Comments from HowardBHaas

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HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Oct 8, 2007 at 3:41 pm

I didn’t read remnants. Though I do photo a lot, those photos that I linked yesterday weren’t mine but ones I found on flickr. Each has their own credit. I simply made a selection that I thought would interest people here.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Paramount Theatre on Oct 8, 2007 at 1:31 pm

Almost exactly one year ago, Vince Young asked for interior photos. I’ve gathered a selection of them from flickr searching. This theater looks beautiful!

Stunning Grand LOBBY:
View link

AUDITORIUM:
Proscenium Arch framing stage:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/goplacia/119160940/
View link
Auditorium side wall & facing stage:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dustin/271068277/
Balcony facing projection booth:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/j0mammma/464800200/
From stage towards balcony:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/j0mammma/464800110/
Balcony side walls:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abqturkey/421788696/
Ceiling:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/magritte/1276329289/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/av3ry/88282087/

Women’s restroom LOUNGE:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lindn/312481438/

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Oct 8, 2007 at 12:45 pm

The curtains were used Saturday, but not Friday, not Sunday. The sound was apparently loud enough Saturday but not Friday, not Sunday. Special requests are honored, at least for 10 PM Sunday…..

I was determined to travel from Philly to attend Saturday until Movieguy’s assertion of sound so low he got refunded & no curtain. Well, I saw Blade Runner at the Uptown (Washington DC) screen a decade ago, with a larger curved screen, a great sound system though 35 mm print. This isn’t likely a better experience, just a few changes made to the film. I will live if I don’t get to it.

Now, Clearview, audience members have remarked online how wonderful your film presentations have been, that in the Northeast, along with National Amusements, you are setting the standards. Please use an appropriately loud enough film presentation always! Refund the few people who think the “film is too loud.” And, the Ziegfeld being a flagship cinema that people attend because they want a REAL movie theater experience, please use those curtains before the movie begins! We live with the Preshow (and that is better than slides), but before the previews and/or feature, let’s please use the curtains.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Storyhouse Theatre & Cinema on Oct 8, 2007 at 5:28 am

MAYBE not the end? Let’s hope!

From the Chester Chronicle Odeon developers offer `compromise'

Oct 5 2007

by David Holmes, Ches Chron Country

HOPE is on the horizon for campaigners seeking to keep Chester’s Odeon
as a cinema.

Developers behind plans to redevelop the venue into bars, restaurants
and shops, told a packed meeting they will consider including cinema
or arts provision.

Gary Hunt, managing director of The Brook Group, was impressed by the
strength of feeling at the gathering called by city MP Christine
Russell, aimed at saving the Grade II-listed art deco building as a
picture house.

He told the 250-strong audience at the St Mary’s Centre: `I would like
to think that somehow we can find some kind of compromise and a way
forward that everyone can benefit from.'

Mr Hunt said the overall scheme must make a profit and negotiations
were taking place with a number of restaurant and bar operators to
explore the options.

Many at the meeting expressed the view that young people should have
an alternative to drinking.

City tour guide Gerard Tighe said there were 8,000 students in Chester
who needed entertainment during the evenings and weekends.

He added that new hotels were springing up in the city centre, but
commented: `Guests don’t just want to sit in their hotel rooms.'

Ms Russell MP said Chester’s cultural offer had diminished following
the closure of the Gateway Theatre, which won’t be replaced for four
or five years, and the Odeon.

But she was heartened by news the former York Odeon had been saved
thanks to a community campaign which led to independent cinema chain
Reel Cinemas acquiring the building who were working with the city
council to restore the venue.

Community arts campaigner Rachel Dison said Reel and another
independent chain, City Screen Ltd, were interested in coming to
Chester and being part of the Odeon building with a view to setting up
a two-screen cinema and café bar.

She said City Screen had 19 venues and showed blockbusters, classics
and world cinema as well as running kids and senior clubs.

