And I was just reminiscing about the Smoking Loge in the back. Oddly enough, it was just in thinking about the Gateway itself that that came to mind, even though of course all theaters had them.
Quick question: In its single-screen days, did the Gateway have a balcony? I don’t remember one, but I also know not to rely on those memories. Back later with things I “know” I recall. Thanks.
I’m looking through that issue of Boxoffice online, and am not finding the picture. Did I miss it? In the meantime, I’ll check a few other issues around that one.
I appreciate your input, and I’ll trust your knowledge of how the two theaters operated — especially since my own memories in this particular instance are so vague. I just looked at pictures linked from the listing here on the Centrum, and it looks like it must have been a really nice theater back in the day.
Happy birthday to the Cedar Lee. I went to school in University Circle, and lived there and in Cleveland Heights in the late 60s, early 70s, and I have fond memories of some of my first “serious” moviegoing there. Unless there was another neighborhood theater close by, the (single-screen) Cedar Lee is probably where I saw the first runs of “The Graduate”, “The Last Picture Show”, “Midnight Cowboy”, and much more. Boy, those were the days. Congratulations on a long run, and here’s to many more successful years.
If memory serves correctly, the Palms advertised real buttered popcorn, a rarity in those days.
In 1981-82 I lived around the block and had the pleasure of just walking around the corner to see second-run films at the Palms. A few that come to mind: “Fame”, “The Competition”, “On Golden Pond”. But my best Palms memory of all — an evening I still recall as one of the standout experiences ever with a movie AUDIENCE — was “Blazing Saddles”. A full house, the perfect audience, and a purely great night at the movies in a nice neighborhood theater.
A very early memory is being taken by my grandmother to see it in Columbus, Ohio. Okay, all I really remember is that it happened! Couldn’t even hazard a guess as to when, which version, etc. Knowing her habits, though, it would have been in the best possible theater in downtown Columbus.
You see these ads all over — in local print classifieds, periodicals, etc., as well as on the web. A few MIGHT be actual collectors hoping to find the pot of gold, but I have to believe most are dealers looking to score hot vintage electronics for resale. This belief is grounded as much in the obvious insensitivity to where they’re repeatedly posting their spam as much as anything.
From 1975 to 1979 I lived within walking distance of what I knew of as the Writers Guild Theater, when it ran second-run (or even somewhat older) titles for $1 or $2 admission for the general public. Maybe that was just on certain nights. But it was a wonderful find. I do remember the curtains on the walls look, and maybe even the uncomfortable seats — though in my opinion the Vagabond took the prize for hardest seats in town. A few of the films I recall catching up with here: “French Connection II”, “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry”, “Missouri Breaks”, and “The Reincarnation of Peter Proud”.
Oh, how sad. I discovered this one a couple of years ago on a return visit to the home town of my mother’s side of the family. I hadn’t been to Morgantown in years, and the presence of the Warner made an exploration of the old downtown area all the better. Didn’t have a chance to get inside, though. Really sorry to hear this.
Oh my god what a beautiful marquee. Congratulations, and here’s to 60 more! Now I must plan a visit to the Elm Road on one of my next car trips to Ohio.
My God, this is a great one! Thank you for all of that — and in particular for fleshing out my own memory of seeing it at the Pix in Hollywood!
Identifying that theater has been bugging me for quite a while. I remember standing in the kind of line that I’d only been used to from “The Godfather” and “The Exorcist” up to that point. I sat near the front of the balcony, and the experience was thrilling beyond belief.
Is there no listing and page for the Pix here? If there is, or if some other name was involved, then I’m missing it so I will appreciate it if someone speaks up. In my memory it was a few blocks east of Hollywood and Vine, on the south side of the street. It wasn’t a huge theater, I don’t think, and I always wondered if that was simply a spillover from the Chinese or somewhere else down the street. But you list no others, at least for the opening engagement, so I guess the Century Plaza was the “blockbuster” venue in L.A. for a while.
“…2007, when the town council told the board of parks commissioners to draft a plan. It was at that point that people started thinking about showing movies again…” How funny, and how pathetic. Like someone posted on the regular page here, the place sold out every weekend. I saw this in its last couple of seasons.
Does this theater still have its 1970s-era “GCC shadowbox”? I don’t know how old this web page is, but scroll down 9 pictures or so to see it:
http://tinyurl.com/2woo3mw
And I was just reminiscing about the Smoking Loge in the back. Oddly enough, it was just in thinking about the Gateway itself that that came to mind, even though of course all theaters had them.
Quick question: In its single-screen days, did the Gateway have a balcony? I don’t remember one, but I also know not to rely on those memories. Back later with things I “know” I recall. Thanks.
