I hope the new gang at The Roxie can get out with a tree trim guy and do a cut job on the tree in front, as you can’t see the lower part of the marquee. Plus please turn off the over the head lights above the screen as all the previews have these lights on the screen. Let’s hope they get a full booze permit then I can go and have a tropical Zombie rum drink with crushed ice and watch a old horror film. Bring on the tropical drinks and bring back the little blue lights on the side walls at SF’s Roxie.
They run the film projector bulb so low at the #21 theatre you can’t see the picture in a dark part. No showmanship anymore, Don’t bother to close the drapes. They are trying to save money on new bulbs, that’s why they don’t have 3-D or digital in the #21 Dome Theatre or #22 next door. The Syufy Century brothers still run this place in 2011 and didn’t sell to CineMark. I think they have a long lease on the land under the Domes. Come on guys how about turning up the projection light and bring back the large curved screen. Put in one of the new Imax curved screens or give it a new name like Syufy EX. The larger the better but you need to light It up. Id hate to think what a West Wind Drive In that the Syufys run under this new name. Has anyone gone, is the light good on a outdoor screen. They still run many Drive Inn’s on the West Coast thank god.
Sorry I ment to say Paul of Cinelux Theatres the new owner. Gary was with the Scotts Valley when I first started going. I miss the Burl Theatre in Boulder Creek CA and the Drive In they had also in Boulder Creek. Now Santa Cruz has no more outdoor movie theatres.
Yes the theatre has been up graded at least 7theatres. The last two for a total of 9 will be remodled this Fall. Paul at CineLux did a great job and put in the first curved screens in Santa Cruz county and D Box in a few cinemas plus 7.1 surround at the Scotts Valley Cinemas. With all new seats, slanted rows, rugs ect It’s a very nice place to see a movie. This is the first theatre I have ever visited that has different lights on the side walls in each auditorium. Now if Gary will only put in blue lights in some of the cinemas or orange, red or green this will make my day. The theatres 5/6 and 7 are the largest. Check them out If you are visiting the Santa Cruz mountains. They are waiting for there 3-D Dolby wash glass system.
To bad they didn’t keep it one large theatre. Please, two 99 seat theatres are way to small. I’ll try the larger cinema space, do they even have curtains that open? Good luck to the new owners.
Hope the new owners can keep the Big Chinese for both film and live events. Enlarge the curved screen and move it up a few feet to the ceiling plus put a circle stage into the first five rows of seats in front of the huge screen for live entertainment. Add a seperate reverse curve curtain track to cover the new stage area. Bring back all the nice color lights.
I think the screen will not have to made smaller if the new owners put in a new stage. The stage needs to be built out into the theatre. Most times I have been to Grauman’s and when it’s got a big crowd to see a first run film if a tall person sits in front of me the large screen is blocked by a head. The best thing is to keep the THS sound wall but enlarge the curve screen and move the whole thing up 5 feet. Put in a large half curve thrust stage going into the first 5 rows of seats. Most people don’t sit in the first five rows for a film so this space can be used for limited live events when films or sneak previews are not run. Even a separate curtain can come out of the sides to cover the new stage floor. Does anyone know if the Chinese still has any dressing rooms in the basement or off stage?
Simon***The new owners of the Chinese want to get some money out of this ex movie palace that the public does not want to see movies in anymore. Times change it’s time for the Chinese to be turned into a live event theatre. Many former luxury movie theatres have been turned into other uses and the buildings has not been destroyed, like the Pantages Theatre down the street in Hollywood. Put the disco clubs in the back and bring in some entertainment on a new stage at Grauman’s. Most people like the multiplex they don’t care about showmanship these days and just go to the Arclight Cinemas to see a first run film or just wait for it’s DVD time. The days of the old Fox West Coast Grauman’s Chinese Theatre Hollywood are almost over for film and digital video. A combo of film and live events will save this Hollywood dragon house. Do you think the new owners will like it when only 10 people show up for a matinee movie or 25 for a night show during the week. Most people will not come into Hollywoood and pay to park ect when they can see the same movie close to home in the LA area. They don’t care about the Chinese unfortunately. The tourists only want to see the for court for free and take photos. Wait till the new management starts charging to enter the famous autograph area outside. Watch for new plans coming soon for the former Grauman’s Chinese. Maybe Simon you can get a good judge who likes old theatres and films and lives in the past to hear the case when they submit the new layout to keep the place open.
