I just visited the Palace yesterday to see Carnage". I was disappointed to see they just had eight patrons in the audience. I enjoyed my visit. I noticed they still have two projectors and make changeovers. Projection was very good, except there was no side masking to close in for a flat picture. Even the scope picture has a lot of screen left over on both sides. Movable masking legs would make a big difference. I like the fact that they still have a curtain, and they use it.
I just wonder how a drive-in could operate in Alaska. In winter, it is too cold to go to a drive-in, and in summer, with so many hours of daylight, I imagine they had to start very late. I worked at drive-ins in Richmond, Virginia, and in the summer it was nine o'clock or later before we could start. And most of our drive-ins closed up in the winter.
I love this theatre. It has a huge curved screen and perfect projection. Many independent films are shown here. I make it a point to eat and see a movie here every time I get to Anchorage.
I worked there occasionally as a projectionist when it was a single-screener. The Simplex X-Ls and Peerless Hi-Candescent carbon arc lamps put out a beautiful picture, both flat and scope. I still drive by it occasionally, and it is sad to see it with the screens missing.
I’ve only been there three times, and each time I was in Cinema 4 upstairs. Do the other auditoriums look the same? Cinema 4 is pretty big for a multiplex auditorium.
Thanks for the information, William. Cineplex Odeon bought most of our union theatres in Richmond, Virginia, and we had a great contract with them. They even gave us a nice bonus when they sold the theatres. When Regal took over, we got a two-year contract, then they refused to negotiate another contract. We took them to court and won a big settlement, but we didn’t return to work. That was the end of Local 370. I’m sorry to hear that the Westwood theatres no longer have projectionists, as I always enjoyed going to them because of their high-quality presentations. The Regent is the only Westwood theatre where the presentation was below par on my visits.
I hope it is only a temporary closing. I make an effort see a movie at the Crest or other single-screen houses whenever I visit Los Angeles. When I was there in August, it looked perfect in every way. I don’t see where it needs any renovations, unless it is for something that isn’t visible, such as the roof, or the plumbing.
I am a retired union projectionist, and on my travels around the country I seek out single-screen theaters. I visited the Gardena a few years ago and liked it very much, except for the fact that they didn’t have a CinemaScope screen. Everything was shown in 1.85:1, which resulted in the edges being cut off on a scope picture.
In the 1958 movie “The Colossus of New York”, there is a street view and the Crotona Theatre can clearly be seen. It is near the beginning of the movie. It was still operating as a theater at the time.
I saw “One Day” at the Regent at the 4:35 matinee, and it drew a pretty good crowd. I noticed that the past two times I have been to the Regent, the picture was a little out of focus? Don’t they have a projectionist, or do they share him with the Village and Bruin? I was a union projectionist in Virginia for 30 years, and I checked my focus constantly and fine-tuned it when necessary. Apparently, they just turn it on and walk away from it. If I report it, the employee looks in at the picture and says it looks okay to them.
I was there on Sunday for the 1:30 showing of “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”, which drew a very big crowd for a matinee. The theater is beautiful and the projection was perfect. I like the fact that they have screen curtains. Last time I went there, about ten years ago, they didn’t. The only minus is that the curtains look too modern for that theatre. A shiny gold curtain flooded with red lights would look better with the classic decor. By the way, I live in Virginia, and whenever I travel I make it a point to visit single screen theaters. On this trip west, I visited the Vista, the Crest, and the Regent.
I was there last week, and it is still a beautiful theater. The red screen curtains still say Majestic Crest, and they still use a Carmike policy trailer. I saw “Fright Night” on its opening day, and there were only 5 patrons at the 1:00 show. Sad.
I just visited this theater last week, and I was really impressed. The auditorium I was in had a curtain flooded in green and red light. Finding a multiplex with screen curtains is very rare these days.
I saw my first scary movies at the Regent when I was 8. They were a double feature of “Creature with the Atom Brain” and “It Came from Beneath the Sea” on November 12, 1955. I dreamed about the creature for a long time afterward.
The Regent was a beautiful theater where I developed the movie-going habit and my love for theaters. I started going during the 1955 Summer Vacation Movies when I was 8. This was a series of 12 movies and the season ticket was $1.00. There was one movie per week, except for the first two weeks when there were two. Up through 1958, this series played at the Century, Regent, and Beacon. After the Regent closed in 1959, the series was moved to the original Bluebird, which closed in September 1959. Then they played at the Century in 1960 and the New Bluebird in 1961.
Here is the list of Summer Vacation Movies for 1955 at the Regent:
6/28 Shane
6/30 Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd
7/5 Last of the Mohicans
7/7 Big Leaguer
7/14 I Love Melvin
7/21 Plymouth Adverture
7/28 Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
8/4 Son of Paleface
8/11 Jack and the Beanstalk (Abbott and Costello)
8/18 Poor Little Rich Girl
8/25 Here Come the Nelsons
9/1 Seminole
The Beacon closed for the first time on June 30, 1962. It reopened under new ownership several months later. Hopewell didn’t support it, however, and it closed and reopened several times until it closed permanently. Before it closed for the last time, its name had been changed to the Town.
The Rex Theatre opened in 1938. It closed for the first time on June 8, 1958. It’s last show was “Slaughter On 10th Avenue”. It reopened the day after the Palace closed, as a replacement for the Palace, on Sept. 24, 1959, with a double feature of “Thunder Road” and “God’s Little Acre”. It closed permanently a year later, on Oct. 30, 1960, with a double feature of “The Last Blitzkrieg” and “Gunman from Laredo”.
I just visited the Palace yesterday to see Carnage". I was disappointed to see they just had eight patrons in the audience. I enjoyed my visit. I noticed they still have two projectors and make changeovers. Projection was very good, except there was no side masking to close in for a flat picture. Even the scope picture has a lot of screen left over on both sides. Movable masking legs would make a big difference. I like the fact that they still have a curtain, and they use it.
