Shady Lane In Marengo, Illinois (Rockford, St. Charles: budget, job, house)

[Yager]

What can anyone tell me about Shady Lane Restaurant and Shady Lane Theatre on Route 20 in Marengo, Illinois. I know it was built in 1900, anyone have any other details or input about it? Thanks, Yager

[mkw33]

Originally Posted by Yager

What can anyone tell me about Shady Lane Restaurant and Shady Lane Theatre on Route 20 in Marengo, Illinois. I know it was built in 1900, anyone have any other details or input about it? Thanks, Yager

HI YAGER,
WOW I COULD NOT BELIEVE MY EYES WHEN I SAW YOUR POSTING ABOUT SHADY LANE PLAYHOUSE. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW, I GREW UP ON THE PROPERTY OF SHADY LANE PLAYHOUSE , MY GRANDPARENTS WERE THE CARE TAKERS FOR THE PROPERTY FOR THE OWER RAY CORNEL, I WORKED THERE GROWING UP PARKING CARS , COOKING, MAKING ALL THE RECEIPES FOR THE HOME COOKED MEALS AND WAS A DISHWASHER AND BUSBOY THERE, THE STORIES AND PICTURES I HAVE ARE ENDLESS, PLEASE EMAIL ME DIRECT AT WILLIAMSMWM@AOL.COM FOR ANY INFO YOU WANT OR NEED. I NOW LIVE IN TUCSON ARIZONA, I WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO YOU, MICHAEL

[Yager]

Michael, We sent y ou an email!.. really looking forward to talking with you. We have been trying to get infro. on the place for a while. this is like a miracle!... thanks.

[westcoralroad]

Originally Posted by mkw33

HI YAGER,
WOW I COULD NOT BELIEVE MY EYES WHEN I SAW YOUR POSTING ABOUT SHADY LANE PLAYHOUSE. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW, I GREW UP ON THE PROPERTY OF SHADY LANE PLAYHOUSE , MY GRANDPARENTS WERE THE CARE TAKERS FOR THE PROPERTY FOR THE OWER RAY CORNEL, I WORKED THERE GROWING UP PARKING CARS , COOKING, MAKING ALL THE RECEIPES FOR THE HOME COOKED MEALS AND WAS A DISHWASHER AND BUSBOY THERE, THE STORIES AND PICTURES I HAVE ARE ENDLESS, PLEASE EMAIL ME DIRECT AT WILLIAMSMWM@AOL.COM FOR ANY INFO YOU WANT OR NEED. I NOW LIVE IN TUCSON ARIZONA, I WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO YOU, MICHAEL

I worked there as an usher '73-'75. Owner was Ray Curnow not Cornel. I was in one of the plays. When I find the program I'll see if I can make a copy of some of it to email it to you. take care, from...westcoralroad

[tdiller]

Originally Posted by Yager

What can anyone tell me about Shady Lane Restaurant and Shady Lane Theatre on Route 20 in Marengo, Illinois. I know it was built in 1900, anyone have any other details or input about it? Thanks, Yager

Shady Lane has been shutdown and not in use for the better part of 15 years that I have lived in the area. There was a guy out of Rockford that tried to make a go of it there about 10 years back but couldn't. This place reminds me a lot of what Pheasant Run in St. Charles looked like 40 years ago. Back then Pheasant Run was in the middle of nowhere with the only benefit being it was near Dupage County Airport. St.Charles has no grown to support this place. Shady Lane could have been like this. Now it is falling into disrepair

[sgresident]

when i was young, my parents used to go there with friends. they always spoke fondly of the place! I grew up in st. charles, and it was a bit of a drive for them, but they really liked it!

[Indian Al]

What a (nice) blast from the past. I grew up on a farm just about a 10-min drive from Shady Lane. It was known to our family as a place where wannabe actors started out in 'summer rep' with small local audiences. It had good wholesome simple filling food as I recall, though was out of our budget most of the time - we went maybe once every year or two as a family treat. One of my abiding memories is when I and my fiance (then, wife now) 'treated' my mum to a meal there (a first for my fiance from England). It's one of the last times we enjoyed a meal together before she passed with cancer some months later. It was a nice place to meet to eat - good food, good-ish prices, good atmosphere, friendly. Nice memories. Shame it had to shut down. Hopefully someone will open it up again soon!!! )

[westcoralroad]

Hi Indian Al, By any chance is your wifes' name Mary? When I was in Jr. high in Union, now the Historical Society bldg. Mary Nealan came to our school from England. She had moved here with her family. I remember her brother James too. I graduated MCHS in 1973. I'm on classmates.com also. Marcia Steffen. I met Dennis Miller in 1974 or '75@ the theater. I was an usher there @ the time. Very nice guy. My friend April who worked before I started there had met David Hasselhoff there too. I met & seated June Lockhart of "Lassie & Lost in Space" TV fame. Also A very nice person. I have photos of an old program from '75 when I was in a play. And 2 photos of a bartender & one of the organists. Take care. Marcia C. If you'd like to see the program info & photos send me your email address.
mjc1955.1958@gmail.com
Our family sold the farm in '99 & moved to N. FL where we bought the Starke, KOA Campground.

Originally Posted by Indian Al

What a (nice) blast from the past. I grew up on a farm just about a 10-min drive from Shady Lane. It was known to our family as a place where wannabe actors started out in 'summer rep' with small local audiences. It had good wholesome simple filling food as I recall, though was out of our budget most of the time - we went maybe once every year or two as a family treat. One of my abiding memories is when I and my fiance (then, wife now) 'treated' my mum to a meal there (a first for my fiance from England). It's one of the last times we enjoyed a meal together before she passed with cancer some months later. It was a nice place to meet to eat - good food, good-ish prices, good atmosphere, friendly. Nice memories. Shame it had to shut down. Hopefully someone will open it up again soon!!! )

[Willcomovin]

What a crazy email! I have always been intrigued by Shady Lane! My inlaws live in Harvard and so I have driven past the place and its just so sad and in such despair. About 7 years ago someone tried to open it and my father in law was talking with them about potential job openings there. It never happened though. I would love to see the place opened.