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Memories
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May 30, 2006
Research on Sydney suburban cinemas
I am currently at Sydney University and am doing a research essay on the role of cinema as entertainment in Western suburban Sydney.
I am hoping that anyone with any memories of going to the cinema between the 30’s – 50’s would be willing to complete a short questionaire. I need to find some ‘oral’ history, but know no one who can help.
Email me (.delete this part put CINEMA in subject) or post a reply if you would be willing to help.
I REALLY appreciate any help.
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May 22, 2006
Red Carpet Theaters?!?
“Now playing at a Red Carpet Theater near you.”
I rememeber this as a kid in the 1960’s into the 1970’s, then it strangely ended. General Cinema and Century participated in Westchester County, NY. What other chains did and what was the meaning of this designation? Why did it end ?
It was just another one of those promotional things that made moviegoing kind of neat and unique back then. Same when Channel 9, NYC had “Million Dollar Movie.”
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May 19, 2006
Passing of General Cinema Manager Israel (Izzy) Strier
A wonderful human being and dedicated theater manager for General Cinemas in Massachusetts, I just got word that Izzy Strier passed away on Thursday, May 18th, 2006 and his graveside service is planned for Sunday in Sharon, Massachusetts.
Hundreds of employees will remember his quick laugh, sharp wit, accented humor and ability to relate to anyone… CEO to cleaning staff. He managed the busy General Cinema in Shopper’s World, Framingham and was a legend there. Customers will remember the short, fiery, “can do” manager who somehow juggled a busy six theater complex and 100 young employees (like me, once!) with ease and humor. A legend in his own time, and he will be missed.
I’d clean the stickiest theater floor for you Izzy, any day.
— Julie “would you like butter with that” (Ferer) Dennehy
GCC Framingham 1982-1990 -
May 12, 2006
Seeking vintage movie theater ads
It seems to me that one of the major factors that fostered my love of theaters and movies from my youth was the way they were advertised in our local papers.
The ads were designed to enthrall you to view the movies-many conveyed special images, catch phrases,and imagination-surging presentations.
I love the comments sent by your members that include some of these pages concerning the particular theater, especially since nowadays the newspaper ads are so lackluster (or even absent altogether) that there is nothing to provoke the reads into attending the particular theaters in question.
I was wondering if you could invite members to submit more of these ads and add a link to them.
Thanks for listening!
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April 26, 2006
Trafford PA theater?
I don’t know if I read it on the internet or I’m getting stories and towns mixed up, but does anyone know if there was a theater in Trafford, PA (past Monroeville)?
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April 25, 2006
Commonwealth Amusement Company/Corporation
I am trying to find out what happened to Commonwealth Amusement.
I am a former drive-in manager with them from the mid ‘70’s til '80. I was looking through a variety of search engines and could only find one reference to the company regarding the Rialto Theatre in Searcy, Ark from 1938.
I would like to contact some old friends and reminicse about the good old days, but if I can’t track down an entire company, people are probably going to be impossible!
Please let me know the fate of Commonwealth. I would greatly appreciate it.
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April 17, 2006
Looking for info on past Pittsburgh Theaters
Does anyone have any info on any of the following theaters in the Pittsburgh area? (Addresses, when they closed, what they are now, if anything…)
The Fiesta (Downtown, near Heinz Hall?)
The Forum (Squirrel Hill area)
Sewickley
Parkway
Cinemette South (Greentree area)
Fairmont (Braddock) (may be the wrong name. Later became Alexander’s supermarket)
AirportThank you very much!
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March 14, 2006
Memories of Philadelphia’s Benner Theater
PHILADELPHIA, PA — I just wanted to share a few memories about the Benner Theater in Philadelphia.
I grew up in Oxford Circle of Philadelphia during the 1950s. The Benner was my neighborhood theater. I spent Friday nights and Saturday matinees at that theater as a kid. After Friday night shows, we would go two doors away to a malt shop called “Polly’s”. I recently read in another blog on this website that it became a Lenny’s Dog Shop?
Anyway, I eventually worked at the Benner, cleaning and sweeping the floors after the Saturday matinees. For this, I would get free movie passes to the theater. My friend cleaned the projection room, for which he also got $.25 a week. I was so jealous!
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March 3, 2006
Theatre in Bedford Ohio
I’m asking for help here. There was a theatre in Bedford, Ohio, on Broadway that I remember going to as a child. I remember seeing “The Sound of Music” there. It was beautiful inside. It closed and eventually became a car dealership. I have not lived in the area for over 20 years. Does anyone remember the name of the theatre and any history? It is not listed on your website, but I think it would be a good candidate.
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February 23, 2006
42nd Street - Cruising the Deuce
Allen Windsor, author of “Cruising the Deuce … in Movie Houses on 42nd Street, Times Square, and Greenwich Village in the 1940s to 1980s” (available from http://chelcpress.com), recently gave a reading at the 13th Street Gay Center on 14 Feb 2006 that was televised and will be shown on Channel 34 some time in February.
He describes each grind house on 42nd but also details what went on in upper balconies and toilet areas elsewhere around the city. With him was Willy, the porter in the old Variety Photoplays on 3rd Avenue between 13th and 14th Streets.
The book is filled with many tales of that era, and John Waters asked for and received permission to use the book as a prop in a movie he’s making. Foreword is by a former president of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sex.
Sensational material!