Celebrate Christmas at the Movies
By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 28, 2011 10:30PM
The tickets to the sing-a-longs (which are now on sale) sell out fairly quickly, and there are some out there who would prefer to not sing about slushy sidewalks on State Street. For you, there are other options being screened in the upcoming in classic movie houses throughout the area.
- The Portage Theater has become a favorite among the Chicagoist staff. We can remember its nadir, when it was split into three screens and the bleed-through from a film's soundtrack was audible through the paper-thin walls. The theater and its proscenium was restored a few years back when Public Enemies was filming in Chicago, and the Portage is now capable of screening film and DVD. They're hosting a "Santa's Sunday" starting at noon on Dec. 11 starting at noon. the marathon of movies they'll be screening include Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol; The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas; Santa Claus Conquers the Martians; Ghost of Frankenstein (it wouldn't be a Portage screening without at least one Universal classic horror film); and Silent Running (that would be the Portage's requisite "WTF?" screening). Portage management also announced a free screening of A Christmas Story Dec. 17, time TBA. (4050 N. Milwaukee Ave.)
- For those of you who want to hiss at Old Man Potter on the screen without having to sing before, the Wilmette Theater screens It's a Wonderful Life at 7 p.m. Dec. 16. (1122 Central Ave., Wilmette)
- The Lake Theater (1022 Lake St., Oak Park) has a free screening of Miracle on 34th Street 10 a.m. Dec. 10.
- If you do want a pre-film sing-a-long, the Wurlitzer Organ at Downers Grove's Tivoli Theater will roar to life this Christmas. The Tivoli screens It's A Wonderful Life as 1:30 p.m. matinees Dec. 3 and 4; screenings of Holiday Inn at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Dec. 11; Remember the Night at 7 and 9 p.m. Dec. 12; The Lemon Drop Kid with Bob Hope Dec. 13 at 7 and 9:30 p.m.; four screenings of White Christmas Dec. 14 at 130 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.; and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Dec. 15 for 7p.m. and 9:30 p.m. screenings. All include pre-show sing-a-long with their Wurlitzer. (5021 Highland Ct., Downers Grove; $5 except for the 1:30 and 4 p.m. White Christmas screenings Dec. 14, which are $4.)