Comments from Roloff

Showing 101 - 125 of 129 comments

Roloff
Roloff commented about The age of the aficionado on Apr 2, 2007 at 1:49 am

As a freelance editor/VFX artist/graphics/DVD authoring & teacher/trainer etc, I also built a ‘library’ of DVDs, also looking for the greatest special limited version available, with making of features, commentary tracks and the likes. I’ve stopped with my obsession (always trying to get it as cheap as possible too) about a year ago, when I realised that I had pretty much enough (350 DVDs, not so much for real afficiniados, but considering the prices have only started to drop below $20 about 2 years ago here in the Netherlands..). I’ve learned to wait (eventually you will be able to pick it up at $5 – or newer editions will come out), and soon we’ll be replacing this collection with HD-DVD / Blu-Ray versions too!
I’m not sure how it will affect the theatre-going audience. Maybe they’ll stay home more, maybe they will realise that the ultimate edition should be seen on a proper screen first? Let’s hope, but in general I don’t think it will affect the way people go to theatres much more than it hasn’t already in the last years, with a tiny loss of moviegoers that prefer their home theatre experience above the multiplex one.

Roloff
Roloff commented about Ritz Theatre on Mar 26, 2007 at 4:08 am

Here’s a scan of a postcard I have for it, from 1980, when the building still carried the Martin name and was for sale:
View link

Roloff
Roloff commented about Willis Wood Theatre on Mar 26, 2007 at 3:55 am

The postcard can be seen here View link

Roloff
Roloff commented about Gaumont Palace on Mar 23, 2007 at 7:51 am

I have an old postcard that I’ve scanned and put in my flickrstream: View link

Roloff
Roloff commented about Where are they now? - Carthay Circle Theatre on Mar 20, 2007 at 2:51 am

A moving, tragic story. You’d think they didn’t know better in the late Sixties and Seventies, but sadly as we all know here, demolitions like these still happen today.

Here’s a scan of a postcard I have of the Carthay Circle View link

Roloff
Roloff commented about Gateway Theatre on Mar 20, 2007 at 12:37 am

I took some pictures of the lovely Gateway last January.
View link

Roloff
Roloff commented about Beacham Theater on Jan 21, 2007 at 4:44 am

Drove through Downtown Orlando to take some pictures of the theatre (and others) to share with you. See View link

Roloff
Roloff commented about Athens Theatre on Jan 21, 2007 at 4:20 am

I drove by the pretty theatre two weeks ago, the marquee was lit up, nice and bright, and I took a lot of pictures. I also managed to pick up a vintage postcard of the theatre later in South Beach, Miami, from 1947. See them on my flickr stream: View link

Roloff
Roloff commented about The Midnight Movie Experience on Dec 27, 2006 at 1:19 am

I can highly recommend the Midnight Madness program (if they still do it) at the Toronto International Film Festival. Unfortunately no longer in the Uptown

Roloff
Roloff commented about Drive-ins to go digital? on Jun 30, 2006 at 11:47 am

There’s also an article about this in July’s issue of Box Office (page 48). Drive-in owners have said that D-Cinema projectors allow them to more easily and evenly light up the large screens (putting a 7K lamp thru film can easilly burn it). The dirty booths also are less of a problem for digital projectors (according to the article) as it is to film. Digital offers a crispy, clean sharp image run after run. Digital projectors can also show alternative content (Other Digital Stuff) like concert shows and sport events…
I can see how it takes away the nostalgic gritty yet comfy grind house quality some drive-ins have, but I can also see how watching live events at a drive-in can enhance the experience..
And do you really go to a drive-in thinking you’ll be seing the picture in it’s best possinle way?

Roloff
Roloff commented about Ufa Apollo Theatre on May 14, 2006 at 11:29 am

With the arrival of the Tonfilm, when sound was permanently added to the Motion Pictures, new modern theatres were built around Europe, UFA being at the forefront of doing so in Germany. Their older theaters got restyled to fit the new look, perhaps also to better accomodate large banners and displays. This one’s facade was also completely overhauled, as can be seen from several postcard pictures that exist. The ‘vintage’ exterior view above is from the restyled version. The original was very baroque, designed by architect Herrman von Endt, and opened on December 16th, 1899.
There are also strange rivots (perhaps lightbulbs?) on the vertical spokes or ribs on the picture above. Perhaps to support larger displays.
In 1942 the building was destroyed by bombing, and rebuilt in ‘48 to open again in 1950.
The Filmmuseum in Düsseldorf has a nice maquette of the theater in its later form on display.
There still is an Apollo Varieté-theatre in Düsseldorf, under a freeway bridge (Apollo Platz 1), that appearently continues the original Apollo Varieté tradition.

