Upcoming films in 35mm, for $5 including free popcorn & a short Wurlitzer pipe organ concert, are Ferris Bueller’s Day Off on May 10, National Lampoon’s Vacation on June 28, Forrest Gump on July 19, Stand by M on August 16, and The Goonies on Sept. 14. Link to details: http://www.ucpac.org/films
To explain the above comment! there’s articles today stating Netflix may acquire the theater, but all can relax- both Netflix and the existing nonprofit would operate the theater.
THEY were NOT saying that anybody lied! Be careful with accusations. All that was said above was that this theater never reopened & you were confusing theaters.
The Pretty Woman print was gorgeous! and reminded me of how beautiful 35mm really is. Here’s a link to next few months' 35mm classics which are The Karate Kid, a double feature of A League of Their Own + The Natural, also Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and National Lampoon’s Vacation. These are only $5 each! and some or all of these films include the Wurlitzer pipe organ being played for awhile, and free popcorn. Check the website and/or Facebook for correct details as I don’t work for the theater; I am merely a big fan of seeing classic films and especially in a historic movie palace such as this one. And,this one has a world class projectionist (Mark P).http://www.ucpac.org/films
By the time I was visiting NYC as an adult, this theater was divided up & I never saw a movie in it. I did have the pleasure of seeing Funny Girl in a new print at the Ziegfeld in 2001, very appropriate because a bust of Fanny Brice was on display upstairs in a foyer at the Ziegfeld. Last year the Univ of Penn Gazette (alumni magazine) had an article contrasting movies from 1968 or so to current. Classics then, current is not so. My own analysis is that 1980s & 1990s each had far fewer great mainstream films than each of the decades before, but there were still many such great films. But, after the Millennium, mainstream films that are really great hardly exist! There are still excellent “art” films which is what the Oscars mostly nominate & honor. And, the art films are often exhibited in historic movie theaters. Contrast to TV which since The Sopranos arrived in 1999 has had a renaissance of great series. So, no, films are no longer exhibited here or at the Ziegfeld, not at all, and nowhere for many months one film.
Auditorium 10, one of the largest auditoriums as my Intro says, was closed off yesterday “hard hat only” I am not sure, but I think they may be converting it to 4 D (which I have no interest in). I was there to see the spectacular WW1 docu “They Shall Not Grow Old”
Seth, In recent years, I see few movies with CGI, but back then, I enjoyed the Lord of the Rings trilogy, at historic cinemas! The 1st I enjoyed at both the Sameric (Boyd) Philadelphia and Toronoto’s Eglington. The Boyd’s auditorium is gone; Englington no longer shows movies. The next two I enjoyed at Washington DC’s Uptown, which is now run by AMC which hasn’t fixed or replaced the motor that opens & closes the curtain/tab so the curtain isn’t used anymore. And, that brings us full circle to the Odeon which AMC decided to make more similar to a “black box” cinema than a flagship, which should have proper curtain & decoration. Also, to add to the list of West End cinemas using tabs, the Prince Charles downstairs and the Regent Street Cinema which also both use proper masking (unlike the Picturehouse Central cited above which has a gorgeous tab but “flat” movies are not masked). I’m in the States, but visit London once a year, and like to see a movie each day – in the historic cinemas.
Despite what seemed like was to happen from looking at the article’s renderings, future articles made it clear the main auditorium is not going to be divided. The 2 new auditoriums, in addition to the former ballroom aka black box space (2nd floor) will be on the 3rd floor.
2014 email from projectionist Nigel Wolland to me with definitive former dimensions:
Total screen size on the screen frame 52 x 26 feet
70mm screen size 47 x 21 feet
Scope is 47 x 19'6" feet
1.75 is 36'4" x 21 feet
1.85 is 36'4" x 19'6" feet
1.33 is 27'6 x 19 feet
This was the post by the Lower Merion Conservancy last week at Facebook:
The Bala Theatre was awarded Class I designation on the Lower Merion Township Historic Resource Inventory last night! The Conservancy, which included the theatre on its annual WatchList five times during the past six years, is thrilled with this news.
