Your passion for the National is heartening and evident. However, please refrain from agitating one another. I know emotions are running high, but let’s keep our comments on the subject at hand. Thank you.
For more on this theater, check out Charlene Regester’s article, “From the Buzzard’s Roost: Black Movie-going in Durham and Other North Carolina Cities during the Early Period of American Cinema” in the 17.1 issue (2005) of “Film History”, pages 113-124. The link is http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/film_history/v017/17.1regester.html, but subscription access to the Muse Project is required.
Regester’s research on the Wonderland notes that it was Durham’s second black theater and that it was originally a vaudeville house but later became a movie theater. According to her, the theater was bought in the late 1920s by George Logan, owner of the 500-seat Regal Theater.
While I always love the passion this site generates, can I please ask for a little calm and generosity of spirit? I know there are some long standing issues here, but the needling is really unnecessary.
Remember, we’re not trying to save the world here, but we are trying to save a few theaters. Next time someone says something unpleasant or even rude, please try and ignore it. I know it’s hard, but these posts go on for ever.
Thanks for your passion for these theaters and the site, but let’s keep the discussion civil, if at all possible. Thanks guys.
I join you in sending our best wishes to our longtime friend Jim Rankin who has been one of the longest and staunchest supporters of Cinema Treasures in all of its incarnations.
We wish him all the best. He’s in our thoughts as always.
Thanks everyone. But for adding, editing, and updating most of the 13,000+ theaters on this site, the gratitude should be directed at Bryan Krefft for all of his hard work and to all of you for your contributions.
Usually I don’t post notes like this, but as one of my favorite theaters for contemporary, widescreen moviegoing, the National is an experience everyone in Southern California should have. The screen is enormous and, more importantly, how many other single screen theaters built during this era are still open and not divided?
A plea from a fan: please don’t close this theater. It will end whatever mystique Westwood has left as a moviegoer’s paradise.
Fridays can, unfortunately, be a rough day here for the site when we are frequently overloaded. I had planned on posting something about that, but preempted it for the Leeds news, etc.
Monday will probably be the day for a statement about the site and load issues.
Thanks for reporting these issues everyone. They are being investigated…
Ron, the comments are there, but as you note the news item says it has 0 comments. It’s a bug, unfortunately.
As for the comments on Brokeback, that news story and its comments are still there @ http://cinematreasures.org/news/14069_0_1_0_C/, but it also notes that the comments are missing, even though they can be found by clicking the comments link for that and every story.
I would also suggest contacting the Academy library in Beverly Hills (for the B'hend-Kaufmann collection), but no doubt that is probably where you looked first. :)
Please remember that this site caters to everyone: historians, enthusiasts, etc. Instead of chastising other users for getting something wrong, wouldn’t it be more productive to supply the correct answer (courteously) and/or advise other users how to do more of this kind of research? (Libraries, newspapers, THSA, Film Daily Yearbooks, etc.)
There are many ways to share information (or correct other users) that isn’t “pampering” them — it’s just being courteous.
And, for the record, no one who is being courteous and friendly will be asked to leave this site — ever.
Cinema Treasures depends on everyone’s assistance to add to the database of theaters, update a listing, post a news item, etc.
We’re all passionate about theaters — let’s channel that enthusiasm constructively, if possible.
According to Worldcat, “Cue” is available at the following libraries:
CA LOS ANGELES PUB LIBR, CA UNIV OF CALIFORNIA, AR HENDERSON STATE UNIV, AZ NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIV, CT YALE UNIV LIBR, GA UNIV OF GEORGIA, IN CENTRAL INDIANA HEALTH SCI LIBR CONSOR, IN INDIANA UNIV, MO SOUTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIV, NC NORTH CAROLINA SCH OF THE ARTS, NC WAKE FOREST UNIV, NJ PRINCETON UNIV, NY BRIARCLIFF MANOR PUB LIBR, NY BUFFALO & ERIE CNTY PUB LIBR, NY COLUMBIA UNIV, NY COOPER UNION FOR THE ADVAN OF SCI & ART, NY CORNELL UNIV, NY EAST MEADOW PUB LIBR, NY NEW YORK CITY SCH LIBR SYST, NY NEW YORK HIST SOC ARCH, NY NEW YORK PUB LIBR RES LIBR, NY SUNY AT BUFFALO, NY WESTERN NEW YORK LIBR RES, OH MIAMI UNIV, PA UNIV OF PITTSBURGH, TX ALLIANCE FOR HIGHER EDUC, TX DALLAS PUB LIBR, TX UNIV OF TEXAS, AUSTIN, HARRY RANSOM, UT UNIV OF UTAH, VA COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY
Not all libraries carry the entire run from 1932 – 1978 so call ahead or look on the library’s online catalog.
