Comments from JSA

Showing 201 - 225 of 280 comments

JSA
JSA commented about Port Theatre scheduled for demolition on Mar 26, 2007 at 8:25 pm

The Port was a cool place to see foreign films. I saw a few Almodovar films there. It is most unfortunate that we’re losing it for good now.

JSA

JSA
JSA commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Mar 22, 2007 at 10:39 pm

Going back to screen size and installations, didn’t the Rivoli remove the Todd-AO screen in the 60’s and replaced it with D-150?

JSA
JSA commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Mar 22, 2007 at 9:53 pm

Thanks, Bill & Pete, for the info. From looking at the pictures posted here, I guessed about 40 to 50'. It seems rather small for a theatre with that seating capacity.

JSA

JSA
JSA commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Mar 21, 2007 at 11:10 am

Now I’m curious: What’s the screen size?

JSA
JSA commented about Teatro Cinerama on Mar 9, 2007 at 6:46 pm

Yes, it is.

JSA
JSA commented about Cinerama Hollywood on Feb 17, 2007 at 3:24 pm

Yes.

JSA
JSA commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Feb 15, 2007 at 2:39 am

Ed: That’s a good question. Wish I knew the answer! Pacific Arclight screened “Goldfinger” last September as part of the AFI series, but I do not know if it was a new print or an archival one. I agree that probably YOLT may have a problem finding an audience, but who knows? I would love to see Thunderball on the big screen though. Also, the films were not screened in sequence. They started with OHMSS, and ended with FRWL (?!).

JSA

JSA
JSA commented about Cinerama Hollywood on Feb 14, 2007 at 10:11 pm

Max,

More than likely, Pacific would advertise a Cinerama screening on the Arclight web site. Previous engagements were advertised in the LA Times, but not with a lot of fanfare. Also, I’m pretty sure that someone will post it here as well.

JSA

JSA
JSA commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Feb 14, 2007 at 10:03 pm

A suggestion for the Ziegfeld is to screen the recently restored early Bond films. These were shown a few weekends ago in LA (at the Aero) in new 35 mm prints. The titles were “Dr No”, “From Russia with Love”, “Thunderball”, “You Only Live Twice” and “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”.

JSA

JSA
JSA commented about Cinerama Hollywood on Jan 18, 2007 at 8:32 pm

Not that it matters much, but a 70 mm print of “2001” also screened at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach on October 1996.

Bill: You, EdSolero, andreco and the other NY area CT members that have “2001” in high regard should make the “pilgrimage” to LA next time it screens at the Dome!

Regards,
JSA

JSA
JSA commented about Cinerama Hollywood on Jan 17, 2007 at 10:13 pm

Michael,

Thanks for posting the link! As always, great information!
I’m going to repeat myself, but I think a single-strip Cinerama retrospective at the Dome would be a cool event. But other that “2001”, “It’s a Mad, Mad… World” & “Grand Prix”, what other titles have available prints?

JSA

JSA
JSA commented about Uptown Theatre on Jan 2, 2007 at 10:59 pm

JodarMovieFan,

The Cinerama Dome at Arclight in Hollywood has DP. It is very impressive on their giant curved screen. A large percentage of their features last year were screened in digital format. As far as I can tell, among the few recent non-digital presentations at the Dome were “A Scanner Darkly” and “Flags of Our Fathers”.

Regards,

JSA

JSA
JSA commented about Teatro Cinerama on Nov 27, 2006 at 3:37 am

Widescreenman: You’re welcome! I also saw “2001” for the first time at the Metro way, way back!

I also wanted to add to my post above that, to the best of my knowledge, Super Panavision Cinerama features did not receive the optical correction given to the Ultra Panavision version of Cinerama. There’s a lot of information (and misinformation too!) out there on Cinerama and 70 mm (Super Panavision, Todd-AO, etc.) in general. My top recommended internet information sources are: Martin Hart’s “American Widescreen Museum”, Michael Coate and William Kallay’s “From Script to DVD”, and “in70mm.com”.

Regards, JSA

JSA
JSA commented about Teatro Cinerama on Nov 24, 2006 at 5:19 pm

Spelling correction to my post above:

“Last year, I had the opportunity to see “How the West was Won”, screened in its original 3-strip format at the Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles.”

JSA

JSA
JSA commented about Teatro Cinerama on Nov 24, 2006 at 4:08 pm

Hello Widescreenman,

The 3-strip Cinerama projection system had its 1952 debut in New York City with “This is Cinerama”. In addition to the three 35 mm projectors operating simultaneously, a separate 7-channel/35 mm magnetic soundtrack was run in synchronization with the projectors. A few other 3-strip films were made during the 50’s, these being “travelogues” such as “Seven Wonders of the World” and “South Seas Adventure”. Two films, “The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm” and “How the West was Won” were the first and only 3-strip “regular" features made. They were released in 1962. “How the West was Won” was very successful commercially. However, the cost and logistics of shooting and screening 3-strip Cinerama doomed it, especially when compared to the other widescreen processes such as Todd-AO. All subsequent Cinerama productions were single lens Ultra-Panavision (“It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad World”, “Khartoum”) or Super Panavision (“Grand Prix”, “Ice Station Zebra”). One other film, George Stevens’ “The Greatest Story Ever Told”, began shooting in 3-strip Cinerama, but made the switch to Ultra-Panavision shortly after production began. The Ultra-Panavision Cinerama films were “optically” corrected to compensate for the theater screen curvature. Not all Ultra-Panavision films were single-strip Cinerama though. For example “The Fall of the Roman Empire” was a strictly Ultra-Panavision production, without the “optical” correction for single strip Cinerama.

