Matthew Hoffman’s article on the 100th anniversary of the M-G-M studio is the cover story in the current Spring 2024 issue of Nostalgia Digest magazine.
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Matthew Hoffman made his second appearance on the “Steve & Johnnie” show on WGN Radio on April 6, 2024.
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We get asked the same questions about the status of the theatre. The following points are the only ones you need to remember. As of January 2024: 1) The Pickwick Theatre has not closed nor will it close. 2) The Pickwick Theatre building was never for sale. 3) There will be a new tenant (one who will abide by the terms of the lease). We don’t know who that tenant is yet. It’s been a year-long process finding the right party. 4) The MEGA-screen will come down at some point. 5) The Pickwick Theatre will continue to present classic movies. Behind the MEGA-screen is the old screen and stage we used until 2018. 6) The Pickwick Theatre Classic Film Series program has lasted 10 years. We plan on continuing!
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The Pickwick Theatre Classic Film Series will return for its tenth season on August 23, 2023, with a screening of E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982). The “official” Opening Night will follow on September 13, 2023. Both shows will be presented on the Mega-screen, which will come down the third week of September. All screenings afterward will be presented on our old screen.
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Our screening of The Road Warrior (Mad Max 2) on March 29, 2023, is scheduled to be our last presentation on the Pickwick’s Mega-screen.
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Thank you to the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate for their article in the December 29, 2022, issue. For the complete article: Click Here!
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The Pickwick Theatre will be closing its doors on January 15, 2023.
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There was an article on our ninth season of classic movies in the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate (Sept. 15, 2022). Click Here!
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On September 21, 2022, we will welcome the daughter of actress Karen Black, Diane Bay, as a special guest. She will be discussing her new book, Finding Karen Black: Roots Become Wings.
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Thank you to Brian and the Chicago Bluesmobile for making our Closing Night all the more special! From June 15, 2022:
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Thank you to the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate (Sept. 2, 2021) for their article on the return of the Pickwick Theatre Classic Film Series. Click Here!
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In anticipation of our 40th anniversary screening of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) at the Pickwick Theatre on September 15, 2021, the Park Ridge Public Library will present an Indiana Jones exhibit throughout August. Be sure to visit “Indiana Jones and the 40th Anniversary” on the second floor of the library. This display of collectibles and memorabilia will be up only during the month of August.
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The Park Ridge Public Library unveiled a new blog on their website called PRPL Focus. We will occasionally have film articles on there– written by film series host Matthew Hoffman. To view the blog, Click Here! In addition, during the current pandemic, the Library is offering the “Library Line” phone service for those patrons who do not have Internet access. Each day of the week will offer something fun for patrons. To hear “Movie Mondays with Matt,” call 847-220-7053.
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Thank you to Marty Maloney, Mayor of Park Ridge, for the shout-out!
“If you are looking for something to do tonight and don’t mind braving the elements, head to Moonstruck (1987) at the Pickwick Theatre, which will be playing tonight! While I have your attention, how about a quick shout-out to Matthew C. Hoffman, who is the driving force behind the Classic Film Series that runs here in Park Ridge. Thank you Matthew, and thank you to the Pickwick for putting these on for us. It the movies are something which we all look forward to seeing back on the ‘big screen.'”
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Thank you to the “Chicago Bacon Grabbers” for having Park Ridge Classic Film Host Matthew Hoffman introduce the Laurel & Hardy films as part of their 50th anniversary. This event was held on December 14, 2019, at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, IL.
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Thank you to the First Division Museum at Cantigny (in Wheaton, IL) for the lobby display on November 13, 2019. We had a military patch that belonged to astronaut Michael Collins during his historic Apollo 11 flight.
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Thank you to Jennifer Johnson for the continued coverage of the Keir Dullea visit to the Pickwick Theatre. From the Sept. 26, 2019, issue of the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate:
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Thank you to the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate (Sept. 10, 2019) and the Park Ridge Journal (Sept. 10, 2019) for their articles on the Pickwick Theatre’s screening of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Also, thank you to the Chicago Tribune (Sept. 16, 2019) for their article on Keir Dullea!
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Actor Keir Dullea (2001: A Space Odyssey) was interviewed on the “Bill and Wendy Show” (WGN radio) about his appearance at the Pickwick Theatre Classic Film Series. From Sept. 16, 2019: Click Here!
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The Autumn 2019 issue of the Nostalgia Digest features a cover story on The Wizard of Oz by Matthew C. Hoffman!
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Actor Keir Dullea (2001: A Space Odyssey) will visit Park Ridge on Sept. 18, 2019!
