And this is now an AMC house and that’s how this should be listed.
The one thing I don’t like about this plasce is the three theatres in the basement, which makes sneaking into them very difficult.
But the upstairs is fantastic and one you’re in the door you can go anywhere you like. Usually.
The theater’s website says there are 276 seats. They closed the balcony in 1975 and it has since been removed. (I wonder if they removed it or just sealed it off.)
It was the only grindhouse in town after the Harris was shuttered. I liked the switching auditoriums, walking in and out of different movies. And they weren’t all on the same floor, which means you had to do a little research to see the movies you wanted.
I remember, though, that the theaters weren’t as darkly lit as their forebears — and the ushers more vigilant — which made some patrons a bit self-conscious about smoking weed right in the theater. Luckily there was an open fire escape in the rear that filled the bill.
“It was the summer of ‘92 and he had invited me up to his shabby digs at the old Bristol Hotel. Curiosity about his faded treasures (EC comic books? lobby cards?) had got the best of me and I agreed to meet my old English teacher there despite the long bus ride down the seedy streets near Jamaica Avenue. As I climbed the worn-down marble stairs — the smell of stale piss and body odor and old tobacco hanging in the air and my stomach in knots — little did I realize how this visit would change my life forever…”
At the 42nd street theaters, with the booths way up high, the screens were tilted back a bit so the light was disbursed more evenly. It was a strange sight to sit in the balcony and see the screen at such an angle, but I guess they knew what they were doing.
Couple answers opportunity’s knock, buy Villa Grove theater
By Amy Rose
Tuesday, September 18, 2007 6:48 AM CDT
VILLA GROVE â€" When Bill Hayes of Villa Grove was laid off from his engineering job in April, he and his wife, Tana, began looking for a new opportunity.
After the owner of the Villa Grove Twin Cinemas announced the movie theater was up for sale, the Hayeses knew they had found what they wanted.
The couple took over as owners and residents of the theater a week ago.
“It’s huge, and it all had to happen very quickly,” Tana Hayes said.
The Hayeses are operating under the umbrella of the previous owner, who is training them.
“No one’s left us high and dry. They’ve all been wonderful,” she said.
The former manager of the theater, Trisa Martin, has taught them the basics, such as operating the equipment and working with the films. Martin said she was happy to help.
“They are nice people and very family-oriented,” Martin said.
Tana Hayes, 43, had some experience working at a movie theater in her early working days. Her brother-in-law still manages that same theater in Idaho. He also has helped the couple learn the movie theater business.
Bill Hayes, 45, grew up in Oregon living in his family’s grocery store and gas station.
The Hayeses have kept on all of the part-time employees but have added their three children to the operation. The kids help out in the concession stand and sweeping up after the movies.
Bill says their children â€" Katie, 9, Tabitha, 11, and Jackson, 13 â€" are designated members of their board of directors. They consider the theater a new adventure and like living in the apartment above the theater.
“I think it’s fun,” Katie said. “Free popcorn, free movies and my own room.”
The biggest change for moviegoers is the name of the theater: Gemini Cinemas. The Hayeses think the new name adapts the original name of the theater, The Gem, and reflects the twin screens added by the former owners.
The theater still will show current releases. Movies will be scheduled on opening weekends or within a few weeks of release.
Their main patrons are families and senior citizens, so they focus on offering movies for those audiences.
The Hayeses also added a new later 9:30 showing on the weekends for those out-of-towners wanting to come to a show after dinner.
Jason Swearingen brought his family from Tuscola to see a movie on a recent Sunday afternoon.
“I’m thrilled to see it’s still open,” Swearingen said.
When he and his wife want to see a movie, he said, they always check the Villa Grove theater first. They like the close location and the affordable prices.
The Hayeses plan to expand their advertising to draw in more customers from the area. They also hope to work more with area schools.
Bill Hayes has registered as a substitute teacher in Champaign-Urbana and other communities to subsidize the family income and have the flexibility to work at the theater in the evenings. He also hopes the school districts will be interested in teaming up with the theater for student outings.
The couple might add a 4:15 show on Fridays and offer occasional free matinees and early showings during school holidays.
They don’t want to get into a lot of gimmicks, he said; just provide good entertainment for all.
I notice in the ad that it’s the last day at the Valencia for “Beau James” and “Rumble on the Docks” and that they both would be playing the next day at the Loew’s Triboro in Astoria. So I guess the Triboro was a send-run move-over house, even though it was a pretty opulent place itself. /theaters/1542/
I heard they had some nice brass fans in there.
Shouldn’t the description and former names be updated on this house?
Any photos of this house during its Elgin days?
Thanks for sharing.
That photo’s from Ed Solero’s collection, though it has been in other scrapbooks, too.
Too bad about the curtain in “Loews.” How many seats in that room?
And this is now an AMC house and that’s how this should be listed.
The one thing I don’t like about this plasce is the three theatres in the basement, which makes sneaking into them very difficult.
But the upstairs is fantastic and one you’re in the door you can go anywhere you like. Usually.
The theater’s website says there are 276 seats. They closed the balcony in 1975 and it has since been removed. (I wonder if they removed it or just sealed it off.)
