SIFF Cinema Downtown

2100 4th Avenue,
Seattle, WA 98121

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Showing 251 - 273 of 273 comments

Mike (saps)
Mike (saps) on September 17, 2005 at 9:37 pm

I recently visted this theater and had an excellent experience. The renovation was superb; the lobby reminded me a bit of the United Nations/JFK Airport International Style, bland but clean, with blue tile thoughout.

I was happy to see a lovely pale purple curtain covering the screen, rather than pre-show advertising. The curtain opened to reveal a tremendous screen, which seemed to go from floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall. The manager later told me that the Cinerama screen is folded up behind this screen, and is ready to be reassembled whenever a Cinerama feature is presented, such as How the West Was Won, which screened a while back.

The auditorium seems to be done in a post-modern atmospheric style, including twinkling lights that go out when the feature starts. The orchestra level seats were comfortable rocking ones. I sat in the balcony (because I could!) where the seats didn’t rock, except, oddly, in the front row, which thus provided a good view of the ceiling and a not-so-great view of the screen.

Needless to say, the presentation was first-rate, with a bright, clear picture and crystal clear sound.

The locals really seem to love this theatre, especially since it was recently spared from the wrecking ball. I join them in their support.

(While in Seattle I also visted and have commented upon the Paramount, the 5th Avenue, the Egyptian, the Colisuem and the Meridian.)

Gooper
Gooper on September 10, 2005 at 10:09 am

saps, I look forward to your observations. I used to work at the Paramount (still standing) and the Music Hall (now long gone), so my Seattle movie palace thoughts are a mixture of the wistful and the glorious. The Cinerama dodged a bullet, and for that we can all be grateful. Happy touring!

Mike (saps)
Mike (saps) on September 10, 2005 at 5:26 am

I am in Seattle now and hope to make a report when I return!

Forrest136
Forrest136 on September 10, 2005 at 1:22 am

When will this theatre actually show a CINERAMA film?

kateymac01
kateymac01 on September 9, 2005 at 10:02 pm

FYI: The Seattle Cinerama falls under the AMC chain now, not General Cinemas.

deleted user
[Deleted] on June 29, 2005 at 4:11 am

Universal presents KING KONG. World Premiere Monday, 12 December 2005 Ziegfeld Theatre, New York City. Regular performances start Wednesday, 14 December 2005 at the Ziegfeld Theatre, New York, the Cinerama Dome, Hollywood, CA and Seattle Cinerama.

Mike (saps)
Mike (saps) on May 23, 2005 at 11:50 am

What are the current uses for the Paramount, 5th Avenue, Moore and Neptune? (I know I could look it up, but…) Are they live performance spaces or do they still show movies? I wonder if any tours arre available. Thanks!

Gooper
Gooper on May 23, 2005 at 11:21 am

saps, when in Seattle, check out the bare remains of what was once a great theatre town: the Paramount, on Pine St, is the grandest. Rapp & Rapp in fine form, in association with the regional movie palace wizard, B. Marcus Priteca. Next, the 5th Avenue, which, in Ben Hall’s immortal phrase, ‘nearly out-Chinesed Grauman’s Chinese’ is a fine specimen in a dignified building. Both houses are in excellent (restored) condition, the 5th less so. The Coliseum, also on 5th, remains in frontage form only, as its interior is now, sadly, just another Banana Republic. But what a frontage it is, with ‘COLISEVM’ spelled out in Roman Empire form, way up there under the cornice. All three survivors, interestingly, used to be members of the Fox Westcoast chain. The marvelously oddball Moore, which still uses a sandbag fly gallery backstage, is down on 2nd. Almost more like a lodge hall than a theatre. Long gone in the immediate vicinity: the Town, the Music Box, the Blue Mouse, the Music Hall, and the beloved Orpheum. The Egyptian, up Pine St, actually was a masonic hall turned into theatre. Nice atmosphere. The Neptune, up in the University District, is fairly low key, but it sports busts of the sea god around the periphery of the auditorium, with eyes that glow in sea-greenish-blue. The Rivoli, the last burlesque house in Seattle, bowed to the wrecking ball in the early 1970s. This said, seeing the Cinerama restored was a major lift in a town known for being a filmgoers' paradise, but ironically, not a good turf for movie palace restoration, except in the two cases above.

Mike (saps)
Mike (saps) on May 21, 2005 at 8:47 pm

And while I’m there, are there any recommendations for great movie houses that I should check out?

