I’ve always thought it ironic that the 70mm projectors installed at this complex were installed in one of the side theaters, not in the RPX house that once hosted 70mm screenings.
The saddest thing I remember is trying desperately to be allowed to photograph the interior when they announced it was closing.
UA management denied all access saying it would violate company rules on photography and somehow stealing aesthetic design concepts (!).
I can’t imagine B&N wanting the location because it was near the Tattered Cover, as the Tattered was actually miles away in the Cherry Creek neighborhood.
The above address is in error; it is in fact 2000 WEST South Boulder Road and is currently home to a medical clinic. However, if you look at the satellite view on Google Maps, you can still make out the parking ramp.
I went to see Empire on its opening night at Milwaukee’s Southgate Theatre, a very large single-screen theatre that was one of the few in a more suburban part of Milwaukee to have a balcony, which was also filled to capacity for these showings.
I recall three of us went and we were offered the choice of being seated separately or waiting three hours for the next show; you can guess which option we chose. :–)
I have incredible memories of seeing Die Hard 2 and a revival showing of Ben Hur at the Cooper in its later years when it went by the name “United Artists.” The interior was absolutely spectacular, including the semi-circular apparent one-time smoking lounges located to the sides of the main seating area as seen here:
My strangest memory is when I tried to get permission to take pictures of the interior when they announced it would be closing, and was DENIED permission to do so by UA management! I’ve no idea what they were concerned about or why they had an issue with my request.
Since that time I’ve learned to just take photos at palaces after the last showing of the night as there is usually no one around and if there are the 18 year-olds working clean-up couldn’t care less. :–)
I’m grateful that the Winchester 21, 22 and 23 are still in operation, and am thankful for that non-transferable lease as I suspect it may be one of the few things preventing Cinemark from taking a bulldozer to these amazing theatres and replacing them with one of their shoebox 24-screen cineplexes.
My fondest memory of this theatre is I saw “Die Hard” there shortly after I had moved to Santa Clara.
Not only did the movie blow me away, but the presentation at the Town and Country ranked among the best I had ever seen, to the point I had to inform the theatre management what a great theatre it was.
As the author of the original description, I never meant to imply the Southtown was torn down to construct the Krispy Kreme, but rather it’s the most identifiable feature of the street location the theatre once occupied.
Thus most Milwaukee-area residents today would know it only as “where the Krispy Kreme is on Highway 100.” (Or “Highway Hundred” for the REAL Milwaukee vernacular. :–))
I have amazing memories of The Strand in the mid 1970s as, as a child, my parents took me there to show me what widescreen films were REALLY all about.
The Strand was doing a run of Todd-AO and 70 mm films, and as a result I got to see Sound of Music, South Pacific, and It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World the way they were MEANT to be seen.
The two memories I will never forget are seeing the pre-intermission montage of Mad World and the wedding scene of Sound of Music on THAT screen.
Those showings at The Strand were solely responsible for my life-long love of large widescreen film processes.
Those experiences simply can never be recreated except at one of the very, very few film palaces left.
1) The end of quality presentation at Century
2) The end of THX certification for existing and future Century theatres
3) The sale and future demolition of the Century 21-25 theatres in San Jose. :–(
If you’ve ever visited a Cinemark, they’re typical generic mall theatres with no thought given to picture or sound quality.
Then theatre chains wonder why attendence is falling to zero?
Seeing “Die Hard” here in 70mm was truly an EXPERIENCE that I am forever grateful I was able to have.
I’ve always thought it ironic that the 70mm projectors installed at this complex were installed in one of the side theaters, not in the RPX house that once hosted 70mm screenings.
The saddest thing I remember is trying desperately to be allowed to photograph the interior when they announced it was closing.
UA management denied all access saying it would violate company rules on photography and somehow stealing aesthetic design concepts (!).
I can’t imagine B&N wanting the location because it was near the Tattered Cover, as the Tattered was actually miles away in the Cherry Creek neighborhood.
Pink Floyd: The Wall played here in 70mm during its original theatrical release, so I’m guessing late September, 1982.
The above address is in error; it is in fact 2000 WEST South Boulder Road and is currently home to a medical clinic. However, if you look at the satellite view on Google Maps, you can still make out the parking ramp.
I certainly hope more people showed up than last year.
“What can happen to an Old Fashioned?”
I went to see Empire on its opening night at Milwaukee’s Southgate Theatre, a very large single-screen theatre that was one of the few in a more suburban part of Milwaukee to have a balcony, which was also filled to capacity for these showings.
I recall three of us went and we were offered the choice of being seated separately or waiting three hours for the next show; you can guess which option we chose. :–)
Here’s information on the theatre:
/theaters/13505/
As noted in the discussion, a photo of the Southgate can be seen here:
http://tinyurl.com/cn5bhy
I have incredible memories of seeing Die Hard 2 and a revival showing of Ben Hur at the Cooper in its later years when it went by the name “United Artists.” The interior was absolutely spectacular, including the semi-circular apparent one-time smoking lounges located to the sides of the main seating area as seen here:
http://cinerama.topcities.com/ctcooper.htm
My strangest memory is when I tried to get permission to take pictures of the interior when they announced it would be closing, and was DENIED permission to do so by UA management! I’ve no idea what they were concerned about or why they had an issue with my request.
Since that time I’ve learned to just take photos at palaces after the last showing of the night as there is usually no one around and if there are the 18 year-olds working clean-up couldn’t care less. :–)
I’m grateful that the Winchester 21, 22 and 23 are still in operation, and am thankful for that non-transferable lease as I suspect it may be one of the few things preventing Cinemark from taking a bulldozer to these amazing theatres and replacing them with one of their shoebox 24-screen cineplexes.
My fondest memory of this theatre is I saw “Die Hard” there shortly after I had moved to Santa Clara.
Not only did the movie blow me away, but the presentation at the Town and Country ranked among the best I had ever seen, to the point I had to inform the theatre management what a great theatre it was.
It makes me sad to even drive by the CinéArts @ Santana Row that now occupies the location.
As the author of the original description, I never meant to imply the Southtown was torn down to construct the Krispy Kreme, but rather it’s the most identifiable feature of the street location the theatre once occupied.
Thus most Milwaukee-area residents today would know it only as “where the Krispy Kreme is on Highway 100.” (Or “Highway Hundred” for the REAL Milwaukee vernacular. :–))
I have amazing memories of The Strand in the mid 1970s as, as a child, my parents took me there to show me what widescreen films were REALLY all about.
The Strand was doing a run of Todd-AO and 70 mm films, and as a result I got to see Sound of Music, South Pacific, and It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World the way they were MEANT to be seen.
The two memories I will never forget are seeing the pre-intermission montage of Mad World and the wedding scene of Sound of Music on THAT screen.
Those showings at The Strand were solely responsible for my life-long love of large widescreen film processes.
Those experiences simply can never be recreated except at one of the very, very few film palaces left.
I suspect this means three things:
1) The end of quality presentation at Century
2) The end of THX certification for existing and future Century theatres
3) The sale and future demolition of the Century 21-25 theatres in San Jose. :–(
If you’ve ever visited a Cinemark, they’re typical generic mall theatres with no thought given to picture or sound quality.
Then theatre chains wonder why attendence is falling to zero?