Search

Theaters News Links

Advanced search
 

Theater Guide

Now listing 26,616 theaters & 1,598 photos… more
Browse by...
 

Add Your Cinema Treasure!

Add Theater
Add Photo (offline)
Add Theater News
 
 

Recent Comments

Nov 20 Ridgewood Theatre (3082)
Nov 20 Hollywood Theatre (116)
Nov 20 Georgetown… (18)
Nov 20 AMC Loews Fresh… (105)
Nov 20 Odeon Stamford… (6)
Nov 20 Warner Grand… (65)
Nov 20 Victoria Theater (3)
Nov 20 Paradis Cinema (2)
Nov 20 Mid City 3… (1)
Nov 20 Beverly Theater (34)
 
 
 
  Discover. Preserve. Protect.
Also known as Alpine Twin Theatre

Alpine Four Theatre

Grand Rapids, MI
3219 Alpine Avenue Northwest
, Grand Rapids, MI 49544 United States
(map)
Status: Closed/Demolished
Screens: Multiplex (4 Screen)
Style: Art Moderne
Function: Unknown
Seats: 650
Chain: Unknown
Architect: Mel C. Glatz
Firm: Unknown
Add a photo for this theater!
In 1970, John D. Loeks along with nine other stockholders, formed a new theater circuit called Auto-Cine, Inc. with the intention of building small, automated twin theaters throughout western Michigan. The Alpine Theatre, which opened on Sepetember 23, 1970 was the second theater in this new circuit.

The major premise in the twin theaters was to operate two auditoriums while using a common box office, concessions and rest room facilities and a minimum of personnel. A manager also handled the threading and starting of the films and the box office cashier doubled as a concession clerk. Projectors were outfitted to use larger reels, accommodating up to one hour each, instead of the usual 15 to 20 minutes.

In an article in the Grand Rapids Press, Loeks says, "What it amounts to is that we can set up two projectors, get the show started and have the whole operation complete itself without any manual assistance. We've moved from the old hand-crank projector to almost complete automation. Even some of theater advances still had the projectionist installing four to six reels for a feature film. Now only two are needed."

The article continues to explain, "The first projector even turns itself off and activates the second projector through a magnatic strip attached to the film. The only real problem is when a film tears or splits, which calls for immediate splicing, but modern movie film is such that it rarely occurs."

The theater closed in 2001, and was later demolished in 2003.
Contributed by Charles Van Bibber


YOUR COMMENTS

 
http://www.waterwinterwonderland.com/location.asp?ID=905&type=5
A link to photos of the Alpine 4 Theatres.
posted by Chuck1231 on Jan 11, 2004 at 1:48am
This is sad to hear, I only went to the theatre once (me being a resident of southeast MI), to see Star Wars:Episode I, but it was an experience I'll never forget. The theatre was fantastic, and an artifact from a time long past, when Michigan was a fantastic place to live.
posted by Greattastic.info on May 16, 2005 at 8:10pm
The only film I ever saw here was "Titanic" - I remember thinking it was a small but nice theater, even though I marveled at how many seats there were in just the one auditorium. I'm sorry to hear it no longer exists - what stands there now?
posted by Shanahan on Jun 27, 2007 at 11:05pm
This used to be the Alpine Twin, until Loek's theaters moved in across the street and against Jack's wishes. (I really miss Jack Loeks running the theaters. He was a great guy.)

When it became the Alpine Four, I remember that the idea was to show older and special run movies. Unfortunately, it could not compete witht the big theater across the street.

This is the theater we "graduated" to when we were old enough to be trusted outside the drive-in. I saw a lot of movies in this great theater.
posted by BelteshazzarMouse on Feb 1, 2009 at 8:59am
Man, I can remember seeing so many movies here as a kid. It was only a dollar for the longest time, but did increase to two at the end. My mom would take us, and we would get candy at the K-Mart next door and sneak it in...

@Shanahan-it's nothing now. There's a big box strip mall there now. Remember the restaurant next door? (The Clock) That had a great old 50's sign in front, and it, too is gone.
posted by AmyZ on Feb 16, 2009 at 5:28pm
Thanks, Amy. I think I read that the KMart on that side of Alpine is now history, too
posted by Shanahan on Mar 12, 2009 at 6:16pm
A page of Boxoffice Magazine's issue of October 25, 1971, was devoted to the Alpine Twin Theatre (its original name.) There were a few pictures of the theater. The twin auditoriums each had 325 seats in a continental arrangement. The side walls were curtained, and the back walls were faced with acoustic tile. The project was designed by Mel Glatz Associates.
posted by Joe Vogel on Nov 7, 2009 at 2:04am
Comment
*

Notify me when someone replies to my comment?
Note: Please read our comment policy before posting. Comments which are off-topic, obscene, spam, or personal attacks will be removed. Help us keep the discussion productive!