To confirm what I wrote yesterday: yes, this lovely theater had the honor of being turned into the world’s largest Taco Bell. It was already closed when I arrived in town, so I never got the chance to see a movie there.
I have also learned that the Taco Bell closed in 2007. No news on what has moved into the space…
When I arrived in Athens in the Fall of 1988, the Athena had just suffered a fire — started, if I remember correctly, by the popcorn machine. Later on, a few of the undergrads got permission to salvage the print of the movie they had been showing, Rambo III, which had ended up dumped on the floor of the projection room. They cleaned it up and we screened it in the School of Film’s sound mixing theater.
At that time, the town had no theaters, as the Varsity across the street was in the process of being turned into the world’s largest Taco Bell.
The Athena reopened in 1990. I remember seeing Die Hard 2 upstairs in one of the theater’s two converted balcony screening rooms, and Cyrano de Bergerac downstairs as part of the Athens Film & Video Festival.
By the way, the description above is no longer correct. Athens now has a multiplex called the Athena Grand located out on State Street.
It’s been close to two decades since I collected my diploma and said goodbye to Athens, so I’m having trouble remembering — is this the theater that got turned into the world’s largest Taco Bell?
I attended the 1990 horror marathon at this theater for the world premiere of my friend’s short film, “Night of the Living Bread.” I didn’t even come close to lasting the full 24 hours, but it was a lot of fun. It was nice to hear that the marathon tradition continues, even after this theater was torn down.
Ron, the Union neon was restored, so the theater still carries that name. The Velaslavasay Panorama appears on the marquee, as if it was the featured program.
I was just watching the movie The Clonus Horror, aka Parts: The Clonus Horror (1979), and when the clone escapes from the compound he ends up in downtown LA. There’s a long tracking shot of him walking down the sidewalk, and he passes the Galway Theater. The marquee advertising XXX porn very clearly gives the address as 514 Main St. Next door at 516 is Don’s Arcade. Next to that appears to be another adult theater, but the name/number aren’t visible.
On the other side at 512 is Eagle Loan Office, next to that is Jerry’s Cafe/cocktails, and then the entrance to the hotel.
Ken, that part of the building is intact. The added screens are in the building next door. See the first photo Hollywood90038 posted on April 30, 2008 under “Iron Man Premiere.”
You might not have been, Vokoban, but I was. From my limited research, I thought that the 1949 play was the first produced. I didn’t know about the 1926 play until now. Sorry for the confusion.
Interesting, Vokoban, but still confusing. I assumed that the photo of the Belasco with “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” on the marquee to be from the late 40s run of the play. However, it turns out the book was adapted to silent film (now lost) in 1928 — two years after the theater opened — and that’s what they seem to be advertising (and talking about in your article). Could it be that the Belasco opened in 1926 but didn’t show its first film until 1928?
The San Carlos was home of the San Carlos Institute, founded in 1871 by Cuban exiles. It was built in 1924 to replace their former home which was destroyed by fire. The architect was Francisco Centurion, and the style is Cuban baroque. In 1981, the building was closed after part of the facade collapsed, hitting a tourist. It was restored in 1992, and serves as a museum, library, art gallery, theater and school.
Saw El Rey Del Barrio at the MD last night. I have to disagree with the poster who said the tin drop ceiling in the lobby was ugly. I think it’s an improvement over the bland, 50s style work that was done. I just wonder how accurate it is…
Remember the scene where Ellie Sattler is diagnosing the triceratops' illness and starts to dig into a pile of its droppings? Right then, a kid sitting next to me with bad breath exhaled into my face. Aroma-rama!
No, instead of the screen getting wider, masks narrow the screen from the top and the bottom. So with a 2.35 movie, you’re getting the smallest possible screen area.
I saw Desperado in the Dome, before the Arclighting. There’s a scene where a fight stops, it goes quiet and then someone starts slowly clapping. The sound of the clapping began at the left of the screen, traveled back around the room and ended at the right side of the screen, very precise. It’s one of the best examples of surround sound mixing that I’ve ever heard.
Did they redo the sound system during the renovation? I guess it’s possible they screwed something up. The thing is (it seems to me) that most sound mixes don’t make very aggressive use of the surrounds, so it’s hard to tell how good they really are.
I personally don’t like it when they start or finish projecting something on the curtain. Particularly when you have a trailer that jumps right in, rather than show you two minutes of corporate logos. If you don’t want me to see the whole thing, then don’t bother showing it.
I think only the front rows get the advantage of the curved screen, as the image fills more of their field of vision. As you move farther back, the effect is lost. The last feature I saw at the Dome was Iron Man, and the image was neither dark nor soft. I noticed that the AMPAS logo on the trailers was warped, but I didn’t notice any distortion during the feature. I was sitting in about the middle of the house.
To confirm what I wrote yesterday: yes, this lovely theater had the honor of being turned into the world’s largest Taco Bell. It was already closed when I arrived in town, so I never got the chance to see a movie there.
