RRF
commented about
Movie Cityon
Jul 12, 2013 at 2:39 pm
I did the install of the projection and sound equipment and front end screens done by Arne Jakobsen. All auditoriums had mono sound / Cinemeccanica V-5 projectors and Xetron consoles. Kelmar hard wired interlock system to allow any room to share a print. We where limited by roof height and existing support pillars for room size. On opening day the fire marshal ordered that 100 seats be removed which the owner illegally added….some where later installed in the lobby for people waiting to go in. The owner was from New Jersey and had done some other sites using re-cycled buildings.
This theater was owned at one time by the late Theater operator and film producer distributor Joe Fink. He was a big roly poly showman with constant cigar. He was known for burying 100s of old prints on the property, most flammable Nitrate film stock.
I remember meeting Richard Schwartz when he was operating the Thalia. What a passionate person when it came to film. He had a bed in a storage area so I assumed he must have camped out in the cinema. I remember the old screen speaker ( Western Electric? ) in use….he said it was cheaper to keep it running than to endure the labor cost to replace it.
I remember over the years several owners breathing life into the location….with competition from drive-ins and AMC nearby. If I am not mistaken the building is a qounset metal hut construction behind the facade.
The theater added 50-75 car spaces in a vacant part of the lot for the run of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid during its extended run. It was built by Ben Cohen of Holiday Amusements / Cincinnati Ohio.
It was a strange set-up. I did a service call once while it was operating film. The ceiling had a peak which made audio sound poor in the room. I remember I am Curious Yellow which being distributed by Preston Henn, the owner of the world’s largest multiplex drive-in in Ft. Lauderdale….To get one “extra” show a day for Curious was a recommended changeover which allowed dumping 15 – 20 minutes from the feature…..the film storyline was that loose….
The theater was renovated to show Windjammer as a roadshow competing with the Cinerama equipped Palace theater located five minutes and across the river.
The demise of the theater was accelerated due to the wood screen frame burning due to lightning and combustion of pine trees next to the screen. The indoor twin cinema next door which premiered such films as Tommy in quadraphonic sound also nailed the coffin.
I lived near this drive in in my teen age years. They had a storm that destroyed the screen and projection box (the box was recessed in the parking lot and was prone to flooding, projectors where on cement blocks)….It was rebuilt with a modern curved screen and new concession + integrated elevated projection booth towards the rear of the property.
The Todd Theater was named for one of the sons of owner / builder Eli Jackson. In 1972 I automated the cinema with Tampa’s first film platter system hand delivered by van by Robert Potts. Approximately a mile north was Mr. Jackson’s office which was located in a mobile home park that he owned. He was involved in film distribution and nightclubs.
I was manager in late 1970 early 1971 for the lessor by the name of Jay. I remember the cinemas connection to the club. We had a low cost last run policy and Jay had a knack of picking popular films such as Steve McQueens “Bullit” which we played to sold out shows.
The projection booth was encased in fire resistant metal which also made it a shock hazard operating the projectors. The death of the boy from the booth fire gave the cinema a haunted aspect that was felt by people in the booth and in the front of the auditorium where the victim was supposably found.
I did the install of the projection and sound equipment and front end screens done by Arne Jakobsen. All auditoriums had mono sound / Cinemeccanica V-5 projectors and Xetron consoles. Kelmar hard wired interlock system to allow any room to share a print. We where limited by roof height and existing support pillars for room size. On opening day the fire marshal ordered that 100 seats be removed which the owner illegally added….some where later installed in the lobby for people waiting to go in. The owner was from New Jersey and had done some other sites using re-cycled buildings.
This theater was owned at one time by the late Theater operator and film producer distributor Joe Fink. He was a big roly poly showman with constant cigar. He was known for burying 100s of old prints on the property, most flammable Nitrate film stock.
I remember meeting Richard Schwartz when he was operating the Thalia. What a passionate person when it came to film. He had a bed in a storage area so I assumed he must have camped out in the cinema. I remember the old screen speaker ( Western Electric? ) in use….he said it was cheaper to keep it running than to endure the labor cost to replace it.
I remember over the years several owners breathing life into the location….with competition from drive-ins and AMC nearby. If I am not mistaken the building is a qounset metal hut construction behind the facade.
The theater added 50-75 car spaces in a vacant part of the lot for the run of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid during its extended run. It was built by Ben Cohen of Holiday Amusements / Cincinnati Ohio.
It was a strange set-up. I did a service call once while it was operating film. The ceiling had a peak which made audio sound poor in the room. I remember I am Curious Yellow which being distributed by Preston Henn, the owner of the world’s largest multiplex drive-in in Ft. Lauderdale….To get one “extra” show a day for Curious was a recommended changeover which allowed dumping 15 – 20 minutes from the feature…..the film storyline was that loose….
I remember seeing Oklahoma in Todd-AO 70mm…..it was originally a single screen roadshow cinema.
The theater was renovated to show Windjammer as a roadshow competing with the Cinerama equipped Palace theater located five minutes and across the river.
The demise of the theater was accelerated due to the wood screen frame burning due to lightning and combustion of pine trees next to the screen. The indoor twin cinema next door which premiered such films as Tommy in quadraphonic sound also nailed the coffin.
I lived near this drive in in my teen age years. They had a storm that destroyed the screen and projection box (the box was recessed in the parking lot and was prone to flooding, projectors where on cement blocks)….It was rebuilt with a modern curved screen and new concession + integrated elevated projection booth towards the rear of the property.
I remember doing a service call once it had converted to an Adult theater. A Horston 16mm theater projector was installed to run those shows.
The Todd Theater was named for one of the sons of owner / builder Eli Jackson. In 1972 I automated the cinema with Tampa’s first film platter system hand delivered by van by Robert Potts. Approximately a mile north was Mr. Jackson’s office which was located in a mobile home park that he owned. He was involved in film distribution and nightclubs.
I was manager in late 1970 early 1971 for the lessor by the name of Jay. I remember the cinemas connection to the club. We had a low cost last run policy and Jay had a knack of picking popular films such as Steve McQueens “Bullit” which we played to sold out shows. The projection booth was encased in fire resistant metal which also made it a shock hazard operating the projectors. The death of the boy from the booth fire gave the cinema a haunted aspect that was felt by people in the booth and in the front of the auditorium where the victim was supposably found.