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Memories
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October 31, 2007
Thirty years ago, I remember UFO’s and disco!
By the end of 1977, I was ten years-old and had just come off of a summer dominated by STAR WARS mania! ABC-TV was ruling supreme with blockbuster shows like The Six Million Dollar Man, Charlie’s Angel’s (Cheryl Ladd had just arrived!), Happy Days and future classics like Three’s Company, Soap and The Love Boat had just premiered. Elivs Presley was dead, the Yankees had won the world series against the Dodgers (“Reggie! Reggie! Reggie!”) and Jimmy Carter was the president of the United States.
Two new films were about to be released. One would make science fiction history. The other would revolutionize the disco culture:
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND was released in November 1977. It was Steven Spielberg’s third theatrical feature. Unlike it’s sci-fi competitor, Star Wars, it focussed less on action and more on the spiritual journey that mankind would experience upon it’s first encounter with alien intelligence. The special effects, in two words, were wonderous and awesome! It even made the cover of Newsweek magazine. I had the pleasure of seeing it when it premiered at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City. It remains today, my favorite Spielberg film of all time.
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October 19, 2007
Los Angeles theaters: Broadway and Eighth
Does anyone know which theater sat on the NORTH side of 8th Street in Los Angeles during World War 2? A photograph shows something called the Newsreel Theater but does not indicate if it was owned by any theater chain of the time period. I know that the location was NOT the Tower Theater (also at Broadway and 8th.)
The website does not show this theater in its main index of newsreel theaters.
Many thanks.
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October 17, 2007
Los Angeles Optic Theater on fire site
Anyone with an interest in the old theaters of Main Street in Los Angeles may wish to examine some interesting photos I found on this L.A. Fire Dept. history website. Under the heading of “famous fires” are photos of a 1913 fire at the then Brennan Hotel. An excellent contemporary news article accompanies the photos telling all about the
fire.This is significant because the photos and the news story talk about all the theaters which were busy DURING the fire, and how the public was warned about the fire but did not panic. The Optic Theater is clearly visible next door to the Brennan Hotel. While smoke (mostly from the horse driven fire engines!) obscures our view of things, you get a good sense of time(and architecture). Hope you can find the web page.
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September 28, 2007
ISO: Wilma Theatre info
MISSOULA, MT — My business partners and I are closing on our acquisition of this historical Wilma Theatre (1921 / 1063 seats) on Sept. 28 / 07 (this week). I read some great commentary and stories about it from some members and would love to get more information from anyone. We are attempting to piece the history together. We are also restoring the theatre and will use a restrictive use easement to ensure the theatre stays a community asset/treasure. /Rocky Mountain Development Group
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September 25, 2007
The Drexel story
BEXLEY, OH — A New York Times article highlights some memories of the Drexel Theatre.
The Drexel, though, survived. It opened that Depression Christmas with Sally Blane, Loretta Young’s sister, in “One Mile from Heaven,” and kept its screen flickering through the decades. By 1981 it had lost much of its luster, and was showing bargain movies just to survive, but it always managed to catch the eye of a young man with plans named Jeff Frank.
Contributed by NYCinephile.
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September 18, 2007
The Colonial Theater By ‘Jack’s Kid’ Dennis O'Rear
HARRISBURG, PA — I am Dennis O'Rear the son of John “Jack” O'Rear the manager of Harrisburg’s Colonial Theater from about 1934 until his death in 1957. I have some pleasant memories of the theater which I’d like to share. When I visited there I was called Jack’s son or Jack’s kid.
My dad was born in 1892 and after graduating from a military high school in Kentucky began a career as a theater manager. He left me an old scrap book of his that describes his career as a vaudeville and movie theater manager in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Many of the places and events here are obscure to me. Prior to coming to Harrisburg he worked in Allentown (Rialto), Bethlehem (Kurtz and Colonial), and Reading (Rajah) along with other locations and theaters.
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September 14, 2007
Intermission Films
Hello everyone! I have a quick question for those of you with a historical background (that should include just about everybody!).
What was the name of the studio located in the State of Colorado (it is now closed and derelict)that did commercials, intermission films and coming attraction logos specifically for the drive-in market during the 40’s, 50’s and through the 70’s (I believe).
I think this studio was located in Denver, but I’m not sure.
Thanks much for any info!
Barring
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August 29, 2007
Neptune City NJ Theater - Grindhouse
This Theater seems forgotten as I have trolled the web for info on it. After the movie “Grindhouse” was released I thought I would pay it it’s due.
This was a single screen theater in Neptune City, New Jersey, near the shore and in the midst of typical suburbs. It was across from a small strip mall which included a Two Guys store. I believe it had been there since at least the late 60’s. It may not have been a Grindhouse in it’s beginning but it sure turned into one! The neighborhood was once middle class, but became a place of crime and section 8 housing.
During my ‘time’ the Neptune City Theater was the only grindhouse around – it showed second and third run films and the typical fare dug out of the grindhouse genre closet. Most of these were typical low budget shockers that could only be found in bad drive in’s, 42nd street in New York, or other scattered Grindhouses throught the country. Most of these flicks would never see the light of day at the other 10 + screens around my area.
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August 23, 2007
Rare glimpse at Philadelphia movie theaters
Dennis Zimmerman, frequent contributor to cinematreasures, snapped photos circa 1968 of various downtown Philadelphia movie theaters. Dennis authorized me to flickr post them so they can be shared, and to link them to Cinema Treasures. Here’s a rare photo glimpse of historic Philadelphia movie houses:
STANLEY
opened 1921, and until its demolition in 1973:
Flickr StanleyAldine
opened 1921, renamed a few times, here as CINEMA 19:
Flickr Cinema 19
closed in 1994 to become a CVS.Keith’s opened 1902 but redone 1949 by theater owner William Goldman and depicted here as RANDOLPH CINERAMA.
Demolished 1971: Flickr of Randolph Cinerama -
August 8, 2007
Pink Floyd’s THE WALL: 25 years ago this week
PINK FLOYD: THE WALL opened on August 6, 1982. It was directed by Alan Parker (who had previously scored a big hit with FAME two years earlier), written by Roger Waters (the album’s original creator) and designed by Gerald Scarfe (the album’s original animator).
In New York City, the film opened at the famous Ziegfeld Theatre. Film critic Roger Ebert called it one of the best new films he’d seen in years. For years after, it dominated many of the “midnight movie madness” screens with nearly the same popularity as THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW.
I first saw the film out of pure curiousity. I rented the video in 1984 at the age of sixteen, not knowing anything about the movie, The Wall album, or even Pink Floyd, for that matter. I had merely heard that this movie was supposed to be good. It was immediately apparent that this was no ordinary movie with the traditional three-act structure. This was an R-rated, 90-minute rock video (virtually no dialogue) and an all-out attack on the senses.