Comments from David Wodeyla

Showing 101 - 125 of 330 comments

David Wodeyla
David Wodeyla commented about Apple Cinemas Cambridge on Jan 24, 2006 at 10:17 am

That’s correct. The two Framingham booths were seperated, and they did manual changeovers. They also used carbon arcs. I don’t remember exactly when they automated, probably early seventies. They still used two projectionists, as the Cinema II booth was seperated from Cinema I by going down a hall past the popcorn room, up some steps past the balcony Men’s room, then through a door and up some more steps. Not to mention that both projectionists, Walter King and either Herb Kenney or Vin Kane seemed about 70 years old.
I think Henry Cummings briefly ran Worcester Center and Waltham.

David Wodeyla
David Wodeyla commented about Apple Cinemas Cambridge on Jan 24, 2006 at 8:53 am

Actually, I think Peabody may have been their first twin.

David Wodeyla
David Wodeyla commented about Apple Cinemas Cambridge on Jan 24, 2006 at 8:52 am

You must have known Henry Cummings!

David Wodeyla
David Wodeyla commented about Wollaston Theatre on Jan 14, 2006 at 9:11 pm

It’s not a “help them out” situation. Reviving the theatre can only be done when the owner wants to do it. In this case, I’m afraid the owner hasn’t shown good faith efforts.

David Wodeyla
David Wodeyla commented about AMC South Barrington 24 on Jan 14, 2006 at 8:20 pm

I’d go wait by the exit doors and sneak in.

David Wodeyla
David Wodeyla commented about Wollaston Theatre on Jan 14, 2006 at 7:19 pm

If he’s willing to sell the property, there’s a chance that the theatre can be revived. What do you think the chances for that happening are?

David Wodeyla
David Wodeyla commented about Slate on the 'Popcorn Palace economy' on Jan 5, 2006 at 3:27 pm

The “over-salted” comments are another one of those urban legends, as audiences that pay the high prices at the stand are more demanding of their popcorn than the author realizes. (although I must admit Managers sometimes joke about it when under the pressure of executives to increase the per-persons) I’ve never seen a rush in the middle of a movie to visit the stand, although you’ll find a few who need to use a restroom after drinking the giant soda.
The comment about focus and gate tension is odd. I never heard of that before.

David Wodeyla
David Wodeyla commented about Loews and AMC to Sell 10 Theaters on Dec 23, 2005 at 8:14 pm

I heard that Landmark was interested. (how come this is beginning to sound like a thread from cinematour?)

David Wodeyla
David Wodeyla commented about Regal Fenway Stadium 11 on Dec 23, 2005 at 1:11 pm

That would be quite a shocker. Are the Redstones selling the Circle, or going to use it as a moveover house?

David Wodeyla
David Wodeyla commented about Gorman Theatre on Dec 21, 2005 at 1:03 pm

Ron, if you check my photo in this link, http://natickmass.info/Gorman.htm is it the same as your photo? I’ve been searching for a view that shows the marquee, with no luck yet. My email is

David Wodeyla
David Wodeyla commented about Warner Theatre on Dec 17, 2005 at 8:35 pm

Does the group of theatres you have, show the theatres in Framingham Massachusetts?

David Wodeyla
David Wodeyla commented about AMC Ford City 14 on Dec 17, 2005 at 6:41 pm

The Ford City was always one of General Cinema’s best grossing theatres, for many years number 1. The information on dates comes from GCC records. If you find some photos, we’d love to see a link to them.

David Wodeyla
David Wodeyla commented about Olympia Music Hall on Dec 17, 2005 at 3:42 pm

In 1975, the Manager of this theatre took me on a brief tour upstairs here, where he had discovered a room which had been walled off. (they must have been doing some renovation work.) Inside, covered in soot, were a few dozen rolled 40x60s all from the years 1942 and 1943. Littered on the floor, were lobby cards and stills. There was also an area above the ceiling of the auditorium where I saw old glass light covers. I grabbed a few choice items from the old “poster room” and lugged them out to my car. One of the posters was a Yankee Doodle Dandy which I sold to a fellow Manager at the GCC Hanover Mall, named Jim Mahoney. I understand Jim had this poster displayed on the wall of his office there for a few years. I wish I had appreciated this stuff back then.

