Village Art Theatre
1548-50 N. Clark Street,
Chicago,
IL
60610
1548-50 N. Clark Street,
Chicago,
IL
60610
18 people
favorited this theater
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Has anyone but me noticed that Village has not updated its website in awhile?
Recent photos of this theatre are HERE
Correction to the above. I HAVEN’T forgotten that CC has worked hard to maintain its image!
BW, you are right. I forgot about those theatres. And I did forget that CC hasn’t closed a cinema since 2003 and has been working very hard on maintaining its image. I once called Classic Cinemas a class act and I stand behind that. I wish that they’d take over some places in the City like the Patio.
I would like to see Village Theatres succeed too and I wish they’d listen to the movie-going public.
I would say that the Classic Cinemas comment was out of line as it said “in the very recent past”; in reality, they have not close a single theater since 2003. Paul’s list omits theaters closed between 1998-2001; namely the Sterling, Tivoli South, and Springhill. Since 2002, they have, however, built 5 screens at the York; 2 at Elk Grove and one screen with kodak Digital; 4 at the Fox Lake with a renovated lobby and all-digital sound; a renovated lobby and 50-foot screen with 8-channel SDDS at the Cinema 12; a screen with Real-D at the Lake; at the Lindo, a new concession stand and box office, with 4 new screens under construction; at the Ogden 6, extensive renovations; the Tivoli was totally reseated with top of the line seats, extensive lobby refurbishment, and a complete sound system; added 2 screens at the Woodstock, and renovated lobby facilities.
I can see all this because their attractive website uses good marketing and demonstrates that they care about their customers experiences, and enumerates the improvements they make. They show their customers that they are valued (through the investments to their theaters) and offer an experience the larger chains fail to provide, and are rewarded with loyalty.
In addition to these improvements, CC patrons tend to enjoy such benefits as free soda refills, good lighting, clean auditoriums and restrooms, and continued maintenance that goes beyond moving equipment from one theatre to the next.
If Village really wants to improve its image on this web site, perhaps Ron Rooding should do as Willis Johnson did and hold an interview with Michael Zoldessy on the front page.
I was aware of this fact when I made my comment. But I didn’t like the overall tone of what was said. The message seemed to be: “Look, they are in the same boat.” As you just pointed out, it is most likely not the case.
It is also an old trick to say somebody is great and then follow it up with the message you are really trying to get across. Not saying that happened here for sure. But you could take it that way.
At the end of it all what I am saying is this:
Most people in this forum hold Classic Cinemas in very high regard. Most people have at least some degree of doubt about Village. I don’t think that making comments that could be taken in a negative way about Classic Cinemas is going to improve Village’s situation one bit.
Oh, LTS, one more item. You stated “Classic Cinemas is an organization that most on this web site hold in extremely high regard. I would be careful when it comes to thowing around unsourced, vague statistics about their operation.” In all fairness, Cinema Employee did praise CC, saying “As to Classic Cinemas (which does an excellent job) I believe they have closed five or six locations in the very recent past, as has Nova, another smaller and very well run chain.”
To LTS:
Cinema Employee is correct when (s)he states that it was unfair of me to call Village a “Crash and Burn Operation” if I dont have all of the facts. I am not an industry insider, after all. Cinema Employee is also correct in stating that Classic Cinemas has closed locations. But let’s look at the CC locations which have closed:
Barrington Square—Closed because of competition from the nearby South Barrington 30. Also likey because the shopping mall management wanted to re-do the center.
Casino—Closed when the casino wanted to expand.
Foxfield—closed when CC had the opportunity to take over the nearby Charlestown.
Tradewinds—Closed when the area around it became run-down and the theatre started to lose money.
The Park Forest South and the Arcada were sold to other operators.
Now let’s look at the remaining Village Theatres.
Bloomingdale Court—Cinemark Fan said that this theatre should be turned into a 2nd run supersaver house. And he’s right. If you think that 2nd runs can’t get movies and pack in good houses, look at the La Grange.
