that Michael Cimino was at the preview and no doubt gauged the audience reaction persoanlly to base any cuts he might make to the film.
I have an article by the late Gene Siskel that says the owners of the Chelex were going to continue on with the double feature midnight shows because they were still profitable up to the very end under the Playboy ownership but for some reason the owners never followed through. From what I have read the Chelex owners were terrible businessmen which is indicative of the fact that they only owned it for 7 months. Too bad because that might have helped them keep their heads afloat.
Also, apparently, the first owners of the Sandburg were not very good either. They were hurting for business so badly the theater was closed for several months in 1978 and when it was open they played second and third rate fare. Siskel said in reviewing a movie called “The First Nudie Musical” that he had to wear gloves while taking notes because the owners wouldn’t heat the theater. New owners came in around 1979 and turned it into a first rate art house for the last few years of its existence playing films such as “The Last Metro” and “My Dinner With Andre.”
Here is a listing of movies played at the Surf/Playboy/Chelex/Sandburg from 1964-1977.
SURF THEATER
01/03/64 – NO MY DARLING DAUGHTER
01/17/65 – PURLIE VICTORIOUS
02/21/64 – HALLELUJAH THE HILLS
03/20/64 – WUTHERING HEIGHTS
04/03/64 – AND SUDDENLY IT’S MURDER
04/17/64 – POINT OF ORDER
05/08/64 – MY NAME IS IVAN
05/22/64 – THE GRAND OLYMPICS
06/05/64 – THE GUEST
06/19/64 – RING OF TREASON
07/03/64 – A PAIR OF BRIEFS
07/17/64 – DAMN THE DEFIANT
PLAYBOY
09/29/64 – NOTHING BUT THE BEST
11/05/64 – THE GIRL WITH GREEN EYES
12/18/64 – A HARD DAY’S NIGHT
12/31/64 – LET’S TALK ABOUT MEN
01/29/65 – WORLD WITHOUT SUN
03/05/65 – BANANA PEEL
03/26/65 – SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH
04/02/65 – THE ROSE TATTOO
04/09/65 – NIGHT OF THE IGUANA plus THE ROMAN SPRING OF MRS STONE
04/14/65 – DIARY OF A CHAMBERMAID
05/05/65 – WILD SEED
05/28/65 – THE LOVE GODDESSES
06/09/65 – CIRCLE OF LOVE
07/09/65 – FILM FESTIVAL – CLASSIC MOVIE CHANGED NIGHTLY
10/15/65 – THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG
11/23/65 – TO DIE IN MADRID
01/12/66 – KWAIDAN
02/11/66 – OTHELLO
02/21/66 – THE SQUARE ROOT OF ZERO
03/02/66 – THE MOMENT OF TRUTH
03/30/66 – THE SLEEPING CAR MURDER
05/11/66 – KING AND COUNTRY
06/25/66 – SHAKESPEARE WALLAH
06/10/66 – PHAEDRA plus BLACK ORPHEUS
06/17/66 – MORGAN
09/14/66 – LE BONHEUR
10/07/66 – THE SHAMELESS OLD LADY
11/11/66 – THE 3RD ANNUAL CHICAGO FILM FESTIVAL
11/16/66 – GEORGY GIRL
06/09/67 – ENDLESS SUMMER
08/18/67 – LOVES OF A BLONDE
09/15/67 – MY SISTER, MY LOVE
10/27/67 – PRIVELEDGE
11/22/67 – THE BIRDS, THE BEES AND THE ITALIANS
12/21/67 – ELVIRA MADIGAN
06/27/68 – PETULIA
08/23/68 – BELLE DE JOUR
10/16/68 – HOT MILLIONS
11/15/68 – THE 4TH ANNUAL CHICAGO FILM FESTIVAL
11/23/68 – HOT MILLIONS
12/06/68 – BLOW UP
12/20/68 – THE FIXER
02/28/69 – THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER
05/23/69 – CAN HERONYMOUS MERKIN EVER FORGET MERCY HUMPE AND FIND TRUE HAPPINESS?
08/01/69 – THE LOVES OF ISADORA
09/19/69 – I AM CURIOUS YELLOW
05/20/70 – START THE REVOLUTION WITHOUT ME
06/26/70 – RIDER ON THE RAIN
08/19/70 – JOE
01/20/71 – PERFECT FRIDAY
02/12/71 – FOOLS
03/05/71 – INVESTIGATION OF A CITIZEN ABOVE SUSPICION
04/28/71 – BED AND BOARD
05/26/71 – THE CONFORMIST
07/07/71 – SUMMER TREE
07/21/71 – DRIVE, HE SAID
08/13/71 – CLAIRE’S KNEE
09/01/71 – JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN
10/20/71 – MILLHOUSE
11/03/71 – DESPERATE CHARACTERS
11/19/71 – IT ONLY HAPPENS TO OTHERS
11/26/71 – FIRST LOVE
12/17/71 – THE GO-BETWEEN
01/26/72 – EL TOPO
02/27/72 – WR: MYSTERIES OF THE ORGANISM
03/29/72 – MACBETH
05/19/72 – WITHOUT APPARENT MOTIVE
06/07/72 – THE POSSESSION OF JOEL DELANEY
06/30/72 – THE GREEN WALL
08/11/72 – THE GREAT DICTATOR
08/18/72 – A NIGHT AT THE OPERA plus A DAY AT THE RACES
08/25/72 – MASH plus PATTON
09/20/72 – MARJOE
10/20/72 – BAD COMPANY
10/17/72 – AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
12/22/72 – TWO ENGLISH GIRLS
01/19/73 – PLAY IT AS IT LAYS
02/08/73 – CRIES AND WHISPERS
04/04/73 – CESAR AND ROSALIE
04/18/73 – TEN FROM YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS
05/25/73 – STATE OF SIEGE
07/06/73 – THE MATTEI AFFAIR
07/20/73 – LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL
07/27/73 – A NIGHT IN CASABLANCA plus LOVE HAPPY
08/03/73 – THE HARDER THEY COME
08/24/73 – JIMI PLAYS BERKLEY plus SCRUGGS
08/31/73 – THE NAKED APE
09/21/73 – BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY
10/17/73 – LE LOVE SHOP
11/23/73 – TRIPLE ECHO
12/20/73 – THE GRAND BOUFFE
01/11/74 – THE FRENCH CONSPIRACY
01/18/74 – THE BETTY BOOP SCANDALS OF 1974
02/01/74 – A NIGHT IN CASABLANCA plus LOVE HAPPY
02/06/74 – DAY FOR NIGHT
03/22/74 – HAPPY NEW YEAR
04/11/74 – I.F. STONE’S WEEKLY plus LENNY BRUCE
05/03/74 – THE MOTHER AND THE WHORE
06/14/74 – THE MIRAGES
07/03/74 – WEDDING IN BLOOD
07/24/74 – KING OF HEARTS
09/06/74 – LOVE AND ANARCHY
09/20/74 – A FREE WOMAN
10/04/74 – THE SEDUCTION OF MIMI
10/25/74 – AMARCORD
12/25/74 – THE LITTLE PRINCE
01/17/75 – MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
04/18/75 – AND NOW MY LOVE
05/23/75 – THE DAY OF THE LOCUST
06/27/75 – JACQUELINE SUSANN’S ONCE IS NOT ENOUGH
07/25/75 – THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES (1939)
08/22/75 – FAREWELL, MY LOVELY
10/10/75 – KING OF HEARTS
10/17/75 – THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR
12/25/75 – HUSTLE
02/06/76 – CHARLIE CHAPLIN FILM FESTIVAL
02/27/76 – GIVE EM HELL HARRY
03/12/76 – HAROLD AND MAUDE plus ROMEO AND JULIET
03/19/76 – THE LOVES AND TIMES OF SCARAMOUCHE
03/26/76 – A BOY AND HIS DOG
04/09/76 – THE BAD NEWS BEARS
05/19/76 – JIMI HENDRIX PLAYS RAINBOW BRIDGE
05/28/76 – THE SAILOR WHO FELL FROM GRACE WITH THE SEA
07/23/76 – FUTUREWORLD
08/27/76 – MURDER BY DEATH
09/24/76 – CUL-DE-SAC plus DIARY OF FORBIDDEN DREAMS
10/01/76 – THE PRODUCERS plus MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL
CHELEX
10/08/76 – THE LAST AFFAIR
10/22/76 – IDI AMIN DADA
11/10/76 – SALESMAN plus GREY GARDENS
11/19/76 – ROD STEWART AND FACES
12/03/76 – SPECIAL SECTION
12/10/76 – A CLOCKWORK ORANGE
12/24/76 – JIMI PLAYS BERKELEY plus LADIES & GENTLEMEN THE ROLLING STONES
12/31/76 – LUMIERE
01/14/77 – ENGLAND MADE ME
01/21/77 – THE LAST TYCOON
02/11/77 – SAINT L'ARTISTE
02/18/77 – IS THERE SEX AFTER DEATH?
