Comments from spectrum

Interesting photos – some show areas I’ve never seen before – shows more original plaster remain than I had realized, particularly the inner promenade between the grand lobby and auditorium area, especially ornate ceilings, and it looks like a fair amount of the upper lobbies still remains (even some carpeting on the staircase!) Even the top part of the balcony remains (although minus seats).

I read in the United Artists entry that Illitch has done some major repairs to the roof – and possibly renoavting the building. I wonder if the roof for the Michigan has been or will be repaired.

I wonder if the projectors are still in the projector booth. Apparently the original screen is still handing. If the projectors are there, they could put a railing on the balcony remainder, raise the screen to the top of the proscenium and have occasional movie showings at the world’s first multi-level drive-in! (sit in the balcony or in your car — but no honking!)

Actually, I don’t think it is. The addresses are different. Perhaps the photo above was misattributed.

The Kuhn-Riddle page has a nice photo of the main auditorium. Sleek modern decor, black walls with horitontal silver lines and stylish square white lights across the walls. Bright blue stadium-style seating. Large screen, with great sound and projection. Seats about 175 (the other cinemas are around 80 and 45 seats.) Even the smallest one is stadium seating.) The other two screens have the same style decor. Film fare is first run, primarily of the art and foreign film genres.

More updates on the organ! On March 3, the console was installed, and at present (3/10/09), 16 of the 35 ranks have been installed; the left chamber is about 95% complete. Donald Phipps is overseeing the effort, and was the one who built up and donated the organ. When operationmal it will be the largest theatre organ in New England, just slightly bigger than the 4/34 at Shanklin conference center.

Plans are for the installation to be completed by December 2009.

More details in the feature article at the Hanover’s web site at:

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Now open as the Park Cinema. Shows 1st run south asian films (i.e. Indian subcontinent). They have installed state of the art projection and DTS equipment and stadium seating.

You can click on the Google Maps link at the top of the page to get both aerial and street-level views of the site. The red pointer will point to the entrance at the Taft hotel. The auditorium was just to the right, between the Taft Hotel and the Time-Life building. It is a very plain modern building about 7 floors high, the facade all large glass rectangles. You can still see the arched and circular windows on the TGIF restaurant facade, although the marble paneling appears newer.

The Boston Globe article (linked above) has a better picture shoring the roscenium and left side wall. It is definitely restorable – the decorative plasterwork is singed, but largely intact, although sunlight is clearly coming in through the parts of the roof that collapsed.

According to their website, the grand re-opening of the Pomona Fox is set for April 5, 2009!

Their official website (in the description at top) has a nice set of virtual tours from various places in the auditorium and lobbies. It looks the original inner lobbies/mezanines are all original (restored) and the only modern part is the new outer lobby.

The virtual tours are worth checking out – the color is somewhat monotone, but in a nice way, very appropriate for a classical musical venue.

Here are three more from the Conclave:

View link – closeup of Fox Office Bldg entrance
View link – Proscenium
View link – organ screen detail

The THSA have a lot of photos of San Francisco area theatres from their 2008 Conclave at:

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Here are links to their photos of the Fox Oakland (taken summer, 2008):

They are all of the marquee and vertical sign:

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The THSA 2008 Conclave has a large set of photos on Flickr at View link

Here are their photos for the Oakland Paramount:

View link – vertical sign
View link – exterior detail
View link – vertical sign View link – marquee
View link – auditorium from stage
View link – Auditorium from stage
View link – Auditorium
View link – Auditorium details
View link – front facade
View link – auditorium ceiling – blue lighting
View link – Proscenium
View link – Main Lobby
View link – main Lobby
View link – Main Lobby
View link – Main Lobby Staircase
View link – Organ
View link – Ornamental Details
View link – Auditorium Ceiling – Golden Lighting