Comments from nritota

Showing 26 - 50 of 90 comments

nritota
nritota commented about Holyoke Mall Cinemas on Mar 16, 2010 at 9:41 pm

This was originally a CCC (Cinema Centers Corp) theatre out of Boston. It was purchased by Hoyts in the mid 80’s. This was part of my territory as district manager for Hoyts. I wanted to convert this to art but the company dsn’t understand or back the idea.

nritota
nritota commented about ISO: Old movie posters on Mar 6, 2010 at 11:40 pm

I have thousands from when I ran theatres in the 60’s to 80’s. Most are NSS originals. Also have stills, press kits, etc.

Just waiting for that day to sell the lot as I get closer to retirement.

nritota
nritota commented about Rotterdam Square Cinema on Mar 6, 2010 at 11:33 pm

It appears this is now part of the Zurich chain: http://www.zurichcinemas.com/

It’s a small (5 locations) operation. It also looks like the theatre has been refitted with stadium seating, digital and 3D.

Zurich is is Rome, Oswego and Geneva NY as well as Mansfield Center, CT. Pretty sad website; doesn’t appear to be much of a marketing effort behind a company that would spend so much to refit a 15 year old operation.

nritota
nritota commented about Avon Cinema on Jan 29, 2010 at 9:16 pm

The ladder used to be kept outside in the alley on the opposite side of the building. In the 60’s we used to have a spotter to prevent Brown & RISD kids from toppling the ladder while you were up there!

nritota
nritota commented about Art Cinema on Jan 29, 2010 at 9:12 pm

Since this was in the same family as the Colonial does anyone know if it was a Lockwood & Gordon house?

nritota
nritota commented about Showcase Providence Place Cinemas 16 on Dec 28, 2009 at 5:40 pm

Is this now part of the Rave circuit?

nritota
nritota commented about Rave Cinemas, LLC announces definitive agreements to purchase up to 40 theaters on Dec 27, 2009 at 6:46 pm

Having been around exhibition since the 60’s this seems surreal to me. Just the mention of Redstone entering the market would cause shutters (no pun intended) in the marketplace.

nritota
nritota commented about Avon Cinema on Dec 21, 2009 at 9:17 pm

Ichanged that marquee more times than I can remember 40 years ago!

nritota
nritota commented about Loew's Rochester Theatre on Dec 21, 2009 at 8:29 am

Chuck

The triplex.I haven’t been able to find it and am a little surprised. I ran the Hoyts (former SBC) on Ridge Road and added that some time ago.

Granted, they were not palaces, but we seem to be listing all genres here.

nritota
nritota commented about Loew's Rochester Theatre on Dec 20, 2009 at 7:33 pm

Any reason why Pittsford isn’t listed? And, for those that blame Regal, Loews (AMC) built multiplexes in the area that contributed to the demise of their other locations (I believe they had two or three when I worked in Rochester in the late 70’s).

nritota
nritota commented about Saco Drive-In on Nov 28, 2009 at 9:26 am

Is this an independent now?

nritota
nritota commented about Bomes Theatre on Nov 27, 2009 at 10:44 pm

Hello Abrunner
Pat was a bigger guy with curly light brown hair. Doug Amos was president of SBC for the entire run of the company. We were sold to Hoyts around 1985. They purchased Cinema Centers Corp (CCC) just prior to SBC.

Things were never the same after the purchase. Slowly, all of the SBC people left. We were a great little company with a lot of integrity; the new owners and the CCC people installed to run the show were quite simply not.

Anyway, it was a great run while it lasted. I got to book, advertise, run promotions, etc., while working all of New England and upstate NY. Wouldn’t change a thing!

nritota
nritota commented about Saco Drive-In on Nov 25, 2009 at 9:06 pm

I believe this was Lockwood and Gordon and then SBC through the mid 80’s. Not sure if Hoyts took it when they purchased SBC.

nritota
nritota commented about Bomes Theatre on Nov 25, 2009 at 8:02 pm

Abrunner,

I worked for Ed’s replacement when I was at the Avon. Pat Carter, who later became a district manager for SBC, ran the Avon and then moved over to Cinerama. I was hired by Larry Johnson; his son commented on the Cinerama page.