Guest speaker Sir Gerald Kaufman MP, former chairman of the Culture,
Media and Sport Select Committee, told the audience old-style cinemas
were picture palaces' compared with thesoulless multiplexes' of today.

He said: `The history of cinema in Chester doesn’t need to be a brief
history. You can keep it alive. You can keep it going and preserve not
only a Grade II listed building but preserve the cultural ambience.'

Charlie Seward, city council regeneration manager, said any planning
application to change the building’s purpose from a place of cultural
entertainment could potentially fly in the face of several local
development policies.

.,._

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Oct 7, 2007 at 1:47 pm

On September 17, 2007, “themissingpersonproduction” took MANY photos of the Ziegfeld. Here are my favorites:

Grand Stairs:
View link
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Foyer at top of Stairs:
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One of the halls into Auditorium:
View link
closeup of carpet:
View link

Side wall of auditorium including screen:
View link

Auditorium facing rear seating:
View link
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view of projection booth:
View link

Auditorium from Raised Section to Movie Screen:
View link

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Fremont Theaters on Oct 7, 2007 at 10:32 am

Ah, you must be the Rivest with the wonderful lists and maps!

Here. I’ve typed here the website announcement-

Announcing! Main Street 7 Theatres-

Phase 1 (complete) More Selling Stations, Digital Menu-Boards and Expanded Concession Selection Including Cinnabon Pretzels!

Phase 2 (complete) 3 New Stadium Auditoriums! Luxurious Stadium Seating with Perfect Sightlines, Wall to Wall Screens & Incredible Digital Sound!

Phase 3 (Coming Soon, early Fall completion) Complete Renovation of our Existing Auditoriums…with Stadium Risers, Luxurious High Back Rocking Seats and Dynamic New Color Scheme!

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Baray Andet Cinema on Oct 7, 2007 at 8:22 am

Is there another website which allows people to comment on theaters?

Personally, I prefer this website to be international. I consult it before I travel.

I agree that listings need have more content, but Ken is correct in that content is often filled in after the theater is entered. Many people won’t take the step of “adding” a theater but they will comment once it is added.

So, ease up, Warren, especially since Ken is a volunteer, and there’s no membership fees so you shouldn’t object to the “product”

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Oct 7, 2007 at 6:52 am

These photos depict the actors rather than the Ziegfeld. I link them here to document the premieres that have taken place:

Brad Pit and Angelina Jolie for The Assassination of Jesse James premiere, photo taken October 3, 2007
View link

Actress Idina Menzel arrives for the premier of the movie “Rent” at the Ziegfeld on November 17, 2005
View link

Cameron Diaz and Leonardo DiCaprio “Gangs of New York” World Premiere
Ziegfeld Theate, December 9, 2002
View link

Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint
“Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” New York Premiere – Inside Arrivals
Ziegfeld Theatre,November 10, 2002
View link

Diana Ross, The New York Premiere Of Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone
The Ziegfeld Theatre, November 11, 2001
View link

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Oct 7, 2007 at 6:44 am

Blade Runner The Final Cut on Ziegfeld marquee, lit at night:
View link

Exterior Sept 24, 2007 photo of premiere at Ziegfeld of “Michael Clayton” with George Clooney present,
View link

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about United Artists East 85th Street on Oct 7, 2007 at 5:11 am

The exterior still looks like Ken Roe’s photo linked above in 2003. The name of the movie is placed in marquee letters on the sign board. The theater’s name continues as UA East on the exterior of the theater, which is the basement of the residential building. After tickets are purchased at the ticket booth, there are stairs and an escalator to this basement theater.

The UA East auditorium sits 240 people with very comfortable LUXURY SEATS upholstered with gray fabric and extremely generous legroom. Vertical strips of red and blue fabric are the decoration on the side and back walls. Speakers are on the blue fabric. Support columns are on the left facing the movie screen, but don’t interfere with the excellent sightlines. The auditorium’s basic configuration resembles that of Clearview’s 62nd & Broadway. A red curtain is in front of the movie screen, but not used as slides are shown before the feature presentation. AMC & Clearview have switched to a digital preshow, but UA still uses slides? The MOVIE SCREEN IS DECENTLY LARGE, in this theater I’d estimate at 25 to 30 feet wide for the scope film. DIGITAL SURROUND SOUND is excellent here. Overall, the movie presentation in this auditorium was very good.

