I went to a movie at the Festival. Curtains are used sometimes at the Ziegfeld, as you know, Mike, though not all the time. Both are wonderful theaters.
Yesterday, I was pleased to see that employees were not wearing City Cinema T shirts as I had seen months ago but were now once again elegantly attired. Usher who took ticket stubs wore white shirt, black vest, black pants.
I’m not happy with small popcorn now costing $6.50 and small soda now costing $4.50, skipping both. I enjoyed popcorn & sode before City Cinemas tookover, when it was more reasonably priced than many other places.
Projection, sound, use of curtains, enjoying movie from the balcony, wonderful graphics for the movie “Agora” on the marquee, all ensured that the Paris continues to be one of the nation’s flagship arthouses.
“Coco & Igor” starts Friday for almost a 2 month run, and will surely be a popular hit here.
I’m familiar enough with all these theaters, having written or rewritten their introductions on this website, and seeing movies each year in them. It IS unusual for the same movie to be at all of them. However, I doubt AMC is thinking one bit about the Avalon. I’m guessing AMC is only thinking of one thing: how much money the chain will make at the theaters it is placing this movie at.
Myself, I’m not going to see “Sex and the City 2” at all.
Comic book & movie characters seeking “donations”? Do you mean they are panhandlers seeking cash for themselves? that’s the property of the theater, right?
I agree with Brucec that the Loews Kings would be the most spectacular in NYC, in terms of former movie palaces. I haven’t been inside but have seen photos & reviewed Top 10 movie palaces in US lists made long ago by Theatre Historical Society of America founders.
New Amsterdam is an Art Nouveau masterpiece.
Radio City Music Hall is neat, and one of the world’s most famous movie palaces.
Loews 175th is very interesting.
The Hollywood (now a church) is equisite though not as huge as the Loews Kings.
That said, remembering that the style of Loews Kings is a far older style than Art Deco or exotic/atmospheric, the Loews Kings may be one the 2 best of its particular neo-classical styles among movie palaces in the US. (I’m using neoclassical in a broad way, more like ornate opera houses in Europe, with the gilt and marble). The other would be the Uptown in Chicago. Of course, there’s many other wonderful examples such as the Hollywood, and so forth, but in terms of grandeur, the Loews Kings is one of the nation’s greatest.
I’d love to junk the triplex name, but in reading most of the above posts, it seems evident that this theater had its most prestige as the Demille. Some 70mm world premieres are listed in the Intro. The world premiere of Pscyho was here? So, perhaps it should be listed as Demille.
I remember when this opened when I was in law school. Typical 1980s cubbyhole shoebox auditoriums without much rake, plain seats, small screens, and not impressive sound.
Chris, I sent in the name change and since Rave’s website has the new name, I disagree that the new name should be “rolled back” on this website. The small number of comments also implies it would not make a big difference if it was rolled back….until June.
Rave theaters aren’t in the Phila. newspapers anymore, but still in LA Times?
Say goodbye to The Bridge and to the Showcase at the Ritz Center. Rave Motion Pictures, the new operators, is rebranding both theaters.
On Friday, The Bridge Theater at 40th and Walnut will be rechristened. You may call it Rave Motion Pictures U Penn Theater. But I’ll probably just call it The Rave. (Imagine it as a Rave without a mosh pit but with a media room.)
The Showcase at the Ritz Center (formerly the Ritz 16/Voorhees) will be officially known as Rave Motion Pictures Ritz Center 16.
For the time being, ticket prices will remain the same. (The $12.50 weekend ticket at the U Penn theater is the most expensive ducat in the eight-county region, where the average price for a Saturday night admission is $10.) “The price structure is under review, as are many other price points,” says Jeremy Devine, corporate spokesman for Rave, the Dallas-based theater chain that acquired the six-screen Bridge and 16-screen Showcase from National Amusements last year.
“At the present time, [we are] planning to continue with mainstream product” at at Rave U Penn, says Devine.
Rave will continue programming arthouse fare on some of the screens at the Voorhees location. (Today five of the 16 screens have arthouse offerings: Chloe, The Ghost Writer, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Greenberg and When You’re Strange.)
Soda drinkers should know that both theaters will serve Coca-Cola products.
What are the thoughts of the moviegoers who attend these theaters? Any suggestions you’d like Rave to entertain?
Perhaps the site is cursed due to the decision to demolish the apparently wonderful and historic United Artists. /theaters/1015/
I saw the exterior in the 1980s but didn’t get inside.
GrauMann, how large were the screens? You are correct, in that it should be documented. Many of us post photos on flickr or other personal galleries. wwww.cinematour.com seems the best permanent way for people to see such photos. Please consider scanning & posting them. If you don’t have a photo scanner, you can probably find someone who does, or post here & somebody may volunteer.
I went to a movie at the Festival. Curtains are used sometimes at the Ziegfeld, as you know, Mike, though not all the time. Both are wonderful theaters.
That marquee looks nice! I hope they are succeeding with renting it out often.
Zink was the architect. There were competing plans to construct by different companies.
I’m sure the Paris is doing as well.
Yesterday, I was pleased to see that employees were not wearing City Cinema T shirts as I had seen months ago but were now once again elegantly attired. Usher who took ticket stubs wore white shirt, black vest, black pants.
I’m not happy with small popcorn now costing $6.50 and small soda now costing $4.50, skipping both. I enjoyed popcorn & sode before City Cinemas tookover, when it was more reasonably priced than many other places.