Regarding the Cinerama in Puerto Rico, 3-strip projection had its run during the mid 60’s. Mr. Andres Roura, who is a frequent contributor to this site (see his Feb 11, 2005 posting above) will undoubtedly know the exact dates and particular details. Mr. Roura is the top authority when it comes to movies and the movie business in PR. My understanding is that “How the West Was Won”, “The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm”, and “This is Cinerama” were the only 3-strip Cinerama features screened at PR. The Cinerama also screened many of the single-strip Cinerama features, but my favorite Super Panavision/Cinerama film, “2001: A Space Odyssey”, had its run at the Metro in 1968.

Last year, I had the opportunity to see “How the West Was Won”, screened in it original 3-strip format at the Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles. It was truly a remarkable cinematic experience. The Dome is a fantastic state-of-the-art theatre, with a spectacular giant curved screen and superb sound.

Sadly, today there are only two theaters in the USA capable of screening 3-Strip Cinerama: the Dome and the Martin Cinerama in Seattle. A third theatre with this capability is in England.

Regards,

JSA

JSA
JSA commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Nov 19, 2006 at 8:28 pm

HowardBHaas: The “Dreamgirls” San Francisco roadshow will take place at the Metreon.

JSA

JSA
JSA commented about TCL Chinese Theatre on Nov 9, 2006 at 8:38 pm

When I saw “Da Vinci Code” at the Dome, the trailer for “Casino Royale” was played. I assumed it was coming to the Dome. Instead, we’ll have “Happy Feet”. “Casino Royale” will probably play at the Chinese.

JSA

JSA
JSA commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Nov 6, 2006 at 9:08 pm

Vito, I get overwhelmed by the regular IMAX screen, no matter the seat!

I was aware of “Star Wars” 3D, but not of “Lord of the Rings” and “Titanic”. Incidentally, the Castro in San Francisco recently screened a 70 MM-DTS print of “Titanic”.

Unquestionably, IMAX images are beautifully shot. But I get a bigger sense of awe from 70 mm widescreen formats. Guess I’m spoiled, because during the 70’s and early 80’s I used to frequent a now-defunct D-150 theatre. That curved screen was something else…

JSA

JSA
JSA commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Nov 5, 2006 at 3:55 pm

Vito, No I have not seen digital 3-D yet. “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is playing in that format at El Capitan until January. The theatre is about 40 min. (without traffic!) from my place. I’ll make the trip one of these weekends, before the Holidays strike in full force. Thanks for the recommendation!

It is interesting to note that on a poll posted here on this website on Jun 19 of this year, 59 % of the folks preferred 70 mm over Imax/Imax 3D, 2K/4K Digital, 35 mm and other formats.

Regards,
JSA

JSA
JSA commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Nov 4, 2006 at 4:40 pm

In my mind, 70mm-DTS should have a least provoked the interest of some in the industry. Reportedly Bryan Singer even considered shooting “Superman Returns” in 65 mm, before deciding on the Genesis camera.

In all fairness, the last few digital theatrical presentations I’ve seen were excellent, in terms of image and sound. And surely it will get better over time.

PS: Sorry for the Nov 3 double posting

JSA

JSA
JSA commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Nov 3, 2006 at 11:32 pm

I wonder if the Ziegfeld will go digital for the roadshow engagement.

What an opportunity to show some class and get out some 70 MM prints.

JSA

JSA
JSA commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Nov 3, 2006 at 11:32 pm

I wonder if the Ziegfeld will go digital for the roadshow engagement.

What an opportunity to show some class and get out some 70 MM prints out.

JSA

JSA
JSA commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Nov 3, 2006 at 11:32 pm

I wonder if the Ziegfeld will go digital for the roadshow engagement.

What an opportunity to show some class and get out some 70 MM prints out.

JSA

JSA
JSA commented about Cinerama Hollywood on Nov 3, 2006 at 9:29 pm

I saw HTWWW last November. For that particular show, attendance was not that great. I agree that they should put a few years between 3-strip Cinerama shows. In my opinion, a single-strip Cinerama retrospective is in order, if good prints are available. Hopefully not “Krakatoa: East of Java”!

Chris: My sentiments exactly…

JSA

JSA
JSA commented about Pantages Theatre on Nov 3, 2006 at 9:13 pm

William,

I know this may be heresy to some, but what about the Egyptian? Granted, it is not the grand palace it used to be, but from time to time, their programming is quite good. Hollywood Blvd boasts the Chinese, El Capitan, Egyptian, Hollywood Pacific (closed for now) and Pantages, and all within a half-mile stretch.

I look forward to the day when the Norelcos are put to use at the Pantages!

Regards,
JSA