Fresh popcorn was being made as I entered for the 2 PM presentation of the scope movie “In the Valley of Elah.” The “small” popcorn was way too big, and costs too much at $5.50. The small soda costs too much at $4.50. A sign outside announces that outside food, beverages and ice cream are not allowed in the theater. Why does the sign add “ice cream” as that is already in the food category?

Though the movie has been shown for a few weeks, it had reasonably good attendance at the matinee, Saturday’s 1st show. The theater likely has excellent attendance on weekend evenings and if rent isn’t too high, would still be profitable.

Does United Artists or Regal still operate any other single screen theaters in the US?

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Oct 6, 2007 at 6:35 pm

Blade Runner: The Final Cut on the marquee
View link

Crowds last night? Today? Any use of the curtain before the film last night or today? Loud enough? There is surround sound for this film, right? Overall impression of this film at the Ziegfeld?

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Rex Cinema on Oct 5, 2007 at 8:11 pm

The interior of the restaurant in original lobby is described here, with tiny photos:
View link

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Warnors Center for the Performing Arts on Oct 5, 2007 at 7:44 pm

recent photos of gorgeous ceiling of auditorium:
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritamatem/358810755/

Set of exterior 2007 photos including close up of Ticket Booth:
View link

Close-up of exterior neon:
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Close-up of marquee:
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Marquee lit up at night:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tspauld/402851299/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tspauld/446673046/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tspauld/446680561/
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Exterior ornamentation:
View link
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HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Oct 5, 2007 at 4:41 pm

Thanks. Did the Ziegfeld use the curtain before the pre-show today or not used at all?

In 2002, I saw a movie at the Toronto Uptown balcony screen. Lamb designed movie palace, but sadly demolished.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Oct 5, 2007 at 3:23 pm

Can somebody please point out tonight to the Ziegfeld staff that Blade Runner isn’t a musical (let’s forget for a second whatever they were thinking about that), but a MACHO SCIENCE FICTION FLICK and the audience wants it reasonably loud?

I’d like to know, because I’m not going to travel from Philly this weekend if low volume so people are walking out.

Or perhaps people attending disagree and are finding it loud enough?

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Oct 5, 2007 at 2:07 pm

Bill, Thanks! Love the text.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about ALL Philadelphia area multiplexes & megaplexes now on cinematreasures.org on Oct 5, 2007 at 2:05 pm

Ah, here’s on in the London Science Museum, so they are ok to be added here. Maybe sometime soon, I will add it.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Oct 5, 2007 at 1:59 pm

Ok, report on how the digital presentation looks on the huge Ziegfeld screen.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Oct 5, 2007 at 1:32 pm

Scan & link the ad?
More people will buy as a result of the ad. However, in my experience only nationally advertized classics tend draw huge sold out gatherings in movie theaters as large as the Ziegfeld.
Can somebody TONIGHT report on the print, including picture & sound (and that curtain used before movie), how many attend, and whether any long line? I’m considering this for perhaps tommorrow.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Oct 5, 2007 at 1:32 pm

Scan & link the ad?
More people will buy as a result of the ad. However, in my experience only nationally advertized classics tend draw huge sold out gatherings in movie theaters as large as the Ziegfeld.
Can somebody TONIGHT report on the print, including picture & sound (and that curtain used before movie), how many attend, and whether any long line? I’m considering this for perhaps tommorrow.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about ALL Philadelphia area multiplexes & megaplexes now on cinematreasures.org on Oct 5, 2007 at 1:23 pm

I’m curious as to what the website leaders will reply. Since they may not realize what it is, I will clarify that the Franklin Institute is a downtown science museum, and very famous locally. The IMAX often shows science docus, not just commercial movie blockbusters.

