Moviegoers glimpse Des Plaines Theater renovations

On Sunday, the Des Plaines Theater offered a glimpse of what future visitors may enjoy when renovations are complete at the theater, which opened at 1476 Miner St. in 1925.

Gay Miezin, director of development for anchor tenant Stage One Productions, the not-for-profit group spearheading the renovations, led guests on a guided tour that revealed several recently discovered and previously unsuspected architectural gems.

“I thought all we were going to do was take out a couple of walls,” she said.

She was soon dispelled of that notion.

“About two-and-a-half weeks ago, we poked a hole in the wall (of the lobby) and we found this old terra-cotta, in incredible shape, that has not been seen for 75 years.”

But the discoveries were not limited to the lobby.

Inside the theater itself were intricately decorated columns and porticos. She said work will be done to restore the gold leaf and original colors.

Already the theater, which was split into two theaters in the 1980s, has been converted back into one theater.

Soon it will be possible to lift the screen so stage shows may be presented.

In addition to the tour, guests were also treated to an early-talkie version of “Scrooge,” in order to get a taste of the filmgoing experience from the theater's early years.

Among those attending was Des Plaines resident Nancy Meyer, whose mother and grandmother sat in the theater in the 1930s. She said she has letters from her mom to her dad mentioning coming to the theater. In those days, she said, the theater had giveaways to help people during the Depression.

Also there was Des Plaines Alderman Mark Walsten,

“When I became alderman one of my projects was to get this theater up and running.” His object, he said, was “to revitalize the downtown and bring downtown businesses more business.”