I worked with Matty Tylek at ABC & Plitt. He eventually moved over to Petengill and took it over when Howard retired, eventually renaming the agency Pettengill/Tylek and moving from Coral Gables to Miami Shores. Diener Hauser & Bates proved to be a relentless competitor with New York connections and they eventually took over the placement market in South Florida.
Were you around during the Loews Tom Elefante days of the Riviera?
I remember the day tragic day well now, Big Ed. He was run over by a drunk driver on a downtown Miami sidewalks while on his way to work at Wometco early in the day.
I was working for Pettengill Advertising at the time and Marvin Reed was a true gentlemen and professional, well respected by everyone in the local industry.
Wometco’s booking and marketing people worked hard on promoting American International Picture’s less than stellar films. Years later, when AIP was bought by Orion, the loyalties remained and all Orion films went to Wometco in spite of AMC’s local clout.
Loew’s took over the Konover Theatre, a luxurious live theatre and lounge inside the Konover Hotel (Castle Beach, 54th & Collins) in 1976. It featured bar service to your seat and valet parking. I saw TAXI DRIVER and THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING there.
Does anyone else remember that short-lived experiment?
As the Wometco NORMANDY, it hosted the World Premiere of Jackie Mason’s film THE STOOLIE in 1972. It was to be his one starring vehicle to date and a John Avildsen film, to boot.
This was the theatre with the parking lot entrance so steep my car kept falling backwards. A stopped going for fear of the parking lot ramp. My car would groan at the mere sight of it.
LOL. The Tivoli did similar programming. My mother would take us to see some popular family musical film from Spain and the second feature would be some Mexican soft core porn or violence filler.
I also remember the Tower’s name for the subtitled version of THE SOUND OF MUSIC. It was LA NOVICIA REBELDE or literally, THE REBEL NUN.
I saw THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY on a double feature with HANG ‘EM HIGH at the Olympia.
Thanks Louis. I need to figure out a way to blow up the postcard images. The Strand Art was already porn during my Miami movie-going days and I don’t think I ever went in. I will keep an eye out for photos.
Although the Olympia, Miami, Florida and Paramount provided good memories of popcorn, Disney, and Doris Day, The Mayfair was a more serious place during the arty days and I knew I would see something different if I could get past the movie rating. It helped me develop an early love for foreign language and controversial films I still have today.
The Carib, Sheridan, Bay Harbor, Miracle, Coral, Twin Gables, Sunny Isles and Cinematheque (Absinthe) were also among my favorites.
The Omni never took off and its fate was sealed after the downtown race riots. I grew up with Spanish films at the Tivoli and Tower but avoided them once I figured out how to take the bus.
Although I have seen the box office numbers I have failed to find any good movies.
So far I have seen only convoluted and incomprehensible CGI sequels (SHREK, PIRATES, FANTASTIC, SPIDER), yet another boring all-star remake of the awful OCEANS 11, and two romantic comedies about unwanted pregnancies caused by excessive alcohol consumption (KNOCKED UP, WAITRESS).
Although adorable in real life, when did casual unsafe drunk sex become acceptable behavior for a movie heroine?
Can you recommend any English language good movies this summer that made any money?
Having been a theatre manager I can tell you that parents are the brunt of the problem. They often ignore the kids so much that toddlers wander out into the lobby and into other screens. We kept them at the concession stand until the movie ended and someone came out to claim them.
After evicting unaccompanied darlings for throwing eggs, loud cursing, fighting and otherwise disrupting the show, I was very often confronted by angry parents claiming their child would never engage in such behavior and demanding that theatre must keep the little psychopaths on hand until they get collected.
It appears that many are under the impression that the local cinema is a cheap and safe babysitter. By the way, it is always “that other kid” who did it.
I was in Mexico City on 1996 when we introduced Nachos and the Mexicans had never heard of them. It is apparently strictly a Tex-Mex invention that is now successfully sold in Shanghai, Glasgow, Tokyo, Warsaw and Moscow. Who knew oddly translucent cheese on a stale tasting chip would be an element of cultural unity?
By the way, it dries like candle wax on the seats but the portion control containers do help.
Warren, didn’t Loews fight the concept of concession stands when others were installing them? Cineplex Odeon had to put them into some Walter Reade and Rugoff locations in Manhattan in the 80’s and, say what you may, made many shakey single-screen theatres profitable once again.
Merry Christmas from Florida State Theatres, 1966.
View link
I worked with Matty Tylek at ABC & Plitt. He eventually moved over to Petengill and took it over when Howard retired, eventually renaming the agency Pettengill/Tylek and moving from Coral Gables to Miami Shores. Diener Hauser & Bates proved to be a relentless competitor with New York connections and they eventually took over the placement market in South Florida.
Were you around during the Loews Tom Elefante days of the Riviera?
I remember the day tragic day well now, Big Ed. He was run over by a drunk driver on a downtown Miami sidewalks while on his way to work at Wometco early in the day.
I was working for Pettengill Advertising at the time and Marvin Reed was a true gentlemen and professional, well respected by everyone in the local industry.
