Theres no way a theatre can survive though against the 50 screens on 42 St. The Demille/Embassy 2-3-4 could only survive as some sort of Cinemateque and that would cost a fortune.
I just saw a whole bunch of pictures of the interior and the exterior of this theatre lit up at night on ther S. Charles Lee web site. This is one of the most sleek beautiful theatres I have ever seen. http://digital.library.ucla.edu/sclee/
Ah I think I got my answer to why they destroyed the facade, read the postings for the UA Rivoli. They announced they were cleaning the facade of the Rivoli but actually destroyed it to prevent the facade being given landmark status. This way they could tear down the buiilding at will, which they did shortly later. Now City Cinemas which owns the property (somehow isnt Pacific involved too) will wind up closing it, tearing it down and building condos or an office tower. City Cinemas is no better then the geniuses at UA-Regal.
What are your thoughts on The Gramercy? That theatre would be convertable to Cinerama. MOMA is leaving there but again it would take people with alot of money to create a film museum.
That could be an issue but I seem to remember seeing a picture of a Cinerama theatre where they shot all three projectors from an elevated booth. Does anyone else know? Also what did the Zeigfeld look like when they ran “This is Cinerama”. Was it a screen hung in front of the one now? Also without curtains it must have looked really odd. Back then all theatres still had curtains even the cut up ones.
When I see pictures of the displays that they used to put up on those giant billboards with neon and three dimensional objects it shows just how much things have changed. I guess the downfall all started with the showcase runs and the way movies open and close in a few weeks.
Of all the theatres mentioned I always felt the old Loews State was twinned without destroying the theatre. By building the seperate screen totally under the balcony the entire theatre was still seen from the seating of the old loge and balcony looking at the original screen. Am I remebering correctly?
I guess it’s not always feasible to incorporate the old theatre into the new mall structure, such as what Arclight did with the Dome? This would be the best of both worlds. Incidently is Pacific still the owner of The Dome?
I remember that festival at The Cinerama it was called Broadway on Broadway and had alot of 70mm prints. I remember seeing The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady and Funny Girl. Thanks for jogging my memory. It’s just I want to see “This is Cinerama” so bad and will go to LA if I have to to see it at the dome.
Theres no way a theatre can survive though against the 50 screens on 42 St. The Demille/Embassy 2-3-4 could only survive as some sort of Cinemateque and that would cost a fortune.
But dont we put “the” in front of names such as this? Did you say I went to Rivioli to see Around The World in 80 Days or The Rivoli?
I just saw a whole bunch of pictures of the interior and the exterior of this theatre lit up at night on ther S. Charles Lee web site. This is one of the most sleek beautiful theatres I have ever seen. http://digital.library.ucla.edu/sclee/
Ah I think I got my answer to why they destroyed the facade, read the postings for the UA Rivoli. They announced they were cleaning the facade of the Rivoli but actually destroyed it to prevent the facade being given landmark status. This way they could tear down the buiilding at will, which they did shortly later. Now City Cinemas which owns the property (somehow isnt Pacific involved too) will wind up closing it, tearing it down and building condos or an office tower. City Cinemas is no better then the geniuses at UA-Regal.
What are your thoughts on The Gramercy? That theatre would be convertable to Cinerama. MOMA is leaving there but again it would take people with alot of money to create a film museum.
That could be an issue but I seem to remember seeing a picture of a Cinerama theatre where they shot all three projectors from an elevated booth. Does anyone else know? Also what did the Zeigfeld look like when they ran “This is Cinerama”. Was it a screen hung in front of the one now? Also without curtains it must have looked really odd. Back then all theatres still had curtains even the cut up ones.
When I see pictures of the displays that they used to put up on those giant billboards with neon and three dimensional objects it shows just how much things have changed. I guess the downfall all started with the showcase runs and the way movies open and close in a few weeks.
Would it be great to recreate this marquee?
Lets get Clearview to put in Cinerama (3proj) and give the east coast a chance to see the magic the west coast sees at the dome.
The bookers there are mostly former RKO bookers.
Of all the theatres mentioned I always felt the old Loews State was twinned without destroying the theatre. By building the seperate screen totally under the balcony the entire theatre was still seen from the seating of the old loge and balcony looking at the original screen. Am I remebering correctly?
Florin Creative is a private booker for independant theatres. They booked the Ridgewood for the Diaz brothers when they aquired the theatre from UA.
Would an art house work here? Great marquee, I bet it looks awesome lit up.
No it definately has a balcony I would place the amont of seats close to 1000.
I guess it’s not always feasible to incorporate the old theatre into the new mall structure, such as what Arclight did with the Dome? This would be the best of both worlds. Incidently is Pacific still the owner of The Dome?
Wow thanks for the heads up I wonder if it is out on video or dvd?
This is sad, it’s amazing though the place only sold for $550,000
There is no way this house has only 600 seats it has a large balcony in addition to the orchestra. I think the marquee does say The Fair
I think this is a very large house that used to play second run. It has a great old marquee.
This is a great story and shows how the theatre business used to be. I think this could be turned into a great movie !!!!
We should do an entry then for that theatre, whats in it’s place now?
I was trying to remember information on the old Film Forum, was it a twin and didnt Walter Reade program one side?
There was no reason for this theatre to close, too bad another company did not take it over.
Is the old RKO marquee still up on the theatre?
I remember that festival at The Cinerama it was called Broadway on Broadway and had alot of 70mm prints. I remember seeing The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady and Funny Girl. Thanks for jogging my memory. It’s just I want to see “This is Cinerama” so bad and will go to LA if I have to to see it at the dome.