Hmm, they want to “something creative”? How about transplanting in a story with some real originality or at a least semblance of that? I do credit the dazzling special effects and steps forward in 3D, but extra footage alone wouldn’t make me see it again.
This kind of reminds me though of an attraction that was at both Expo 67 in Montreal and at Hemisfair in San Antonio the following year called the KinoAutomat where at several points during the film the audience could vote on which of two routes the action or actors could take, using buttons at each seat. But at least annoying cell phone users were not involved and the film only ran a half hour or less.
Another thought: what if the person called uses foul language or makes inappropriate remarks to the character needing assistance? Does the voice recognition software translate everything?
Regardless of whether one likes or hates LEDs think it should be noted too that the use of LEDs does NOT invalidate a theater’s present or future inclusion on the National Register. Both the Apollo in New York and the Fox in Atlanta have them, just as two examples of theaters on the National Register.
In fairness to the Park Board, their recent press release (which can be read on this site) denies that the new proposed marquee will have LED signage. (Scan down to comment by “Julia”): http://www.flickr.com/photos/army_arch/4412874340/
It also includes a picture of the original marquee. I would like to see a picture of the proposed revision before I decide which side to support.
Here’s an article that mentions that the former Ski Time Cinemas have been incorporated into the Magic Lantern Theater which now refers to these two auditoriums as the Screening Rooms: http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005130487
According to this article about the history of the Magic Lantern, the Ski Time Cinemas have been incorporated into this theater as the Magic Lantern Screening Rooms: http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005130487
This screen count should be six, and the headnote updated.
The tour is well worth taking especially if you are are a fan of art deco; I think it is probably the best surviving example of an art deco theater except perhaps for Radio City Music Hall. I think it is breathtaking.
This picture is at least five years old, so there may have been a replacement of the screen since; it looks to me to have only a slight curve which is the way I remember it the last time I was there about three years ago: View link
Eric: no marquee; the building is on a corner location of what looks to me as a one of those “lifestyle centers.” It has a kind of towered entry over arches, with just the theater name and signage referring to its Odyssey screen.
Patsy: to access Google Streetview, first get the Google map of the address you are searching for. When the map comes up, look to the left of the map. If Streetview is available for the address in question, it will appear in the list when you click on “More…” (Streetview is not always available). Click on Streetview.
This will change the map image to a picture of what Google says is at the address. However, what appears may not be exactly what is being sought. You may have to use both the pointer icon at the top left to move within the picture as well as the arrows on the line that will will appear in the picture along the street.
In the case of this theater’s address, you have to move to see more at the left of the photo because the theater is a the left end of the building that first appears when you hit Streetview. You will need to click on the arrow on the street line more than once to bring the theater image into view. Unless you have a very fast computer and a high speed connection, this can be a slow process.
According to the information on the Fox Wilshire’s page on Roland Lataille’s Cinerama website: http://cinerama.topcities.com/wilshire.htm, a curved screen was installed in front of the existing flat screen for the move-over run from the Dome.
I am not sure if this Cineamerica East referenced in this web item is the same Cineamerica (or is/was related to it) about which information is being sought, but according to the item, Cineamerica East assets were acquired by Crown Theatres. Crown Theatres apparently became or was acquired by Bow Tie Cinemas. Item here: View link
Michael: Mike Rogers posted his original inquiry about a Showcase Cinema in Cincinnati on the Cincinnati Albee Theater page some days ago. It is hardly the first time that someone has posted an inquiry about a particular theater on another theater’s entry page if they are in the same area and the one being inquired about does not appear to have a page of its own.
This is is essentially what Mike posted on the Albee page: (I have combined two comments and done a bit of editing:
“…Do you know anything about SHOWCASE CINEMAS in Cincinnati? I know it was a modern theatre, but I can’t find this fourplex anywhere on CT…All I know it was located near the Tri-County Shopping Center near I-275. So this fourplex could be [now] be10 screens [i] just don’t know. It was a major theatre complex when it opened in the 70's…. It was called in 1974 SHOWCASE CINEMAS 1.2.3.4.”
I hardly find it “nonsensical” that I should question whether this Cincinnati Mills theater might be the theater Mike had in mind since a) it is in Cincinnati, and b) it is off of I-275 (which I knew from experince). As it turned out, he was thinking of the theater in Springdale, not actually in Cincinnati proper. I was simply trying to raise a point in the interest of accuracy.
Michael, no one on CT admires your probing research and detailed articles more than I, and I too wish that the some site rules were more rigorously observed. However, I think your comments are occasionally unnecessarily abrasive and hurtful.
I can think of two that became bookstores. 1) the Runnymede in Toronto which became a Chapters Bookstore which I think is still operating as such; picture here: View link and 2) The Alabama in Houston which was a BookStop until this past September, picture here: View link
I have not been able to locate any interior pictures, but the demolished Southtown in Chicago hung on as a department store; there was a picture in David Naylor’s book, “American Picture Palaces,” I think. Also in Chicago, the Calo is now a secondhand store. It’s hardly an elegant example, actually it is rather shabby, but you cannot miss the fact that it was a theater when you are in there.
Hmm, they want to “something creative”? How about transplanting in a story with some real originality or at a least semblance of that? I do credit the dazzling special effects and steps forward in 3D, but extra footage alone wouldn’t make me see it again.
Oops, sorry for this misplacement; it should have been here. Thanks, Scott.
This kind of reminds me though of an attraction that was at both Expo 67 in Montreal and at Hemisfair in San Antonio the following year called the KinoAutomat where at several points during the film the audience could vote on which of two routes the action or actors could take, using buttons at each seat. But at least annoying cell phone users were not involved and the film only ran a half hour or less.
