My friend Steve worked at Johnston & Murphy shoes, not Florsheim. I loved working at that mall. You could walk for hours; I’d never seen so many shops! I was always hanging out at Walden Books looking for movie stuff. My Mom’s second job was at Lord & Taylor so I could have whatever I wanted off the reduced rack plus employee discount. I worked in the stock room and the display dept. at Penny’s and never once used my employee discount! Ow! But I think we got reduced theater tickets as well, which was great. Still needed a ride, though!!!I remember getting lost in the parking lot looking for my Mom and my Grandmother after an evening of shopping. I became very anxious and,when I finally saw them in the distance, started to
tear up. It was cold and dark; I didn’t remember if we were in section A, B or AA or BB!!
“My Fair Lady” was the first and only time our family saw a film together; it was at the Arlington for over a year as we did not have a theater in Hoffman Estates until the following year. I could see the red neon sign for Arlington Park from my bedroom window at night. When they got to the Ascot Gavotte in the middle of the film I thought it took place at Arlington Park because of all the racetrack murals on the sidewalls of the theater interior. Still my favorite musical!
I just found ‘77 high school yearbook photos of Gerald Ford’s appearance in the center court of Woodfield Mall- B&W . There are pics somewhere of our choir doing a concert there as well. I was an usher at the Thunderbird in Hoffman Estates; wish I had photos of that!
Of course, living in Hoffman from 1961, we went to the Woodfield Mall when it opened-the world’s largest shopping mall. Three levels in the center court, a skating rink and a McDonalds; first time for a fast food restaurant in a mall. I worked at J.C. Penny and had friends that worked at Florsheim Shoes and Chess King.I performed in the court with HEHS choir. There was no theater inside at that time and the Woodfield 1 & 2 freestanding theaters were fabulous because they were new. I recall “The Poseidon Adventure” and “Grease” at this theater. I have not been to Woodfield since.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 1968, 3rd grade field trip from Hillcrest School in Hoffman Estates, IL. Nestle crunch bar with Laurie and her mother and I still have the program!
You Only Live Twice/Thunderball double-feature with my brother and his friend; House of Dark Shadows( I was only 10, so with my brother again!); Cabaret (at 12, changed my life); The Exorcist, with friend and his father insisted on going with us; Jaws, jumped out of my seat and screamed a lot- packed house/nightmares; A Star is Born; Network, at 16, the sight of Faye getting it on with William made me nauseous- I was an usher there in ‘74. I also worked at the Baskin-Robbins and the Service Merchandise after is was a Grants. Earlier, my Dad took me to the liquor store on Sunday and always bought me a pretzel stick. There was a German bakery next to that and Fabrini’s Flowers was there also. Left town in '78. Returned in '79 to see The Main Event with Steve and in '81 to see Yentl with Cathy.
It would be nice to restore all these places; The Broadway had rodents and was run down, but I LOVED it!
“The Turning Point” in the balcony X-mas, ‘77; the only way to see Barishnikov not-live!
Seeing Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” for the first time (in the ‘80’s) at the Orpheum was truly exciting; I’m thrilled for the restoration!
My friend Steve worked at Johnston & Murphy shoes, not Florsheim. I loved working at that mall. You could walk for hours; I’d never seen so many shops! I was always hanging out at Walden Books looking for movie stuff. My Mom’s second job was at Lord & Taylor so I could have whatever I wanted off the reduced rack plus employee discount. I worked in the stock room and the display dept. at Penny’s and never once used my employee discount! Ow! But I think we got reduced theater tickets as well, which was great. Still needed a ride, though!!!I remember getting lost in the parking lot looking for my Mom and my Grandmother after an evening of shopping. I became very anxious and,when I finally saw them in the distance, started to
tear up. It was cold and dark; I didn’t remember if we were in section A, B or AA or BB!!
“My Fair Lady” was the first and only time our family saw a film together; it was at the Arlington for over a year as we did not have a theater in Hoffman Estates until the following year. I could see the red neon sign for Arlington Park from my bedroom window at night. When they got to the Ascot Gavotte in the middle of the film I thought it took place at Arlington Park because of all the racetrack murals on the sidewalls of the theater interior. Still my favorite musical!
Wikipedia has good pics of the inside of the mall
I just found ‘77 high school yearbook photos of Gerald Ford’s appearance in the center court of Woodfield Mall- B&W . There are pics somewhere of our choir doing a concert there as well. I was an usher at the Thunderbird in Hoffman Estates; wish I had photos of that!
Of course, living in Hoffman from 1961, we went to the Woodfield Mall when it opened-the world’s largest shopping mall. Three levels in the center court, a skating rink and a McDonalds; first time for a fast food restaurant in a mall. I worked at J.C. Penny and had friends that worked at Florsheim Shoes and Chess King.I performed in the court with HEHS choir. There was no theater inside at that time and the Woodfield 1 & 2 freestanding theaters were fabulous because they were new. I recall “The Poseidon Adventure” and “Grease” at this theater. I have not been to Woodfield since.
The Empire Strikes Back and Poltergeist with Mike and Hank
Kiss of the Spiderwoman
On A Clear Day You Can See F O R E V E R!
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 1968, 3rd grade field trip from Hillcrest School in Hoffman Estates, IL. Nestle crunch bar with Laurie and her mother and I still have the program!
Nicholas and Alexandra, The Fiddler on the Roof, too
You Only Live Twice/Thunderball double-feature with my brother and his friend; House of Dark Shadows( I was only 10, so with my brother again!); Cabaret (at 12, changed my life); The Exorcist, with friend and his father insisted on going with us; Jaws, jumped out of my seat and screamed a lot- packed house/nightmares; A Star is Born; Network, at 16, the sight of Faye getting it on with William made me nauseous- I was an usher there in ‘74. I also worked at the Baskin-Robbins and the Service Merchandise after is was a Grants. Earlier, my Dad took me to the liquor store on Sunday and always bought me a pretzel stick. There was a German bakery next to that and Fabrini’s Flowers was there also. Left town in '78. Returned in '79 to see The Main Event with Steve and in '81 to see Yentl with Cathy.