When I became a DM for SBC we had offices in the theatre district and then later in the burbs. Jack spoke of the Cameo, which I believe is still running. He lived in Rockland when I worked in Providence.

Of course, in my younger years, I would run film to the Art. The manager was Charlie and I would rush to deliver so I could catch a few minutes of the ‘racy’ films. They were rated R at best by today’s standards (I have a feeling my earlier post was removed so I am being very delicate.) The Art I knew was quite different than the one you knew!

nritota
nritota commented about Cine 10 on Nov 25, 2009 at 3:47 pm

Photo’s of the abandonded theatre here:
http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/7133.html

nritota
nritota commented about Rotterdam Square Cinema on Nov 23, 2009 at 10:19 am

It would be interesting to see how this is running. Independent?
I believe that Regal could not take it over due to anti-trust laws.

nritota
nritota commented about Rotterdam Square Cinema on Nov 22, 2009 at 8:08 pm

This was originally a Loews house. Does anyone know if this is still open? No showtimes listed on any of the online services and AMC doesn’t have it as a location.

nritota
nritota commented about Cinerama Theatre on Nov 19, 2009 at 7:32 pm

Abrunner,
I’m trying to remember who was in the last store. There was a woman there when I worked at Cinerama. Not sure what she sold.

As for London, I would love to visit some time. My Mom is from Weymouth and is a war bride. Her and my Dad used to go back every two years starting in the mid seventies.

Speaking of Loges, Jack used to use that term all of the time. I wish his daughter would check back in to see posts about him and to chat about the good all days.

nritota
nritota commented about Bomes Theatre on Nov 18, 2009 at 9:10 pm

Ha! If you had taken the Avon job, we probably would have met. I started there in ‘67. Jack was my mentor. I believe he passed about 10 years ago. His daughter Jackie, commented on the Cinerama page as Jackie O. He always spoke of her but I never got to meet her. I did become friendly with his wife as well.

Small world!

nritota
nritota commented about Cinerama Theatre on Nov 18, 2009 at 9:07 pm

Good old Max. Always paid his rent; must have been from selling booze to kids! I remember a rabbi yelling from accross the street “Max Silverman, you will rot in hell'! I think it was a Jewish holiday or something. Whenever there was a big snowstorm he would buy up the bread at Royals and resell it at a ‘modest’ profit.

Quite the character!

nritota
nritota commented about Cinerama Theatre on Nov 17, 2009 at 9:35 pm

I didn’t know Nelson, but knew of him. I know the Boston office you’re speaking about. i worked for SBC after L&G and they had an office on Exeter, I believe. I then worked for Hoyts as well which had the old CCC office then the new one in Boston.

Was the liquor Max Swan or Max Silverman? Silverman had the liquor store while I was there and was my tenant when I ran Cinerama.

You’re right, it seems like a hundred years ago!

nritota
nritota commented about Bomes Theatre on Nov 17, 2009 at 8:56 pm

I liked the L&G organization. Did you know Jack O'Sullivan or Doug Amos?

nritota
nritota commented about Bomes Theatre on Nov 17, 2009 at 8:10 pm

Far better fare than the soft porn that ran there in later years. I worked for L&G and used to deliver films there while working at the Avon or Cinerama.

nritota
nritota commented about Cinerama Theatre on Nov 17, 2009 at 8:03 pm

Ah, Royals Variety store. That was still there when I worked at the theatre in the late 60’s and ran it in the late 70’s. How about Max Silverman who ran the liquor store out front. Bought my first illegal alcohol there.

nritota
nritota commented about Remembering Cinerama (Part 43: New Haven) on Nov 7, 2009 at 7:07 pm

Hartford really was the place to see Cinerama. The Colonial was a true dedicated Cinerama house.