Actually, the Alexandria once had eight (rather than five) times the number of seats than that which is proposed for the theater that is supposedly a part of the redevelopment project as the Alexandria once had 2,000 seats.
There are about a dozen theaters listed here on CT that had this name or a variant, including two called, rather redundantly, Theatorium Theater. The name appears to been in vogue for theaters built approximately 1905-1915.
I have always been fascinated by the number of very old theaters in Britain that were named Bioscope, which always sounded to me like a primitive medical instrument.
There has been very little news about the New Mission for nearly four years; there has not been an update in the SF Neighborhood Theaters Foundation site (http://www.sfneighborhoodtheater.org/) for quite some time and there isn’t much more on the www.friendsof1800.org site either, both of which were actively watching for news and reporting developments up until, oh, about 2005 or so. Apparently City College dropped plans to recycle the site for its uses. There was a proposal to convert the theater into a restaurant/nightclub/performance space that would preserve some of the theater’s architectural features, and there was a report that the condos that were to be built adjacent to the theater were going to be taller than originally proposed. I did find this item from March 10 of this year: View link
According to this article, the owner now has until August 22, 2010 to get the necessary permits to get the work going, and then two years to complete the work: View link
I really do not see much similarity to the classic roadshow presentations of the 1950s and 1960s; the screen is big, apparently the sound is powerful, and the admission may be pricier (but so is the admission cost of most 3-D presentations today). To me “roadshow” implies an exclusive engagement of an epic or special event film in a city (preferably with an overture, intermission, and exit music), 70mm, Todd-AO, or Cinerama, reserved seats, souvenir books, etc.) I don’t think the public rejected the concept of roadshow as much as it rejected paying roadshow prices for films not worthy of that prestige level of presentation. There were other factors that led to its demise as such as changes in the way films came to be showcased at multiple locations within a city, the extra costs to exhibitors (box office personnel and other costs of handling hard tickets), and the fact that some of these films, due to their length, limited the number of daily showings.
My guess is that the programming doesn’t permit much variation. For example, if the character says, “Right or left?” and the person called says anything other than “Right” or “Left,” the porgramming will have the character say something like, “I didn’t get that – should I go right or left?” If the person keeps giving alternative responses (such as “Up” or “Neither”) I think the programming would have the character say something such as “We have a bad connection” and then call another patron.
Hmm, they want to “something creative”? How about transplanting in a story with some real originality or at a least semblance of that? I do credit the dazzling special effects and steps forward in 3D, but extra footage alone wouldn’t make me see it again.
This kind of reminds me though of an attraction that was at both Expo 67 in Montreal and at Hemisfair in San Antonio the following year called the KinoAutomat where at several points during the film the audience could vote on which of two routes the action or actors could take, using buttons at each seat. But at least annoying cell phone users were not involved and the film only ran a half hour or less.
Another thought: what if the person called uses foul language or makes inappropriate remarks to the character needing assistance? Does the voice recognition software translate everything?
Regardless of whether one likes or hates LEDs think it should be noted too that the use of LEDs does NOT invalidate a theater’s present or future inclusion on the National Register. Both the Apollo in New York and the Fox in Atlanta have them, just as two examples of theaters on the National Register.
In fairness to the Park Board, their recent press release (which can be read on this site) denies that the new proposed marquee will have LED signage. (Scan down to comment by “Julia”): http://www.flickr.com/photos/army_arch/4412874340/
It also includes a picture of the original marquee. I would like to see a picture of the proposed revision before I decide which side to support.
Here’s an article that mentions that the former Ski Time Cinemas have been incorporated into the Magic Lantern Theater which now refers to these two auditoriums as the Screening Rooms: http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005130487
According to this article about the history of the Magic Lantern, the Ski Time Cinemas have been incorporated into this theater as the Magic Lantern Screening Rooms: http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005130487
This screen count should be six, and the headnote updated.
The tour is well worth taking especially if you are are a fan of art deco; I think it is probably the best surviving example of an art deco theater except perhaps for Radio City Music Hall. I think it is breathtaking.
This picture is at least five years old, so there may have been a replacement of the screen since; it looks to me to have only a slight curve which is the way I remember it the last time I was there about three years ago: View link
Eric: no marquee; the building is on a corner location of what looks to me as a one of those “lifestyle centers.” It has a kind of towered entry over arches, with just the theater name and signage referring to its Odyssey screen.
Patsy: to access Google Streetview, first get the Google map of the address you are searching for. When the map comes up, look to the left of the map. If Streetview is available for the address in question, it will appear in the list when you click on “More…” (Streetview is not always available). Click on Streetview.
This will change the map image to a picture of what Google says is at the address. However, what appears may not be exactly what is being sought. You may have to use both the pointer icon at the top left to move within the picture as well as the arrows on the line that will will appear in the picture along the street.
In the case of this theater’s address, you have to move to see more at the left of the photo because the theater is a the left end of the building that first appears when you hit Streetview. You will need to click on the arrow on the street line more than once to bring the theater image into view. Unless you have a very fast computer and a high speed connection, this can be a slow process.
Actually, the Alexandria once had eight (rather than five) times the number of seats than that which is proposed for the theater that is supposedly a part of the redevelopment project as the Alexandria once had 2,000 seats.
There are about a dozen theaters listed here on CT that had this name or a variant, including two called, rather redundantly, Theatorium Theater. The name appears to been in vogue for theaters built approximately 1905-1915.
