Cinema Treasures

  • December 14, 2007
    Cinema Treasures

    Many Brussels Cinemas added to Cinema Treasures

    Earlier this month, I found only 15 Belgium cinemas on this website, of which 7 were in Brussels. So, I added 13 Brussels cinemas, many still open as arthouses near the Grand Place. Ken Roe added 9, historic, but almost all closed, cinemas from his 1995 visit. Ken added the PLAZA (1928 Spanish Baroque) with its linked photos showing it as a gorgeous hotel banquet hall, which I visited. I added the MOVY-CLUB (1934 blend of Art Deco & modernism, still single screen cinema) and discovered a 1950’s Atomium era cinema, AUDITORIUM SHELL, long closed and functioning as an auditorium, has been reopened for movies while the building housing the MUSEE DE CINEMA is refurbished.

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  • November 27, 2007
    Cinema Treasures

    Madrid’s Central Cinemas added to CinemaTreasures.org, but sadly closing

    When I first visited in 1994, Madrid seemed to be the last city to have so many historic cinemas with daily movies on its main street, the Gran Via. Hand painted billboard sized movie posters proclaimed the features. Ushers wearing jackets and ties showed you to your reserved seat. A curtain opened and closed, for commercials, for trailers, and finally for the feature. Many had one or two balconies. Full houses greeted Hollywood blockbusters, dubbed into Spanish. I eagerly experienced movies in almost all of them. By the end of the 1990’s, multiplexes were luring customers away and the historic cinemas began to close.

    Cinematreasures.org listed only two of the historic cinemas on Madrid’s Gran Via: theAvenida de la Musica huge & gorgeous, but may close to be a retail mall; and the Capitol, with its stunning Art Deco exterior and auditorium.

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  • November 16, 2007
    Cinema Treasures

    What are the ten most endangered theaters?

    As this year draws to a close, Cinema Treasures is putting together a list of the ten most endangered theaters.

    The purpose of this list is to publicize the plight of theaters at risk, alert local and national media, and keep our focus on saving these theaters before it’s too late.

    We’ve taken a first stab at the list, but we really want to get your feedback before making it official.

    If you’d like to nominate another theater, please add your theater in the comments below. Please make sure to include the theater’s full name, location, theater page link (if available), and why the theater is endangered.

    This is an invaluable opportunity for everyone to make their voices heard and help us shape this important list of the most endangered Cinema Treasures in America.

    (We’re also working on a separate list of theaters in the United Kingdom that will be published next Friday. Additional lists from Canada, France, China, etc. are welcome too.)

    34 comments
  • November 14, 2007
    Cinema Treasures

    Thanks for coming to our first meetup!

    Thanks to everyone who dropped by our meetup at the Landmark last week.

    The wine bar at the Landmark was packed that night… which was funny, because it’s almost always empty in there. In fact, at one point, we looked over at the bar and Mark Ruffalo was sitting there. (Turns out he was at the Landmark for a screening of his new film Reservation Road.)

    Even though it was a bit crowded, the meeting was a lot of fun. We really enjoyed meeting everyone and hearing their thoughts on Cinema Treasures, movie theaters, historic preservation, etc.

    Special thanks to Ben Barbash from the Fairfax, Kenneth McIntrye, Jose Otero Buenaga, and Mark Schlemmer from Secoa.

    We’ll probably do another one of these in January. (And, hopefully, bring this event to other cities later next year).

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  • November 8, 2007
    Cinema Treasures

    REMINDER: Meetup in L.A. Tonight!

    If you live in the Los Angeles area, come meet the people behind Cinema Treasures.

    We’re meeting up tonight at the new Landmark 12 in Westwood at 7 p.m. (Look for us in the lounge area near the concession stand).

    When:
    Thursday, November 8 (tonight!)
    7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

    Where:
    The Landmark 12
    10850 W. Pico Boulevard
    Los Angeles, CA 90064
    map

    Hope to see you all there!

