The new disco owners that run Graumans Chinese Theatre just want cash for tourist rentals any way they can get It. They even run tours $$ inside the former famous theatre now turned into a Imax cinema when a movie is going on, very distracting when you are trying to watch a film and hear the tour group wandering around in the dark.
This theatre is set so far back from the street with a chain fence around It. Hard to find as no neon sign is out on the street. I think this is the spot the old Century Syufy Domes in Reno were on many years ago? It looks lost surrounded by empty lots with weeds growing. Looks like a mall was to go in but never made It. Nice curved screens and good sound. Only one person in the boxofice selling tickets. You have to go inside to get your ticket as they don’t even open the outside window boxoffice(at least on a Thursday night). How sad to have to wait so long to buy a admission ticket because they won’t open all the box windows with more help. CC and Fandango takes forever.
This cinema may have closed this last week but new people are coming in. The Syufy family owns the theatre. CineMark was leasing the theatre from Syufy and they chose not to renew the lease as they did not want to go into another long lease when the place needs some upgrades like new recliner seats ect. What is a strange twist Cinemark bought most of the Syufy/Century theatres many years ago but the Syufy brothers kept most of the drive ins and a few indoor spots like this one in Sparks NV. They still run the Rancho DI in Sparks under their many names they use like West Wind Drive In’s. CineMark/Century has had a big monopoly of cinemas in the Reno/Sparks NV area for many years. UA pulled out a long time ago. Now lets see what new chain will be coming into the area to shake things up. Will It be AMC, Regal, I Pic or even Drafthouse Cinemas. A new company Galaxy Theatres opened up a few years ago in Sparks with a giant new Imax screen the first in the area. I was at the soon to close Century 14 on the last day and the CineMark crew was fast is starting to remove bulk items from there candy counter even when the place was still open showing films for the last time under the CineMark/Century brand. They will probably strip the place out of equipment fast like they always do. This closed now cinema had a nice semi curved XD screen. A new company can come in with there brand X HD type screen. Maybe they will bring back some showmanship with curtains in the larger spaces. You know they will offer food,booze and reserved seats. The people I talked last week walking around outside with clipboards taking photos told me It will be closed almost a year for the changes to happen. The place is still in great shape, they need to get in before the holidays 2016 and at least open a few auditoriums up. Now the Galaxy is the only cinema open in Sparks NV.
Strange story. The Syufy’s own this cinema and they lease to Cinemark. The lease was up and Cinemark did not renew. A new movie chain is coming in after a big semi remodel is done. Will It be AMC, Regal, I Pic or maybe even Drafthouse? This will break up the monopoly Cinemark has in the Reno NV area. The local people have been left in the dark and they think 18yr old theatre is closed for good. This is not what is going to happen. Watch for movies coming again. We went to the last day and the place is still in good shape with nice large curved screens. I guess the new chain will put in recliners and the cinema will lose seats.
Way to small auditoriums. Need to be larger. Some people have bigger screens in their homes. Hope they can expand somehow and bring back a true movie theatre to Sausalito.
Thanks David, to bad the city of San Francisco did not save this great theatre. Many other cities still have their Fox Theatres and are doing well with a variety of entertainment events. SF still knocks down ever old theatre they can like this past month the United Artists Theatre on Market St. A few years ago It was the St. Francis Theatre. Who will be next?
The public never did support this former UA cinema. Most of the auditoriums are very small. Now downtown SJ only has 1 cinema left a dome Imax type. Time again for a new theatre player to get involved. Maya Theatres maybe? Turn It into a larger 8 plex with large curved screens and better seating and showmanship curtains. Have food and live entertainment also. Being that the greedy property owners were about to raise the rent now they will suffer with a closed cinema for many years without rent money coming in.
Thanks Gary for these great photos. It was great you were able to save the stained glass for the lobby of the new building going up on the former theatre site. Hope It can be cleaned up and the paint removed. Would be nice to have some old photos and movie ads from the old UA/Market ST Cinema Theatre also on display in the new building lobby space. Thanks again.
