Comments from Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois

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Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois on Apr 8, 2008 at 9:27 pm

monika,
WOW, what a surprise! The only way I knew anything about this theater was because an organ had been shipped here. Because the newer Cort/Elysee Theater had beeen built in 1926 and demolished in 1985, I never expected that the older theater would still be standing. Can you be any help on the address, street or area?

“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” Yogi Berra (1925-)

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois commented about Booze and the cinema on Mar 28, 2008 at 7:22 pm

LIM – I don’t know if this would get, Loves movies – hate going! back to the movies, but this would get me back.

CLASS
It all can be summed up in that one word
Comfortable Seats
Seat rows that are wide apart
Seat that are staggered so no one is directly in front of you
Perfect projection
Perfect stereo sound
Scope pictures with the screen widened with the masking pulled from the sides none of this droping masking from the top crap
No ads on the screen, I can get that on TV at home
No comercials, I can get that on the radio at home and in the the car, that’s why I listen to National Public Radio
A nice pleasent clean theater
Not a shoebox
No sticky floors
Nicely decoerated
Perhaps just elegant lush red drapes on all the walls
Guess what, no movie screen!
A large curtain at the front of the theater with a good curve to it to give a hint of the big curved screen behind it.
A big curved screen, from wall to wall, ceiling to floor
The curtain would be lit by a row of recessed ceiling spotlights.
A clock, with probably a green neon ring to light it, it would be to the side (so no one would have to keep looking at their dam cell phones for the time)
If it was possible, play music from the soundtrack of the movie (the CD programed in such a way that it’s timed that the movies theme plays just before the movie starts) if no soundtrack is available play music from famous classic movies.

The house lights would dim
The curtain lights would start to dim
The water fall curtain would start to rise
A cartoon would play
One prevue of that theaters next movie would play
A short film on manners would show about cell phones, talking, no kicking the seats ahead of you, taking noisy kids out etc.
The curtain drops and the curtain lights come on
If they need to, the masking and lens change

The curtains rise,the curtain lights dim and “JENESEN THEATERS PROUDLY PRESENTS” with a fanfare all happen at the same time
The movie begins
(sometimes a movie has it’s own previews, this is something that would have to be worked out)
The curtains would not close till the last credits had shown (in other words when the movie was over)
The curtain lights then would come up
The house lights would then come up
The GUEST should never see a blank screen
No one would start to clean the theater till the last guest had left
After the last GUEST has left, the theater would really be lit and cleaned and a mop should be handy to clean up any coke spills

To me that’s what what we had at one time and need today-CLASS!

Did I forget anything?
Anything you want to add?

“I don’t sell tickets to movies. I sell tickets to theaters.” Marcus Loew 1870-1927

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois commented about Varsity Theater demolished on Mar 28, 2008 at 3:30 pm

Ah yes, break my heart, the albatrosses (Gooney Birds, not the Douglas DC-3/C-47 Skytrain or LSD) had conquered the island even when the Navy was there. They had a terrible time keeping them out of the way. Join the Navy and see the world. In all of my travels that was the most interesting place I’ve ever been! After the Navy left Midway they had Eco-Tours from about 1996-2002 and I hear they are to start up again this year. If I can’t get to your island what’s my chances of getting to Midway? I understand they show DVDs in the old Midway Theater you ought to go over there and you’ll get to see the theater and the Gooney Birds, I think it’s only about a 1,000 mile swim from your place.

“Paint Your Wagon” 1969
Lee Marvin/Ben Ramson: “I was born under a wandrin' star.”

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois commented about Varsity Theater demolished on Mar 28, 2008 at 10:44 am

Bob,

What’s that round building? Love your videos, just don’t like them tearing down a theater. I think that’s the closest I’ll ever get to getting back there. I used to fly in and out of the U.S. Naval Air Station, Barbers Point, all the time, now that’s closed. I think the last time I was there was in 1980 on my way back from U.S. Naval Air Facility, Midway Island, that’s closed too, and it had a movie theater I should add to CT. Course I could fly over, but my wife won’t fly since 9/11. I’ve got a good quote for that, hope my wife, daughter and grandkids don’t read it, I love them all dearly, but I sure miss O'AHU!

