Towne, State and Colonial Theater’s Were a favorite spot for me back from 1981-85
See,As I Mentioned in this Site’s Entry for Ridge Cinema,While I was friends with Ray at NTI, the Film Escape From New York played for a couple of weeks and has been an all time Favorite EVER SINCE! So I first went Downtown to the Colonial to Meet Mr. Jerry Norwood who eventualy Managed the Crater Cinema in Petersburg Lastly (That I know of) The Ridge.Anyhoo,I met with Jerry and although I was only 16 at the time I knew enough about the Theater Bussiness to see it was almost the end for the Three Theaters I think One (The State remained till Last?) So,I got a set of Escape From N.Y. Lobbies and jerry asked me if I wanted to take all the Posters etc upstairs in the Office? OF COURSE I Grabbed em' with BOTH Hands! lol I sold a couple to Petey at “Plan 9 Records” and the rest I held on to. Over the Years I had no place to store and got rid of a Six Foot Gene wilder & Richard Pryor Dressed In Chicken Suits Standee from “Stir Crazy” (Wished I did!) But I after filling my buddy’s Trunk with all the three theater’s EVERY LAST 1-Sheet,Lobby Card,Standees,etc I went home and was jotting all My Memrobila in a note book when I discovered an Envelope containing a unused Bumper Sticker that said just “Return” Turns out this was a correction sticker to cover the word “Revenge” on the “Return Of The Jedi” Posters. Seems Lucas decided Last Minute “Revenge” is not a Jedi behavior so he changed the title AFTER the posters had been printed and mostly distributed to the Theaters. If you have the UN-corrected it pretty rare but IF you have the un-corrected poster AND the correction sticker,well my friend I’d guess you could buy your own Fully Functioning DEATHSTAR! lol Saddly I don’t have but a couple of these Treasures left ( the Jedi posters are long) But I have the Memories still complete after the last theater closed down I went on a mission to liberate the Poster and Lobby Card Frames still behind the Glass (Some Boraded up but intact)Wy Friend Ed and I Drove downtown and parked behind the theaters in a Cobblestone Alley. Wearing Black Slacks and a White Shirt I Disgusied myself as an Usher and Armed with a Flathead Screwdriver I procceded to (In broad daylight) Stroll right up to the Large Hinged Glass Windows that held these frames behind,So Poping them Open was nuthin'Now understand in front of these Theaters was working Bustops with People waiting for their buses. Noone paid me any mind whatsoever as I methodically Pryed the 6 Lobby card and 3 Onesheet Frames off the Red Foil Backwalls they were mounted upon. I made my way back around to my friend’s GTO and tossed the frames in the backseat. The Mission seemed like a sucess as Ed drove down Broad St. back towards Willowlawn and safety..Ed’s 67'GTO was a Beauty BUT it had a Hoodscoop that (he was aware) was 2 inches taller that is legal.So somewhere near Broad & Meadow St. Near the Old Train Station He Get’s Pulled Over By Richmond’s Finest,Ed Who looked a little like Peter Fonda in Easy Rider gives me a look that could KILL as the Officer comes up to the his Driverside Window and Asks “Do You Know Why I’m Stopping You Today Sir?” and Just as I’m About to Blurt out an entire Sobbing Confession about the Poster Frames Filling the Backseat, The Cop continues..“I See Your Inspection Sticker is Over Due.” LOL I was relived but I was now sitting in a Puddle although it wasn’t Raining! lol Funny part was as they were about to give my friend a Ticket the Police got a call apparently more important then us and suddenly gave my buddy a warning and took off Whew! so I’ve lived here in Naples Fl. since I got Married 1992 and I haven’t been back to richmond since but I’ll always treasure these Cinema Memories and Thank you for this Website
Thanks Mike and Yeah I REALLY did wanna get ahold of the Movie Machine (Ray) but meanwhile I come to this site and then even though I haven’t been in Richmond in Years I use Google Maps and I see what the Places like the Ridge or E. Broad St. Theaters look like now (IF they even exsist! Listen My Spelling sucks But, I find it funny that the Films directors like Tarintino (Sorry bout Spelling) Pay Homage to with movies like Grindhouse or Jackie Brown I have Actual ORIGINALS Stills & Posters of! Here’s another QUICK Thing, Back at the time I was talking about bothering Ray and Every other Theater That Would Talk To me, I began Calling and getting in much Trouble for HUGE Telephone Bills! to Most of the Major Studios At first I’d say I was with a student paper and needed a Press Kit but after a while I just started telling them the Truth and it worked!For The Senior Prom at my H.S. (Midlothian) I was asked by my Art Teacher if