How sad the giant curved Cinerama screen at the Dome is way smaller since they went digital when not showing films. Look at the bottom right and left how It curves up. To bad they don’t have the correct lens and masking like many other still in use curved screens to not make the bottom look so bad.
This long closed cinema will open again after all the work is done to bring It up to code on the inside and outside. Just like the Drafthouse New Mission and the Grand Theatre, Mission St is coming back in SF for a new generation to enjoy. Thanks so much Granola for the nice color photo.
Did they finally replace all the dark blue lights shinning down on the sides and curtains that many were burnt out over the years with clear bright bulbs? Now at last you can find your reserved seat and It won’t be in the dark. Is this a new photo?
So nice this long closed cinema will shine again. Only theatre in town so It will do well. Let the neon glow again!!!! just off the Bart train stop Lafayette CA.
Dennis thanks for the photo. Must have been for the 4th Of July or Memorial Day. You won’t find movie circuits these days having any flags up for a holiday.
Let’s hope they put in some curtains that open and close and install some color lights up on the ceiling. It’s time for the water falls to be fixed and going also.
Must have been hard to watch a film on the large scope screen and see the image from the second screen on the left. They needed to plant some large trees to block the view.
A recent visit a few weeks ago was not a good time for me at the Fox Atlanta. We saw ‘The Shining’ The Fox run some ads in the local art/entertainment free newspapers and tell about the Coke Film Festival Night. They show the time starting at 7:30PM. What they don’t tell you about all the wonderfull things going on during the pre show at 6 45PM. The pipe organ, cartoons, news, plus trailers all in 35mm film. Most of the main features are DCP video. Not the best look with such a long throw from the back high up balcony projection booth. They did not close the curtains like they did in the past after the organ or between the main feature. So many ads cover the above the screen section and projected on the walls. This gave the place a junkie look, not like a first class classic movie theatre. What was so sad many people came in at 7:30PM or later and blocked screen view looking for their seats and talking. Most had no idea about coming early I think or looking for a place to park. They ran so many screen ads before the video main feature started I thought I was at a Regal Theatre. The lady at the boxoffice told me they open at 6 PM. She was wrong I had to wait in the hot heat till 6 30PM. I did talk to some sort of manager lady in the lobby and told her how important the curtains are with some color lights on them like they did in the past. She did listen to me so let’s see If they can get a stage person backstage to open and close them at the correct time (slowly) as they do adjust the screen masking by hand for flat or scope. The screen they use is way smaller then the huge CinemaScope® screen they had in the 50’s. The Fox need’s to change the name to Coke Video Festival as they don’t show 35mm or 70mm film on the main features they book. Glad the place is still open and let’s wish they bring some showmanship back on these great movie/video nights and change the newspaper ads to show what is going on before the main feature plus mention COME EARLY and open at 6 PM. They now have metal detectors out side the front doors so you will be checked to enter just like at the airports. This adds some time also to get in. Watching a movie is not like going to a rock show.
I worked at the Fox Paramount in the mid 60’s. The manager was Robert Apple, a great showman. This is were I saw my first CinemaScope® film in the early 50’s. They had many true studio sneak previews. I worked the time they showed the sneak preview of ‘Mollie Brow’ in 4 track mag stereo. When the movie was released at the Paramount later on they only sent a mono print. MR Apple was very upset I remember ‘Mollie’ had some great surround sound effects and the Paramount had plenty of surround speakers in the balcony also. So nice It’s still open and they do show movies once in a while.
The new disco owners that run Graumans Chinese Theatre just want cash for tourist rentals any way they can get It. They even run tours $$ inside the former famous theatre now turned into a Imax cinema when a movie is going on, very distracting when you are trying to watch a film and hear the tour group wandering around in the dark.
