D. Packard: “Poltergeist” didn’t play the AVCO. In fact, it didn’t even play in Westwood first-run. It ran at the CENTURY PLAZA in nearby Century City at a time when films generally played either Westwood or Century City but rarely both simultaneously. At that time the AVCO’s main house was running “Annie.” A few months into the run, “Poltergeist” ran in Westwood at the CREST right around the corner from the AVCO.
“Poltergeist II” played first-run at the BRUIN. “Poltergeist III”…well, who cares!
Alan Sanborn: I too attended the 30th anniversary “Star Wars” screening at the GOLDWYN and I squirmed in my seat when that recollection was made that “Star Wars” did not open at the CHINESE.
On the same subject of “Star Wars” and memory, have you seen the new “Making Of Star Wars” book? I think the book overall is fantastic, but contained within is some erroneous information pertaining to the post-production and distribution of the film. One glaring error appears in regard to the CORONET Theatre in San Francisco. To summarize, there was some controversy surrounding “Star Wars” being pulled by court order to accommodate a booking of “Close Encounters Of The Third Kind.” The book’s author, however, erroneously claims that the matter was settled by having “CE3K” play at the NORTHPOINT while “Star Wars” stayed at the CORONET. This, of course, is not how the matter was resolved. (“Star Wars” was sent out for re-bid and wound up a week later at the CINEMA 21; “CE3K” did in fact play the CORONET; “The Goodbye Girl” played the NORTHPOINT at that time.)
I found the error humorous considering the author singled out the CORONET no doubt due to its proximity to the headquarters of the company that produced the movie. You’d think that error would not have slipped through!
Alan, I give you credit for recognizing the limitations of memory. Many people have a (ego- and/or insecurity-related) problem admitting that memory can be an unreliable source for recalling information, particularly when information and events from several decades past are the subject. In fact, there are a few folks who post regularly here on Cinema Treasures that I’ve gone ‘round and 'round with on this memory issue. Yes, there’s conflict between some of us, and I’m not happy about it. But I’ll refrain at this time from putting them on the spot by identifying them by name. :–)
I was in Westwood today and walked by the theatre. A sign on display in the boxoffice window suggests the theatere indeed will re-open on Friday the 11th. Whether it’s being re-opened by Mann Theatres or another outfit, I couldn’t tell you at this time.
That’s great that the place will be re-opening, but it does create a problem of sorts since for the past couple of weeks Bill Kallay and I have been chipping away at a special tribute article. I guess now we’ll just have to hit the “delete” button! Kidding. I suppose we can still run the article if there’s any interest out there.
I was surprised to learn during a recent research session that United Artists renamed the nearby CINEMA 150 as THE SYOSSET while this was still in operation. That seems awfully silly on the part of UATC. Any of you Long Islanders recall any confusion created by the name change?
Other postings here have claimed the name change took place after the SYOSSET TRIPLEX closed, but I’ve found information to the contrary, at least as far as newspaper promotion was concerned. (I can’t speak for what name appeared on the actual building and/or marquee.)
I was surprised to learn during a recent research session that United Artists renamed the CINEMA 150 as THE SYOSSET while the SYOSSET TRIPLEX was still in operation. That seems awfully silly on the part of UATC. Any of you Long Islanders recall any confusion created by the name change?
Other postings here have claimed the name change took place after the SYOSSET TRIPLEX closed, but I’ve found information to the contrary, at least as far as newspaper promotion was concerned. (I can’t speak for what name appeared on the actual building and/or marquee.)
Hmmm. “Star Wars” at the Avco ending in August??? My notes taken when researching the article mentioned in our previous posts indicates the Avco engagement was May 25-Nov. 15. (The final two weeks of that run was a 35mm presentation in one of the smaller upstairs theatres whereas the bulk of the run was in 70mm in the big 1,200-seat auditorium.)
Alan…in my previous post I posted two links; click the second one. There you will find a reference to the Century Plaza engagement of “Star Wars.” (That “additional L.A. engagement mentioned in my article that you asked about was a run at the Winnetka Drive-In.)
The splitting of the Avco’s main auditorium occured during late 1993. “Jurassic Park” during summer ‘93 was the last thing I saw in the 1,200-seat main house. When I saw “Schindler’s List” in early '94 it had been split. (Imagine my surprise — and disappointment — when our line was led into what had previously been the right half of the main house. I thought at first we were being led to a newer auditorium built where the rear parking lot was/is.)
Alan…I share your pain regarding the Avco. (By the way, I attended the National’s final show the other night.)
