I do not think that the Gorman was purchased by GCC in 1947. They were not in existance till the early 50’s when they opened the first Cinemas at AShoppers World. Richard Smith the Pres. of GCC was manager of the Scituate Playhouse in Scituate in 1947 to at least 1951-52. That was a Lockwood Gordon theatre. I may be wrong but I don’t think so.
When This Is Cinerama was re-issued in 70mm in 1973 it played at the Beacon Hill Theatre here in Boston on a smallish flat screen that was longer than a bowling alley and about 4 lanes wide. The presentation was pathetic and on top of everything else whenever a Subway Train ran buy you could hear it loud and clear because the tunnel ran under the theatre. The line for ticket refunds was longer than the line to get in. I saw this line on someone elases blog, I lovwed it so I quoted it. This was true and I was one to get out. I never got a refund9The line was too long) but I wrote a 7 page letter to Sack theatres and they sent me a pack of theatre passes.
I’m tired of hearing about the Boyd when we have lost so many Palaces in cities across the country. In Boston they really only saved 2 big theatres and 4 almost as big. The 2 were the 3800 seat Metropolitan which was at one time the Sack Music Hall and then became the Wang Center For The Performing Arts and then the CITI Wang Center. It now presents Broadway shows and concerts. At one time it used to have big screen movie festivala. Alas: no longer. The RKO Keiths Memorial of 2900 seats was also preserved as a Broadway theatre. After being the RKO it became the Sack Savoy grind house and home of the Boston Opera and was let fall to pieces. It was then bought by Live Nation fully restored for many millions of dollars and now houses big Broadway stage shows. Neither of these theatres operate 365 days a year. The Paramount, and Modern were torn down and rebuilt by Emerson College and Suffolk Law School. They rebuilt with small theatres and are used for small live presentations anf the Paramount is used for films. Both theatres were made to keep the front facade and look great. We have one more large theatre the old Lowes Orpheum about 2800 seats which closed in the early 70’s and became the Aquarius and several years later it returned to being the ORpheum, It is now a live theatre for Concerts and from what I read it is being refurbished(which it drastically needs) to the tune of a few million dollars. This is the theatre that Dennis Leary holds his annual comedy night festival. We have lost so many other theatres in the last 25 years that I can;t list them all. So finally, if you want to save the Boyd, which I think should be, then get off your rear and get a grass movement started and get to some of Philly’s big businesses like the Phillies, Eagles, Flyers, Sixers and Union. also what about Penn and other colleges. If they tell you they have no money don’t believe them. Saving the Boyd can be done but it will take a group effort. aLSO get the Media(TV, Radio and Print involved. Think of this as a PBS FUND RAISER.
While in the Navy and visiting places like Hong Kong and the Mediterranean areas from 1963-1964 if a theatre had a balcony it always cost more to sit there so I wasn’t surprised like above was. It is a surprise to all Americana and Canadians the 1sat time this happens to them.
Went to the Stuart a few times in the late 50’s and very early 60’s. Always scary. The projrction was fully enclosed then and was on top of the sandwich shop. The projection angle was not straight on but a severe angle shooting right to left causing A keystone effect. I didn;t dare go to the restrooms down front by the screen. I held it all in until after the movies which were almost always a western and a war movie. They only played there for maybe 2 days and the program changed and the theatre was open 24hrs.
The E.M. Loews West end theatre and the North Station 1-2-3 or however many there were are and never the same. The West End theatre ended its life a a Pussycat Porn House. Who owned the Art 1&2 across from the Saxon on Tremont St. I remember these being Gay houses.
The old West End theatre was still operating across from the Old Garden down Causeway St a couple of blocks in the late 50’s to early 60’s. At one time I believe it might have been an E>M> Lowes operation. It had a BIG mARQUEE WHICH WAS LIKE MOST OF THAT CHAINS THEATRES. iT WAS A GOOD SIZE AND NOT A BAND BOX OR STORE FRONT. iT WAS A 2ND RUN neighborhood theatre.
The State(Translux) was showing aduly material in the late 50’s. Most of the material were films shown at Nudist Camps. This was the beginning of so called Porn. I remember walking and looking at the promo pics with black lines across many nude bodies and saying I can’t go in there because I was young and if my miother had found out I probably wouldn’t be here today.
In the early 60’s I remember going to a dumpy theatre in N.E. somewhere to see what were then called smut or Adult films. They were usually films shot at Nudist Camps. Does any one remember that Adult house.
