In “the Sound Track Book of the Theatre” published by Motiograph in the late forties there’s an article about the Esqire’s booth and projectionist Lou Malisoff. They had Motiograph K’s, RCA 1050’s and Brenkert Enarcs.
The original big house opened in 1965 but never ran a 70mm print until 1970 when they ran a reissue of 2001.
The 600 seat house in back opened in 1972 with “the Other” This was only equipped for 35mm. In 1977 with the engagement of “Close Encounters” they moved the 70mm projectors from the big house (which had been twinned) th the small house in back.
The Strand opened in 1911 as the Carrol. The Kallets took over in 1921 changing the name to the Strand. As a kid I hung around the booth. They had Motiograph model K projectors, WE 206 soundheads and Brenkert Enarc lamps. The Strand closed October 21, 1962 and was torn down sometime in ‘64 or '65.
REndres said:
“I’ve heard of the Paramount system of "TV” projection before, and there may even be documentation about it in Richardson’s “Bluebook of Projection”. I think the State-Lake Theatre in Chicago used the same system"
I used to have an SMPE Journal from the late forties with a picture of this installation at the Paramount. They had E7’s, Hall & Connelly HC10’s and WE TA7400 soundheads. I also have an issue of International Projectionist from the same era with an article about the installation at the Chicago theatre.
Hello,
Robert A. Mitchell was a noted authority on motion picture projection. He was the technical editor of International Projectionist magazine as well as the author of Mitchell’s Manual of Practical Projection. I believe he was from Bar Harbor, Maine and died in 1965.
I was wondering if you know of this man?
Thank you,
Bob Throop
To Steve Goldschmidt:
Your grandfather was something of a legend in the annals of projection. It’s said that he conferred with Francis B. Cannock and Edwin S. Porter on the design of the first Simplex projector
The Rialto was originally called the Colonia and opened before WW1.
I was relief projectionist there starting in 1966, The main guy was Leo Buskey who was the last living charter member of local 337 IATSE.
The Rialto closed in late 1967. It was bought by Panther Theatres, the successor to Schine. They completely remodeled it, renamed it the Forum and reopened in January 1968 with “Guess who’s Coming to Dinner”.
The Forum ended as a porn house and closed in the mid 1970’s.
“The Avon closed in late 1965. In June of that year "My Fair Lady” was presented on a reserved performance basis. It was shown in 35mm, but magnetic sound was installed, but no surround speakers."
I visited the Avon booth in October, 1965 and there was no evidence of magnetic sound. The Super Simplexes had been replaced with Brenkert BX60’s for the MFL run though.
The architects for the Avon were Green & Wicks.
I worked at the Olympic as a relief projectionist. Until the late sixties it was one of Utica’s main first run houses. They had Century model H projectors with R3 soundheads and Excelite lamps and RCA mag sound. The screen was fairly small. I think about 30 ft. wide. I ran “Woodstock” there in 4 track mag in 1970.
Somewhere I got the idea that it sat around 1100.
I grew up in Rome and the Capitol was my childhood movie house.
I’m now the primary projectionist at the Capitol. We’re proud to continue quality carbon arc projection. We also have variable speed motors with digital speed indication in .1 frames per second for silent film exhibition.
Projectors are Simplex XL with SH 1020 soundheads installed in 1953. We also have Ashcraft Core Lite lamps and a Dolby CP50 provessor.
I have a Theatre Catalog 1954-55 with a big article on the Centre. There’s a picture of the opening night marquee. The film was “River of no Return” and although there’s no date given, the movie premiered April 30, 1954 according to IMDB.
In the summer of 1967 I visited the booth at the Paramount. The projectionist was Norman Randolph who was business agent for the Des Moines IA local. They had a pair of Super Simplexes with SH 1000 soundheads and Four Star sound and Peerless Magnarcs on LL3 bases.
The film was “Bonnie and Clyde”.
In the summer of 1963 my family and I visited my grandmother who lived in Roswell. My brother and I went to see “the Thrill of it All” with Doris Day and James Garner. I’m not sure if the theatre was the Yucca or the Plains. There was a small balcony and instead of using film date strips for the trailer (“Bye Bye Birdie”) there were light boxes under the screen with backlit titles that flashed on and off.
I asked to visit the booth but the manager wouldn’t let me ( I was 15). I peeked in the portholes and I think they had Peerless Magnarcs on E7’s. I also think there were magnetic penthouses. I could be wrong about all of this. It was a few years ago.
In the summer of 1963 my family and I visited my grandmother who lived in Roswell. My brother and I went to see “the Thrill of it All” with Doris Day and James Garner. I’m not sure if the theatre was the Yucca or the Plains. There was a small balcony and instead of using film date strips for the trailer (“Bye Bye Birdie”) there were light boxes under the screen with backlit titles that flashed on and off.
I asked to visit the booth but the manager wouldn’t let me ( I was 15). I peeked in the portholes and I think they had Peerless Magnarcs on E7’s. I also think there were magnetic penthouses. I could be wrong about all of this. It was a few years ago.
When the Fisher was remodeled in 1961 there were a pair of Bauer U2 35/70mm projectors installed for occasional film shows. Does anyone know if they still have film capability?
Mike, Given the dates in this post wouldn’t Wichita quqlify for the last U.S. 3 strip engagement?
Sorry, I think Smalley’s in St. Johnsville became Ernie’s.
Is this the place that became “Ernie’s Pussycat Theatre” in the 70’s?
I should have said Shoppingtown 5/9/63-8/6/63 and Eckel from 8/7/63.
Mike, LOA opened in Syracuse on 5/9/63 and played till 8/6/63. The Eckel engagement was a moveover.