The theatre is a landmark in Lower Merion. More importantly, it is the keystone of historic Bala Avenue and crucial to the revitalization of the commercial district. The Conservancy is appreciative of the Board’s support for this designation. It is also grateful to its many dedicated members, to the Lower Merion Historical Society, the Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwyd, and the Lower Merion Historical Commission for relentlessly pursuing a positive preservation outcome for this iconic building.
Mark, this was one of my favorite theaters, until it closed for decades if I wanted to see a film, this is where I went. Last week Lower Merion designated it a Class A resource, because of such concern. I hope one day it reopens for movies.
new article
https://www.npr.org/2019/01/12/684636807/inside-the-world-s-most-beautiful-bookstore-in-argentina?mc_cid=bfaa0f6eaf&mc_eid=91acd9b937&fbclid=IwAR2WOxtV2thw2SHhEO6amdu2Yed5xH2Gg6nWuOYfcTvDO4pWXxvtftMkGy0
The movie “Bohemian Rhapsody” sold out every seat last night here! 2nd screening tonight, with many seats already sold out. The theater has 7.1 surround sound so should be a marvelous experience.
LA Times article with ornate lobby photo showing Roma’s director who also had world premiere of Y u Mama Tambien here.
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/miranda/la-et-cam-alfonso-cuaron-colonia-roma-20190103-story.html?outputType=amp
I am sure a movie theater will happily charge what the market can bear. Easy enough to see for reserved seat theaters if many customers were paying the prices, by checking online- esp over the weekend. As someone from the States there only once a year, I’d consider 20 & 25 lbs- if they use a curtain! I wouldn’t consider 40 lbs- that’s ridiculously too high.
this article says flying ladies back soon. Maybe that’s what’s to happen in Jan.
https://www.screendaily.com/features/how-odeons-uk-and-ireland-chief-plans-to-transform-the-multiplex-experience-/5135466.article
Lionel, I like to sit in the rear, the raised balcony section. With huge new screen, I sat in the top row (for max leg room) & screen still looked large! Most people though sit in the regular section of seats before the balcony, mid back to all the way back. All sight lines are great with this large screen!
article with photos of existing conditions showing remnants of this cinema https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/the-secret-leeds-cinema-inside-the-merrion-centre-is-up-for-rent-1-9466002
Visiting annually from the States, I love this cinema & try to see at least one movie upstairs in main auditorium. Picture & sound quality (7.1) were excellent! The picture filled the screen. I estimated the new larger screen at about 40 feet wide (for scope). The prior screen I had estimated as 32 feet or larger (for scope) & had seemed like a very large screen, considering sightlines. “First Man” which I saw in October, was great in this auditorium. In October 2017, “Blade Runner 2049” was what I had seen.
This was linked above-https://www.trustedreviews.com/news/behind-scenes-dolby-cinema-odeon-3635999
which says “In a nice touch, the curtains for the screen replicate the original from the 1930s” That would be very sloppy writing if it meant a projected image of the safety curtain! Let’s hope there’s curtains now or in January when the ladies & whatever other aspects are finished.
is this photo in this article the former Ritz specified in the Intro? now a 4Dx? are there columns further back on the auditorium’s side walls? https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/dec/14/big-screen-boom-uk-cinemas-on-track-for-best-year-since-1971?mc_cid=43095b016d&mc_eid=91acd9b937
I enjoyed Mary Queen of Scots yesterday at the Paris. The brochure is not like the roadshow programs but is very nice. Along with a postcard which specifies that the movie is at the Paris, copies are on the table before the orchestra (main floor) seating, for audience members to take if they wish. Most people don’t seem to go to the table, so the Paris had not run out of the nice items! Exiting the lobby, staffers give an invite to the nearby Plaza Hotel for a deluxe dessert, a regal one inspired by Queen Mary, with the purchase of a cocktail or evening
fare. This epic movie, wonderfully acted & filmed, is worthy of seeing at the Paris!
Over this past weekend, looking online, the majority of seats at the Paris were selling out for Mary Queen of Scots, so if a brochure was provided, the theater would need boxes of them! Bigjoe, how many pages is the brochure? is it as large as the Phantom Thread and Hateful Eight programs which are similar to old roadshow books?