Having been to the Metropolitun in 1960-61 I would like to know if it was 70mm Equipped. According to the listing above they played 1st run on Cheyenne Autumn and a re-release of Brothers Grimm(I imagine this was a general release anamorphic print). I don’t know of anyone anywhere running Dial M For Murder in 3-D. I don’t believe it was ever released in that format until the 1990’s. It played here in Boston at the Coolidge Corner in the 90’s in 3-D and was advertised as being the 1st time being shown in 3-D.
The House Of Wax was never released in 70mm. I don’t know when it played the Beacon Hill. I do know that it played the Astor and also was re-released about 1972-72 and played the old Exeter on a new years eve.
South Shore Cinemas(Mill Wharf and Cameo) do not advertise in the Boston Papers. Too expensive and weak circulation. Patriot Cinemas do limited advertising in the Patriot Ledger for the same reasons. If you want to know what is playing you either pick up the phone or go on line. Both have wonderful web sites.
How come you say that Boston was installatio #10 and then later on St. Louis you say they were #10. For years I had always read that Boston was #5. Give us a correction.
While stationed in San Diego in 1962 I remember going to see The “Music Man” at a theatre called the Fox. It wasn’t downtown and it certainly wasn’t the same as the theatre shown here. If my memory is correct I remember the theatre being long and narrow and no balcony, It probably had around 1000 seats. It did have a great stereo sound for its time. Were there 2 Fox theatres or did it have anither name?
I nominate the Boston Cinerama(RKO BOSTON)theatre. It is still standing somewhat. I do not know if there is enough left to save. It is on Washington St. Downtown Boston. I also believe that the Orpheum Theatre(Loews Orpheum should be restored. It Is now a music hall and is falling apart. I heard Don Law was going to spend money to fix it up again. I wish someone would purchase and restore the balcony(put in a new one), and try to restore it to its former beauty as close as possible.
You say that Ben Hur opened in Boston at the Saxon. If I am not mistaken it opened in Boston with a one night gala premiere night at the Music Hall(formerly Metropolitan and now the CitiWang Ctr.)The next day it began its long engagement at the Saxon. I also believe and I may be wrong that when it finally moved over to the Capri that it was in 70mm. I personnally saw Ben Hur on its 2nd day at the Warner in D.C. Too close. Huge headache and stiff neck from having to look up. Later after getting home to Boston i saw it again at the Saxon. Much better experience. Great movie.
I Remember standing in line on a cold night with about 10" of snow on the ground to see the Exorcist here. It was cold about 10 degrees and as the line started to move we got close to the front and they put up the SOLD OUT sign. We had to wait in line for the next show or go home. My wife and I stupidly waited in line for over 2 hours with hundreds of other people. We were all cursing ourselves. Once we got in I don’t think we ever warmed up But it was worth the wait. This Cinema duplex was a wonderful theatre. I was hoping they would remodel it back to a duplex. Now what I see is they are making it smaller. What a shame. That leaves no more cinemas left in Downtown except for the Lousy Lowes Common multiplex,. What a shame.
In an answer to the Warner Cinerama. The screen at the Warner was a good size. Went from the corner to corner at the 146 degree angle. Was a good view from the floor to the balcony. When the Uptown took over its Cinerama screen was a little bigger but not much. When they converted to 70mm Cinerama there screen was as wide but not as curved as a lot of other converted theatres. Saw Ben Hur twice at the Warner in 70mm. Not too impressed with the screen curvature. Saw Dr Zhivago in 70mm at the Cinerama in Rotterdam, Holland. Very impressed. Huge deeply curved screen. Saw Grand Prix at the Boston, Cinerama in Cinerama 70mm also impressed at the screen. Saw 2001 at the cinerama theatres in Seattle and San Francisco. Seattle had a deeply curved big screen. San Francisco was a small screen and not deeply curved.Saw Brothers Grimm at the Cinerama in ZSanDiego. Big screen and in 3 strip. Saw how the West was won in Boston 3 strip and sat in the 1st row balcony. Big screen, excellent light, sound, focus. screen sync and sound sync. One of my favorite Cinerama theatres. Rotterdam was the best overseas.
Can someone please add the Avon Drive-in to Cinema Treasures. It was the best Drive-in in the Boston Area. Huge Screen, good food. Also the Marshfield Drive-in which was a 1st run Drive-In. Small. Good size screen and great food, Easy in and out.
Would somenoe please put up information about the old E.M. Lowes Kingston Drive-in.
You are right. It was the Symphony not the Uptown. Sorry for my confusion.
Sorry but I must eat crow because after further research I have discovered that GCC was in existence from 1935-2002. I apologize.
