I’m wondering if Hunt’s Cinestage is the theater that was running “The Sound of Music” at some point in the 1968-1969 time frame — and if not, which downtown Columbus theater might have been the one.
It’s scary how inaccurate our memories can be on things like this. I found some of mine confirmed on your list, but could have sworn I saw “Carrie” and “Silent Movie” in the main auditorium there. Oh well, this is endlessly fascinating.
I practically lived at the Nuart in the 1970s and 1980s, and I gather the curved screen was installed sometime later. Would love to see some current photos of the place.
I haven’t been in the Los Feliz since 1984 when I savored the experience of sitting through two showings of “Vertigo” in a lovely vintage, comfortable neighborhood theater perfectly befitting the film.
Saw a number of films here during my college years in University Circle. A couple I’ve always remembered are “Bonnie and Clyde” and “The French Connection”. I think the latter played here during its first run.
There was an Int'l House of Pancakes (early IHOP) across the street, and somewhere in the area, a Royal Castle (White Castle style joint popular in the 1960s). I mention these because they’re inseparable from my movie-going memories here.
Just uploaded an old aerial shot of the mall. I saw “Funny Girl” but don’t recall if it was a roadshow presentation. Other films I think I saw here: “Alice’s Restaurant”, “The Priest’s Wife”, “Little Murders”, “The Touch”.
Severance was the first mall I knew. Some nice memories of those movie-going surroundings include:
The record store I remember as “Disc Records” (or “Discount Records” or “Disc Shop”). Their main store was downtown. If anyone can help with the name or anything else about the store, please speak up.
Eating before or after a movie at Diamond’s Deli in the lower section of the mall accessed from outside. My first deli food, and I loved it. To this day, you can set a plate of blueberry cheese blintzes in front of me and I’ll think of Diamond’s.
Eating inside the mall at Hot Shoppes Cafeteria, probably one of the nicest cafeteria style places ever, and a bit of luxury eating for a poor college student.
I saw “Beverly Hills Cop” here, not sure about anything else, but the mall itself was unique (as you all know) and I wish I’d discovered it earlier, but in the early 1980s, my interest in decent stereo equipment led me to a wonderful high end shop there (which I believe was called Dimensions in Stereo), and I owe them much for introducing me to what I now know were some great components. Also recall the Federated Group store there, where coincidentally I was also pointed in the right direction — toward the new Toshiba BETA Hi-Fi — when I went shopping for my first VCR.
Remembering the Laemmle Westland Twins, I was just there a handful of times: “Cousin cousine”, “La cage aux folles”, and Universal’s 1984 re-releases of the Paramount Hitchcock films.
All of this about Westwood is shocking to hear. Okay, so I haven’t been there in two decades — but it still makes no sense. I’m grateful that I knew it in its prime, in the glory years of the ‘70s and early '80s.
I’ve just uploaded a picture of the entrance taken in June 2006. Drove back into the lot and there’s nothing to see. It looked like the image linked to by rivest266 above.
Thanks. I was remembering “Avco Embassy Pictures”, the film company. No relation, then?
Also, the more I look at it, the more I think it’s a word (Avco) as opposed to an abbreviation or initials (AVCO). I know the marquee and ad logo were all in uppercase, but so was the word CINEMA, etc.
Under previous names, “Centre” should be “Center”. Can someone correct that?
Variations found in the attached movie ads: For ANNIE, it’s “General Cinema’s Avco Center Theatres”.
At some point early on, wasn’t it “AVCO Embassy”?
Last, how about “AVCO” vs “Avco”? What was the name derived from? In the FAME ad it’s clearly typeset as “Avco”, but that could just be a newspaper thing.
Funny how I clearly remembered seeing “E.T.” at the Picwood but had forgotten the Dome. I’ve always been pretty good at remembering where I saw certain films, especially in a unique place like the Dome, so the impact of this one must have been pretty significant to have wiped that part out.
Oh man.
Thank you, DEFG.
I’m wondering if Hunt’s Cinestage is the theater that was running “The Sound of Music” at some point in the 1968-1969 time frame — and if not, which downtown Columbus theater might have been the one.
Did the theater have a balcony?
I remember it as the UA, and I loved the Bratskeller, the restaurant at the corner of the block in the 1970s.
It’s scary how inaccurate our memories can be on things like this. I found some of mine confirmed on your list, but could have sworn I saw “Carrie” and “Silent Movie” in the main auditorium there. Oh well, this is endlessly fascinating.