02/25/77 – FACE TO FACE
03/04/77 – THIEVES
03/18/77 – NEVER A DULL MOMENT plus THREE CABALLEROS
03/25/77 – THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME
04/01/77 – TAXI DRIVER plus SHAMPOO
04/15/77 – THE CASSANDRA CROSSING plus A TOUCH OF CLASS
04/22/77 – THE PINK PANTHER STRIKES AGAIN plus NORMAN IS THAT YOU?
04/29/77 – YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN
05/20/77 – A STAR IS BORN (1976)
SANDBURG
06/03/77 – SILVER STREAK
06/10/77 – HOUSE BY THE LAKE plus RUBY
06/17/77 – ISLANDS IN TEH STREAM plus SMALL CHANGE
06/24/77 – BLACK SUNDAY
07/01/77 – THE LATE SHOW plus PROVIDENCE
07/08/77 – ROCKY
07/22/77 – THE STING
07/29/77 – JABBERWOCKY
08/12/77 – MURDER BY DEATH plus ANNIE HALL
08/19/77 – BLACK AND WHITE IN COLOR
09/16/77 – IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES
09/23/77 – SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT
10/07/77 – OUTRAGEOUS
10/14/77 – CINDERELLA (X-rated)
10/21/77 – YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE
11/04/77 – HARLAN COUNTY U.S.A.
11/18/77 – KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE plus MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL
11/25/77 – THE STORY OF JOANNA plus NEW YORK CITY WOMAN
12/02/77 – ROLLING THUNDER plus TAXI DRIVER
12/16/77 – THEATER CLOSED FOR REMODELING
Here is the film bookings at the Oriental from 1964-1977. From late 77 until the theater closed in the early 80’s the theater had triple features changing on a weekly basis.
01/03/64 – KINGS OF THE SUN
01/17/64 – THE PRIZE
02/21/64 – SUNDAY IN NEW YORK
03/20/64 – FLIGHT FROM ASHIYA
04/10/64 – ONE MAN’S WAY
04/24/64 – THE 7 FACES OF DR. LAO
05/15/64 – THE WORLD OF HENRY ORIENT
06/05/64 – FOR THOSE WHO THINK YOUNG
06/24/64 – 633 SQUADRON
07/10/64 – NIGHT OF THE IGUANA
08/28/64 – THE 7TH DAWN
09/18/64 – A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME
10/09/64 – FOUR DAYS IN NOVEMBER
10/16/64 – THE SECRET INVASION
11/04/64 – JOYHOUSE
11/20/64 – RIO CONCHOS
12/18/64 – KISS ME, STUPID
01/22/65 – QUICK! BEFORE IT MELTS
02/11/65 – NONE BUT THE BRAVE
03/12/65 – HUSH HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE
04/30/65 – THE SATAN BUG
05/14/65 – MISTER MOSES
05/28/65 – IRMA LA DOUCE plus TOM JONES
06/04/65 – I’LL TAKE SWEDEN
06/25/65 – THE YELLOW ROLLS ROYCE
08/06/65 – THE GREAT SPY MISSION
09/03/65 – BILLIE
09/24/65 – NEVER ON SUNDAY plus TOPKAPI
10/08/65 – MARRAIGE ON THE ROCKS
11/05/65 – RETURN FROM THE ASHES
11/24/65 – GYPSY plus THE MUSIC MAN
12/10/65 – McLINTOCK plus LILLIES OF THE FIELD
12/23/65 – THUNDERBALL
05/13/66 – HARPER
06/24/66 – BOY DID I GET A WRONG NUMBER
07/27/66 – WHAT DID YOU DO IN THE WAR DADDY?