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Visit “The James Bond Experience” at the Park Ridge Public Library! The exhibit will be up through June 2019!
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Thank you to Chicago magazine (March 2019) for listing the Pickwick Theatre Classic Film Series in their “Best of the suburbs” section! Click Here!
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The Pickwick Theatre is honored to have Chicago’s own Maggie McEldowney, the 2016 International Rose of Tralee, as our special guest on March 13, 2019!
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Our “Megatheatre” premiere with guest Sara Karloff made the front page of the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate (10/25/18).
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Park Ridge Classic Film Program Host Matthew Hoffman will give a presentation on “Powell & Pressburger” at the Northbrook Public Library on November 6, 2018, at 7 PM.
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The Pickwick Theatre Classic Film Series will welcome Sara Karloff, daughter of Boris Karloff, on October 18, 2018!
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Don’t miss the “Eighth Wonder Turns 85” exhibit at the Park Ridge Public Library. The King Kong display will be up throughout February!
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Thank you to Bruce Ingram and the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate for their article on our tenth film program at the Park Ridge Public Library! Our series starts March 1, 2018! Click Here!
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Be sure to pick up a copy of the Winter 2018 issue of the Nostalgia Digest for an article on 1933’s King Kong by Matthew C. Hoffman. The Pickwick Theatre Classic Film Series will be presenting an 85th anniversary screening of King Kong on March 15, 2018.
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Thank you to the Park Ridge Public Library for setting up the “green screen” for our Home Alone screening on Nov. 30, 2017. We had hundreds of kids in attendance. To see all the photos, Click Here!
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Thank you to Bruce Ingram of Pioneer Press for his article in the Sept. 7, 2017 issue of the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate!
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Thank you to Bill Zwecker of the Chicago Sun-Times and Dann Gire of The Daily Herald for their coverage of our 50th anniversary screening of You Only Live Twice!
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Thank you to Lee Litas of the Chicago Tribune for her coverage in the Feb. 23, 2017 issue of the Park Ridge Herald Advocate! Click Here!
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Thank you to Bruce Ingram and the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate for their write-up on Vertigo in the February 2, 2017 issue.
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Thank you to Turner Classic Movies for listing our Kirk Douglas Centennial on their website!
And thank you to the Daily Herald for mentioning the Spartacus screening!
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There is a great interview with Lana Wood and her appearance in Park Ridge at rogerebert.com!
Also, thank you to the Park Ridge Journal for covering her appearance!
And the Chicago Tribune!
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Thank you to Bruce Ingram for his great write-up in the Sept. 8, 2016 issue of the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate! Click Here!
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Our 60th anniversary screening of The Searchers on September 15, 2016, made national news on TCM! Click Here!
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Beginning September 2016, the Pickwick Theatre Classic Film Series will offer a 2 PM matinee screening of our classic films. This is intended to attract more seniors. Admission will be $6 for all seats. The 7:30 PM screening (which will have all the extras) will continue to be $10 ($8 advance). There will no longer be a senior rate for the evening show.
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Our screening of Captain Blood made it into the June 2, 2016 issue of the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate!
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Our screening of Captain Blood on May 17, 2016, made national news on TCM! Click Here!
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On February 20, 2016, Matthew Hoffman received the 2015 Park Ridge Community Star Award. We would like to thank the Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce for recognizing Park Ridge Classic Film!
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Thank you to Nina Metz for her half-page article on our 75th anniversary screening of Citizen Kane! (Chicago Tribune: Feb. 5, 2016)
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This February be sure to visit the Park Ridge Public Library’s display on Laurel & Hardy. Thank you to Marcia Opal of the Chicago Bacon Grabbers for this exhibit. The Library’s spring film series, “Legends of Laughter II: The Comedy Teams,” begins March 3, 2016.
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Program Host Matthew Hoffman is a recipient of the 2015 Park Ridge Community Star Award due to his work with Park Ridge Classic Film.
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Part II of the Donnie Dunagan article is now available! Read about Donnie’s 2014 visit to Park Ridge in Filmfax #142!
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We are now on Twitter! Follow us @PRClassicFilm!
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Program Host Matthew Hoffman and The Pickwick Theatre Classic Film Series are mentioned in the current issue of Filmfax magazine (#141) in an article on actor Donnie Dunagan. Donnie was our special guest at the Pickwick in October 2014. The July-Sept. 2015 issue is the first of a two-part article on Donnie. There should be more about his memorable visit with us in the next issue!
