Comments from Al Alvarez

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Fox won't foot 3-D glasses bill on Apr 7, 2009 at 6:55 pm

There is no law to stop Fox from doing that, thanks to Ronald Reagan. Theatres just don’t produce the obscene profits distributors expect, so most got back out the business after rejoining it in the nineties. They did try to get into the concession business with movie merchandise, but they screwed that up with overproduction of merchandise for bad movies and late deliveries for good ones.

Back when Fox owned theatres in the fifties, THEY paid for the Cinemascope conversions, and the silver screens, and the cheesy 3-D glasses out of the take so theatres would go along with their gimmicks.

Where would they be without theatres willing to show all the dross they produce, like the recent “MISS MARCH”?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Lincoln Theatre on Apr 5, 2009 at 4:43 pm

The Lincoln opened in 1936. As a movie theatre it was operated by Wometco (1940’s), Florida State (1950’s), Brandt (1960’s) and Southland (1970’s). Up until the Southland discount cinema days it was mostly a first class Roadshow house.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about 22nd Avenue Drive-In on Apr 5, 2009 at 4:38 pm

This opened in 1949 as the Liberty City Drive-In. In 1953 it started advertising as the 22nd Avenue presumably to lure white audiences.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Hialeah Theatre on Apr 5, 2009 at 4:33 pm

The first mention I found of this theatre in the Miami Herald was in 1934.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Roosevelt Theatre on Apr 5, 2009 at 4:27 pm

This opened with much fanfare and full-page newspaper ads in 1949.

From the Herald article posted by Harvey on Mar 23, 2008 at 11:47pm
“It’s hard to conceive that the same theater that bowed out with sex romps was originally called the Lemonade Theater when it opened in 1949 because free lemonade was served during intermission.”

The name “Lemonade” mentioned in the article must have been a nickname as the ads proclaimed it as the Roosevelt from day one.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Sheridan Theatre on Apr 5, 2009 at 4:17 pm

The Sheridan opened in 1937.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Biltmore Theatre on Apr 5, 2009 at 4:12 pm

The Biltmore opened in 1921 and closed in 1954. It was operated by Wometco from at least 1932.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Dade Theatre on Apr 5, 2009 at 4:05 pm

This theatre appears in the Miami Herald ads from 1940 to 1955.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Teatro Trail Theatre on Apr 3, 2009 at 10:48 pm

Yes. Tamiami Trail, Calle Ocho and 8th Street are all the same.

The Trail is now the Latin Quarter Cultural Center presenting Spanish language plays. Since it has been refurbished it appears the bank idea has happily fallen by the wayside.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Flagler Theater on Apr 3, 2009 at 10:43 pm

This Flagler/Radio Centro must have been torn down for the I-95 expressway.

Ripshin, the Trail is still there and is now a Latin Quarter Cultural Center presenting spanish language plays.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Surf Theatre on Apr 3, 2009 at 2:36 pm

The Surf gets ready to open in 1938. Although it is not identified as a Wometco Theatre yet, it already has a suspicious “W” out in front.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Roxy Theatre on Apr 3, 2009 at 2:32 pm

The Miami Roxy opens:

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Strand Theatre on Apr 3, 2009 at 2:29 pm

This Christmas 1932 movie ad page includes a small Strand ad when operating as the new 7th Avenue.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Flagler Theater on Apr 3, 2009 at 2:24 pm

Ripshin, could you be thinking of the Trail on 37th Avenue and 8th Street?

/theaters/16673/

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about O Cinema Miami Beach on Apr 3, 2009 at 2:14 pm

Article on the Byron/Carlyle opening, 1968.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Mayfair Theatre on Apr 3, 2009 at 2:12 pm

Opening day ads for the Mayfair, 1932:

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Dadeland Triplex on Apr 3, 2009 at 2:09 pm

Newspaper blurb on the Wometco Twin construction:

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Sunny Isles Twin on Apr 3, 2009 at 2:05 pm

Articles on the Sunny Isles opening:

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Biscayne Plaza Theatre on Apr 3, 2009 at 2:03 pm

Article on Biscayne Plaza opening in 1926.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Dixie Drive-In on Apr 3, 2009 at 1:01 pm

A photo of the Dixie Drive-In can be found here:

http://www.pbase.com/donboyd/image/81425318

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Trans-Lux 85th Street Theatre on Apr 2, 2009 at 8:13 pm

“DEEP THROAT” actually went from the the Trans-Lux 85 to the 86th Street East. It did not show at the UA East 85th Street unless it was years later when it was making the rounds with “THE DEVIL IN MISS JONES” as a second feature.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rex Art Cinema on Apr 2, 2009 at 12:00 pm

G. Burwell, I remember those little soda cups from the Wometco Vending machines at the Miami Theatre Downtown in the sixties. Sometimes the cup would flip upside down as it dropped and the soda (RC Cola?) would simply spill into the drain. Sometimes there was some ice first, most of which promptly bounced out of the cup as well when it dropped.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Tivoli Theatre on Apr 1, 2009 at 3:30 pm

The Tivoli opened in 1927 and closed in 1988.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Florida Theatre on Apr 1, 2009 at 3:13 pm

miamiguy, since the Rex closed only a year before the Florida opened, you are most likely correct that this was most likely a modern conversion of the Rex.

The Rex operated from 1931 to 1947 and the Florida from 1948 to 1974.

Here is a 1948 photo, the year it became the Florida.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about RKO National Twin on Apr 1, 2009 at 2:32 pm

It may have been the last one this large but hardly the last single screen even in Manhattan.