Comments from stevenj

Showing 276 - 300 of 414 comments

stevenj
stevenj commented about Cinerama Hollywood on Jan 10, 2017 at 5:29 pm

I emailed the manager of my local neighborhood surviving movie palace (in another Calif. city up north) last month asking what was up with the dismal presentation of the 4K “restoration” of The Thin Red Line (last summer) and then 2 other films I’d seen recently in late fall. In all cases I asked why the projectors were not projecting bright and sharp. His answer – “We are not responsible for the digital files sent to us”. Oh.

I had seen Star Wars in 3D digital in early Jan 2016 at a different (large screen) theater. Their presentation (sound and picture quality) of it was extraordinary – they used a Sony 4K dual projection system.

Either customers are going to have to start complaining or will just stop going – or – dim projection is going to be the new normal.

stevenj
stevenj commented about San Francisco, CA - Richmond district's historic 4-Star Theatre, still without a buyer, offered for sale on Craigslist on Jan 9, 2017 at 9:08 pm

bigjoe59 the Roxie is a true survivor. It has nearly closed at least twice in the last 10 – 15 years, saved by creative people who think outside the box. In fact, the 49 seat Little Roxie was opened several years ago 2 storefronts away from the Roxie and both are now run as independant non profits. Recently the SF voters passed Prop J – the Legacy Business Registry in response to so much loss of long time SF businesses due to gentrification and building owners selling to developers for housing. The Registry’s aim is to help non profits like the Roxie stay in business with perks/financial help to the building owners and non profits themselves. The fact that it showed (16/35mm film) porn at one time is irrelevant. If it had been presenting live (porn) stage acts only you’d have a point.

stevenj
stevenj commented about San Francisco, CA - Richmond district's historic 4-Star Theatre, still without a buyer, offered for sale on Craigslist on Jan 8, 2017 at 12:18 am

This quote is at the top of the page on the Roxie’s home page:

“The Roxie is the oldest continuously operated cinema in the United States, and the second oldest in the world!”

Roxie website:

Roxie

Yes, the Victoria opened as a vaudeville house and not consistently shown films throughout it’s history but it is one year older than the Roxie and is SF’s oldest operating theatre (according to it’s webpage). Only the South San Francisco Opera House is older (1888) but is primarily used for neighborhood events and not many at that (and not movies).

After re reading the blog page I linked above the last post says the El Rey (Majestic) in Chico, Calif opened in 1906 and still showing films. But it’s website says it also has concerts and events and “occasional films”.

stevenj
stevenj commented about San Francisco, CA - Richmond district's historic 4-Star Theatre, still without a buyer, offered for sale on Craigslist on Jan 7, 2017 at 5:21 am

I agree but my understanding is that landmarked buildings in SF usually need to still be pretty much intact with (at minimum) original exterior architecture. The 4 Star’s exterior has been changed several times.

From online research, the Roxie (1909) in the Mission Dist. is the oldest continually operating movie theatre in San Francisco. Linked is a blog from CT on the oldest continually operating US theatre:

Oldest US

A couple of posters on that thread say there are others as early as 1906 still in operation in other cities.

The Victoria Theatre (1908), also in the Mission and just a couple of blocks away from the Roxie, is the oldest continuing operating theatre in SF. It has presented vaudeville up to 1933, movies until the 60’s, burlesque until the late 70’s, dark, then reconstruction and renovation in the early 80’s and since then films, concerts and stage events.

stevenj
stevenj commented about 4-Star Theatre on Jan 6, 2017 at 5:17 am

Jack Tillmany’s history of the 4 Star (published in 2013) for the Western Neighborhoods Project on the OutsideLands website:

4 Star

stevenj
stevenj commented about San Francisco, CA - Richmond district's historic 4-Star Theatre, still without a buyer, offered for sale on Craigslist on Jan 6, 2017 at 5:14 am

I think the strangest thing about this story is the attempt to sell an historic 114 year old movie theatre for nearly $3million on Craigslist. Lee Neighborhood Theatres does have a website and it seems they are also trying to attract neighborhood Chinese and Russian residents (who still have communities in the Outer Richmond Dist.). Housing is badly needed all over SF but I doubt the tech types would gravitate out towards the beach, far from freeways to Silicon Valley and in a neighborhood not nearly as gentrified as some on the east side of the City.

Lee Theatres

I’ve also posted author Jack Tillmany’s history of the 4 Star (from 2013) for the Western Neighborhood’s Project on the CT 4 Star page.

stevenj
stevenj commented about Curran Theatre on Jan 3, 2017 at 10:56 pm

The Curran has only shown 2 films in it’s 95 year history, The Phantom of the Opera mentioned in the overview above, and more recently Fences was screened last month. The Curran had been closed for a year for a lobby renovations and restoration of the auditorium. Here are a couple of articles on it w/pictures:

Curbed Article on the Curran

SFChronicle Curran

stevenj
stevenj commented about AMC Rockaway 16 on Dec 21, 2016 at 11:59 pm

Are moviebuff82 and muviebuf the same person? I can hear Bud Collyer right now. “Will the real moviebuff please stand up”.

stevenj
stevenj commented about AMC Rockaway 16 on Dec 20, 2016 at 11:53 pm

OK. Admittedly, I am not a fan of multiplexes. However I do like to see films at several near me. One has a giant floor to ceiling, wall to wall XD theater and another has a large curving screen with Dolby Atmos and now installing Dolby Vision and reclining seats. Glad to hear this one does good business but is there better projection, seating, sound?? What I remember most from this theatre’s comments are the long winded one person conversations that for quite a while went on daily. Also – Have friends in Caldwell and had a friend in Morristown that moved a year ago. Really beautiful country around there.

stevenj
stevenj commented about AMC Metreon 16 on Dec 8, 2016 at 2:43 am

2 years of posts are missing from this page. I’ve noticed that some of my posts for other theaters were deleted also. ???

re terrywade – Cinema 13 was the theater that had a Dolby Atmos sound system installed for Gravity. Dolby Vision Cinema will still use the Atmos sound system, add more comfortable seating and the latest in digital projection.