I do not think that the Gorman was purchased by GCC in 1947. They were not in existance till the early 50’s when they opened the first Cinemas at AShoppers World. Richard Smith the Pres. of GCC was manager of the Scituate Playhouse in Scituate in 1947 to at least 1951-52. That was a Lockwood Gordon theatre. I may be wrong but I don’t think so.
When in 1960 Ben Hur moved over from the Saxon was it still shown in 70mm stereo or was it in 35mm? How many weeks did it last at the Capri?
Wasn’t there another Drive-in in Brockton? This would have made 2.
When This Is Cinerama was re-issued in 70mm in 1973 it played at the Beacon Hill Theatre here in Boston on a smallish flat screen that was longer than a bowling alley and about 4 lanes wide. The presentation was pathetic and on top of everything else whenever a Subway Train ran buy you could hear it loud and clear because the tunnel ran under the theatre. The line for ticket refunds was longer than the line to get in. I saw this line on someone elases blog, I lovwed it so I quoted it. This was true and I was one to get out. I never got a refund9The line was too long) but I wrote a 7 page letter to Sack theatres and they sent me a pack of theatre passes.
I’m tired of hearing about the Boyd when we have lost so many Palaces in cities across the country. In Boston they really only saved 2 big theatres and 4 almost as big. The 2 were the 3800 seat Metropolitan which was at one time the Sack Music Hall and then became the Wang Center For The Performing Arts and then the CITI Wang Center. It now presents Broadway shows and concerts. At one time it used to have big screen movie festivala. Alas: no longer. The RKO Keiths Memorial of 2900 seats was also preserved as a Broadway theatre. After being the RKO it became the Sack Savoy grind house and home of the Boston Opera and was let fall to pieces. It was then bought by Live Nation fully restored for many millions of dollars and now houses big Broadway stage shows. Neither of these theatres operate 365 days a year. The Paramount, and Modern were torn down and rebuilt by Emerson College and Suffolk Law School. They rebuilt with small theatres and are used for small live presentations anf the Paramount is used for films. Both theatres were made to keep the front facade and look great. We have one more large theatre the old Lowes Orpheum about 2800 seats which closed in the early 70’s and became the Aquarius and several years later it returned to being the ORpheum, It is now a live theatre for Concerts and from what I read it is being refurbished(which it drastically needs) to the tune of a few million dollars. This is the theatre that Dennis Leary holds his annual comedy night festival. We have lost so many other theatres in the last 25 years that I can;t list them all. So finally, if you want to save the Boyd, which I think should be, then get off your rear and get a grass movement started and get to some of Philly’s big businesses like the Phillies, Eagles, Flyers, Sixers and Union. also what about Penn and other colleges. If they tell you they have no money don’t believe them. Saving the Boyd can be done but it will take a group effort. aLSO get the Media(TV, Radio and Print involved. Think of this as a PBS FUND RAISER.
While in the Navy and visiting places like Hong Kong and the Mediterranean areas from 1963-1964 if a theatre had a balcony it always cost more to sit there so I wasn’t surprised like above was. It is a surprise to all Americana and Canadians the 1sat time this happens to them.
Went to the Stuart a few times in the late 50’s and very early 60’s. Always scary. The projrction was fully enclosed then and was on top of the sandwich shop. The projection angle was not straight on but a severe angle shooting right to left causing A keystone effect. I didn;t dare go to the restrooms down front by the screen. I held it all in until after the movies which were almost always a western and a war movie. They only played there for maybe 2 days and the program changed and the theatre was open 24hrs.
The E.M. Loews West end theatre and the North Station 1-2-3 or however many there were are and never the same. The West End theatre ended its life a a Pussycat Porn House. Who owned the Art 1&2 across from the Saxon on Tremont St. I remember these being Gay houses.
The old West End theatre was still operating across from the Old Garden down Causeway St a couple of blocks in the late 50’s to early 60’s. At one time I believe it might have been an E>M> Lowes operation. It had a BIG mARQUEE WHICH WAS LIKE MOST OF THAT CHAINS THEATRES. iT WAS A GOOD SIZE AND NOT A BAND BOX OR STORE FRONT. iT WAS A 2ND RUN neighborhood theatre.
The State(Translux) was showing aduly material in the late 50’s. Most of the material were films shown at Nudist Camps. This was the beginning of so called Porn. I remember walking and looking at the promo pics with black lines across many nude bodies and saying I can’t go in there because I was young and if my miother had found out I probably wouldn’t be here today.
In the early 60’s I remember going to a dumpy theatre in N.E. somewhere to see what were then called smut or Adult films. They were usually films shot at Nudist Camps. Does any one remember that Adult house.