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The Silent Film Society of Chicago will be presenting their “Silent Summer” film series at the Pickwick Theatre on Thursday nights from July 30-Sept. 3, 2015. For more information: www.silentfilmchicago.com
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Park Ridge Classic Film Host Matthew Hoffman will moderate a Q&A with Lisa Ryan, daughter of actor Robert Ryan, and author/critic Jim Jones on Sunday, May 31, 2015, at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago. The discussion will follow a noon screening of the film noir classic The Set-Up (1949). Copies of Jim Jones’ new book, The Lives of Robert Ryan (2015), will be available for purchase.
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We are grateful to Turner Classic Movies for listing our Colleen Moore Event on their website! Click Here!
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Thank you to Bruce Ingram of Pioneer Press and Nina Metz of the Chicago Tribune for their coverage of Beatlemania in Park Ridge! And thank you to Terri Hemmert of WXRT for mentioning our screening of A Hard Day’s Night!
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Cinema of Transcendence will be extended one week. The spring film series was originally going to conclude on May 28, 2015. However, another show has been recently added. The series will instead end on June 4 with a special presentation of One Foot in Heaven (1941).
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The Park Ridge Public Library Classic Film Series will return on March 5, 2015, with Cinema of Transcendence. For a sneak preview, be sure to visit the second floor display case at the Library during the month of February!
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In the January 1, 2015 issue of the Daily Herald film critic Dann Gire listed the Pickwick Theatre in his “Best of” section of historic theatres. Dann mentioned the Park Ridge Classic Film Series and our recent 75th anniversary screening of Gone With the Wind. Other theatres listed were the Catlow Theatre (Barrington), the Tivoli Theatre (Downers Grove), and the Music Box (Chicago). “See a movie in a palace with personality.”
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Thank you to The Chicagoist for listing our 50th Anniversary screening of Goldfinger in their “Favorite Film Revivals of 2014”!
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Check out the next Golden Age of Hollywood Show on Saturday, April 11, 2015, at the Holiday Inn (5300 W. Touhy) in Skokie from 8:30 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. It’s the only Hollywood collectibles show in the Midwest! Our friends have been doing these shows for many years, and we hope for many more to come. Admission is only $5/Children are free. For more information, contact Frank at (773) 350-1714 or visit www.goldenageofhollywoodshow.com.
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Program host Matthew Hoffman returned to The Nick Digilio Show on WGN Radio to discuss the 75th anniversary screening of Gone With the Wind at the Pickwick Theatre on December 4, 2014. Matthew also opened up about the 2015 classic film program at the Park Ridge Public Library. Click Here!
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Our 75th anniversary screening of Son of Frankenstein received national exposure when Turner Classic Movies listed the Pickwick Theatre on their October movie news spotlight! Click Here!
We were featured on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight “Artbeat” blog! Click Here!
Thank you to Bruce Ingram for his preview in the Oct. 30, 2014 issue of the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate. Click Here!
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Thank you to Nina Metz and the Chicago Tribune for the terrific article in the October 24, 2014 edition! Click Here!
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Thank you to Bruce Ingram of Pioneer Press for his wonderful write-up in the Sept. 18, 2014 issue of the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate.
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Thank you to one of our fans, Robert Harrison, for putting together this promo video for us:
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Thank you to Alex Hernandez for his in-depth interview with Matthew Hoffman in the June 26, 2014 issue of The Niles Bugle. Click Here!
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Thank you to the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate for their June 19, 2014 follow-up story on the Park Ridge Public Library Classic Film Series and our tribute to actress Irene Dunne! To read the full article, Click Here!
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Visit the Gone With the Wind display this June at the Park Ridge Public Library and see the movie this fall at the Pickwick Theatre!
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Thank you to the Chicago Art Deco Society Magazine for an article on the 2012 “Screen Deco” film series at the Park Ridge Public Library. The article appears in the Spring 2014 issue:
http://www.chicagoartdecosociety.com/magazine
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Thank you to Jennifer Johnson of Pioneer Press for her article on the Irene Dunne show at the Park Ridge Public Library. The story appeared in the May 29, 2014 edition of the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate. Click Here!
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The Pickwick Theatre Classic Film Series will return September 2014, but you don’t have to wait till the fall to see a great film at the Pickwick. Don’t miss the Silent Film Society of Chicago’s summer series, which runs from July 17-August 21. We plan to announce our September opener at their last show on August 21. To see the complete SFSC schedule, be sure to visit: http://www.silentfilmchicago.com/events.htm
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Thank you to Chicago Tonight/WTTW for mentioning the Tyrone Power Centennial event! Click Here!
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Thank you to Turner Classic Movies! Our Tyrone Power Centennial event was listed as a “Top News Story” on the TCM website! Click Here!
