The Des Plaines Theatre

Watching two silent films with live organ accompaniment at the Des Plaines Theatre was the highlight of my summer. There is nothing quite like seeing and hearing a movie from that era as its filmmakers intended, in a building constructed specifically for the purpose. Visitors will discover that there’s something special about standing in the glow of an art deco marquee as the sun sets on a clear night, though the theater as a whole exemplifies vintage charm, both inside and out.
In addition to movies, you can catch live music here or even rent it for an event (recently it has hosted a spelling bee and a birthday party). Unlike a chain multiplex, the Des Plaines Theater is in many ways a partner in its community. This week, for example, they’re showing a free Christmas movie for families following the Des Plaines tree-​lighting ceremony. Check the calendar on the web site to see the latest goings-​on and events.
Parking is free and easy, with both a parking garage and options for street parking just steps from the door. You can also find the Metra right across the street, as well as bike racks.

I remember visiting the Des Plaines Theater as a child, seeing second-​run movies for a few dollars. The screen was ripped and repaired with duct tape. The floor was so sticky, if you stood still too long, you might permanently fuse to the floor.
Now fast-​forward to 2013. The Des Plaines Theater hosted the Chicago Silent Film Society’s Summer Film Festival. The 1928 Art Deco plasterwork has been restored, and the stage is back. A live organist accompanied the film, and I could almost feel like I’d gone back in time. I look forward to seeing what’s to come for this jewel of the NW suburbs!

When I was 6 years old, the Des Plaines Theater was an unpleasant place. The interior was completely unlit, so until the movie came on, it was pitch black. It was sticky, smelled faintly of mold, and the inside was cramped, dark, and oppressive. Even my childhood naïveté was insufficient protection against its assault on all five of my senses.
It is precisely this memory of the theater’s descent to rock bottom that gives me such great pleasure at seeing how lovingly it has been restored. The stage and the plaster surrounding it is glorious. A large, black partition that had once divided the theater is gone, exposing the beautiful art deco stylings of the cavernous aisles, complete with seats donated by Radio City Music Hall. The marquee is back, the neon has been restored, and even the lobby is returning to the breathtaking condition it surely was in when the theater was opened in 1925.
Looking upon the refinished stage, one can easily picture vaudeville’s biggest names entertaining Des Plaines residents almost 90 years ago (and some of their signatures are still in the dressing rooms, uncovered during the restoration). The theater’s supporters have done an excellent job, and the community is lining up to have their events at the theater. I truly cannot wait to go back – the Des Plaines Theater is a veritable diamond in the rough.