08/31/66 – DUEL AT DIABLO
09/23/66 – AMBUSH BAY
09/30/66 – DR. NO plus GOLDFINGER
10/28/66 – THE LIQUIDATOR
11/09/66 – MISTER BUDDWING
12/07/66 – VIVA MARIA
12/21/66 – AFTER THE FOX
01/27/67 – A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS
03/03/67 – A COVENANT WITH DEATH
03/17/67 – HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING
04/28/67 – THE ALAMO
05/12/67 – FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE
06/16/67 – THE WAY WEST
07/07/67 – TRIPLE CROSS
07/21/67 – UP THE DOWN STAIRCASE
08/16/67 – IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT
10/06/67 – BEACH RED
10/20/67 – HOUR OF THE GUN
11/03/67 – OPERATION KID BROTHER
11/10/67 – THE PENTHOUSE
12/20/67 – THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
02/14/68 – THE PRESIDENT’S ANALYST
03/06/68 – HOW TO SAVE YOUR MARRAIGE AND RUIN YOUR LIFE
04/03/68 – THE GLORY STOMPERS
04/17/68 – NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY
05/17/68 – WILD IN THE STREETS
06/19/68 – VILLA RIDES
06/28/68 – THE PRIVATE NAVY OF SGT. O'FARRELL
07/12/68 – FIVE CARD STUD
07/31/68 – HANG EM HIGH
08/28/68 – THE VIOLENT FOUR
09/11/68 – THE BIG GUNDOWN
10/02/68 – DEADFALL
10/16/68 – THE BOSTON STRANGLER
11/27/68 – LADY IN CEMENT
12/20/68 – THREE IN THE ATTIC
02/05/69 – RIOT
02/26/69 – SECRET CEREMONY
03/26/69 – HELL IN THE PACIFIC
04/11/69 – A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS plus FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE
05/08/69 – DEATH OF A GUNFIGHTER
05/30/69 – ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST
06/24/69 – THE LOST MAN
07/22/69 – STILETTO
08/13/69 – PARANOIA
09/17/69 – MEDIUM COOL
10/08/69 – DEATH RIDES A HORSE
10/22/69 – CAMILLE 2000
11/12/69 – FANNY HILL
12/25/69 – GENERATION
01/02/70 – THE BOSTON STRANGLER plus THE DETECTIVE
01/16/70 – ONE MILLION YEARS B.C. plus SHE
01/30/70 – THE MAGIC CHRISTIAN
02/18/70 – THE MINX
03/19/70 – AIRPORT
06/26/70 – TWO MULES FOR SISTER SARA
07/22/70 – KELLY’S HEROES
08/14/70 – SOLDIER BLUE
09/25/70 – TROG plus TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA
10/14/70 – C.C. AND COMPANY
10/30/70 – LOVERS AND OTHER STRANGERS
11/25/70 – WHIRLPOOL
12/18/70 – RIO LOBO
01/22/71 – THREESOME
02/12/71 – VIXEN plus CHERRY, HARRY AND RAQUEL plus LORINA
03/12/71 – THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD
04/02/71 – BROTHER JOHN
05/05/71 – SWEET SWEETBACK’S BAAADASSSS SONG
06/30/71 – KLUTE
07/28/71 – McCABE AND MRS MILLER
08/18/71 – THE OMEGA MAN
09/15/71 – WOMEN IN CAGES
10/06/71 – THE BUS IS COMING
10/27/71 – THE FEMALE BUNCH
12/03/71 – BEAST OF THE YELLOW NIGHT plus CREATURE WITH THE BLUE HAND
12/17/71 – MAN AND BOY
12/31/71 – COMMON LAW CABIN plus GOOD MORNING AND GOODBYE
01/12/72 – BLINDMAN
02/11/72 – SOUL SOLDIER
03/10/72 – TALES FROM THE CRYPT
03/24/72 – COOL BREEZE
04/21/72 – FROGS
05/05/72 – HORROR ON SNAPE ISLAND
05/19/72 – TOP OF THE HEAP
06/09/72 – COMPANEROS
06/23/72 – BEN
07/14/72 – JOE KIDD
08/11/72 – SUPERFLY
10/27/72 – ASYLUM
11/10/72 – FAREWELL UNCLE TOM
11/22/72 – BOOT HILL
12/06/72 – SLAUGHTER HOTEL
12/20/72 – HIT MAN
01/19/73 – PRISON GIRLS
02/15/73 – WATTSTAX
03/23/73 – THE MACK
05/04/73 – FISTS OF FURY
05/25/73 – THE SOUL OF NIGGER CHARLEY
06/08/73 – COFFY
06/27/73 – SHAFT IN AFRICA
07/20/73 – SLAUGHTER’S BIG RIP-OFF
08/10/73 – THE SHANGHAI KILLERS
08/24/73 – GORDON’S WAR
09/19/73 – SEVEN BLOWS OF THE DRAGON
10/05/73 – SAVE THE CHILDREN
11/02/73 – FISTS OF FURY plus THE CHINESE CONNECTION
11/18/73 – THE CHINESE PROFESSIONALS
12/21/73 – THE ARENA
01/04/74 – THE GODFATHERS OF HONG KONG
01/18/74 – ENTER THE DRAGON plus THE CHINESE PROFESSIONALS
02/01/74 – SHAFT plus SHAFT’S BIG SCORE plus SHAFT IN AFRICA
02/15/74 – CRAZY JOE
03/01/74 – THE PLAYMATES (IN 3-D)
03/22/74 – MADHOUSE
04/12/74 – FOXY BROWN
05/24/74 – BLACK EYE
06/07/74 – IT’S ALIVE plus ENTER THE DRAGON
06/14/74 – LUCKY LUCIANO plus THEY CALL ME TRINITY
06/21/74 – THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE plus BLINDMAN
06/28/74 – THOMASINE AND BUSHROD plus LIGHTNING SWORDS OF DEATH
07/05/74 – THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD plus BUCK AND THE PREACHER
07/19/74 – DIRTY MARY, CRAZY LARRY plus GORDON’S WAR
07/26/74 – RETURN OF THE DRAGON
09/20/74 – MACON COUNTY LINE plus THE SCREAMING TIGER
09/27/74 – CLAUDINE plus BLACULA
10/04/74 – JOHNNY TOUGH plus THE HOUSE THAT VANISHED
10/11/74 – THE EDUCATION OF SONNY CARSON plus LADY SINGS THE BLUES
10/18/74 – TALES OF THE GREEN HORNET
11/15/74 – COFFY plus THE MACK
11/22/74 – UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT plus CLAUDINE
11/29/74 – THE SAVAGE SISTERS plus SCREAM, BLACULA, SCREAM
12/06/74 – THREE TOUGH GUYS plus DEATH WISH
12/13/74 – THE EXORCIST
12/27/74 – THE DRAGON DIES HARD
01/17/75 – RAPE SQUAD
02/21/75 – THE DRAGON SQUAD plus RETURN OF THE PANTHER
03/07/75 – TORSO
03/28/75 – SHEBA BABY
05/09/75 – WOMEN IN CELL BLOCK SEVEN
05/23/75 – CORNBREAD, EARL AND ME
07/04/75 – GHETTO WARRIORS
07/11/75 – RETURN OF THE DRAGON plus THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE
07/18/75 – THE DRAGON FLIES
08/01/75 – SISTERS plus RAPE SQUAD
08/08/75 – TAKE A HARD RIDE
08/29/75 – DARKTOWN STRUTTERS
09/12/75 – ALI THE MAN plus ALI THE FIGHTER
09/26/75 – COONSKIN
10/10/75 – SUPER DRAGON plus THE DRAGON SQUAD
10/24/75 – THE KIDNAP OF MARY LOU
10/31/75 – THE EXORCIST
11/07/75 – THE CHINESE MACK plus THE CHINESE GODFATHER
11/21/75 – WELCOME HOME, BROTHER CHARLES
11/28/75 – MEAN JOHNNY BARROWS
12/12/75 – OLD DRACULA plus BUCKTOWN
12/19/75 – WATTSTAX plus JOHNNY TOUGH
12/26/75 – AARON LOVES ANGELA
01/09/76 – BEYOND THE DOOR plus ABBY
01/16/76 – LAST HOUSE ON HE LEFT plus MARK OF THE DEVIL plus DERANGED
01/23/76 – THE KILLING MACHINE
02/06/76 – COOLEY HIGH plus CORNBREAD, EARL AND ME
03/05/76 – NIGHT CHILD
03/19/76 – TORSO plus THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE
04/02/76 – BOBBI JO AND THE OUTLAW plus THE HONG KONG CAT
04/09/76 – LEADBELLY
04/23/76 – DON’T OPEN THE WINDOW plus DON’T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT
05/07/76 – BLAXING SADDLES
05/14/76 – BLACK SHAMPOO
05/28/76 – LAST STOP ON THE NIGHT TRAIN
06/04/76 – POOR WHITE TRASH 2 plus DIXIE DYNAMITE
06/11/76 – DEATH JOURNEY plus ADIOS AMIGO
06/25/76 – J.D.’S REVENGE
09/17/76 – TO THE DEVIL A DAUGHTER plus EMBRYO
09/24/76 – EBONY, IVORY AND JADE
10/15/76 – THE KILLER INSIDE ME plus THE CHINESE CONNECTION
10/22/76 – THE CRYPT OF DARK SECRETS plus KUNG FU MASTER
11/05/76 – TENDER FLESH plus DEATH MACHINES
11/12/76 – JIVE MACHINE plus MOTHER, JUGS AND SPEED
11/19/76 – GOD TOLD ME TO
12/03/76 – ALICE IN WONDERLAND (X-rated)
12/19/76 – EXIT THE DRAGON, ENTER THE TIGER
01/07/77 – ALICE IN WONDERLAND plus FLESH GORDON
01/14/77 – CARRIE plus BURNT OFFERINGS
01/21/77 – MANSION OF THE DOOMED
02/04/77 – HOUSE THAT VANISHED plus LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT
02/11/77 – THE CASSANDRA CROSSING
