Chicagoist: Last Chance To See A Movie at the Esquire Tonight

jared

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 15:16:36 -0600

Dang, I had no idea about the 3 Penny...I haven't been anywhere in the DePaul area since April or May, and was in the midst of a long trip abroad when this article ran on Chicagoist. The Biograph and 3 Penny were never GREAT theaters, but I saw lots of great films there. Same goes for the Esquire. I still feel it could have been a great theater, even in today's market with some serious refreshing. Landmark at the Century would have been an ideal template. Suckage...

RS

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 15:12:24 -0600

This may date me, but I remember the Esquire when it was one 1400 seat auditorium. Let me add, one BEAUTIFUL 1400 seat auditorium with balconies and classic ornamentation. Only part of the lobby and the staircase railings even hint at the original grandeur of the place. The last time I was there with the theater in it’s original condition was in 1984 for the long version of ‘Once Upon a Time in America’, and the place was a stunner (and so was the movie, for that matter). The 1989 ‘re-model’ which consisted of chopping it up into 6 ugly, non-functional and poorly designed screening areas was most unfortunate. It literally wrecked the place. Even more unfortunate is the way that any kind of maintenance was neglected for the last 17years so that NO ONE is now sad to see it go. Kind of parallels the slipping film quality during those same 17 years, come to think of it…

Matt

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 14:29:08 -0600

That's funny they're showing Monster's Ball in that picture, because that's where I saw that movie. Okay, maybe that's not funny, just, how you say, coincidence. That is not my Corolla out front however.

Jeff

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 13:44:21 -0600

I went with my wife to the Esquire to see the Bettie Page movie, and there was exactly one other person in the theater with us. I think it was a Thursday night, too.

geekgrrl

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 13:27:43 -0600

the Admiral..! ah, my first strip club experience... the memories. *fond sigh*

FernLaPlante

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 13:05:06 -0600

The Esquire sucked. The last movie I saw there was "As Good As It Gets" and the projectionist and a friend talked LOUDLY through the entire film, which could be clearly heard by the back 1/3 of the theater. When I complained I was told that he was "training a new employee" - sure, if training consists of chatting about some hot chick in concessions. Not to mention that the place was filthy, the seats were all broken and the entire building smelled like urine. Glad to see it finally getting shuttered.