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Thank you to Nina Metz and the Chicago Tribune for giving Tyrone Power the full-page treatment on 4/25/14! To read the full article, Click Here!
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The Tyrone Power Centennial Event on May 1 will also be the American debut of Romina Power’s memoir/biography, Searching For My Father, Tyrone Power. This book was previously available in Italian. This first edition will only be available at centennial events.
The value of the book is set at $50. At centennial events, the price will be $40 (a 20% discount) for payment by check or $35 (a 30% discount) for cash. There will be a limit of 2 books per person.
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Thank you to the Nick Digilio Show on WGN Radio 720 AM for their interview with program host Matthew Hoffman on April 17, 2014.
Click Here!
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Important schedule change for the Park Ridge Public Library’s Rediscovered film series! Theodora Goes Wild (1936) has been pushed back to May 29. (1947’s The Unsuspected will instead be shown on May 15.) Special guest Ann-Marie Streibich will be joining us at the end of May to discuss the life and career of her grandmother, Irene Dunne.
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Meet guest author Christina Rice on April 24 at the Pickwick Theatre! She will be signing copies of her biography Ann Dvorak: Hollywood’s Forgotten Rebel before our 7:30 PM screening of Scarface (1932).
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Meet Steve Darnall, host of radio’s “Those Were the Days,” on March 13 at the Pickwick Theatre. Steve will be in the lobby before our 7:30 PM screening of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Be sure to pick up a copy of the spring issue of the Nostalgia Digest featuring an article on the films of 1939 by Matthew Hoffman!
You can listen to Steve’s interview with Matthew by downloading the Nostalgia Digest Podcast. Click Here!
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Thank you to Pioneer Press and Bruce Ingram for the terrific article in the January 16, 2014, edition detailing the upcoming Films of 1939 series!
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The Park Ridge Public Library Classic Film Series will open on March 6, 2014. The three-month program is called The Rediscovered. Musician David Drazin will be performing a live piano accompaniment to Lon Chaney’s West of Zanzibar (1928) on Opening Night!
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Thank you to the Chicago Tribune for mentioning the Pickwick Theatre Classic Film Series in their 2014 Winter Preview. We are the only revival theatre listed outside Chicago!
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Jay Warren of the Silent Film Society of Chicago will be performing a live organ accompaniment when we screen Laurel & Hardy’s “Big Business” on December 10, 2013! Also, the Chicago Bacon Grabbers will be in the lobby. They are the local tent of the “Sons of the Desert”– the Laurel & Hardy Appreciation Society. Thank you to Marcia Opal for her work with the Bacon Grabbers!
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Thank you to Columbia College Chicago for mentioning Matthew Hoffman and the Park Ridge Classic Film Series in their November alumni newsletter! Click Here!
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B-movie filmmaker David “The Rock” Nelson mentions Pickwick screening in hilarious plug on WGN Morning News! Click Here!
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We were featured on WGN-TV’s Morning News on October 8, 2013. Dean Richards interviewed Matthew Hoffman on the new classic film series at the Pickwick Theatre. WGN’s appearance at the theatre was part of their “Around Town” segment.
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We would like to offer our sincere thanks to WGN Radio for their in-depth interview with Matthew Hoffman via the Nick Digilio program. Thanks also to WBBM for mentioning the film program. And finally, we are grateful for the support from Pioneer Press as well as from the Chicago Tribune.
To read Bruce Ingram’s full article in the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate, Click Here!
One of the more extensive interviews with Matthew Hoffman appeared in his hometown paper: The Niles Bugle. Click Here!
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In 2014 we will have several special guests both at the Pickwick Theatre and at the Park Ridge Public Library. Our most recent confirmation is Jessica Rains, daughter of legendary actor Claude Rains. We will be honored to have Jessica with us next spring for a film screening and a book-signing!
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New show added to the Park Ridge Public Library Classic Film Series!
On October 24 we will be screening the 1950s sci-fi classic Them! (1954) at 7 PM! All Library screenings are free. Seating is limited to 90. Doors to the first floor meeting room open at 6:30 PM.
Please register for this program to guarantee a seat. Call 847-825-3123 and ask for Reader Services.
And be sure to visit the “Cinema Terrors” monster exhibit on the 2nd floor (in the display case) during the month of October! All models are from the collection of Paul Pandocchi. Paul is an award-winning, professional model kit builder. He is a painter, sculptor, and horror/sci-fi enthusiast.
If you like what’s on display, visit Paul’s store: LOST IN TOYS at 3838 N. Harlem Ave. (773-875-7582).
Them! will be our last classic film screening at the Library before we return in the spring!