Hollywood Palms to open in Naperville
The most fun movie theater in the Chicago area is about to open. And everyone's invited!
The fantastical Hollywood Palms, modestly advertised as "a cinema, bar and eatery," won't celebrate its official grand opening until Sept. 24.
But Ted Bulthaup, the owner and architect of both the Palms and the spectacular Hollywood Blvd. Theater in nearby Woodridge, isn't waiting for the celebration to start.
Tonight at 7:30 p.m., the Palms, at 352 S. Route 59 in Naperville, will offer an early screening of "The September Issue," a documentary on Vogue magazine's anxiously awaited fall fashion edition.
A cocktail reception and fashion demonstration will precede the movie at 6:30 p.m. A suggested $5 donation will go to the Variety Children's Charity. The movie officially opens Friday, Sept. 11.
At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, "The Burning Plain," starring Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger, will be shown for a suggested $5 donation to the Easter Seals of DuPage. The film opens Sept. 25.
At 7 p.m. Thursday, "Bright Star," the story of the tragic poet Keats and his true love, will be shown for a suggested $5 donation to the TLC Camp for Kids with Cancer. The movie opens Sept. 18.
A limited number of tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis to each of the showings.
I toured the seven-auditorium theater on Friday as construction workers pushed into high gear in preparation for the unofficial opening tonight.
Even in an unfinished state, the place transfixed me with its eclectic and exotic decor, from its imported elephant doors (giant, knobbed doors to keep elephants inside a tall stable) to its joyously jaw-dropping figurine collection of famous animated characters.
Naturally, they line the entrance to the Animation Auditorium.
When finished, the Underwater theater will throw waves of lights on the walls to suggest being under the water where scores of fish "swim" through the air.
The Palms has a Mayan Jungle room, a Chinese Palace room and an Egypt room, all filled with sculptures, photos, paintings and artifacts purchased around the world by Bulthaup, or manufactured by his staff in the theater's in-house workshop.
But the Palms' piece de resistance is the last stop on the tour: The Wizard of Oz room, the only auditorium dedicated to a single motion picture. Yep, it has flying monkeys up near the ceiling, and life-size figures of all the major characters. All it needs is a yellow brick road leading to the entrance.
When the Palms opens for regular business, ticket admission will be $8, the same as the price at Hollywood Blvd. Like Hollywood Blvd., the Palms will offer a full menu of food items plus cash bar. (Factoid: Bulthaup's employees can serve up to 1,000 patrons per hour.) More information and a list of upcoming events are available at hollywoodpalmscinema.com.
Bulthaup is sponsoring a Community Open House at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13.
Hey, free popcorn!
But cash bar only.