While Chicago has loads of outdoor activities, sometimes an easy indoor entertainment choice is needed, and that's where Chicago's set of movie theatres comes in.
While downtown Chicago has a few of current hits in the movie theatre department, this wouldn't be a proper article without talking about the recent classics that have closed in the last several years.
The first "classic" of note is McClurg Court, which is still sitting empty on Ohio street after being closed for three years. While not up there with the movie palaces of yesteryear, McClurg Court was as close as it gets and easily held the title as the best theatre in the downtown area. While the 800-seat, THX-certified basement auditorium was pure moviegoing perfection, the two upper auditoriums were awfully nice, as well. Through the '90's and up until a couple of years before its close, McClurg was one of the top-grossing theatres in the country for many major films, such as "Titanic". When "Independence Day" opened, McClurg played it around the clock (literally, I took in a 6am screening) for the first few days of the film. When the AMC River East opened up a couple of blocks away, it spelled the end for McClurg (which was already starting to play movies that were at the end of their run) and, a few years ago, the end credits rolled on the theatre. It was deeply saddening for many moviegoers around town, but just as depressing is the fact that it still sits, unused (the last time I looked through the window, it appeared as if nothing had been done since the doors were last locked.) There were hints that it was going to become a live theatre, but those discussions apparently fell through.
Another classic is the Fine Arts, which was located on South Michigan Ave. in the Fine Arts building. A four-screen theatre that primarily played independent/foreign films, the Fine Arts is another example of business heading to newer theatres and another example of a great space that continues to go unused (at last check, the theatre still remains empty, and it's been closed longer than McClurg.) The theatre was originally opened in the early 1900's and although there appeared to have been some work since, the theatre began to fall into disrepair during its last years run by the Lowes Cineplex chain.
Other recent closures downtown: 900 N. Michigan (I believe it's now a health club), Water Tower 1-3 (re-opened, then closed again, now the Drury Lane live theatre), Water Tower 4-7, Chestnut Place, Burnham Plaza.
Current theatres in the downtown area:
1. AMC Theatres River East 21: The latest theatre to open is this sleek megaplex, which offers a few larger screens and a series of smaller auditoriums of varying size. Escalators take patrons up to a mid-sized lobby area where tickets are sold and lines form before being allowed up to the theatre area. The auditoriums offer comfortable stadium seating and digital sound. Although it must be said that none of the auditoriums equal what the nearby McClurg offered, River East is kept clean and its open public areas generally keep the place from seeming overly cramped during busier times. Has digital projection capability, although rarely seems to present films in DLP after a lengthy period of showing a specific film digitally on a fairly regular basis.
2. 600 North Michigan: Although a little difficult for some to find (the entrance is a block off Michigan Ave, on the corner of Rush and Ohio), then up two sets of escalators), 600 North Michigan has a lot to offer moviegoers these days, although it wasn't always that way. When the 9-screen, 3 floor theatre opened in the mid-90's, it was a lovely venue that not only offered a great moviegoing experience, but also offered great views of Michigan Ave. below. A few years later, the theatre still offered great views, but the moviegoing experience had declined as the theatre started to show signs of not being kept up well. Thankfully, a couple of years ago, Lowes/Cineplex decided to do a top-to-bottom rehab of the theatre, which included new screens, new floors, new seats and new lobby decor, among other additions. The result of months of work was a theatre that was once again a fresh and enjoyable place to catch a show. Has digital projection capability.
3. Navy Pier IMAX: This single-screen IMAX theatre is located near the front entrance of Navy Pier. With a stories-tall screen and a 10,000-watt sound system, the Navy Pier theatre certainly offers patrons an enveloping experience. The theatre now often features both shorter IMAX features and first-run feature films blown up via the DMR process for presentation on the large-format screen. The theatre's only issue is the fact that it does seem to attract quite a few noisy school groups.
4. Esquire: Also now under the AMC banner, this landmark theatre was originally one large auditorium, but was eventually broken up into six smaller auditoriums in the multiplex era. The theatre isn't the slickest of Chicago's multiplexes, but it is rather cozy, with a lovely marquee and comfortable seating in the theatres, which are small, but not too "boxy". The interior isn't as attractive as it once was before the theatre was turned into a multiplex, but at least it still retains a bit of an old-school feel, which is refreshing in an era of multiplexes. With a series of movie theatres closing up shop in the last few years, the Esquire has had moments where it looked like it could be the next to go, but it thankfully continues to stay open. UPDATE: This theatre closed in September, 2006 and is headed for the wrecking ball!
5. Gene Siskel Film Center: Re-named for the late film critic in 2000, this newer theatre is across from the legendary Chicago Theatre, and is now the only movie theatre in the loop area of downtown Chicago. One of the primary art-house showcases in the city, film festival screenings often take place here, as well as a mixture of classics, independents and more high-profile art films. Operating since June 2001 at 164 N. State St. , the Film Center moved to its own building after a long run at the Art Institute (previously the Film Center at the Art Institute.) Memberships are available and more information on can be found at http://www.siskelfilmcenter.org/
6: A new cinema is reportedly going to be built at Roosevelt and Clark in the South Loop!
Hopefully, others will add to this page and discuss their favorite theatres in other parts of the city, or other classics no longer in operation.
