Comments from Al Alvarez

Showing 526 - 550 of 3,426 comments

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about AMC Empire 25 on Sep 15, 2016 at 3:46 pm

For the April 21, 2000 re-opening, the features were: U-571, MISSION TO MARS, PITCH BLACK, GOSSIP, BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, BOILER ROOM, DROWNING MONA, TROIS, THE 9TH GATE, COTTON MARY, ME, MYSELF AND I, GHOST DOG: WAY OF THE SAMURAI, READY TO RUMBLE, TOPSY TURVY, THREE STRIKES, PRICE OF GLORY, BEYOND THE MAT, FAMILY TREE, TIGGER THE MOVIE, ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER, CASABLANCA, TEN COMMANDMENTS, & 42ND STREET.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Grandview Theatre on Sep 7, 2016 at 10:43 pm

Such drivel. Who cares?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's Metropolitan Theatre on Sep 6, 2016 at 8:52 pm

It was Loews. Cineplex only did a cosmetic remodel and put in new cushion seats. Loews was still operating with 70 year old wooden seats.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about AMC Lincoln Square 13 on Sep 4, 2016 at 5:55 pm

Cheaper prints have been getting made for twenty years due to short runs and a lack of subruns. Print quality did not deteriorate due to a lack of projectionists. The prints are just on lower quality mylar and most get destroyed soon after the first run.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's Capitol Theatre on Sep 2, 2016 at 7:29 pm

A quick check on ebay shows programs on sale on all those titles, bigjoe59, although the TANGO program is Japanese.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's Capitol Theatre on Sep 1, 2016 at 6:45 pm

Another roadshow-era oddness that always gets ignored is “I AM CURIOUS (YELLOW)” at the Evergreen in Greenwich Village.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's Capitol Theatre on Aug 30, 2016 at 7:08 pm

bigoe59, if you look at the semi-Roadshow runs of well received, edgy, classic foreign films (LA DOLCE VITA, THE EASY LIFE, LES LIASONS DANGEURESES, FELLINI SATYRICON) you will see what UA was trying to re-create.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's Capitol Theatre on Aug 29, 2016 at 11:04 pm

I will give “CALIGULA” a pass since it was eight years after the Roadshow era and quite an anomaly. But “LAST TANGO” was very much a part of the trend to move Roadshows out of Broadway and into the prestigious upper east side, before the whole concept died out with spontaneous youth audiences controlling all ticket sales in the mid-seventies. I do think “CALIGULA” uncut had a souvenir program, though.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's Capitol Theatre on Aug 29, 2016 at 10:19 pm

Let’s not forget that “LAST TANGO IN PARIS” was a roadshow AFTER “MAN OF LA MANCHA”. We have a legacy of ignoring movies, and theatres we find morally offensive in hindsight. But not here on Cinema Treasures.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about AMC 34th Street 14 on Aug 24, 2016 at 10:12 pm

The oldest FREE PASS hustle in the industry. Sign up at your own peril. It only hurts the business.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about IMAX Theatre at Sunset Place on Aug 23, 2016 at 2:00 pm

Although the AMC Sunset Place opened in late 1998, the IMAX opened later in 1999 and closed in 2003.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Fort Pierce Drive-In on Aug 7, 2016 at 9:44 pm

Flyer ads added in the photo section.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's Orpheum Twin Theatre on Aug 2, 2016 at 7:24 pm

According to the New York Times, the Orpheum also had a “large frontage” on 87th Street and extended the full block.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Plaza Theatre on Jul 25, 2016 at 9:53 am

I worked for Cineplex Odeon who once owned the Plaza and the Cinema 3. People were constanty going to the Paris and the Cinema 3 looking for the Plaza. Due to the long runs at all three theatres, even veteran New Yorkers couldn’t remember which was which. In the days of exclusive runs, cash tickets and long lines, believe me, it was a problem.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Plaza Theatre on Jul 22, 2016 at 11:38 pm

Cinema 3 was not really near Cinema 1 & 11. The Plaza Hotel was two blocks away from the Plaza Theatre and the Sutton was not really quite on Sutton Place. But that is New York for you.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's State Theatre on Jul 20, 2016 at 12:07 am

Theatre, Theater, they are not.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's State Theatre on Jul 19, 2016 at 10:55 pm

vindanpar there is no Schubert. There is a Shubert (and for a while there, a Little Shubert). Franz and his grammar nazis are simply playing with you.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Plaza Theatre on Jul 19, 2016 at 7:01 pm

Many people went to the Plaza Hotel looking for it there.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about RKO 86th Street Theatre on Jul 18, 2016 at 5:01 pm

bigjoe, that was a link to another website, not a photo posting. “MY FAIR LADY” went wide in June 1966.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cinema 1, 2 & 3 by Angelika on Jun 21, 2016 at 5:50 pm

Check this one out: http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/13922

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cinema 1, 2 & 3 by Angelika on Jun 21, 2016 at 12:35 pm

The area between 23th Street and 42nd street on the west side is the fastest growing housing area in the city.

And yes, this twin was open way before AMC made up their fake story, but twin theatres date back to the silent era.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about New Theatre on May 31, 2016 at 9:48 am

Hi Lorenzo. I used the “Loews” just to identify it. It can be searched as Astor Plaza. (This may have to do with the fact that it was built by Walter Reade but opened by Loews.) I remember this discussion a while back for classic cinemas that were now churches with performance spaces. The folks at CT seem to feel that new members trying to find what a building used to be were more likely to search that those who already knew where classic cinemas were located and what they were now. I can see the logic.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about New Theatre on May 31, 2016 at 12:35 am

Cinema Treasures usually lists the latest name on top if the venue is still operating as a theatre of sorts. Hence, the Loews Astor Plaza in New York is listed as the Playstation. If you search for the Astor Cinema, the NEW theatre will appear at the bottom as an option.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about AMC Empire 25 on May 26, 2016 at 12:05 pm

Mike, those grand systems were bastardized within years and featured many classic films. Today, they are bastardized within weeks, keep the high prices, and expect the latest hyped super hero stinker to rip off the public for them. Some people seem willing to pay extra to sit in the trunk of a car BEHIND the screen as long as they can tell everyone online that they “saw” the latest.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about AMC Empire 25 on May 25, 2016 at 11:04 pm

By the way, I will never forget the audience approval applause at the THX sound silence certified screenings when the un-properly secured wall sound panels rattled loudly for their enjoyment. That, they said, was some AWESOME sound they would gladly pay extra for.