While I appreciate what the Cinematheque is doing at this theatre to preserve classic cinema, I must say (as I’ve already said in other places around this website) that this theatre has no business hosting a 70MM film festival! I’ve been to a couple of 70MM film screenings here since the Cinematheque took over (My Fair Lady, Ben-Hur, Lawrence of Arabia) and was very disappointed. here Only 2 theatres in Hollywood have the skills to run 70MM as it was originally intended: The Dome and the Chinese.
Mike, I just took a look at your page – specifically the theatre listing for St. Louis, Missouri. Great website. However, there are some corrections that need to be made in that section. I’ll be getting in touch with you shortly.
Anyone (besides me) going to see M:I-3 at the (digitally projected) dome this weekend? I’ve got tickets for the Saturday night 8:10 show. Let the summer begin!
I was born and raised in St. Louis, MO till I was 12 years old and went back there darn near every summer as a teen. Wehrenberg Theatres is synonomous with moviegoing in St. Louis. Hopefully they’ll resurrect the classic 70’s era version of their theme song for this celebration!
I’ve got that theme song online if anyone cares to hear it…
The Ben-Hur presentation wasn’t 70MM – it was 35MM…but the widest 35MM I’ve ever seen. I didn’t start going to the Dome till 1991 and I’ve only seen 2 70MM shows there.
Pacific/Arclight already has a “leg up” regarding the “Classics” concept. They regularly show classic films (old & new) in the Arclight portion of the complex every week…twice a week, I think. It shouldn’t be too much trouble moving certain films to the Dome.
One more thing I forgot to mention: In anticipation for the release of “Kill Bill Vol. 2” a couple of years ago, Arclight held a “Quentin Tarantino Retropsective” of all his films from “Reservoir Dogs” through “Kill Bill Vol. 1” IN THE DOME. The final event was a 9:00 PM showing of KB Vol. 1 followed by a midnight showing of KB Vol. 2 on a Thursday night. This is also the much ballyhooed incident where QT was supposed to be there holding a Q&A after KB Vol. 2 but “missed his plane”. :o)
If they saw Ben-Hur at the Cinerama Dome during their “closing weekend” back in 2000, it wouldn’t have made the list at all! To this day, it’s the only time I’ve ever seen a theatre adjust its left-right masking to accomodate for the tremendous width of the film. Utterly breathtaking!
But I digress…kudos to Clearview for dumping the January-March craptaculars for this Classics series. Flawed prints or not, they deserve tremendous props for their efforts. If they continue this in the fall, they should somehow find a team of “print archeologists” who can track down the most pristine prints of the films they wish to show. I’ve seen a bunch of folks in this forum making comments who I’d definitely recommend to make the team!
Yes. Since they reopened the Dome in 2002, they’ve run both “This Is Cinerama” and “How The West Was Won”. I attended the latter in 2003 – my first true Cinerama experience. I had a blast.
The only other 70MM event I’ve been to since their reopening is the 40th Anniversary run of “It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World” – which quite a few of the folks in here didn’t like presentation wise. I enjoyed it, though.
For all those who envy the upcoming 70MM runs of “Around The World…” and others at the Egyptian in Hollywood, rest assured, there ain’t that much to envy. The screen at the Egyptian is just about the same size as the one at the Ziegfeld. I’ve already made up my mind not to attend another 70MM fest in Hollywood until they hold one at the only theatre worthy of 70MM: The Cinerama Dome. Heck, it’s the Dome that needs to take a page from the Ziegfeld and show a classics festival there. Arclight shows a classic or two every week, but those showings are at the multiplex…not the Dome!
M:I3 is already booked for The Dome. I suspect Poseidon will play at Chinese (since Warner Bros. owns 50% of Mann Theatres). The DaVinci Code will undoubtedly play at The Dome (I saw the trailer there when I saw King Kong) and X3 will probably play at Chinese.
OK, folks. What must we do to convince Pacific/Arclight to take a page from the Ziegfeld in New York and run a similar classic series at the Dome – not Arclight, BUT THE DOME! They’re currently running “Scary Movie 4” there. Pathetic! Was this the company’s vision when they restored this theatre? Somehow, I don’t think so. The kids who saw that flick this weekend know NADA about grand and epic cinema! They are in desperate need of a 70MM history lesson. What better place than this theatre! Just picture it: the same films that the Ziegfeld showed on a screen that is worthy of their glory! At the very least, can AFI take a page from American Cinematheque and run their own 70MM Film Festival here? Imagine the possibilities!
