Patio Theatre
6008 W. Irving Park Road,
Chicago,
IL
60634
6008 W. Irving Park Road,
Chicago,
IL
60634
44 people
favorited this theater
Showing 176 - 200 of 267 comments
Patiomike, aware of LaSalle, been there several times and only 3 bucks for me. These are the real oldies which I love. However it’s 8 at nite and sometimes especially in bad weather not doable.
Couple years back saw Tarzan Of The Apes. I don’t drive. Hope Patio makes a comeback in some form.
Bryan, your photo is the lobby soon after it was fully cleaned and repainted. It was taken for an article about the theater and Chicago film makers that I recall was a Reader cover story. Alex, the owner, is resting his hand on the shoulder of Louis Antonelli, lead projectionist and noted Chicago film maker. He taught me the trade. The other two at the right are associates of his. Lighting all the lobby’s lights added at least $100 to the electric bill in the late 90’s so we only lit the box office’s “crown” and one or two bright bulbs in the chandelier.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive classic theater, try the LaSalle Bank Cinema at 4901 W Irving Park Rd in Chicago. A classic film+short is shown every Saturday night at 8pm. A loosely themed program runs for 6mos. starting in January and June. Admission is $5, less for seniors. Entrance and free parking is at the rear. Check the Reader for films as they are out of schedule booklets and the June edition is not ready.
Correction, had a senior moment. Meant to address Patiomike.
Alex, really miss this theatre. Logan is my place now for movies as I am on fixed income. Of course, now my grandkids work and pay for their own movies. If I drove I might be going to the LaGrange theatre more often. It’s another good buy but too far for me.
Also the Village Art which is closed now. I dreamed of having my own theatre that showed all the old movies yet again on the big screen. Thank God for the Outdoor Film Festival 7/17 to 8/28
To Chrisk36, Alex agonized over raising the price from $2 to $3 for a long time. It allowed us to get films sooner after 1st run but we risked losing customers to video. The studios took 50% of the box office, sometimes up front. The cost of renting the prints, licensing, insurance, heat were too much to bear. Then the A/C blew up. I still miss the place. We could have a movie on the screen in less than an hour as we left the booth in ready condition.
OK, third try at posting this :–(
According to my wife who lived 1 block West on Irving Park Rd, many of the locals (especially the kids), pronounced the name as,“Pay Show”. A deliberate play on the word, having nothing to do with any other language influence. Skip
I am a Chicago grandmother who took her 4 grandkids to the Patio to see movies like Lion King, etc.
I remember the reason being one of economy and of course loving the big screen and single screen theatres of days gone by. Was the minimal admission a factor in it closing? Believe it was 2 bucks in the 1990’s.
Would a higher admission have averted some of the problems? Just curious.
The Cingular Wireless banner is gone. The marquee still says PATIO RENOVATING.
is this theatre for sale or the building?
There is a discussion of this farther up the Comments, but, no, she was not correct. PAT-ee-o is the proper pronunciation of this Spanish word meaning ‘courtyard,’ in English context.
I grew up in Norridge in the late 50s, early 60s. The nearest theaters were the Patio, MontClare and the Harlem-Irving outdoor theater (hard to believe there was a drive-in theater at that busy intersection!!) Anyway, my mother used to prounounce it the “pay-shee-oh” theater. Was that correct?
Here are photos of this theater.
thanks much for Barton info!!!!
I’m 99% certain the organ is still there.
There were rumours that the Barton was sold—-broken up for parts etc. This was (or is) a fine example of the Barton product and with the popularity of the organ/silent movie venue, it could help any future operater!![ Especialy in THAT theater—WOW!!]Hope you are correct and it’s still there!!
I looked into the lobby last night. It is in good shape, which is a pretty good indicator as to the state of the entire theatre.
I think so.
Is the Barton still in the theater??? Anybody know??
Louis,
Is this film available anywhere? I’d love to see it!
Damn! Oops! S@#*! Yikes! Alright, I think it’s all out now. Where is that chimp when you need him?! Crude, I have never been called. Straight with a captial “S” is what I’ve heard most often. Doesn’t matter. I stand by my entry. The word “ignorant” implies the lack of knowledge and education, which is as inaccurate as you can get when describing the Lou Antonelli I remember. (And for the record, I am more than a “mere” woman. Jeesh!!) As far as the rest of my entry, my words were not meant for one person in particular, but for all the armchair romantics. I saw inaccuracies in the entries and, since I have a personal connection to the Patio, I became a bit irked. (Plus I knew I would get a chuckle out of Lou!) In my entries, my intentions were innocent, although, I admit my sarcasm may have been misunderstood and unappreciated. In my ingnorance, I should have replaced “ass” with “behind” or “bottom”, which I know are the choices I prefer my kids to use.