Another thought: what if the person called uses foul language or makes inappropriate remarks to the character needing assistance? Does the voice recognition software translate everything?
It closed as of 02-21-10 and will be replaced by a new twelve screen multiplex: View link
The current operator will be losing his lease on this theater as of August 31 to another theater operator in Santa Rosa: View link
An article about this theater with two pictures:
View link
Regardless of whether one likes or hates LEDs think it should be noted too that the use of LEDs does NOT invalidate a theater’s present or future inclusion on the National Register. Both the Apollo in New York and the Fox in Atlanta have them, just as two examples of theaters on the National Register.
This theater will now be known as BIG Cinemas Manhattan, as it has been acquired by India’s largest cinema chain; story here: View link
In fairness to the Park Board, their recent press release (which can be read on this site) denies that the new proposed marquee will have LED signage. (Scan down to comment by “Julia”): http://www.flickr.com/photos/army_arch/4412874340/
It also includes a picture of the original marquee. I would like to see a picture of the proposed revision before I decide which side to support.
Here’s an article that mentions that the former Ski Time Cinemas have been incorporated into the Magic Lantern Theater which now refers to these two auditoriums as the Screening Rooms: http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005130487
According to this article about the history of the Magic Lantern, the Ski Time Cinemas have been incorporated into this theater as the Magic Lantern Screening Rooms: http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005130487
This screen count should be six, and the headnote updated.
Unfortunately, some not-so-good news: View link
The tour is well worth taking especially if you are are a fan of art deco; I think it is probably the best surviving example of an art deco theater except perhaps for Radio City Music Hall. I think it is breathtaking.
This picture is at least five years old, so there may have been a replacement of the screen since; it looks to me to have only a slight curve which is the way I remember it the last time I was there about three years ago: View link
Eric: no marquee; the building is on a corner location of what looks to me as a one of those “lifestyle centers.” It has a kind of towered entry over arches, with just the theater name and signage referring to its Odyssey screen.
Patsy: to access Google Streetview, first get the Google map of the address you are searching for. When the map comes up, look to the left of the map. If Streetview is available for the address in question, it will appear in the list when you click on “More…” (Streetview is not always available). Click on Streetview.
This will change the map image to a picture of what Google says is at the address. However, what appears may not be exactly what is being sought. You may have to use both the pointer icon at the top left to move within the picture as well as the arrows on the line that will will appear in the picture along the street.
In the case of this theater’s address, you have to move to see more at the left of the photo because the theater is a the left end of the building that first appears when you hit Streetview. You will need to click on the arrow on the street line more than once to bring the theater image into view. Unless you have a very fast computer and a high speed connection, this can be a slow process.
Here’s a picture of the Dean as it was in 1914: View link
You can also click on a thumbnail of a picture below this one to see what the building looks like today.
It probably is; I was not able to find out much more than what is in the above article from any other online source.
A recent article about the discovery of old movie posters in the rafters of the building that once was the Dean: View link
According to the information on the Fox Wilshire’s page on Roland Lataille’s Cinerama website: http://cinerama.topcities.com/wilshire.htm, a curved screen was installed in front of the existing flat screen for the move-over run from the Dome.
Here’s a recent article about the the renovation/restoration efforts: View link
I am not sure if this Cineamerica East referenced in this web item is the same Cineamerica (or is/was related to it) about which information is being sought, but according to the item, Cineamerica East assets were acquired by Crown Theatres. Crown Theatres apparently became or was acquired by Bow Tie Cinemas. Item here: View link
Thanks. I am sure that is most likely if not definitely the case as Wehrenberg sold off its more far-flung properties when it was having financial difficulties at that time. The blog item that I found that indicated the theater was closed only mentioned Wehrenberg as the operator. Also “Ciné” is typical part of a Wehrenberg theater name, not often carried over when another operator picks up a previous Wehrenberg house, though in this case it apparently was.
Michael: Mike Rogers posted his original inquiry about a Showcase Cinema in Cincinnati on the Cincinnati Albee Theater page some days ago. It is hardly the first time that someone has posted an inquiry about a particular theater on another theater’s entry page if they are in the same area and the one being inquired about does not appear to have a page of its own.
This is is essentially what Mike posted on the Albee page: (I have combined two comments and done a bit of editing:
“…Do you know anything about SHOWCASE CINEMAS in Cincinnati? I know it was a modern theatre, but I can’t find this fourplex anywhere on CT…All I know it was located near the Tri-County Shopping Center near I-275. So this fourplex could be [now] be10 screens [i] just don’t know. It was a major theatre complex when it opened in the 70's…. It was called in 1974 SHOWCASE CINEMAS 1.2.3.4.”
I hardly find it “nonsensical” that I should question whether this Cincinnati Mills theater might be the theater Mike had in mind since a) it is in Cincinnati, and b) it is off of I-275 (which I knew from experince). As it turned out, he was thinking of the theater in Springdale, not actually in Cincinnati proper. I was simply trying to raise a point in the interest of accuracy.
Michael, no one on CT admires your probing research and detailed articles more than I, and I too wish that the some site rules were more rigorously observed. However, I think your comments are occasionally unnecessarily abrasive and hurtful.
I can think of two that became bookstores. 1) the Runnymede in Toronto which became a Chapters Bookstore which I think is still operating as such; picture here: View link and 2) The Alabama in Houston which was a BookStop until this past September, picture here: View link
I have not been able to locate any interior pictures, but the demolished Southtown in Chicago hung on as a department store; there was a picture in David Naylor’s book, “American Picture Palaces,” I think. Also in Chicago, the Calo is now a secondhand store. It’s hardly an elegant example, actually it is rather shabby, but you cannot miss the fact that it was a theater when you are in there.