Comments from Donald John Long

Showing 51 - 75 of 77 comments

Donald John Long
Donald John Long commented about Regency Lido Theatre on Nov 19, 2002 at 2:13 pm

I enjoyed each and every visit to this Art Deco – Moderne show palace right in the heart of the affluent Newport Beach community near the exotic Lido Isle. It was always a pleasure to go there, no matter how far I had to drive to get there. I love the neon facade!Truly one of southern California’s Cinema Treasures.

Donald John Long
Donald John Long commented about La Reina Theatre on Nov 19, 2002 at 2:08 pm

I recall those wonderful times I went to the La Reina in the 1960s and 1970s, and enjoyed this Art Deco Picture Palace so much. It is truly one of the most beautiful Deco Neon showplaces in the world.

I am so glad that it was restored and not destroyed, although sadly, it is no longer a theater.

Donald John Long
Donald John Long commented about Laurel Theatre on Nov 18, 2002 at 8:04 pm

The one and only time I went to the Laurel Theatre (I didn’t live in the area) was in 1979 when I took my date there to see Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now”. I recall it with fondness because it was a large and beautiful theater, very comfortable and spacious, due to size and its Art Moderne theme.

Donald John Long
Donald John Long commented about Hillsdale Cinema on Nov 18, 2002 at 7:03 pm

This was a grand and beautiful ultramodern 70mm theater on El Camino Real across from the Hillsdale Mall Shopping Center in San Mateo. I went to this theater many times. I’ll never forget seeing the premiere engagement of “SUPERMAN” here in 1978 with family and friends. The theater was painted white and had square-block columns around the front windowed, curtained facade below the marquee with tasteful wood paneling inside the lobby. This should have been saved by the City of San Mateo. It looks downright awful now as a furniture store.

Donald John Long
Donald John Long commented about Grand Lake Theatre on Nov 18, 2002 at 6:52 pm

This and the Paramount Theatre are the two grandest and most glorious cinema palaces in all of Oakland, and surrounding cities.

I’ll never forget going to see the premiere of “E.T.” here in 1982, when the manager, Allan Mischaun (excuse me if it’s misspelled!) was promoting Spielberg’s movie on John Stanley’s “Creature Features” TV show on KTVU Channel 2. I’ve since gone back whenever I’m in the Oakland area to enjoy its plush lobby, grand staircases up to the balcony, and overall cinema ambience, so much lacking in theaters today.

Donald John Long
Donald John Long on Nov 18, 2002 at 6:46 pm

In the early 1980s, I went to the Gateway Theater many times because it was a big, modern 70mm cinema with a large lobby with giant glass windows. The first movie I saw there was “ALIEN” (1979)IN 70mm, then went back with my friends for movies like “SUPERMAN II”, “RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK” (1981), “DRAGONSLAYER”, and “CONAN THE BARBARIAN” (1982), and many more. It was a great experience.

Donald John Long
Donald John Long commented about Fox Fullerton Theatre on Nov 18, 2002 at 6:35 pm

I have many fond memories of going to this theater in the early 1970s when I lived in Orange County. It was an art-house theater then and I saw many first-run art films like “Pink Floyd at Pompeii” and “Zabriskie Point” there and sci-fi double features. I used to hang out with the projectionist, Gordon Cardoza, in the projection room while the films were running after I had seen them. We used to talk, eat and sleep movies and rock music back then. Gordon was a really cool and knowledgeable hippie dude who just happened to live in Yorba Linda right next door to rock star Jackson Browne!

Donald John Long
Donald John Long commented about Century 21 on Nov 18, 2002 at 6:25 pm

This complex has always been my favorite place to go to see first-run major blockbuster movies since 1980. I’ve seen many major studio films here, beginning with STAR WARS: The EMPIRE STRIKES BACK in 1980. The entire complex is a good cinema experience, although I’d rather see movies in the “unhalved” complete cinedomes of the Century 21 and 22. The Century 21, 22 and 23 are located on Winchester Blvd. between Stevens Creek Blvd. and the 280 Freeway, right next to the Winchester Mystery House. The Century 24 is situated two blocks to the south on Winchester Blvd. while the Century 25 is across town at the intersection of Hamilton and Saratoga. Thank God they were unharmed by the spectacular Santana Row fire across the street on August 19, 2002! That was scary.

Donald John Long
Donald John Long commented about Centinela Drive-In on Nov 18, 2002 at 6:11 pm

This was a Pacific Theater and I clearly recall the drive-in employees in their white coats with flashlights walking around while the films were running. Some of the classic sci-fi movies my family would go to see there were “Target Earth” (1954), “Creature With the Atom Brain” (1955), and one of my all-time favorite sci-fi movies, “THIS ISLAND EARTH” (1955) which was particularly memorable because it was a big-budget studio film in Technicolor and the effect of seeing this movie on a warm starry summer night was really awesome, while watching the flying saucer speed through stars in space up on the giant movie screen. This was a first-class family drive-in during the 1950s. “Let’s go to the snack bar!”

