La Grange bets theater restoration brings revenue

I like the location of this theater.

I grew up in LaGrange and spent many a weekend or evening at the theater. It's hard to believe it's been 25 years since the second screen was added. The place has really fallen apart in the last 10 years or so and I'm looking forward to see what comes of the renovation.

We live down by Blue Island and make the trip up there about once a month to see movies, Love that theatre!

It`s a Great Idea. I Lived in La Grange from 1970-1983 and now live in the city. The theater was always great to go to. It was cheap and Beautiful but i went a couple years ago and it was getting very old and rundown looking and i thought for sure it`s life span was almost over but then i read this!!! I cant wait!

all you need to do is drive down York road in Elmhurst to see what a clean, updated, vibrant theater can bring to a town.

This place was a disaster just a few years ago so rock on with your bad selves and get 'er done! I'll def bring my fam.

I have to remind you all about the Pickwick Theater in Park Ridge. It is a wonderful little business that has been going strong FOREVER!

It is fantastic to see a village maintaining it's downtown-area movie theater! So many towns lost their movie theaters as the megaplexes showed up.

Plus, that stretch of LaGrange Road has been so completely revitalized with restaurants and entertainment that the renovated theater will be a welcome addition.

I'm looking forward to summer 'dinner-and-a-movie' nights in LaGrange.

I spent my childhood going to this movie house when it was still one screen and the amazing ceiling was intact. I spent more time gazing at the ornaments and artwork than the screen I think! THANK GOODNESS for this revitalization venture. I can't wait to go back (though I might miss that cramped but classic red ladies' room tucked into that wee corner!)

moo wrote:

I have to remind you all about the Pickwick Theater in Park Ridge. It is a wonderful little business that has been going strong FOREVER!

I lived in Park Ridge, I live in Lagrange. Twin towns, same type of people same attitudes lotsa money to waste. Comparison would turn out identical.

Thank goodness they are adding new bathrooms! I've started going to that theater 25 years ago and the restrooms were old then.

Aside from the renovation, another good reason to go there is the new Francesca's across the street. Yummmm....

I grew up in LaGrange mid 50's through early 70s. I especially remember the Monday matinees in the early to mid 60's. 50 cents got you a ticket, a box of popcorn and a drink from the soda/pop machine. they did special jprograms for kids on Saturday mornings.

My husband and I are HUGE fans of the LGT. For the price of one movie ticket at a regular theater, we can see it at the LGT, AND get popcorn and soda to boot! They've eventually gotten just about every movie I've wanted to see, and I don't mind waiting a couple of months. It's also in a great location, near plenty of shops and restaurants--including the fantastic Palmer Place, and now a Francesca's right across the street--so we can easily make a nice date out of it.

We loved paying $2, but when they raised their price to $3.50, we still thought it was fair....$5 does, too. You're still seeing a quality movie on the big screen, after all. We always wondered how they could pay the bills, only charging $2.

I'm excited to see what the renovations look like!!

****should have said "$5 IS, too." Oops.

Oh, and I'm thrilled about the addition of more restroom stalls in the women's room. You really can never go wrong with that.:)

Now that is a great example of a city
trying to provide a venue for the
enjoyment of it's residents, not one
trying to buy some pie-in-the-sky
future "sporting event".
Way to go LaGrange and when I pass thru I'll at least pop in for a bag of
popcorn even if I can't stay for the
movie (smile)

This is fantastic! The two trustees that voted against it are blind! This will help the downtown area! Where the theater is needs to be cleaned up and renovated! I always look where the theater is and all of downtown is nice till you get by the theater its grimy and dirty!! I live in La Grange and this will help DTL (downtown La Grange) alot!!! Can't wait!!!

I am 64 years old and was raised in Lyons, a stones throw from LaGrange. I went to this theater from the time I was six years in 1950 until I moved to Westmont in 1974. When I was a teen I took the Westtown Bus for a 10 cents and I think it was 50 cents to get into the theater. My friends and I met many boys there. Sitting in the balcony was great fun. We went there on my first date. So I have many fond memories of the place. But I remember the area from years ago and I don't like the changes. I want to remember it the way it was.

I finally told my wife I will never see a movie at La Grange Theatre again after yet another movie was ruined by loud, obnoxious movie-goers with no respect for thier fellow viewers. LGT needs to assure that thier customers are able to enjoy the movie or all of this is for nothing.

Rot and Rizner Rock!

- Johnny 3:16

I grew up in LaGrange in the 70's and 80's. What a great theatre!! I remember bringing my own popcorn and candy from the 7-11 and watching "Grease", "Heaven Can Wait" and many, many others! In the 90's the floor was disgusting and sticky. One only can imagine how many years it went without a thorough cleaning! But it's a classic theatre. So, I'm very excited to hear about the restoration for the Village of LaGrange!

I now live in Elmhurst and was raised in LaGrange Park.

As a kid, I'd seen many movies in the LG theater...back in the day when they'd check to see if you were 17 (an adult in line scored my tkt for Apocolypse Now when I was 13). When visiting, I see it wasn't what it used to be.

The York Theater brings huge crowds to downtown Elmhurst on weekend nights and a steady weekday stream.

A vibrant LG Theater would anchor the south side of the downtown strip and give every business between it and the tracks a boost.