03/18/77 – THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN
03/25/77 – MOHAMMED: MESSENGER OF GOD
04/08/77 – UNCLE TOM’S CABIN
04/29/77 – JOURNEY INTO THE BEYOND
05/13/77 – SISTER STREETFIGHTER plus KUNG FU GOLD
05/20/77 – CROSS OF IRON
06/03/77 – THE FARMER plus TAXI DRIVER
06/17/77 – EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC
07/22/77 – EVIL IN THE DEEP plus CHAMPION OF DEATH
08/05/77 – BRUCE LEE: THE MAN-THE MYTH
08/19/77 – BIG TIME
09/02/77 – ENTER THE DRAGON
09/16/77 – RABID plus BRUCE LEE: THE MAN-THE MYTH
09/30/77 – SUPERWEAPON plus SIDEWINDER ONE plus BATTLE OF GODFATHERS
10/07/77 – NAKED RIDER plus EMMA MAE plus EBONY, IVORY AND JADE
10/14/77 – COFFY plus JD’S REVENGE plus FOOD OF THE GODS
10/21/77 – LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT 2 plus THE SCHOOL THAT COULDN’T SCREAM plus SUPER DUDE
10/28/77 – CARRIE plus DEMON SEED plus HIT MAN
11/04/77 – RECORD CITY plus BUCKTOWN plus BAMBOO GODS AND IRON MEN
11/11/77 – MANIAC plus THE SAVAGE plus THE CARHOPS
11/18/77 – AUDREY ROSE plus A.K.A CASSIUS CLAY plus THE RIVER NIGER
11/25/77 – MR. SCARFACE plus CAPONE plus HIT
12/02/77 – SUPERFLY plus THE CHINESE CONNECION plus BOSS NIGGER
12/09/77 – 3 FANTASTIC SUPERMEN plus BLACK MOSES OF SOUL plus THE CHINESE MACK
12/16/77 – SPARKLE plus BLACKBELT JONES plus THE DRAGON SQUAD
12/23/77 – A PIECE OF THE ACTION plus CLEOPATRA JONES plus KUNG FU MAMA
12/30/77 – THE MACK plus TRUCK TURNER plus FOXY BROWN
It may have come out in your area in 1981, Ken, as some films were released slowly throught the nation back then but obviously it was 1980 from the booking list above. Also I double checked and Duvall lost to DeNiro (Raging Bull) and Michael O'Keefe lost supporting actor to Timothy Hutton (Ordinary People). Both were 1980 as well.
CinemaMary – Unless it was a typo you are mistaken on the opening of Water Tower Theaters. It was 1976 with “Rocky” and “The Seven Percent Solution” as its opening attractions.
David – Actually “The Great Santini” wasn’t a second run. It had its Chicago premiere at the Cinema. The film was made in 1979 but delayed by the studio who didn’t know how to market it. Robert Duvall was nominated for Best Actor for this film in 1980.
David, actually the Water Tower Theaters opened at Christmas of 1976 so I don’t know that that was the basis for the Cinema’s demise. I have an old article that states that the area was up for redevelopment for years and that owner Oscar Brotman was running on a month to month lease for the last three years. It sounds to me like developers were intent on putting in retail with no plans whatsoever for a theater. Too bad. I never was in the Cinema though I remember seeing its marquee one time when I was downtown with friends seeing a movie at the Water Tower Theater. I remember the movie was Nicholas Roeg’s “Bad Timing: A Sensual Obsession” and I also remember agreeing with my friends that it was too bad there wasn’t a matinee as we could have gone to see it. I never saw the inside naturally. The same goes for the Carnegie which I have never even seen a picture of. Pretty cool you met Fritz Weaver. I remember him most from “Black Sunday” and “Creepshow.”
The last time I was by there, which has been a few months now, is still standing but it is boarded up and there is graffiti all over and it looks really bad. Such a shame for what I think was the best place to see a movie.
Summer of 78 was a great time for movies. Besides those you named there was also “Foul Play,” “Revenge of the Pink Panther,” “The Swarm,” “Sgt. Pepper,” “The Cheap Detective,” “Heaven Can Wait,” “Capricorn One,” “The Cat From Outer Space” and “Hot Lead and Cold Feet.” All films a 13 year old like me could enjoy. And that doesn’t count the more adul fare like “Eyes of Laura Mars” and “Damien Omen 2.” I got to see the latter but not the former. One of the best movies summers of my life.
Despite my prediction above the Crossroads has been torn down. I drove by last night and only a small part of one side is still standing and should be down in the next day or so. It’s a shame as this was one of the theaters of my youth. Interestingly the marquee is still standing – at least at this moment.
Paul, unfortunately I don’t have a specific list but I can tell you this much. The Dearborn was two screens (incorporating the Todd and the Cinestage) and each screen played double features of first run films on each.
Cinemark I am only going by memory here. 7-8 were the ones on the same side as 1-2 right? The ones attached to the mall itself? If I remember they were smaller then 2-3 and 5-6. I would guess they seated around 400 each but don’t hold me to it.
David – If you look at my booking lists for most of the palace theaters downtown you will notice it was quite rare for a movie to play too long from the late 70s until my list ends. The palaces were too expensive (at least more expensive then the suburbs), you had to pay to park and there was an inherent fear of crime – especially at night. That’s why it really sucks that many of these theaters are gone now and those that survive are either badly in need of extensive repair or don’t show movies anymore. But I guess I shouldn’t complain as long as they survive. This beautiful theater has no signs it ever existed – and that is the saddest thing of all.
Screens 2 and 3 closed in 1989 and not 1996 as posted above. I went to see “Breaking In” with Burt Reynolds there and a week later the place was closed. I was stunned. They were beautiful theaters though smaller then #1 and #4.
Thinking back to when I was a kid and when #10 showed “event” movies with the widescreen and the big sound I would have put Quantum of Solace in there for sure. Of the Christmas films that only one that really stands out as a #1 (10) screen movie is THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL. But, again, my mind is back in the 1970’s.
David,
FYI – The Sayles film you are referring to is “Lone Star,” a terrific film. I saw it there as well.
Yes the Hoosier is still running movies and usually first run movies at that.
No the Siskel Film Center is just South of the old State Lake.
There is a restaurant right on the corner at Dearborn and Randolph where the Woods was. Perhaps the Goodman has part of where the Woods was but further North. Are you sure the Goodman doesn’t sit where the Todd and Cinestage were? I haven’t been inside the Goodman so I don’t know how far North it stretches.
Chicago229 I don’t believe there is an error in the bookings I listed so my guess would be if the Oriental did have Live Concerts it was likely done at night with the films still showing in the days.
CinemarkFan, I for one will keep my fingers crossed that you achieve that dream of getting that beautiful theater back on its feet showing movies the way they were meant to be seen. You can bet if you get it open I will be your best customer.