Projection, sound, use of curtains, enjoying movie from the balcony, wonderful graphics for the movie “Agora” on the marquee, all ensured that the Paris continues to be one of the nation’s flagship arthouses.
“Coco & Igor” starts Friday for almost a 2 month run, and will surely be a popular hit here.
We all want to see any picture of the panel so please post on a site like flickr and link here!
This May 22 article says vertical sign to be replicated:
View link
Interior & exterior photos, including historic ones:
http://www.ibdb.com/venueimages.php?id=1496
Having seen a movie in the very pretty auditorium (while visiting LA), I emailed my plea and hope everybody else does, too!
I’m familiar enough with all these theaters, having written or rewritten their introductions on this website, and seeing movies each year in them. It IS unusual for the same movie to be at all of them. However, I doubt AMC is thinking one bit about the Avalon. I’m guessing AMC is only thinking of one thing: how much money the chain will make at the theaters it is placing this movie at.
Myself, I’m not going to see “Sex and the City 2” at all.
Don’t be so harsh. Clearview booked “Sex and the City 2” at the Ziegfeld, so perhaps it is perceived as a mega hit.
Comic book & movie characters seeking “donations”? Do you mean they are panhandlers seeking cash for themselves? that’s the property of the theater, right?
I agree with Brucec that the Loews Kings would be the most spectacular in NYC, in terms of former movie palaces. I haven’t been inside but have seen photos & reviewed Top 10 movie palaces in US lists made long ago by Theatre Historical Society of America founders.
New Amsterdam is an Art Nouveau masterpiece.
Radio City Music Hall is neat, and one of the world’s most famous movie palaces.
Loews 175th is very interesting.
The Hollywood (now a church) is equisite though not as huge as the Loews Kings.
That said, remembering that the style of Loews Kings is a far older style than Art Deco or exotic/atmospheric, the Loews Kings may be one the 2 best of its particular neo-classical styles among movie palaces in the US. (I’m using neoclassical in a broad way, more like ornate opera houses in Europe, with the gilt and marble). The other would be the Uptown in Chicago. Of course, there’s many other wonderful examples such as the Hollywood, and so forth, but in terms of grandeur, the Loews Kings is one of the nation’s greatest.
Part of the roof collapsed today. Article here-
View link
I’d love to junk the triplex name, but in reading most of the above posts, it seems evident that this theater had its most prestige as the Demille. Some 70mm world premieres are listed in the Intro. The world premiere of Pscyho was here? So, perhaps it should be listed as Demille.
here’s link to TV news video on Fred Hermes basement theater & the theater’s Wurlitzer organ (per Comments above)
View link
You keep saying that, but just like the Loew’s Jersey in person, they are such beautiful photos! I’m certainly not going to drop the dime to Ross….
I remember when this opened when I was in law school. Typical 1980s cubbyhole shoebox auditoriums without much rake, plain seats, small screens, and not impressive sound.
Chris, I sent in the name change and since Rave’s website has the new name, I disagree that the new name should be “rolled back” on this website. The small number of comments also implies it would not make a big difference if it was rolled back….until June.
Rave theaters aren’t in the Phila. newspapers anymore, but still in LA Times?
April 14, 2010 from Philadelphia Inquirer movie critic Carrie Rickey’s blog
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/flickgrrl/
Rave Rechristens Bridge and Showcase at the Ritz
Say goodbye to The Bridge and to the Showcase at the Ritz Center. Rave Motion Pictures, the new operators, is rebranding both theaters.
On Friday, The Bridge Theater at 40th and Walnut will be rechristened. You may call it Rave Motion Pictures U Penn Theater. But I’ll probably just call it The Rave. (Imagine it as a Rave without a mosh pit but with a media room.)
The Showcase at the Ritz Center (formerly the Ritz 16/Voorhees) will be officially known as Rave Motion Pictures Ritz Center 16.
For the time being, ticket prices will remain the same. (The $12.50 weekend ticket at the U Penn theater is the most expensive ducat in the eight-county region, where the average price for a Saturday night admission is $10.) “The price structure is under review, as are many other price points,” says Jeremy Devine, corporate spokesman for Rave, the Dallas-based theater chain that acquired the six-screen Bridge and 16-screen Showcase from National Amusements last year.
“At the present time, [we are] planning to continue with mainstream product” at at Rave U Penn, says Devine.
Rave will continue programming arthouse fare on some of the screens at the Voorhees location. (Today five of the 16 screens have arthouse offerings: Chloe, The Ghost Writer, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Greenberg and When You’re Strange.)
Soda drinkers should know that both theaters will serve Coca-Cola products.
What are the thoughts of the moviegoers who attend these theaters? Any suggestions you’d like Rave to entertain?
Exterior photo in May here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmcl/3578582482/
Perhaps the site is cursed due to the decision to demolish the apparently wonderful and historic United Artists. /theaters/1015/
I saw the exterior in the 1980s but didn’t get inside.
GrauMann, how large were the screens? You are correct, in that it should be documented. Many of us post photos on flickr or other personal galleries. wwww.cinematour.com seems the best permanent way for people to see such photos. Please consider scanning & posting them. If you don’t have a photo scanner, you can probably find someone who does, or post here & somebody may volunteer.
4 years ago, at the Loews Jersey, I saw their presentation in flat (1.85), not cropped. I think it was a collector’s print from the original issue.
Ken Roe added the Scala in reply to your request
/theaters/32281/
No need to think that far back. In 1998, I enjoyed “Titantic” in 70 mm at the Chinese, and that was after seeing it in 70 mm at the Westwood Village.