    7 comments
  • November 5, 2007
    Cinema Treasures

    REMINDER: Thursday Meetup in L.A.

    Ross, Michael, and I are looking forward to seeing everyone!

    When:
    Thursday, November 8
    7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

    Where:
    The Landmark 12
    10850 W. Pico Boulevard
    Los Angeles, CA 90064
    map

    Note: we’ll be meeting in the lounge area, just adjacent to the main concession stand.

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  • October 26, 2007
    Cinema Treasures

    Meet the people who run Cinema Treasures!

    We’re hosting a meetup in Los Angeles on November 8.

    If you live in or near Los Angeles, this is your chance to meet Patrick Crowley, Ross Melnick, and Michael Zoldessy (as well as other users of the site). Topics will include the state of theater preservation, future plans for the website, and anything else you’d like to discuss.

    And, if you don’t live in or near LA, don’t worry. We’re hoping to host more meetups in the future.

    When:
    Thursday, November 8
    7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

    Where:
    The Landmark 12
    10850 W. Pico Boulevard
    Los Angeles, CA 90064
    map

    Note: we’ll be meeting in the lounge area, just adjacent to the main concession stand.

    …

    If you plan to attend, please leave a comment below so we know how many to expect!

    43 comments
  • October 15, 2007
    Cinema Treasures

    70mm World Premieres now listed in introductions of New York City movie palaces

    Instead of Los Angeles, most World Premieres of 70mm movies were held in New York City in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Almost all of those premieres were held at just six Broadway movie palaces. Four of those theaters are totally gone, and the other two (Criterion and DeMille) gutted. I’ve now incorporated the names and dates of each 70mm World Premiere into the Introduction of each of those six movie palaces:

    “Around the World in 80 Days” (1956), “West Side Story” (1961), “The Sound of Music” (1965), “Cleopatra” (1963), “Hello Dolly” (1969) and others at the Rivoli

    “Ben Hur” (1959), “Becket” (1964) which was reissued earlier this year, and others, at the
    Loew’s State

    93 comments
  • October 9, 2007
    Cinema Treasures

    Southampton’s Cinemas now updated

    For my CT friends in the greater Southampton area of southern England, you now have, I hope, a full and up-to-date listing of your cinemas past and present.

    My grateful thanks to many unknown friends who contributed facts and stories of cinemas they worked in or just patronized.

    Just look and see what has been lost in a short time, but think back at the wonderful memories of so many classic films we saw in such lovely old theaters!

    2 comments
  • October 5, 2007
    Cinema Treasures

    ALL Philadelphia area multiplexes & megaplexes now on cinematreasures.org

    In recent weeks, I’ve added 20 Philadelphia area multiplexes and megaplexes to cinematreasures.org so that with others previously added, EVERY Philadelphia area open multiplex and megaplex is now part of this website! Fortunately, “cinema treasures” doesn’t ignore current movie theaters. The founders cinematreasures.org wisely recognize that we should document and discuss today’s movie theaters.

    Below is a list of the Philadelphia area multiplexes and megaplexes that I’ve recently added. None are “historic” but each is loved by many moviegoers.

    PHILADELPHIA

    UA Riverview Plaza 17, UA Main Street 6, Pearl 7

    PHILADELPHIA SUBURBS

    AMC Plymouth Meeting 12, Regal Plymouth Meeting 10, United Artists King of Prussia 16 and IMAX, Regal Marketplace at Oaks 24, UA East Whiteland 9, Regal Downingtown Stadium 16, Regal Richland Crossing 12, Regal Edgmont Square 10, United Artists 69th Street 9, AMC Granite Run 8, AMC Marple 10, AMC Marlton 8, Regal Burlington 20, United Artists Washington Township 14, Regal Cross Keys 12, AMC Deptford Mall 6 and AMC Deptford 8.

    • Editor’s Note: Thanks for all your help with that, Howard. We try to get every theater of note up on the site. We like to think that where the story starts and stops on classic theaters is just an opinion.*
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