We hope the new owners will bring back the color lights in the ceiling and enlarge the curved CinemaScope screen that the Mann gang never opened the masking to the full height and width. Please use the giant curtains and bring in some showmanship and live stage shows like across the street does at the Disney El Capitain Theatre. Also bring back at least one of the neon dragons that is still working in storage the Mann people removed to make the front look dull and with no color or life. Time to turn on all the color lights outside and spotlights at night to make the Chinese Theatre a star again in Hollywood. Will the new owners run the back little shoe box cinemas as movie cinemas and turn the huge Grauman’s Chinese Theatre into a plush Hollywood nightclub? I must tell you if movies fail to bring a crowd the nightclub thing may save the place for locals and tourists. Turn up the disco surround sound and laser lights and make Grauman’s come to life for a new generation to enjoy. Movies or a nightclub format we are so glad the Chinese will still stay open.
Hollywood 90038 I tried to e mail you about the Times Sq Theatres. The one that starts with unisphere? Do you have a new e mail thanks Terry San Franciso CA
Most movie studios are just filming in 2-D to save money and doing a bad convergance to 3-D. The theatre owners love to charge the extra $ for the 3-D hype when It is not true 3-D. When word gets out on these films the public will just go see the movie in 2-D and save the money. 3-D will be dead in a year. The movie companies never learn their lesson from 1953. To film a good movie with two cameras in 3-D done correct can look great but this phony digital 2-D to 3-D one projector 3-D system that is now out is bad news! Goodbye 3-D let’s bring 70mm back on large screens on select fims.
Most movie studios are just filming in 2-D to save money and doing a bad convergance to 3-D. The theatre owners love to charge the extra $ for the 3-D hype when It is not true 3-D. When word gets out on these films the public will just go see the movie in 2-D and save the money. 3-D will be dead in a year. The movie companies never learn their lesson from 1953. To film a good movie with two cameras in 3-D done correct can look great but this phony digital 2-D to 3-D one projector 3-D system that is now out is bad news! Goodbye 3-D let’s bring 70mm back on large screens on select fims.
The people that lease the Fox Oakland are missing out entertainment and movies for the older adult crowd. As they just book rock mainly. To bad, write to them and lets see If we can get them to book some acts that the seniors will enjoy. So easy to just take the BART train almost to the front door. Book in some family shows also.
At the Bell Lightbox is the 70mm screen curved? Any curtains? Let us know please. When 2001 is finised they need to book the new 70mm print of Sound Of Music!!!!! Then ‘My Fair Lady’ all in 70mm with full 6 track stereo.
John needs to buy the Roxie Theatre in SF and turn It back into a GRINDHOUSE!!!Re open the Strand Theatre on Market St. Show the young people of SF what a ‘Grindhouse Cinema’ was like. They will line up for the trasy experience. Show old horror trailers and book B films. Run them 24/7.
Has anyone been. I hear they put in new stage drapes but do they open and close. A friend told me they just stay open. Now I hope the Landmark gang can do the same thing at the Albany Theatre in Albany CA near Berkeley CA. This palce is very run down. I will not go see a film at the Albany. The place needs new seats a better sound system new rugs ect. Same with the Fox California in downtown Berkeley CA. When Landmark did the small remodel job for earthquake work only many years ago they put in a tiny screen downstairs and moved It forward. The curtains have been broken for many years both at the Albany and California. Landmark leases these two cinemas and maybe they can bring the remodel people over that just finished the Oakland Piedmont and start the badly needed work at the Albany & Fox California. Wow two bring back the large curved CinemaScope screen the Fox California once had!
Thanks John for the tech info. I’ll try to get Jim at the Del Mar Theatre in Santa Cruz to get in touch with you or Dave about booking of Windjammer in the Smile Box format in Santa Cruz CA. I wrote Ted Gooding about this so he can help.