I have also learned that the Taco Bell closed in 2007. No news on what has moved into the space…
When I arrived in Athens in the Fall of 1988, the Athena had just suffered a fire — started, if I remember correctly, by the popcorn machine. Later on, a few of the undergrads got permission to salvage the print of the movie they had been showing, Rambo III, which had ended up dumped on the floor of the projection room. They cleaned it up and we screened it in the School of Film’s sound mixing theater.
At that time, the town had no theaters, as the Varsity across the street was in the process of being turned into the world’s largest Taco Bell.
The Athena reopened in 1990. I remember seeing Die Hard 2 upstairs in one of the theater’s two converted balcony screening rooms, and Cyrano de Bergerac downstairs as part of the Athens Film & Video Festival.
By the way, the description above is no longer correct. Athens now has a multiplex called the Athena Grand located out on State Street.
It’s been close to two decades since I collected my diploma and said goodbye to Athens, so I’m having trouble remembering — is this the theater that got turned into the world’s largest Taco Bell?
I attended the 1990 horror marathon at this theater for the world premiere of my friend’s short film, “Night of the Living Bread.” I didn’t even come close to lasting the full 24 hours, but it was a lot of fun. It was nice to hear that the marathon tradition continues, even after this theater was torn down.
Twistr54, yes.
Ron, the Union neon was restored, so the theater still carries that name. The Velaslavasay Panorama appears on the marquee, as if it was the featured program.
Yes, he was.
I was just watching the movie The Clonus Horror, aka Parts: The Clonus Horror (1979), and when the clone escapes from the compound he ends up in downtown LA. There’s a long tracking shot of him walking down the sidewalk, and he passes the Galway Theater. The marquee advertising XXX porn very clearly gives the address as 514 Main St. Next door at 516 is Don’s Arcade. Next to that appears to be another adult theater, but the name/number aren’t visible.
On the other side at 512 is Eagle Loan Office, next to that is Jerry’s Cafe/cocktails, and then the entrance to the hotel.
Ken, that part of the building is intact. The added screens are in the building next door. See the first photo Hollywood90038 posted on April 30, 2008 under “Iron Man Premiere.”
You might not have been, Vokoban, but I was. From my limited research, I thought that the 1949 play was the first produced. I didn’t know about the 1926 play until now. Sorry for the confusion.
Okay, I read the 3rd paragraph and confirmed that a play was produced in 1926. It all fits. Nothing to see here, folks. Go about your business…
Interesting, Vokoban, but still confusing. I assumed that the photo of the Belasco with “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” on the marquee to be from the late 40s run of the play. However, it turns out the book was adapted to silent film (now lost) in 1928 — two years after the theater opened — and that’s what they seem to be advertising (and talking about in your article). Could it be that the Belasco opened in 1926 but didn’t show its first film until 1928?
The San Carlos was home of the San Carlos Institute, founded in 1871 by Cuban exiles. It was built in 1924 to replace their former home which was destroyed by fire. The architect was Francisco Centurion, and the style is Cuban baroque. In 1981, the building was closed after part of the facade collapsed, hitting a tourist. It was restored in 1992, and serves as a museum, library, art gallery, theater and school.
Opened 1948, closed 1984.
Opened in 1950, damaged in 1990, torn down in 1991.
The point probably wasn’t to “beat” Batman, but to counter-program it. Still, it seems like a crazy bad move, in a summer that’s so crowded.
Saw El Rey Del Barrio at the MD last night. I have to disagree with the poster who said the tin drop ceiling in the lobby was ugly. I think it’s an improvement over the bland, 50s style work that was done. I just wonder how accurate it is…
Ken, I would bet that the sign is referring to a local family having twins, or something like that.
Remember the scene where Ellie Sattler is diagnosing the triceratops' illness and starts to dig into a pile of its droppings? Right then, a kid sitting next to me with bad breath exhaled into my face. Aroma-rama!
No, instead of the screen getting wider, masks narrow the screen from the top and the bottom. So with a 2.35 movie, you’re getting the smallest possible screen area.
I saw Desperado in the Dome, before the Arclighting. There’s a scene where a fight stops, it goes quiet and then someone starts slowly clapping. The sound of the clapping began at the left of the screen, traveled back around the room and ended at the right side of the screen, very precise. It’s one of the best examples of surround sound mixing that I’ve ever heard.
Did they redo the sound system during the renovation? I guess it’s possible they screwed something up. The thing is (it seems to me) that most sound mixes don’t make very aggressive use of the surrounds, so it’s hard to tell how good they really are.
I personally don’t like it when they start or finish projecting something on the curtain. Particularly when you have a trailer that jumps right in, rather than show you two minutes of corporate logos. If you don’t want me to see the whole thing, then don’t bother showing it.
Thanks for clearing that up. What’s the name of the Baltimore team, Joe, if you don’t mind my asking?
Is he/she saying that the screen is 300 feet wide?
I think only the front rows get the advantage of the curved screen, as the image fills more of their field of vision. As you move farther back, the effect is lost. The last feature I saw at the Dome was Iron Man, and the image was neither dark nor soft. I noticed that the AMPAS logo on the trailers was warped, but I didn’t notice any distortion during the feature. I was sitting in about the middle of the house.