Donald John Long
Donald John Long commented about Burlingame Drive-In on Nov 18, 2002 at 5:58 pm

I must confess I once went to this cold and drafty drive-in by the Bay in 1978 to see “The Incredible Melting Man”. I just couldn’t resist the urge to relive the nifty-Fifties & Sixties experience, and kept going to drive-in theaters until they closed. I also saw “Escape From New York” here in 1981.

Donald John Long
Donald John Long commented about Apollo Theatre on Nov 15, 2002 at 12:09 am

Could this theater by chance be the same one as the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem? Perhaps they are one and the same.

Donald John Long
Donald John Long commented about Paradise Theatre on Nov 13, 2002 at 10:39 pm

Yes, I too, remember having my “Day in Paradise”. The Paradise was third only to the Academy and the Loyola for being the most beautifully designed picture palace in the Inglewood – Westchester area of Los Angeles. It was located not far from Morningside High School and the Imperial Theater, (which I would rate about 4th in the area, excluding of course the grand old dame, Carthay Circle Theater, a bit farther away). I saw Elvis Presley’s “BLUE HAWAII” there in 1961, and it was terrific. The Pacific Theaters chain always did a first-class job with their theaters, including the drive-ins.

It’s such a shame these fine cinema exhibitors (Pacific) are no longer in business, and top-flight theaters like the Paradise are closed. Thank God the exterior has been preserved!!!

Donald John Long
Donald John Long commented about TCL Chinese Theatre on Nov 13, 2002 at 4:30 pm

This IS the most famous movie theater in the world! This is where KING KONG was shown on its premiere engagement in 1933, and a 13-year-old boy named Ray Harryhausen sat in the dark and was mesmerized by movie monsters, and became one of the 20th Century Hollywood’s greatest cinema geniuses. This is where Forrest J. Ackerman sat in the dark watching KONG and was transported to Skull Island, and became the world’s leading authority on sci-fi, fantasy and horror, and his friend Ray Bradbury saw it with him there again in 1938.

And this is where I saw the wonder film of the 20th Century – MGM’s FORBIDDEN PLANET in CinemaScope, Eastmancolor and Stereophonic sound, as a special birthday gift from my dad on my 9th birthday, August 9, 1956. It was an unforgettable experience. The doorman led us into another world.

Robby the Robot was there in the theater lobby, behind velvet ropes, standing guard in a corner, his electronic computer brain and lights flashing every so often, his head turning, and saying, “Welcome to Altair-4!”

We returned in October to see “The King And I” in CinemaScope 55 there. I have returned often, with all the classic Hollywood movie stars' hand-and-footprints, and the touristy stuff, there’s a lot to see besides a movie! This is the Mecca for all Hollywood film fans the world over.

Donald John Long
Donald John Long commented about United Artists Inglewood Theatre on Nov 13, 2002 at 4:14 pm

This theater is where I and my family saw the best Japanese science fiction movie ever made, “The MYSTERIANS” (Toho, 1958) in late October 1958. I recall staring up at the UA tower with the letters “UNITED ARTISTS” on it, transfixed, as a huge movie display ‘standee’ of the Samurai robot in the movie stood guard outside the ticket booth. It was an unforgettable experience. The theater had just recently been modernized to a Fifties Art Deco Moderne look, painted two-tone grey and blue, and looked really modern and high-tech. We all had a great time there, and saw many classic movies there.

Donald John Long
Donald John Long commented about Orange Theatre on Nov 13, 2002 at 2:35 am

I saw several movies at the Orange around 1970, but by far the most memorable experience was when I went there to see the 1970 reissue of MGM’s BEN-HUR, in wide screen and Stereo sound, in its original premiere roadshow form with the overture music on the soundtrack.

A nice setting for a classic film.

I was in the second floor balcony and recall looking out the windows shown in the photograph on a sunny Sunday afternoon matinee. The theater looked the same in 1970 as it does in the photo above.

Donald John Long
Donald John Long commented about Nuart Theatre on Nov 13, 2002 at 2:27 am

This is absolutely the best Art house in Los Angeles County. Period. Their programs and double features, not to mention their film festivals, are second to none.

I’ve had a blast there at science fiction film festivals, of which there are many, and it’s a cool place to go with all the night life in the city after the movie.

Donald John Long
Donald John Long commented about Loyola Theatre on Nov 13, 2002 at 2:09 am

This was without a doubt one of the most magnificent movie theaters in Los Angeles County.

I fondly (and now tearfully) recall going to see movies there around 1960, and, like the Academy, was a very classy place.

The ushers wore uniforms even in the 1960s, and the lobby was to die for if you love Art Deco Moderne! As the photo above shows, it was best appreciated at night, when the colorful neon would transform that ‘ugly duckling’ tower into a beautiful ‘swan’. This theater should have been put on the National Register of Historic Places, like the nearby demolished Carthay Circle Theater.

If they were we would be able to enjoy their spectacular beauty today, as much as the classic films shown inside on their screens.