The Seattle Cinerama with a new remodel opened this past weekend with ‘Harry’ What happens when a curved screen type Cinerama theatre shows the new SmileBox version of ‘Windjammer’ on a curved screen that is set up already? Do they just play a flat version if available and let the curve they have play out? I told my friend ‘Jim’ at the art deco large Del Mar Theatre in downtown Santa Cruz CA to try to play the SmileBox version of ‘Windjammer’ for a one week exclusive in Northern California on the Del Mar’s large wide flat CinemaScope screen with SmileBox, they have new digital projectors. Santa Cruz is a sea type town with many surf ocean type people and students that have never seen the curved Windjammer print.
What about the people in wheel chairs. Do they sit down front for the big view. I like a theatre with a small slant floor and a large curved screen with curtains that work. Bring back the charm.
I have a question to ask. Many of these gimmick films played at the RKO Golden Gate and the Paramount Theatres in San Francisco CA. Who did all the installation work to put in ‘Emergo’ in ‘House’ and wire the seats for these other films as they even played in many of the neighborhood houses also with the same gimmick the large downtown theatres had. Did the studio provide a full ‘Gimmick Kit’ and did the local theatre owner do the work or the studios come in and set up the things for the run of the picture at each cinema and then take It down or move to another theatre? Does anyone still have the set up for ‘House On Haunted Hill’ with the overhead wire ect? And in the ‘Tingler’ was there a cue track on the print to turn on the seat shock buzz motors or did the projection people just pull a switch to turn on the effect at the correct time? To bad I was way to young to see these in person in a large downtown theatre with thousands of people screaming.
The new multiplex owners just care about candy money. They have no showmanship. You won’t find AMC or the others having ‘Emergo’ put in for a 35mm showing of ‘House On Haunted Hill’ on Oct 31. Lets bring back ‘The Tingler’ in 35mm with the color section and have Regal & Cinemark Theatres wire up the seats to shock the new people that have no idea what will hit them and turn up the power on the seats. Bring in fake nurses to help the yelling kids and probably some shocked adults. It’s time for a new ‘William Castle’ type person to work with the studios and theatre owners. Bring in something that can’t be done in their home theatres. This new video live showing looks like fun but not like the true original theatre experience.
Wow a Imax Theatre with curtains. This was a first. Does anyone know If this was just a large format 70mm type of theatre not true Imax? Not to many seats for a Imax screen. Was the screen a wrap around curved or just a big Imax square type screen. A great deal if you own a cinema and this will fit in one of your auditoriums.
Mike I hope when you do this doc you don’t just do the potrn theatres but many of the grindhouse theatres that played B movies and 3 features. Do you have a contact e mail. Terry
Sounds like a great project. You need to call Jack Tillmany who lives in the East Bay. He has plenty of photos and stories to tell but may be camera shy. Also my friend ‘Ed Jacklich’ who managed and worked at some area movie theatres like the Oakland’s T&D. I’ll try to e mail you. I also have some stories to tell. Market St in SF had so many little theatres in the 50’s & 60’s like the Hub, Pix, Regal,Strand,Embassy,Paris,Centre,Esquire Telenews,plus the large theatres like the Fox,Paramount,State,UA and many more in the neigborhoods like the Fox Parkside, Mission, El Rey, Granada ect. Oakland had many also like the Rex, Broadway, Lux, Moulin Rouge, Peerlex, Central, Globe in the Broadway area in downtown Oakland. As a kid in High School I collected movie posters from many of these theatres and managers in the Oakland area. Like I said you need to interview my friend ‘Ed Jacklich’ who managed the Fairfax Theatre in Oakland when the Hells Angels rented the theatre for a American International preview of a new biker movie called ‘Hells Angels On Wheels’ hundreds of bikers came and parked their bikes outside the theatre on Foothill Blvd in Oakland and the business peoople in the area got upset. Many stories you need to get on video. Also the time at the Fruitvale Theatre in Oakland he also managed booked the movie ‘The Tami Show’ and he was beat up in the lobby! Good luck on your project. PS*** You got to get the story from Jack Tillmany on your new doc about a theatre in Oakland he managed when a projectionist who went out to the roof to sun bathe between reels and the wind closed the projection room door. It locked and he had 15 minutes to climb down the fire exit in the nude to go thru the lobby to get back into the booth! We will talk soon and I will e mail you. Terry
I hope the new gang at The Roxie can get out with a tree trim guy and do a cut job on the tree in front, as you can’t see the lower part of the marquee. Plus please turn off the over the head lights above the screen as all the previews have these lights on the screen. Let’s hope they get a full booze permit then I can go and have a tropical Zombie rum drink with crushed ice and watch a old horror film. Bring on the tropical drinks and bring back the little blue lights on the side walls at SF’s Roxie.