Mahalo

“Zorba the Greek” 1964
Alan Bates/Basil: “Are you married?"
Anthony Quinn/Alexis Zorba: "Am I not a man? And is a man not stupid? I’m a man, so I married, wife, children, house, everything. The full catastrophe.”

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois commented about Varsity Theater demolished on Mar 27, 2008 at 12:09 am

Bob,

Thanks for your youtube, as I watched it, a lot of it looked like a lot of sorting was going on for recycling, which was good. Near the end as s/he started to pull those beams out of the walls and I didn’t even see the walls shake even a little, I started to get mad. I think plenty of life was still left in the old girl! I think it was just another case like the Indian Hills Theater! If you don’t know that story, read that whole saga, that ended up, guess what, being a parking lot! “Make your blood boil, well I should say!”

“They showed the old movie theater, and half of it was gone.” Scott Ward

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois commented about Park Lane Twin Theatre on Mar 26, 2008 at 8:28 pm

After closing as a movie theater, this building was used to host plays, musicals and comedies, until being converted for use by Wright Business School.

“Nothing endures but change.” Heraclitus ca.535-475 BC

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois commented about Regal Saipan Megaplex 7 on Mar 26, 2008 at 2:10 pm

PLEASE CHANGE:
HOLLYWOOD THEATERS-SAIPAN MEGAPLEX

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois commented about Regal Malibu Cinemas on Mar 26, 2008 at 1:35 pm

PLEASE CHANGE:
HOLLYWOOD THEATERS-MALIBU CINEMAS

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois commented about Regal Jewel Stadium 16 on Mar 26, 2008 at 1:17 pm

PLEASE CHANGE:
HOLLYWOOD THEATERS-JEWEL 16
7200 WOODWAY DRIVE
WACO TX 76712
254.399.6601

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois commented about Varsity Theater demolished on Mar 26, 2008 at 12:15 pm

Bob & Lowell

Mahalo

Funny, I’m near Chicago and eariler this morning I wrote a post about the Maunaloa Town Cinemas next door to you over on MOLOKA'I. Know anything about that?

“Nothing endures but change.” Heraclitus ca.535-475 BC

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois commented about Maunaloa Town Cinemas on Mar 26, 2008 at 10:50 am

I was reading about the Maunaloa Tri-Plex, on Molokai Ranch, officially known as Molokai Properties Ltd., owned by a subsidiary of Singapore-based GuocoLeisure Ltd. Is this the same theater? If it is, they say, they are closing it at the end of March, 2008, along with a gas station, golf course, I think a hotel, and I forget what all else. This is all because they are not being allowed to develop more of their property. I think something like 600 folks will be losing their jobs. I hope this is just an idle threat. Can someone from Maunaloa fill us in with more details, and keep us up to date on what’s happening, Mahalo

“Nothing endures but change.” Heraclitus ca.535-475 BC

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois commented about Paramount Theatre on Mar 25, 2008 at 9:00 pm

FIRM SHOULD BE: LEON H. LEMPERT & SON

I’m making the 124th comment to a theater that started out:

“There is no description available for this theater. If you know anything about this theater, please email us!”

That’s the neat thing about Cinema Treasures!

If you look at the different photos of the theater, in the front nine story building (the part that is now condos) that was above the entrance and the lobby, I notice hardly any windows in the front facing the street and just a few on the top floors on the back of the building, so I say the same thing Jerry said in the post Patsy made on July 21, 2006 at 3:31am:

“I have no idea what could have been on the upper floors of this building when it was a theater.”

Does anyone know or have any ideas?

“They showed the old movie theater, and half of it was gone.” Scott Ward

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois commented about 40 Years of 2001: A Space Odyssey! on Mar 25, 2008 at 5:28 pm

Don’t know why it did that???
Answer, cause D-150 was so BIG!!!