Donald John Long
Donald John Long commented about Inglewood Theater on Nov 13, 2002 at 1:56 am

This and the Ritz Theater were the two kiddie-matinee houses in downtown Inglewood in the 1950s where we would be dropped off by our parents all day and see from 4 to 6 hours of films on a Saturday afternoon. We had a great time, especially since Dad would take us to Sav-On Drugs first where we could buy five candy bars for a quarter before going into the theater. I loved my Necco wafers. Clark bars, Rocky Road, Look, and Big Hunk, all for a nickel each; but my favorites bought at the theaters were Flicks, chocolate discs in a cylinder tube with metallic wrap, and Raisinets.

Donald John Long
Donald John Long commented about Imperial Theatre on Nov 13, 2002 at 1:44 am

Man, this was a beautiful theater back in 1960 when I went there for the premiere of George Pal’s “The TIME MACHINE”. In fact, the whole neighborhood then was very nice and upscale, with the modern Crenshaw district shopping center nearby. It had an ultramodern facade with lots of glass doors and windows, and black glossy siding with stainless steel silver trim, and the spiral staircase was clearly visible from the street.

A classy theater 40 years ago.

Donald John Long
Donald John Long commented about Fox Venice Theatre on Nov 13, 2002 at 1:33 am

I’ll never forget going to the Fox Venice to see a science fiction film festival there in 1975. A good time was had by all as it was around the time of the Filmex show and there were a lot of sci-fi and Star Trek fans in town and we all had a blast. I love its marquee and tower – and would love to see the colorful neon at night in all its glory – as I recall, the stars would flash up and down in sequence. A proper monument to cinema.

Donald John Long
Donald John Long commented about Fox Theatre on Nov 13, 2002 at 1:22 am

A wonderful cinematic experience was always to be had at this lavish and ornate cinema palace with the neon tower. Many times my family went there to see first-run Hollywood classics like “Journey To The Center of the Earth” in 1959.

Donald John Long
Donald John Long commented about 5th Avenue Theatre on Nov 13, 2002 at 1:11 am

I too have fond memories of going to this fine theater. Not quite the class act of the Academy Theater a few blocks away, but it still was a prestige place for Mom and Dad to go enjoy a movie together and drop the kids off at the Ritz or the Inglewood Theater. I’ll never forget seeing Mr. Magoo there in “1001 Arabian Nights” – a CinemaScope cartoon feature – in 1959, having a 5th Avenue candy bar at the Fifth Avenue Theater!

Donald John Long
Donald John Long commented about Crest Theatre on Nov 13, 2002 at 12:53 am

I recall with fondness going to this picture palace in the late 1960s, and especially its beautiful yellow polychrome color and its spectacular marquee and tower, decorated with neon. Its demise was a tragic loss of art and cinema history for North Long Beach. I used to go to Norm’s coffee shop, or Grisinger’s in Bixby Knolls, for dinner and then zip over to the Crest to see a first-run movie like “Midnight Cowboy” there.

Donald John Long
Donald John Long commented about Century Drive-In on Nov 13, 2002 at 12:11 am

Ahh – the Century Drive-In Theater, on Century Blvd. was the supreme drive-in movie experience for Los Angeles people on the go in the 1950s and ‘60s. My family often went there many times, in spite of the noise from the airliners passing overhead on their way into LAX.

We went to see the CINERAMA movie there and were really impressed with that super-wide-wide screen!

It was huge! Even though the movie was presented in Stereo sound – at a drive-in no less – the theater owners made up for those tinny speakers you hooked onto your car window by installing some huge stadium speakers in several places in the complex so you really got a “wall of sound” reverberating back and forth around the open space. I loved the Art Deco style snack bar – it was the best snack bar I’ve ever seen in a drive-in.

On the outside it looked like a diner, with glass windows facing the screen so when people were standing in line they could keep watching the movie! I thought it would last forever, but home video killed the Drive-In Theaters across America as a cinema experience. Like “Cinema Paradiso”,

I’ll never forget seeing Kirk Douglas in “ULYSSES” here in 1956.

Donald John Long
Donald John Long commented about Carthay Circle Theatre on Nov 12, 2002 at 11:53 pm

When I was a young lad in the early 1950s, my family lived in Culver City and my dad worked at Helm’s Bakery Factory. The Carthay Circle was the most spectacular movie palace in the entire area and rivalled the Grauman’s Chinese Theater for cinema history and movie premieres, even in the 1950s.

I recall going there one evening in 1952 to see “Singin' In The Rain”, the first Technicolor MGM musical I had ever seen, at age 5.

It was located near Loyola University, and I was impressed by its Spanish Mission-style tower which matched the similar architecture at Loyola nearby.

My family often went there to see first-run blockbuster movies, even after we had moved away to Inglewood, and the last movie I saw there was MGM’s “RAINTREE COUNTY” in 1957. The Carthay Circle Theater was part of the Hollywood experience in the Fifties and it was near the MGM Studios lot on Washington Blvd.

We would often drive by the MGM front gates to look at the movie billboards before going to the Carthay Circle Theater. It’s a sad tragedy that now both are gone, but not forgotten.