Having been to the Metropolitun in 1960-61 I would like to know if it was 70mm Equipped. According to the listing above they played 1st run on Cheyenne Autumn and a re-release of Brothers Grimm(I imagine this was a general release anamorphic print). I don’t know of anyone anywhere running Dial M For Murder in 3-D. I don’t believe it was ever released in that format until the 1990’s. It played here in Boston at the Coolidge Corner in the 90’s in 3-D and was advertised as being the 1st time being shown in 3-D.
The House Of Wax was never released in 70mm. I don’t know when it played the Beacon Hill. I do know that it played the Astor and also was re-released about 1972-72 and played the old Exeter on a new years eve.
South Shore Cinemas(Mill Wharf and Cameo) do not advertise in the Boston Papers. Too expensive and weak circulation. Patriot Cinemas do limited advertising in the Patriot Ledger for the same reasons. If you want to know what is playing you either pick up the phone or go on line. Both have wonderful web sites.
How come you say that Boston was installatio #10 and then later on St. Louis you say they were #10. For years I had always read that Boston was #5. Give us a correction.
While stationed in San Diego in 1962 I remember going to see The “Music Man” at a theatre called the Fox. It wasn’t downtown and it certainly wasn’t the same as the theatre shown here. If my memory is correct I remember the theatre being long and narrow and no balcony, It probably had around 1000 seats. It did have a great stereo sound for its time. Were there 2 Fox theatres or did it have anither name?
I nominate the Boston Cinerama(RKO BOSTON)theatre. It is still standing somewhat. I do not know if there is enough left to save. It is on Washington St. Downtown Boston. I also believe that the Orpheum Theatre(Loews Orpheum should be restored. It Is now a music hall and is falling apart. I heard Don Law was going to spend money to fix it up again. I wish someone would purchase and restore the balcony(put in a new one), and try to restore it to its former beauty as close as possible.
Let me correct myself. I don’t think the Capri could handle 70m. Too small and dumpy. I’ve seen bigger TV screens.
You say that Ben Hur opened in Boston at the Saxon. If I am not mistaken it opened in Boston with a one night gala premiere night at the Music Hall(formerly Metropolitan and now the CitiWang Ctr.)The next day it began its long engagement at the Saxon. I also believe and I may be wrong that when it finally moved over to the Capri that it was in 70mm. I personnally saw Ben Hur on its 2nd day at the Warner in D.C. Too close. Huge headache and stiff neck from having to look up. Later after getting home to Boston i saw it again at the Saxon. Much better experience. Great movie.
I Remember standing in line on a cold night with about 10" of snow on the ground to see the Exorcist here. It was cold about 10 degrees and as the line started to move we got close to the front and they put up the SOLD OUT sign. We had to wait in line for the next show or go home. My wife and I stupidly waited in line for over 2 hours with hundreds of other people. We were all cursing ourselves. Once we got in I don’t think we ever warmed up But it was worth the wait. This Cinema duplex was a wonderful theatre. I was hoping they would remodel it back to a duplex. Now what I see is they are making it smaller. What a shame. That leaves no more cinemas left in Downtown except for the Lousy Lowes Common multiplex,. What a shame.
In an answer to the Warner Cinerama. The screen at the Warner was a good size. Went from the corner to corner at the 146 degree angle. Was a good view from the floor to the balcony. When the Uptown took over its Cinerama screen was a little bigger but not much. When they converted to 70mm Cinerama there screen was as wide but not as curved as a lot of other converted theatres. Saw Ben Hur twice at the Warner in 70mm. Not too impressed with the screen curvature. Saw Dr Zhivago in 70mm at the Cinerama in Rotterdam, Holland. Very impressed. Huge deeply curved screen. Saw Grand Prix at the Boston, Cinerama in Cinerama 70mm also impressed at the screen. Saw 2001 at the cinerama theatres in Seattle and San Francisco. Seattle had a deeply curved big screen. San Francisco was a small screen and not deeply curved.Saw Brothers Grimm at the Cinerama in ZSanDiego. Big screen and in 3 strip. Saw how the West was won in Boston 3 strip and sat in the 1st row balcony. Big screen, excellent light, sound, focus. screen sync and sound sync. One of my favorite Cinerama theatres. Rotterdam was the best overseas.
Can someone please add the Avon Drive-in to Cinema Treasures. It was the best Drive-in in the Boston Area. Huge Screen, good food. Also the Marshfield Drive-in which was a 1st run Drive-In. Small. Good size screen and great food, Easy in and out.