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois commented about 40 Years of 2001: A Space Odyssey! on Mar 25, 2008 at 5:23 pm

William,

I understand about the fee to use the D-150 Super Curvulon Lens, in order to fill the entire D-150 Screen, but I’ve heard that some theaters used it “unofficially” for some 70mm films. This must have given the patrons a big thrill and saved the theaters money, but didn’t make Dr. Richard Vetter or Mr. Carl Williams happy!

“DIMENSION 150 THE NEW DIMENSION IN MOTION PICTURES”

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois commented about 40 Years of 2001: A Space Odyssey! on Mar 25, 2008 at 5:13 pm

William,

I understand about the fee to use the D-150 Super Curvulon Lens, in order to fill the entire screen, but I’ve heard that some theaters used it “unofficially” for some 70mm films. This must have given the patrons a big thrill and saved the theaters money, but didn’t make Dr. Richard Vetter or Mr. Carl Williams happy!

“DIMENSION 150 THE NEW DIMENSION IN MOTION PICTURES”

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois commented about Paramount Theatre on Mar 25, 2008 at 1:36 pm

Great! Let us all know what they say.

“A well stocked mind is safe from boredom."
Arthur C. Clarke 1917-2008, Author of "2001: A Space Odyssey”

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois commented about Paramount Theatre on Mar 25, 2008 at 11:36 am

Patsy,

You must have missed it, but look back to February 4, I mentioned that the organ was at http://www.organsupply.com/ which is in Erie.

The organ is “The King of Instruments” Wolfgang Amadues Mozart 1756-1791

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois commented about Oddfellows Hall Cinema on Mar 25, 2008 at 10:26 am

Ian,

Do you know of some way to see that Niall Malone, who “restored” this building, could see this page? He would probably find it interesting.

“Nothing endures but change.” Heraclitus ca.535-475 BC

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois commented about Actual FOX sign for sale on Mar 25, 2008 at 1:00 am

lit or lighted terrible

past my bedtime

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois commented about Actual FOX sign for sale on Mar 24, 2008 at 11:57 pm

Hi Lisa,

If you donate it to:

The Historical Society of Long Beach
4260 Atlantic Avenue
(562) 424-2220
http://historicalsocietylb.org/index.html

I’ll send you a check for what the largest bottle of Chivas cost and you won’t be out anything and it will feel so good!

If that photo on their website is their building, wouldn’t that FOX look great restored, lite and mounted on their canopy?

Tell them I’ll donate $100.00 to get that neon lite. My email is linked to my name below. I care that much and I live near Chicago!

“A neon sign not outside and lite is a terible thing to waste!”

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois commented about Puerto Rico drive-in info on Mar 24, 2008 at 5:23 pm

will have slid down the screen

“I thought I made a mistake once, and then I found out I was wrong!”

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois commented about Puerto Rico drive-in info on Mar 24, 2008 at 5:10 pm

Interesante! I lived in Puerto Rico for part of the winter of 1966, I loved it! Most Americans don’t even know it’s part of the United States, but it is. If you look on Cinema Treasures under United States, you will see it has Puerto Rico listed as well as America Somoa, Guam, Northern Marianas and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

If anyone has more information on either Auto Cine Santura or International, they are already listed on Cinema Treasures, so I would think it would be better to add the information to those sites and let Jose know about it.

Jose, I see Drive-In de Cobin is also listed on Cinema Treasuers but it is in Cupey not Monacillos. Is it the same Drive-In?

I hope that someone comes up with the names of the Drive-Ins in the towns of Carolina and Isabela.

I would suggest that you add the Drive-Ins not listed on Cinema Treasures to the site because before you know it this query will have slide down the screen and then off to the next screen and on futher back, and you never know how long it will be before someone will just happen to be browsing and happen to know something about these Drive-Ins.

