Get a Behind the Scenes Look at the Lake Theatre Projection Booth as the Lake’s 75th Anniversary Celebration Continues April 16, 2011

You’ve never seen the Lake Theatre like this! Oak Park’s downtown showpiece is opening its doors and inviting the audience inside for FREE Theatre and Booth Tours Saturday, April 16, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The Tours are a continuation of the festivities as the art deco Lake Theatre, located at 1022 Lake St., celebrates its 75th Anniversary, following the ceremonial ticket-tearing and free showings of The Ghost Goes West (the very first film ever screened at the Lake) taking place on Monday, April 11th.

This is the first time the Lake Theatre has conducted Projection Booth Tours – and what a site it is! Guests will be invited to enter the booth to find out how both 35 mm film and digital prints gets presented on the big screens.

The Lake Theatre, designed by Thomas Lamb, opened in Oak Park in 1936. In 1981, it became the third movie house in the Classic Cinemas family, and in 1984 Classic Cinemas co-owners Willis and Shirley Johnson began the thorough process of restoring it to its former glory.

Decorative elements from such current and former landmarks as the Will Rogers Theatre, the Aragon Ballroom, and the Colonial Theatre have found new homes in the Lake Theatre, adding to the magic that is the Classic Cinemas movie-going experience. “Some of the things we did, we did because we knew people would appreciate it,” says Willis. “Some we did because of Shirley and I – we enjoy it. Some things can’t be duplicated, and we have a lot of fun with it.”

Come share in the fun during the 75th Anniversary Celebration – extending through the end of 2011 as the theatre presents a classic movie from 1936 on the second Monday of every month. Already scheduled for May 9th is the Astaire – Rogers classic, “Swing Time." For more information on Theatre and Booth Tours and other 75th Anniversary events, visit the Lake Theatre page at www.classiccinemas.com.

Official Website: http://www.classiccinemas.com