Comments from jimpiscitelli

Showing 101 - 125 of 148 comments

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about North Riverside Luxury 6 on Feb 16, 2006 at 6:14 am

I think Village Theater’s is doing a great investment for The North Riverside Theater (stadium seating, better sound, etc.) focusing on more family films (G, and PG rated movies and less PG-13 and R-Rated movies). Loews had booked more PG-13 and R-Rated movies and less G and PG-Rated movies. The theater needs better seating too, and next year 6 more screens! Can’t wait! The theater that once killed the Harlem-Cermak is finally getting a facelift.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Niles Square Cinema on Feb 11, 2006 at 5:09 pm

The Golf Glen closed as of Feb. 2, 2006

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Mercury Theater on Feb 9, 2006 at 6:36 pm

To CinemarkFan: That would be a great investment, especially my suggestion of turning the Oakbrook 1-4 into an art-house theater. We need one desperately in the Chicago western suburbs and to purchase Village Theaters.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Golf Glen Theatre Closes on Feb 9, 2006 at 11:40 am

The Village Theaters chain also advertises The North Riverside Theater in the Chicago Tribune along with the Lincoln Village.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Mark Cuban asks "What business are theaters in?" on Jan 28, 2006 at 10:33 am

We need more theaters (like the Landmark) that show Art Movies in the suburbs. Not only do you pay higher ticket prices in the City, along with the concessions, you have to pay for parking also. Suburban theaters the ticket prices are lower and parking is free. I remember when a movie came theatrically and 6 months later came on VHS/DVD. We always have better staff in my local theater (Cinemark Melrose Park) and the (now AMC) Norridge Theater.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Mercury Theater on Jan 26, 2006 at 9:20 am

Update to Cineplex Odeon proposal:

  1. Burnham Plaza – closed
  2. Rivertree Court – operated by Kerasotes Theaters
  3. Orland Square – closed
  4. Lincolnwood (now Lincoln Village 1-6) – operated by Village
    Theaters
  5. Ridge Cinemas – closed
  6. Grove Cinemas – demolished
  7. Oakbrook Center Cinemas – 1-4 closed; 5-7 demolished
  8. One Schaumburg Place – Became Streets Of Woodfield – operated by AMC Theaters
  9. Old Orchard (now Gardens Cinemas at Old Orchard) – operated by AMC Theaters
  10. Renovation Of The McClurg Court – closed
  11. Renovation Of The Chestnut Station – closed
  12. Renovation Of The Golf Glen – operated by Village Theaters
  13. Renovation Of The Esquire – operated by AMC Theaters
  14. Renovation Of The Town & Country – demolished
  15. Replacement Of The Mercury – never done
  16. Bricktown Square – closed
jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about AMC - Loews Merger to Close Soon on Jan 26, 2006 at 6:54 am

Per Ron Newman: Village Theaters is taking over the North Riverside and is still currently showing movies. The theater will remain open during the transistion.

As for the River Oaks, 7-8 had closed last fall at the same time as the Lincoln Village 1-6. The Lincoln Village 1-6 is currently under the Village Theaters chain. Don’t know what will happen to the River Oaks 1-6 or 9-10. Note: River Oaks 9-10 were the original theaters that opened in 1969 under the Plitt Theaters chain.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about North Riverside Luxury 6 on Jan 24, 2006 at 6:04 pm

Thank you. That kind of scared me.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about AMC - Loews Merger to Close Soon on Jan 24, 2006 at 6:00 pm

To CinemarkFan: The Oakbrook 1-4 is still standing. They are stores that are behind the 1-4 including a LensCrafters and Mario Tricoci salon.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about AMC - Loews Merger to Close Soon on Jan 24, 2006 at 6:56 am

To CinemarkFan: You probably want to add the North Riverside and Oakbrook 1-4 to your list. I would like to see the Oakbrook 1-4 play art movies.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about North Riverside Luxury 6 on Jan 24, 2006 at 6:52 am

I think there’s a possibility that Village Theaters will take over. I think they closed it due the the Loews-AMC takeover. Did not know that a 14-screen theater will open on Cermak & Cicero, I know that Kerasotes is opening a 12-screeen theater at the Golf Mill.

