The pre-show with ads and the first few trailers, mostly for TV shows like SPARTACUS, did not fill the whole screen. The trailer for THE LOVELY BONES also did not.
The trailer for Weinstein release YOUTH IN REVOLT, prior to the feature, already filled the whole screen.
Is it possible they resorted to the 35mm print of the feature with an attached trailer as a result of trouble the day before.
I just came back from the 4:30pm showing and although the masking and curtains never moved, after the third trailer the screen was fully filled and the movie itself appeared to be in shown what passes for CinemaScope these days. The first few trailers were shown “flat” with fully open masking.
It sounds like the aperture plate was never switched to wide at the showing Bill attended.
THX failed some New York houses for good reasons, then used them in their trade advertising to promote the certification anyway. The failed theatres were then granted certificates anyway when chains stopped paying them. They then awarded certificates to theatres that paid without meeting the requirements at all. They ruined their own brand years ago.
Although it is mostly based maintaining noise reduction in the room, some certified theatres have horrible air conditioning and subway rumbling problems.
The 1943 Film Daily Yearbook lists it with 2163 seats. The multiplex probably used lobby space as well. The proscenium remains as storage area behind the last two screens.
According to the book series “HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN CINEMA” (The Talkies, 1926-1931), the Harlem Apollo was briefly converted into a miniature golf location during the depression, known then as TOM THUMB GOLF.
Some of the worst theatres around the world have THX certificates. Although I admit Lincoln Square has great sound, THX certified means nothing except that a theatre paid to be certified.
When Lucas threatened not to play the STAR WARS sequels at non-certified theatres, suddenly some of the worst theatres around the world became certified overnight.
I would like to believe that the profits of successful low budget films like “PRECIOUS” will bring in a slew of socially conscious well-acted urban dramas about real people.
I am afraid we are in for a few years of heroin-chick, retro-goth, pale, over-bloated, big budget, cliched teenage vampire flicks instead.
And of course there will be more lousy money-losing dumb comic-book action films strictly designed to sell gaming software.
Without a doubt, the worst decade in 100 years of movie-making…
Comic book CGI movies will go down in history the same way we now view early sound movies with insipid dialogue written by incompetent writers just to make dialogue noise.
The nadir is the fatalist mess that was “THE DARK KNIGHT” with tractor trailers stupidly flying into the air and blowing up just because a motorcycle hit them and a wimp BATMAN outwitted by the JOKER in the editing room in order to capitalize on a mediocre young dead actor’s fame. It has already killed the franchise.
The peak will be the last “STAR TREK” movie, the only CGI movie that actually understands the concept of suspension of disbelief. It resurrected the franchise and was solid entertainment.
In the future CGI will be used the way it was in “BENJAMIN BUTTON” and “SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE” and not as the tired gimmick it is being mostly used for in moron movies like “2012”.
3D will continue to be only for kid films like “UP”. I think Pocahontas rip-off “AVATAR” will make sure 3D is never again used for anything but kid films.
Good stuff, formerprojectionist.
This theatre operated from 1966 to 1984.
The ABC Coral Ridge opened in 1963, was twinned in 1977 and closed in 1988.
The AMC Lakes Mall closed in 1989.
AUNTIE MAME was and gets my vote.
GaryC, this is the Times Square Forum;
/theaters/2925/
A 1921 photo as the B.S. Moss Franklin theatre can be seen at this Bowtie website.
http://www.bowtiepartners.com/historic_pics.htm
The pre-show with ads and the first few trailers, mostly for TV shows like SPARTACUS, did not fill the whole screen. The trailer for THE LOVELY BONES also did not.
The trailer for Weinstein release YOUTH IN REVOLT, prior to the feature, already filled the whole screen.
Is it possible they resorted to the 35mm print of the feature with an attached trailer as a result of trouble the day before.
I just came back from the 4:30pm showing and although the masking and curtains never moved, after the third trailer the screen was fully filled and the movie itself appeared to be in shown what passes for CinemaScope these days. The first few trailers were shown “flat” with fully open masking.
It sounds like the aperture plate was never switched to wide at the showing Bill attended.
The Olympia with a name it apparently never carried.
View link
Is this the same KingBiscuits who was recently extolling the virtues of the HELLBOY movies?
Interesting file but not correct. This opened as the Cine Malibu in 1969.
The 1962 D.W Griffith was actually the Bijou in Times Square, not this one.
I have visited a Rave Theatre in Florida and it was better run than most National Amusement Theatres I have been to in NY.
It was on 86th street and what cross street?
The Loew’s 86th Street Theatre is not listed on CT because no one seems to know exactly where it was.
A New York Times 1941 article states that:
“The Verona Theatre at 2086-94 has been leased by Myiton L. Meltzer…”
This means the Rex Theatre (2094 Second Avenue) operating in 1944-1947 was indeed another name for the Verona.
The 1943 Film Daily Year Book lists a Newsreel Theatre at 74 E. 42nd street as well as the aforementioned Air Lines theatre at 42nd and Park.
Does anyone know if all three theatres were the same?
THX failed some New York houses for good reasons, then used them in their trade advertising to promote the certification anyway. The failed theatres were then granted certificates anyway when chains stopped paying them. They then awarded certificates to theatres that paid without meeting the requirements at all. They ruined their own brand years ago.
Although it is mostly based maintaining noise reduction in the room, some certified theatres have horrible air conditioning and subway rumbling problems.
THX means nothing.
So, to sum things up.
THX certification means nothing. If I pay enough I can get a certificated even though my sound is shit.
The 1943 Film Daily Yearbook lists it with 2163 seats. The multiplex probably used lobby space as well. The proscenium remains as storage area behind the last two screens.
That aerial shows the screen facing away from Biscayne Boulevard, allowing for x-rated material without too much controversy.
If it was still open today FIU might have something to say.
According to the book series “HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN CINEMA” (The Talkies, 1926-1931), the Harlem Apollo was briefly converted into a miniature golf location during the depression, known then as TOM THUMB GOLF.
Some of the worst theatres around the world have THX certificates. Although I admit Lincoln Square has great sound, THX certified means nothing except that a theatre paid to be certified.
When Lucas threatened not to play the STAR WARS sequels at non-certified theatres, suddenly some of the worst theatres around the world became certified overnight.
I would like to believe that the profits of successful low budget films like “PRECIOUS” will bring in a slew of socially conscious well-acted urban dramas about real people.
I am afraid we are in for a few years of heroin-chick, retro-goth, pale, over-bloated, big budget, cliched teenage vampire flicks instead.
And of course there will be more lousy money-losing dumb comic-book action films strictly designed to sell gaming software.
Without a doubt, the worst decade in 100 years of movie-making…
Comic book CGI movies will go down in history the same way we now view early sound movies with insipid dialogue written by incompetent writers just to make dialogue noise.
The nadir is the fatalist mess that was “THE DARK KNIGHT” with tractor trailers stupidly flying into the air and blowing up just because a motorcycle hit them and a wimp BATMAN outwitted by the JOKER in the editing room in order to capitalize on a mediocre young dead actor’s fame. It has already killed the franchise.
The peak will be the last “STAR TREK” movie, the only CGI movie that actually understands the concept of suspension of disbelief. It resurrected the franchise and was solid entertainment.
In the future CGI will be used the way it was in “BENJAMIN BUTTON” and “SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE” and not as the tired gimmick it is being mostly used for in moron movies like “2012”.
3D will continue to be only for kid films like “UP”. I think Pocahontas rip-off “AVATAR” will make sure 3D is never again used for anything but kid films.