Comments from Al Alvarez

Showing 2,351 - 2,375 of 3,441 comments

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Dadeland Triplex on Aug 7, 2008 at 11:24 am

The address was 7740 S.W. 88th Street across from the one time national headquarters for Burger King.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Providers of weekly box office info on Aug 7, 2008 at 9:41 am

Write to me at

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Providers of weekly box office info on Aug 7, 2008 at 12:25 am

Nope. Back in NYC. Steve is still there.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Providers of weekly box office info on Aug 6, 2008 at 10:31 pm

Those Variety lists are by film, not theatre. I think the Empire with 25 screens will always trump El Capitan after opening week of a movie.

As a resident of Times Square I assure you that New Yorkers who live in Hell’s Kitchen go to the 42nd street theatres regularly. Many other New Yorkers have multiplexes closer to home. Many are, sadly, unaware of what the Ziegfeld offers to make the extra effort.

Doesn’t EDI still operate an online movie gross service?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Paris Theatre on Aug 6, 2008 at 4:26 pm

The Marty Kaplan I knew owned an ad agency that did advertising and PR for Warner Bros. and those topless faux-French flesh and feather reviews that played in high class Miami Beach Hotel ballrooms in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. He may have also represented talent.

The Paramount Antitrust case had ruled that companies such as Loews and Paramount (Publix, then ABC Florida State Theatres)could not build or buy new theatres first getting without government approval as they had been monopolizing the industry. This put them at a disadvantage in lucrative growing markets such as South Florida where new theatres deals were still hot.

Marty would build the theatres, open them and then sell them off once the courts approved. I don’t know who fronted the cash or whether there were behind the scenes contracts. I do know he was well liked and respected in the industry. I don’t know whether he was the same man associated with the Paris.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Paris Theatre on Aug 6, 2008 at 10:36 am

Could this be a Marty Kaplan you are referring to? Was involved with building the Bay harbor and Plantation theatres?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about 777 Theatre on Aug 5, 2008 at 10:04 am

The Moulin Rouge porn triple operated from this address in 1985. Does that jog any memories?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Avenue Playhouse on Aug 4, 2008 at 11:41 pm

In early 1937 there was a 47th Street Cinema operating at 104 West 47th Street and showing Irish films. Could this have been the Miami?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on Aug 4, 2008 at 9:51 pm

The Globe was showing movies between shows at least as early as 1915 when it premiered ‘The Whirl of Life".

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Paris Theatre on Aug 4, 2008 at 8:40 pm

This became the Paris in 1961.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Town Theatre on Aug 4, 2008 at 6:48 pm

The Town was already operating in 1949 and closed in 1974.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Strand Theatre on Aug 4, 2008 at 6:42 pm

I think the name here should be changed to Sun-Sun Cinema which was the actual name in 1975. I can’t find any record of the ‘Sun Theatre’ name.

The Strand was already showing movies in 1924.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about State Theatre on Aug 4, 2008 at 6:32 pm

The State was already operating in 1934 and closed in 1950.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Ritz Theatre on Aug 4, 2008 at 6:27 pm

The Ritz was already operating in 1934 and shut down in 1964.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rio Theatre on Aug 4, 2008 at 6:10 pm

The Dixie was already operating in 1949. It became the Rio in 1965 and closed in 1979.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Le Jeune Drive-In on Aug 4, 2008 at 5:54 pm

The Le Jeune had room for 800 cars and operated from at least 1949 to 1970.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Essex Theatre on Aug 4, 2008 at 5:35 pm

The Essex closed in 1977 and was already operating by 1949.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Coral Way Drive-In on Aug 4, 2008 at 5:16 pm

The Coral Way only had room for 250 cars. It was already open by 1949 and closed in 1977.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about 22nd Avenue Drive-In on Aug 4, 2008 at 5:08 pm

The 22nd Avenue shut down sometime in 1969.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Arrow Drive-In on Aug 4, 2008 at 5:07 pm

The Arrow address was 3007 N. State Road 7. It operated from 1962 to 1978.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about 22nd Avenue Drive-In on Aug 4, 2008 at 5:04 pm

The address for this drive-in was 6900 N.W. 22nd Avenue. It had room for 700 cars.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Bijou Theatre on Aug 1, 2008 at 1:43 pm

Images of the Bijou can be found here;

http://www.ibdb.com/VenueImages.asp?Id=1065

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's New York Theatre and Roof on Aug 1, 2008 at 12:50 pm

There is a slight spelling error in the intro.

“The Olympia’s other playhouse, the LYRIC, was re-named Criterion.”

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about 21st Adult Theatre on Jul 30, 2008 at 4:06 pm

The actual address was 2039 Collins Avenue.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about United Palace of Cultural Arts on Jul 29, 2008 at 12:46 pm

In August 1966 this theatre was part of the Loews circuit release of the Spanish film “Every Day Is A Holiday”, known around the world as “Cabriola” and starring child star Marisol. Released as a co-feature to “Born Free” on a wide sub-run break, the project was designed to launch Marisol into the U.S. market by hiring Mel Ferrer to direct and dubbing the film into English using Marisol herself in both languages. Although the egomaniacal Ferrer claimed to have discovered her, Marisol was already the top Spanish box office star in the world and this was her eighth film. Her previous films had played only in Spanish language theatres in the US.

In a rare recent interview, the reclusive and retired Marisol (Pepa Flores) claims that Ferrer was cold and distant but that his wife, Audrey Hepburn could not have been more supportive when visiting the set, giving Marisol beauty tips and even sending her to Paris for a haircut with a recommended stylist.