I remember those; some of them were semi-permanent installations in amusement parks and at tourist attractions. I used to go to one at the now-closed Geauga Lake Park in Geauga, OH. The films were more like OMNIMAX presentations because they were projected on the inside surface of these domed, inflatable theaters. The films shown were short; no more than about fifteen minutes each. The theaters were designed by a company called Omnivision and the films were made by a German company called Cinevision. There were no seats; the patrons stood, though I think there were rails if one got woozy, as there are in the Circlevision 360 theaters in the Disney parks. I found three pictures:
1) Unknown location: View link
2) West Germany, 1979: View link
3) At a street fair in the United Kingdom: View link
It is not as funny an idea as it might first appear; Cinerama actually devised and deployed a portable Cinerama theater in the 1960’s called Itinerama. There’s a poster including a picture of it on this page: View link. (Scroll down to April 24). I don’t know how many were actually built, but I recall reading that one of them was blown apart during a major storm.
I do not know if it was the first seven-plex in the world, but it appears to have definitely been the first for AMC. The three exterior theaters also appear to have been at least briefly known as the Southwyck Art Cinemas.
Yes, but it would not have said “Loews” on the marquee in 1948 as it was under Warner control from 1932 on. Perhaps someone could locate a really clear photo of the marquee during the period from 1922-1932. There is one in the Allen timeline link I posted above on June 5, 2010. but I can not see “Loews” on the vertical, though it may have been in the black square at the top. I doubt if it was in overlapping neon though over “Allen”.
Hmm; this creates a bit of a puzzle; the Lafayette Theatre in Pittsburgh at a different address (see /theaters/24362/)) was also known as the Crescent from 1916-1918; it seems odd there would have been two theaters operating around the same time with same name.
Actually, in this case, I suspect that this may, in fact, be the reason. I am rather familiar with this region, and this area, just south of greater Toledo, is not that densely populated. When Rave acquired National’s operations in this area, it got three megaplexes, a total of forty-two screens, all more or less within a circle of interstate routes that is probably, at most, about thirty-five miles across. (In addition, the circle includes the restored classic Maumee Theater, which operates as a bargain cinema). Rave’s multiplex, though smaller, at Fallen Timbers, is probably viewed as more viable, as the lifestyle center there is trendy and upcoming, and the suits at Rave probably think it makes more sense to add auditoriums at Fallen Timbers if the traffic warrants than to keep those eighteen screens going in Maumee.
In retrospect, National’s decision to build the 18-screener in Maumee might be seen to have been a gamble. Just up US 24, about eight miles to the north, is the old Southwyck Center, where AMC used to run an old style multiplex of, if memory serves, about ten screens, that died along with most of the mall over a decade ago. National may have thought there was going to be more population and business growth south of Toledo than actually ever happened.
I admit that the situation, at least at first glance, does seem odd, especially when one looks at that picture in the article of the Maumee 18 which looks so new and was one of National’s “de Lux” operations. I guess it shows how disposable theaters have become.
Here’s an article that updates the status of the State Theater in Auburn: View link One of the two auditoriums has been renovated, and new 35mm projection installed. The eventual plan is to return the theater to a single auditorium. Movies are being shown again along with live performances. The State is now owned and operated by the Auburn-Placer Performing Arts Center and the official website is now: http://www.livefromauburn.com/index.htm
According t0 the recent article about Rave’s moving up the closing date for this theater, the seat count is 4,600.
To help pay the bills, the theater has announced a summer movie series: View link
Possibly, but I would not be surprised if Rave puts one of those no-cinema-use provisions into the sales agreement when it sells the property.
A picture of the theater: View link
A picture of the theater: http://buildingphotos.com/cinemas/CO-UA14.shtml
A picture of the theater: http://buildingphotos.com/cinemas/WA-cinema.shtml
A picture of the theater: View link
How many theaters does Mann have left now? Six or seven?