Upcoming films in 35mm, for $5 including free popcorn & a short Wurlitzer pipe organ concert, are Ferris Bueller’s Day Off on May 10, National Lampoon’s Vacation on June 28, Forrest Gump on July 19, Stand by M on August 16, and The Goonies on Sept. 14. Link to details: http://www.ucpac.org/films
To explain the above comment! there’s articles today stating Netflix may acquire the theater, but all can relax- both Netflix and the existing nonprofit would operate the theater.
THEY were NOT saying that anybody lied! Be careful with accusations. All that was said above was that this theater never reopened & you were confusing theaters.
The Pretty Woman print was gorgeous! and reminded me of how beautiful 35mm really is. Here’s a link to next few months' 35mm classics which are The Karate Kid, a double feature of A League of Their Own + The Natural, also Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and National Lampoon’s Vacation. These are only $5 each! and some or all of these films include the Wurlitzer pipe organ being played for awhile, and free popcorn. Check the website and/or Facebook for correct details as I don’t work for the theater; I am merely a big fan of seeing classic films and especially in a historic movie palace such as this one. And,this one has a world class projectionist (Mark P).http://www.ucpac.org/films
By the time I was visiting NYC as an adult, this theater was divided up & I never saw a movie in it. I did have the pleasure of seeing Funny Girl in a new print at the Ziegfeld in 2001, very appropriate because a bust of Fanny Brice was on display upstairs in a foyer at the Ziegfeld. Last year the Univ of Penn Gazette (alumni magazine) had an article contrasting movies from 1968 or so to current. Classics then, current is not so. My own analysis is that 1980s & 1990s each had far fewer great mainstream films than each of the decades before, but there were still many such great films. But, after the Millennium, mainstream films that are really great hardly exist! There are still excellent “art” films which is what the Oscars mostly nominate & honor. And, the art films are often exhibited in historic movie theaters. Contrast to TV which since The Sopranos arrived in 1999 has had a renaissance of great series. So, no, films are no longer exhibited here or at the Ziegfeld, not at all, and nowhere for many months one film.
Auditorium 10, one of the largest auditoriums as my Intro says, was closed off yesterday “hard hat only” I am not sure, but I think they may be converting it to 4 D (which I have no interest in). I was there to see the spectacular WW1 docu “They Shall Not Grow Old”
Seth, In recent years, I see few movies with CGI, but back then, I enjoyed the Lord of the Rings trilogy, at historic cinemas! The 1st I enjoyed at both the Sameric (Boyd) Philadelphia and Toronoto’s Eglington. The Boyd’s auditorium is gone; Englington no longer shows movies. The next two I enjoyed at Washington DC’s Uptown, which is now run by AMC which hasn’t fixed or replaced the motor that opens & closes the curtain/tab so the curtain isn’t used anymore. And, that brings us full circle to the Odeon which AMC decided to make more similar to a “black box” cinema than a flagship, which should have proper curtain & decoration. Also, to add to the list of West End cinemas using tabs, the Prince Charles downstairs and the Regent Street Cinema which also both use proper masking (unlike the Picturehouse Central cited above which has a gorgeous tab but “flat” movies are not masked). I’m in the States, but visit London once a year, and like to see a movie each day – in the historic cinemas.
Despite what seemed like was to happen from looking at the article’s renderings, future articles made it clear the main auditorium is not going to be divided. The 2 new auditoriums, in addition to the former ballroom aka black box space (2nd floor) will be on the 3rd floor.
2014 email from projectionist Nigel Wolland to me with definitive former dimensions: Total screen size on the screen frame 52 x 26 feet 70mm screen size 47 x 21 feet Scope is 47 x 19'6" feet 1.75 is 36'4" x 21 feet 1.85 is 36'4" x 19'6" feet 1.33 is 27'6 x 19 feet
This was the post by the Lower Merion Conservancy last week at Facebook: The Bala Theatre was awarded Class I designation on the Lower Merion Township Historic Resource Inventory last night! The Conservancy, which included the theatre on its annual WatchList five times during the past six years, is thrilled with this news.
The theatre is a landmark in Lower Merion. More importantly, it is the keystone of historic Bala Avenue and crucial to the revitalization of the commercial district. The Conservancy is appreciative of the Board’s support for this designation. It is also grateful to its many dedicated members, to the Lower Merion Historical Society, the Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwyd, and the Lower Merion Historical Commission for relentlessly pursuing a positive preservation outcome for this iconic building.