I could loan them my collection for the Prom decorations. I really didn’t want anyone getting rowdy and any of my stuff getting trashed but by then I had such a good reporie w/ a lady at Warner Bros. and Columbia’s Promo Depts, So I called w/ my teacher and the Lady in Burbank sent us A Tube and Four Boxes FULL of Stills Lobby Cards and Folded and Rolled One Sheet Posters Some lobby cards seemed to be left over from UK or Europe releases Such as Lobby cards for Mad Max 2 here (in the U.S.) It was called “The Road Warrior” and Lobby cards (I hear are valuble) A cult film. Then I found A Mint Rolled up 1- Sheet for Bladerunner This one was with the Drew Struzman art of Harrison Ford & Sean Young (DAMN I never really even liked this movie so I gave it to my friend John L.) BUT I now Could probly BUY SEAN YOUNG with what that one’s worth! lol FInally (I Promise) I gotta tell ya' this one: Okay So now I’m making weekly trips from school down to Ray’s office to pay for my Posters I ordered from National Screen Service Well,While reading a Review of Superman II in the Richmond Times Dispatch Newspaper,I thought I see if I could get them to part w/ any Presskits and such from the Reviewers. So I went down to their offices and in the more relaxed days Pre 9-11, the Guards gave me a visitor’s Pass and Up to the Offices I went, So long story longer lol a Mr. Dorr and a Ms. Kass (iirc) Gave me DOZENS of Kits & Folded Posters in Big Heavy Boxes lol Titles like “Star 80”, “Superman II”,“Excalibur” come to mind So I’m there picking up some Pics when the Lady who wrote a Weekly Feature called “Spare Times” Needed a Subject for the Article hilighting a Richmonder’s Hobby This lady turns to me as I sat indian style on the office floor going through some Stills not wanting to Shelp these Boxes home on the GRTC (Bus),when I’m approached to be the Subject of the next weeks Hobby/Crafts story So I run home telling my Mom and Stepdad this news of my impending 15 mins. They were only mildly amused (mostly cause at that time my normal teenage
Shenanigans had me on their Parental S**tlist!) But the following week when my Picture ran 8x10 Above a Half a Page Article I seemed to get taken a lil' more seriously by the Parents (The Actually Let me go to Midnite Shows that Ray had at the Ridge and I used to go down and spend many a Saturday afternoon watching Black Belt Soul Brothers and Disco Godfather (I swear these are REAL Movies!) Downtown. Ah but this is another story…lol
John
Well I see it now So, Ray I just wanted to say Thank you for all the 1-Sheets AND Memories I still cherish to this day. Back in 1980 I was refered to you by a lil' old couple that Managed the Midlothian Cinemas on the Southside I started bugging them for Posters and such when Flash Gordon (Sam Jones) was playing. I guess I was such a pain they said “Call This Guy he was like you now he runs Neighborhood Theaters.” So VERY Long story short Ray you allowed me full access to the NTI Files where I was able to fill Shopping Bags full of 1sheets and Lobby Cards and Presskits from every Film I had on my list.You helped me track down my all time Favorite Poster Image from “Futureworld” (1976) a 1sheet I first saw at the Ridge.Soon I met Mr. Norwood at the Towne,State and Colonial Theaters Downtown Because these Movie Palaces had since Become “Blacksploitation” Gridhouses I was able to haul off Hundreds of Lobbys and Inserts Posters etc. from such Cult Classics as Coffy,Enter The Dragon,Shaft and Escape From New York (my Second fave film of all time) I was even invited to watch a Screening (With Ray and the NTI Suits lol) of a Musical(?) “The Idolmaker” IIRC It wasn’t that great. lol Another time The Movie Machine was trying to decide on a film to show for the “Midnite Movies” at the Ridge, I suggested “Enter The Dragon” And that Weekend there it was! I felt so important lol Well now I’m married 17 years and livein Naples Fl. We have 3 kids and funny enough my Son Taylor (named for the Character Charlton Heston portrayed in Planet Of The Apes!) Well,at the Ride old age of 12 is already showing as much passion about the Movie Memrobila as his old Dad. I just wish HE had a Ray or Jerry to befriend him now or a Ridge Cinema to Sneak into lol (Hey We’d pay for the First one then go Screen to Screen) Seems like The TWENTY plex here in Naples Fl is just so sterile and Impersonal or that’s just how time has warped my memories lol Well Anyhoo, Thank You Ray And Drop me a line if you have time.
John Branch
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Hey What Happened to my posting? I was Responding to Ray (moviemachine) some great memories of The Ridge and hanging out at the NTI homeoffice back in 80-81' now I don’t see it.
