I am sorry to hear about your bad experience with The Aviator at the Uptown. Sadly this was not an isolated incident. Loews wisely chose to schedule projectionists full time for the opening weeks of Star Wars at the Uptown. The print remained flawless unlike those for all of the other features since the beginning of the year when they installed a platter and made “managers” run the equipment.
Loews recently began cutting back projectionist hours again. War of the Worlds opens next. Unfortunately all it takes is one misthread to scratch a print. Out of frame, out of focus, out of every other spec seems to be the accepted norm at multi screen mall complexes but it seems such a shame to have it happen at the Uptown where quality presentation was taken for granted.
To their credit Loews lifted an antique chandelier from one of the theaters it closed in New York City and it now adorns the Uptown lobby. Ultimately however what keeps the audiences coming back is the light on the giant screen not the light in the lobby.
Interesting development this week, AMC and Loews have announced plans to merge. How will the new stewards of this grand olde dame treat her?
Sad to say the presentation at the grand old dame is bound to get a whole lot worse after recent developments. On Monday January 3, 2005, for the first time in its 70 year history, the theater was run without a projectionist. Loews Cineplex Entertainment announced it would begin using a “manager” to operate the all manual two projector system for the majority of the week using a projectionist only on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday or as requested. The very first show under this new policy was canceled after “technical difficulties”. The up to then pristine print of Martin Scorcesse’s “Aviator” was already scratched by Friday when a projectionist returned to find damage including shutter blades scorched and warped clanging together from negligent or untrained behavior. It is disheartening to see such a treasure go to waste. The slides and advertisements (almost all mono) so ubiqutous at the multiplexes were never run at the Uptown in the past. It was considered too classy. The bookings have progressively been getting worse or duplicated at one of the chains nearby multiplexes thereby marginalizing this classic theater as with so many like it around the country. Still it routinely outgrosses many of the largest multiplexes due to it’s large seating capacity and reputation for impressive presentation. Will we forget the grandeur of film in such a jewel case? Or just painfully put up with a steady deterioration until we no longer remember its majesty.
I am sorry to hear about your bad experience with The Aviator at the Uptown. Sadly this was not an isolated incident. Loews wisely chose to schedule projectionists full time for the opening weeks of Star Wars at the Uptown. The print remained flawless unlike those for all of the other features since the beginning of the year when they installed a platter and made “managers” run the equipment.
Loews recently began cutting back projectionist hours again. War of the Worlds opens next. Unfortunately all it takes is one misthread to scratch a print. Out of frame, out of focus, out of every other spec seems to be the accepted norm at multi screen mall complexes but it seems such a shame to have it happen at the Uptown where quality presentation was taken for granted.
To their credit Loews lifted an antique chandelier from one of the theaters it closed in New York City and it now adorns the Uptown lobby. Ultimately however what keeps the audiences coming back is the light on the giant screen not the light in the lobby.
Interesting development this week, AMC and Loews have announced plans to merge. How will the new stewards of this grand olde dame treat her?
Sadly the Cinema was just closed by Loews Cineplex Entertainment.
Sad to say the presentation at the grand old dame is bound to get a whole lot worse after recent developments. On Monday January 3, 2005, for the first time in its 70 year history, the theater was run without a projectionist. Loews Cineplex Entertainment announced it would begin using a “manager” to operate the all manual two projector system for the majority of the week using a projectionist only on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday or as requested. The very first show under this new policy was canceled after “technical difficulties”. The up to then pristine print of Martin Scorcesse’s “Aviator” was already scratched by Friday when a projectionist returned to find damage including shutter blades scorched and warped clanging together from negligent or untrained behavior. It is disheartening to see such a treasure go to waste. The slides and advertisements (almost all mono) so ubiqutous at the multiplexes were never run at the Uptown in the past. It was considered too classy. The bookings have progressively been getting worse or duplicated at one of the chains nearby multiplexes thereby marginalizing this classic theater as with so many like it around the country. Still it routinely outgrosses many of the largest multiplexes due to it’s large seating capacity and reputation for impressive presentation. Will we forget the grandeur of film in such a jewel case? Or just painfully put up with a steady deterioration until we no longer remember its majesty.
Keith