This theatre, along with the Creve Coeur Cinema, is the theatre that made me love movies. Some of my happiest memories have been spent at this theatre. Having said that, it’s time for a makeover! I last went here in Summer 04 for Spider-Man 2 and, sadly, it seemed like the old place was starting to fade just a bit. Hopefully AMC will buy the building next door so they can remodel the place into a multi-level theatre with more screens (they’ve got a prime example on how to achieve this with their AMC Empire 25 plex in NYC).
Regal has recently changed the name of their (HIGHLY ANNOYING!) pre-show from “The 2wenty” to “Regal First Look”. It’s the same old pre-show crap…with a different name.
Somehow, some way, this theatre must be saved! Hopefully another chain (preferably one that’s interested in preserving the legacy of classic theatres) will swoop in and save this wonderful theatre.
I don’t give a hoot what Mark Cuban thinks. Until they make a 75 foot HD Television, I will continue to support my local movie theatre!
If NATO/the studios want us back, 2 things they must do:
MAKE BETTER MOVIES!
MAKE BETTER THEATRES!!! Anyone who sat through King Kong, Star Wars, or Narnia in a shoebox stadium seated auditorium on a 40 foot screen with subpar digital sound (a.k.a. Regal Cinemas!) should agree with me on this point! Forget the digital 3D revolution – put an IMAX in every multiplex! That’ll bring ‘em back!
The 68 foot “placeholder” screen is curved also. I’ve heard lots of folks complain that films projected on genuine 90 foot Cinerama screens (like the one at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood) look very distorted and out of focus in parts. I can’t tell, though.
Technalight has recently been installed on Screen #2 (the biggest field) at the Vineland. I haven’t checked it out yet, but I’m sure the quality is superb!
My only complaints about the Ziegfeld are the pricing (especially in the daytime!) and the very small screen. That theatre is begging for at least a 60 footer. Problem is, you’d have to shut the theatre for months to reconstruct the auditorium to hold a screen that size.
Other than those minor quibbles, I enjoyed my visit there this past summer. Great sound system and very elegant decor. I had a nice time!
While I appreciate what the Cinematheque is doing at this theatre to preserve classic cinema, I must say (as I’ve already said in other places around this website) that this theatre has no business hosting a 70MM film festival! I’ve been to a couple of 70MM film screenings here since the Cinematheque took over (My Fair Lady, Ben-Hur, Lawrence of Arabia) and was very disappointed. here Only 2 theatres in Hollywood have the skills to run 70MM as it was originally intended: The Dome and the Chinese.
Mike, I just took a look at your page – specifically the theatre listing for St. Louis, Missouri. Great website. However, there are some corrections that need to be made in that section. I’ll be getting in touch with you shortly.
Anyone (besides me) going to see M:I-3 at the (digitally projected) dome this weekend? I’ve got tickets for the Saturday night 8:10 show. Let the summer begin!
That’s the one. I forgot it was on CinemaTour.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a link. The song was sent to me by a friend a couple of years ago.
I was born and raised in St. Louis, MO till I was 12 years old and went back there darn near every summer as a teen. Wehrenberg Theatres is synonomous with moviegoing in St. Louis. Hopefully they’ll resurrect the classic 70’s era version of their theme song for this celebration!
I’ve got that theme song online if anyone cares to hear it…
The Ben-Hur presentation wasn’t 70MM – it was 35MM…but the widest 35MM I’ve ever seen. I didn’t start going to the Dome till 1991 and I’ve only seen 2 70MM shows there.
Pacific/Arclight already has a “leg up” regarding the “Classics” concept. They regularly show classic films (old & new) in the Arclight portion of the complex every week…twice a week, I think. It shouldn’t be too much trouble moving certain films to the Dome.
One more thing I forgot to mention: In anticipation for the release of “Kill Bill Vol. 2” a couple of years ago, Arclight held a “Quentin Tarantino Retropsective” of all his films from “Reservoir Dogs” through “Kill Bill Vol. 1” IN THE DOME. The final event was a 9:00 PM showing of KB Vol. 1 followed by a midnight showing of KB Vol. 2 on a Thursday night. This is also the much ballyhooed incident where QT was supposed to be there holding a Q&A after KB Vol. 2 but “missed his plane”. :o)
If they saw Ben-Hur at the Cinerama Dome during their “closing weekend” back in 2000, it wouldn’t have made the list at all! To this day, it’s the only time I’ve ever seen a theatre adjust its left-right masking to accomodate for the tremendous width of the film. Utterly breathtaking!
