I do not know of any on-line list that shows all reserved seat engagements in the LA area, regardless of format. The Coate/Kallay lists I cited above show all 70mm showings (regardless of any particular 70mm process; it also includes films exhibited in 70mm even if they were 35mm blowups) that they could identify; there is a list for each year from 1955 through 2012. If the film was shown on a reserved-seat basis, this is noted within the list for each individual year in addition to the theater showing the film and other data.
The Wikipedia article on films exhibited on a roadshow basis has a lengthy list of films shown that way from the 1910’s through the 1970’s. It does not indicate which of these were specifically shown a roadshow basis in LA, but I am sure that as the movie capital of America, I would suspect that many, if not most of them, were. Certainly there were 35m films run on roadshow basis in NYC and LA that did not get this treatment elsewhere, but it may not be always easy to identify if a particular film was run on a two-a-day roadshow basis in any particular city unless one is able to check newspaper archives or releasing studio records.
Some good news about the Granada: a group of volunteers has cleaned up and made needed repairs to get the theater reopened for a local film festival. They hope that these efforts may eventually lead to the theater’s ongoing revival. View article
Looking at the lists compiled by Coate and Kallay at the FromScripttoDVD.com website, I noted at least two: “Camelot” (run began 11-02-67) and “Paint Your Wagon” (run began 10-23-69). The list includes only those films presented in 70mm, so it would not include any 35mm film shown on a reserved seat basis there during those nine years.
According to this online obituary, the theater was built in 1937 by a Mr. Raymond T. Quillin, who also owned and operated the Globe Theatre in Berlin, MD, as well as being in the business of raising chickens.
According to a redevelopment proposal, the theater may get a partial return to theatrical use in addition to the entreprenurial “incubator” use: View article
True, but my guess is that even if Classic Cinemas could purchase or get a lease on the property, it probably would not be able or willing to make the expensive investment that would be needed in making the digital upgrade and other renovations to this dated ten-screener, especially with the Muvico megaplex so relatively nearby. Also, if AMC owns the property , it has to be remembered that the company frequently puts ‘no further cinema use’ clauses in sale agreements.
The future of the Centre Cinema is looking bleak; the owner is skeptical of being able to convert to digital, and even if he does, he is not certain the audience will be there. He is hoping to keep the theater open until Christmas, 2012. The theater is for sale. View article
The theater is currently closed for extensive renovation and expansion. Here is an article about the construction currently in progress. When the theater reopens in 2013, it will be known as the Pearl Stadium 8.
bethg: You may have already discovered this, but Maria DiChiera did her Master’s Thesis at the University of Pennsylvania in 1992 on the theaters of Crane (it is available online here. Her work extensively cites Wiltse’s archive. I think it is likely that she is related to, possibly the daughter of, David DiChiera, the Director of the Detroit Opera Theater. Possibly you might be able to locate her through the MOT Director’s office, and she may know how to locate Wiltse or where the archives might now reside.
Wiltse’s offices were at 6300 Shasabaw Rd. in Clarkston, MI. His company is dissolved, but perhaps, if the building, which houses a number of professional offices, is still under the same management that it was at the time when Wiltse was there is still in charge or retained records, they might be able to help. I am sure one of the existing tenants could tell you how to locate the management.
An exterior photo c. 1929 can be seen here.
Another view of the Solarius as the Cinema de Luxe can be seen here.
An interior view of the Jacobs Theater can be seen here.
An article about the conversion to a restaurant/music hall can be read here.
I do not know of any on-line list that shows all reserved seat engagements in the LA area, regardless of format. The Coate/Kallay lists I cited above show all 70mm showings (regardless of any particular 70mm process; it also includes films exhibited in 70mm even if they were 35mm blowups) that they could identify; there is a list for each year from 1955 through 2012. If the film was shown on a reserved-seat basis, this is noted within the list for each individual year in addition to the theater showing the film and other data.
The Wikipedia article on films exhibited on a roadshow basis has a lengthy list of films shown that way from the 1910’s through the 1970’s. It does not indicate which of these were specifically shown a roadshow basis in LA, but I am sure that as the movie capital of America, I would suspect that many, if not most of them, were. Certainly there were 35m films run on roadshow basis in NYC and LA that did not get this treatment elsewhere, but it may not be always easy to identify if a particular film was run on a two-a-day roadshow basis in any particular city unless one is able to check newspaper archives or releasing studio records.
Some good news about the Granada: a group of volunteers has cleaned up and made needed repairs to get the theater reopened for a local film festival. They hope that these efforts may eventually lead to the theater’s ongoing revival. View article
Looking at the lists compiled by Coate and Kallay at the FromScripttoDVD.com website, I noted at least two: “Camelot” (run began 11-02-67) and “Paint Your Wagon” (run began 10-23-69). The list includes only those films presented in 70mm, so it would not include any 35mm film shown on a reserved seat basis there during those nine years.
Here is a past realtor’s listing for the closed theater. The photo will expand if clicked upon.
There is a picture of the theater now as a church on its page at CinemaTour.
According to this online obituary, the theater was built in 1937 by a Mr. Raymond T. Quillin, who also owned and operated the Globe Theatre in Berlin, MD, as well as being in the business of raising chickens.
A photo of the former Fox Oxnard can be seen here.
The Sun Theater now has a new marquee. The owner is appealing to the community for help with conversion to digital. View article.
There is a small picture of the Ritz on this webpage.
Digiplex plans to additions to the programming mix at this theater: View article. (Note: page loads slowly for some reason).
The Paramount can be partially seen in this 1930’s-era postcard view of Gulfport’s business core.
Here is one person’s reflection on going attending the Buena Vista accompanied by a small picture.
According to a redevelopment proposal, the theater may get a partial return to theatrical use in addition to the entreprenurial “incubator” use: View article
Scroll down a bit to see a picture of the Regal Cinema on this webpage.
True, but my guess is that even if Classic Cinemas could purchase or get a lease on the property, it probably would not be able or willing to make the expensive investment that would be needed in making the digital upgrade and other renovations to this dated ten-screener, especially with the Muvico megaplex so relatively nearby. Also, if AMC owns the property , it has to be remembered that the company frequently puts ‘no further cinema use’ clauses in sale agreements.
There is a picture of the Neon Theater’s auditorium as it was during the period of the Cinerama revival on this webpage.
The future of the Centre Cinema is looking bleak; the owner is skeptical of being able to convert to digital, and even if he does, he is not certain the audience will be there. He is hoping to keep the theater open until Christmas, 2012. The theater is for sale. View article
The theater is currently closed for extensive renovation and expansion. Here is an article about the construction currently in progress. When the theater reopens in 2013, it will be known as the Pearl Stadium 8.
bethg: You may have already discovered this, but Maria DiChiera did her Master’s Thesis at the University of Pennsylvania in 1992 on the theaters of Crane (it is available online here. Her work extensively cites Wiltse’s archive. I think it is likely that she is related to, possibly the daughter of, David DiChiera, the Director of the Detroit Opera Theater. Possibly you might be able to locate her through the MOT Director’s office, and she may know how to locate Wiltse or where the archives might now reside.
Wiltse’s offices were at 6300 Shasabaw Rd. in Clarkston, MI. His company is dissolved, but perhaps, if the building, which houses a number of professional offices, is still under the same management that it was at the time when Wiltse was there is still in charge or retained records, they might be able to help. I am sure one of the existing tenants could tell you how to locate the management.
Two photos of the closed Atrium Kino’s graffiti-scarred entry can be seen here and here.
A very old image of this original Mattoon Theatre can be see here.