I have always been fascinated by the number of very old theaters in Britain that were named Bioscope, which always sounded to me like a primitive medical instrument.
An article about the creation of a miniature model of this theater on display at the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center in Maysville: View link
There has been very little news about the New Mission for nearly four years; there has not been an update in the SF Neighborhood Theaters Foundation site (http://www.sfneighborhoodtheater.org/) for quite some time and there isn’t much more on the www.friendsof1800.org site either, both of which were actively watching for news and reporting developments up until, oh, about 2005 or so. Apparently City College dropped plans to recycle the site for its uses. There was a proposal to convert the theater into a restaurant/nightclub/performance space that would preserve some of the theater’s architectural features, and there was a report that the condos that were to be built adjacent to the theater were going to be taller than originally proposed. I did find this item from March 10 of this year: View link
According to this article, the owner now has until August 22, 2010 to get the necessary permits to get the work going, and then two years to complete the work: View link
I really do not see much similarity to the classic roadshow presentations of the 1950s and 1960s; the screen is big, apparently the sound is powerful, and the admission may be pricier (but so is the admission cost of most 3-D presentations today). To me “roadshow” implies an exclusive engagement of an epic or special event film in a city (preferably with an overture, intermission, and exit music), 70mm, Todd-AO, or Cinerama, reserved seats, souvenir books, etc.) I don’t think the public rejected the concept of roadshow as much as it rejected paying roadshow prices for films not worthy of that prestige level of presentation. There were other factors that led to its demise as such as changes in the way films came to be showcased at multiple locations within a city, the extra costs to exhibitors (box office personnel and other costs of handling hard tickets), and the fact that some of these films, due to their length, limited the number of daily showings.
My guess is that the programming doesn’t permit much variation. For example, if the character says, “Right or left?” and the person called says anything other than “Right” or “Left,” the porgramming will have the character say something like, “I didn’t get that – should I go right or left?” If the person keeps giving alternative responses (such as “Up” or “Neither”) I think the programming would have the character say something such as “We have a bad connection” and then call another patron.
Hmm, they want to “something creative”? How about transplanting in a story with some real originality or at a least semblance of that? I do credit the dazzling special effects and steps forward in 3D, but extra footage alone wouldn’t make me see it again.
Oops, sorry for this misplacement; it should have been here. Thanks, Scott.
This kind of reminds me though of an attraction that was at both Expo 67 in Montreal and at Hemisfair in San Antonio the following year called the KinoAutomat where at several points during the film the audience could vote on which of two routes the action or actors could take, using buttons at each seat. But at least annoying cell phone users were not involved and the film only ran a half hour or less.
Another thought: what if the person called uses foul language or makes inappropriate remarks to the character needing assistance? Does the voice recognition software translate everything?
It closed as of 02-21-10 and will be replaced by a new twelve screen multiplex: View link
The current operator will be losing his lease on this theater as of August 31 to another theater operator in Santa Rosa: View link
An article about this theater with two pictures:
View link
Regardless of whether one likes or hates LEDs think it should be noted too that the use of LEDs does NOT invalidate a theater’s present or future inclusion on the National Register. Both the Apollo in New York and the Fox in Atlanta have them, just as two examples of theaters on the National Register.
This theater will now be known as BIG Cinemas Manhattan, as it has been acquired by India’s largest cinema chain; story here: View link
In fairness to the Park Board, their recent press release (which can be read on this site) denies that the new proposed marquee will have LED signage. (Scan down to comment by “Julia”): http://www.flickr.com/photos/army_arch/4412874340/
It also includes a picture of the original marquee. I would like to see a picture of the proposed revision before I decide which side to support.
Here’s an article that mentions that the former Ski Time Cinemas have been incorporated into the Magic Lantern Theater which now refers to these two auditoriums as the Screening Rooms: http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005130487
According to this article about the history of the Magic Lantern, the Ski Time Cinemas have been incorporated into this theater as the Magic Lantern Screening Rooms: http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005130487
This screen count should be six, and the headnote updated.
Unfortunately, some not-so-good news: View link
The tour is well worth taking especially if you are are a fan of art deco; I think it is probably the best surviving example of an art deco theater except perhaps for Radio City Music Hall. I think it is breathtaking.
This picture is at least five years old, so there may have been a replacement of the screen since; it looks to me to have only a slight curve which is the way I remember it the last time I was there about three years ago: View link
Eric: no marquee; the building is on a corner location of what looks to me as a one of those “lifestyle centers.” It has a kind of towered entry over arches, with just the theater name and signage referring to its Odyssey screen.
Patsy: to access Google Streetview, first get the Google map of the address you are searching for. When the map comes up, look to the left of the map. If Streetview is available for the address in question, it will appear in the list when you click on “More…” (Streetview is not always available). Click on Streetview.
This will change the map image to a picture of what Google says is at the address. However, what appears may not be exactly what is being sought. You may have to use both the pointer icon at the top left to move within the picture as well as the arrows on the line that will will appear in the picture along the street.
In the case of this theater’s address, you have to move to see more at the left of the photo because the theater is a the left end of the building that first appears when you hit Streetview. You will need to click on the arrow on the street line more than once to bring the theater image into view. Unless you have a very fast computer and a high speed connection, this can be a slow process.
Here’s a picture of the Dean as it was in 1914: View link
You can also click on a thumbnail of a picture below this one to see what the building looks like today.
It probably is; I was not able to find out much more than what is in the above article from any other online source.