Comments from SteveSwanson

Showing 1 - 25 of 93 comments

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson commented about Terrace Drive-In on Nov 28, 2014 at 8:23 pm

This drive-in only has one screen in operation, Chris Willman is correct. I believe I’ve made 2 stops out here, in 2005 and again in ‘05.
There is nothing wrong with this drive-in, its a pretty good operation and in order. I just feel that the Parma Motor-Vu, about 20 minutes west is more charming and I tend to go there instead.

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson commented about El Rancho Drive-In on Nov 28, 2014 at 7:24 pm

I made a quick stop here in 2005, on the way up to the Marysville Drive-In. I understand that the booth/snack bar building is still there but I did not go that far back into the lot. The screen tower base is still there but the marquee was removed a few years after these pictures were taken.

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson commented about Rodeo Drive-In on Nov 17, 2014 at 9:01 pm

The Rodeo was just voted ‘Best Movie Theater’ in Western Washington, the poll was sponsored by KING-TV. Not just best drive-in, but best Overall. And that’s some steep competition including Cinerama & the Uptown in Seattle, plus the Blue Mouse in Tacoma.

I like to think of the Rodeo as “the best little BIG drive-in in the Northwest” By that, I mean it has 3 screens and holds over 800 cars, but still maintains an atmosphere of intimacy. The Snack Bar cooks everything to order, they’ll give you a pager so you don’t miss too much of the movie. And they still have a playground down front of the main screen.

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson commented about Brazos Drive-In on Nov 10, 2014 at 9:10 pm

The Brazos is up for auction again on eBay. This time for $475,000, ends Sunday 11/16/14

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson commented about Egyptian Theatre on Nov 8, 2014 at 1:45 pm

Finally made a visit to see ‘Halloween’ on Halloween night. I think the only other move I saw here was The Fugitive in 1993 on the main screen. Real happy to see the end result after years of fund raising and repairs, and they still have a few more projects to finish. But at least they are open for business again and can bring in some money.

Overall, I would give the decor an A+, it looks like a grand movie palace once again.

But as a film venue, and this is not the only means of entertainment here anymore. I would give it a C grade. Unfortunately, the last operator to run this theater placed a restriction on movies in order to have the Egyptian not compete with his other multi-plex in town. So they are left to p[ay the retro card, which is not a bad thing. However, the movies are projected off a DVD. Which means the film image does not take up the whole screen, the audio kept dropping out every now and then. And the disc paused for about a minute, which maybe was an overall indication of the quality presentation. Plus, since Halloween was filmed with very little light sources in some scenes, those shots were dimmer compared to a newer Digital projector. I hope I’m not being too not picky, just wanted to be fair in my critique. I’m still looking forward to coming back for a concert someday.

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson commented about Yerington Theatre on Oct 9, 2014 at 7:50 pm

The theater was closed around 1977-78. It was alter torn down and replaced by the Yeringtion Inn. The address is 4 North Main Street and sits across from the new theater, Yerington Movie House.

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson commented about Sierra Theatre on Oct 5, 2014 at 12:33 pm

After several trips thru here on the way to Lake Tahoe, I finally got a chance to see inside. This is a wonderful renovated theater. I saw Maze Runner upstairs. Comfortable chairs and the view was pretty good, compared to other splits I’ve seen. Snack bar prices are reasonable and they refilled my water bottle because the fountain wasn’t working. I would come back here given the chance.

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson commented about Cinemark Movies 12 on Oct 5, 2014 at 12:08 am

This theater closed last week, getting ready for the wrecking ball.

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson commented about Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema on Sep 17, 2014 at 9:52 am

The Cobblestone Cinema opened in 1971 and closed Jan. 2, 2014. The owners deciding not to renew the lease and possibly not dealing with a digital conversion.

The theater was bought in May by Steven Siig & Mark Gogolewski. They reopened Sept. 5th, 2014 with a mix of Hollywood films, independent & arthouse fare and the occasional retro feature for Throwback Thursdays. Other events include live music and performances by the Tahoe Youth Ballet.

The rechristened Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema will feature food wine & beer. Along with a digital upgrade, they will have a new lobby layout, bathrooms and a more relaxed seating atmosphere (loveseats & bean bags up front)

“Its not about making money but making our community better” Steven Siig in regards to keeping Tahoe City more vibrant.

Their website is tahoearthauscinema.com

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson commented about City Lights Cinemas on Sep 14, 2014 at 5:19 pm

Florence has an open theater again, as City Lights Cinema has taken over the multiplex. Reopened August 8, 2014 by Michael Falter who also owns the Pickford Film Center in Bellingham Washington.

Although the previous owners were not able to convert, City Lights is now all digital thanks to a Kickstarter campaign that raised over $16,000 to pay for the installation and a few other repairs.

City Lights has a yearly membership program that gives you discounts to movies & at the snack bar. And in keeping with the film noir of its namesake, the 4 auditoriums are named Chaplin, Pickford, Fairbanks & Griffith.

