Zubi, thanks for the info on the II-III. When I first started traveling and taking pictures of theatres, I snapped a few shots of the lobby of the II-III after it was closed. Had I known they were going to be torn down I would’ve taken more.
They’re at the bottom of our page for it at Cinematour.com
Does anybody have any photos or details about the original multiplex that was built to accompany this theatre? And how, historically, does that fit in. Were people irritated if they went to see a movie at the Chinese and they got stuck in the multiplex? Or was it just par for the course at the time?
Kind of strange Cinemark keeps replacing the Tinseltown signage when they still have it as part of their banner of brands. Unless of course they’re planning to phase it out because of all the purple and green checkered memories it evokes.
From photos on Google it looks like they closed down the original theatres 1-10 and renumbered the theatres starting with theatre #1 in the lobby, which I assume was originally theatre #11.
I think they may have just added new carpet. The entire development (not just AMC) was being renovated so perhaps AMC is hoping there’s some life left in this place.
Ovation was the only one Carmike came up with on their own. Sundance was a company that Carmike acquired and never rebranded. Bogarts was also Muvico’s concept that Carmike never rebranded.
Well — more so that Carmike acquired Sundance Cinemas and didn’t really plan to brand them separately. When AMC got Carmike they just so happened to fall in line with AMC’s Dine-In concept.
I visited last month and can confirm all 24-screens are still open and operating. Some of them looked like they had brand new carpet, didn’t look like they were preparing to shut down any portion soon.
It would depend on which side of the theatre they closed down. Since most of the AMC 30-plexes were essentially two 13-plexes flanking four screens that surround the snack bar, they achieve 17-screens by closing down one entire wing. Most of the 30/24 plexes that AMC has cut down to 17/14 screens, they’ve simply closed the 18-30/15-24 wing making it impossible to tell there were ever more screens unless you knew they were there. I would be interested in seeing one where they close the 1-13 side down and kept everything numbered the same.
Technalight was an enhanced lamphouse for the 35mm projection system that greatly increased the amount of light emitted from the projector. This was particularly important at a Drive-In where ambient light around/behind the screens would wash out the projected image making dark scenes difficult to view. I believe once everybody converted to digital projection it improved image quality even more, making Technalight irrelevant/obsolte. Ambient light continues to be a challenge for most Drive-Ins that aren’t isolated or on the outskirts of town.
The theatre was built on the west portion of the Capitol 6 Drive-In, which itself was reconfigured to continue operation of all six screens on the east portion of the property. Now that the theatre has been demolished, the west portion of the property, including the land the building was on, acts as parking for the Capitol Flea Market/Swap Meet that operates at the Drive-In during the days Thu-Sun.
This one isn’t your typical layout so it may not lend itself to the typical “shut down a hallway” so it’s hard to say. I’ll be in PHX next week, I’ll try and stop by and figure it out.
The shooting is quite unfortunate. Can anybody confirm if this theatre was originally 10-screens or if it has always been 16-screens? If the 10-screen was a separate building, does it have an entry on the site?
https://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/2000.html
We have some posted over at Cinematour, if you haven’t seen them.
Zubi, thanks for the info on the II-III. When I first started traveling and taking pictures of theatres, I snapped a few shots of the lobby of the II-III after it was closed. Had I known they were going to be torn down I would’ve taken more.
They’re at the bottom of our page for it at Cinematour.com
https://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/2129.html
Does anybody have any photos or details about the original multiplex that was built to accompany this theatre? And how, historically, does that fit in. Were people irritated if they went to see a movie at the Chinese and they got stuck in the multiplex? Or was it just par for the course at the time?
AMC tends to take those down and just put an AMC sign up in over the door.
Kind of strange Cinemark keeps replacing the Tinseltown signage when they still have it as part of their banner of brands. Unless of course they’re planning to phase it out because of all the purple and green checkered memories it evokes.
From photos on Google it looks like they closed down the original theatres 1-10 and renumbered the theatres starting with theatre #1 in the lobby, which I assume was originally theatre #11.
Regal has added onto the building and installed recliners in all theatres. It is now a 5-screen.
I think they may have just added new carpet. The entire development (not just AMC) was being renovated so perhaps AMC is hoping there’s some life left in this place.
Ovation was the only one Carmike came up with on their own. Sundance was a company that Carmike acquired and never rebranded. Bogarts was also Muvico’s concept that Carmike never rebranded.
Well — more so that Carmike acquired Sundance Cinemas and didn’t really plan to brand them separately. When AMC got Carmike they just so happened to fall in line with AMC’s Dine-In concept.
Well would you look at that… interesting!
I visited last month and can confirm all 24-screens are still open and operating. Some of them looked like they had brand new carpet, didn’t look like they were preparing to shut down any portion soon.
It would depend on which side of the theatre they closed down. Since most of the AMC 30-plexes were essentially two 13-plexes flanking four screens that surround the snack bar, they achieve 17-screens by closing down one entire wing. Most of the 30/24 plexes that AMC has cut down to 17/14 screens, they’ve simply closed the 18-30/15-24 wing making it impossible to tell there were ever more screens unless you knew they were there. I would be interested in seeing one where they close the 1-13 side down and kept everything numbered the same.
I’ve been to other 4DX screens — never watched a full movie, just checked them out. Like DBox, they aren’t for me, distract me from the movie.
Plush rockers/seats from another Regal that got the recliner treatment?
CMX stands for Cinemex, but it’s their US brand.
I believe this theatre is now closed. Schulman’s Movie Bowl Grille appears to be the operating theatre in town.
I help run a handy site called Cinematour.com — when in doubt, check there. (But please, do not post here unless you give us credit.)
https://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/5044.html
Regency II did have an escalator from the street level into the lobby.
Technalight was an enhanced lamphouse for the 35mm projection system that greatly increased the amount of light emitted from the projector. This was particularly important at a Drive-In where ambient light around/behind the screens would wash out the projected image making dark scenes difficult to view. I believe once everybody converted to digital projection it improved image quality even more, making Technalight irrelevant/obsolte. Ambient light continues to be a challenge for most Drive-Ins that aren’t isolated or on the outskirts of town.
The theatre was built on the west portion of the Capitol 6 Drive-In, which itself was reconfigured to continue operation of all six screens on the east portion of the property. Now that the theatre has been demolished, the west portion of the property, including the land the building was on, acts as parking for the Capitol Flea Market/Swap Meet that operates at the Drive-In during the days Thu-Sun.
This one isn’t your typical layout so it may not lend itself to the typical “shut down a hallway” so it’s hard to say. I’ll be in PHX next week, I’ll try and stop by and figure it out.
The shooting is quite unfortunate. Can anybody confirm if this theatre was originally 10-screens or if it has always been 16-screens? If the 10-screen was a separate building, does it have an entry on the site?
I did not. Born and raised in Northern California.
http://www.telegram.com/news/20171102/questions-remain-as-westboros-only-movie-theater-closes-doors
Interesting article about how nobody knows who actually owns the building.