Minor correction regarding your comment about seeing “Star Wars” at the Avco “before it moved to the Plitt Century City”: “Star Wars” never “moved” to the Plitt; the film played there concurrent with the Avco. They didn’t begin on the same date, however. For more on the original distribution of “Star Wars” see:
[Sorry, the news link isn’t specific to the ZIEGFELD, but illustrates what can go terribly wrong in a theatre, something that is often discussed here.]
After its brief Ziegfeld run, “My Fair Lady” moved to the BEEKMAN. At that time, a second booking was added at THE SYOSSET. These were probably the final 70mm engagements for either theatre.
To clarify the questions above regarding “Windjammer” I can confirm that it indeed ran at this theatre (when it was called the Fox) for 15 weeks beginning Christmas Day, 1958.
I posted this before on Jan. 17th, but I wanted to mention to those readers with an interest that my historical list of Cinerama presentations in Los Angeles has been updated.
[bill Huelbig: you’ll be pleased to know that your all-time favorite film has been given two additional entries on the list! Granted, they were “D-150” presentations at the Egyptian Theatre that are being included on a technicality. Other revisions have been made to the list as well.]
We also now have posted on our site a companion list of Cinerama presentations in New York City which I will predict that some of you Cinema Treasures regulars will eat up.
To clarify the questions above regarding “Windjammer” I can confirm that it indeed ran at this theatre (when it was called the Fox) for 15 weeks beginning Christmas Day, 1958.
To clarify further…“Zodiac” wasn not the first production to use the Viper. It is, however, believed to be the first to use that camera in a fashion where the imagery was recorded as data, rather than recording onto tape.
mannr,
I’m afraid you’re mistaken on this digital issue. That, or else you’ve fallen victim to some deceptive press releases or news reports.
To clarify, over the last five or six years, there have been dozens of productions shot using any of several digital formats. Many independent productions and a growing number of TV shows have been originated this way. Some of the major movies shot digitally whose titles most moviegoers will recognize include:
Apocalypto
Click
Collateral
Flyboys
Grindhouse (“Planet Terror” half)
Jackpot
Miami Vice
Once Upon A Time In Mexico
A Prairie Home Companion
Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow
Spy Kids 2
Spy Kids 3
Star Wars: Episode II Attack Of The Clones
Star Wars: Episode III Revenge Of The Sith
Superman Returns
Zodiac
Digital photography and digital projection are two separate processes. For a movie to be projected digitally it does not need to have been shot digitally, and vice versa.
Scott,
CWalczak offered a fine explanation of the “roadshow” concept. However, if you had clicked on the link I provided in my post above yours and taken a moment to read the article (the intro at least; the list is awfully long) you might not have had to ask your “dumb” question. In other words, the roadshow concept is explained in the article, and now I’m left feeling dumb for having wasted my time (1) researching & writing the article, and (2) for bothering to post here on Cinema Treasures.
Lansing’s first-run roadshow of “The Sound Of Music” played the GLADMER. It ran for 16 weeks, an unheard of duration at the time for a city the size of Lansing.
El Capitan is one of the few large, single-screen venues showing “Meet The Robinsons” in digital 3-D. Has anyone seen it there? Has anyone been able to determine if they are showing it using two projectors to improve the light output on the screen? (There were some reports that Disney screened “Chicken Little” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas” there and in some other large-screen, major-market theatres using the dual-projection technique.)
Oh, and if any readers missed it in the news report posted last week, here is a link to the theatres throughout the U.S. and Canada showing “Meet The Robinsons” in 3-D:
Justin…no on Rockaway and digital 3-D. In addition to the two venues you cited, the other Clearview venues showing “Meet The Robinsons in digital 3-D are the MIDDLEBROOK 10 in Ocean Township, NJ and the ZIEGFELD in Manhattan and CENTRAL PLAZA in Yonkers, NY.
Full list of “Meet The Robinsons” digital 3-D locations: View link
What company operated the FOUR STAR during the ‘90s?
D. Packard: “Poltergeist” didn’t play the AVCO. In fact, it didn’t even play in Westwood first-run. It ran at the CENTURY PLAZA in nearby Century City at a time when films generally played either Westwood or Century City but rarely both simultaneously. At that time the AVCO’s main house was running “Annie.” A few months into the run, “Poltergeist” ran in Westwood at the CREST right around the corner from the AVCO.
“Poltergeist II” played first-run at the BRUIN. “Poltergeist III”…well, who cares!