I remember those; some of them were semi-permanent installations in amusement parks and at tourist attractions. I used to go to one at the now-closed Geauga Lake Park in Geauga, OH. The films were more like OMNIMAX presentations because they were projected on the inside surface of these domed, inflatable theaters. The films shown were short; no more than about fifteen minutes each. The theaters were designed by a company called Omnivision and the films were made by a German company called Cinevision. There were no seats; the patrons stood, though I think there were rails if one got woozy, as there are in the Circlevision 360 theaters in the Disney parks. I found three pictures:
1) Unknown location: View link
2) West Germany, 1979: View link
3) At a street fair in the United Kingdom: View link
A picture of the theater: View link
A picture of the theater View link
An article about this theater’s reopening as the Spotlight Taylor: View link and here is a photo of the exterior apparently as of 2003: View link
For those interested, here’s a page about Itinerama, with pictures, from Roland Lataille’s great Cinerama site: http://cinerama.topcities.com/ctrichmond.htm
It is not as funny an idea as it might first appear; Cinerama actually devised and deployed a portable Cinerama theater in the 1960’s called Itinerama. There’s a poster including a picture of it on this page: View link. (Scroll down to April 24). I don’t know how many were actually built, but I recall reading that one of them was blown apart during a major storm.
I do not know if it was the first seven-plex in the world, but it appears to have definitely been the first for AMC. The three exterior theaters also appear to have been at least briefly known as the Southwyck Art Cinemas.
Yes, but it would not have said “Loews” on the marquee in 1948 as it was under Warner control from 1932 on. Perhaps someone could locate a really clear photo of the marquee during the period from 1922-1932. There is one in the Allen timeline link I posted above on June 5, 2010. but I can not see “Loews” on the vertical, though it may have been in the black square at the top. I doubt if it was in overlapping neon though over “Allen”.
Hmm; this creates a bit of a puzzle; the Lafayette Theatre in Pittsburgh at a different address (see /theaters/24362/)) was also known as the Crescent from 1916-1918; it seems odd there would have been two theaters operating around the same time with same name.
Actually, in this case, I suspect that this may, in fact, be the reason. I am rather familiar with this region, and this area, just south of greater Toledo, is not that densely populated. When Rave acquired National’s operations in this area, it got three megaplexes, a total of forty-two screens, all more or less within a circle of interstate routes that is probably, at most, about thirty-five miles across. (In addition, the circle includes the restored classic Maumee Theater, which operates as a bargain cinema). Rave’s multiplex, though smaller, at Fallen Timbers, is probably viewed as more viable, as the lifestyle center there is trendy and upcoming, and the suits at Rave probably think it makes more sense to add auditoriums at Fallen Timbers if the traffic warrants than to keep those eighteen screens going in Maumee.
In retrospect, National’s decision to build the 18-screener in Maumee might be seen to have been a gamble. Just up US 24, about eight miles to the north, is the old Southwyck Center, where AMC used to run an old style multiplex of, if memory serves, about ten screens, that died along with most of the mall over a decade ago. National may have thought there was going to be more population and business growth south of Toledo than actually ever happened.
I admit that the situation, at least at first glance, does seem odd, especially when one looks at that picture in the article of the Maumee 18 which looks so new and was one of National’s “de Lux” operations. I guess it shows how disposable theaters have become.
Rave is moving up the closing of this theater; it will now be closed as of July 11, 2010: View link
An article about the Hollywood: View link
An article about the theater, its history, and its struggle to keep going: View link
An article about the theater’s sixtieth birthday: View link
Some pictures of the abandoned Basilone Theater:
Exterior, 2005: View link
Lobby, 2005: View link
Exterior, 2009: View link
Here’s an article that updates the status of the State Theater in Auburn: View link One of the two auditoriums has been renovated, and new 35mm projection installed. The eventual plan is to return the theater to a single auditorium. Movies are being shown again along with live performances. The State is now owned and operated by the Auburn-Placer Performing Arts Center and the official website is now: http://www.livefromauburn.com/index.htm
An article about the theater on the occasion of its centennial celebration: View link