pickwick theater

The theaters are small, but the new seats are fabulous. Even tall people in front of you don't block your view. $5.00 for seniors is a great deal.

Decorated and put in new reclining chairs that I do not find comfortable. It's more like laying down. Sit up straight and enjoy the show. Now the Pickwick Restaurant is closed and no great place to eat before or after the show.

Pickwick offers comfortable seating and snacks at a much better price than the big chains. They carry current movies so you don't have to wait to enjoy the great prices.

The Pickwick Theater in Park Ridge is a landmark. When she was a teenager and attended nearby Maine South High School, Hillary Rodham Clinton and her friends attended the movies there and chewed on the buttery popcorn. It isn't the way it was for Hillary, however. Today, there are four screens. When my wife and I showed up, we had four blockbusters to choose from--American Sniper, Taken 3, Selma and Paddington. You can't see 'em all at once. Known for screening silent films and swashbucklers dating to the 1930s and 1940s as well as blockbusters, there's not a bad seat in the arc deco house and you can enjoy it all in the luxury of a plush rocking chair. The Pickwick opened in 1928 as a vaudeville stage and movie theatre. It is widely recognized for its marquee and 100-foot tower. The main auditorium, built to resemble an Aztec or Mayan temple, originally accommodated up to 1,400 people. It was named for the title character in Charles Dickens' novel The Pickwick Papers. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. In 1990, the theater was expanded by adding three new screens behind the original auditorium. New movies arrive every Friday and the newest movie usually is played in the main theatre for the first week and then is rotated throughout the three back theatres. The main auditorium now seats 1,000 with wider, new seats. Seating in the adjacent theatres are 180, 96 and 220. "Where the past comes to life," is the Pickwick's theme. It is the home of the Park Ridge Classic Film Series. Starting in 2009, the series has presented a wide variety of programs on subjects such as film noir, pre-Code Hollywood, silent film comedy, Art Deco set design and the Errol Flynn/swashbuckler genre of the 1930s and 1940s. Beginning in 2013, the theater began hosting its own monthly film series. An added bonus? After watching a film or two, you can walk down the block and order some fresh ice cream at the Oberweis store on Northwest Highway.

I like that it is small and personal. It is perfect for a date night after eating in Park Ridge. The popcorn was made fresh for the small group and the young people working there were personable and helpful.

A landmark of Park Ridge, this theater has very small screens and a small selection of films. On the upside they have recently installed new seats which recline enough to be comfortable, but not so much that you are bruising the kneecaps of the moviegoer behind you. They are also nicely cushioned. The whole place does feel archaic; I've seen bigger screens in private homes and the whole facility has a dingy feel.Nevertheless, this is a historic landmark for the area, and not a bad place to take in a film.

It's a beautiful building in the Uptown area. I went there for the 1st time and I was very disgusted. The carpet was sooooo dirty, sticky & popcorn everywhere! Yukkkkkk Teenagers do not know how act in a theater. I'd never return unless changes are made!

Recently saw a revival of the James Bond classic Goldfinger at the Pickwick. It is a splendid example of art deco architecture and exceptionally well preserved main theatre (where the screening took place). The seats have been updated and sight lines are good. Interior lighting really shows off the decor.

Wonderful old time movie theater. Great to see a popular first run movie here as you have a lot of people to share the experience with.

A friend of ours took us to this theater for a special 50th anniversary showing of the James Bond classic "Goldfinger." What a surprise. Walking into this beautiful theater was like stepping into the past. First of all, we were serenaded by a short pre-show concert on its mighty Wurlitzer organ. How wonderful. It even submerged into the orchestra pit after the concert, just like at Radio City Music Hall. In fact, even viewing the screen from afar in the large seating area, reminded us of many a movie experience in days gone by. I picked up this information about it from cinematreasures.org. "Designed by the firm of Zook & McCaughey, the 1,500-seat, Pickwick Theatre began life in 1928 as a vaudeville and movie house. In 1975, the theatre was named to the National Register of Historic Places, insuring its preservation as a cinema treasure. But it did not reach true acclaim until the theatre’s facade was used as the backdrop for the opening sequence of Siskel and Ebert’s “At the Movies” in the 1980’s." It's an art deco masterpiece, and it was fun catching a performance sponsored by http://parkridgeclassicfilm.com/.

I've been near this theater may times in my seven years living in Illinois. I'd never been in it before this year, when the Silent Film Society of Chicago hosted their summer film festival here (I'm so glad that the SFSC moved here for this summer; I would be ecstatic if they stayed her in the future).The theater is just beautiful. Art deco style and incredibly well preserved. Look up--you'll see the artistic elements extend throughout the interior of the entire structure. There is only one theatre, so it's not like a megaplex with 17 screens. The seats were some of the most comfortable movie theater seats I've been in, and they looked almost brand new. The Pickwick is air conditioned (seems given, but it's an old theatre and other similar theaters in Chicago don't necessarily have it). They have a small concessions stand in the lobby. There is one single-use unisex bathroom on the first floor, and the the larger mens and women's rooms are downstairs.Transportation is fantastic and easy if you take the Metra UP Northwest, as the stop is about three blocks from the theatre. Parking is available around the theatre, both on the street and in a parking lot behind the theatre (it's probably a paid lot, but I can't remember precisely). Street parking is free and you may park up to three hours.

This theater is a great place to watch a movie. Prices are very reasonable too. Great for a family outing. The place is really clean too. Plenty of places nearby to eat before or after a movie. Convenient free parking (street & lot). No frills but worth it.

Just a wonderful experience going to the Park Ridge Theater for a movie!!! Very cool looking building and right in the downtown area of Park Ridge. Plenty of places to stop and eat either before or after your movie!

Its a really fun place to go and see a movie. Its one of the most famous buildings in PR. if you ever come to PR you definetly have to come here.

Decent movies on a regular basis, but what keeps me coming back is the friendly, competent employees. Each one always says hello and acts like they are genuinely glad to see you. I would much prefer to support a local theater with convenient free parking than pay some huge movie conglomerate twice as much to see the same movie and then pay for parking too. The Pickwick is a neighborhood, family movie theater.