Comments from CSWalczak

Showing 2,726 - 2,750 of 3,494 comments

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on Apr 9, 2010 at 2:34 am

A Towne Cinema in Flin Flon does appear on this list of Famous Players theatres:
View link. I did find another source that indicated that the Northland was operated by FP; perhaps the Towne was a former or later name for the Northland?

CSWalczak
CSWalczak commented about Jefferson Theater on Apr 8, 2010 at 1:03 pm

An article about the restoration of the Jefferson and its history: View link

CSWalczak
CSWalczak commented about Hawaii Theatre on Apr 7, 2010 at 5:02 pm

An article about the Hawaii: View link

CSWalczak
CSWalczak commented about Oaks Theater on Apr 7, 2010 at 4:50 pm

The Oaks has new operators according to this article: View link

The theater’s new website is http://www.berkeleyoaks.com

CSWalczak
CSWalczak commented about TCL Chinese Theatre on Apr 7, 2010 at 8:19 am

There is no profile because, as the headnote indicates, these two auditoriums were built by Mann as an expansion of the original Chinese, not as a stand-alone operation. I remember distinctly that when the theater was known as Mann’s Chinese, the directory advertising for the theater in the LA Times, after the construction did not refer to these two newer cinemas separately (although I cannot recall if the theater was ever advertised as Mann’s Chinese 3 or Mann’s Chinese 1-2-3 or something like that. I am sure other LA-based CT contribitors can, though). A better case for a separate listing could be made for the newer Chinese 6 as this newer six-plex has a different address and is listed as a separate theater on the Mann website. My guess is that when the Chinese is sold, the six-plex will not be part of the deal.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak commented about Moxie Cinema on Apr 6, 2010 at 7:51 pm

This theater moved to 431 S. Jefferson, #108, Springfield, MO 65806 and is now a twin. It is also again for sale, asking price $150,000: View link

CSWalczak
CSWalczak commented about Theatre Voyons on Apr 5, 2010 at 11:44 pm

Actually, ‘Voyons’ would be better translated as ‘Let’s see’ or ‘Look!"

CSWalczak
CSWalczak commented about Sooner Theatre on Apr 5, 2010 at 3:33 pm

An article about the Sooner: View link

CSWalczak
CSWalczak commented about AMC Kabuki 8 on Apr 5, 2010 at 6:38 am

When AMC acquired the former Japantown theater and made it a part of an eight-screen multiplex, it also acquired as part of the deal another operation called the Kabuki Hot Springs which was also a part of the original Japantown complex. It was a recreation of a traditional Japanese communal bath with the traditional amenities including the baths, massages, etc. (The exterior appears in the James Bond film “A View to a Kill” though the interior scene was probably filmed at Pinewood).

AMC actually gave it go although the idea of a Kansas City theater chain operating a business of this type was really laughable. The business was popular, and when it began to decline under AMC’s management, it was later sold off. It still exists today as the Kabuki Springs and Spa. There’s discussion of this odd little episode here: View link

CSWalczak
CSWalczak commented about AMC Kabuki 8 on Apr 5, 2010 at 6:13 am

A picture of the Sundance Kabuki lobby from the theater’s website: http://sundancecinemas.com/kabuki.html and another of the entrance: View link

The atrium entrance and lobby were originally modifications made by AMC; after becoming a Sundance operation the lobby area was given an upgrade.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak commented about White Oaks Cinema on Apr 4, 2010 at 7:33 am

According to this article, the theater is now home to a Springfield church branch campus and will be also housing a paintball arena: View link

CSWalczak
CSWalczak commented about Final Season for 'At the Movies' on Apr 4, 2010 at 7:17 am

It is spam; spammers sometimes open accounts on public sites with comment sections just like this so that can post irrelevant garbage. The moderators don’t always catch this stuff.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak commented about Could the 3D fad die like it did during the 50's? on Apr 3, 2010 at 7:44 pm

