It should be noted that this theatre successfully competed with the Woodfield and One Schaumburg Place cinemas, as those were both operated by Cineplex Odeon (somewhat confusing in itself that Cineplex Odeon would operate two sets of theatres essentially next door to each other, this is probably why the Woodfield outlots and mall cinema were later closed). Once the One Schaumburg Place cinemas were also closed, the Rolling Meadows had the market essentially cornered… this was short-lived, however, after Sony and Cineplex merged with Loews, which then opened up the Streets of Woodfield in the former One Schaumburg Place building, with much better theatres than the Rolling Meadows offered.
Anyone know what’s going on with the Riv currently? There are only two shows booked, Devo on 9/24 and Monty Python 12/21 – 01/01. Perhaps it’s being restored? I found this note suggesting it might be under renovation. The last show I saw there was Air on 4/20, and it looked like there was new plaster restoration work going on in a few areas, so i’m guessing (hoping?) a restoration is underway.
Oddly enough, Streets of Woodfield is the very same building that was previously One Schaumburg Place. The old theaters, which I recall as being pretty decent for what they were, were located around where Carson Pirie Scott is now, on what was the second level of the mall. The mall was on the outskirts of Woodfield Mall, which contributed to the failure of One Schaumburg Place, which was poorly concieved and had the misfortune of most of its major tenants going into bankruptcy either as the mall opened or even before. The new shopping center is very successful, as an outdoor-type mall. The theatres are one of the better places to see a movie in the Northwest Suburbs, with stadium seating in rather unusual layouts, some seats even straddle the projection box. Sound and projection are generally pretty good, but the screen is curved rather annoyingly.
Actually the Mall, and almost certainly the theatres, still exist. There are signs heralding “The Redevelopment of Town & Country Mall”, but absolutely nothing is happening. The only remaining tenant in the mall is Old Country Buffet, I think. The street sign for the theater is still up, and the mall portion is still standing. It was an odd mall, there are several big-box stores (Best Buy, Marshalls, Dominicks, and the now-closed Lord and Taylor Outlet and Service Merchandise). It was essentially a strip mall, except with all the big boxes outside and the small stores inside… obviously a concept that didn’t work out well.
Interestingly enough, the building behind the former Echo Theatre (Which was located next to the First Bank Building in Downtown Des Plaines) appears to be the former stage/fly space. It is a tall, narrow building, and a roofline similar to a theatre’s house is evident. There is currently not much in either building, but the former theatre was attached via a bridge to the bank building in the mid-90s.
How can it have great acoustics if so little of the house remains? I’d imagine a lack of plaster or a ceiling cavity might affect the acoustics somewhat…
http://www.geocities.com/boc2400/thchicago1970.jpg An excellent shot of the State-Lake, Chicago, and Loop theatre marquees is visible in this 1970s Postcard
Here is a link to an excellent picture of the Tivoli
View link
It should be noted that this theatre successfully competed with the Woodfield and One Schaumburg Place cinemas, as those were both operated by Cineplex Odeon (somewhat confusing in itself that Cineplex Odeon would operate two sets of theatres essentially next door to each other, this is probably why the Woodfield outlots and mall cinema were later closed). Once the One Schaumburg Place cinemas were also closed, the Rolling Meadows had the market essentially cornered… this was short-lived, however, after Sony and Cineplex merged with Loews, which then opened up the Streets of Woodfield in the former One Schaumburg Place building, with much better theatres than the Rolling Meadows offered.
Anyone know what’s going on with the Riv currently? There are only two shows booked, Devo on 9/24 and Monty Python 12/21 – 01/01. Perhaps it’s being restored? I found this note suggesting it might be under renovation. The last show I saw there was Air on 4/20, and it looked like there was new plaster restoration work going on in a few areas, so i’m guessing (hoping?) a restoration is underway.
http://www.film-tech.com/pics/avon/avon.html some pics here
Oddly enough, Streets of Woodfield is the very same building that was previously One Schaumburg Place. The old theaters, which I recall as being pretty decent for what they were, were located around where Carson Pirie Scott is now, on what was the second level of the mall. The mall was on the outskirts of Woodfield Mall, which contributed to the failure of One Schaumburg Place, which was poorly concieved and had the misfortune of most of its major tenants going into bankruptcy either as the mall opened or even before. The new shopping center is very successful, as an outdoor-type mall. The theatres are one of the better places to see a movie in the Northwest Suburbs, with stadium seating in rather unusual layouts, some seats even straddle the projection box. Sound and projection are generally pretty good, but the screen is curved rather annoyingly.
This was opened as a Sony theater before being abosrbed by Loews/Cineplex.
Actually the Mall, and almost certainly the theatres, still exist. There are signs heralding “The Redevelopment of Town & Country Mall”, but absolutely nothing is happening. The only remaining tenant in the mall is Old Country Buffet, I think. The street sign for the theater is still up, and the mall portion is still standing. It was an odd mall, there are several big-box stores (Best Buy, Marshalls, Dominicks, and the now-closed Lord and Taylor Outlet and Service Merchandise). It was essentially a strip mall, except with all the big boxes outside and the small stores inside… obviously a concept that didn’t work out well.
Interestingly enough, the building behind the former Echo Theatre (Which was located next to the First Bank Building in Downtown Des Plaines) appears to be the former stage/fly space. It is a tall, narrow building, and a roofline similar to a theatre’s house is evident. There is currently not much in either building, but the former theatre was attached via a bridge to the bank building in the mid-90s.
How can it have great acoustics if so little of the house remains? I’d imagine a lack of plaster or a ceiling cavity might affect the acoustics somewhat…
The Des Plaines is again open. For more information, visit http://www.desplainesperformingartscenter.org/