They run the film projector bulb so low at the #21 theatre you can’t see the picture in a dark part. No showmanship anymore, Don’t bother to close the drapes. They are trying to save money on new bulbs, that’s why they don’t have 3-D or digital in the #21 Dome Theatre or #22 next door. The Syufy Century brothers still run this place in 2011 and didn’t sell to CineMark. I think they have a long lease on the land under the Domes. Come on guys how about turning up the projection light and bring back the large curved screen. Put in one of the new Imax curved screens or give it a new name like Syufy EX. The larger the better but you need to light It up. Id hate to think what a West Wind Drive In that the Syufys run under this new name. Has anyone gone, is the light good on a outdoor screen. They still run many Drive Inn’s on the West Coast thank god.
Sorry I ment to say Paul of Cinelux Theatres the new owner. Gary was with the Scotts Valley when I first started going. I miss the Burl Theatre in Boulder Creek CA and the Drive In they had also in Boulder Creek. Now Santa Cruz has no more outdoor movie theatres.
Yes the theatre has been up graded at least 7theatres. The last two for a total of 9 will be remodled this Fall. Paul at CineLux did a great job and put in the first curved screens in Santa Cruz county and D Box in a few cinemas plus 7.1 surround at the Scotts Valley Cinemas. With all new seats, slanted rows, rugs ect It’s a very nice place to see a movie. This is the first theatre I have ever visited that has different lights on the side walls in each auditorium. Now if Gary will only put in blue lights in some of the cinemas or orange, red or green this will make my day. The theatres 5/6 and 7 are the largest. Check them out If you are visiting the Santa Cruz mountains. They are waiting for there 3-D Dolby wash glass system.
To bad they didn’t keep it one large theatre. Please, two 99 seat theatres are way to small. I’ll try the larger cinema space, do they even have curtains that open? Good luck to the new owners.
Hope the new owners can keep the Big Chinese for both film and live events. Enlarge the curved screen and move it up a few feet to the ceiling plus put a circle stage into the first five rows of seats in front of the huge screen for live entertainment. Add a seperate reverse curve curtain track to cover the new stage area. Bring back all the nice color lights.
I think the screen will not have to made smaller if the new owners put in a new stage. The stage needs to be built out into the theatre. Most times I have been to Grauman’s and when it’s got a big crowd to see a first run film if a tall person sits in front of me the large screen is blocked by a head. The best thing is to keep the THS sound wall but enlarge the curve screen and move the whole thing up 5 feet. Put in a large half curve thrust stage going into the first 5 rows of seats. Most people don’t sit in the first five rows for a film so this space can be used for limited live events when films or sneak previews are not run. Even a separate curtain can come out of the sides to cover the new stage floor. Does anyone know if the Chinese still has any dressing rooms in the basement or off stage?
Simon***The new owners of the Chinese want to get some money out of this ex movie palace that the public does not want to see movies in anymore. Times change it’s time for the Chinese to be turned into a live event theatre. Many former luxury movie theatres have been turned into other uses and the buildings has not been destroyed, like the Pantages Theatre down the street in Hollywood. Put the disco clubs in the back and bring in some entertainment on a new stage at Grauman’s. Most people like the multiplex they don’t care about showmanship these days and just go to the Arclight Cinemas to see a first run film or just wait for it’s DVD time. The days of the old Fox West Coast Grauman’s Chinese Theatre Hollywood are almost over for film and digital video. A combo of film and live events will save this Hollywood dragon house. Do you think the new owners will like it when only 10 people show up for a matinee movie or 25 for a night show during the week. Most people will not come into Hollywoood and pay to park ect when they can see the same movie close to home in the LA area. They don’t care about the Chinese unfortunately. The tourists only want to see the for court for free and take photos. Wait till the new management starts charging to enter the famous autograph area outside. Watch for new plans coming soon for the former Grauman’s Chinese. Maybe Simon you can get a good judge who likes old theatres and films and lives in the past to hear the case when they submit the new layout to keep the place open.