Glenwood—I’ve never been here, so I can’t comment.
Lincoln Village—Could be good again if only money could be invested into it. Ample parking is available (although the lot needs to be re-paved). The adajacent Lincoln Village Shopping Center has recently been overhauled and seems to be doing well. The building is only about 20 years old. The nearest competing theatres are the Village North, The Century (Evanston), the Crown (Skokie/Niles) and the Davis.
North Riverside—This one’s problematic. Why go to this location when you can either go to a wonderful old theatre (The Lake) or a new megaplex (The Hawthorne)
Village North—As stated elsewhere, this seems to be the one theatre that Village is doing correctly. It is popular with students (Loyola is nearby), the locals (gets good walk-ins) and it does things like midnight movies. It may look a little run-down, but has anyone ever seen pictures of it when it was the 400 Twin? It was twinned, then quadded while remaining open and it was a shambles! In short, this theatre seems to know its market and caters to it very well.
So, yes, Cinema Employee is correct in stating that there are difficulties in maintaining a cinema operation and LTS is correct in stating that there are innovative ways to get around these difficulties. Village needs to listen to its customers.
Cinema Employee, is there a way to contact Village and forward them my suggestions from my earlier post? One more suggestiong: Have “How Can We Serve You Better Cards” in your theatre lobbies and page for people to leave their suggestions on your website. Hold a contest and the winner could receive passes or concession stand vouchers.
If you are waiting for consumers to complain about film distribution practices, you are going to be waiting a long time. Most consumers open the paper and find the most convenient location. They will continue that practice as long as the venue is not extremely offensive due to staff, presentation or janitorial services.
A few upgraded seats is not going to get the job done either. That is especially true if, as the comment above seems to suggest, you are moving 1970’s seats from a closed location in to replace 1950’s seats.
In my opinion you need to take your thinking to the next level if you intend to survive. It is going to take intelligent, creative, innovative solutions; and, I don’t have the vaguest idea what those solutions might be.
BTW: Classic Cinemas is an organization that most on this web site hold in extremely high regard. I would be careful when it comes to thowing around unsourced, vague statistics about their operation.
I thought those seats in the Village Art looked new. There resemble the ones used in the Belvidere View link
To Cinemaemployee1111
They installed new seats at the Village North? If so, cool.
Thanks Paul for the constructive criticism — I think everybody has room to improve and good ideas are always welcome. You probably know that the Village North does do midnight shows. We do a fee summer series at some locations (primarily targetted towards children). I just thought calling Village Entertainment a “crash and burn” company is unfair. I suppose a lot of improvements are in the back ground (DTS, upgrades to projection systems and the like) and others are not totally obvious. New seats at the Village Art two years ago, new seating at the Village North and portions of the Lincoln Village and Bloomingdale this year and the like.
But…if people want smaller theaters to stay in business I say the way to go is the film distribution companies. The Village Art, for example, could sure pack them in when the location was able to get a film but mostly we were blocked out by the AMC-Loews theaters and the Century. The reality is that you must play movies people want to see — if you are not able to book the films you cannot hope to survive on throw-away product. The same thing is now happening at the Bloomindale with the new theater at Stratford Square opening — weren’t able to book Harry Potter because the Stratford got it so if you wanted to see Harry Potter last weekend the Bloomingdale was not an option — that means a lot of lost business to us and while free shows and other incentives can and do add some revenues they do not compensate for the loss of a film like Harry Potter and of course the trend will continue with the other film companies. Happens all the time, just look at all the smaller closed theaters out there. Films are our product and for each film there is one distributor, its as though there were only one distributor for beef and they told Dominick’s we’re not going to sell to you because it is in our best interest to sell to Jewel instead so you can’t sell beef anymore. Doesn’t seem entirely fair but that is the exhibition business.
So if you want to support smaller theaters — complain to Warner Brothers and the other distribution companies about not being able to see their movies at your local small theater. Pressure from the consumer might just be the way to make sure the “alternatives” survive. I am sure your local theater (whoever they might be) will thank you!!
