I went looking for the Hinsdale yesterday and had a little trouble finding it. I wouldn’t say it is on a main street, but sorta on a side street. To help others find it, it is in downtown Hinsdale at 29 E First, between Washington and Second ST.
When I sent the comment earlier today I didn’t realize that it just so happens that the Chicago Theatre is 80 years old today! 26 October 1921 – 26 October 2001. I hope I last till 80 and look that good!
Park Forest has been trying to bring the shopping center these theatres are in back to life. The shopping center is now called DOWNTOWN PARK FOREST. I hope it works. Nevertheless, these Classic Cinemas are another CLASS ACT!
I think after it closed in 1981 no one ever thought it would open again and so the theatre pipe organ was removed, but I can’t recall what happened to it? They were wrong it did reopen!
I helped work on it’s WURLITZER THEATRE PIPE ORGAN some> What a great place and especially interesting to explore spaces most folks never get to see, such as the basement, attic etc..
In about 1962 I too saw my first CINERAMA movies at this theatre. It seems like I saw a bunch of the original 3 strip travel movies & perhaps even CINAMIRICAL’S Windjamer. I think they were trying to squeeze the last bit out of all these movies before the next CINERAMA movies came out?
Was on State Street across from Marshal Fields flagship store. Was torn down a number of years ago along with the United Artists Theater, around the corner, at the corner of Randolph & Dearborn. In fact everything within the block bordered by State, Randolph, Dearborn & Washington was torn down including a very historic building at the Corner of Dearborn & Washington, with the exception of one small electric company building. The whole block is now used in the summer for art types of things and as an ice skating rink in winter. But after all these years it is still waiting for a developer.
I went looking for the Hinsdale yesterday and had a little trouble finding it. I wouldn’t say it is on a main street, but sorta on a side street. To help others find it, it is in downtown Hinsdale at 29 E First, between Washington and Second ST.
When I sent the comment earlier today I didn’t realize that it just so happens that the Chicago Theatre is 80 years old today! 26 October 1921 – 26 October 2001. I hope I last till 80 and look that good!
Park Forest has been trying to bring the shopping center these theatres are in back to life. The shopping center is now called DOWNTOWN PARK FOREST. I hope it works. Nevertheless, these Classic Cinemas are another CLASS ACT!
Really nice theatre. The four newer theatres carry the art deco theme over really nice. Classic Cinemas is a CLASS ACT!
I went to movies here and it really became run down, but it sure is great now! WOW!
Just to set things straight, East Chicago is really across the state line and is in Indiana.
I have a brick from this theatre. It broke my heart to see it being torn down.
I think after it closed in 1981 no one ever thought it would open again and so the theatre pipe organ was removed, but I can’t recall what happened to it? They were wrong it did reopen!
I helped work on it’s WURLITZER THEATRE PIPE ORGAN some> What a great place and especially interesting to explore spaces most folks never get to see, such as the basement, attic etc..
In about 1962 I too saw my first CINERAMA movies at this theatre. It seems like I saw a bunch of the original 3 strip travel movies & perhaps even CINAMIRICAL’S Windjamer. I think they were trying to squeeze the last bit out of all these movies before the next CINERAMA movies came out?
For the past few years Roger Ebert has held a film festival here which includes the showing of 70MM FILMS!
THAT’S DEVELOPER
Was on State Street across from Marshal Fields flagship store. Was torn down a number of years ago along with the United Artists Theater, around the corner, at the corner of Randolph & Dearborn. In fact everything within the block bordered by State, Randolph, Dearborn & Washington was torn down including a very historic building at the Corner of Dearborn & Washington, with the exception of one small electric company building. The whole block is now used in the summer for art types of things and as an ice skating rink in winter. But after all these years it is still waiting for a developer.