Comments from Al Alvarez

Showing 226 - 250 of 3,426 comments

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Paris Theatre on Jul 12, 2019 at 3:23 pm

“Romeo and Juliet” was removed from a roadshow run when audience studies showed that the film appealed to a core audience of teenagers and college students. That same audience had made a hit out of “2001”, although that film had terrible pre-sales but always seemed to sell out at showtime. Robert Evans targeted the “Goodbye, Columbus” and “If…” audience instead of the “Shrew” audience.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cinema 1, 2 & 3 by Angelika on Jul 8, 2019 at 8:13 pm

Thanks, Howard.

I wonder if City Cinemas alone is behind this or if someone else failed to make a deal. Perhaps, an impossible deal.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cinema 1, 2 & 3 by Angelika on Jul 8, 2019 at 3:09 pm

Didn’t Pathe still hold the lease?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rivoli Theatre on Jul 3, 2019 at 6:06 am

You are correct, Vinanpar. It was “THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD” followed by other Cinerama films at the Sheridan that must have put “MUSIC” into the Colony.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rivoli Theatre on Jul 2, 2019 at 7:44 pm

“The Stewardesses” moved to the Astor while the Rivoli was being prepared for “Fiddler”, so it was closed for a few weeks. The Sheridan on Miami Beach was closed for months before it re-opened with “Deep Throat”, by an independent operator. It did not open “The Sound of Music” because “Khartoum” was still playing there.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rivoli Theatre on Jul 1, 2019 at 8:06 pm

“Hello, Dolly!” had bad reviews but a pretty good run. Most of the bad rep came from a “too young” Streisand who actually delivered.

Vindapar, I have the same nightmare. Is it from the Sheridan in Miami Beach going from FIDDLER to DEEP THROAT?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about AMC Fresh Meadows 7 on Jun 23, 2019 at 6:10 pm

I was General Manager for the Cineplex Odeon multiplex re-opening in 1988. Ex-manager Edward Bernhardt, who refused to run a multiplex version of the theatre, became my assistant, bedrock, co-conspirator and best friend.

Look at this, Eddie!

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rialto Theatre on Jun 18, 2019 at 7:16 pm

Thank you, buddy.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Grand Pussycat Cinema on Jun 18, 2019 at 6:14 pm

David, although the marquee was next door I believe the theatre was upstairs and shared the same address as the Pussycat.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rialto Theatre on Jun 18, 2019 at 6:11 pm

David, the Rialto 2 had an entrance on 42nd street and was in the basement of this same theatre. Once inside you could go from one to the other without being harassed. There is no reason to remove the 42nd street photos since this was basically a twin with two boxoffices and two entrances until Cineplex Odeon mothballed the fully remodelled twin two due to subway noise.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's Capitol Theatre on Jun 16, 2019 at 5:51 pm

You saw it at the Rivoli?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about AMC Lincoln Square 13 on Jun 5, 2019 at 7:09 pm

Movies were about fifteen minutes long in 1910. No theatre was ever built for that. As bigjoe has often been told, Regency and Rialto are the answer.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about AMC Kips Bay 15 on May 30, 2019 at 7:41 pm

What kind of theatre closes during summer for conversions? They obviously do not need 15 screens.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Palladium Times Square on May 19, 2019 at 8:22 pm

Perhaps posting a movie premiere Trump did NOT attend may be more worthy. He was a Ziegfeld regular with a pregnant Marla Maples while still married to Ivana. I saw him there many times when my office was there.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Roxy Cinema Tribeca on May 3, 2019 at 3:13 pm

This is now called the Tribeca Grand.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Regal Times Square on Apr 24, 2019 at 1:40 pm

Cineworld bought Regal.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about AMC Empire 25 on Apr 23, 2019 at 6:16 pm

moviebuff82, the Regal across the street is just as bad and I own stock in Cineworld.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Regal Times Square on Apr 23, 2019 at 6:14 pm

What new logo signage? Nothing has been changed.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Silverspot Cinemas Metsquare on Apr 22, 2019 at 6:50 pm

When I asked them how many screens were open (only eight movies in the listings), their nasty answer was “How many do you want open?”.

When I asked if this was an example of their customer service to a simple question, they blocked me.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rivoli Theatre on Apr 20, 2019 at 3:37 pm

There were some other missteps in that range such as “CHEYENNE AUTUMN” and “THE HALLELUJAH TRAIL”.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rivoli Theatre on Apr 20, 2019 at 1:50 pm

“HALF A SIXPENCE” ran for 11 weeks as a Road Show at the Criterion.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rivoli Theatre on Apr 19, 2019 at 6:07 am

My mistake on “FORUM”. Did not Road Show, at least not in NY. There in an issue between not recouping costs and “disappointing” runs. Some films like “CLEOPATRA” were labeled flops although they eventually showed a profit.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rivoli Theatre on Apr 18, 2019 at 6:13 pm

“The Lion In Winter”, “A Funny Thing Happened…”, “Can-Can”, “How the West Was Won”, and “Mutiny on the Bounty” all ran under 44 weeks first run on Road Show. Define “successes”.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rivoli Theatre on Apr 18, 2019 at 4:15 pm

And this series.

http://cinematreasures.org/blog/2008/9/9/remembering-cinerama

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rivoli Theatre on Apr 18, 2019 at 4:06 pm

bigjoe, I think the Broadway run was supported by church groups traveling to town from all over the country.

I think the site you are looking for is based on Michael Coate’s excellent research.

https://www.in70mm.com/news/2018/story/index.htm