Edens Theater - Northbrook - USA

It opened in 1963 and, unfortunately, was demolished in 1994.

This futuristic-looking classic 60s-era movie house was a long-time landmark in suburban Northbrook, visible along the Edens Expressway (for which the theater was named) and Lake-Cook Road, both of which ran past the Edens. It was designed by the Chicago-based firm of Perkins and Will.




Built in 1963, and opening with “Divorce Italian Style”, the large Edens was inside a traditional movie theater, with a huge screen, complete with red curtains and a small stage area. The original color scheme was gold and off-white, with teak paneling.

However, the Edens' exterior was its real stunner, looking like something out of a 1950s sci-fi movie. It was called the largest “hyperbolic paraboloid” building ever constructed when it opened. The theater’s concrete roof curved sharply upwards on either end, rising dramatically skyward at each point. Its walls, of corrugated concrete, were broken up by long, undulating swaths of glass, along the entrance areas. The main lobby, which was sunken and reached by sets of stairs, featured then ultra-modern “living room” furniture and artwork.

In 1969, a slightly smaller (and far more ordinary-looking) second auditorium was built adjacent to the original theater. The theater was renamed the Edens I & II.

The once enormously popular Edens was shuttered by its last operator, Cineplex Odeon, in 1994, stating that the cost of refurbishing the aging twin was too prohibitive. The last two films on its marquee were “Time Cop” and “Milk Money”.

It was quickly snatched up by a developer, along with a nearby bowling alley and shops, and all were razed by the end of 1994. The Village Square of Northbrook shopping center now sits on the site of the Edens.

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/4528

This futuristic-looking classic 60s-era movie house was a long-time landmark in suburban Northbrook, visible along the Edens Expressway (for which the theater was named) and Lake-Cook Road, both of which ran past the Edens. It was designed by the Chicago-based firm of Perkins and Will.



Built in 1963, and opening with “Divorce Italian Style”, the large Edens was inside a traditional movie theater, with a huge screen, complete with red curtains and a small stage area. The original color scheme was gold and off-white, with teak paneling. However, the Edens' exterior was its real stunner, looking like something out of a 1950s sci-fi movie. It was called the largest “hyperbolic paraboloid” building ever constructed when it opened. The theater’s concrete roof curved sharply upwards on either end, rising dramatically skyward at each point. Its walls, of corrugated concrete, were broken up by long, undulating swaths of glass, along the entrance areas. The main lobby, which was sunken and reached by sets of stairs, featured then ultra-modern “living room” furniture and artwork.


In 1969, a slightly smaller (and far more ordinary-looking) second auditorium was built adjacent to the original theater. The theater was renamed the Edens I & II. The once enormously popular Edens was shuttered by its last operator, Cineplex Odeon, in 1994, stating that the cost of refurbishing the aging twin was too prohibitive. The theater lacked a state-of-the-art sound and projection system and was razed by the end of 1994.

[Note: When Star Wars was released on Wednesday, May 25, 1977 half of the people waiting in line were disappointed that the movie was sold out and turned away. A friend and I waited over 2 hours that Saturday, the 27th to get in to see Star Wars.]

https://plus.google.com/+NeilGale/posts/LpkVTEeNtzy