Roloff
Roloff commented about Pathe City Theater on May 9, 2006 at 4:53 am

The City will be closed any moment now, for a full restoration that will take up to two years. It will become an art house, with probably less screens, maybe around 4. Hopefully they will change the facade back to what it was like in it’s earlier days.
Here’s a postcard from around 1946 where you can see the original facade:
View link

Roloff
Roloff commented about Willis Wood Theatre on Apr 9, 2006 at 1:27 pm

I have a postcard for this theatre that’s different from the ones in the links above, or the one at the kclibrary. It’s pretty much taken from the same angle, and the lot on the right is still empty (trees). “THE SULTAN OF SULU” is advertised, probably the 1902 musical comedy by George Ade. Which means the picture was taken in it’s opening days!

Roloff
Roloff commented about Capitol Theatre on Jan 1, 2005 at 1:16 pm

Note that it’s across from the Gladmer and it’s neon sign can be seen on a postcard from 1944 of Lansing’s “Business Section”.

Roloff
Roloff commented about Gladmer Theatre on Jan 1, 2005 at 1:06 pm

I have the same card. The postcard is from 1944 (4B-H378, 4 is the 4th year in the B-decade, which is the 40s). The film on the marquee is DESTROYER (1943), starring Edward G. Robinson and Glenn Ford.

Roloff
Roloff commented about Capitol Theatre on Dec 13, 2004 at 3:01 pm

I have a postcard of this nice theatre. Playing is “RUSSIA’S CIRCUS ARENA”, and on the top marquee it says “Welcome Michael Todd” and “Welcome Elizabeth Taylor”. I found the following bit online:

“Meanwhile Singapore’s old Capitol Theatre is to be renovated and reopened as a modern performing arts venue. The plan, by the Singapore Tourism Board, is to convert the former entertainment icon – at the junction of Stamford and North Bridge roads – into a stage for local and international musicals and plays. It will seat audiences of up to 1800. A budget of S$3.5 million has been set aside for the redevelopment.”

Roloff
Roloff commented about Palace Theatre on Nov 26, 2004 at 1:10 pm

I just picked up a beautiful color Post Card of the theatre. The Marquee has “SILENCE” listed as the movie showing, starring Clive Brook and Peg(gy) Shannon. “The Years Most Exciting Mystery”. That year is 1931, the year the theatre opened. I also found a nice article at
http://www.albanyny.org/history_palace_theatre.asp

Roloff
Roloff commented about American Theatre on Aug 6, 2004 at 1:55 am

I own an old postcard (postmarked 1928) with a nice photo and a caption that reads: “AMERICAN – Seventy Thousand Dollar Moving Picture Theater Erected in 1921 by B. H. Rogers, Canton, N.Y.”

Roloff
Roloff commented about Cinema Odeon on Aug 4, 2004 at 3:36 pm

There is a book by the Cinemateca Portugesa I believe, as someone told me. I was in Lisbon last week, and I there was a man behind a desk on the phone in the back of the Tivoli. The poster frames were empty but websites show that it still shows movies every once in a while.
The Odeon is also still there, behind the Condes theatre (now a Hard Rock Café), across from the Olympia Theatre. You can still take a peek into the box office which hasn’t been used for years.
While some old Cinema’s are now used for live theatre, others are just sitting there. The Eden has been converted into a hotel for a while, but the original lobby and entrance is unused and gathering dust, as many other theaters I saw in Lisbon and Porto.

Roloff
Roloff commented about 228 Beautiful Wood/Iron Theater Seats For Sale on Aug 4, 2004 at 3:27 pm

They’re indeed beautiful, but are they really comfy? Would you want to see a nice 180+ minute movie in those? Okay, that’s what Intermissions are for, but still..

Roloff
Roloff commented about Eglinton Theatre on Jul 17, 2004 at 1:20 am

The Eglinton ran 3-strip Cinerama (Cinemiracle WINDJAMMER, HOLIDAY IN SPAIN and Cinerama) from december 1960 to 1963. View link

Roloff
Roloff commented about # on Jul 14, 2004 at 3:44 am

The paintings in this book are incredible. A must-have for anyone that enjoys classic Art Deco style theatres. Cone also seems to be somewhat of a ‘70s car fetishist as he makes sure there’s always nice chrome cars in his paintings.
While I already had the book, two friends both gave me this book for my birthday which I had to return to the store, unfortunately.

Roloff
Roloff commented about De Uitkijk In Amsterdam About To Close on Jul 14, 2004 at 3:11 am

This news was somewhat older, I just found out it has been saved for the coming few years! The current programmer, Maatschappij voor de Cinegrafie NV, a company that books and programs for many art houses, will be the new owner. The organisation stays the same, and the manager/projectionist/ticket inspector that has been working at De Uitkijk for 27 years, will still be running the shows.
To cover the losses they will start a “Friends of De Uitkijk” system and hope to raise extra income through donations. For these friends they will organise special activities. The first event will possibly be in November, when the art house has it’s 75th birthday.

Roloff
Roloff commented about Tivoli Cinema on Jul 13, 2004 at 8:39 am

I have the same postcard, the seller told me it was from 1915. The card is totally new however, so I don’t know how he knows this.

Roloff
Roloff commented about UGC-de Brouckere on Apr 7, 2004 at 12:09 pm

It was indeed the Eldorado, but somehow when I enlisted this, only the current name came through.