DolbyVisionCinema

stevenj
stevenj commented about Cinerama Hollywood on Dec 6, 2016 at 12:37 am

Hi bigjoe59 – Perhaps this is it? Listed as Fox Criterion:

Fox Criterion

stevenj
stevenj commented about Balboa Theatre on Nov 16, 2016 at 4:54 pm

A fire that destroyed most of the interior of the Balboa occurred in 1978. It resulted in the theater being twinned during the renovation. Another online article also mentions a fire in the 1940’s but no mention of any injuries in either fire. One would probably need to research the archives of the local newspapers for more details. This June 2016 Hoodline article honoring the Balboa mentions the 1978 fire:

http://hoodline.com/2016/06/the-story-of-the-outer-richmond-s-historic-balboa-theatre

stevenj
stevenj commented about Uptown Theatre on Nov 12, 2016 at 4:41 pm

There was cosmetic damage from the earthquake but the theater had been strengthened during it’s most recent renovation during the first decade of the 2000’s. The (Nov 2014) Napa Valley Register link with proscenium damage pic has the details:

Uptown

stevenj
stevenj commented about Granada Theatre on Oct 3, 2016 at 8:56 pm

Interior and exterior photos added.

stevenj
stevenj commented about Castro Theatre on Sep 5, 2016 at 11:56 pm

Just picked up a schedule a few days ago – Lawrence of Arabia will be shown in 70mm Oct 1 and 2, Vertigo in 70mm Oct 14, 15, 16. Would love to see the Transparent event but will be out of town that week. Most of the cast will be in attendance. They are showing the first 2 episodes of season 3 as the “premier”. There is also a showing of a restored print of Multiple Maniacs with Divine Sept 16 (schedule says a print has been unavailable for decades).

stevenj
stevenj commented about Harding Theatre on Sep 4, 2016 at 11:39 pm

Did some digging on the SF Planning Dept site and this came up for 616 Divisadero:

Description: 616 Divisadero Street – Emporium SF – Entertainment Commission – Place of Entertainment, Mechanical Amusement Device and Billiard Parlor — Other Entertainment use is permitted in the Divisadero Street NCT per Planning Code Section 746.48. Amusement Game Arcade use requires Conditional Use authorization per Planning Code Section 746.69B. Conditional Use authorization granted by Planning Commission Motion No. 19512.

A permit and conditional use permit were approved June 7, 2016.

stevenj
stevenj commented about Harding Theatre on Sep 4, 2016 at 11:27 pm

I walked by the Harding this morning on my way to the Divisadero Farmer’s Market. I noticed several planning dept notices on the boarded over entrance that seemed to indicate (from terrywade’s July 18 post) that indeed work is going on inside. This is all I could find online regarding this project;

Harding

stevenj
stevenj commented about Bronx Aerodome on Aug 15, 2016 at 11:25 pm

Found this on a google search bigjoe59:

Pelham Parkway Times

No photo of it though, just listed.

stevenj
stevenj commented about Cine Teatro Grand Splendid on Aug 14, 2016 at 5:12 pm

Vintage News

stevenj
stevenj commented about Market Street Cinema on Jul 9, 2016 at 11:21 pm

Here is the link to the article (with some pictures) about the beginning of the demo and what will be built on the Market St Cinema site:

UA

stevenj
stevenj commented about Bella Union Theatre on Jul 3, 2016 at 5:22 pm

I google street viewed the address (825 Kearny). After enlarging it the numbers 825 are visible above the entry doors of the World Ginseng Center.

stevenj
stevenj commented about Egyptian Theatre on Jul 3, 2016 at 3:11 am

Nice shot and a big thank you for all the great photos you’ve submitted.

stevenj
stevenj commented about Seavue Twin Theater on Jun 3, 2016 at 3:00 pm

Hi Sturgeon – The posting for this theatre originally stated it was located in Pacific Manor. The reason for my post above was that theaters on CT are listed by city, not neighborhoods. BTW, I live nearby also (in SF).

stevenj
stevenj commented about Tivoli Theatre on May 12, 2016 at 5:50 pm

This photo was taken at the intersection of Powell, Eddy and Market. The Owl Drug Company in the background became a Woolworths in 1952 and has been a Gap store since the late 90’s. The Tivoli Theater was located about 2/3 of a block away.

stevenj
stevenj commented about AMC Lincoln Square 13 on May 6, 2016 at 4:44 pm

alpinedownhiller….Left off your list….SF’s Metreon 16 IMAX screen is the same size as Lincoln Sq 13 – 75X97

WSJ article