This theatre is set so far back from the street with a chain fence around It. Hard to find as no neon sign is out on the street. I think this is the spot the old Century Syufy Domes in Reno were on many years ago? It looks lost surrounded by empty lots with weeds growing. Looks like a mall was to go in but never made It. Nice curved screens and good sound. Only one person in the boxofice selling tickets. You have to go inside to get your ticket as they don’t even open the outside window boxoffice(at least on a Thursday night). How sad to have to wait so long to buy a admission ticket because they won’t open all the box windows with more help. CC and Fandango takes forever.
This cinema may have closed this last week but new people are coming in. The Syufy family owns the theatre. CineMark was leasing the theatre from Syufy and they chose not to renew the lease as they did not want to go into another long lease when the place needs some upgrades like new recliner seats ect. What is a strange twist Cinemark bought most of the Syufy/Century theatres many years ago but the Syufy brothers kept most of the drive ins and a few indoor spots like this one in Sparks NV. They still run the Rancho DI in Sparks under their many names they use like West Wind Drive In’s. CineMark/Century has had a big monopoly of cinemas in the Reno/Sparks NV area for many years. UA pulled out a long time ago. Now lets see what new chain will be coming into the area to shake things up. Will It be AMC, Regal, I Pic or even Drafthouse Cinemas. A new company Galaxy Theatres opened up a few years ago in Sparks with a giant new Imax screen the first in the area. I was at the soon to close Century 14 on the last day and the CineMark crew was fast is starting to remove bulk items from there candy counter even when the place was still open showing films for the last time under the CineMark/Century brand. They will probably strip the place out of equipment fast like they always do. This closed now cinema had a nice semi curved XD screen. A new company can come in with there brand X HD type screen. Maybe they will bring back some showmanship with curtains in the larger spaces. You know they will offer food,booze and reserved seats. The people I talked last week walking around outside with clipboards taking photos told me It will be closed almost a year for the changes to happen. The place is still in great shape, they need to get in before the holidays 2016 and at least open a few auditoriums up. Now the Galaxy is the only cinema open in Sparks NV.
Strange story. The Syufy’s own this cinema and they lease to Cinemark. The lease was up and Cinemark did not renew. A new movie chain is coming in after a big semi remodel is done. Will It be AMC, Regal, I Pic or maybe even Drafthouse? This will break up the monopoly Cinemark has in the Reno NV area. The local people have been left in the dark and they think 18yr old theatre is closed for good. This is not what is going to happen. Watch for movies coming again. We went to the last day and the place is still in good shape with nice large curved screens. I guess the new chain will put in recliners and the cinema will lose seats.
Way to small auditoriums. Need to be larger. Some people have bigger screens in their homes. Hope they can expand somehow and bring back a true movie theatre to Sausalito.
Thanks David, to bad the city of San Francisco did not save this great theatre. Many other cities still have their Fox Theatres and are doing well with a variety of entertainment events. SF still knocks down ever old theatre they can like this past month the United Artists Theatre on Market St. A few years ago It was the St. Francis Theatre. Who will be next?
The public never did support this former UA cinema. Most of the auditoriums are very small. Now downtown SJ only has 1 cinema left a dome Imax type. Time again for a new theatre player to get involved. Maya Theatres maybe? Turn It into a larger 8 plex with large curved screens and better seating and showmanship curtains. Have food and live entertainment also. Being that the greedy property owners were about to raise the rent now they will suffer with a closed cinema for many years without rent money coming in.
New gold paint job looks great. Now lets get a fund going for the color neon to work again inside and outside.
Thanks Gary for these great photos. It was great you were able to save the stained glass for the lobby of the new building going up on the former theatre site. Hope It can be cleaned up and the paint removed. Would be nice to have some old photos and movie ads from the old UA/Market ST Cinema Theatre also on display in the new building lobby space. Thanks again.
Thanks Elmorovivo what a great screen!! Looks like a D-150 type?
I often wonder who got the two CinemaScope neon signs from the marquee?
