River Oaks Theatre
130 River Oaks Center Drive,
Calumet City,
IL
60409
130 River Oaks Center Drive,
Calumet City,
IL
60409
13 people
favorited this theater
Showing 176 - 200 of 243 comments
CineMark, I want to say it was late 80’s when that ticket came into play. I know for sure it was before 1990. You bet I remember River Oaks 2 and 3. I really liked those theaters though not as much as #1 of course. They were smaller then #1 but about as big as #4 (maybe even a little smaller now that I think about it). Both theaters had great sound which seemed all the better because the auditoriums were smaller. #2 was on the left when you walked in and the curtain opened from the middle. With the lights on the sides and on the curtain the auditorium had the same yellow-ish hue that #1 had. #3 was on the right and its curtain was waterfall style, dropping from the ceiling. The lights were on the sides and in front (like 1 and 2) and the curtain was red. I also have the bookings for 2,3,4 like I did #1 above if you would like me to list them. When #1 and #4 were remodeled in 1994 not much was changed that I can recall. The only major difference was the rocking chairs in #1 were removed for standard chairs with cup holders on the back of the seat in front of you. Other then that I don’t think much else changed. Sometime in the mid 80’s they closed #4’s box office window and went exclusively to #1’s for both sides though the #4 window remained and is still there today. Hope that helps. Feel free to ask anything you want to satisfy those curiosities. Incidentally, the Marquette theaters in Michigan City, Indiana looked just like RO #2 and #3 inside and out (at least before the big theater was chopped in two). That theater is also closed but is still standing.
JRS40, I figured that “Godfather Part 3” opened here. From some articles I’ve read, it was a big deal when it came out. I believe at the Water Tower, Cineplex Odeon saved three screens just for this movie. I might be going to the library next week, so I’ll be diging through a lot of stuff.
But I do have some from 1993.
3/12/93- CB4
7/23/93- POETIC JUSTICE
8/6/93- THE FUGITIVE
Also, I wanted to ask you some questions. 1, do you remember what year RO and other theaters started issuing ticket stubs like this?(mainly the one on the right)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cbcastro/223545948/
Also, do you remember what RO 2-3 looked like? I’ve never been there. It closed the year before I was born. And do you remember what 1-4 looked liked before the 1994 remodel? I’m curious.
Just curious—how many former employees are reading/posting on this board? It would be nice to trade a long distance how-you-doin'?
Getting the job managing at R O One was a fluke. I got called with offers from the K&B Bookstore in the mall and River Oaks within a half hour of each other. I really wanted to manage the bookstore but already knew some people at the theater from having worked at the Lans Theater.
What if I had turned left instead or right? Taken that road instead of this road? Where would I be today? Hmmm.
Cinemark Fan, it suddenly remembered today that I saw “The Godfather Part 3” on the #1 screen. Even though it was playing in NW Indiana I took my parents out there because they had seen the first 2 films there and thought it would be a neat way to conclude the trilogy.
48 HRS being in #1 makes more sense because FIRST BLOOD opened in October and 48 HRS was a big holiday movie.
I could have written the date for “Terms of Endearment” down wrong. Some of the articles I have do not have dates so either I guessed wrong or wrote it wrong. I know for a fact I saw it on the big screen though.
I remember seeing SUDDEN IMPACT on the big screen as well. That was a big hit where SCARFACE was not so it is entirely feasable it moved to be big screen.
It seems to me I saw BLADE on the #4 screen (later #10) so I am guessing it was a misprint.
Hmmm 9 ½ Weeks I know I saw on #2 screen so maybe it moved over at some point.
I will continue posting as I remember. You too.
JRS40, “The Fourth War” came out on March 23rd, 1990. I don’t have the microfilm ad for it….yet. I guess that did so bad at RO’s big screen that they opened “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” on both 9&10 the very next week(March 30th). Also, I have a few corrections to your list.
I have the Plitt directory for 12/8/82, and they have “First Blood” playing in #1, with “48 Hrs” in #6 (later known as #12). Could that be a misprint on their part?
Is the 11/11/83 date for “Terms of Endearment” a studio preview? Because it came out 11/23/83, and it was in River Oaks #7.