But I digress…kudos to Clearview for dumping the January-March craptaculars for this Classics series. Flawed prints or not, they deserve tremendous props for their efforts. If they continue this in the fall, they should somehow find a team of “print archeologists” who can track down the most pristine prints of the films they wish to show. I’ve seen a bunch of folks in this forum making comments who I’d definitely recommend to make the team!
Yes. Since they reopened the Dome in 2002, they’ve run both “This Is Cinerama” and “How The West Was Won”. I attended the latter in 2003 – my first true Cinerama experience. I had a blast.
The only other 70MM event I’ve been to since their reopening is the 40th Anniversary run of “It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World” – which quite a few of the folks in here didn’t like presentation wise. I enjoyed it, though.
For all those who envy the upcoming 70MM runs of “Around The World…” and others at the Egyptian in Hollywood, rest assured, there ain’t that much to envy. The screen at the Egyptian is just about the same size as the one at the Ziegfeld. I’ve already made up my mind not to attend another 70MM fest in Hollywood until they hold one at the only theatre worthy of 70MM: The Cinerama Dome. Heck, it’s the Dome that needs to take a page from the Ziegfeld and show a classics festival there. Arclight shows a classic or two every week, but those showings are at the multiplex…not the Dome!
M:I3 is already booked for The Dome. I suspect Poseidon will play at Chinese (since Warner Bros. owns 50% of Mann Theatres). The DaVinci Code will undoubtedly play at The Dome (I saw the trailer there when I saw King Kong) and X3 will probably play at Chinese.
OK, folks. What must we do to convince Pacific/Arclight to take a page from the Ziegfeld in New York and run a similar classic series at the Dome – not Arclight, BUT THE DOME! They’re currently running “Scary Movie 4” there. Pathetic! Was this the company’s vision when they restored this theatre? Somehow, I don’t think so. The kids who saw that flick this weekend know NADA about grand and epic cinema! They are in desperate need of a 70MM history lesson. What better place than this theatre! Just picture it: the same films that the Ziegfeld showed on a screen that is worthy of their glory! At the very least, can AFI take a page from American Cinematheque and run their own 70MM Film Festival here? Imagine the possibilities!
During the 2005 Holiday season, an IMAX auditorium was built at this theatre.
This theatre, along with the Creve Coeur Cinema, is the theatre that made me love movies. Some of my happiest memories have been spent at this theatre. Having said that, it’s time for a makeover! I last went here in Summer 04 for Spider-Man 2 and, sadly, it seemed like the old place was starting to fade just a bit. Hopefully AMC will buy the building next door so they can remodel the place into a multi-level theatre with more screens (they’ve got a prime example on how to achieve this with their AMC Empire 25 plex in NYC).
Regal has recently changed the name of their (HIGHLY ANNOYING!) pre-show from “The 2wenty” to “Regal First Look”. It’s the same old pre-show crap…with a different name.
Somehow, some way, this theatre must be saved! Hopefully another chain (preferably one that’s interested in preserving the legacy of classic theatres) will swoop in and save this wonderful theatre.
I don’t give a hoot what Mark Cuban thinks. Until they make a 75 foot HD Television, I will continue to support my local movie theatre!
If NATO/the studios want us back, 2 things they must do:
Who gonna get this theatre when the AMC Loews merger closes on 1/27/06?
The Big Question: Who gets Loews E-Walk – which is right across the street from AMC Empire 25 in the Times Square area?
The 68 foot “placeholder” screen is curved also. I’ve heard lots of folks complain that films projected on genuine 90 foot Cinerama screens (like the one at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood) look very distorted and out of focus in parts. I can’t tell, though.
WOW!!! Now that is one amazing theatre! Kudos to Paul Allen for resurrecting a true cinema treasure!
Going to Seattle for the first time tomorrow…and watching “Narnia” here on Saturday. I can’t wait!!!
Ask and ye shall receive…
Technalight has recently been installed on Screen #2 (the biggest field) at the Vineland. I haven’t checked it out yet, but I’m sure the quality is superb!
My only complaints about the Ziegfeld are the pricing (especially in the daytime!) and the very small screen. That theatre is begging for at least a 60 footer. Problem is, you’d have to shut the theatre for months to reconstruct the auditorium to hold a screen that size.
Other than those minor quibbles, I enjoyed my visit there this past summer. Great sound system and very elegant decor. I had a nice time!