Alan Sanborn: I too attended the 30th anniversary “Star Wars” screening at the GOLDWYN and I squirmed in my seat when that recollection was made that “Star Wars” did not open at the CHINESE.
On the same subject of “Star Wars” and memory, have you seen the new “Making Of Star Wars” book? I think the book overall is fantastic, but contained within is some erroneous information pertaining to the post-production and distribution of the film. One glaring error appears in regard to the CORONET Theatre in San Francisco. To summarize, there was some controversy surrounding “Star Wars” being pulled by court order to accommodate a booking of “Close Encounters Of The Third Kind.” The book’s author, however, erroneously claims that the matter was settled by having “CE3K” play at the NORTHPOINT while “Star Wars” stayed at the CORONET. This, of course, is not how the matter was resolved. (“Star Wars” was sent out for re-bid and wound up a week later at the CINEMA 21; “CE3K” did in fact play the CORONET; “The Goodbye Girl” played the NORTHPOINT at that time.)
I found the error humorous considering the author singled out the CORONET no doubt due to its proximity to the headquarters of the company that produced the movie. You’d think that error would not have slipped through!
Alan, I give you credit for recognizing the limitations of memory. Many people have a (ego- and/or insecurity-related) problem admitting that memory can be an unreliable source for recalling information, particularly when information and events from several decades past are the subject. In fact, there are a few folks who post regularly here on Cinema Treasures that I’ve gone ‘round and 'round with on this memory issue. Yes, there’s conflict between some of us, and I’m not happy about it. But I’ll refrain at this time from putting them on the spot by identifying them by name. :–)
I was in Westwood today and walked by the theatre. A sign on display in the boxoffice window suggests the theatere indeed will re-open on Friday the 11th. Whether it’s being re-opened by Mann Theatres or another outfit, I couldn’t tell you at this time.
That’s great that the place will be re-opening, but it does create a problem of sorts since for the past couple of weeks Bill Kallay and I have been chipping away at a special tribute article. I guess now we’ll just have to hit the “delete” button! Kidding. I suppose we can still run the article if there’s any interest out there.
Theatres showing “Spider-Man 3” in Digital Cinema:
View link
The splitting of the AVCO’s 1,200-seat auditorium took place during November 1993.
I was surprised to learn during a recent research session that United Artists renamed the nearby CINEMA 150 as THE SYOSSET while this was still in operation. That seems awfully silly on the part of UATC. Any of you Long Islanders recall any confusion created by the name change?
Other postings here have claimed the name change took place after the SYOSSET TRIPLEX closed, but I’ve found information to the contrary, at least as far as newspaper promotion was concerned. (I can’t speak for what name appeared on the actual building and/or marquee.)
I was surprised to learn during a recent research session that United Artists renamed the CINEMA 150 as THE SYOSSET while the SYOSSET TRIPLEX was still in operation. That seems awfully silly on the part of UATC. Any of you Long Islanders recall any confusion created by the name change?
Other postings here have claimed the name change took place after the SYOSSET TRIPLEX closed, but I’ve found information to the contrary, at least as far as newspaper promotion was concerned. (I can’t speak for what name appeared on the actual building and/or marquee.)
Hmmm. “Star Wars” at the Avco ending in August??? My notes taken when researching the article mentioned in our previous posts indicates the Avco engagement was May 25-Nov. 15. (The final two weeks of that run was a 35mm presentation in one of the smaller upstairs theatres whereas the bulk of the run was in 70mm in the big 1,200-seat auditorium.)
Here’s a page of photos taken during 2006. There’s also a newspaper ad for when the GRANADA began showing movies in 70mm.
View link
Alan…in my previous post I posted two links; click the second one. There you will find a reference to the Century Plaza engagement of “Star Wars.” (That “additional L.A. engagement mentioned in my article that you asked about was a run at the Winnetka Drive-In.)
The splitting of the Avco’s main auditorium occured during late 1993. “Jurassic Park” during summer ‘93 was the last thing I saw in the 1,200-seat main house. When I saw “Schindler’s List” in early '94 it had been split. (Imagine my surprise — and disappointment — when our line was led into what had previously been the right half of the main house. I thought at first we were being led to a newer auditorium built where the rear parking lot was/is.)
Alan…I share your pain regarding the Avco. (By the way, I attended the National’s final show the other night.)