I don’t know if all IMAX theaters will qualify to be included on this site.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Cinerama Hollywood on Oct 5, 2007 at 1:19 pm

(1) Somebody might want to ask the AFI if 35 or 70 mm print of Spartacus was shown. I hope there’s still a good 70 mm print available.

(2) People bought tickets and were looking forward to seeing it, but weren’t shown The Shawshank Redemption? Why didn’t they just borrow one of the celebrities from another auditorium to give an introduction?

Regardless, sounds like a great event.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Movie, Movie Pacific Place on Oct 5, 2007 at 1:14 pm

House Sound
from AMC website-
Sound System

No. of Seats
1 SRD-EX 39 599
2 SRD-EX 126
3 SRD-EX 111
4 SRD-EX 72
5 SRD-EX 109
6 SRD-EX 142

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Park Theatre on Oct 3, 2007 at 1:37 pm

9-25-07 San Mateo County Times article:
MENLO PARK â€" An ambitious plan to restore the Park Theater hinges on a last-ditch effort by Andy Duncan, the main proponent, to coax Menlo Park city officials into giving him a loan or joining him in a public-private partnership.
Duncan submitted a formal proposal to City Manager Glen Rojas on Thursday. Because of escalating restoration costs and the fact that a market-based solution to revamping the theater isn’t workable, Duncan has offered the city two options: Lend him $500,000 at 5 percent for 25 years or buy the land and lease it to him for 55 years.

At $2.2 million, the second option is far more expensive for the taxpayer, but it would give the city ownership of an important historical resource, Duncan said.

“My goal is to save the theater,” Duncan said.

Duncan plans to take out the chairs temporarily and layer the sloped floor with a dance floor so he can move his mother’s dance company, the Menlo Park Dance Academy, into the theater. Under fire from some residents for seeking the subsidy, Duncan has repeatedly claimed that the dance academy is not trying to make more money.

Another facet of his plan is getting the theater on the state and national registries of historical landmarks, a designation that comes with a 20 percent federal tax break on construction costs. Duncan hired architect Mike Garavaglia, who specializes in historic buildings, to assess the theater’s historical merit. Garavaglia has repeatedly said the theater meets the state and federal criteria.

But Duncan took a blow two weeks ago when Gilbert Workman, who chairs the Menlo Park Historical Association, told him his board unanimously agreed the theater does not meet historical criteria.

Since he announced his plans in January, Duncan said the project’s cost has risen from $1.3 million to $2 million. The total cost, which includes purchase of the land from Atherton resident Howard Crittenden, amounts to roughly $4.2 million, he said.

Reaction from the City Council has been cautious and mixed. Councilman John Boyle had not read the new proposal, but has said in the past he would like a stronger market approach. Vice Mayor Andy Cohen and Councilman Heyward Robinson said they are digesting the proposal.

Mayor Kelly Fergusson is the strongest proponent of restoration, but was cautious about endorsing Duncan’s proposal right away.

“I think it’s innovative,” Fergusson said. “That’s why a public-private partnership like this merits consideration.”

All the members agree, however, that the single-screen theater, built in 1947, should be restored to its original state. But how to get there has been the major question.

“The details are a little fuzzy,” Robinson said, referring to the recent proposal. “We need staff to take a look at it.”

Under the lease agreement, Duncan would commit to restoring the theater and paying the city $800,000 in rent up front for the first 25 years. After that, Duncan, or whoever is operating the dance academy, would pay roughly $70,000 per year. The city would have numerous opportunities to buy him out, as well.

The Menlo Park City Council will discuss Duncan’s proposal at its Oct. 2 meeting, 7 p.m. in council chambers at 701 Laurel St.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Sao Jorge Cinema on Oct 3, 2007 at 6:31 am

Sketch of exterior:
View link

scroll down for photo of Ceiling of auditorium:
http://lisbondailyphoto.blogspot.com/

Photo of modernist urinals in Cinema Sao Jorge
http://www.urinal.net/cinema_sao_jorge/