We hope the new owners will bring back the color lights in the ceiling and enlarge the curved CinemaScope screen that the Mann gang never opened the masking to the full height and width. Please use the giant curtains and bring in some showmanship and live stage shows like across the street does at the Disney El Capitain Theatre. Also bring back at least one of the neon dragons that is still working in storage the Mann people removed to make the front look dull and with no color or life. Time to turn on all the color lights outside and spotlights at night to make the Chinese Theatre a star again in Hollywood. Will the new owners run the back little shoe box cinemas as movie cinemas and turn the huge Grauman’s Chinese Theatre into a plush Hollywood nightclub? I must tell you if movies fail to bring a crowd the nightclub thing may save the place for locals and tourists. Turn up the disco surround sound and laser lights and make Grauman’s come to life for a new generation to enjoy. Movies or a nightclub format we are so glad the Chinese will still stay open.
Hollywood 90038 I tried to e mail you about the Times Sq Theatres. The one that starts with unisphere? Do you have a new e mail thanks Terry San Franciso CA
Most movie studios are just filming in 2-D to save money and doing a bad convergance to 3-D. The theatre owners love to charge the extra $ for the 3-D hype when It is not true 3-D. When word gets out on these films the public will just go see the movie in 2-D and save the money. 3-D will be dead in a year. The movie companies never learn their lesson from 1953. To film a good movie with two cameras in 3-D done correct can look great but this phony digital 2-D to 3-D one projector 3-D system that is now out is bad news! Goodbye 3-D let’s bring 70mm back on large screens on select fims.
Most movie studios are just filming in 2-D to save money and doing a bad convergance to 3-D. The theatre owners love to charge the extra $ for the 3-D hype when It is not true 3-D. When word gets out on these films the public will just go see the movie in 2-D and save the money. 3-D will be dead in a year. The movie companies never learn their lesson from 1953. To film a good movie with two cameras in 3-D done correct can look great but this phony digital 2-D to 3-D one projector 3-D system that is now out is bad news! Goodbye 3-D let’s bring 70mm back on large screens on select fims.
The people that lease the Fox Oakland are missing out entertainment and movies for the older adult crowd. As they just book rock mainly. To bad, write to them and lets see If we can get them to book some acts that the seniors will enjoy. So easy to just take the BART train almost to the front door. Book in some family shows also.
At the Bell Lightbox is the 70mm screen curved? Any curtains? Let us know please. When 2001 is finised they need to book the new 70mm print of Sound Of Music!!!!! Then ‘My Fair Lady’ all in 70mm with full 6 track stereo.
John needs to buy the Roxie Theatre in SF and turn It back into a GRINDHOUSE!!!Re open the Strand Theatre on Market St. Show the young people of SF what a ‘Grindhouse Cinema’ was like. They will line up for the trasy experience. Show old horror trailers and book B films. Run them 24/7.
Has anyone been. I hear they put in new stage drapes but do they open and close. A friend told me they just stay open. Now I hope the Landmark gang can do the same thing at the Albany Theatre in Albany CA near Berkeley CA. This palce is very run down. I will not go see a film at the Albany. The place needs new seats a better sound system new rugs ect. Same with the Fox California in downtown Berkeley CA. When Landmark did the small remodel job for earthquake work only many years ago they put in a tiny screen downstairs and moved It forward. The curtains have been broken for many years both at the Albany and California. Landmark leases these two cinemas and maybe they can bring the remodel people over that just finished the Oakland Piedmont and start the badly needed work at the Albany & Fox California. Wow two bring back the large curved CinemaScope screen the Fox California once had!
Before they chopped up the place did the Cedar Lee have a large curved screen? I think they had roadshow in the 50’s & 60’s for a time with 70mm.
Thanks John for the tech info. I’ll try to get Jim at the Del Mar Theatre in Santa Cruz to get in touch with you or Dave about booking of Windjammer in the Smile Box format in Santa Cruz CA. I wrote Ted Gooding about this so he can help.
