Comments from Cinedelphia

Showing 101 - 106 of 106 comments

Cinedelphia
Cinedelphia commented about Virginia Theatre on Jan 20, 2005 at 10:45 am

My frame of reference with the theatres in Atlantic City only goes back as far as the early to mid 60’s but as I can remember the following theatres besides the Virginia had roadshow or reserved seat engagements at one time or another. The Hollywood – “The Sand Pebbles”, “Dr. Doolittle”, and “Star”. The Center – “The Blue Max”.
To my recollection, none of these films were presented in 70mm.
(The only one’s that were actually shot in 70mm were “Dr. Doolittle"
and "Star”, “The Blue Max” and “The Sand Pebbles” were anamorphic scope blown up to 70mm for some venues). “Patton” played at the
Shore Theatre at regular admission prices (scope print, not D-150)

and “2001: A Space Odyssey” played at the Apollo at “popular admission price” (I’m also suspecting a scope reduction also). I have no recollection of Todd-AO 70 or Cinerama presentations, although I have heard that the Warner Theatre (which had been closed before I had the opportunity to see a film there)showed “Windjammer” in the three projector Cine Miracle process, but without stereo sound.

Cinedelphia
Cinedelphia commented about Virginia Theatre on Jan 19, 2005 at 3:05 pm

I remember seeing two films at the Virginia, “It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad
World” and “Krakatoa East of Java”. I could not have been more than
6 yrs old when I saw “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World” so I don’t recall much of what the theatre was like at the time (early 60’s).
I do recall when I saw “Krakatowa East of Java” that the theatre was in pretty shabby condition by then. The stereo sound was impressive,
but the screen (which had an odd curve in the middle)and auditorium
were a bit smaller than I would have expected for a roadshow house. I
always have wondered why The Roxy,the other big boardwalk house operated by George Hamid (he also ran the Virginia) was not set up
for 70mm / stereopohnic roadshows instead. The Roxy was a much larger theatre with a balcony, huge Cinemascope screen, mezzanine
and all the trappings of a classic movie palace.

Cinedelphia
Cinedelphia commented about Charles Theatre on Jan 13, 2005 at 10:19 pm

The Charles was a nice modern theatre that specialized in foreign and
art films. They also showed high profile mainstream films such as The
Godfather. Toward the end of it’s existance the Charles showed mainly
first run Hollywood films. The one thing, if my memory serves me right (I was just a teenager when I saw films there)that I didn’t care for was the theatre’s practice of showing all films at the
aspect ratio of 2:1 regardless of how they were filmed (I do not recall ever seeing the screen masked for different formats). Unfortunately I understand this was a common practice at many AC theatres at that time. If anyone has any more info on the subject of screen masking for proper aspect ratio or the lack of at the Charles or other Atlantic City theatres I’d like to know more.

Cinedelphia
Cinedelphia commented about Center Theatre on Jan 13, 2005 at 11:42 am

I attended movies at the Center Theater many times during the 60’s and 70’s. During that time the theater, along with the Hollywood, Shore,Virginia and Roxy were operated by George Hamid, Jr. (who also owned Steel Pier). The theater was not the ornate movie palace the larger neighboring Hollywood was, but still a great place to see a movie in its heyday. The Center’s auditorium was very wide and had no balcony. The theater’s prominant and best feature was it’s huge curved screen. I believe the theater was equipped for 70mm (especially with that big screen) but I don’t recall any 70mm
presentations there from the mid 60’s – late 70’s. I did see the Blue Max at the Center as a roadshow engagement, but it was 35mm Cinemascope. Interestingly, the only theater I recall as having 70mm
presentations during that era was the Virginia located on the Boardwalk which did not have that impressive a screen sizewise and was in fairly funky condition for a roadshow house even in the 60’s.
If anyone out there has any info on 70mm presentation in Atlantic City at theaters other than the Virginia I’d love to hear about it.

Cinedelphia
Cinedelphia commented about Embassy Theatre on Jan 13, 2005 at 8:55 am

I think I can clear this up. Based on the address, Arkansas Ave and
the Boardwalk, and the pictures and info about this theater on www.philadelphiabuildings.org the theater known as the “Embassy” which was built in the 1920’s is actually or later became the famous Warner Theater. The Embassy located at Atlantic and New York Ave was most likely constructed after WWII. I hope this helps.

Cinedelphia
Cinedelphia commented about Embassy Theatre on Jan 12, 2005 at 10:31 pm

I grew up in AC in the 60’s and 70’s and remember all the theaters
pretty well. The only Embassy in my lifetime was the one located at the corner of Atlantic Ave and New York Ave. The theater was pretty unique. The front of the theater was an old converted bank building
with Roman columns (hence it looked like an “Embassy”)which housed an outside box office, lobby, consession area, and rest rooms.
The theater auditorium was a separate structure which was added on to the original bank building. The auditorium had no balcony and was
fairly wide with a large flat almost wall to wall Cinemascope screen. For most of its' lifetime the Embassy was a classy first run house, showing mainly Paramount and MGM films. I don’t recall any roadshows and I don’t think the theater had 70mm capability. Some of the films I saw there were PT 109, Secret of Santa Victoria, Villa Rides, Once Upon A Time In The West, Ice Station Zebra (35mm Scope),
and Where Eagles Dare. It was a nice place to see a film – spacious feeling, unique look, good size screen. In the mid to late 70’s the theater started going downhill and ended up showing mainly kung fu and blaxploitation double bills until it was closed and demolished around 1980 along with all the other palaces in AC.