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson commented about New Beverly Cinema on Sep 5, 2014 at 1:45 pm

A new QT interview in LA Weekly from 9/5/14. He basically wanted to keep the 35mm format alive at the New Bev, he will be taking over programming. He also states that he has a large private collection of both 16 & 35 mm prints to show. The theater is closed for the month so they can make improvements including 6 track mag sound & adding a 16mm projector.

I’m not sure if the digital projector is going away, since Michael bought it so he could play 2nd run art house films.

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson commented about Level B Theater Pub on Aug 24, 2014 at 7:19 pm

Made one trip here on 2010 for Grease. They were mostly running retro films on a semi-regular basis. I think the seating is no more than 100, but sine they have added live music, maybe some seating has been removed. It is a definite hole in the wall cinema, and not easy to spot from the street driving by.

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson commented about Cinemark Movies 12 on Aug 13, 2014 at 9:04 pm

This place was cool 24 years ago, now its on its last legs. The new Gateway Mall owners are revamping the place. Demolishing most of the interiors and focusing on big box retail. I expect Movies 12 to close by the end of the year.

However, after it became a sub-run house. Its still a halfway decent place to go. They have installed a few digital projectors for 3D films. But its still nice to see an old scratched up print every now and then. I look forward to the cue marks for those. The seats are uncomfortable and there’s no price breaks for the concessions. Tickets prices vary due to time of day, weekends cost even more.

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson commented about Roseburg Cinema on Aug 9, 2014 at 2:50 pm

3 more screens have opened, for a total of 11 screens now. A seperate 21+ theater has 74 seats with wine/beer available. The other 2 theaters hold 123 & 182 seats. A new party room is available for birthday parties etc. The 9,000 sq. ft. addition bring the total number of seats to 1,214.

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson commented about Auto Vue Drive-In on Jul 25, 2014 at 3:04 pm

Putting up the new screen has taken longer than expected, issues with the foundations. They are not going to open for the 2014 season, which gives them more time to find a digital projector for 2015.

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson commented about 99 W Drive-In on Jul 25, 2014 at 2:47 pm

The 99W drive-in has just been placed on the National Register of Historic Places, #14000401

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson commented about Twilight Drive-In on Jul 21, 2014 at 11:02 am

From the ashes of the Hillcrest in Surrey came the new Twilight drive-in in Langley. Owner Jay Daulat looked at 3 cities/townships before finding the right spot about 15 minutes east of the old location on Fraser Hwy. The drive-in opened September 2005.

It is a smaller field, about 100 cars less but it also has brand new facilites including washrooms with plenty of stalls. The same mix of asphalt lanes & grass ramps, although the grass has pretty much died in the front rows.

First run films with a bonus show on Fridays & Saturday nights. The season runs from February to November.

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson commented about Rose Theatre on Jul 18, 2014 at 8:10 pm

The Rose opened in 1907 on Water St. and moved to the Taylor St. location the next year. It closed fifty years later, the last film was ‘High School Confidential’ It reopened July 11, 1992 and expanded 3 years later with the 83 seat Rosebud theater. In 2013, for the Port Townsend Film Festival, a third screen was added, taking over an unused banquet room next door. The Starlight Room is a 21+ venue, featuring appetizers & cocktails from the Silverlight Cafe. It is a Living Room layout with room for forty five people.

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson commented about Harvard Avenue Cinemas on Jul 5, 2014 at 6:28 pm

The theater closed Sunday June 29, 2014.

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson commented about AMC Factoria Cinemas on Jun 24, 2014 at 8:55 pm

I know of one theater that was offered it. So it seems that film is still available, but at a price.

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson commented about Gem Theatre on Jun 4, 2014 at 11:04 am

I stopped by last week for a visit. They received a grant from the Ford Family Foundation last year, but it was a matching grant. They are still looking for another grant so the project is in limbo right now.

The interior has been gutted and the next step will be replacing the roof. It will be a performing arts center, a commercial kitchen will be placed on the other side of the theater building.

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson commented about Cinema 21 on May 28, 2014 at 9:51 am

I’m not sure of the exact reopening. Cinemas 21 has expanded, adding 2 screens and a new snack bar. The main auditorium still has 35mm film and digital projection, while the 2 smaller screens are digital only. Becasue of construction constraints, the booths were squeezed into narrow crawlspaces, with controls handled from the main booth. I found the 2 new auditoriums to have ample legroom and adjustable armrests. They now have beer & wine at the snack bar,

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson commented about Saco Drive-In on May 11, 2014 at 7:55 pm

Yes they have. Opening film for May 2 was Rio 2. The week after featured an independent horror film festival with live music.

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson commented about Polaris Theatre on Mar 25, 2014 at 9:56 pm

After about ten years of walking by here, while antique shopping. I finally made my way into a movie, Philomena. A charming little theater, playing mostly arthouse & sub-run films. They are still running film here. Seating is maxed out at 72 for the left side & 90 seats on the right. Decent snack bar & VIP memberships (matinee prices for evening shows) They also have pre-show announcements, information about the film and other upcoming movies.

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson commented about Charleston 333 on Mar 25, 2014 at 12:04 am

The Charleston has been here since 2008. All ages music hall, with bar in the back. Open Thursday – Saturday only, cover charge is usually $5. It appears that the screen is still up and they are only using the very front part of the stage.