Your list is interesting but I tend to think back to the days of the 70’s when a movie opened and stayed in that theater through its run. For instance I would imagine if this were then that THE DARK KNIGHT would have opened in #1 and still been playing there right now as it remains in release. Much like films like STAR WARS and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS did. Hell even a movie like CHINATOWN played 10 weeks or so in that theater. All in all I like your list and oike the way you think. Well done.
Just walk up to the theater. The tours on the weekdays are at noon and they let us in about 11:50. Saturday, I think, there are two tours – one at 11am and one at noon. Double check on the website Cinemark. Earlier it said that the tours were only through September which would mean you would need to go on Tuesday at the latest but we couldn’t find where it said that on the website so perhaps they changed the policy. If you go let me know what you thought.
I have just returned from a tour of the theater. They are open to the public every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for $10 per person and it lasts just over an hour. I must say it was worth every penny. We went from the lobby to a suite box to the balcony down to the main floor again to view the original organ. Then we got to go on stage and then backstage. In the backstage area Frank Sinatra (who re-opened the theater in the 80’s) started a tradition by signing the wall in the hallway. Ever since every performer has signed including entire casts of shows. We got to see the star dressing room and then down to the basement to see some great pictures of the Chicago through the years (one from 1956 with the Chicago playing “Giant” and one from 1957 with the Chicago playing “Brigadoon” while the State Lake across the street was playing “The Bridge on the River Kwai”). Someone above mentioned the condition of the projection room and while we didn’t see it we were told no film projection equipment remains and is rented for the rare time a movie is shown. The guide also claimed cleaning people have seen ghosts at night but he was quick to add he had never seen one himself. It was a great time and I highly recommend it to anyone who can get to it. The tour group was small – only about 14 of us so it was perfect.
The Carnegie was also the first theater to hold a public sneak preview of THE DEER HUNTER back in late 1978 (it opened in March of 79 I believe). I still have the ad which trumpets Robert DeNiro and also warns that the film is not for anyone under the age of 17. I remember reading later that Michael Cimino was at the preview and no doubt gauged the audience reaction persoanlly to base any cuts he might make to the film.
Cinemark – Awesome! You are really bringing back some memories. I remember seeing CONAN, NEVER CRY WOLF, UNTOUCHABLES and BLACK RAIN there.
David,
I have an article by the late Gene Siskel that says the owners of the Chelex were going to continue on with the double feature midnight shows because they were still profitable up to the very end under the Playboy ownership but for some reason the owners never followed through. From what I have read the Chelex owners were terrible businessmen which is indicative of the fact that they only owned it for 7 months. Too bad because that might have helped them keep their heads afloat.
Also, apparently, the first owners of the Sandburg were not very good either. They were hurting for business so badly the theater was closed for several months in 1978 and when it was open they played second and third rate fare. Siskel said in reviewing a movie called “The First Nudie Musical” that he had to wear gloves while taking notes because the owners wouldn’t heat the theater. New owners came in around 1979 and turned it into a first rate art house for the last few years of its existence playing films such as “The Last Metro” and “My Dinner With Andre.”
Here is a listing of movies played at the Surf/Playboy/Chelex/Sandburg from 1964-1977.
SURF THEATER
01/03/64 – NO MY DARLING DAUGHTER
01/17/65 – PURLIE VICTORIOUS
02/21/64 – HALLELUJAH THE HILLS
03/20/64 – WUTHERING HEIGHTS
04/03/64 – AND SUDDENLY IT’S MURDER
04/17/64 – POINT OF ORDER
05/08/64 – MY NAME IS IVAN
05/22/64 – THE GRAND OLYMPICS
06/05/64 – THE GUEST
06/19/64 – RING OF TREASON
07/03/64 – A PAIR OF BRIEFS
07/17/64 – DAMN THE DEFIANT
PLAYBOY
09/29/64 – NOTHING BUT THE BEST
11/05/64 – THE GIRL WITH GREEN EYES
12/18/64 – A HARD DAY’S NIGHT
12/31/64 – LET’S TALK ABOUT MEN
01/29/65 – WORLD WITHOUT SUN
03/05/65 – BANANA PEEL
03/26/65 – SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH
04/02/65 – THE ROSE TATTOO
04/09/65 – NIGHT OF THE IGUANA plus THE ROMAN SPRING OF MRS STONE
04/14/65 – DIARY OF A CHAMBERMAID
05/05/65 – WILD SEED
05/28/65 – THE LOVE GODDESSES
06/09/65 – CIRCLE OF LOVE
07/09/65 – FILM FESTIVAL – CLASSIC MOVIE CHANGED NIGHTLY
10/15/65 – THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG
11/23/65 – TO DIE IN MADRID
01/12/66 – KWAIDAN
02/11/66 – OTHELLO
02/21/66 – THE SQUARE ROOT OF ZERO
03/02/66 – THE MOMENT OF TRUTH
03/30/66 – THE SLEEPING CAR MURDER
05/11/66 – KING AND COUNTRY
06/25/66 – SHAKESPEARE WALLAH
06/10/66 – PHAEDRA plus BLACK ORPHEUS
06/17/66 – MORGAN
09/14/66 – LE BONHEUR
10/07/66 – THE SHAMELESS OLD LADY
11/11/66 – THE 3RD ANNUAL CHICAGO FILM FESTIVAL
11/16/66 – GEORGY GIRL
06/09/67 – ENDLESS SUMMER
08/18/67 – LOVES OF A BLONDE
09/15/67 – MY SISTER, MY LOVE
10/27/67 – PRIVELEDGE
11/22/67 – THE BIRDS, THE BEES AND THE ITALIANS
12/21/67 – ELVIRA MADIGAN
06/27/68 – PETULIA
08/23/68 – BELLE DE JOUR
10/16/68 – HOT MILLIONS
11/15/68 – THE 4TH ANNUAL CHICAGO FILM FESTIVAL
11/23/68 – HOT MILLIONS
12/06/68 – BLOW UP
12/20/68 – THE FIXER
02/28/69 – THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER
05/23/69 – CAN HERONYMOUS MERKIN EVER FORGET MERCY HUMPE AND FIND TRUE HAPPINESS?
