(Does the new Barton Creek have its own page yet? Because the following review belongs on that page.)
Harry Knowles of Ain’t It Cool News is a real movie lover and movie theater lover, so I thought this recent review of Red Tails would be of interest here at Cinema Treasures. I am only excerpting the parts that pertain to the AMC Barton Creek.
“A few days ago, a regional rep at one of the PR companies that represents Fox in TEXAS contacted me to see if I would like to host and introduce their screening of RED TAILS. I’d received a press invite for the film – and had decided I wasn’t going to go, because it was going to be at AMC BARTON CREEK in Austin, Texas. I’ve had nothing but miserable film experiences at that theater. Sound bleed from other theaters, low light projection…
“And this time, the folks up in projection had left their 3D lens on, slightly askew, causing distant double images and focus issues that rendered most text illegible. But if you wound up on medium shots to closeups of characters – it seemed fine. Then… the worst part… The center channel speaker was completely out for the duration of the film. Meaning that the film sounded like crap… the score always being muted, the explosions missing their BOOM… the machine guns sounding flat. Yeah… George Lucas spends 20 years of his life working to get this story on the screen – and it gets put in one of the cheapest, low-rent, give a shit theaters in town. WAY TO GO!
“When I left the theater… still bracing from the headache that the AMC BARTON CREEK gave me… the rep asked me what I thought and I said… "It’s alright.” Then complained about the miserable exhibition of the lowrent shithole this all went down in.
“Even when people left to complain – the management did NOT A SINGLE THING to right the wrong that we suffered through. It’s experiences like the one I had at AMC BARTON CREEK that drives people into the welcoming arms of Home Video. When will the big chains understand that you have to HIRE people that give a shit, that are trained to know how to use the equipment and pay to have the best bulbs – the best sound and MAINTAIN IT daily.”
(I’d love for someone important at AMC to read this and take some action. Ah, one can dream on, I guess…)
Wow, robboehm, it says right on the ad “Lyric 42nd Street between 7th and 8th” and the telephone number 730-0323. I called that number so many times over the years, it’s like a flashback seeing it again! (And rob, now may be a good time to use the “remove” option on your 4:48pm post!)
Beautiful shots, Ed. Just saw them, almost by accident. (I wasn’t notified of a new post to this page…still a few bugs in the system, I guess. It seems we have to manually subscribe now; just making a comment doesn’t automatically subscribe us.)
The photos should also be posted in the photo section, so that when the comment links are inevitably broken, we will still have the hard copy in the photo section.
OMG, I stopped in today and it is effin' gorgeous! The former lobby is a seating area, with photos and programs from the old theater gracing the walls; the main auditorium is lovingly restored, to a point. The two balconies are there, and the side boxes and proscenium, and there is seating throughout.
There is a big modern-type chandelier but it doesn’t obscure the details in the ceiling. I only spent about three minutes there (the staff was very accomodating) and I can’t wait to return and leisurely take it all in.
And I can’t wait for our intrepid members to start posting photos here, so I can savor this true cinema treasure even more.
I saw many movies here, notably the cannibal holocaust/Ilsa/faces-of-death type of grindhouse gore that the Liberty seemed to specialize in, and it’s a real kick to be back. I’m truly over the moon about this.
Ed, 9/11 was the Democratic primary day, I think, so it was an election day that would lead to the eventual election of Bloomberg in November.
And I’d like the lead photo to be of the Empire as it existed in its heyday, but there doesn’t seem to be a good one in the photo section, nor a photo of the interior.
(Does the new Barton Creek have its own page yet? Because the following review belongs on that page.)
Harry Knowles of Ain’t It Cool News is a real movie lover and movie theater lover, so I thought this recent review of Red Tails would be of interest here at Cinema Treasures. I am only excerpting the parts that pertain to the AMC Barton Creek.
“A few days ago, a regional rep at one of the PR companies that represents Fox in TEXAS contacted me to see if I would like to host and introduce their screening of RED TAILS. I’d received a press invite for the film – and had decided I wasn’t going to go, because it was going to be at AMC BARTON CREEK in Austin, Texas. I’ve had nothing but miserable film experiences at that theater. Sound bleed from other theaters, low light projection…
“And this time, the folks up in projection had left their 3D lens on, slightly askew, causing distant double images and focus issues that rendered most text illegible. But if you wound up on medium shots to closeups of characters – it seemed fine. Then… the worst part… The center channel speaker was completely out for the duration of the film. Meaning that the film sounded like crap… the score always being muted, the explosions missing their BOOM… the machine guns sounding flat. Yeah… George Lucas spends 20 years of his life working to get this story on the screen – and it gets put in one of the cheapest, low-rent, give a shit theaters in town. WAY TO GO!