Mark, this was one of my favorite theaters, until it closed for decades if I wanted to see a film, this is where I went. Last week Lower Merion designated it a Class A resource, because of such concern. I hope one day it reopens for movies.
new article https://www.npr.org/2019/01/12/684636807/inside-the-world-s-most-beautiful-bookstore-in-argentina?mc_cid=bfaa0f6eaf&mc_eid=91acd9b937&fbclid=IwAR2WOxtV2thw2SHhEO6amdu2Yed5xH2Gg6nWuOYfcTvDO4pWXxvtftMkGy0
The movie “Bohemian Rhapsody” sold out every seat last night here! 2nd screening tonight, with many seats already sold out. The theater has 7.1 surround sound so should be a marvelous experience.
LA Times article with ornate lobby photo showing Roma’s director who also had world premiere of Y u Mama Tambien here. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/miranda/la-et-cam-alfonso-cuaron-colonia-roma-20190103-story.html?outputType=amp
Jean-Pierre Gutzeit posted at Facebook that “Doctor Zhivago” had a 166 weeks run here on the 32 metres curved Cinerama Screen.
I am sure a movie theater will happily charge what the market can bear. Easy enough to see for reserved seat theaters if many customers were paying the prices, by checking online- esp over the weekend. As someone from the States there only once a year, I’d consider 20 & 25 lbs- if they use a curtain! I wouldn’t consider 40 lbs- that’s ridiculously too high.
this article says flying ladies back soon. Maybe that’s what’s to happen in Jan. https://www.screendaily.com/features/how-odeons-uk-and-ireland-chief-plans-to-transform-the-multiplex-experience-/5135466.article
Lionel, I like to sit in the rear, the raised balcony section. With huge new screen, I sat in the top row (for max leg room) & screen still looked large! Most people though sit in the regular section of seats before the balcony, mid back to all the way back. All sight lines are great with this large screen!
Article regarding the ticket prices with seating chart- https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-46438241
article with photos of existing conditions showing remnants of this cinema https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/the-secret-leeds-cinema-inside-the-merrion-centre-is-up-for-rent-1-9466002
Visiting annually from the States, I love this cinema & try to see at least one movie upstairs in main auditorium. Picture & sound quality (7.1) were excellent! The picture filled the screen. I estimated the new larger screen at about 40 feet wide (for scope). The prior screen I had estimated as 32 feet or larger (for scope) & had seemed like a very large screen, considering sightlines. “First Man” which I saw in October, was great in this auditorium. In October 2017, “Blade Runner 2049” was what I had seen.
This was linked above-https://www.trustedreviews.com/news/behind-scenes-dolby-cinema-odeon-3635999 which says “In a nice touch, the curtains for the screen replicate the original from the 1930s” That would be very sloppy writing if it meant a projected image of the safety curtain! Let’s hope there’s curtains now or in January when the ladies & whatever other aspects are finished.
is this photo in this article the former Ritz specified in the Intro? now a 4Dx? are there columns further back on the auditorium’s side walls? https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/dec/14/big-screen-boom-uk-cinemas-on-track-for-best-year-since-1971?mc_cid=43095b016d&mc_eid=91acd9b937
I enjoyed Mary Queen of Scots yesterday at the Paris. The brochure is not like the roadshow programs but is very nice. Along with a postcard which specifies that the movie is at the Paris, copies are on the table before the orchestra (main floor) seating, for audience members to take if they wish. Most people don’t seem to go to the table, so the Paris had not run out of the nice items! Exiting the lobby, staffers give an invite to the nearby Plaza Hotel for a deluxe dessert, a regal one inspired by Queen Mary, with the purchase of a cocktail or evening fare. This epic movie, wonderfully acted & filmed, is worthy of seeing at the Paris!
Over this past weekend, looking online, the majority of seats at the Paris were selling out for Mary Queen of Scots, so if a brochure was provided, the theater would need boxes of them! Bigjoe, how many pages is the brochure? is it as large as the Phantom Thread and Hateful Eight programs which are similar to old roadshow books?