As to Classic Cinemas (which does an excellent job) I believe they have closed five or six locations in the very recent past, as has Nova, another smaller and very well run chain.
Cinema Employee,
While I certainly wouldn’t want to get into “flaming” on this website, I do wish to make a few things clear. I certainly want Village Entertainment to succeed. I try to patronize local businesses whenever possible. I used to go to the Burnham and the Village Art all the time. My movie experiences at these places have always been good if not great.
On the other hand, I see no concrete business plan from Village. I see little promotion fromt he company other than the occasional ads in the Sun-Times for the Lincoln Village and North Riverside. Village didn’t even have a website for awhile, although it is back in operation. To Village’s credit, the company does seem to keep its theatres clean, however there has been little money invested in renovating its theatres (Cineplex-Odeon logos are still very much in evidence).
Again, I’d like to see Village Entertainment prosper because I believe alternatives to AMC-Loews are necessary. And if Village can’t compete with the big boys, why try in the first place? As Village is locally and independently owned, the company could do somethings different. Why not midnight movies? Film festivals? Before the merger, the 600 North theatre did a free movie every Thursday night at 8:00 as part of the LOEWS' FAN FAVORITE SERIES. Granted, these were films 1 to 30 years old, but the series was popular. Why not revive an idea like that? There are things like that which Village could do, which don’t cost a lot of money, which could say “Hey moviegoers! We’re Village Entertainment and this is what we have to offer!”
Yeah, success is really about the management decisions of a given company.
There are always ways to succeed. The movie exhibition business is not the jump-on-the-bandwagon, easy success strategy that it was in the first half of the 20th century. Most people don’t want to think. So they follow the big trends. Nowadays that could be opening a trading company and importing a bunch of cheap items from China for distribution, or building condos. Back in 1999 everyone was getting into e-commerce ventures.
Cinema Employee,
I’m not doubting that Village Entertainment has faced numerous hurdles. But, using your arguement, how do you explain that a small cinema like the LaGrange still packs ‘em in? How do you explain how Classic Cinemas, a local chain about the size of Village at its peak, does very well?
FYI Paul (and maybe, just maybe) you might want to think about actually having some FACTS before randomly posting. As someone who actually works for Village Entertainment here is a reality check.
Hinsdale — operated on a short-term lease as the building owners had plans to renovate the building. Closed at the end of the lease.
Burnham — building owner wanted to redevelop so lease was not renewed (more $$$’s in redevelopment than in theater rent so who can blame him).
Stratford — mall ownership wanted to redo the location. Decided to go with a national chain.
Water Tower — operated on a short-term lease. The space was scheduled to be converted to live theater but the mall ownership wanted the theater to remain open in the meantime.
Biograph – sadly impossible to get film with the opening of the AMC on Western Ave (also impacted the Village’s ability to get film — that is the way the industry is people).
Golf Glen — mall ownership absolutely refused to address major plumbing problems which resulted in spouting raw sewage at any time more than 50 or so people were in the location.
Village Art – basically unable to book films after the openings of the Century (removed art films) and the AMC on Western — Village cannot play day and date with either location. When the lease was up Village Entertainment attempted to work with the building ownership in an attempt to find a workable rent to keep the theater open. VE offered to leave the seats and projection equipment in the location but the landlord wanted them gone.
Sadly, small companies have a tough go with the recent trends towards monopolization of the industry. New mega-plexes open and the smaller, older theaters just cannot compete because the audiences want to go to the brand-new facility. The advent of DVD’s, pay-per-view and so on have shortened the “shelf-life” of film so there are no longer many surviving second-run or augmented-run theaters. Landlords want to maximize rent and sometimes another use is better for the landlord.