For 12/9/83, Plitt lists “Scarface” playing in both 1&4, with “Sudden Impact” in #2. Perhaps “Impact” moved to #1 on 12/16?
I have the one for 9/21/84, and they have “The Evil That Men Do” in #1. Since “Ninja 3” came out on 9/14, maybe that’s when it opened in #1.
“Temple of Doom” opened there on 5/23/84. Of Course, they had showings the night before.
“At Close Range” came out 4/18/86. It was in RO #1.
I’m hoping you can clear this up. They’re known to misprint stuff sometimes. I remember when “Blade” came out, and they listed that in 7-8, but when we went to see it the next day, it was really in 9-10. Anyway, I’ll try and get to the library next week and do some more research. I like having an idea of where my Dad may have seen some of these movies.
BTW: I have one more Plitt directory I found. Here it goes:
2/21/86- 9 ½ WEEKS
Well, that’s all for now. Post if you remember more movies that you saw or played at 1&4 aka 9&10.
Cinemark, over the weekend I suddenly remembered one more movie I saw on the big screen. It was 88 or 89 and it was a cold war thriller called “The Fourth War” with Roy Scheider that I think was directed by John Frankenheimer. What sticks out for me is that I saw it opening night and the place was nearly empty.
Cinemark Fan, no I don’t remember if either of those films played in the big theater. I do remember Death Wish 3 played River Oaks though. I went through my stuff and here is everything I have from 1982-part of 1986 that played in the big theater.
1/24/82 – ON GOLDEN POND
4/23/82 – DEATH WISH 2
5/07/82 – CONAN THE BARBARIAN
6/11/82 – E.T.
9/17/82 – PINK FLOYD THE WALL
10/12/82 – MY FAVORITE YEAR
11/12/82 – AMIN: THE RISE AND FALL
12/8/82 – 48 HRS
5/13/83 – BLUE THUNDER
5/25/83 – RETURN OF THE JEDI
7/29/83 – RISKY BUSINESS
11/11/83- TERMS OF ENDEARMENT
12/9/83 – SUDDEN IMPACT
5/1984 – INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM
9/21/84 – NINJA 3 THE DOMINATION
1/25/85 – THE FALCON AND THE SNOWMAN
3/29/85 – POLICE ACADEMY 2
5/10/85 – GOTCHA
11/27/85 – ROCKY IV
4/11/85 – AT CLOSE RANGE
I saw CONAN, ET (I saw the sneak preview here and it was so packed they cancelled the regular feature’s late show to show ET again), THE WALL (Awesome presentation), MY FAVORITE YEAR, AMIN, JEDI, RISKY BUSINESS, TERMS OF ENDEARMENT, TEMPLE OF DOOM (At a 10pm premiere the night before it opened – It played on both 1 and 4 that night), 2010 and FALCON AND THE SNOWMAN there.
I searched through some microfilm I got a while back, and I have a little more stuff from RO 1.
10/26/84- FIRSTBORN
11/9/84- BODY DOUBLE(Note, it may have opened here a week earlier because BD didn’t open at RO until 11/2.)
11/21/84- FALLING IN LOVE(I think it was 11/21)
12/7/84- 2010-70MM
JRS40, can you remember what was playing in 1&4 on the week of 11/1/85? I’m curious because Death Wish 3 & To Live and Die in LA came out that day.
Can’t wait to see that. Cool.
BTW, “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” opened at 1-4 on 11/26/86. I believe it was in 70MM, but I don’t know because I don’t have the ad from that day yet.
Cinemark Fan, looking at your list I recall seeing THE RIGHT STUFF and ISHTAR there. I positively remember seeing STAR TREK 4 THE VOYAGE HOME there as well. I have some stuff from 1980-1986 that includes some movie listings. I need to get on the horn and pull them out so I can add to your list.
