Comments from Al Alvarez

Showing 2,176 - 2,200 of 3,442 comments

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Plaza Theatre on Feb 4, 2009 at 7:37 pm

BILL & TED and HOUSE OF CARDS both opened at the Plaza.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about 3-D Revolution at movie theaters on Feb 4, 2009 at 7:29 pm

If AVATAR fails look for 3D to end up where it did last time. Porn.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about 3-D Revolution at movie theaters on Feb 4, 2009 at 4:26 pm

The last I heard it cost Universal over 10 million dollars to do ten minutes of JAWS before they abandoned the project.

“Gimick or not, Digital 3D is the future.”

How many times have we heard that one before! Here’s COMIN' AT YA,
WINGS OF COURAGE, CHICKEN LITTLE.

“In 1953 and 1954, 3-D was used for some very good films- including House of Wax, Kiss Me Kate, Inferno, Dial M for Murder, The Glass Web, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Hondo, Miss Sadie Thompson, etc.”

Which one of those films are you accusing of being good?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about 3-D Revolution at movie theaters on Feb 4, 2009 at 12:13 pm

No matter how good the 3D process, it is still a gimmick when it is attached only to bad films that stand no chance otherwise.

JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH, BOLT, MY BLOODY VALENTINE, CORALINE, THE JONAS BROTHERS, ICE AGE 3, FINAL DESTINATION IV, CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS.

Audiences can already smell the desperation

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about LeFrak Theater on Feb 3, 2009 at 5:29 pm

This still advertised as Naturemax, not LeFrak???

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about 116th Street Theatre on Feb 1, 2009 at 9:44 am

There are two theatres with the same name at the same location. One operated from 1919 to 1932. The other from 1933 to 1963.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on Jan 31, 2009 at 9:30 pm

Just because an organ was delivered does not mean this was ever a cinema.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about RKO Marble Hill Theatre on Jan 31, 2009 at 6:58 pm

From the NY Times, this odd explanation of why Marble Hill is really, sort of, Manhattan;

“The City of New York, as it was before 1899, became the borough of Manhattan. Its island boundaries have been changed many times by landfill as well as legislation. For example, when the bed of Spuyten Duyvil Creek was cut through a rocky bit of northern Manhattan to simplify navigation between the Hudson and East Rivers, the lost territory, known as Marble Hill, was joined physically by landfill to the Bronx. But legally, Marble Hill residents remain Manhattanites and vote in Manhattan, even though they have to cross Spuyten Duyvil Creek on the Broadway bridge to do so.”

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Alpine Theatre on Jan 31, 2009 at 6:39 pm

Is the Dyckman theatre (552 West 207th Street) listed on CT? I can’t seem to find it.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Audubon Theatre on Jan 31, 2009 at 6:20 pm

My mistake, LM, it is 1968, but that still maps near Lincoln Center.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Gem Theatre on Jan 31, 2009 at 6:13 pm

This was already advertised as the Gem in 1922.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Audubon Theatre on Jan 31, 2009 at 4:41 pm

Does anyone have any knowledge of a HUDSON theatre in north Manhattan?

It appears in the 1934 Film Daily Year Book as located at 1268 Amsterdam Avenue but newspaper ads in 1921-22 place it close to Audubon Avenue and 167th street.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Ritz Theatre on Jan 30, 2009 at 6:32 pm

This short video on the music history of Overtown features a rare, albeit fuzzy, nightime view of the Ritz.

View link

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Sunset Theater on Jan 30, 2009 at 11:53 am

Thanks LM! That makes more sense.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Sunset Theater on Jan 30, 2009 at 11:11 am

This website has a photo identifying the Sunset as the current La Gree Baptist Church. This would place the Sunset closer to St. Nicholas than the address above.

View link

I suspect the La Gree Church building might actually be the Palace St. Nicholas theatre and annex instead, which is not yet listed.

Any ideas?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Regent Theatre on Jan 30, 2009 at 10:26 am

The Regent stopped showing movies in 1963.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Regun Theater on Jan 29, 2009 at 4:53 pm

The Regun appears in a December 1922 ad for TESS OF THE STORM COUNTRY so it was no longer the Imperial by then.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Jewel Theater on Jan 29, 2009 at 3:50 pm

A paramount Week ad for 1920 lists the Grant Theatre at 116th Street. By the following year’s ad it it listed as the Jewel at 11 West 116th Street.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Verona Theatre on Jan 29, 2009 at 12:02 pm

My 1934 Film Daily Year book lists a Rex Theatre at 217 E. 67th Street which would place it near Second Avenue. It does not appear to be listed here.

Perhaps someone has more info on either Rex location.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Apollo Theater on Jan 29, 2009 at 11:32 am

The Apollo shows up in Paramount Week ads as showing movies at least as early as 1919.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Bigger Knight better than Oscar Night on Jan 28, 2009 at 8:43 pm

I saw it on the super huge Lincoln Square IMAX screen and it was still a big, dumb, loud, obnoxious, CGI bore.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Apollo Theater on Jan 28, 2009 at 8:30 pm

According to the NYTimes, black patrons were admitted into the balcony area starting in 1934, concurrent with some black headliners and the amateur nights.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about 96th Street Theatre on Jan 26, 2009 at 11:19 am

The earliest date mentioned above was 1926.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rose Theatre on Jan 26, 2009 at 10:58 am

Still open in 1934 with 470 seats according to my Film Daily Year Book.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about 96th Street Theatre on Jan 26, 2009 at 10:32 am

The New Third was already operating as that in 1923.