One of my favorite places to see a movie. Comfortable seats, friendly attentive staff.
I asked someone on staff to speak to some people who had not only brought a baby to “Public Enemy” but wouldnt step out when the tommy gun fire upset the tike (another point in favor of single screens over multiplexes; crying windows). The clerk (?) talked dad (who was quite a bit bigger than him) into taking junior into the hall but also stuck around for teh next half hour to make sure the dad didnt reappear till baby was asleep again.
PS
If anybody has flat marquee letters to possibly donate, give them a call. Movies like lAwrence of ArAbiA and wrAth of khAn stretch their supply pretty thin.
I managed to see one movie while it was reopened. “Bangkok Dangerous” with Nicholas Cage was the only flick I had time to see after work one night,but I figured if it gave me a chance to see the interior why not.
Unfourtunately, I couldnt see much. The main auditorium (possibly because I was one of 3 people there) was almost completely dark with just the lobby light and the light of teh screen to guide you in.Not only giving the place an omnious spooky air but making the big drafty room seem even colder. The screen and projection was good quality tho the sound was way to loud! I could feel the gunshot blasts rattling tehf loor underneathe my feet.
The seats were worn but not uncomfortable. A wooden structure, painted white (?) and gold(?) about 4 feet high was on the floor maybe 10 feet away from the screen. The screen seemed to be framed with soem kind of lightly painted proscenium set piece. I was curious if it matched the great locally themed art in the lobby but without a flashlight there was no way to tell.
The interior signage seemed to be from a couple different decades. Restroom signs of one era auditorium signs from another. But it gave teh place a kindve homey feel.
I hope at some point it can be reopened and that until then the owners are able to keep up the place. Though as busy as they seem to be at Green Valley Cinema that might be difficult.
Wow! I clicked on that 1947 photo and me and I did a double take. “That was in Salinas? Pretty glamorous for a farm town.” was the second reaction. The first:“Is that…a hood ornament?”
I didnt realize “Regency” was the 3rd or 4th name for this venue, as my family called it that from the late 60s onward.
At this point do the owners have plans to screen films since the Golden State is in use by the church? Heck, who are the owners at this point?
It wasnt my favorite place to see movies but hanging out in the balcony was fun adn it still makes me wince to walk by and see that broken piece of the mirror mural in the lobby. That managed to stay in tact for decades, a new piece just needs to be cut and frosted to match the rest of teh mural; can anybody get that much done? Id overlook not replacing the tattered and torn and stained fabric dressing teh walls to get that mirror fixed (UA’s years of “loving care and maintenance” of the Regency has clearly lowered my standards ; )
This kinda thing just makes me sad. I like to think the owners have just gotten in over their heads financially and in thinking SF Planning would be easy to deal with. However my cynical side tells me they didnt want to keep any of the original features and are going to let it decay to the point where they are no longer obliged to and can level the whole thing.
Last weekend the boyfriend and I enjoyed a screening of Lawrence of Arabia at the Red Dome. The musical SHOUT! was being performed in the Live in the Blue Dome and the sound bleed thru was negligible.
I was suprised at the small size of the Dome’s screen but the letterboxing of LOA meant we didnt miss the “edges” of the picture. They are using a high end DVD projector to show films but thats because the projection booth has become the Tech Booth for the live shows.
The Century theaters comfy 70s (?) era seats are still in place,while the walls were covered in new red and white fabric. Folded in a way that made me think of a stuffed ottoman and the BF of a circus tent. My only complaint about the auditorium is that for lighting they are using strips of theater/concert lights on poles (its not as rickety as it sounds, its just that even being in theater all my life I lack a good lighting vocabulary) that,while colorful, leave the place kind’ve dim considering the many different size steps the place has.
Im not sure if they’ll want to keep the swinging 60s color scheme but it was well put together and the series of retro movie posters adorning the walls breaks up the bright greens and pinks nicely.
The staff was really friendly and helpful and hopefully theyll build an audience for both venues; attendance at SHOUT! that day was around half the house (according to the staff) and there were only 10 other people enjoying LOA with us.