Wometco’s booking and marketing people worked hard on promoting American International Picture’s less than stellar films. Years later, when AIP was bought by Orion, the loyalties remained and all Orion films went to Wometco in spite of AMC’s local clout.
LOL, Jerry. I wasn’t aware that writers were involved in this summer’s crop of record breaking movies.
Oh, yeah, that HARRY POTTER woman.
You can still see live naked girls just a block say from the New Amsterdam and there are three porn bookstores in a row on 41st street and 8th.
Don’t believe all the Guliani hype.
Bob, do you remember the Sunset?
The intro explains that.
40c to 95c in 1957 for two subrun movies.
Several shots the Dixie Drive-in, Perrine/Goulds can be seen on this website.
http://www.pbase.com/donboyd/image/81425318
Loew’s took over the Konover Theatre, a luxurious live theatre and lounge inside the Konover Hotel (Castle Beach, 54th & Collins) in 1976. It featured bar service to your seat and valet parking. I saw TAXI DRIVER and THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING there.
Does anyone else remember that short-lived experiment?
Fred,
There is small photo of the Downtown Miami Roxy on this flyer. See if it brings back any memories and perhaps you can add the page.
View link
Big Ed Longo,
Do you know if manager Marvin Reed eventually became head of marketing for Wometco? His name sounds very familiar.
Apparently a SPARKS' theatre in 1932 before being extensively remodeled.
View link
As the Wometco NORMANDY, it hosted the World Premiere of Jackie Mason’s film THE STOOLIE in 1972. It was to be his one starring vehicle to date and a John Avildsen film, to boot.
This was the theatre with the parking lot entrance so steep my car kept falling backwards. A stopped going for fear of the parking lot ramp. My car would groan at the mere sight of it.
Damn you, Hollywood!
Now I’m craving Nathan’s hot dog and I am nowhere near New York.
LOL. The Tivoli did similar programming. My mother would take us to see some popular family musical film from Spain and the second feature would be some Mexican soft core porn or violence filler.
I also remember the Tower’s name for the subtitled version of THE SOUND OF MUSIC. It was LA NOVICIA REBELDE or literally, THE REBEL NUN.
I saw THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY on a double feature with HANG ‘EM HIGH at the Olympia.
Have you found this website yet?
http://www.pbase.com/donboyd/memories
Thanks Louis. I need to figure out a way to blow up the postcard images. The Strand Art was already porn during my Miami movie-going days and I don’t think I ever went in. I will keep an eye out for photos.
Louis,
Although the Olympia, Miami, Florida and Paramount provided good memories of popcorn, Disney, and Doris Day, The Mayfair was a more serious place during the arty days and I knew I would see something different if I could get past the movie rating. It helped me develop an early love for foreign language and controversial films I still have today.
The Carib, Sheridan, Bay Harbor, Miracle, Coral, Twin Gables, Sunny Isles and Cinematheque (Absinthe) were also among my favorites.
The Omni never took off and its fate was sealed after the downtown race riots. I grew up with Spanish films at the Tivoli and Tower but avoided them once I figured out how to take the bus.
Great news! Will do.
Florida Theatre, downtown Miami.
http://www.pbase.com/donboyd/image/77098085
Artist rendition
http://www.pbase.com/donboyd/image/80670007
Although I have seen the box office numbers I have failed to find any good movies.
So far I have seen only convoluted and incomprehensible CGI sequels (SHREK, PIRATES, FANTASTIC, SPIDER), yet another boring all-star remake of the awful OCEANS 11, and two romantic comedies about unwanted pregnancies caused by excessive alcohol consumption (KNOCKED UP, WAITRESS).
Although adorable in real life, when did casual unsafe drunk sex become acceptable behavior for a movie heroine?
Can you recommend any English language good movies this summer that made any money?
Having been a theatre manager I can tell you that parents are the brunt of the problem. They often ignore the kids so much that toddlers wander out into the lobby and into other screens. We kept them at the concession stand until the movie ended and someone came out to claim them.
After evicting unaccompanied darlings for throwing eggs, loud cursing, fighting and otherwise disrupting the show, I was very often confronted by angry parents claiming their child would never engage in such behavior and demanding that theatre must keep the little psychopaths on hand until they get collected.
It appears that many are under the impression that the local cinema is a cheap and safe babysitter. By the way, it is always “that other kid” who did it.
I was in Mexico City on 1996 when we introduced Nachos and the Mexicans had never heard of them. It is apparently strictly a Tex-Mex invention that is now successfully sold in Shanghai, Glasgow, Tokyo, Warsaw and Moscow. Who knew oddly translucent cheese on a stale tasting chip would be an element of cultural unity?
By the way, it dries like candle wax on the seats but the portion control containers do help.
Warren, didn’t Loews fight the concept of concession stands when others were installing them? Cineplex Odeon had to put them into some Walter Reade and Rugoff locations in Manhattan in the 80’s and, say what you may, made many shakey single-screen theatres profitable once again.