Mike (saps)
Mike (saps) on May 21, 2005 at 8:41 pm

I meant the 68 foot screen.

Mike (saps)
Mike (saps) on May 21, 2005 at 8:41 pm

I’ll be in Seattle in September and hope to see somehting on the 90 foot Cinerama screen, rather than the 60 foot (but still impressive!) screen.

Gooper
Gooper on February 22, 2005 at 6:41 pm

I saw ‘Grand Prix’ and ‘2001’ here in Cinerama-ish presentations, as well as many other fine films, including ‘Lord of the Rings’, in lavish style. Then, in 2004, ‘How The West Was Won’ in 3-strip Cinerama. The two side projectors were from Peru! An unforgettable experience. It was as if I’d never seen the film before. Synchronization was excellent. Never has Alfred Newman’s score sounded so good, or the color been better. The artistry of John Ford’s Civil War sequence was a revelation. The three projectionists were welcoming and cheerfully addressed our group’s many questions. There were so many of us that we could hardly fit in the spacious righthand projection booth! And on Superbowl day, no less. I had an original program booklet, which made a hit in the general vicinity.

The restoration of the theatre itself is stunning. The moderne/populuxe feel of the place is 10 times better than the original, which was simply an endless array of dull red curtains. The Seattle Cinerama should serve as an inspiration to theatre owners everywhere! Bless you, Paul Allen!

Jesse Hoheisel
Jesse Hoheisel on January 9, 2005 at 8:52 pm

Does anyone know if there will be a Cinerama film fest this year?

paulench
paulench on January 3, 2005 at 7:11 am

I’d love to get back to Seattle someday and see a Cinerama revival. (I had seen several Cinerama shows back home in Chicago in the 1950s and early ‘60s)

My only experience with the Seattle Cinerama theater was in early 1969, while stationed at Fort Lewis, near Tacoma. I wanted so much to see Kubrick’s “2001:A Space Odyssey” and this seemed the perfect place to watch it. I was not disappointed.

Although “2001” was shot in “Super-Panavision 70”, MGM (or Technicolor) did make special prints just for Cinerama type theater showings (cf: imdb.com)) It projected very impressively on Seattle’s deep-curved screen. I had seen a matinee showing – went to dinner and came back to watch it again, I was so impressed. Happy to hear the theater still stands and is supported by local fans.

LLNYRN
LLNYRN on August 6, 2004 at 8:28 am

When I was livng in Portland, OR, I would make frquent trips to Seattle. On one of my trips, I took the oppotunity to see “TITUS” at the Cinerama. I have to say that it was one of the BEST theater experiences I’ve ever had. The theater was MARVELOUS (as was the film)!!!

I just moved back to New York late last year (after spending 15 years in the Pacific NorthWest). And we have just had the disheartening feeling of having the Loew’s Astor Plaza, one of the last large single screen theaters left,close.

I hope those of you who are TRUE theater fans in Seattle will hold on to the Cinerama. Though his handling of the BLAZERS leaves a lot to be desired, Paul Allen gets major props from me for his work on the Cinerama.

AlanSmithee
AlanSmithee on May 20, 2004 at 3:00 pm

If only all theatres were like this one! How ironic it is though that it’s currently run by AMC, which represents many of the things that are wrong with today’s theatres!

josephporasso
josephporasso on October 12, 2003 at 3:10 pm

I was visiting Seattle several years ago and couldn’t wait to view a film at the Cinerama. The pic was “Lord of the Rings” and what a presentation. A huge screen, flawless projection and incrediable sound. We have nothing like this in SF. The Cinerama is the best!

MLutthans
MLutthans on October 11, 2003 at 4:50 pm

Hi, Ross & Patrick. Hey, I just was looking over your page on the Cinerama in Seattle, and it still says that Cineplex Odeon converted the building to 2nd run. The theatre was NEVER a 2nd run theatre. It was always — even in its delapidated later condition — THE first run house in Seattle. The only exception is that during its last couple of months it ran Air Force One and Titanic several weeks into their release. Also, the chain is now AMC, which bought out General Cinemas.

Cheers!
—Matt

johnmills
johnmills on August 10, 2001 at 4:42 pm

Please see the website on the opening of the Seattle (Martin) Cinerama in 1962. The address is:
http://members.aol.com/cinerama8/index.cinema.html

Photographs of the staff are included in the history. Thanks.