“When I left the theater… still bracing from the headache that the AMC BARTON CREEK gave me… the rep asked me what I thought and I said… "It’s alright.” Then complained about the miserable exhibition of the lowrent shithole this all went down in.
“Even when people left to complain – the management did NOT A SINGLE THING to right the wrong that we suffered through. It’s experiences like the one I had at AMC BARTON CREEK that drives people into the welcoming arms of Home Video. When will the big chains understand that you have to HIRE people that give a shit, that are trained to know how to use the equipment and pay to have the best bulbs – the best sound and MAINTAIN IT daily.”
(I’d love for someone important at AMC to read this and take some action. Ah, one can dream on, I guess…)
That shur don' look like no movin pitcher show in that there snapshot.
Wow, robboehm, it says right on the ad “Lyric 42nd Street between 7th and 8th” and the telephone number 730-0323. I called that number so many times over the years, it’s like a flashback seeing it again! (And rob, now may be a good time to use the “remove” option on your 4:48pm post!)
Ed, if you added Warren’s 1929 photo to your scrapbook, could you repost it here, since Warren’s link is now inactive.
They recently added a nice new marquee out front on Grand Avenue, so people driving by will actually know there’s a theater there. Ed? We’re waiting…
Beautiful shots, Ed. Just saw them, almost by accident. (I wasn’t notified of a new post to this page…still a few bugs in the system, I guess. It seems we have to manually subscribe now; just making a comment doesn’t automatically subscribe us.)
I don’t know (or remember) how to hyperlink.
After it switched back from porn, it played mainstream for many, many years.
Here’s the direct link:
http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/7176.html
Who was this sold to?
I saw a comedy show here a few years ago — majestic space, with the salty sea air a nice touch.
Saw the auditorium after the renovation. Nice job and friendly crowd.
Wow! An 1863 seat porno theater. Sorry I missed it. (How does it look inside now with a church in occupancy?)
Hey Bloop! Good to see you still posting here. How’s your newletter?
The photos should also be posted in the photo section, so that when the comment links are inevitably broken, we will still have the hard copy in the photo section.
I always look for it when I drive that part of Route 110.
According to Cinema Treasures, New York City has a garment district and a midtown, but no Times Square.
OMG, I stopped in today and it is effin' gorgeous! The former lobby is a seating area, with photos and programs from the old theater gracing the walls; the main auditorium is lovingly restored, to a point. The two balconies are there, and the side boxes and proscenium, and there is seating throughout.
There is a big modern-type chandelier but it doesn’t obscure the details in the ceiling. I only spent about three minutes there (the staff was very accomodating) and I can’t wait to return and leisurely take it all in.
And I can’t wait for our intrepid members to start posting photos here, so I can savor this true cinema treasure even more.
I saw many movies here, notably the cannibal holocaust/Ilsa/faces-of-death type of grindhouse gore that the Liberty seemed to specialize in, and it’s a real kick to be back. I’m truly over the moon about this.
I’ve requested Times Square Roulette and Down 42nd Street from the library and look forward to reading them. Their descriptions sound interesting.
I bought and read Ghosts of 42nd Street and I think I was disappointed by it, but I can’t remember exactly why. Mike (saps)
Ed, 9/11 was the Democratic primary day, I think, so it was an election day that would lead to the eventual election of Bloomberg in November.
And I’d like the lead photo to be of the Empire as it existed in its heyday, but there doesn’t seem to be a good one in the photo section, nor a photo of the interior.
Justin: GO IN.
You the man!
Let’s get some current photos posted here, quick!
Great news, Ed, and an interesting link to the architectural plans. I hope the reality matches the dream.
(And did you have time to get over to the Fantasy and photograph its restored verticle blade before the elements and inevitable neglect take over?)
LostMemory and Warren G. Harris both stopped posting in 2009. Where’d they go? They added so much to this site.