Diana Cinemas

Washington Square Mall (which was across the street from a historic racetrack) was plagued by anchor closings as I remember it. Service Merchandise was close to the Diana, so when that closed it affected foot traffic in the area. When foot traffic was diminished sales did too, so the owner seemed not to re-invest in the property which as I remember it was heavily made of cinder blocks and which made the demolition process quite a challenge. I do not remember experiencing any hassles whatsoever at this Mall, but it seemed to serve as an al fresco place to hang out for many people as I believe it was a bus stop on our Chicago area PACE Bus line. Saw many a Columbia Pictures film at the red-red-red Diana Theatre. Great place to see a motion picture. Saw just one when it converted to a discount theatre. The sound and theatre were fine, it was just a very poor booking which cable probably would have rejected. Had the owner been able to sustain stores I think the Diana would have survived and not been required to convert to a sub-standard discount house. The acreage is now primarily big-box stores (Menards, Home Depot, Target and Jewel-Osco) and doing very well.

I remember going there a few times, and remember seeing Seems Like Old Times at a birthday party there. Years later I saw Coming To America and I believe it was second rate then. I also went to its sister theater Brementowne in Tinley Park which was around long after Diana (and Washington Mall).

Gala Opening Chicago Tribune September 18, 1975 print ad image added, courtesy of the Chicago’s Extinct Businesses Facebook page.

Essaness managers said that the Diana was named after Alan Silverman’s wife. She was also allegedly responsible for the restroom tile choices in many of the Essaness locations.

I had lost track of the situation at Washington Square Mall after I left the area. Sad to hear it went into such a precipitous decline and finally was torn down. I was the Assistant Manager and then Acting Manager from early in 1978 to late 1980. At the time Essaness Theatres was the second largest chain in the Chicago area. It was a great first job after working on my AA in business. In 1978 they had just divided the Twin into one of the first mulitplex theaters — after the remodel boasting four screens. The Essaness folks usually did the details well,and yes, the Diana was red plush everything.

Mentioned in April 1985 BOXOFFICE about Plitt taking over and building a 4-Plex in Fox Valley Shooping Center in Aurora.

“Red Plush Everything” You nailed it! We used to get dropped off at that mall and hang out at the arcade next door all day.

I remember freaking out because the ticket price to see Mosquito Coast was close to $7 near the end of it’s first run heyday. They should have never gone second run, they didn’t hire good security. I think I saw Hellraiser II near the end and the place was pretty empty. Such a shame as this was a good size theater in a decent little mall. I know somebody down here has to still have some photos of the mall or even the Diana.

Why was this theatre named the Diana?

This didn’t close in 1993. I was looking at some microfilm at the library today, and I saw the Diana listed 10/14/94 in the Cineplex Odeon directory. Price was $2.00 at all times.

I ventured out to the Washington Square Mall last night only to discover that not only is the theater gone, the entire mall is gone. It appears that most if not all the mall was razed and rebuilt. Chain stores such as Target, Home Depot, and Office Max occupy the land along with several smaller stores. There is no indoor mall to speak of anymore and even the Washington Square Mall name has been changed. One restaurant that sits just off of Halsted is still there and still called the Washington Sqaure Restaurant. Sadly, there is no indication that a theater ever sat on that spot.