I lived in Chicago from 1983-91 and just discovered this week that the Fine Arts had closed, years ago. So sad. Though I worked in a number of theatres, from Water Tower Place to McClurg Court while in college, my favorite to actually see films was the Fine Arts. I befriended one of the managers and we’d let each other into screenings at our respective film houses. I still remember seeing everything there from Stop Making Sense (after I moved to NY, I lived two blocks away from David Byrne and would see him regularly riding a bike with his kids and always thought of him in that film) to Sid and Nancy to Manon of the Spring. Would take ballet classes upstairs, catch a flick on my way out, then a quick bite and cup of coffee to perk me up for a night out at Exit (when it was still on Wells), Smart Bar or 950. Damn fine memories.
I lived in Chicago from 1983-91 and just discovered this week that the Fine Arts had closed, years ago. So sad. Though I worked in a number of theatres, from Water Tower Place to McClurg Court while in college, my favorite to actually see films was the Fine Arts. I befriended one of the managers and we’d let each other into screenings at our respective film houses. I still remember seeing everything there from Stop Making Sense (after I moved to NY, I lived two blocks away from David Byrne and would see him regularly riding a bike with his kids and always thought of him in that film) to Sid and Nancy to Manon of the Spring. Would take ballet classes upstairs, catch a flick on my way out, then a quick bite and cup of coffee to perk me up for a night out at Exit (when it was still on Wells), Smart Bar or 950. Damn fine memories.