Business & Tech
La Grange Theatre Remains Nostalgic After Many Years
Renovations in 2004 didn't strip the theater of its old-timey feel. In fact, an incredible find—a ceiling mural—was uncovered during the renovations and added to that atmosphere.
In an ever-changing downtown landscape, the La Grange Theatre stands out as a historic and cultural landmark, proudly announcing its town name atop the old-timey marquee.
That atmosphere is one the theater owners try to capture, from the manual marquee-changing to the low number of screens (four) and showing movies on 35mm film. And, of course, the price point.
"When you come here, you immediately feel nostalgic," manager Stanley Sobyra said.
Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.
He came to the theater in 2004, when the plans to renovate it were being put in place. But that classic vibe was something important to keep intact. And the renovations actually uncovered a ceiling mural that once sat overhead live theater actors.
Write a review of the La Grange Theatre.
Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.
The La Grange Theatre was built in 1925 and originally featured live plays, bringing some of the most popular acts of the time to town. It was converted to motion pictures in the late 1940s, and it wasn't until 1994 that the theater expanded to it's current set of four screens.
Sobyra, who grew up in Brookfield, remembers going to movies there as a kid, including super hero movies such as Superman.
"Working here brought back lots of good memories," he said. His background is in hospitality, but he was excited to get into the movies.
At the second-run theater, Sobyra said he enjoys monitoring which movies are popular and fit well with the audience members who come from all over the suburbs.
"It's a more personal customer service," he said. "It's a very comfortable experience for families."
But the commitment, of course, is always to La Grange.
"It's really important to be here and be a part of the downtown,' Sobyra said. "It really ties into peoples' nights, because they come here and go to dinner or go shopping. It's just a perfect fit in the community."
Get news alerts and Facebook updates from these Patch sites:
- La Grange/La Grange Park newsletter and La Grange Patch Facebook
- Western Springs newsletter and Western Springs Patch Facebook
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