I did some research a few weeks ago, and when Village first became a chain circa 2000-2002, the company DID advertise its cinemas and did appear to be a legitimate chain and not a “crash-and-burn-operation”. The December 20, 2002 edition of The Chicago Tribune shows the following cinemas that Village advertised and the movies playing there:
HINSDALE: Lord of the Ring: The Two Towers
GLENWOOD: Two Weeks Notice, Wild Thornberry’s, & Lord of the Rings 2
BURNHAM PLAZA: Gangs of NY, Lord of the Rings 2, Drumline, Empire
BLOOMINGDALE: Gangs of NY, Two Weeks Notice, Lord of The Rings 2, Drumline, Star Trek Nemesis, Die Another Day.
STRATFORD: Wild Thornberry’s , Lord Of the Rings 2, Hot Chick, Harry Potter & the Chambers Secrets, Analyzze That.
WATER TOWER: Personal Velocity, Standing in the Shadows of Motown, Emporer’s Club,Ararat.
BIOGRAPH: Analyze That, Two Weeks Notice, Gangs of New York.
VILLAGE: Gangs of NY, Rodger Dodger, Emporer’s Club, Man From Elysian Fields.
VILLAGE NORTH: Lord of the Rings 2, Drumline, Star Trek Nemesis.
GOLF GLEN: Two Weeks Notice, Gangs of NY, Wild Thornberry’s, Lord of the Rings 2, Harry Potter, and Analyze That.
Apparantly, Village Entertainment was promoting its cinemas and had decent bookings (although it still gets decent bookings). And Water Tower was showing art films! The questions are what happened and when did Village become a “crash-and-burn” operation?
I was in it the other day. It is a disaster. The seats are gone. What remains is a crumbling shell. The outside is salvagable.
Then it’s still an Orange-rated building, so it has some protection in that it would be subject to a 90-day hold for review before any demolition or alterations were approved.
BW Chicago,
But what would happen if the building owners are unable to find a suitable company to operate the Village Theatre?
Paul,
I never saw a movie here. I was going to see “Rocky Balboa” here, but my brother ended up taking me, my other brother and my mom to Ford City to see it. In fact, I almost saw it at the Logan too. But after I found out how small the small auditoriums are at this place, I kinda got put off from going. I should’ve went though, considering how old the place is, and how much history goes with it. With a better and smarter owner, it could’ve survived.
Now Paul, you belive that the remaining Village locations will be gone by December 08? I kinda belive you there. I know Bloomingdale Ct’s fate is sealed, and watch out for news of it’s closing. Lincoln Village ain’t well kept from what I’ve heard. That’s bad news, because it didn’t look all that great last summer when I was there. North Riverside: Will close soon because of the popular Showplace 14 nearby. I think the only Village that might come out alive would be the Village North. I’ve haven’t been there yet, but I’ve heard that lots of Loyola students and Rogers Park residents fill the place up. With a good remodel and up-to date projection systems, it will stay. If I get started with my corp soon like I hope, I plan to save it.
I don’t think the theater is under imminent danger; keep in mind the sign says “Theater for Rent”, and not Build to Suit
I am a 70 year old Chicagoan and every day I think what’s next. When you are my age it is so sad to see my world disappearing into what I call the seniors twilight zone because it seems surreal. Only those with a long Chicago histoy would understand.
Of course I believe it is the sign of the times due to our love affair with cars and easy transportation. Not much parking in that area. I ride buses and also live ½ block from North Ave and this was a very easy place to visit.
Chris in Chicago
PS Still waiting to hear about the Patio on Irving Park Road
Cinemark Fan,
Did you ever get to see a movie here? Y'know, the funny thing is that I believed that almost ALL of the theatres which Ronny R. (a.k.a. Village Entertainment) operated HAD potential if only a good company with vision would operate them!
I was out there on Sunday, 4/15/07, photographing the place. Did you ever get photos of it?
If this place gets the wrecking ball, I hope Mitchell’s restaurant next door doesn’t go too. I love that place. As for the theater, I thought it would go after Bloomingdale Ct, guess I was wrong. But it seems that Village Entertainment CEO Ron Rooding is a cheap man. With that mindset of his, he’ll be out of business very soon.