More from the great River Oaks #1 (later known as #9)
10/21/83- THE RIGHT STUFF-70MM (Note: RO 7-8 opens with The Dead Zone & Rumble Fish)
10/28/83- RICHARD PRYOR: HERE AND NOW (Note: Right Sutff moves to #4 in 70MM)
12/9/83- SCARFACE(Both 1&4)
9/21/84- THE EVIL THAT MEN DO(Can’t get over this one)
11/21/86- FIREWALKER
5/8/87- LETHAL WEAPON(Moved here from RO 2-3)
5/15/87- ISHTAR
5/20/87- BEVERLY HILLS COP II(Both 1&4)
3/11/88- OFF LIMITS
6/9/89- STAR TREK V: THE FINAL FRONTIER(70MM in #1)
5/1/92- SPLIT SECOND(Why?)
8/4/95- VIRTUOSITY
I’m still trying to get my head around a little movie like “Split Second” in both 9&10. Wow.
“The Evil That Men Do” in RO 1? Wow. I wish I was around when that was released. I guess they showed some interesting fare on a screen like that. I really can’t wait to get back to the library now.
Cinemark, off the top of my head I recall seeing “The Evil That Men Do” and “Extreme Prejudice” there as well as “Spiderman,” “Three Kings,” “Titanic,” and all six “Star Wars,” the first 3 in re-release in the late 90’s as well as the new three on first release (all on opening day). The last film I saw there was just a month or so before it closed and that was “King Kong.”
Say JRS40, are there any other movies you can recall seeing at River Oaks 1? I might not be able to get back to the library until sometime next month.
Cinemark, thanks for bringing back some memories. I remember seeing “Brainstorm” on opening day in #1 with a buddy and the sound was incredibly loud but it went well with the movie. It was so great to me that I went back that very night with a girlfriend and noticed the sound had been turned down a few nothces. Still it was awesome in that theater as was any movie conducive to it with sound or visual effects.
JRS40, I went to the Library yesterday, and I found more movies that played in RO 1 (later known as 9)
9/30/83-BRAINSTORM-70MM
3/22/85-MASK
10/11/85-JAGGED EDGE(note, it may have opened on this screen the week before)
4/18/86-AT CLOSE RANGE
7/17/87-ROBOCOP
7/31/87-THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS
Now while “Jagged Edge” played in #1, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s movie “Commando” was playing next door in #4.
Also my mistake 7 & 8 closed in October 2005. To be honest with you, I have never been to the River Oaks Theater even though I know info about it other than Cinema Treasures. I wish I have went to those theaters especially 1 & 4 (later 9 & 10). I saw pictures on Mike Rivest’s website and the theater is beautiful. I wish they would reopen those theaters and show art films on 7 & 8 and show big movies on 9 & 10 and put back the rocking chair seats back on theater 9.
Life’s too short
The original River Oaks is still sitting there. The seats and stuff might be intact too. I wish I could buy it and re-vamp it ala The Continental in Denver, CO. Come to think of it, RO 7-8 is still standing too.
I remember that 11-12 closed in 1998. One of the last films to play there was “Lethal Weapon 4” I belive. And that was also in 9-10. 7-8 closed in October 05.
Say, are there any movies you can recall seeing in 9-10 aka 1-4? I’m curious to know. Some of mine are “True Lies”, “Die Hard With a Vengence”, and “Independence Day” in screen 10. Movies I saw in screen 9 aka 1 are “The Jackal”, “Titanic”, and “Blade” to name a few.
Was the original River Oaks Theatre in fact torn down? Or is it still sitting there?
My mistake, it should be January 2006 for 1 & 4 (later 9 & 10).
When the mall 1-6 was opened, 2 & 3 were closed. Theaters 1 & 4 became 9 & 10, theaters 5 & 6 became 11 & 12, theaters 7 & 8 retained their numbering.
The only ones still open is the mall 1-6. 2 & 3 closed in 1989, 5 & 6 (later 11 & 12) closed in the early 90’s, 7 & 8 in fall 2006, 1 & 4 (later 9 & 10) closed in January 2007.
I can’t really remember when they re-numbered but I am pretty sure 2 & 3 were always 2 & 3 so it would have happened after they closed. I am thinking it was re-numbered sometime in 1990 but that is a pure guess.
Say JRS40, when River Oaks Mall 1-6 opened in December 88, how soon after did the orginal theaters get re-numbered? And since it closed in the fall of 89, was RO 2-3 ever known as 13-14?