08/01/69 – THE LOVES OF ISADORA
09/19/69 – I AM CURIOUS YELLOW
05/20/70 – START THE REVOLUTION WITHOUT ME
06/26/70 – RIDER ON THE RAIN
08/19/70 – JOE
01/20/71 – PERFECT FRIDAY
02/12/71 – FOOLS
03/05/71 – INVESTIGATION OF A CITIZEN ABOVE SUSPICION
04/28/71 – BED AND BOARD
05/26/71 – THE CONFORMIST
07/07/71 – SUMMER TREE
07/21/71 – DRIVE, HE SAID
08/13/71 – CLAIRE’S KNEE
09/01/71 – JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN
10/20/71 – MILLHOUSE
11/03/71 – DESPERATE CHARACTERS
11/19/71 – IT ONLY HAPPENS TO OTHERS
11/26/71 – FIRST LOVE
12/17/71 – THE GO-BETWEEN
01/26/72 – EL TOPO
02/27/72 – WR: MYSTERIES OF THE ORGANISM
03/29/72 – MACBETH
05/19/72 – WITHOUT APPARENT MOTIVE
06/07/72 – THE POSSESSION OF JOEL DELANEY
06/30/72 – THE GREEN WALL
08/11/72 – THE GREAT DICTATOR
08/18/72 – A NIGHT AT THE OPERA plus A DAY AT THE RACES
08/25/72 – MASH plus PATTON
09/20/72 – MARJOE
10/20/72 – BAD COMPANY
10/17/72 – AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
12/22/72 – TWO ENGLISH GIRLS
01/19/73 – PLAY IT AS IT LAYS
02/08/73 – CRIES AND WHISPERS
04/04/73 – CESAR AND ROSALIE
04/18/73 – TEN FROM YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS
05/25/73 – STATE OF SIEGE
07/06/73 – THE MATTEI AFFAIR
07/20/73 – LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL
07/27/73 – A NIGHT IN CASABLANCA plus LOVE HAPPY
08/03/73 – THE HARDER THEY COME
08/24/73 – JIMI PLAYS BERKLEY plus SCRUGGS
08/31/73 – THE NAKED APE
09/21/73 – BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY
10/17/73 – LE LOVE SHOP
11/23/73 – TRIPLE ECHO
12/20/73 – THE GRAND BOUFFE
01/11/74 – THE FRENCH CONSPIRACY
01/18/74 – THE BETTY BOOP SCANDALS OF 1974
02/01/74 – A NIGHT IN CASABLANCA plus LOVE HAPPY
02/06/74 – DAY FOR NIGHT
03/22/74 – HAPPY NEW YEAR
04/11/74 – I.F. STONE’S WEEKLY plus LENNY BRUCE
05/03/74 – THE MOTHER AND THE WHORE
06/14/74 – THE MIRAGES
07/03/74 – WEDDING IN BLOOD
07/24/74 – KING OF HEARTS
09/06/74 – LOVE AND ANARCHY
09/20/74 – A FREE WOMAN
10/04/74 – THE SEDUCTION OF MIMI
10/25/74 – AMARCORD
12/25/74 – THE LITTLE PRINCE
01/17/75 – MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
04/18/75 – AND NOW MY LOVE
05/23/75 – THE DAY OF THE LOCUST
06/27/75 – JACQUELINE SUSANN’S ONCE IS NOT ENOUGH
07/25/75 – THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES (1939)
08/22/75 – FAREWELL, MY LOVELY
10/10/75 – KING OF HEARTS
10/17/75 – THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR
12/25/75 – HUSTLE
02/06/76 – CHARLIE CHAPLIN FILM FESTIVAL
02/27/76 – GIVE EM HELL HARRY
03/12/76 – HAROLD AND MAUDE plus ROMEO AND JULIET
03/19/76 – THE LOVES AND TIMES OF SCARAMOUCHE
03/26/76 – A BOY AND HIS DOG
04/09/76 – THE BAD NEWS BEARS
05/19/76 – JIMI HENDRIX PLAYS RAINBOW BRIDGE
05/28/76 – THE SAILOR WHO FELL FROM GRACE WITH THE SEA
07/23/76 – FUTUREWORLD
08/27/76 – MURDER BY DEATH
09/24/76 – CUL-DE-SAC plus DIARY OF FORBIDDEN DREAMS
10/01/76 – THE PRODUCERS plus MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL
CHELEX
10/08/76 – THE LAST AFFAIR
10/22/76 – IDI AMIN DADA
11/10/76 – SALESMAN plus GREY GARDENS
11/19/76 – ROD STEWART AND FACES
12/03/76 – SPECIAL SECTION
12/10/76 – A CLOCKWORK ORANGE
12/24/76 – JIMI PLAYS BERKELEY plus LADIES & GENTLEMEN THE ROLLING STONES
12/31/76 – LUMIERE
01/14/77 – ENGLAND MADE ME
01/21/77 – THE LAST TYCOON
02/11/77 – SAINT L'ARTISTE
02/18/77 – IS THERE SEX AFTER DEATH?
02/25/77 – FACE TO FACE
03/04/77 – THIEVES
03/18/77 – NEVER A DULL MOMENT plus THREE CABALLEROS
03/25/77 – THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME
04/01/77 – TAXI DRIVER plus SHAMPOO
04/15/77 – THE CASSANDRA CROSSING plus A TOUCH OF CLASS
04/22/77 – THE PINK PANTHER STRIKES AGAIN plus NORMAN IS THAT YOU?
04/29/77 – YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN
05/20/77 – A STAR IS BORN (1976)
SANDBURG
06/03/77 – SILVER STREAK
06/10/77 – HOUSE BY THE LAKE plus RUBY
06/17/77 – ISLANDS IN TEH STREAM plus SMALL CHANGE
06/24/77 – BLACK SUNDAY
07/01/77 – THE LATE SHOW plus PROVIDENCE
07/08/77 – ROCKY
07/22/77 – THE STING
07/29/77 – JABBERWOCKY
08/12/77 – MURDER BY DEATH plus ANNIE HALL
08/19/77 – BLACK AND WHITE IN COLOR
09/16/77 – IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES
09/23/77 – SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT
10/07/77 – OUTRAGEOUS
10/14/77 – CINDERELLA (X-rated)
10/21/77 – YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE
11/04/77 – HARLAN COUNTY U.S.A.
11/18/77 – KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE plus MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL
11/25/77 – THE STORY OF JOANNA plus NEW YORK CITY WOMAN
12/02/77 – ROLLING THUNDER plus TAXI DRIVER
12/16/77 – THEATER CLOSED FOR REMODELING
Here is the film bookings at the Oriental from 1964-1977. From late 77 until the theater closed in the early 80’s the theater had triple features changing on a weekly basis.
01/03/64 – KINGS OF THE SUN
01/17/64 – THE PRIZE
02/21/64 – SUNDAY IN NEW YORK
03/20/64 – FLIGHT FROM ASHIYA
04/10/64 – ONE MAN’S WAY
04/24/64 – THE 7 FACES OF DR. LAO
05/15/64 – THE WORLD OF HENRY ORIENT
06/05/64 – FOR THOSE WHO THINK YOUNG
06/24/64 – 633 SQUADRON
07/10/64 – NIGHT OF THE IGUANA
08/28/64 – THE 7TH DAWN
09/18/64 – A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME
10/09/64 – FOUR DAYS IN NOVEMBER
10/16/64 – THE SECRET INVASION
11/04/64 – JOYHOUSE
11/20/64 – RIO CONCHOS
12/18/64 – KISS ME, STUPID
01/22/65 – QUICK! BEFORE IT MELTS
02/11/65 – NONE BUT THE BRAVE
03/12/65 – HUSH HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE
04/30/65 – THE SATAN BUG
05/14/65 – MISTER MOSES
05/28/65 – IRMA LA DOUCE plus TOM JONES
06/04/65 – I’LL TAKE SWEDEN
06/25/65 – THE YELLOW ROLLS ROYCE
08/06/65 – THE GREAT SPY MISSION
09/03/65 – BILLIE
09/24/65 – NEVER ON SUNDAY plus TOPKAPI
10/08/65 – MARRAIGE ON THE ROCKS
11/05/65 – RETURN FROM THE ASHES
11/24/65 – GYPSY plus THE MUSIC MAN
12/10/65 – McLINTOCK plus LILLIES OF THE FIELD
12/23/65 – THUNDERBALL
05/13/66 – HARPER
06/24/66 – BOY DID I GET A WRONG NUMBER
07/27/66 – WHAT DID YOU DO IN THE WAR DADDY?
