Yes indeed – parking has always been a problem there, and I would think that that situation would have to be addressed before this proposal gets the green light.
If the intent is also to show art and foreign films on some of the screens, then Landmark’s three-screen Main theater will probably disappear; its closure has been rumored for some time anyway.
That would be too bad, because its main screen, in the theater’s original auditorium, is a real treasure.
I was aware, though, when I came across this item that the Cinema Lumiere, in Pisa, Italy, also claims the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating cinema in the world, asserting that it started operations in 1905.
Or perhaps the Greenbrier Cinema & Grill in Indianapolis, website here: http://www.cinemagrillonline.net/ I have been to a few of them. My impression is that they work in some places, but in not in others, though why, I do not know. I do know that running a restaurant is hard work, tougher than many realize. And running a theater these days – well, just look a the news items on this site. I wish you luck though!
This, for me, was one of those movies that I can remember seeing so clearly, right down to where and with whom I was watching it. I saw it on opening night at the Holiday I in Fort Wayne, IN. It was a big barn of a place, but had great gently cuved screen and superb sound. I remember that great tagline – “In space, no one can hear you scream,” but one sure could in the theater during that movie. I also remember that advance poster art, that really made me want to see the film; I had to know what the egg-shaped thing was and why it seemed to smile so menacingly. Few other films have so successfully exploited the notion of “It’s not what you see that scares you, it’s what you don’t.” Add to that the other shocks and surprises, the claustrophophic presentation of working in some of the Nostromo’s confines, the Geiger visuals, and the result was a film that really worked the nerves. It was also a terrific counter to movies like “E.T.” and “Close Encounters” that tended to present aliens as warm and friendly.
Sorry, MC, no slight intended; When I wrote the comment, I remembered your 2001 engagement list on the in70mm site and I was only looking at that list on when I wrote my comment and did not think to compare it against your more detailed and meticulous data on your NYC Cinerama retrospective entry. Twenty-four weeks is the number listed for the Capitol run on the in70mmm site and I did not think to scan down to the information on the later moveover in NYC. My apologies.
The 1984 and 1986 pictures posted above on April 29, 2009 are not of the 5th Avenue. They are of the Music Hall (formerly Fox) Theater in Seattle that was demolished around 1991.
I think it has to be remembered that ‘2001’ was not always seen by folks in 1968 as deserving the milestone status it has achieved in the decades since its original release. A great deal of revisionism has occurred with regard to the esteem in which this film is held. (I saw it at the State in Cleveland in Cinerama, and although I loved it, I still remember some people muttering and shaking their heads as they left the theater). The original reviews ranged from “masterpiece” to “boring”. There was actually a great deal of variation with regard to the original engagements of “2001.” It only played 26 weeks in NYC and 37 in Chicago (see list of enagagements here: http://www.in70mm.com/news/2004/2001_in_70mm/chapters/engagement.htm( )
I also recall reading in a book about the film, that at the time, MGM, aware of the original mixed critical reaction, was anxious to get “Ice Station Zebra” into Cinerama houses. This may have have caused some runs to end prematurely, at least from the perpective of the present day. After the film gained real traction, there were a number of 70mm re-releases of 2001, especially in the late 60s and early 70s.
neeb: The Town is listed here on CT as the Roosevelt; it should be listed as the Town, as the general practice is to list the theater as its most recent name.
It is not likely that this was one of GC’s shadow box theaters; it was not built by that chain. It was built by Joy Theaters and was later operated by GC.
Some Cinerama films were shown at the Falls Theater in Cuyahoga Falls, OH. Were you planning to to consider this as a separate market or include it in the Cleveland retrospective?
I knew that this was the case with regard to D-150 equipped houses, but I was not aware that Cinerama, Inc. had a similar policy. I guess the fee must have been exorbitant or exhibitors did not in general think it was worth it as I cannot recall very many instances of 70mm non-Cinerama films being promoted this way.
I assume that advertising “Around the World in Eighty Days” as being shown in Cinerama was a local promotional idea. The screen at the Cinema 1 (later the Showcase Cinemas) was not that deeply curved (compared to the Paramount’s) and only 70mm Cinerama films played there; I suppose any 70mm film could have been shown there with minimal distortion. There were a couple cases I have read about, especially in Europe, where a few other films (such as “Song of Norway”) were advertised as being “presented in Cinerama” or “playing on the big Cinerama screen”. I don’t know if the Cinerama, Inc. folks knew about this or if they objected.
S story about the proposed renovation can be found here:
View link
Yes indeed – parking has always been a problem there, and I would think that that situation would have to be addressed before this proposal gets the green light.
If the intent is also to show art and foreign films on some of the screens, then Landmark’s three-screen Main theater will probably disappear; its closure has been rumored for some time anyway.
That would be too bad, because its main screen, in the theater’s original auditorium, is a real treasure.