I saw a performance of “5 Guys Named Mo” at teh Fontana in 2008. The interior color palette is…eyecatching. Its a nicely intimate viewing space but I think for performance the stage has been built shallow, tho that could just be the designs of this shows set.
It was a well staged,wonderfully performed show. The dinner was quite good (if pricey) and while adding (?) a kitchen seems to have made the lobby oddly shaped they made good use of both. Sadly, the 2/3 empty audience my BF and I saw that night was typical of teh run ,according to the performers, and the foot chase and arrest by police of a couple guys in the parking lot as we left says a lot about the neighbrohood. Press at the time indicated that the city of Fontana was hoping to make the theater part of a downtown revival; bringing money and jobs to local businesses and residents by drawing audiences from teh suburbs. I hope some of that has happened for the sake of the theater and the city of Fontana.
A wise choice by management since then (Im on teh emailing list) has been to offer performances with a no meal option for a lower price as well as making teh space available to the community at large (schools, community theater groups etc).
I didnt get pics of the interior but heres a few showing the freestanding sign, the very cool exterior and a couple shots of teh lobby. View link
Im probably biased cause I work for one. But if a movie theater/chain isnt hiring you might want to see if any theater groups are hiring. The regional Theater Industry mag always seems to have at least a couple Head of Marketing or Marketing Associate ads in it. Even with the down turn theater groups are still receiving grants to cover the salary of a Marketing person. A good way to get your name about town pending a Cinema hiring. And itll have plenty of atmosphere…its an office full of actors, directors and techs barreling along to get each show open and each performance going smoothly.
David, the project you propose is prone to the pitfalls everyone has mentioned. Its why most toons and silents are presented by festivals. So the faithful can travel and gather to enjoy (and pay enough to cover the costs) and the festivals can raise money for restoration and research.
I still shake my head remembering how nearly 20 years ago my dad and I eagerly attending a showing of the only Bugs Bunny 3d cartoon produced (it was an early 50s late 40s experiment if I remember)at the local indie house (the beloved Dream Theater in Monterey CA). here it is a saturday afternoon in fall) so its too cold to be at the beach) and we were 2 of maybe 10 people in the house. this is years before such a thing would be available for home viewing and home viewing in 3d at that and still it played poorly for the whole weeklong run.
Maybe you should approach your local indie/historical/small chain theater and see if a variant of your idea could be a once a month experiment? That would give you a chance to try it out and learn the ropes of rental/publicity/licensing and showing these gems. The theater hosting would probably not provide much more than the venue so rental cost would be up to you, so the 1 dollar idea may not work. But how bout a matinee price for all performances and the cinema keeps the larger share (or all for the first attempts) of concession sales? Also tying with a local childrens (or seniors if you want to show newsreels) Charity or historical society is soemthing to consider. Giving them a portion of the door as a fundraiser would cut down on profits btu they maybe willing to pay for soem advertising or at least let you use their mailing lists for a mail campaign.
tinlizzie whos this friend of yours? I wanna follow him from town to town like the grateful dead!! Or at least keep up with him online and read the books hes (hopefully) written about movies!!
I cant make the trip from Cali. But with our local Drive In closed last year Im happy to tap on a “Donation” button to support the cause,if you add one. Or put some of those photos or old Drive In logos on some CafePress/Zazzle swag and I’ll snap it up. (Im a sucker for swag!)
Arclight’s website is so densely packed I cant find the link to buy tix for that showing (assuming there already on sale and not sold out). Anybody have a direct link? Thanks.
I walk by that building all the time and never wouldve thought it a theater except for the plaque. Just makes it all the more poignant that the Del Mar is being restored.
Well, both those things (maybe less getting stoned if were talking pre 1950s) have been happening in the back rows of Cinemas for any number of decades.
Hows the project going Kyle?
The listed website doesnt seem to have info about the Strand. Does anyone know of a link where folks can donate towards the theater?
The Everyman Theater has up[dates regarding the renovations
http://www.everymantheatre.org/newtheater.html
Thnaks for the ‘86 photo ken, but I really have to wonder how they defined “newly renovated”.
I thought I knew most of Esther’s films but dont recall
“Skirts Ahoy”. LOL With a title like that Id hunt it down to watch with or without Esther.
