CF 100
You should come to LA.
Many of the Iconic theatres here still use tabs: Graumans Chinese (Imax and with tabs!), Cinerama Dome, El Capitan (in fact they have several assorted sets of tabs and produce an excellent opening show using them all).
As for the 70mm print of “Once Upon a Time”, it was excellent.
It was in fact 35mm blown up, but it’s clarity was amazing. And it is completely different from watching a digitally projected image as you well know.
I was sitting just a few rows from the front and had no problem with the image clarity or indeed, any visible grain!
As for the OLS, I remember many occasions being impressed with their “old” sound system. It was solid, and yes, the place shook with those old JBL’s. My last visit (with that now famous line “we show films all day so we keep the curtains open” line)was interesting. I normally sit in the Royal Circle, but wanted to try the stalls, and also be able to take pictures of the stage screen and tabs.
The new sound system has a completely different kind of sound, and although it is technically as close as perfect as you can get on paper, to be honest, I am not sure if I was that impressed with the “improvement”. Visually, the picture was certainly excellent, even close to the screen. The post 1998 décor and installation at the OLS, to me was perfect. It had everything and still retained most of it’s Art Deco styling and charm. (Both in the auditorium and in the entrance foyer and lounge.) Today the Odeon looks just like a bigger version of most of AMC’s cinemas world wide. It is a pity Rank stripped it of a lot of the Art Deco styling back in the 60’s. Had they not done that, the Odeon would have been a listed building and preserved as it was, when built. I am not sure what Oscar would think today if he saw his flagship.
CF100. Many thanks for practically confirming my thoughts. I too could see the wall was not a structural change, and that it’s soundproofing (an add on) took up very little space.
The JBL’s you mention, are as you say much the same size as the “old” ones. Heavy, yes, but not very deep in size!
As you say, the screen position will probably remain a mystery since there is ample room behind it to place it much farther back. And oh, how great would that be to see 2 sets of tabs again. Just saying!!
Do you know whether the new proscenium tabs are in use yet? If it was a motor issue, AMC does not seem to consider it’s remedy that important, if they are still not in use.
LoveCinema: I did see the soundproofing of the wall at the back, but this took up little space.
The fact that the screen can still be retracted for stage shows, does indicate that there is already enough space behind it.
Actually, instead of the feat of retracting when necessary, why didn’t they have it permanently installed in the “retracted” position, as far back as possible. There has to be another reason for bringing it so far forward.
But thanks for making this whole issue quite interesting.
When I say “6 feet or more”, I mean behind the speakers which were used behind the old screen.
The stage is not that deep, but it is certainly deep enough for the new screen to have been placed further back than it is now….or even placed where the old screen (and speakers) was positioned.
LoveCinema: Your reply is interesting. Thank you.
But I also need to add a correction to your comment about the screen position.
The OLS always had large speakers behind the screen. In fact I have been on the stage there a few years back, and remember that there was ample space behind the previous screen when it was placed further back on the stage. Even with the old screen in place, there was easily about 6 feet or more behind it.
There was no need to bring the screen forward to accommodate speakers.
CF100: I haven’t been to the OLS lately as I am currently in Los Angeles. For your information, I saw the 70mm version of “Once Upon A Time..” showing at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood. And they still use blue velvet tabs there (and masking) ! All the time.
Like you say, it would be interesting to hear if the Odeon is up to par yet with it’s presentation.
I still cannot believe their apparent “couldn’t care less” attitude.
The Odeon was once referred to as “The Cathedral”. Sadly, AMC have turned it into a village church hall.
LoveCinema..yes.
Quite simple really. I do not understand the current management or “technical” staff at the Odeon. If everything is automated, rather than manually pushing the buttons, why can’t they program it all to happen as it used to!
One other thing I often wonder about, is why did they bring the screen so far forward? I can’t think it’s because of sight lines?
The screen always looked better, and bigger when it was further back on the stage. And of course it also allowed us to enjoy 2 sets of tabs.
If the screen was further back, they could fit screen tabs to the screen frame. then, when the screen was totally retracted, the screen tabs could be closed and hide and protect the screen for stage events.
(Maybe, they will lower some tabs from the fly tower to cover the screen in those instances.)
But I just wish they would get their act together. It’s not that difficult, so I am assuming that they really don’t care.
And I wonder if those burnt out canopy bulbs have been replaced yet……
Terry;
Maybe their excuse is that they are waiting for a different motor to be installed.
Not sure that it takes any longer than a few hours overnight to change a motor!
Nothing would surprise me.
I am not sure what is happening at the Odeon right now.
I visited the cinema at the end of June to see “Men In Black.”
Although the blue tabs were hanging there, they were not used at all during the performance.
When I asked a staff member at the Odeon as to why the curtains were not used, his reply was incredible! “Well we show films all day so we leave the curtains open”.
Really??
The lighting seemed to be all over the place.
The bright, cold house lights remained fully on during the adverts and during all the trailers.
No spots were shining on the Flying Ladies.
The lights were only switched off for the main feature.
At the end of the movie, during the credits, the house lights came full on, and then immediately, the service lights came on as well.
The House lights then were switched off.
Cold and totally unprofessional.
I remember the days of subtle lighting, 2 sets of tabs and a totally professional presentation.
If this is AMC’s flagship, I wish everything was left as it was before it became this characterless black hole.
Sorry AMC. You really need to sort this mess out.
A beautiful picture! It just emphasizes how AMC have now ruined the look of this cinema.
