Okay, here goes. I clearly remember driving down Rand Road heading North and approaching Palatine Road in 5th grade (1980). The “coming soon” signs for the new mall were in place and my mom said “Kids, remember what this looks like, it will never be the same after they build that mall”. Both sides of Rand Road at Palatine were still vacant farm fields and so hard to believe. I do know that Northpoint shopping center was up and running by then though. Cub foods didn’t arrive until 1984 as well as the adjoining Southpoint Mall. My mom had grown up just 3 blocks south of Town n Country on Thomas Street. I have home movies facing east from mom’s back yard in 1954 to what would later become the Town n Country property in 1981. Thomas St. was just a white stone dusty road at that time.
My Grandparents sold around 1968 as the country feel was fading fast with the new subdivisions sprouting up around them. With regards to the theater, I do remember seeing “Adventures in Babysitting” senior year at the Town n Country in June, 1987. The theaters were almost identical to the now shuttered Golf Glen Theatres in Niles (Cineplex Odeon style). Per a question above with regards to the interiors, as of today’s date, a very similar interior to Town n Country would be that of The Buffalo Grove theatres. Very similar. Just saw a movie there and it reminded me alot of the Town n Country theatres..not the lobby, but the theatres themselves. Hope this helps.
Perhaps out of all of the theaters I’ve been to, The Pickwick is by far my favorite. My parents had their first date there around 1960 and saw “The Ten Commandments”. My earliest memory is of seeing “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” sometime in the early 1970’s with my mom, dad and 2 sisters. I remember being intrigued as a kid by the art deco statues and designs by Park Ridge artist Ianelli. Somehow this place seemed like a set out of the “Wizard of Oz” and a wonder for any kid. I specifically remember seeing 1978’s “Grease” two times in a row and leaving as my sister wanted to stay with her friend for another showing. There was 1987’s “Dirty Dancing” as well as 1994’s “Forrest Gump” just to name a few. Perhaps my favorite memory is of a special screening of the Italian classic “Cinema Paradiso” in 2000. In the movie, a young boy named Toto goes to the local cinema to escape the usual duldrums of every day life. As he grows, silents turn to talkies, stars fade and times change, and Toto becomes a man. One day he comes back to the theater in his mid 40’s and remembers the theater that brought him so much joy throughout his life. Watching this one with it’s beautiful visuals and moving score brought back all of my memories of growing up at The Pickwick. “Cinema Paradiso’s” timeline is similar to that of The Pickwick’s life which I must say is pretty uncanny. In the end, like Cinema Paradiso, The Pickwick has survived it all. From silents to talkies, big band to rock n' roll, disco to punk, pop rock to grunge, and hip hop to rap. What some may not know is that locals Harrison Ford and Hillary Clinton lived just blocks from The Pickwick and I’m sure saw many films there. I myself saw countless films at The Pickwick and graduated with a degree in film from Columbia College in 1993. Since then, I’ve worked in film and television and have always dreamed that perhaps someday one of my films will be shown at The Pickwick. As I sit here at my desk, I’m looking up at the 75th anniversary plate from The Pickwick. What joy this place has brought so many people through all the years past. It is a Park Ridge treasure and a masterpiece of grandeur that I’m proud to call my favorite theater of dreams. Thanks for wowing us for all since November 26, 1928!!!
Joe Bartel, Jr.
Okay, here goes. I clearly remember driving down Rand Road heading North and approaching Palatine Road in 5th grade (1980). The “coming soon” signs for the new mall were in place and my mom said “Kids, remember what this looks like, it will never be the same after they build that mall”. Both sides of Rand Road at Palatine were still vacant farm fields and so hard to believe. I do know that Northpoint shopping center was up and running by then though. Cub foods didn’t arrive until 1984 as well as the adjoining Southpoint Mall. My mom had grown up just 3 blocks south of Town n Country on Thomas Street. I have home movies facing east from mom’s back yard in 1954 to what would later become the Town n Country property in 1981. Thomas St. was just a white stone dusty road at that time.
My Grandparents sold around 1968 as the country feel was fading fast with the new subdivisions sprouting up around them. With regards to the theater, I do remember seeing “Adventures in Babysitting” senior year at the Town n Country in June, 1987. The theaters were almost identical to the now shuttered Golf Glen Theatres in Niles (Cineplex Odeon style). Per a question above with regards to the interiors, as of today’s date, a very similar interior to Town n Country would be that of The Buffalo Grove theatres. Very similar. Just saw a movie there and it reminded me alot of the Town n Country theatres..not the lobby, but the theatres themselves. Hope this helps.
Perhaps out of all of the theaters I’ve been to, The Pickwick is by far my favorite. My parents had their first date there around 1960 and saw “The Ten Commandments”. My earliest memory is of seeing “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” sometime in the early 1970’s with my mom, dad and 2 sisters. I remember being intrigued as a kid by the art deco statues and designs by Park Ridge artist Ianelli. Somehow this place seemed like a set out of the “Wizard of Oz” and a wonder for any kid. I specifically remember seeing 1978’s “Grease” two times in a row and leaving as my sister wanted to stay with her friend for another showing. There was 1987’s “Dirty Dancing” as well as 1994’s “Forrest Gump” just to name a few. Perhaps my favorite memory is of a special screening of the Italian classic “Cinema Paradiso” in 2000. In the movie, a young boy named Toto goes to the local cinema to escape the usual duldrums of every day life. As he grows, silents turn to talkies, stars fade and times change, and Toto becomes a man. One day he comes back to the theater in his mid 40’s and remembers the theater that brought him so much joy throughout his life. Watching this one with it’s beautiful visuals and moving score brought back all of my memories of growing up at The Pickwick. “Cinema Paradiso’s” timeline is similar to that of The Pickwick’s life which I must say is pretty uncanny. In the end, like Cinema Paradiso, The Pickwick has survived it all. From silents to talkies, big band to rock n' roll, disco to punk, pop rock to grunge, and hip hop to rap. What some may not know is that locals Harrison Ford and Hillary Clinton lived just blocks from The Pickwick and I’m sure saw many films there. I myself saw countless films at The Pickwick and graduated with a degree in film from Columbia College in 1993. Since then, I’ve worked in film and television and have always dreamed that perhaps someday one of my films will be shown at The Pickwick. As I sit here at my desk, I’m looking up at the 75th anniversary plate from The Pickwick. What joy this place has brought so many people through all the years past. It is a Park Ridge treasure and a masterpiece of grandeur that I’m proud to call my favorite theater of dreams. Thanks for wowing us for all since November 26, 1928!!!
Joe Bartel, Jr.