How sad the giant curved Cinerama screen at the Dome is way smaller since they went digital when not showing films. Look at the bottom right and left how It curves up. To bad they don’t have the correct lens and masking like many other still in use curved screens to not make the bottom look so bad.
This long closed cinema will open again after all the work is done to bring It up to code on the inside and outside. Just like the Drafthouse New Mission and the Grand Theatre, Mission St is coming back in SF for a new generation to enjoy. Thanks so much Granola for the nice color photo.
Thanks Gran, looks like they even didn’t save the curved curtain track and curtains all put in the dumpster.
Thanks David, to think they even had a large curved Todd-AO screen at a time.
Did they finally replace all the dark blue lights shinning down on the sides and curtains that many were burnt out over the years with clear bright bulbs? Now at last you can find your reserved seat and It won’t be in the dark. Is this a new photo?
So nice this long closed cinema will shine again. Only theatre in town so It will do well. Let the neon glow again!!!! just off the Bart train stop Lafayette CA.
Dennis thanks for the photo. Must have been for the 4th Of July or Memorial Day. You won’t find movie circuits these days having any flags up for a holiday.
So nice they still use curtains that open and close. The screen in the large downstairs cinema has a slight curve to It.
Thanks Dennis for the photo. I wonder If that is neon light behind the glass blocks? A great looking boxoffice and doors.
Let’s hope they put in some curtains that open and close and install some color lights up on the ceiling. It’s time for the water falls to be fixed and going also.
To bad they had old white lights on. A nice touch would have been blue or green bulbs. Thanks Ken for the great photos. Is the place still open?
Must have been hard to watch a film on the large scope screen and see the image from the second screen on the left. They needed to plant some large trees to block the view.
A recent visit a few weeks ago was not a good time for me at the Fox Atlanta. We saw ‘The Shining’ The Fox run some ads in the local art/entertainment free newspapers and tell about the Coke Film Festival Night. They show the time starting at 7:30PM. What they don’t tell you about all the wonderfull things going on during the pre show at 6 45PM. The pipe organ, cartoons, news, plus trailers all in 35mm film. Most of the main features are DCP video. Not the best look with such a long throw from the back high up balcony projection booth. They did not close the curtains like they did in the past after the organ or between the main feature. So many ads cover the above the screen section and projected on the walls. This gave the place a junkie look, not like a first class classic movie theatre. What was so sad many people came in at 7:30PM or later and blocked screen view looking for their seats and talking. Most had no idea about coming early I think or looking for a place to park. They ran so many screen ads before the video main feature started I thought I was at a Regal Theatre. The lady at the boxoffice told me they open at 6 PM. She was wrong I had to wait in the hot heat till 6 30PM. I did talk to some sort of manager lady in the lobby and told her how important the curtains are with some color lights on them like they did in the past. She did listen to me so let’s see If they can get a stage person backstage to open and close them at the correct time (slowly) as they do adjust the screen masking by hand for flat or scope. The screen they use is way smaller then the huge CinemaScope® screen they had in the 50’s. The Fox need’s to change the name to Coke Video Festival as they don’t show 35mm or 70mm film on the main features they book. Glad the place is still open and let’s wish they bring some showmanship back on these great movie/video nights and change the newspaper ads to show what is going on before the main feature plus mention COME EARLY and open at 6 PM. They now have metal detectors out side the front doors so you will be checked to enter just like at the airports. This adds some time also to get in. Watching a movie is not like going to a rock show.
I worked at the Fox Paramount in the mid 60’s. The manager was Robert Apple, a great showman. This is were I saw my first CinemaScope® film in the early 50’s. They had many true studio sneak previews. I worked the time they showed the sneak preview of ‘Mollie Brow’ in 4 track mag stereo. When the movie was released at the Paramount later on they only sent a mono print. MR Apple was very upset I remember ‘Mollie’ had some great surround sound effects and the Paramount had plenty of surround speakers in the balcony also. So nice It’s still open and they do show movies once in a while.