Which article?
It was the only grindhouse in town after the Harris was shuttered. I liked the switching auditoriums, walking in and out of different movies. And they weren’t all on the same floor, which means you had to do a little research to see the movies you wanted.
I remember, though, that the theaters weren’t as darkly lit as their forebears — and the ushers more vigilant — which made some patrons a bit self-conscious about smoking weed right in the theater. Luckily there was an open fire escape in the rear that filled the bill.
I almost never see the Larkfield listed in movie ads, but here’s one I swiped, 1977’s Telefon paired with Carrie. (Thanks Ed)
And Lance, the Larkfield used to run weekly stand-alone ads about 1 inch by 1 inch in Newsday…can you find any of those and post them here?
View link
If your orientation is confused it’s because of that English teacher of yours.
“It was the summer of ‘92 and he had invited me up to his shabby digs at the old Bristol Hotel. Curiosity about his faded treasures (EC comic books? lobby cards?) had got the best of me and I agreed to meet my old English teacher there despite the long bus ride down the seedy streets near Jamaica Avenue. As I climbed the worn-down marble stairs — the smell of stale piss and body odor and old tobacco hanging in the air and my stomach in knots — little did I realize how this visit would change my life forever…”
OK, Ed, fill in the rest.
At the 42nd street theaters, with the booths way up high, the screens were tilted back a bit so the light was disbursed more evenly. It was a strange sight to sit in the balcony and see the screen at such an angle, but I guess they knew what they were doing.
I think they should raise the roof and install a proper balcony. Now, THAT would be a showplace.
Could someone please fix the opening remarks.
70mm is nice for a clearer picture, but the image here will be the same size, whether 35mm or 70mm.
webite http://www.fargotheatre.org/
Unless it recently went revival, most of the recent shots on here show movies on the arthouse circuit.
One could say that the statute is well-Huang.
It looks like it’s been renamed the Gemini — good name for a twin cinema formerly called the Gem — here is their new website www.villagrovemovies.com
Couple answers opportunity’s knock, buy Villa Grove theater
By Amy Rose
Tuesday, September 18, 2007 6:48 AM CDT
VILLA GROVE â€" When Bill Hayes of Villa Grove was laid off from his engineering job in April, he and his wife, Tana, began looking for a new opportunity.
After the owner of the Villa Grove Twin Cinemas announced the movie theater was up for sale, the Hayeses knew they had found what they wanted.
The couple took over as owners and residents of the theater a week ago.
“It’s huge, and it all had to happen very quickly,” Tana Hayes said.
The Hayeses are operating under the umbrella of the previous owner, who is training them.
“No one’s left us high and dry. They’ve all been wonderful,” she said.
The former manager of the theater, Trisa Martin, has taught them the basics, such as operating the equipment and working with the films. Martin said she was happy to help.
“They are nice people and very family-oriented,” Martin said.
Tana Hayes, 43, had some experience working at a movie theater in her early working days. Her brother-in-law still manages that same theater in Idaho. He also has helped the couple learn the movie theater business.
Bill Hayes, 45, grew up in Oregon living in his family’s grocery store and gas station.
The Hayeses have kept on all of the part-time employees but have added their three children to the operation. The kids help out in the concession stand and sweeping up after the movies.
Bill says their children â€" Katie, 9, Tabitha, 11, and Jackson, 13 â€" are designated members of their board of directors. They consider the theater a new adventure and like living in the apartment above the theater.
“I think it’s fun,” Katie said. “Free popcorn, free movies and my own room.”
The biggest change for moviegoers is the name of the theater: Gemini Cinemas. The Hayeses think the new name adapts the original name of the theater, The Gem, and reflects the twin screens added by the former owners.
The theater still will show current releases. Movies will be scheduled on opening weekends or within a few weeks of release.
Their main patrons are families and senior citizens, so they focus on offering movies for those audiences.
The Hayeses also added a new later 9:30 showing on the weekends for those out-of-towners wanting to come to a show after dinner.
Jason Swearingen brought his family from Tuscola to see a movie on a recent Sunday afternoon.
“I’m thrilled to see it’s still open,” Swearingen said.
When he and his wife want to see a movie, he said, they always check the Villa Grove theater first. They like the close location and the affordable prices.
The Hayeses plan to expand their advertising to draw in more customers from the area. They also hope to work more with area schools.
Bill Hayes has registered as a substitute teacher in Champaign-Urbana and other communities to subsidize the family income and have the flexibility to work at the theater in the evenings. He also hopes the school districts will be interested in teaming up with the theater for student outings.
The couple might add a 4:15 show on Fridays and offer occasional free matinees and early showings during school holidays.
They don’t want to get into a lot of gimmicks, he said; just provide good entertainment for all.
View link
second-run
I notice in the ad that it’s the last day at the Valencia for “Beau James” and “Rumble on the Docks” and that they both would be playing the next day at the Loew’s Triboro in Astoria. So I guess the Triboro was a send-run move-over house, even though it was a pretty opulent place itself. /theaters/1542/
>>saps, whose chest do you prefer, King Kong’s or Jayne Mansfield’s ? How about Fay Wray ?
They all have their good points.