David Wodeyla
David Wodeyla commented about AMC Ford City 14 on Dec 17, 2005 at 10:25 am

Ford City opened on May 27, 1966. It was originally a twin, then became a triple, and eventually a five-plex. Ford City East 6-8 opened 7/17/81. The 14 plex opened on 8/1/90. The blue lights described by Bob Hanson, illuminated the white shadow box, which was common of GCC theatres of the 1960’s and into the ‘70. They were eliminated when auditoriums were split.

David Wodeyla
David Wodeyla commented about National Theatre on Dec 14, 2005 at 2:55 pm

Richard Smith explained the role the National Theatre played in the founding of his father’s theatre business which eventually became General Cinema.
“The Keith-Albee-Orpheum vaudeville chain hired Philip Smith to revive Keith’s "white elephant”, the National on Tremont St. Smith revived the floundering business by booking 14 movies a week, 2 new films each day and reverting to old time prices, 10 cents per seat. This high volume strategy was a success and Smith was able to become lessee-operator as Smith Theatrical Enterprises. From that base, he began by leasing properties and opening theatres in Weymouth, Reading, Hudson, and East Greenwich Rhode Island. In 1925, when his son Richard Smith was a year old, Phil Smith owned 12 theatres. By 1929, they had 18 theatres, some in partnership with the Stoneman’s of Interstate Theatres. (the Broadway in South Boston was in partnership with the Doyle family. Philip Smith also had established a film distribution business called Piedmont Pictures, based in Boston’s Bay Village section near the Coconut Grove. They handled independent film, usually booked into second run houses. But with the stock market crash of 1929, he was forced to sell all but three, the Strand Ipswich, and the two in South Boston.“ At the time, Philip Smith established a relationship with the First National Bank of Boston, in order to pay off debts. This led to a long term business relationship that later enabled the Smith family to grow what would become General Cinema in the 1950’s and ‘60s.

David Wodeyla
David Wodeyla commented about Strand Theatre on Dec 13, 2005 at 6:18 pm

The Strand in South Boston was one of the three theatres owned by Phil Smith, which were the beginnings of Smith’s Theatrical Enterprises. The Strand was managed by Jim Cronin, “a proper Bostonian Irishman who lectured anyone who disturbed the quiet of the theater.” Quoted Dick Smith, “there were no candy wrappers on his floors”, and “no wise kids”. Phil Smith also owned the Broadway in South Boston and the Strand in Ipswich. These three were said to have carried the Smith family through the depression and formed the beginning of what would later become General Cinema.

David Wodeyla
David Wodeyla commented about WANTED -- c.1970s General Cinema "Coming Attractions" or "Feature Presentation" Trailer on Dec 8, 2005 at 3:05 am

Thank you Mr Fusion, for the candy band!

David Wodeyla
David Wodeyla commented about Flick 1 & 2 on Dec 5, 2005 at 8:14 pm

This theatre was located in a strip mall just off Rte 9 in Westboro Massachusetts. It was originally called the Ruth Gordon Flicks and played art film.

David Wodeyla
David Wodeyla commented about Regal Westborough Stadium 12 on Dec 5, 2005 at 3:22 am

Oh, and the Solomon Pond Mall is in Northboro.

David Wodeyla
David Wodeyla commented about Regal Westborough Stadium 12 on Dec 5, 2005 at 3:19 am

Kevin, this theatre isn’t in the Solomon Pond Mall. It’s on Rte 9 in Westboro Mass.

David Wodeyla
David Wodeyla commented about Marlboro 1-2-3 Cinema on Dec 5, 2005 at 3:13 am

The Entertainment Cinema complex was located about a mile east, opening in the early ‘90s, and closed a few years ago.

David Wodeyla
David Wodeyla commented about $85,000 buys Hollywood Theater in Upstate NY on Nov 21, 2005 at 7:21 pm

Here’s a link to the listing, http://www.bastraightrealestate.com/1045.html

David Wodeyla
David Wodeyla commented about WANTED -- c.1970s General Cinema "Coming Attractions" or "Feature Presentation" Trailer on Nov 16, 2005 at 1:24 pm

I think we’re all hoping that either of the two readers who promised a digitized version will eventually come through.

David Wodeyla
David Wodeyla commented about Warner Theatre on Nov 10, 2005 at 1:30 pm

What’s the MGM Theatre Photograph and Report project? Are there photos of theatres all over New England?

David Wodeyla
David Wodeyla commented about Hollywood Theatre on Oct 28, 2005 at 3:16 am

I’d be interested in seeing the pictures, my email is