I was aware, though, when I came across this item that the Cinema Lumiere, in Pisa, Italy, also claims the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating cinema in the world, asserting that it started operations in 1905.
Or perhaps the Greenbrier Cinema & Grill in Indianapolis, website here: http://www.cinemagrillonline.net/ I have been to a few of them. My impression is that they work in some places, but in not in others, though why, I do not know. I do know that running a restaurant is hard work, tougher than many realize. And running a theater these days – well, just look a the news items on this site. I wish you luck though!
It has closed. Status should be changed.
Some very old pictures of the interior of the Alhambra:
View link
This, for me, was one of those movies that I can remember seeing so clearly, right down to where and with whom I was watching it. I saw it on opening night at the Holiday I in Fort Wayne, IN. It was a big barn of a place, but had great gently cuved screen and superb sound. I remember that great tagline – “In space, no one can hear you scream,” but one sure could in the theater during that movie. I also remember that advance poster art, that really made me want to see the film; I had to know what the egg-shaped thing was and why it seemed to smile so menacingly. Few other films have so successfully exploited the notion of “It’s not what you see that scares you, it’s what you don’t.” Add to that the other shocks and surprises, the claustrophophic presentation of working in some of the Nostromo’s confines, the Geiger visuals, and the result was a film that really worked the nerves. It was also a terrific counter to movies like “E.T.” and “Close Encounters” that tended to present aliens as warm and friendly.
A history of the theater from opening to closing can be found here:
View link
Sorry, MC, no slight intended; When I wrote the comment, I remembered your 2001 engagement list on the in70mm site and I was only looking at that list on when I wrote my comment and did not think to compare it against your more detailed and meticulous data on your NYC Cinerama retrospective entry. Twenty-four weeks is the number listed for the Capitol run on the in70mmm site and I did not think to scan down to the information on the later moveover in NYC. My apologies.
The 1984 and 1986 pictures posted above on April 29, 2009 are not of the 5th Avenue. They are of the Music Hall (formerly Fox) Theater in Seattle that was demolished around 1991.
Oops – a stray parenthesis slipped into the URL above;it should be: View link
I think it has to be remembered that ‘2001’ was not always seen by folks in 1968 as deserving the milestone status it has achieved in the decades since its original release. A great deal of revisionism has occurred with regard to the esteem in which this film is held. (I saw it at the State in Cleveland in Cinerama, and although I loved it, I still remember some people muttering and shaking their heads as they left the theater). The original reviews ranged from “masterpiece” to “boring”. There was actually a great deal of variation with regard to the original engagements of “2001.” It only played 26 weeks in NYC and 37 in Chicago (see list of enagagements here: http://www.in70mm.com/news/2004/2001_in_70mm/chapters/engagement.htm( )
I also recall reading in a book about the film, that at the time, MGM, aware of the original mixed critical reaction, was anxious to get “Ice Station Zebra” into Cinerama houses. This may have have caused some runs to end prematurely, at least from the perpective of the present day. After the film gained real traction, there were a number of 70mm re-releases of 2001, especially in the late 60s and early 70s.
This really should be listed as the Town, with Roosevelt as an aka, as that is what is was called when it closed.
neeb: The Town is listed here on CT as the Roosevelt; it should be listed as the Town, as the general practice is to list the theater as its most recent name.
According to this article, the theater has closed:
View link
It is not likely that this was one of GC’s shadow box theaters; it was not built by that chain. It was built by Joy Theaters and was later operated by GC.
This site has some pictures of what remains:
View link
I love the “Home Sweet Projection Booth” pix.
Earlier story about the theater’s closing including a picture:
View link
Comments and several pictures here:
View link
Update: The demolition has been completed.
Picture of the Dupont:
View link
It is: http://www.in70mm.com/now_showing/index.htm
Some Cinerama films were shown at the Falls Theater in Cuyahoga Falls, OH. Were you planning to to consider this as a separate market or include it in the Cleveland retrospective?
I knew that this was the case with regard to D-150 equipped houses, but I was not aware that Cinerama, Inc. had a similar policy. I guess the fee must have been exorbitant or exhibitors did not in general think it was worth it as I cannot recall very many instances of 70mm non-Cinerama films being promoted this way.
I assume that advertising “Around the World in Eighty Days” as being shown in Cinerama was a local promotional idea. The screen at the Cinema 1 (later the Showcase Cinemas) was not that deeply curved (compared to the Paramount’s) and only 70mm Cinerama films played there; I suppose any 70mm film could have been shown there with minimal distortion. There were a couple cases I have read about, especially in Europe, where a few other films (such as “Song of Norway”) were advertised as being “presented in Cinerama” or “playing on the big Cinerama screen”. I don’t know if the Cinerama, Inc. folks knew about this or if they objected.