CF 100 You should come to LA. Many of the Iconic theatres here still use tabs: Graumans Chinese (Imax and with tabs!), Cinerama Dome, El Capitan (in fact they have several assorted sets of tabs and produce an excellent opening show using them all). As for the 70mm print of “Once Upon a Time”, it was excellent. It was in fact 35mm blown up, but it’s clarity was amazing. And it is completely different from watching a digitally projected image as you well know. I was sitting just a few rows from the front and had no problem with the image clarity or indeed, any visible grain! As for the OLS, I remember many occasions being impressed with their “old” sound system. It was solid, and yes, the place shook with those old JBL’s. My last visit (with that now famous line “we show films all day so we keep the curtains open” line)was interesting. I normally sit in the Royal Circle, but wanted to try the stalls, and also be able to take pictures of the stage screen and tabs. The new sound system has a completely different kind of sound, and although it is technically as close as perfect as you can get on paper, to be honest, I am not sure if I was that impressed with the “improvement”. Visually, the picture was certainly excellent, even close to the screen. The post 1998 décor and installation at the OLS, to me was perfect. It had everything and still retained most of it’s Art Deco styling and charm. (Both in the auditorium and in the entrance foyer and lounge.) Today the Odeon looks just like a bigger version of most of AMC’s cinemas world wide. It is a pity Rank stripped it of a lot of the Art Deco styling back in the 60’s. Had they not done that, the Odeon would have been a listed building and preserved as it was, when built. I am not sure what Oscar would think today if he saw his flagship.
CF100. Many thanks for practically confirming my thoughts. I too could see the wall was not a structural change, and that it’s soundproofing (an add on) took up very little space. The JBL’s you mention, are as you say much the same size as the “old” ones. Heavy, yes, but not very deep in size! As you say, the screen position will probably remain a mystery since there is ample room behind it to place it much farther back. And oh, how great would that be to see 2 sets of tabs again. Just saying!! Do you know whether the new proscenium tabs are in use yet? If it was a motor issue, AMC does not seem to consider it’s remedy that important, if they are still not in use.
LoveCinema: I did see the soundproofing of the wall at the back, but this took up little space. The fact that the screen can still be retracted for stage shows, does indicate that there is already enough space behind it. Actually, instead of the feat of retracting when necessary, why didn’t they have it permanently installed in the “retracted” position, as far back as possible. There has to be another reason for bringing it so far forward. But thanks for making this whole issue quite interesting.
When I say “6 feet or more”, I mean behind the speakers which were used behind the old screen. The stage is not that deep, but it is certainly deep enough for the new screen to have been placed further back than it is now….or even placed where the old screen (and speakers) was positioned.
LoveCinema: Your reply is interesting. Thank you. But I also need to add a correction to your comment about the screen position. The OLS always had large speakers behind the screen. In fact I have been on the stage there a few years back, and remember that there was ample space behind the previous screen when it was placed further back on the stage. Even with the old screen in place, there was easily about 6 feet or more behind it. There was no need to bring the screen forward to accommodate speakers.
CF100: I haven’t been to the OLS lately as I am currently in Los Angeles. For your information, I saw the 70mm version of “Once Upon A Time..” showing at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood. And they still use blue velvet tabs there (and masking) ! All the time. Like you say, it would be interesting to hear if the Odeon is up to par yet with it’s presentation. I still cannot believe their apparent “couldn’t care less” attitude. The Odeon was once referred to as “The Cathedral”. Sadly, AMC have turned it into a village church hall.
LoveCinema..yes. Quite simple really. I do not understand the current management or “technical” staff at the Odeon. If everything is automated, rather than manually pushing the buttons, why can’t they program it all to happen as it used to! One other thing I often wonder about, is why did they bring the screen so far forward? I can’t think it’s because of sight lines? The screen always looked better, and bigger when it was further back on the stage. And of course it also allowed us to enjoy 2 sets of tabs. If the screen was further back, they could fit screen tabs to the screen frame. then, when the screen was totally retracted, the screen tabs could be closed and hide and protect the screen for stage events. (Maybe, they will lower some tabs from the fly tower to cover the screen in those instances.) But I just wish they would get their act together. It’s not that difficult, so I am assuming that they really don’t care. And I wonder if those burnt out canopy bulbs have been replaced yet……
Terry; Maybe their excuse is that they are waiting for a different motor to be installed. Not sure that it takes any longer than a few hours overnight to change a motor! Nothing would surprise me.
The only photo I can find on line showing the 2 sets of tabs in operation.
Lots of burnt out bulbs, still not replaced.
Maybe one day, I will be lucky enough to see the Safety Curtain in use…let alone the regular tabs!
And by the way, I used to love the way the curtains “billowed” while this cinema was still owned by Rank!
I am not sure what is happening at the Odeon right now. I visited the cinema at the end of June to see “Men In Black.” Although the blue tabs were hanging there, they were not used at all during the performance. When I asked a staff member at the Odeon as to why the curtains were not used, his reply was incredible! “Well we show films all day so we leave the curtains open”. Really?? The lighting seemed to be all over the place. The bright, cold house lights remained fully on during the adverts and during all the trailers. No spots were shining on the Flying Ladies. The lights were only switched off for the main feature. At the end of the movie, during the credits, the house lights came full on, and then immediately, the service lights came on as well. The House lights then were switched off. Cold and totally unprofessional. I remember the days of subtle lighting, 2 sets of tabs and a totally professional presentation. If this is AMC’s flagship, I wish everything was left as it was before it became this characterless black hole. Sorry AMC. You really need to sort this mess out.