08/31/66 – DUEL AT DIABLO
09/23/66 – AMBUSH BAY
09/30/66 – DR. NO plus GOLDFINGER
10/28/66 – THE LIQUIDATOR
11/09/66 – MISTER BUDDWING
12/07/66 – VIVA MARIA
12/21/66 – AFTER THE FOX
01/27/67 – A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS
03/03/67 – A COVENANT WITH DEATH
03/17/67 – HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING
04/28/67 – THE ALAMO
05/12/67 – FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE
06/16/67 – THE WAY WEST
07/07/67 – TRIPLE CROSS
07/21/67 – UP THE DOWN STAIRCASE
08/16/67 – IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT
10/06/67 – BEACH RED
10/20/67 – HOUR OF THE GUN
11/03/67 – OPERATION KID BROTHER
11/10/67 – THE PENTHOUSE
12/20/67 – THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
02/14/68 – THE PRESIDENT’S ANALYST
03/06/68 – HOW TO SAVE YOUR MARRAIGE AND RUIN YOUR LIFE
04/03/68 – THE GLORY STOMPERS
04/17/68 – NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY
05/17/68 – WILD IN THE STREETS
06/19/68 – VILLA RIDES
06/28/68 – THE PRIVATE NAVY OF SGT. O'FARRELL
07/12/68 – FIVE CARD STUD
07/31/68 – HANG EM HIGH
08/28/68 – THE VIOLENT FOUR
09/11/68 – THE BIG GUNDOWN
10/02/68 – DEADFALL
10/16/68 – THE BOSTON STRANGLER
11/27/68 – LADY IN CEMENT
12/20/68 – THREE IN THE ATTIC
02/05/69 – RIOT
02/26/69 – SECRET CEREMONY
03/26/69 – HELL IN THE PACIFIC
04/11/69 – A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS plus FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE
05/08/69 – DEATH OF A GUNFIGHTER
05/30/69 – ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST
06/24/69 – THE LOST MAN
07/22/69 – STILETTO
08/13/69 – PARANOIA
09/17/69 – MEDIUM COOL
10/08/69 – DEATH RIDES A HORSE
10/22/69 – CAMILLE 2000
11/12/69 – FANNY HILL
12/25/69 – GENERATION
01/02/70 – THE BOSTON STRANGLER plus THE DETECTIVE
01/16/70 – ONE MILLION YEARS B.C. plus SHE
01/30/70 – THE MAGIC CHRISTIAN
02/18/70 – THE MINX
03/19/70 – AIRPORT
06/26/70 – TWO MULES FOR SISTER SARA
07/22/70 – KELLY’S HEROES
08/14/70 – SOLDIER BLUE
09/25/70 – TROG plus TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA
10/14/70 – C.C. AND COMPANY
10/30/70 – LOVERS AND OTHER STRANGERS
11/25/70 – WHIRLPOOL
12/18/70 – RIO LOBO
01/22/71 – THREESOME
02/12/71 – VIXEN plus CHERRY, HARRY AND RAQUEL plus LORINA
03/12/71 – THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD
04/02/71 – BROTHER JOHN
05/05/71 – SWEET SWEETBACK’S BAAADASSSS SONG
06/30/71 – KLUTE
07/28/71 – McCABE AND MRS MILLER
08/18/71 – THE OMEGA MAN
09/15/71 – WOMEN IN CAGES
10/06/71 – THE BUS IS COMING
10/27/71 – THE FEMALE BUNCH
12/03/71 – BEAST OF THE YELLOW NIGHT plus CREATURE WITH THE BLUE HAND
12/17/71 – MAN AND BOY
12/31/71 – COMMON LAW CABIN plus GOOD MORNING AND GOODBYE
01/12/72 – BLINDMAN
02/11/72 – SOUL SOLDIER
03/10/72 – TALES FROM THE CRYPT
03/24/72 – COOL BREEZE
04/21/72 – FROGS
05/05/72 – HORROR ON SNAPE ISLAND
05/19/72 – TOP OF THE HEAP
06/09/72 – COMPANEROS
06/23/72 – BEN
07/14/72 – JOE KIDD
08/11/72 – SUPERFLY
10/27/72 – ASYLUM
11/10/72 – FAREWELL UNCLE TOM
11/22/72 – BOOT HILL
12/06/72 – SLAUGHTER HOTEL
12/20/72 – HIT MAN
01/19/73 – PRISON GIRLS
02/15/73 – WATTSTAX
03/23/73 – THE MACK
05/04/73 – FISTS OF FURY
05/25/73 – THE SOUL OF NIGGER CHARLEY
06/08/73 – COFFY
06/27/73 – SHAFT IN AFRICA
07/20/73 – SLAUGHTER’S BIG RIP-OFF
08/10/73 – THE SHANGHAI KILLERS
08/24/73 – GORDON’S WAR
09/19/73 – SEVEN BLOWS OF THE DRAGON
10/05/73 – SAVE THE CHILDREN
11/02/73 – FISTS OF FURY plus THE CHINESE CONNECTION
11/18/73 – THE CHINESE PROFESSIONALS
12/21/73 – THE ARENA
01/04/74 – THE GODFATHERS OF HONG KONG
01/18/74 – ENTER THE DRAGON plus THE CHINESE PROFESSIONALS
02/01/74 – SHAFT plus SHAFT’S BIG SCORE plus SHAFT IN AFRICA
02/15/74 – CRAZY JOE
03/01/74 – THE PLAYMATES (IN 3-D)
03/22/74 – MADHOUSE
04/12/74 – FOXY BROWN
05/24/74 – BLACK EYE
06/07/74 – IT’S ALIVE plus ENTER THE DRAGON
06/14/74 – LUCKY LUCIANO plus THEY CALL ME TRINITY
06/21/74 – THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE plus BLINDMAN
06/28/74 – THOMASINE AND BUSHROD plus LIGHTNING SWORDS OF DEATH
07/05/74 – THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD plus BUCK AND THE PREACHER
07/19/74 – DIRTY MARY, CRAZY LARRY plus GORDON’S WAR
07/26/74 – RETURN OF THE DRAGON
09/20/74 – MACON COUNTY LINE plus THE SCREAMING TIGER
09/27/74 – CLAUDINE plus BLACULA
10/04/74 – JOHNNY TOUGH plus THE HOUSE THAT VANISHED
10/11/74 – THE EDUCATION OF SONNY CARSON plus LADY SINGS THE BLUES
10/18/74 – TALES OF THE GREEN HORNET
11/15/74 – COFFY plus THE MACK
11/22/74 – UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT plus CLAUDINE
11/29/74 – THE SAVAGE SISTERS plus SCREAM, BLACULA, SCREAM
12/06/74 – THREE TOUGH GUYS plus DEATH WISH
12/13/74 – THE EXORCIST
12/27/74 – THE DRAGON DIES HARD
01/17/75 – RAPE SQUAD
02/21/75 – THE DRAGON SQUAD plus RETURN OF THE PANTHER
03/07/75 – TORSO
03/28/75 – SHEBA BABY
05/09/75 – WOMEN IN CELL BLOCK SEVEN
05/23/75 – CORNBREAD, EARL AND ME
07/04/75 – GHETTO WARRIORS
07/11/75 – RETURN OF THE DRAGON plus THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE
07/18/75 – THE DRAGON FLIES
08/01/75 – SISTERS plus RAPE SQUAD
08/08/75 – TAKE A HARD RIDE
08/29/75 – DARKTOWN STRUTTERS
09/12/75 – ALI THE MAN plus ALI THE FIGHTER
09/26/75 – COONSKIN
10/10/75 – SUPER DRAGON plus THE DRAGON SQUAD
10/24/75 – THE KIDNAP OF MARY LOU
10/31/75 – THE EXORCIST
11/07/75 – THE CHINESE MACK plus THE CHINESE GODFATHER
11/21/75 – WELCOME HOME, BROTHER CHARLES
11/28/75 – MEAN JOHNNY BARROWS
12/12/75 – OLD DRACULA plus BUCKTOWN
12/19/75 – WATTSTAX plus JOHNNY TOUGH
12/26/75 – AARON LOVES ANGELA
01/09/76 – BEYOND THE DOOR plus ABBY
01/16/76 – LAST HOUSE ON HE LEFT plus MARK OF THE DEVIL plus DERANGED
01/23/76 – THE KILLING MACHINE
