Comments from Al Alvarez

Showing 1,276 - 1,300 of 3,447 comments

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Gold Coast Drive-In on Dec 11, 2010 at 4:48 pm

The two little screens opened in December 1969 and the theatre advertised as “Florida’s only triple theatre”

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on Dec 11, 2010 at 4:41 pm

Mike, this theatre was/is in Deerfield Beach and is already listed.

/theaters/15990/

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Ave Atque Vale: Let's hear it for skilled projectionists as they pass into history on Dec 10, 2010 at 12:03 pm

I wonder if Mr. Rivierzo was around when Local 306 was a closed shop and that seriously outdated “test” was designed to keep women, hispanics and African-Americans out of their union. The test had been written by the union and administered by the union who then gave “friendly” applicants and relatives the answers. Wasn’t it in the eighties, when Mr. Rivierzo was running porn, that Local 306 agreed to run VHS tapes at union rates in competition with 35mm theatres? Was Mr. Rivierzo around when Local 306 choked 70mm projection by demanding two and sometimes three projectionists on duty any time a 70MM film was being run?

We can all wax melancholy about an era when white men could keep their well paid union jobs even if they failed to show up for work or ran a cassette player for their pay. As long as they could collect union dues, the industry’s survival was never their concern. Now it is surviving just fine without them.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's New York Theatre and Roof on Dec 9, 2010 at 5:43 am

This photo used to be available to see here.

View link

New York Theatre & Annex should be an aka.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Liberty Theatre on Dec 7, 2010 at 10:05 am

There is already a Tim Horton’s directly across the street.

??

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Paradigm Cinemas-Gateway Fort Lauderdale on Dec 6, 2010 at 5:25 pm

Ads for the roadshow of “Hello, Dolly!” only offer orchestra and “loge” seats, loge being the smoking section back then.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Teatro Trail Theatre on Dec 3, 2010 at 6:09 pm

Break a leg, Jorge. The Trail deserves another chance.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Gables Theatre on Dec 2, 2010 at 8:05 am

The long run of “WOODSTOCK” opened at the smaller Coral which was used for exclusive runs. The Gables ran the film later when it went wide.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Greenwich Theatre on Dec 2, 2010 at 7:50 am

The Art Greenwich was totally demolished for the glass tower Equinox Gym.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Popcorn Extortion in UK on Nov 27, 2010 at 8:53 am

Production costs and star salaries have increased more dramatically at the movies. Distributors and theatre owners have simply managed their business better in an effort to appeal to the masses without resorting to government subsidies, private donations and added ‘theatre remodeling’ taxes.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Popcorn Extortion in UK on Nov 26, 2010 at 11:39 am

Thanksgiving 1960
Top price New York Philharmonic $4.00
Thanksgiving 2010
Top price New York Philharmonic $128.00

Thanksgiving 1960
Top price New York City Ballet $3.95
Thanksgiving 2010
Top price New York City Ballet $175.00

Thanksgiving 1960
Top price for “MY FAIR LADY” live on Broadway $8.75
Thanksgiving 2010
Top Price for “MARY POPPINS” live on Broadway $157.00

Thanksgiving 1960
Top price for “SPARTACUS” $3.50
Thanksgiving 2010
Top price for IMAX “HARRY POTTER” $19.00

…and you all think movie prices are too high?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Regent Theatre on Nov 15, 2010 at 11:31 am

Hmmm.

It also appears to have managed to open the 1929 film “Pandora’s Box” in 1913.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about David Marcus Theatre on Nov 15, 2010 at 8:47 am

The Davis Marcus name change came from a 1950 Skouras fund raising effort to benefit the United Jewish Appeal in aiding Israel’s development.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Le Jeune Drive-In on Nov 11, 2010 at 11:49 am

A night time view of the Le Jeune Auto Theatre can be seen in the opening sequence of the first segment of TCM’s new series “MOGULS AND MOVIE STARS: A HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD”

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Radio City Music Hall on Nov 10, 2010 at 7:14 am

HDTV267, he most probably subscribed to the Variety archives.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Jewel Theater on Nov 7, 2010 at 6:03 am

There was a theatre next to the Odeon sometimes called the Avenue, Odeon Annex, and possibly Franklin. That could have also been the Grant once.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's Canal Theatre on Nov 6, 2010 at 10:31 pm

What a great recap of the Canal history and the movie industry in NYC.

Thanks, John!

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rialto Theatre on Oct 19, 2010 at 5:33 am

Woody, I think that photo may have been just after the opening as the Warner. By the time it closed the 42nd Street marquee was long gone.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Warner Bros. cancels 3D release of "Harry Potter" film on Oct 16, 2010 at 5:05 pm

This from Boxoffice Mojo:

“Jackass 3-D had 2,452 locations presenting the picture in the 3D illusion, and the 3D showings accounted for close to 90 percent of business. That means the initial attendance gains over the previous Jackass movies were not commensurate with the gross gains, and that Jackass 3D did not break the Fall single-day attendance record.”

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Happy 55th, Todd-AO & "Oklahoma!" on Oct 16, 2010 at 4:52 pm

There is an awful movie based on her/his life, “The Christine Jorgensen Story”.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Victoria Theatre on Oct 15, 2010 at 5:27 pm

A September 7, 1943 article in the New York Times explains how this location became an outlet for Russian films in 1943-1944.

Maurice Maurer, owner of the lease for several Times Square theatres including the Victoria, sold his lease to the Stanley, which had been an established outlet for Russian films since 1941. He then competed with the sucessful Stanley by programming first-run films from Russia (or about Russia) at the Victoria for almost a year.

Just prior to this it had been the Laffmovie and the often raided Gaiety Burlesque.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Happy 50th, "Spartacus" on Oct 13, 2010 at 8:48 pm

The original Miami run was such a disappointment for Wometco that they refused to show Road Show films for many year at any of their theatres.

“SPARTACUS” was eventually moved to touristy South Beach for a few weeks, but the film was badly handled in that market.

The 163rd Street theatre was a ‘neighborhood run’ mall location that should never have been expected to succeed with a long run Road Show release.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Happy 55th, Todd-AO & "Oklahoma!" on Oct 13, 2010 at 8:40 pm

1956 Miami Beach was the best place to catch the wealthy elite New Yorkers on summer vacation. It was not about Florida, it was about Miami tourism.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Greenwich Theatre on Oct 11, 2010 at 7:02 pm

That’s the Art Greenwich in DAISY KENYON.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about New Delancey Theatre on Oct 2, 2010 at 12:13 pm

It sure was. Maybe they were aiming at the movie crowd.