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Northwest Chicago Film Society Heads Back to Patio Theater

By Heather Cherone | February 12, 2014 5:07pm
  In November, the film society moved downtown after a busted boiler left the Patio Theater.
Northwest Chicago Film Society Heads Back to Patio Theater
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PORTAGE PARK — The Northwest Chicago Film Society is headed back home to the Patio Theater in Portage Park.

In November, a busted boiler left the Patio Theater without heat, forcing the film society to find a new home for the second time in six months.

However, with the heat back on in the former movie palace, the film society is headed back to the Far Northwest Side where it was founded, according to an annoucement on its Facebook page.

Starting Feb. 26 with a 7 p.m. showing of the Burt Lancaster and Joan Fontaine 1948 film "Kiss the Blood Off My Hands," the film society will show restored and classic films through April at the Patio Theater.

While the Patio's heating system was repaired, the film society moved its screenings Downtown to the Gene Siskel Film Center.

Rebecca Hall, executive director of the film society, could not immediately be reached for comment.

The film society moved to the Patio last spring after it was forced out of the Portage Theater, which was shuttered by owner Eddie Carranza as part of a dispute with Ald. John Arena (45th). The Portage Theater has been dark since the end of May.

Demetri Kouvalis, whose family has owned the Patio Theater, 6008 W. Irving Park Road, since 1987, did not return a phone message.

In addition to the broken heating system, the Patio has suffered a string of setbacks including a broken air conditioning system during the summer as well as dwindling attendance.

In January, the theater was forced to cancel several screenings because of water damage to the bathrooms and other parts of the building caused by the extremely cold weather.

The full schedule for the film society is available at its website. All screenings are $5.