Classic Cinemas Lake XQ — Attraction in Oak Park

My adult daughter who is disabled, and has a service dog went to the Lake St Theater in Oak Park to see a movie after having a bad day. She was told by management that she could not bring her service dog in the theater. The manager stated she has to show proof that her dog is a service dog and he wanted to see the dog’s ID. Service dogs do not have an ID nor are they required by the ADA to carry one. There is no such thing, her dog was ADA complient with fully marked vest and is a trained medical service dog specific to my daughter’s medical need. By law they should have let her in to see a movie but instead they laughed and tried shaming her, and refused her admittance. My daughter was so upset that she called the police and the officer that arrived agreed with the manager, even stating that someone could be allergic to her service dog. Her dog is part Irish Wolfhound and part Imperial Poodle mix, he is hypoallergenic. A couple of customers who were educators tried to explain to the manager that there is no ID the dog needs to carry on him other than his marked vest and what they were doing was against the law. Management stated they didn’t care and the manager along with employees were laughing and making fun of my daughter. My daughter just wanted to see a movie and this is how she was treated. I will be posting this treatment of my daughter to the village of Oak Park and will be contacting the Attorney General as to my daughter’s disrespectful and illegal treatment by management and staff. As for the officer who obviously doesn’t know civil law, I will be contacting his supervisor and filing a complaint for the officers disregard and dismissal of my daughter’s ADA rights. The prejudice shown by both the theater and the police officer should not be tolerated. It is hard enough to have a medical disability, then when a peace officer and management laugh in your face about your disability is just plain ignorant. If she was in a wheelchair I’m sure she wouldn’t be treated like she was. I will also be contacting my attorney in regards to this matter. Very sad when you get laughed at for having a disability with a...

In almost all ways this is an excellent local theater. Cheaper than basically any other theater chain in the area, recliner seats, generally good movie selection with a whole host of special showings (speaking to the Christmas season, last years showing of Tokyo Godfathers and this years showing of the The Warriors and The Matrix really spoke to how much a full crowd can really change the color of a classic film). However, there is a specific auditorium that I have a major gripe with, and that is auditorium 4, the auditorium that you see to the right after the first 3 at the front of the theater. I've noticed for at least this year if not longer that the sound system in this theater seems to be improperly calibrated or even broken. This was most noticeable recently when watching Wicked in this theater. While the speakers more towards the back and side that housed the instrumental basis of Wicked's songs sounded perfectly well, the speakers closer to the front that had the actual vocals for this musical sounded noticeably lower fidelity, as if they were muffled or coming from a low quality YouTube rip. Though I was still able to enjoy Wicked as well as other films I have seen in this auditorium, I dread getting put in this theater because it just sounds so much worse. I'm not sure if there's a way this can be easily fixed, but I do want to bring this up in case it hasn't been brought up already, especially if something can be...

Update 6/25/22 Lake Theatre has a problem. You have a problem at the Lake - people sneaking in and not paying! 3 times in the last few months, I've bought a ticket at the window, made a brief stop at the concession stand and then went to my seat, only to find someone in it! I picked my seat on the screen a few minutes earlier and saw no one sititng nearby, but then I find someone in my seat! How do I know they didn't pay? When I inform them they're in my seat, they don't challenge me. They don't claim it's their seat, or say they paid for it. And if asked for a ticket, they never produce one. Instead, they meekly move to another seat (although it's never far enough away). And they never have any snacks from the concession stand. Because they're a thief who snuck in and tried to make MY seat! I'm one of your best customers, and always sit in the same area. I shouldn't have to deal with this #%&@ with COVID still around! If this happens again, I will complain to management, and force you to kick him out!

Welcome back, Lake Theater!! It's been more than a year, and I missed you. I'm always able to get a good seat at the theater, movie tickets & concessions are not over-priced, lines are quick, free refills on soda & popcorn, best rewards program (5% back) and you have the best popcorn! (Sorry AMC, Cinemark, but it's true). You put the butter and salt on the popcorn yourself! I love that!!...