Towne, State and Colonial Theater’s Were a favorite spot for me back from 1981-85
See,As I Mentioned in this Site’s Entry for Ridge Cinema,While I was friends with Ray at NTI, the Film Escape From New York played for a couple of weeks and has been an all time Favorite EVER SINCE! So I first went Downtown to the Colonial to Meet Mr. Jerry Norwood who eventualy Managed the Crater Cinema in Petersburg Lastly (That I know of) The Ridge.Anyhoo,I met with Jerry and although I was only 16 at the time I knew enough about the Theater Bussiness to see it was almost the end for the Three Theaters I think One (The State remained till Last?) So,I got a set of Escape From N.Y. Lobbies and jerry asked me if I wanted to take all the Posters etc upstairs in the Office? OF COURSE I Grabbed em' with BOTH Hands! lol I sold a couple to Petey at “Plan 9 Records” and the rest I held on to. Over the Years I had no place to store and got rid of a Six Foot Gene wilder & Richard Pryor Dressed In Chicken Suits Standee from “Stir Crazy” (Wished I did!) But I after filling my buddy’s Trunk with all the three theater’s EVERY LAST 1-Sheet,Lobby Card,Standees,etc I went home and was jotting all My Memrobila in a note book when I discovered an Envelope containing a unused Bumper Sticker that said just “Return” Turns out this was a correction sticker to cover the word “Revenge” on the “Return Of The Jedi” Posters. Seems Lucas decided Last Minute “Revenge” is not a Jedi behavior so he changed the title AFTER the posters had been printed and mostly distributed to the Theaters. If you have the UN-corrected it pretty rare but IF you have the un-corrected poster AND the correction sticker,well my friend I’d guess you could buy your own Fully Functioning DEATHSTAR! lol Saddly I don’t have but a couple of these Treasures left ( the Jedi posters are long) But I have the Memories still complete after the last theater closed down I went on a mission to liberate the Poster and Lobby Card Frames still behind the Glass (Some Boraded up but intact)Wy Friend Ed and I Drove downtown and parked behind the theaters in a Cobblestone Alley. Wearing Black Slacks and a White Shirt I Disgusied myself as an Usher and Armed with a Flathead Screwdriver I procceded to (In broad daylight) Stroll right up to the Large Hinged Glass Windows that held these frames behind,So Poping them Open was nuthin'Now understand in front of these Theaters was working Bustops with People waiting for their buses. Noone paid me any mind whatsoever as I methodically Pryed the 6 Lobby card and 3 Onesheet Frames off the Red Foil Backwalls they were mounted upon. I made my way back around to my friend’s GTO and tossed the frames in the backseat. The Mission seemed like a sucess as Ed drove down Broad St. back towards Willowlawn and safety..Ed’s 67'GTO was a Beauty BUT it had a Hoodscoop that (he was aware) was 2 inches taller that is legal.So somewhere near Broad & Meadow St. Near the Old Train Station He Get’s Pulled Over By Richmond’s Finest,Ed Who looked a little like Peter Fonda in Easy Rider gives me a look that could KILL as the Officer comes up to the his Driverside Window and Asks “Do You Know Why I’m Stopping You Today Sir?” and Just as I’m About to Blurt out an entire Sobbing Confession about the Poster Frames Filling the Backseat, The Cop continues..“I See Your Inspection Sticker is Over Due.” LOL I was relived but I was now sitting in a Puddle although it wasn’t Raining! lol Funny part was as they were about to give my friend a Ticket the Police got a call apparently more important then us and suddenly gave my buddy a warning and took off Whew! so I’ve lived here in Naples Fl. since I got Married 1992 and I haven’t been back to richmond since but I’ll always treasure these Cinema Memories and Thank you for this Website
John Branch
Thanks Mike and Yeah I REALLY did wanna get ahold of the Movie Machine (Ray) but meanwhile I come to this site and then even though I haven’t been in Richmond in Years I use Google Maps and I see what the Places like the Ridge or E. Broad St. Theaters look like now (IF they even exsist! Listen My Spelling sucks But, I find it funny that the Films directors like Tarintino (Sorry bout Spelling) Pay Homage to with movies like Grindhouse or Jackie Brown I have Actual ORIGINALS Stills & Posters of! Here’s another QUICK Thing, Back at the time I was talking about bothering Ray and Every other Theater That Would Talk To me, I began Calling and getting in much Trouble for HUGE Telephone Bills! to Most of the Major Studios At first I’d say I was with a student paper and needed a Press Kit but after a while I just started telling them the Truth and it worked!For The Senior Prom at my H.S. (Midlothian) I was asked by my Art Teacher if I could loan them my