02/06/76 – COOLEY HIGH plus CORNBREAD, EARL AND ME
03/05/76 – NIGHT CHILD
03/19/76 – TORSO plus THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE
04/02/76 – BOBBI JO AND THE OUTLAW plus THE HONG KONG CAT
04/09/76 – LEADBELLY
04/23/76 – DON’T OPEN THE WINDOW plus DON’T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT
05/07/76 – BLAXING SADDLES
05/14/76 – BLACK SHAMPOO
05/28/76 – LAST STOP ON THE NIGHT TRAIN
06/04/76 – POOR WHITE TRASH 2 plus DIXIE DYNAMITE
06/11/76 – DEATH JOURNEY plus ADIOS AMIGO
06/25/76 – J.D.’S REVENGE
09/17/76 – TO THE DEVIL A DAUGHTER plus EMBRYO
09/24/76 – EBONY, IVORY AND JADE
10/15/76 – THE KILLER INSIDE ME plus THE CHINESE CONNECTION
10/22/76 – THE CRYPT OF DARK SECRETS plus KUNG FU MASTER
11/05/76 – TENDER FLESH plus DEATH MACHINES
11/12/76 – JIVE MACHINE plus MOTHER, JUGS AND SPEED
11/19/76 – GOD TOLD ME TO
12/03/76 – ALICE IN WONDERLAND (X-rated)
12/19/76 – EXIT THE DRAGON, ENTER THE TIGER
01/07/77 – ALICE IN WONDERLAND plus FLESH GORDON
01/14/77 – CARRIE plus BURNT OFFERINGS
01/21/77 – MANSION OF THE DOOMED
02/04/77 – HOUSE THAT VANISHED plus LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT
02/11/77 – THE CASSANDRA CROSSING
03/18/77 – THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN
03/25/77 – MOHAMMED: MESSENGER OF GOD
04/08/77 – UNCLE TOM’S CABIN
04/29/77 – JOURNEY INTO THE BEYOND
05/13/77 – SISTER STREETFIGHTER plus KUNG FU GOLD
05/20/77 – CROSS OF IRON
06/03/77 – THE FARMER plus TAXI DRIVER
06/17/77 – EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC
07/22/77 – EVIL IN THE DEEP plus CHAMPION OF DEATH
08/05/77 – BRUCE LEE: THE MAN-THE MYTH
08/19/77 – BIG TIME
09/02/77 – ENTER THE DRAGON
09/16/77 – RABID plus BRUCE LEE: THE MAN-THE MYTH
09/30/77 – SUPERWEAPON plus SIDEWINDER ONE plus BATTLE OF GODFATHERS
10/07/77 – NAKED RIDER plus EMMA MAE plus EBONY, IVORY AND JADE
10/14/77 – COFFY plus JD’S REVENGE plus FOOD OF THE GODS
10/21/77 – LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT 2 plus THE SCHOOL THAT COULDN’T SCREAM plus SUPER DUDE
10/28/77 – CARRIE plus DEMON SEED plus HIT MAN
11/04/77 – RECORD CITY plus BUCKTOWN plus BAMBOO GODS AND IRON MEN
11/11/77 – MANIAC plus THE SAVAGE plus THE CARHOPS
11/18/77 – AUDREY ROSE plus A.K.A CASSIUS CLAY plus THE RIVER NIGER
11/25/77 – MR. SCARFACE plus CAPONE plus HIT
12/02/77 – SUPERFLY plus THE CHINESE CONNECION plus BOSS NIGGER
12/09/77 – 3 FANTASTIC SUPERMEN plus BLACK MOSES OF SOUL plus THE CHINESE MACK
12/16/77 – SPARKLE plus BLACKBELT JONES plus THE DRAGON SQUAD
12/23/77 – A PIECE OF THE ACTION plus CLEOPATRA JONES plus KUNG FU MAMA
12/30/77 – THE MACK plus TRUCK TURNER plus FOXY BROWN
It may have come out in your area in 1981, Ken, as some films were released slowly throught the nation back then but obviously it was 1980 from the booking list above. Also I double checked and Duvall lost to DeNiro (Raging Bull) and Michael O'Keefe lost supporting actor to Timothy Hutton (Ordinary People). Both were 1980 as well.
CinemaMary – Unless it was a typo you are mistaken on the opening of Water Tower Theaters. It was 1976 with “Rocky” and “The Seven Percent Solution” as its opening attractions.
David – Actually “The Great Santini” wasn’t a second run. It had its Chicago premiere at the Cinema. The film was made in 1979 but delayed by the studio who didn’t know how to market it. Robert Duvall was nominated for Best Actor for this film in 1980.
David, actually the Water Tower Theaters opened at Christmas of 1976 so I don’t know that that was the basis for the Cinema’s demise. I have an old article that states that the area was up for redevelopment for years and that owner Oscar Brotman was running on a month to month lease for the last three years. It sounds to me like developers were intent on putting in retail with no plans whatsoever for a theater. Too bad. I never was in the Cinema though I remember seeing its marquee one time when I was downtown with friends seeing a movie at the Water Tower Theater. I remember the movie was Nicholas Roeg’s “Bad Timing: A Sensual Obsession” and I also remember agreeing with my friends that it was too bad there wasn’t a matinee as we could have gone to see it. I never saw the inside naturally. The same goes for the Carnegie which I have never even seen a picture of. Pretty cool you met Fritz Weaver. I remember him most from “Black Sunday” and “Creepshow.”
David – Yes “The Front Page” is on the schedule I listed, December 1974. It’s easy to miss but it’s there.
The last time I was by there, which has been a few months now, is still standing but it is boarded up and there is graffiti all over and it looks really bad. Such a shame for what I think was the best place to see a movie.
Summer of 78 was a great time for movies. Besides those you named there was also “Foul Play,” “Revenge of the Pink Panther,” “The Swarm,” “Sgt. Pepper,” “The Cheap Detective,” “Heaven Can Wait,” “Capricorn One,” “The Cat From Outer Space” and “Hot Lead and Cold Feet.” All films a 13 year old like me could enjoy. And that doesn’t count the more adul fare like “Eyes of Laura Mars” and “Damien Omen 2.” I got to see the latter but not the former. One of the best movies summers of my life.
Despite my prediction above the Crossroads has been torn down. I drove by last night and only a small part of one side is still standing and should be down in the next day or so. It’s a shame as this was one of the theaters of my youth. Interestingly the marquee is still standing – at least at this moment.
Paul, unfortunately I don’t have a specific list but I can tell you this much. The Dearborn was two screens (incorporating the Todd and the Cinestage) and each screen played double features of first run films on each.