“Used correctly” – that, I think, embraces the heart of the matter. Until producers and filmmakers go beyond the worn out and clichéd uses of 3D (especially the illusion of things thrown at the audience), 3D will pass away again. And, as others have noted, 3D can make certain (not all) movies better, it cannot, any more than Cinerama, Todd-AO, or Sensurround did, make poor or even average movies better. I am not sure exactly what “correct use” could mean, but I think a recent article in the NY Times – View link – may be on to something when the author makes the point about “Avatar” immersing the viewer in a wholly different place. If the world of the film is basically a place we know or one frequently imagined or portrayed frequently before, why bother with 3D? I would not pay higher prices to see crud like “The Last Song” or even a really good film such as “The Usual Suspects” in 3D. I am rather sure that if more movies are presented in 3D that were not planned imaginatively for 3D as this new version of “Clash of the Titans” exemplifies, then 3D will again be mothballed.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak commented about Grand Opera House on Apr 3, 2010 at 6:57 pm

Here’s a recent article about the work going on at the theater: it is scheduled to reopen in the fall after repairs to its roof have been made and other renovations completed: View link

CSWalczak
CSWalczak commented about Laugh Factory on Apr 2, 2010 at 7:02 pm

The Lakeshore will be closed permanently, at least as far as its present use is concerned, on April 10, 2010. Story here: View link

CSWalczak
CSWalczak commented about Carmike to operate Ocala's Marion Theatre on Apr 1, 2010 at 11:36 pm

I think it may be significant that the lease is only for one year, which suggests to me that it is more less a trial operation. Still, as the article indicates, they are installing digital equipment and planning to twin the theater which implies a willingness to make some investment. Perhaps of note too, is the fact that the lease is with Carmke’s subsidiary, Eastwynn; it might be that Carmike is now using this branch to manage smaller operations.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak commented about Pantages Theater on Apr 1, 2010 at 7:17 pm

There is a picture of the theater as the RKO-PAN here: View link
The theater’s official gallery page has many pictures of the theater over the years; it is here: View link

CSWalczak
CSWalczak commented about Studio Movie Grill Kansas City on Mar 31, 2010 at 6:15 pm

As of April 1, 2010, this theater will now be known as the Studio Movie Grill; the comedy club is gone, and the number of screens has been increased to eight. The theater is located in the Zona Rosa lifestyle center. Story here: View link

CSWalczak
CSWalczak commented about TCL Chinese Theatre on Mar 31, 2010 at 6:06 am

According to the information on the American Cinematheque website, the screen dimensions in the large theater at the Egyptian are 53 ft. wide by 27 ft. high.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak commented about Granada Theatre on Mar 29, 2010 at 6:25 pm

A recent article indicates that this former theater opened as the Putnam County Opera House in 1875, apparently becoming the Granada in 1927, closing sometime after 1945. In 1985, fire destroyed all but the facade, which still remains. Here is the article: http://www.bannergraphic.com/story/1621742.html

CSWalczak
CSWalczak commented about Fox Theatre on Mar 27, 2010 at 8:39 pm

According to this article, this theater is again currently operating as the Fox; its survival is in jeopardy because of the closing of a privatised correctional center nearby which will cause the county to end a regular subsidy payment: View link

CSWalczak
CSWalczak commented about Marion Theatre on Mar 27, 2010 at 2:43 am

According to a recent article, the Marion stopped showing films in January, 2008 though it was used for live entertainment afterwards. It is scheduled to reopen as a first-run cinema again on May 21, 2010 under Carmike management, which plans to twin the theater. The article is here: View link

CSWalczak
CSWalczak commented about Cherryvale Mall Cinema on Mar 26, 2010 at 5:28 pm

There is a proposal to convert the building into a nightclub: View link

CSWalczak
CSWalczak commented about Bright Leaf Drive-In on Mar 25, 2010 at 3:05 am

After fifty-five years, this drive-in has now closed:
View link

CSWalczak
CSWalczak commented about Stalled renovation plans, lax building code enforcement allowing Alexandria Theatre to decay on Mar 22, 2010 at 5:27 pm

Actually, the Alexandria once had eight (rather than five) times the number of seats than that which is proposed for the theater that is supposedly a part of the redevelopment project as the Alexandria once had 2,000 seats.