Thanks for that pointer. It’s a great listing. If only there were many more like it.
“forward direction”
I think we can all agree the AVCO needs a generous, detailed description. How do we go about getting that done?
I practically lived at the Nuart in the 1970s and 1980s, and I gather the curved screen was installed sometime later. Would love to see some current photos of the place.
I’m trying to recall this one. I think I went to it a few times in the early/mid-1980s. Was it showing second runs around that time?
When did this theater close? I don’t remember knowing it from when I moved to L.A. in 1972, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t still going for a while.
What a great picture!
A big thanks to markinthedark for the latest batch of photos taken on the National’s last night.
Heartbreaking.
I haven’t been in the Los Feliz since 1984 when I savored the experience of sitting through two showings of “Vertigo” in a lovely vintage, comfortable neighborhood theater perfectly befitting the film.
Saw a number of films here during my college years in University Circle. A couple I’ve always remembered are “Bonnie and Clyde” and “The French Connection”. I think the latter played here during its first run.
There was an Int'l House of Pancakes (early IHOP) across the street, and somewhere in the area, a Royal Castle (White Castle style joint popular in the 1960s). I mention these because they’re inseparable from my movie-going memories here.
Just uploaded an old aerial shot of the mall. I saw “Funny Girl” but don’t recall if it was a roadshow presentation. Other films I think I saw here: “Alice’s Restaurant”, “The Priest’s Wife”, “Little Murders”, “The Touch”.
Severance was the first mall I knew. Some nice memories of those movie-going surroundings include:
The record store I remember as “Disc Records” (or “Discount Records” or “Disc Shop”). Their main store was downtown. If anyone can help with the name or anything else about the store, please speak up.
Eating before or after a movie at Diamond’s Deli in the lower section of the mall accessed from outside. My first deli food, and I loved it. To this day, you can set a plate of blueberry cheese blintzes in front of me and I’ll think of Diamond’s.
Eating inside the mall at Hot Shoppes Cafeteria, probably one of the nicest cafeteria style places ever, and a bit of luxury eating for a poor college student.
Signed the petition and passed it on to a few people. Hope others are doing the same. They need to hear our voices.
I saw “Beverly Hills Cop” here, not sure about anything else, but the mall itself was unique (as you all know) and I wish I’d discovered it earlier, but in the early 1980s, my interest in decent stereo equipment led me to a wonderful high end shop there (which I believe was called Dimensions in Stereo), and I owe them much for introducing me to what I now know were some great components. Also recall the Federated Group store there, where coincidentally I was also pointed in the right direction — toward the new Toshiba BETA Hi-Fi — when I went shopping for my first VCR.
Remembering the Laemmle Westland Twins, I was just there a handful of times: “Cousin cousine”, “La cage aux folles”, and Universal’s 1984 re-releases of the Paramount Hitchcock films.
All of this about Westwood is shocking to hear. Okay, so I haven’t been there in two decades — but it still makes no sense. I’m grateful that I knew it in its prime, in the glory years of the ‘70s and early '80s.
I’m trying to recall the configuration of the auditoriums. Which direction did the seating face for the original big screen?
I’ve just uploaded a picture of the entrance taken in June 2006. Drove back into the lot and there’s nothing to see. It looked like the image linked to by rivest266 above.
Thanks. I was remembering “Avco Embassy Pictures”, the film company. No relation, then?
Also, the more I look at it, the more I think it’s a word (Avco) as opposed to an abbreviation or initials (AVCO). I know the marquee and ad logo were all in uppercase, but so was the word CINEMA, etc.
Under previous names, “Centre” should be “Center”. Can someone correct that?
Variations found in the attached movie ads: For ANNIE, it’s “General Cinema’s Avco Center Theatres”.
At some point early on, wasn’t it “AVCO Embassy”?
Last, how about “AVCO” vs “Avco”? What was the name derived from? In the FAME ad it’s clearly typeset as “Avco”, but that could just be a newspaper thing.
Funny how I clearly remembered seeing “E.T.” at the Picwood but had forgotten the Dome. I’ve always been pretty good at remembering where I saw certain films, especially in a unique place like the Dome, so the impact of this one must have been pretty significant to have wiped that part out.
Boy, do I miss the long runs of great films.
Yes, it would have been within the first 2-3 weeks. That’s great to hear, and it was a VERY good one!