In the early 60’s, I went to the Will Rogers theater. That was my neighborhood. I remember the stage performances before the movie and the raffles. I think I won a few times. How disappointing it was to go back so many years later and see an ugly strip mall. Unfortunately, I think we all know what the inevitable fate of the Patio is. It would be grand if, as Mr. Wolf writes, “another knight like Alex can swoop in and bring it back.” At least it is comforting to know that as long as this site is in existence, all who visit will be able to read Mr. Antonelli’s tribute to the Patio and Alex K. and know that it is true and accurate. A memory to secure in a scrapbook for posterity. This in itself makes all the emotions and ruffled feathers I seem to have stirred all worth while.
I am signing off, much to the delight of many! But I will continue to return to check on the Patio and her fate. Ciao.
Yeah, I’d have to say that Jim Rankin is one of the more astute contributors on Cinema Treasures. I don’t think he had anything but the best of intentions.
I am also a Patio fan. It is one thing when a theatre is in ruins and finally put out of it’s misery (Like the 4 Star on Madison). It is quite another when a well-maintained structure like this is destroyed. Here’s hoping that a solution can be found for the challenges now facing the Patio.
As an unbiased third party, i’d like to say that I read Mr. Rankin’s comment as the compliment it was apparently intended to be. It is possible to compliment and offer gentle criticism at the same time. It seemed clear to me that he was using the word ‘ignorant’ in its original, rarely-used sense; literally, ignoring the conventions of paragraphing. (And I think a comment like “Or were these entries of interest simply a passing of time; a break from the stale routine of manhandling the remote, eating a frozen dinner and scratching your ass?” is far cruder. It did not seem to me that he was saying it was overlong; rather that it was far more detailed than almost any post seen here.
Thank you so much for posting your vivid recollections of the Patio, Mr. Antoneli. It inspired me to drive out there yesterday in the rain to look at it and see what it would bring out in me. However, going there, I saw an unexpected sight: The sides of the marquee have been covered over by vinyl advertising banners for a local Cingular Wireless outlet! Perhaps the strangest part about this advertising display is that at the bottom is the text that has occupied the side panels for years now: advertising the “Theater Renovation” that, by all appearances, has not and is not occuring. Otherwise, the marquee remains sad and forlorn, missing its neon, bulbs, and beaten by the ravages of trucks having backed into it. Large sections of paint seem to have fallen away this winter. I really hope that marquee glows again one day. Maybe another knight like Alex can swoop in and bring it back.
Mr. Antonelli’s response above illustrates just why I do not comment more than I do concerning many posts on this site and others. My words have been interpreted and stretched quite beyond their original meaning and intent, and that ruins any rational hope of intelligent discourse. It seems Mr. Antonelli felt it decessary to stand up and shout a defense for a mere woman, but such bravado does not really serve anyone, don’t you see. I apologize if my choice of words irritated Mr. Antonelli, since I thought that I made it clear that I admired both the Patio and his accounts of it. Now, so as to not make more of a mountain out of a mole hill, I will drop the subject entirely and hope that voices of self-control will prevail.
My God, I had no wish to open a ‘snipe’ between people by my posting detailed pieces concerning the Patio Theatre, and my involved history with same. I was under the impression (by casual glance) that this site was intended for people who have a genuine love and PASSION for Cinema, not for silly amateur ‘reviews’ – Amazon.com style!
I am sincerely thankful to cathy for mentioning me, and the Patio in this forum. She is neither ‘foolish’, nor ‘hasty’, Mr. Rankin! She actually shares an opinion that a great many people also feel; You do seem to enjoy using your particular style of ‘vernacular’ to stroke, then slap in the same instant. I have received a great many emails about this (from people who can personally contact me, and do not wish to have what they write be publicly available on this site) concerning your comment posted after my two ‘LONG’ posts. Some, upon viewing my reply to you, ‘read between the lines’ quite accurately and knew I gave you a good slap right back! I actually HATE all of this nonsense!
I tried my best to provide to people here something cathy selflessly wished them to have – DETAILS.
My motivations to write extensively here were not for self-promotion, nor personal gain in any way. Actually, my motivation was simple; I wished to ‘champion’ Alex K., and all he accomplished – and to expose people to ‘histories’ they could not possibly know otherwise. I was quite angered when I read your high brow response to cathy; I have not seen, nor talked to her for a great many years, but that does not mean I would hesitate to defend her, or her pure motivations and intentions. Also, do not presume what I would, or would not appreciate – actually, I would be humbled to have cathy as a ‘champion’, any day of the week!
If you really would like to know what I ‘think’ Mr. Rankin, its quite easy to get in touch with me through agents, and other avenues within the Entertainment Business. If you did so, you would hear words not found in Webster’s College Desk Reference – rather you would be privy to words I became expert in using right in the back alleys near the Patio Theatre – and I assure you, when using them I am quite VERBOSE!
Louis Antonelli, Quadrama/FILM.
(BTW – I’m OVERJOYED!! I finally learned how to ‘paragraph’ on this damn system – a small chimp named Moe came over and gave me one of those ‘Dummies’ guides! While I tried desperately not to show him how ignorant I am, he had no patience and slapped me around a while. After much abuse, I finally got it!)