There is some beautiful film footage of the marquee and elaborate decorations of Loew’s State for the 1948 premiere of EASTER PARADE in the documentary accompanying the new DVD release of this Astaire-Garland MGM musical.
Unfortunately, I have no advance info re screening of AUNTIE MAME on April 30 in Los Angeles. The ad in the newspaper says “WIDESCREEN TECHNIRAMA.” I would assume its a horizontal 35mm print. The historic Alex screens classic films from time to time.
The FOX rep said they are prepping the CAROUSEL print to play various cities for repetory theatres, etc. I consider myself lucky living in LA. Last year I got to see the CinemaScope 55 print of THE KING AND I, and we have several theatres that can play 70MM films and do so at least once a year. Next week the historic Alex Theatre in Glendale will screen a Technirama print of AUNTIE MAME.
Fifty years after its first release the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles screened the world premiere showing of Carousel in CinemaScope 55. The film was presented with its original aspect ratio of 2:55.1 with a fully restored 4-track stereo soundtrack. Although the print had its flaws the stereo sound was amazing and it was wonderful finally seeing Carousel as it was originally filmed. The audience burst into applause during the FOX fanfare announcing a CinemaScope 55 presentation.
There is a nice glimpse of the Lincoln Theatre at the 1948 premiere of the FOX film SITTING PRETTY in a short featurette on film processes on the FOX DVD release of MARILYN MONROE: THE FINAL DAYS. This same featurette has a nice glimpse of another Lincoln Road theatre the Carib circa 1953 which was showing CALL ME MADAM.
There is a nice reprint of the color photo of Swanson standing in the rubble of the Roxy in the book EVERYTHING WAS POSSIBLE..THE BIRTH OF THE MUSICAL FOLLIES. Supposedly this picture which was published in Life Magazine was the inspiration for the Sondheim Broadway musical FOLLIES.
My family lived on Straus Street when I was a boy in the 50s and my aunt and uncle had a men’s clothing store on Pitkin Avenue at that time too. I don’t recall the name of the store. Some of the first films I remember seeing at the fabulous Pitkin Theatre were SHOWBOAT, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN and THE GREAT CARUSO.
Bryan, really nice view of Flagler Street. Bring’s back memories. The tall building with the yellow sign all the way down on the left side of Flagler is the Olympia (now Guzman Hall). I remember seeing Myra Breckinridge and The Detective at the Paramount in the 70s. The description for this theatre seems to be for the smaller Town Theatre not the Paramount.
Back in February there was discussion about FOX’s new screen process CinemaScope 55. There was some question as to whether THE KING AND I and CAROUSEL were ever shown in this process. In a rare screening Friday (8/20) the Academy in Beverly Hills presented for the first time a rare remastered screening of THE KING AND I in CinemaScope 55. It was thrilling finally getting to see this sumptuous filming of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic in its original aspect ratio with a remastered soundtrack in 4 track Dolby Digital. A FOX spokesman explained that NO theatre ever showed the 55mm version of this film or CAROUSEL since projectors at that time could not be equipped to convert from 35mm to 55mm and so both films went out in 35mm. Studio head Zanuck decided to advertise both films in this process hoping to fool the public into thinking they were seeing something they were not. Hence the confusion.
The Paramount was updated to an Art Deco appearance in 1938 by Robert Law Weed. By the early 70s with the area changing this theatre became a bargain house with prices ranging from 75 cents until 1 and $1 until closing.
My description should have stated this theatre had one screen. It was just a couple of doors down from the Paramount which was located at 257 E. Flagler.
The Surf Theatre, right across from the Normandie is being used as a gym.
There is some beautiful film footage of the marquee and elaborate decorations of Loew’s State for the 1948 premiere of EASTER PARADE in the documentary accompanying the new DVD release of this Astaire-Garland MGM musical.
Unfortunately, I have no advance info re screening of AUNTIE MAME on April 30 in Los Angeles. The ad in the newspaper says “WIDESCREEN TECHNIRAMA.” I would assume its a horizontal 35mm print. The historic Alex screens classic films from time to time.
The FOX rep said they are prepping the CAROUSEL print to play various cities for repetory theatres, etc. I consider myself lucky living in LA. Last year I got to see the CinemaScope 55 print of THE KING AND I, and we have several theatres that can play 70MM films and do so at least once a year. Next week the historic Alex Theatre in Glendale will screen a Technirama print of AUNTIE MAME.
Fifty years after its first release the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles screened the world premiere showing of Carousel in CinemaScope 55. The film was presented with its original aspect ratio of 2:55.1 with a fully restored 4-track stereo soundtrack. Although the print had its flaws the stereo sound was amazing and it was wonderful finally seeing Carousel as it was originally filmed. The audience burst into applause during the FOX fanfare announcing a CinemaScope 55 presentation.
There is a nice glimpse of the Lincoln Theatre at the 1948 premiere of the FOX film SITTING PRETTY in a short featurette on film processes on the FOX DVD release of MARILYN MONROE: THE FINAL DAYS. This same featurette has a nice glimpse of another Lincoln Road theatre the Carib circa 1953 which was showing CALL ME MADAM.
I wasn’t aware this theatre ever played motion pictures. I thought, since its inception it was a legit playhouse.
There is a nice reprint of the color photo of Swanson standing in the rubble of the Roxy in the book EVERYTHING WAS POSSIBLE..THE BIRTH OF THE MUSICAL FOLLIES. Supposedly this picture which was published in Life Magazine was the inspiration for the Sondheim Broadway musical FOLLIES.
My family lived on Straus Street when I was a boy in the 50s and my aunt and uncle had a men’s clothing store on Pitkin Avenue at that time too. I don’t recall the name of the store. Some of the first films I remember seeing at the fabulous Pitkin Theatre were SHOWBOAT, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN and THE GREAT CARUSO.
Bryan, really nice view of Flagler Street. Bring’s back memories. The tall building with the yellow sign all the way down on the left side of Flagler is the Olympia (now Guzman Hall). I remember seeing Myra Breckinridge and The Detective at the Paramount in the 70s. The description for this theatre seems to be for the smaller Town Theatre not the Paramount.
I heard the The Sunset 5 theatres on Sunset in West Hollywood have even been hurt by the very successful Grove theatres.
These theatres are mostly awful little boxes.
Minty, the Cinema Theatre was briefly called Cinema Casino and then converted to the French Casino. Records show the theatre held 1200 seats.
Back in February there was discussion about FOX’s new screen process CinemaScope 55. There was some question as to whether THE KING AND I and CAROUSEL were ever shown in this process. In a rare screening Friday (8/20) the Academy in Beverly Hills presented for the first time a rare remastered screening of THE KING AND I in CinemaScope 55. It was thrilling finally getting to see this sumptuous filming of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic in its original aspect ratio with a remastered soundtrack in 4 track Dolby Digital. A FOX spokesman explained that NO theatre ever showed the 55mm version of this film or CAROUSEL since projectors at that time could not be equipped to convert from 35mm to 55mm and so both films went out in 35mm. Studio head Zanuck decided to advertise both films in this process hoping to fool the public into thinking they were seeing something they were not. Hence the confusion.
The Paramount was updated to an Art Deco appearance in 1938 by Robert Law Weed. By the early 70s with the area changing this theatre became a bargain house with prices ranging from 75 cents until 1 and $1 until closing.
My description should have stated this theatre had one screen. It was just a couple of doors down from the Paramount which was located at 257 E. Flagler.
I remember this theatre when my family moved back to NYC around 1959. I saw THE MOUSE THAT ROARED among other films at this nice little theatre.