One of my favorite places to see a movie. Comfortable seats, friendly attentive staff.
I asked someone on staff to speak to some people who had not only brought a baby to “Public Enemy” but wouldnt step out when the tommy gun fire upset the tike (another point in favor of single screens over multiplexes; crying windows). The clerk (?) talked dad (who was quite a bit bigger than him) into taking junior into the hall but also stuck around for teh next half hour to make sure the dad didnt reappear till baby was asleep again.
PS
If anybody has flat marquee letters to possibly donate, give them a call. Movies like lAwrence of ArAbiA and wrAth of khAn stretch their supply pretty thin.
I managed to see one movie while it was reopened. “Bangkok Dangerous” with Nicholas Cage was the only flick I had time to see after work one night,but I figured if it gave me a chance to see the interior why not.
Unfourtunately, I couldnt see much. The main auditorium (possibly because I was one of 3 people there) was almost completely dark with just the lobby light and the light of teh screen to guide you in.Not only giving the place an omnious spooky air but making the big drafty room seem even colder. The screen and projection was good quality tho the sound was way to loud! I could feel the gunshot blasts rattling tehf loor underneathe my feet.
The seats were worn but not uncomfortable. A wooden structure, painted white (?) and gold(?) about 4 feet high was on the floor maybe 10 feet away from the screen. The screen seemed to be framed with soem kind of lightly painted proscenium set piece. I was curious if it matched the great locally themed art in the lobby but without a flashlight there was no way to tell.
The interior signage seemed to be from a couple different decades. Restroom signs of one era auditorium signs from another. But it gave teh place a kindve homey feel.
I hope at some point it can be reopened and that until then the owners are able to keep up the place. Though as busy as they seem to be at Green Valley Cinema that might be difficult.
Wow! I clicked on that 1947 photo and me and I did a double take. “That was in Salinas? Pretty glamorous for a farm town.” was the second reaction. The first:“Is that…a hood ornament?”
A few photos of the Retro Dome; taken March 2010. Its looking good and run by really nice people. All they need is an audience!
View link
Does anybody have a pic of that amazing photo mural that wrapped around the lobby? It was the coolest feature that concrete bunker had.
I didnt realize “Regency” was the 3rd or 4th name for this venue, as my family called it that from the late 60s onward.
At this point do the owners have plans to screen films since the Golden State is in use by the church? Heck, who are the owners at this point?
It wasnt my favorite place to see movies but hanging out in the balcony was fun adn it still makes me wince to walk by and see that broken piece of the mirror mural in the lobby. That managed to stay in tact for decades, a new piece just needs to be cut and frosted to match the rest of teh mural; can anybody get that much done? Id overlook not replacing the tattered and torn and stained fabric dressing teh walls to get that mirror fixed (UA’s years of “loving care and maintenance” of the Regency has clearly lowered my standards ; )
This kinda thing just makes me sad. I like to think the owners have just gotten in over their heads financially and in thinking SF Planning would be easy to deal with. However my cynical side tells me they didnt want to keep any of the original features and are going to let it decay to the point where they are no longer obliged to and can level the whole thing.
Last weekend the boyfriend and I enjoyed a screening of Lawrence of Arabia at the Red Dome. The musical SHOUT! was being performed in the Live in the Blue Dome and the sound bleed thru was negligible.
I was suprised at the small size of the Dome’s screen but the letterboxing of LOA meant we didnt miss the “edges” of the picture. They are using a high end DVD projector to show films but thats because the projection booth has become the Tech Booth for the live shows.
The Century theaters comfy 70s (?) era seats are still in place,while the walls were covered in new red and white fabric. Folded in a way that made me think of a stuffed ottoman and the BF of a circus tent. My only complaint about the auditorium is that for lighting they are using strips of theater/concert lights on poles (its not as rickety as it sounds, its just that even being in theater all my life I lack a good lighting vocabulary) that,while colorful, leave the place kind’ve dim considering the many different size steps the place has.
Im not sure if they’ll want to keep the swinging 60s color scheme but it was well put together and the series of retro movie posters adorning the walls breaks up the bright greens and pinks nicely.