You are absolutely correct that the problem with one or another standard is that each editor asks for a different set of criteria for the list of theaters for each publication: location, age, status, style, etc.
We’ve always tried to pick from a wide variety of all of the above, if possible.
One thing I’ve learned about creating lists: it’s often not what you put in, but what you leave out that people notice. Having said that, no slight is intended by a lack of inclusion of any of the other hundreds of Cinema Treasures out there.
Something like the National Film Registry/Hall of Fame is a terrific idea and something that would be good to coordinate with other groups as well (THSA, LHAT, NTHP, etc.).
Thanks for the suggestion and we’ll keep all of these thoughts in our head should the opportunity to create another list come up.
Those are all great theaters, but, as previously mentioned, we did not want to duplicate our previous list for USA Today. As you can see, we profiled both the Roxy Theatre in Northampton and the Senator Theatre in Baltimore in our first USA Today list:
Your passion for the National is heartening and evident. However, please refrain from agitating one another. I know emotions are running high, but let’s keep our comments on the subject at hand. Thank you.
Ross Melnick
Cinema Treasures
Yes, it’s the same article. Good find!
For more on this theater, check out Charlene Regester’s article, “From the Buzzard’s Roost: Black Movie-going in Durham and Other North Carolina Cities during the Early Period of American Cinema” in the 17.1 issue (2005) of “Film History”, pages 113-124. The link is http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/film_history/v017/17.1regester.html, but subscription access to the Muse Project is required.
Regester’s research on the Wonderland notes that it was Durham’s second black theater and that it was originally a vaudeville house but later became a movie theater. According to her, the theater was bought in the late 1920s by George Logan, owner of the 500-seat Regal Theater.
I’d like to add a few geographically dispersed cinemas that are highly worthy. No surprises here, I’m sure:
Yes — try the Margaret Herrick Library (http://www.oscars.org/mhl/index.html) in Beverly Hills, CA.
Ian, that’s a great idea and certainly something we should do. Thanks for the wonderful idea and thanks to all of you for remembering Jim.
While I always love the passion this site generates, can I please ask for a little calm and generosity of spirit? I know there are some long standing issues here, but the needling is really unnecessary.
Remember, we’re not trying to save the world here, but we are trying to save a few theaters. Next time someone says something unpleasant or even rude, please try and ignore it. I know it’s hard, but these posts go on for ever.
Thanks for your passion for these theaters and the site, but let’s keep the discussion civil, if at all possible. Thanks guys.
Chris,
Is there a link to the theme song you can provide?
Ed,
I join you in sending our best wishes to our longtime friend Jim Rankin who has been one of the longest and staunchest supporters of Cinema Treasures in all of its incarnations.
We wish him all the best. He’s in our thoughts as always.
— Ross
Thanks everyone. But for adding, editing, and updating most of the 13,000+ theaters on this site, the gratitude should be directed at Bryan Krefft for all of his hard work and to all of you for your contributions.
This site continues to be a little miracle. :)
Usually I don’t post notes like this, but as one of my favorite theaters for contemporary, widescreen moviegoing, the National is an experience everyone in Southern California should have. The screen is enormous and, more importantly, how many other single screen theaters built during this era are still open and not divided?
A plea from a fan: please don’t close this theater. It will end whatever mystique Westwood has left as a moviegoer’s paradise.
Tom et al.,
Fridays can, unfortunately, be a rough day here for the site when we are frequently overloaded. I had planned on posting something about that, but preempted it for the Leeds news, etc.
Monday will probably be the day for a statement about the site and load issues.
Thanks for your patience,
Ross Melnick
Cinema Treasures
We’ll look into it …
Thanks for reporting these issues everyone. They are being investigated…
Ron, the comments are there, but as you note the news item says it has 0 comments. It’s a bug, unfortunately.
As for the comments on Brokeback, that news story and its comments are still there @ http://cinematreasures.org/news/14069_0_1_0_C/, but it also notes that the comments are missing, even though they can be found by clicking the comments link for that and every story.
Ross
The link has been fixed.
Thank you for your generous praise everyone — it is greatly appreciated.
