Priscilla Presley to Headline Des Plaines Theatre Centennial

Bydana
DES PLAINES, IL.:  The Des Plaines Theatre will celebrate its 100th Anniversary this Saturday, August 9th, 100 years to the day of its original grand opening. The day will begin with a showing of the 70-minute silent film, “Are Parents People?” at 2pm, the time it played on the theatre’s opening day in 1925. Admission for the film will be 25 cents. 

Then, between 4pm and 6:30 pm, 5 cent ice cream cones will be sold at the theatre. There will be free balloons, photos with characters from “The Wizard of Oz” and other community activities. A parade will begin at 5pm with a procession led by “Charlie Chaplin,” Grand Marshals Priscilla Presley, Micky Dolenz of the band “The Monkees”, Danny Seraphine, founding drummer of the band “Chicago” and the “Garage Rock” superstars, “The Ides of March”. Vintage autos, the Maine West H.S. Marching Band, Maine East Drama Department, elected officials, and other guests will all march from River Road to Pearson Street to Miner Street in front of the theatre.

It will be followed by a blessing of the theatre and a dedication to original theatre owner, Barney Winkelman at approximately 5:45pm. “Winkelman was a visionary and a local show biz entrepreneur,” Ron Onesti, President & CEO of the Des Plaines Theatre, said. By definition, he is a hero to me and his legacy should not be forgotten!”

At 7:30 pm, the “Des Plaines Theatre Through the Decades” show will begin with Prohibition-era music from the 1920s and 1930s. Then, a short Andrews Sisters/Glenn Miller Orchestra-style salute to the 1940s will take place. The 1950s will be represented by a 30-minute rock-and roll retrospective by Priscilla Presley and Ron Onesti. The 1960s will be discussed by The Monkees’ founding vocalist and drummer, Micky Dolenz. The 1970s and 1980s will be remembered by the “Ides of March” and Jim Peterik. The band’s 1970 hit, “Vehicle” along with the Peterik-penned, “Survivor” smash from 1983, “Eye of the Tiger” will be performed by the band. Performing a few hit songs from the timeless rock band, “CHICAGO” will be founding drummer and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Danny Seraphine. Tickets for the show are $39 and $49 and are available at The Des Plaines Theatre Box Office and at Oshows.com.