Sadly after 16 years this theater that one killed the Harlem-Cermak closed down saw some movies in the 90’s and a few in the 2000’s. My last two movies I saw there were “Derailed” and “King Kong”.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about AMC - Loews Merger to Close Soon on Jan 20, 2006 at 6:13 am

When Loews merged with Cineplex Odeon in 1998, a bunch of theaters were closed in the Chicago area between 1999-2001. They were minor closings between 2002 and now. Besides the prior meger was Babalan & Katz, Essaness, Plitt, M&R, Cineplex Odeon, and Loews-Cineplex, AMC has also bought out General Cinema theaters in 2002. Some of the Loews-Cineplex theaters were bought by the defunct Meridian Theaters and Village Theaters which proved even worse. Theaters bought out by Meridian at one point failed to pay the city (of Chicago) taxes, with the exception of the Old Orchard Theater in Skokie. Hopefully AMC will do better. They did not close any of the former General Cinema theaters and hopefully will do the same to Loews theaters.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about UA Cinema on Dec 20, 2005 at 9:24 am

Now I realize that there was a third theater located in Oak Brook besides the ones in the mall. I would like to see megaplexs built with one theater with over 1000 seats an the rest smaller with larger screens. The interior and the exterior of the theater are very nice.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about North Riverside Luxury 6 on Dec 20, 2005 at 8:59 am

My recent visits to see “Derailed” and “King Kong” were much better now than my last visit in 2002 to see “I Am Sam”. The theater is much cleaner now. Even though I had a bad experience in 1998 with “Hav Plenty”, I will surely return to this theater soon. Hopefully Loews/Cineplex (soon to be AMC) keeps this theater open along with the Norridge, since the Hillside Square, Hillside Mall and the Oak Brook closed.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Northgate Theaters on Dec 15, 2005 at 6:03 pm

Saw a few movies at the Northgate, “The Client”, “Timecop”, “Tomorrow Never Dies”, etc. The admission was $1.00 before 6pm, $1.50 after 6pm. In 1999 it briefly had shown first-run movies before going back to second-run before it closed. The Northgate had very good business. Every time I went it was always crowded. It was part of the Value Theaters chain.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Hillside Mall Cinemas on Dec 15, 2005 at 5:55 pm

It was never a Plitt Theater. When M&R bought it in the early 80’s it was twinned and renamed Hillside Twin. In the mid-80’s a third screen was added where the the lobby used to be and renamed to Hillside Mall. It closed in August 2000, with one of its last flims were “Autumn In New York” starring Richard Gere and Winona Ryder. The films I saw (when it was Hillside Mall) were, “Three Amigos”, “Dead Poet’s Society”, “Indecient Proposal”, “Beverly Hills Cop III”, “Blankman” and “A Low Down Dirty Shame” (which was the only time I saw when it was packed). It also had a great sign too.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Ridge Plaza Cinemas on Dec 14, 2005 at 12:12 pm

The theater was nice. My only visit was in 2000 to see “Space Cowboys” I was the only person in the theater.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Pickwick Theatre on Dec 14, 2005 at 12:08 pm

The Pickwick is a great place to see a movie. I liked the original auditorium. I am happy they left the original auditorum alone and not chop it. Rather than chopping it the other three theaters were located in the back. I saw movies like “Independence Day”,“Phonemenon”,“Patch Adams”,and “Memento” at the Pickwick.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Century Stratford Square on Dec 14, 2005 at 11:59 am

The last time I went to the Stratford Square Cinemas I saw the movie “Bride and Prejudice”. I was the only person in that auditorium. The theatre was still the same (when it was opened by Plitt Theaters). I hope the new Stratford will be better than the old one hopefully with statium seating.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about AMC Dine-In Northbrook Court 14 on Dec 13, 2005 at 5:17 am

My recent visit to the Northbrook Court 14 was great. Five years since the demise of the Deerbrook Cinema, even the Northbrook Court also shows some art movies (the Landmark Renaissance Place was also responsibile for the demise of the Deerbrook also). Screens 1-6 is on the bottom level while screens 7-14 are on the top. Saw “Shopgirl there. I will visit again.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Cinema 8 Lansing on Mar 18, 2005 at 7:21 am

Lansing Cinema 8 is now owned by Pittsburgh-based chain Jenco Cinemas.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about AMC Norridge 6 on Feb 7, 2005 at 7:10 am

The theater had 70mm projection and later SDDS (Sony Dynamic Digital Sound) capability.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Streamwood Theater on Dec 15, 2004 at 5:41 pm

The first movie I saw at the Steamwood was “Showgirls”. Last movie I saw at the Streamwood was “The Terminal” just a few months before it closed down. Hopefully this theater won’t be demolished and can be used as a cinema again.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Marcus Addison Cinema on Nov 11, 2004 at 5:30 pm

The Marcus Cinema Addison is doing some renovation where the box-office and the concession stands are. Where the IMAX theater was orginallyi it is now theater #21. Theater #21 is has a hugh screen carved out from the original IMAX screen.

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli commented about Cinema 8 Lansing on Oct 14, 2004 at 8:43 pm

The River Run opened at the same time as the Webster Place opened. It was one of the two theaters which was opened by M&R Theaters before Loews took over.