If new theaters and updated information are posted quickly, all of the thank yous go to Bryan Krefft, our illustrious theater editor. He is amazing.
I, like you, also hope the add-a-photo feature will return someday soon.
Here’s to that and more in the future.
— Ross
With industry vets Paul Richardson and Bert Manzari on board, this sounds like a done deal.
Yes, that deal fell through years ago. Sounds like this one is going to happen …
I would also suggest contacting the Academy library in Beverly Hills (for the B'hend-Kaufmann collection), but no doubt that is probably where you looked first. :)
Thanks Ron — these links break so fast! I’ve replaced the story with another (“Historic Movie House Closed in Houlton”). — RM
All,
Please remember that this site caters to everyone: historians, enthusiasts, etc. Instead of chastising other users for getting something wrong, wouldn’t it be more productive to supply the correct answer (courteously) and/or advise other users how to do more of this kind of research? (Libraries, newspapers, THSA, Film Daily Yearbooks, etc.)
There are many ways to share information (or correct other users) that isn’t “pampering” them — it’s just being courteous.
And, for the record, no one who is being courteous and friendly will be asked to leave this site — ever.
Cinema Treasures depends on everyone’s assistance to add to the database of theaters, update a listing, post a news item, etc.
We’re all passionate about theaters — let’s channel that enthusiasm constructively, if possible.
Ross Melnick
Cinema Treasures
According to Worldcat, “Cue” is available at the following libraries:
CA LOS ANGELES PUB LIBR, CA UNIV OF CALIFORNIA, AR HENDERSON STATE UNIV, AZ NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIV, CT YALE UNIV LIBR, GA UNIV OF GEORGIA, IN CENTRAL INDIANA HEALTH SCI LIBR CONSOR, IN INDIANA UNIV, MO SOUTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIV, NC NORTH CAROLINA SCH OF THE ARTS, NC WAKE FOREST UNIV, NJ PRINCETON UNIV, NY BRIARCLIFF MANOR PUB LIBR, NY BUFFALO & ERIE CNTY PUB LIBR, NY COLUMBIA UNIV, NY COOPER UNION FOR THE ADVAN OF SCI & ART, NY CORNELL UNIV, NY EAST MEADOW PUB LIBR, NY NEW YORK CITY SCH LIBR SYST, NY NEW YORK HIST SOC ARCH, NY NEW YORK PUB LIBR RES LIBR, NY SUNY AT BUFFALO, NY WESTERN NEW YORK LIBR RES, OH MIAMI UNIV, PA UNIV OF PITTSBURGH, TX ALLIANCE FOR HIGHER EDUC, TX DALLAS PUB LIBR, TX UNIV OF TEXAS, AUSTIN, HARRY RANSOM, UT UNIV OF UTAH, VA COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY
Not all libraries carry the entire run from 1932 – 1978 so call ahead or look on the library’s online catalog.
You are absolutely correct that the problem with one or another standard is that each editor asks for a different set of criteria for the list of theaters for each publication: location, age, status, style, etc.
We’ve always tried to pick from a wide variety of all of the above, if possible.
One thing I’ve learned about creating lists: it’s often not what you put in, but what you leave out that people notice. Having said that, no slight is intended by a lack of inclusion of any of the other hundreds of Cinema Treasures out there.
Something like the National Film Registry/Hall of Fame is a terrific idea and something that would be good to coordinate with other groups as well (THSA, LHAT, NTHP, etc.).
Thanks for the suggestion and we’ll keep all of these thoughts in our head should the opportunity to create another list come up.
Thanks again!
All The Best,
Ross
Oops — should have been Huntington, WV. :)
Hi Bernie,
Those are all great theaters, but, as previously mentioned, we did not want to duplicate our previous list for USA Today. As you can see, we profiled both the Roxy Theatre in Northampton and the Senator Theatre in Baltimore in our first USA Today list:
USA Today — “10 Great Places to See a Classic Cinema”
The Senator also made it into a recent list we put together for Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel magazine.
We were very grateful to get the opportunity to do another list and felt a responsibility to highlight a new batch of theaters.
The Byrd in Richmond, VA and the Keith-Albee in Huntington, VA are prime candidates for the next list — as is the Union County Arts Center.
I’m sure you can imagine how hard it is to pick ten out of hundreds of theaters for the task!
Thanks for your comment — we will definitely keep the Byrd et al. in mind for the next one. :)
Best,
Ross Melnick
Cinema Treasures