In “the Sound Track Book of the Theatre” published by Motiograph in the late forties there’s an article about the Esqire’s booth and projectionist Lou Malisoff. They had Motiograph K’s, RCA 1050’s and Brenkert Enarcs.
Was this a Kallet house at one time?
The original big house opened in 1965 but never ran a 70mm print until 1970 when they ran a reissue of 2001. The 600 seat house in back opened in 1972 with “the Other” This was only equipped for 35mm. In 1977 with the engagement of “Close Encounters” they moved the 70mm projectors from the big house (which had been twinned) th the small house in back.
The Strand opened in 1911 as the Carrol. The Kallets took over in 1921 changing the name to the Strand. As a kid I hung around the booth. They had Motiograph model K projectors, WE 206 soundheads and Brenkert Enarc lamps. The Strand closed October 21, 1962 and was torn down sometime in ‘64 or '65.
REndres said:
“I’ve heard of the Paramount system of "TV” projection before, and there may even be documentation about it in Richardson’s “Bluebook of Projection”. I think the State-Lake Theatre in Chicago used the same system"
I used to have an SMPE Journal from the late forties with a picture of this installation at the Paramount. They had E7’s, Hall & Connelly HC10’s and WE TA7400 soundheads. I also have an issue of International Projectionist from the same era with an article about the installation at the Chicago theatre.
Hello,
Robert A. Mitchell was a noted authority on motion picture projection. He was the technical editor of International Projectionist magazine as well as the author of Mitchell’s Manual of Practical Projection. I believe he was from Bar Harbor, Maine and died in 1965.
I was wondering if you know of this man?
Thank you,
Bob Throop
To Steve Goldschmidt:
Your grandfather was something of a legend in the annals of projection. It’s said that he conferred with Francis B. Cannock and Edwin S. Porter on the design of the first Simplex projector
The Rialto was originally called the Colonia and opened before WW1.
I was relief projectionist there starting in 1966, The main guy was Leo Buskey who was the last living charter member of local 337 IATSE.
The Rialto closed in late 1967. It was bought by Panther Theatres, the successor to Schine. They completely remodeled it, renamed it the Forum and reopened in January 1968 with “Guess who’s Coming to Dinner”.
The Forum ended as a porn house and closed in the mid 1970’s.
“The Avon closed in late 1965. In June of that year "My Fair Lady” was presented on a reserved performance basis. It was shown in 35mm, but magnetic sound was installed, but no surround speakers."
I visited the Avon booth in October, 1965 and there was no evidence of magnetic sound. The Super Simplexes had been replaced with Brenkert BX60’s for the MFL run though.
The architects for the Avon were Green & Wicks.
I worked at the Olympic as a relief projectionist. Until the late sixties it was one of Utica’s main first run houses. They had Century model H projectors with R3 soundheads and Excelite lamps and RCA mag sound. The screen was fairly small. I think about 30 ft. wide. I ran “Woodstock” there in 4 track mag in 1970.
Somewhere I got the idea that it sat around 1100.
There’s a picture of a drive in booth in some Strong Electric ads from around 1960 showing Strong Jetarc lamps. Could this be the Y&W booth?
I grew up in Rome and the Capitol was my childhood movie house.
I’m now the primary projectionist at the Capitol. We’re proud to continue quality carbon arc projection. We also have variable speed motors with digital speed indication in .1 frames per second for silent film exhibition.
Projectors are Simplex XL with SH 1020 soundheads installed in 1953. We also have Ashcraft Core Lite lamps and a Dolby CP50 provessor.
I have a Theatre Catalog 1954-55 with a big article on the Centre. There’s a picture of the opening night marquee. The film was “River of no Return” and although there’s no date given, the movie premiered April 30, 1954 according to IMDB.
In the summer of 1967 I visited the booth at the Paramount. The projectionist was Norman Randolph who was business agent for the Des Moines IA local. They had a pair of Super Simplexes with SH 1000 soundheads and Four Star sound and Peerless Magnarcs on LL3 bases.
The film was “Bonnie and Clyde”.
If I’m not mistaken, this theatre had a pair of Bauer U2 35/70 mm projectors installed.
Did this theatre roadshow “Ben Hur” in 1960?
In the summer of 1963 my family and I visited my grandmother who lived in Roswell. My brother and I went to see “the Thrill of it All” with Doris Day and James Garner. I’m not sure if the theatre was the Yucca or the Plains. There was a small balcony and instead of using film date strips for the trailer (“Bye Bye Birdie”) there were light boxes under the screen with backlit titles that flashed on and off.
I asked to visit the booth but the manager wouldn’t let me ( I was 15). I peeked in the portholes and I think they had Peerless Magnarcs on E7’s. I also think there were magnetic penthouses. I could be wrong about all of this. It was a few years ago.
In the summer of 1963 my family and I visited my grandmother who lived in Roswell. My brother and I went to see “the Thrill of it All” with Doris Day and James Garner. I’m not sure if the theatre was the Yucca or the Plains. There was a small balcony and instead of using film date strips for the trailer (“Bye Bye Birdie”) there were light boxes under the screen with backlit titles that flashed on and off.
I asked to visit the booth but the manager wouldn’t let me ( I was 15). I peeked in the portholes and I think they had Peerless Magnarcs on E7’s. I also think there were magnetic penthouses. I could be wrong about all of this. It was a few years ago.
When the Fisher was remodeled in 1961 there were a pair of Bauer U2 35/70mm projectors installed for occasional film shows. Does anyone know if they still have film capability?
Jonathan,
Didn’t you mean to say that Loews had the State and Strand?