Comments from sholleran

Showing 4 comments

sholleran
sholleran commented about Tivoli Theatre on Aug 19, 2004 at 11:55 am

This theater is a movie treasure on many levels. According to the Chicago Tribune a few years back, the Tivoli has the second largest screen in the Chicago metro area (a historic movie palace in Chicago being first) so for that over-whelming huge visual experience this is the place in suburban Chicago. Plus, 70mm projection for high quality, Dolby Digital sound, and restored art-deco architecture – they have it all. It’s so wide they have five aisles with plush seats including cupholders on a modestly sloped floor.

FYI – see this theater for yourself, at least once. I regularly drive the 30 minutes from Batavia to enjoy it, especially for big budget special effects flicks. Ticket prices half or less of the mall theaters, fair snackbar prices with cheap popcorn & soda refills, a wonderful old theater.

sholleran
sholleran commented about Ogden 6 Theatre on Aug 19, 2004 at 11:41 am

When I was a kid in the 70’s & 80’s this was the modern alternative to the declining Cinema in downtown Naperville. I saw Star Wars at least 3 times at the Ogden 6, which at the time was a better experience due to superior sound although the screens were relatively small. Since then, it has become a cheapie second-run theater, slightly run down, priced at one time around $1.50, I believe.

In many ways the AMC Ogden 6 / Barrington 6 were the precursor of todays movie supermegagiga-plexes, AMC Cantera 30 Warrenville and AMC 30 South Barrington. No accident that both generations came from AMC, I am sure, or that each is located with a couple miles of the 6’s.

sholleran
sholleran commented about Geneva Theatre on Aug 19, 2004 at 11:29 am

It became 2 smaller screens I believe, with one later rearranged to have fewer seats behind long, low bar surfaces or with low round cocktail tables between them. More upscale snacks, beer, wine, and cocktails were available, and I think they briefly had pre-show cocktail waiters/waitresses.

The Geneva Theater and the block it resides on was featured in the Tom Hanks film, “Road to Perdition” for it’s authentic 30’s appearance. Minor alterations to a few modern storefronts and a cast of Model A’s & T’s transformed the entire block into 1930 midwest America. Directly across the street from the theater is the large half-round window into the “hotel room” of one of the characters, from which I recall the movie watcher views the street scene including the theater facade.

sholleran
sholleran commented about Hi-Lite 30 Drive-In on Aug 19, 2004 at 11:18 am

The link for the theater is http://www.novacinemas.com/listing.cfm?ID=12.00000