I just wonder how a drive-in could operate in Alaska. In winter, it is too cold to go to a drive-in, and in summer, with so many hours of daylight, I imagine they had to start very late. I worked at drive-ins in Richmond, Virginia, and in the summer it was nine o'clock or later before we could start. And most of our drive-ins closed up in the winter.
I love this theatre. It has a huge curved screen and perfect projection. Many independent films are shown here. I make it a point to eat and see a movie here every time I get to Anchorage.
I worked there occasionally as a projectionist when it was a single-screener. The Simplex X-Ls and Peerless Hi-Candescent carbon arc lamps put out a beautiful picture, both flat and scope. I still drive by it occasionally, and it is sad to see it with the screens missing.
Does that mean it’s reopened?
I’ve only been there three times, and each time I was in Cinema 4 upstairs. Do the other auditoriums look the same? Cinema 4 is pretty big for a multiplex auditorium.
I was there today to see “Hugo”. Although I prefer the single screen theatres in Westwood, it is still sad to see this place close.
Thanks for the information, William. Cineplex Odeon bought most of our union theatres in Richmond, Virginia, and we had a great contract with them. They even gave us a nice bonus when they sold the theatres. When Regal took over, we got a two-year contract, then they refused to negotiate another contract. We took them to court and won a big settlement, but we didn’t return to work. That was the end of Local 370. I’m sorry to hear that the Westwood theatres no longer have projectionists, as I always enjoyed going to them because of their high-quality presentations. The Regent is the only Westwood theatre where the presentation was below par on my visits.
I hope it is only a temporary closing. I make an effort see a movie at the Crest or other single-screen houses whenever I visit Los Angeles. When I was there in August, it looked perfect in every way. I don’t see where it needs any renovations, unless it is for something that isn’t visible, such as the roof, or the plumbing.
I am a retired union projectionist, and on my travels around the country I seek out single-screen theaters. I visited the Gardena a few years ago and liked it very much, except for the fact that they didn’t have a CinemaScope screen. Everything was shown in 1.85:1, which resulted in the edges being cut off on a scope picture.
In the 1958 movie “The Colossus of New York”, there is a street view and the Crotona Theatre can clearly be seen. It is near the beginning of the movie. It was still operating as a theater at the time.
I saw “One Day” at the Regent at the 4:35 matinee, and it drew a pretty good crowd. I noticed that the past two times I have been to the Regent, the picture was a little out of focus? Don’t they have a projectionist, or do they share him with the Village and Bruin? I was a union projectionist in Virginia for 30 years, and I checked my focus constantly and fine-tuned it when necessary. Apparently, they just turn it on and walk away from it. If I report it, the employee looks in at the picture and says it looks okay to them.
I was there on Sunday for the 1:30 showing of “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”, which drew a very big crowd for a matinee. The theater is beautiful and the projection was perfect. I like the fact that they have screen curtains. Last time I went there, about ten years ago, they didn’t. The only minus is that the curtains look too modern for that theatre. A shiny gold curtain flooded with red lights would look better with the classic decor. By the way, I live in Virginia, and whenever I travel I make it a point to visit single screen theaters. On this trip west, I visited the Vista, the Crest, and the Regent.
I was there last week, and it is still a beautiful theater. The red screen curtains still say Majestic Crest, and they still use a Carmike policy trailer. I saw “Fright Night” on its opening day, and there were only 5 patrons at the 1:00 show. Sad.
I just visited this theater last week, and I was really impressed. The auditorium I was in had a curtain flooded in green and red light. Finding a multiplex with screen curtains is very rare these days.
I saw my first scary movies at the Regent when I was 8. They were a double feature of “Creature with the Atom Brain” and “It Came from Beneath the Sea” on November 12, 1955. I dreamed about the creature for a long time afterward.
The Regent was a beautiful theater where I developed the movie-going habit and my love for theaters. I started going during the 1955 Summer Vacation Movies when I was 8. This was a series of 12 movies and the season ticket was $1.00. There was one movie per week, except for the first two weeks when there were two. Up through 1958, this series played at the Century, Regent, and Beacon. After the Regent closed in 1959, the series was moved to the original Bluebird, which closed in September 1959. Then they played at the Century in 1960 and the New Bluebird in 1961. Here is the list of Summer Vacation Movies for 1955 at the Regent: 6/28 Shane 6/30 Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd 7/5 Last of the Mohicans 7/7 Big Leaguer 7/14 I Love Melvin 7/21 Plymouth Adverture 7/28 Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm 8/4 Son of Paleface 8/11 Jack and the Beanstalk (Abbott and Costello) 8/18 Poor Little Rich Girl 8/25 Here Come the Nelsons 9/1 Seminole
The Beacon closed for the first time on June 30, 1962. It reopened under new ownership several months later. Hopewell didn’t support it, however, and it closed and reopened several times until it closed permanently. Before it closed for the last time, its name had been changed to the Town.
The Century closed in the fall of 1970. Its last picture was “Good Morning and Goodbye”.
The Rex Theatre opened in 1938. It closed for the first time on June 8, 1958. It’s last show was “Slaughter On 10th Avenue”. It reopened the day after the Palace closed, as a replacement for the Palace, on Sept. 24, 1959, with a double feature of “Thunder Road” and “God’s Little Acre”. It closed permanently a year later, on Oct. 30, 1960, with a double feature of “The Last Blitzkrieg” and “Gunman from Laredo”.
Instead of reopening as the Palace, it opened as the New Bluebird.
If you click on the photo link at the top, you’ll see opening and closing ads for the Regent.
I took this picture in 1966.
I took this picture in 1966.
I took this picture in 1966.