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The latest movie theater news and updates
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March 25, 2008
Sneak preview reissue question
While looking at library microfilm newspaper ads from the early 1970’s, I stumbled on a real, real unusual one. When “Brewster McCloud” was playing wide in early 1971, they announced a sneak preview of next week’s feature which just happened to be a combo of “Thunderball” and “You Only Live Twice” with “Thunderball” likely run by itself as the sneak preview. General Cinema’s Gannett ad for Central Plaza in Yonkers, NY stated “Sneak preview of a James Bond film friday night.” Hard to believe it, but true…
This is the first instance I have ever seen of a reissued film being run as a sneak preview on the weekend before it’s opening the following week. And boy, what a great double bill too !!!
Was this at all common back then???Thanks Much.
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March 24, 2008
A piece of history??
I moved into my home in August 2007. The light fixture in the foyer is supposed to be one of two light fixtures commissioned for the old Capitol Theatre in Regina Saskatchewan Canada. Is there anyone who can conform if this is actually true. Please email me at .
Thanks
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Actual FOX sign for sale
I’m selling the FOX sign from the demolished Fox West Coast Theatre in Long Beach. The theater was knocked down in the 1980’s. I talked the demo crew boss out of the FOX sign off of the marquee. There is a photo of the theater on Cinema Treasure’s page for this theater. There is a post from me (LisaInLongBeach) on that page as well mentioning the sign.
It’s basically the letters FOX that were on the marquee at the front of this theater (shown in the photo). There were only a few items saved when this great theater was demolished and this FOX sign is one of them. It originally housed neon lights. The fittings are still there if you want to restore it to its original coolness.
Each letter is approx. 30" tall and 30" wide.
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Puerto Rico drive-in info
Hey! My name is Jose Juan Garcia and I am currently doing a resaerch about the Drive-in Culture in Puerto Rico. I had found 7 and only 1 is working at the moment. I’m looking for photos and/or information about them. Here is the list so far:
-Auto Cine Santana. Arecibo, PR
-Auto Cine Del Atlantico. Hatillo, PR
-Santa Maria Drive-In. Ponce, PR
– . Carolina, PR
-International Drive In. Bayamon, PR
– . Isabela, PR
-Drive-In de Cobian. Cupey, PR -
March 21, 2008
40 Years of 2001: A Space Odyssey!
The late Stanley Kubrick’s legendary science fiction epic had its world premiere on April 2, 1968 at the Uptown Theater in Washington, D.C. and was released to the general public just four days later in 70mm format. By the fall of 1968, it was released in 35mm anamorphic format and advertised as Cinerama in movie theaters equipped with special projection optics and a widely-curved movie screen. Although it received mixed reviews upon its release, it is today regarded by audiences and critics as one of the greatest motion pictures ever made.
For myself, it has been my favorite film since high school back in the early ‘80s. Ironically, I hated it the first time I ever watched it. Having grown up with the action and speed of “Star Wars” and “Battlestar Galactica”, this seemingly slow, intelligent sci-fi story with very little dialogue and existing classical musical played out for me like a very cruel joke. Sometime later, when it was broadcasted on television, I gave it another look…and another, and another, until finally, I started to see the genius of it. For me, the rest is history.
Here are some more film facts that might interest you:
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The architecture of today’s theaters
An interesting read from Architect Magazine discusses the changing look and feel of today’s theaters.
Not long ago, the average American movie theater was big on square footage and short on personality. Cookie-cutter interiors made it difficult to distinguish one venue or chain from another. The introduction of stadium seating in the 1990s drew audiences with the promise of enhanced comfort (not aesthetics) and became the dominant trend in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. Stadium seating “led to record attendance in 2002 and record box office in 2004,” says Patrick Corcoran of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), an industry group. But its novelty is wearing off, he says: “People are looking for something more.”
Lots more. Today, the industry is experiencing a burst in construction and renovation activity. Movie exhibitors around the country are tempting patrons with new, carefully designed theaters that cater to increasingly sophisticated desires. Parking lots, popcorn, and box-office lines are being replaced by valet parking, bars and restaurants, and online reserved seating. Companies ranging from industry giants Regal and AMC to the art-house Landmark hope to pull in bigger box offices through enhanced architecture.
“About every 11 years, there’s this spurt cycle where people reinvent what going to the movies is all about,” says veteran entertainment architect Mike Cummings, principal of TK Architects in Kansas City, Mo. Cummings believes the industry is now in the midst of one of these overhauls. “The [trend] before this, of course, was stadium seating and the big megaplex. But that’s not what we’re seeing anymore. There is a lot more attention to brand and to design.”
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Alamo Drafthouse serves it up
AUSTIN, TX — After the recent SXSW Festival, one blogger goes into great detail about how the Alamo Drafthouse caters to a dedicated audience.
I know, I know… I’m late to this party! The one big takeaway from my time in Austin at the SXSW Film Festival (aside from the hot indie rock girls, the parties, the great movies, and great food) was that I fell in love with the Alamo Drafthouse Movie Theater.
I’ve been to movie theaters from coast to coast. I’ve been to The Coolidge Corner Theatre in Boston, the Castro in San Francisco, The Arclight in Los Angeles, and even the new Mark Cuban owned Landmark. The Alamo Drafthouse theater is by far the best movie theater I’ve ever been to. It’s the type of movie theater that makes me wish I lived in Texas, and here’s why…
Read more here.
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Does anyone have memories about drive-in theater patrons? (I need ushers' comments, too)
Hi. I’m a graduate student at New York University. I’m planning to write a final report about who could and couldn’t go to drive-in theaters in 1930s through 1950s. If you have memories about drive-in theaters in that period, I need you to think about these questions: Were there African-American families? Were there women drivers? Were there immigrants? Were there single mom(dad) families?
And especially, if you were ushers at drive-in theaters at that time, can you tell me how much you earned and whether you had an experience to see drive-in films with your family or not.
When you write a comment(or email), please tell me your age and the time of your memory came from.Thanks for reading it. I would really appreciate your help.
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The ‘reverse’ Darress Theatre hosts screening
BOONTON, NJ — The award winning independent film, “Conference Room C,” will be screening at the classic Darress Theatre on March 22, 2008 at 8pm.
There will be a Q&A session with the director and the writer following the film, as well as refreshments.
Tickets for this event are $10…with 100% of the proceeds going towards the upkeep and restoration of the historic Darress Theatre, which is a very special venue.