I’m looking through that issue of Boxoffice online, and am not finding the picture. Did I miss it? In the meantime, I’ll check a few other issues around that one.
View link
http://tinyurl.com/29wvcef
I appreciate your input, and I’ll trust your knowledge of how the two theaters operated — especially since my own memories in this particular instance are so vague. I just looked at pictures linked from the listing here on the Centrum, and it looks like it must have been a really nice theater back in the day.
Happy birthday to the Cedar Lee. I went to school in University Circle, and lived there and in Cleveland Heights in the late 60s, early 70s, and I have fond memories of some of my first “serious” moviegoing there. Unless there was another neighborhood theater close by, the (single-screen) Cedar Lee is probably where I saw the first runs of “The Graduate”, “The Last Picture Show”, “Midnight Cowboy”, and much more. Boy, those were the days. Congratulations on a long run, and here’s to many more successful years.
Good God, those Bass end titles are a movie unto themselves. I’m always riveted by them.
If memory serves correctly, the Palms advertised real buttered popcorn, a rarity in those days.
In 1981-82 I lived around the block and had the pleasure of just walking around the corner to see second-run films at the Palms. A few that come to mind: “Fame”, “The Competition”, “On Golden Pond”. But my best Palms memory of all — an evening I still recall as one of the standout experiences ever with a movie AUDIENCE — was “Blazing Saddles”. A full house, the perfect audience, and a purely great night at the movies in a nice neighborhood theater.
Hear, Hear!
Beautiful.
Wow. Thanks, as always.
A very early memory is being taken by my grandmother to see it in Columbus, Ohio. Okay, all I really remember is that it happened! Couldn’t even hazard a guess as to when, which version, etc. Knowing her habits, though, it would have been in the best possible theater in downtown Columbus.
I sincerely hope this will be as great as it sounds already.
You see these ads all over — in local print classifieds, periodicals, etc., as well as on the web. A few MIGHT be actual collectors hoping to find the pot of gold, but I have to believe most are dealers looking to score hot vintage electronics for resale. This belief is grounded as much in the obvious insensitivity to where they’re repeatedly posting their spam as much as anything.
Oh please, STOP.
From 1975 to 1979 I lived within walking distance of what I knew of as the Writers Guild Theater, when it ran second-run (or even somewhat older) titles for $1 or $2 admission for the general public. Maybe that was just on certain nights. But it was a wonderful find. I do remember the curtains on the walls look, and maybe even the uncomfortable seats — though in my opinion the Vagabond took the prize for hardest seats in town. A few of the films I recall catching up with here: “French Connection II”, “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry”, “Missouri Breaks”, and “The Reincarnation of Peter Proud”.
Oh, how sad. I discovered this one a couple of years ago on a return visit to the home town of my mother’s side of the family. I hadn’t been to Morgantown in years, and the presence of the Warner made an exploration of the old downtown area all the better. Didn’t have a chance to get inside, though. Really sorry to hear this.
I still haven’t gotten used to hearing the name Staples Center.
As an avid moviegoer in L.A. in the 70s and 80s, I’m pretty sure that ‘revival house’ is how my friends and I always referred to them.
It’s almost heartbreaking to recall what was available there in those years.
Oh my god what a beautiful marquee. Congratulations, and here’s to 60 more! Now I must plan a visit to the Elm Road on one of my next car trips to Ohio.
Oops, sorry, never mind — next time I’ll read more closely the first time through. You provided the link to the Pix. Thank you!!!
My God, this is a great one! Thank you for all of that — and in particular for fleshing out my own memory of seeing it at the Pix in Hollywood!
Identifying that theater has been bugging me for quite a while. I remember standing in the kind of line that I’d only been used to from “The Godfather” and “The Exorcist” up to that point. I sat near the front of the balcony, and the experience was thrilling beyond belief.
Is there no listing and page for the Pix here? If there is, or if some other name was involved, then I’m missing it so I will appreciate it if someone speaks up. In my memory it was a few blocks east of Hollywood and Vine, on the south side of the street. It wasn’t a huge theater, I don’t think, and I always wondered if that was simply a spillover from the Chinese or somewhere else down the street. But you list no others, at least for the opening engagement, so I guess the Century Plaza was the “blockbuster” venue in L.A. for a while.
I’d love to see the pictures. Thank you!
Do it!!
(signed, Lives 40 minutes away)
“…2007, when the town council told the board of parks commissioners to draft a plan. It was at that point that people started thinking about showing movies again…” How funny, and how pathetic. Like someone posted on the regular page here, the place sold out every weekend. I saw this in its last couple of seasons.
Two words: Thank you.
Tonight?? Damn!