The Seattle Cinerama with a new remodel opened this past weekend with ‘Harry’ What happens when a curved screen type Cinerama theatre shows the new SmileBox version of ‘Windjammer’ on a curved screen that is set up already? Do they just play a flat version if available and let the curve they have play out? I told my friend ‘Jim’ at the art deco large Del Mar Theatre in downtown Santa Cruz CA to try to play the SmileBox version of ‘Windjammer’ for a one week exclusive in Northern California on the Del Mar’s large wide flat CinemaScope screen with SmileBox, they have new digital projectors. Santa Cruz is a sea type town with many surf ocean type people and students that have never seen the curved Windjammer print.
What about the people in wheel chairs. Do they sit down front for the big view. I like a theatre with a small slant floor and a large curved screen with curtains that work. Bring back the charm.
I have a question to ask. Many of these gimmick films played at the RKO Golden Gate and the Paramount Theatres in San Francisco CA. Who did all the installation work to put in ‘Emergo’ in ‘House’ and wire the seats for these other films as they even played in many of the neighborhood houses also with the same gimmick the large downtown theatres had. Did the studio provide a full ‘Gimmick Kit’ and did the local theatre owner do the work or the studios come in and set up the things for the run of the picture at each cinema and then take It down or move to another theatre? Does anyone still have the set up for ‘House On Haunted Hill’ with the overhead wire ect? And in the ‘Tingler’ was there a cue track on the print to turn on the seat shock buzz motors or did the projection people just pull a switch to turn on the effect at the correct time? To bad I was way to young to see these in person in a large downtown theatre with thousands of people screaming.
The new multiplex owners just care about candy money. They have no showmanship. You won’t find AMC or the others having ‘Emergo’ put in for a 35mm showing of ‘House On Haunted Hill’ on Oct 31. Lets bring back ‘The Tingler’ in 35mm with the color section and have Regal & Cinemark Theatres wire up the seats to shock the new people that have no idea what will hit them and turn up the power on the seats. Bring in fake nurses to help the yelling kids and probably some shocked adults. It’s time for a new ‘William Castle’ type person to work with the studios and theatre owners. Bring in something that can’t be done in their home theatres. This new video live showing looks like fun but not like the true original theatre experience.
Wow a Imax Theatre with curtains. This was a first. Does anyone know If this was just a large format 70mm type of theatre not true Imax? Not to many seats for a Imax screen. Was the screen a wrap around curved or just a big Imax square type screen. A great deal if you own a cinema and this will fit in one of your auditoriums.
Mike I hope when you do this doc you don’t just do the potrn theatres but many of the grindhouse theatres that played B movies and 3 features. Do you have a contact e mail. Terry
Sounds like a great project. You need to call Jack Tillmany who lives in the East Bay. He has plenty of photos and stories to tell but may be camera shy. Also my friend ‘Ed Jacklich’ who managed and worked at some area movie theatres like the Oakland’s T&D. I’ll try to e mail you. I also have some stories to tell. Market St in SF had so many little theatres in the 50’s & 60’s like the Hub, Pix, Regal,Strand,Embassy,Paris,Centre,Esquire Telenews,plus the large theatres like the Fox,Paramount,State,UA and many more in the neigborhoods like the Fox Parkside, Mission, El Rey, Granada ect. Oakland had many also like the Rex, Broadway, Lux, Moulin Rouge, Peerlex, Central, Globe in the Broadway area in downtown Oakland. As a kid in High School I collected movie posters from many of these theatres and managers in the Oakland area. Like I said you need to interview my friend ‘Ed Jacklich’ who managed the Fairfax Theatre in Oakland when the Hells Angels rented the theatre for a American International preview of a new biker movie called ‘Hells Angels On Wheels’ hundreds of bikers came and parked their bikes outside the theatre on Foothill Blvd in Oakland and the business peoople in the area got upset. Many stories you need to get on video. Also the time at the Fruitvale Theatre in Oakland he also managed booked the movie ‘The Tami Show’ and he was beat up in the lobby! Good luck on your project. PS*** You got to get the story from Jack Tillmany on your new doc about a theatre in Oakland he managed when a projectionist who went out to the roof to sun bathe between reels and the wind closed the projection room door. It locked and he had 15 minutes to climb down the fire exit in the nude to go thru the lobby to get back into the booth! We will talk soon and I will e mail you. Terry