The staff was really friendly and helpful and hopefully theyll build an audience for both venues; attendance at SHOUT! that day was around half the house (according to the staff) and there were only 10 other people enjoying LOA with us.
I saw a performance of “5 Guys Named Mo” at teh Fontana in 2008. The interior color palette is…eyecatching. Its a nicely intimate viewing space but I think for performance the stage has been built shallow, tho that could just be the designs of this shows set.
It was a well staged,wonderfully performed show. The dinner was quite good (if pricey) and while adding (?) a kitchen seems to have made the lobby oddly shaped they made good use of both. Sadly, the 2/3 empty audience my BF and I saw that night was typical of teh run ,according to the performers, and the foot chase and arrest by police of a couple guys in the parking lot as we left says a lot about the neighbrohood. Press at the time indicated that the city of Fontana was hoping to make the theater part of a downtown revival; bringing money and jobs to local businesses and residents by drawing audiences from teh suburbs. I hope some of that has happened for the sake of the theater and the city of Fontana.
A wise choice by management since then (Im on teh emailing list) has been to offer performances with a no meal option for a lower price as well as making teh space available to the community at large (schools, community theater groups etc).
I didnt get pics of the interior but heres a few showing the freestanding sign, the very cool exterior and a couple shots of teh lobby.
View link
Interetsed in the fixtures, please send photos to
Simon, does Joseph’s museum have a website? It sounds fascinating.
Photos and info please. Im 3 hours away.
Hope this has come to a good resolution for you and the theater, Gentry.
They sound lovely. I wish I could fly you to CA to render my fav movie house.
Im probably biased cause I work for one. But if a movie theater/chain isnt hiring you might want to see if any theater groups are hiring. The regional Theater Industry mag always seems to have at least a couple Head of Marketing or Marketing Associate ads in it. Even with the down turn theater groups are still receiving grants to cover the salary of a Marketing person. A good way to get your name about town pending a Cinema hiring. And itll have plenty of atmosphere…its an office full of actors, directors and techs barreling along to get each show open and each performance going smoothly.
David, the project you propose is prone to the pitfalls everyone has mentioned. Its why most toons and silents are presented by festivals. So the faithful can travel and gather to enjoy (and pay enough to cover the costs) and the festivals can raise money for restoration and research.
I still shake my head remembering how nearly 20 years ago my dad and I eagerly attending a showing of the only Bugs Bunny 3d cartoon produced (it was an early 50s late 40s experiment if I remember)at the local indie house (the beloved Dream Theater in Monterey CA). here it is a saturday afternoon in fall) so its too cold to be at the beach) and we were 2 of maybe 10 people in the house. this is years before such a thing would be available for home viewing and home viewing in 3d at that and still it played poorly for the whole weeklong run.
Maybe you should approach your local indie/historical/small chain theater and see if a variant of your idea could be a once a month experiment? That would give you a chance to try it out and learn the ropes of rental/publicity/licensing and showing these gems. The theater hosting would probably not provide much more than the venue so rental cost would be up to you, so the 1 dollar idea may not work. But how bout a matinee price for all performances and the cinema keeps the larger share (or all for the first attempts) of concession sales? Also tying with a local childrens (or seniors if you want to show newsreels) Charity or historical society is soemthing to consider. Giving them a portion of the door as a fundraiser would cut down on profits btu they maybe willing to pay for soem advertising or at least let you use their mailing lists for a mail campaign.
tinlizzie whos this friend of yours? I wanna follow him from town to town like the grateful dead!! Or at least keep up with him online and read the books hes (hopefully) written about movies!!
I cant make the trip from Cali. But with our local Drive In closed last year Im happy to tap on a “Donation” button to support the cause,if you add one. Or put some of those photos or old Drive In logos on some CafePress/Zazzle swag and I’ll snap it up. (Im a sucker for swag!)
Arclight’s website is so densely packed I cant find the link to buy tix for that showing (assuming there already on sale and not sold out). Anybody have a direct link? Thanks.
I walk by that building all the time and never wouldve thought it a theater except for the plaque. Just makes it all the more poignant that the Del Mar is being restored.
Well, both those things (maybe less getting stoned if were talking pre 1950s) have been happening in the back rows of Cinemas for any number of decades.
Any news?