Minor correction regarding your comment about seeing “Star Wars” at the Avco “before it moved to the Plitt Century City”: “Star Wars” never “moved” to the Plitt; the film played there concurrent with the Avco. They didn’t begin on the same date, however. For more on the original distribution of “Star Wars” see:
Historical/Retrospective article:
View link
List of 70mm engagements with release dates and promotional blurbs:
View link
Vito,
Here’s a link to a story about a recent incident at a National Amusements theatre on Long Island.
View link
[Sorry, the news link isn’t specific to the ZIEGFELD, but illustrates what can go terribly wrong in a theatre, something that is often discussed here.]
I plan on being there Thursday night for the final show.
After its brief Ziegfeld run, “My Fair Lady” moved to the BEEKMAN. At that time, a second booking was added at THE SYOSSET. These were probably the final 70mm engagements for either theatre.
Also see: View link
The UA CINEMA 150 opened on August 21, 1968 with “The Odd Couple” as the debut attraction.
The theatre’s first “Dimension 150” presentation was “2001: A Space Odyssey” which had a seven-week run beginning October 30, 1968.
To clarify the questions above regarding “Windjammer” I can confirm that it indeed ran at this theatre (when it was called the Fox) for 15 weeks beginning Christmas Day, 1958.
For a full list of Los Angeles' Cinerama history, see:
http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/cinerama_la.htm
I posted this before on Jan. 17th, but I wanted to mention to those readers with an interest that my historical list of Cinerama presentations in Los Angeles has been updated.
[bill Huelbig: you’ll be pleased to know that your all-time favorite film has been given two additional entries on the list! Granted, they were “D-150” presentations at the Egyptian Theatre that are being included on a technicality. Other revisions have been made to the list as well.]
http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/cinerama_la.htm
We also now have posted on our site a companion list of Cinerama presentations in New York City which I will predict that some of you Cinema Treasures regulars will eat up.
http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/cinerama_nyc.htm
To clarify the questions above regarding “Windjammer” I can confirm that it indeed ran at this theatre (when it was called the Fox) for 15 weeks beginning Christmas Day, 1958.
For a full list of Los Angeles' Cinerama history, see:
http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/cinerama_la.htm
To clarify further…“Zodiac” wasn not the first production to use the Viper. It is, however, believed to be the first to use that camera in a fashion where the imagery was recorded as data, rather than recording onto tape.
Learn more about the process here:
View link
mannr,
I’m afraid you’re mistaken on this digital issue. That, or else you’ve fallen victim to some deceptive press releases or news reports.
To clarify, over the last five or six years, there have been dozens of productions shot using any of several digital formats. Many independent productions and a growing number of TV shows have been originated this way. Some of the major movies shot digitally whose titles most moviegoers will recognize include:
Apocalypto
Click
Collateral
Flyboys
Grindhouse (“Planet Terror” half)
Jackpot
Miami Vice
Once Upon A Time In Mexico
A Prairie Home Companion
Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow
Spy Kids 2
Spy Kids 3
Star Wars: Episode II Attack Of The Clones
Star Wars: Episode III Revenge Of The Sith
Superman Returns
Zodiac
Digital photography and digital projection are two separate processes. For a movie to be projected digitally it does not need to have been shot digitally, and vice versa.
Scott,
CWalczak offered a fine explanation of the “roadshow” concept. However, if you had clicked on the link I provided in my post above yours and taken a moment to read the article (the intro at least; the list is awfully long) you might not have had to ask your “dumb” question. In other words, the roadshow concept is explained in the article, and now I’m left feeling dumb for having wasted my time (1) researching & writing the article, and (2) for bothering to post here on Cinema Treasures.
Lansing’s first-run roadshow of “The Sound Of Music” played the GLADMER. It ran for 16 weeks, an unheard of duration at the time for a city the size of Lansing.
View link
El Capitan is one of the few large, single-screen venues showing “Meet The Robinsons” in digital 3-D. Has anyone seen it there? Has anyone been able to determine if they are showing it using two projectors to improve the light output on the screen? (There were some reports that Disney screened “Chicken Little” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas” there and in some other large-screen, major-market theatres using the dual-projection technique.)
Oh, and if any readers missed it in the news report posted last week, here is a link to the theatres throughout the U.S. and Canada showing “Meet The Robinsons” in 3-D:
View link
Justin…no on Rockaway and digital 3-D. In addition to the two venues you cited, the other Clearview venues showing “Meet The Robinsons in digital 3-D are the MIDDLEBROOK 10 in Ocean Township, NJ and the ZIEGFELD in Manhattan and CENTRAL PLAZA in Yonkers, NY.
Full list of “Meet The Robinsons” digital 3-D locations:
View link
.