[singing]
Bernardo:(George Charkiris) “I’d like to go back to San Juan.” “West Side Story”

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois commented about 40 Years of 2001: A Space Odyssey! on Mar 24, 2008 at 1:12 am

Thanks to Loves movies-hate going! for reminding us about “2001”

For those of you who have never seen “2001” in 70mm “CINERAMA” let me show you a couple of examples of a CINERAMA screen.

London Casino, London, United Kingdom, scroll down and first see the Prolague Screen for the showing of “This is CINERAMA”. This is the little black and white movie that ends with Lowell Thomas saying “Ladies and Gentlemen, This is CINERAMA!” The curtains then open and show one of the most famous movie sceens ever on the FULL CINERAMA SCREEN, THE ROLLER COASTER RIDE!
http://cinerama.topcities.com/ctcasino.htm
Imagine a screen that was so curved (146 degrees) that it had to be louvered so that the light from one side of the screen didn’t reflect onto the other side of the screen, imagine a screen 64 feet by 26 feet.

The next photo is by Hiroshi Sugimoto and is of the CINERAMA DOME in Hollywood:
View link

Now those are the kind of screens to see “2001” on!

I once saw a list of really famous scenes from movies, among them was:
The roller coaster ride from “This is CINERAMA"
The opening scenes from "The Sound of Music"
The opening scenes flying over New York City in "West Side Story"
and I can’t remember the others can you help and add them, except for this one-
In "2001” when the ape figures s/he can use the bone as a weapon and throws it into the air and it becomes a spaceship—-WOW!

I remember when “2001” came out, reading in the paper that it was a good movie to sit in the front row, in a CINERAMA Theater, and to smoke pot especially in that one sorta psychedelic part near the end.
I also heard of folks who would run up to the screen when they would see the monolith and yell “It’s God, It’s God!” Oh that’s when it was fun to go to the movies!

As I read you folks comments, I try to guess who is the author before I see the name. I was pretty sure I saw Michael Coate’s work and knew for sure once I saw the beginning of one of his lists. That guy is the keeper of the lists! I hope you all have thought about all the work, time and patience it takes to come up with all these lists he makes.

I’ve broken his “2001” Theaters list down:

115 CINERAMA
3 D-150 DIMENSION 150*
39 70mm
157 Total Roadshow Theaters

If anyone wants I can list the non-CINERAMA Theaters, or do you want to know how many theaters are still standing, or still show films?

*2 D-150 Theaters are listed. I found information that the Garrick in Winnipeg was also a D-150 Theater. Does anyone know if any of these theaters used the full D-150 lens and screen for “2001” or “just” the 70mm masked screen? Come to think of it how would the entire D-150 screen compare to a CINERAMA screen?

“Sometimes I think we’re alone in the Universe, and sometimes I think we’re not. In either case the idea is quite staggering.” Arthur C. Clarke 1917-2008

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois commented about Rosna Theatre on Mar 23, 2008 at 8:10 pm

ADDRESS SHOULD BE: 636 WEST 35TH STREET.

On June 19, 1968, the roadshow version, in 6-TRACK STEREO SOUND and in SUPER PANAVISION, 70mm “CINERAMA”, “2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY” opened at this theater.

“Always have an attitude of curiosity, learning, and wonder and spend time with children.” Arthur C. Clarke 1917-2008 Author of “2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY”

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois commented about Riverview Theatre on Mar 18, 2008 at 9:02 pm

The widescreen, large-format cinematography, 70mm TODD-AO, 6 track stereophonic sound, music filled soundtrack, presentation of “The Sound of Music” was shown as a reserved seat “raodshow” engagement at this theater. It opened April 7, 1965 and played for over a year!

I lived in Norfolk at the time and I remember reading in the papers that either the Riverview or perhaps it was all SOM theaters had someone from Robert Wise, 20th Century Fox and/or TODD-AO check out the theater/s to make sure SOM would be projected and sound as perfect as possible!

“The hills are alive with the sound of music.” Oscar Hammerstein II 1895-1960