The Hound seldom hits the movie palaces because of lines getting into the show, cell phone conversations during the film and boors who think they're in the their living room and like to shout out what they think is funny repartee.
That self-imposed boycott may change, though, if Gold Class Cinemas, part of Australia's biggest movie chain, opens a movie theater in Lake County. The company is building an eight-screen, 40,000-square-foot, 320-seat venue at the Arboretum of South Barrington, routes 59 and 72. Some older dogs may recall that's around the gone-but-not-forgotten Poplar Creek music center. Plans call for its premiere in September 2008.
Some have described a Gold Class theater as a wine-and-cheese experience. They plan to offer reserved seating and valet parking, among other luxuries, in exchange for a $20 ticket. This will be the Aussie company's first venture into Illinois, although it wants to eventually have 40 U.S. locations. Its first, in Redmond, Wash., home of Microsoft, is expected to open in May 2008. Currently, it operates 71 theaters around the globe.
As befits a luxury locale, the theater will have large, oversized chairs with sidetables, waiters and waitresses to serve selections from Levy Restaurants, the Chicago-based food service firm. Hope they serve dog biscuits.
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