Comments from jaxsterman

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jaxsterman
jaxsterman commented about Fox Oakland Theater on Oct 16, 2006 at 5:43 pm

Dear gsmurph,
I was glad to hear about that. Only because the great days of the theater has seemed to pass us. I am so happy that I was within those last heydays of the movies and the theaters. when going to the newer “cinemas” it is so discouraging to walk into a cold theater with no class of yesteryear. It’s sorta like “Here you go. Here’s a building with 4 or more small theaters combined. go in a watch a movie…. oh give us all that money we want too. And then only 1 film. Remember? we got Movietime News reels, Cartoons, a class "A” film and a class “B”(most of the time) or another “A” film. Everyone dressed for the movies. People were nicer to each other. I am happy for the restoration planning. The young can see the greatness, but will never experience our experiences of the whole entertainment.

jaxsterman
jaxsterman commented about Orpheum Theatre on Oct 13, 2006 at 10:13 pm

As a young boy we(my Grandmother, my cousin and me) went to see the first Cinerama movie there. Then the second Cinerama film. The experience was just awesome. The theater itself was unreal. Huge, overwhelming, a spectacular sight that had to be experienced in order to appreciate the value of the architecture itself. The old three screen (three projector) effect could not be duplicated with the later trials of cinerama. The realism was gone. I think at the time there were only 3 theaters able to show cinerama. One in Seattle Wash, the other in Los Angeles Ca. On the west coast that is.

We also later saw mad mad…… world. It didn’t seem to have the same effect. Later I watched How the west was won. The old Cinerama experience seemed to have disappeared, and was replaced with a single projector which made it nothing more than “over sized” cinemascope with stereo sound.

About the only thing close to Cinerama might be IMax.

The great movie days are gone.

jaxsterman
jaxsterman commented about Paramount Theatre on Oct 13, 2006 at 9:48 pm

I am trying to remember… wasn’t there a large waterfall on the main floor entrance? As a young boy this theater was just awesome. I don’t have words to describe it. during the late forties and early fifties along with the other local(Alameda)theaters, I spent alot of Saturday and Friday nights watching first rate movies with my Grandmother(raised me). IF you are from a small New England town, where I preside now, you can’t possibly imagine the overwhelming depth this “grand” theater had in the heyday of movies. I was young and small, and when entering the lobby, the ceiling appeared to be a mile high.
One could always depend on a first rate film to be shown there. Along with the Old Fox, this must have been the largest theater in Oakland. Saturday night was dressing up(in proper attire) and seeing a good movie. You were not disappointed when leaving this beatiful theater.It’s just sad that those bygone days are__ gone.

jaxsterman
jaxsterman commented about Fox Oakland Theater on Oct 13, 2006 at 9:30 pm

The Fox. Many Saturdays were spent there. My Grandmother worked practically across the Street at Capwell’s. I would catch a matinee. Always great movies there. .25 got me in for the afternoon. As a young boy in the late forties and early fifties it was easy to be overwhelmed by the magnificant architecture of the theater itself. Although obviously built before the forties this theater was magnificant. After the matinee my Grandmother and me would go to eat and then often headed to the Paramount theater(just awesome) or down to the old T&D theater if something special was playing. It (the T&D)wasn’t as “high class” but did play some good films here and there.

It’s so unfortunate that the young will not have those meaningful experiences we all did during the hey days of this magnificant theater.

jaxsterman
jaxsterman commented about Alameda Theatre on Oct 13, 2006 at 9:17 pm

Living in Alameda as a boy, I must state that I miss those wonderful days deeply. Along with the Old Rio on Park st. Many Saturdays were spent in the theater. I remember when “Trantula” came out and, then they ran “King Kong” wonderful movies. haha. You must remember to a young boy these adventuresome films were great and not forgotten. The alameda like the Oaland Fox, Paramount was really a first rate theater. I saw many wonderful films there.
When I see that these memories of the past are fading and, the wonderful years gone by, my heart sinks with sadness. The young today will never experience those great times. When “Rock Around the Clock” blasted on to the screen as the intro to Blackboard Jungle, the whole theater went nuts with teenagers dancing in the aisles. It was an experience that can’t be forgotten either.
The Alameda theater was beatiful in decor. well organized and maintained. It was never dirty or dingy. It was first class in Alameda.

jaxsterman
jaxsterman commented about Vogue Theatre on Oct 13, 2006 at 9:03 pm

The Vogue was a wonderful theater. Very attractive and played first rate films. I saw my first 3d Movie “The House of Wax” there. I remember the theater well.
On Saturday mornings, time was spent at the old Rio theater on Park St. It seemed as though only B movies were shown there. Many Sat. mornings were spent there with the old Serials/Adventure(Jungle Jim/Tarzan etc.) and a load of Cartoons/and the 3 stooges being shown from early morn til late afternoon. It was wonderful then.