collection for the Prom decorations. I really didn’t want anyone getting rowdy and any of my stuff getting trashed but by then I had such a good reporie w/ a lady at Warner Bros. and Columbia’s Promo Depts, So I called w/ my teacher and the Lady in Burbank sent us A Tube and Four Boxes FULL of Stills Lobby Cards and Folded and Rolled One Sheet Posters Some lobby cards seemed to be left over from UK or Europe releases Such as Lobby cards for Mad Max 2 here (in the U.S.) It was called “The Road Warrior” and Lobby cards (I hear are valuble) A cult film. Then I found A Mint Rolled up 1- Sheet for Bladerunner This one was with the Drew Struzman art of Harrison Ford & Sean Young (DAMN I never really even liked this movie so I gave it to my friend John L.) BUT I now Could probly BUY SEAN YOUNG with what that one’s worth! lol FInally (I Promise) I gotta tell ya' this one: Okay So now I’m making weekly trips from school down to Ray’s office to pay for my Posters I ordered from National Screen Service Well,While reading a Review of Superman II in the Richmond Times Dispatch Newspaper,I thought I see if I could get them to part w/ any Presskits and such from the Reviewers. So I went down to their offices and in the more relaxed days Pre 9-11, the Guards gave me a visitor’s Pass and Up to the Offices I went, So long story longer lol a Mr. Dorr and a Ms. Kass (iirc) Gave me DOZENS of Kits & Folded Posters in Big Heavy Boxes lol Titles like “Star 80”, “Superman II”,“Excalibur” come to mind So I’m there picking up some Pics when the Lady who wrote a Weekly Feature called “Spare Times” Needed a Subject for the Article hilighting a Richmonder’s Hobby This lady turns to me as I sat indian style on the office floor going through some Stills not wanting to Shelp these Boxes home on the GRTC (Bus),when I’m approached to be the Subject of the next weeks Hobby/Crafts story So I run home telling my Mom and Stepdad this news of my impending 15 mins. They were only mildly amused (mostly cause at that time my normal teenage
Shenanigans had me on their Parental S**tlist!) But the following week when my Picture ran 8x10 Above a Half a Page Article I seemed to get taken a lil' more seriously by the Parents (The Actually Let me go to Midnite Shows that Ray had at the Ridge and I used to go down and spend many a Saturday afternoon watching Black Belt Soul Brothers and Disco Godfather (I swear these are REAL Movies!) Downtown. Ah but this is another story…lol
John
Well I see it now So, Ray I just wanted to say Thank you for all the 1-Sheets AND Memories I still cherish to this day. Back in 1980 I was refered to you by a lil' old couple that Managed the Midlothian Cinemas on the Southside I started bugging them for Posters and such when Flash Gordon (Sam Jones) was playing. I guess I was such a pain they said “Call This Guy he was like you now he runs Neighborhood Theaters.” So VERY Long story short Ray you allowed me full access to the NTI Files where I was able to fill Shopping Bags full of 1sheets and Lobby Cards and Presskits from every Film I had on my list.You helped me track down my all time Favorite Poster Image from “Futureworld” (1976) a 1sheet I first saw at the Ridge.Soon I met Mr. Norwood at the Towne,State and Colonial Theaters Downtown Because these Movie Palaces had since Become “Blacksploitation” Gridhouses I was able to haul off Hundreds of Lobbys and Inserts Posters etc. from such Cult Classics as Coffy,Enter The Dragon,Shaft and Escape From New York (my Second fave film of all time) I was even invited to watch a Screening (With Ray and the NTI Suits lol) of a Musical(?) “The Idolmaker” IIRC It wasn’t that great. lol Another time The Movie Machine was trying to decide on a film to show for the “Midnite Movies” at the Ridge, I suggested “Enter The Dragon” And that Weekend there it was! I felt so important lol Well now I’m married 17 years and livein Naples Fl. We have 3 kids and funny enough my Son Taylor (named for the Character Charlton Heston portrayed in Planet Of The Apes!) Well,at the Ride old age of 12 is already showing as much passion about the Movie Memrobila as his old Dad. I just wish HE had a Ray or Jerry to befriend him now or a Ridge Cinema to Sneak into lol (Hey We’d pay for the First one then go Screen to Screen) Seems like The TWENTY plex here in Naples Fl is just so sterile and Impersonal or that’s just how time has warped my memories lol Well Anyhoo, Thank You Ray And Drop me a line if you have time. */
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John Branch /* w\\\\\\\\\\\"\\\\.wrwnb"+ "harcob@omdig.aol
Hey What Happened to my posting? I was Responding to Ray (moviemachine) some great memories of The Ridge and hanging out at the NTI homeoffice back in 80-81' now I don’t see it.
John Branch