Comments from Al Alvarez

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Avenue Playhouse on Jul 26, 2007 at 10:43 am

Fuuny how the memory plays games. I saw PINOCCHIO when I was about four and I could have sworn Jiminy Cricket was the star. It took me years to find “the cricket movie”. (I bet you I dozed off after the CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT number.)

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Avenue Playhouse on Jul 26, 2007 at 10:06 am

Interesting Warren, the 48th St Music Hall had an address of 194 West 48th Street but it does appear in ads as the Belmont disappears in 1940.

Richard, The New York Times does not name which Chaplin short was shown but it does mention Hoot Gibson in FIGHTIN'IT OUT on that program.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Avenue Playhouse on Jul 26, 2007 at 9:25 am

Richard, on Thanksgiving weekend 1940 the 48th St.Music Hall was showing:

BRAVEHEART with Rod La Roque
Charles Chaplin in THE CURE
and Pearl White in the 18th chapter of PLUNDER

The Miami was on its second week of a new Soviet film called THE GREAT BEGINNING.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Jul 24, 2007 at 10:04 am

Cineplex Odeon contemplated removing it for that very reason. For months at a time it was indeed not used. Clearview changed that.

Radio City has a team of stagehands that can handle such emergencies. Movie theatres don’t use stagehands anymore as it is expensive overkill. The full-time “stagehand” man they had when I was there would not touch the curtain anyway. I personally tried to budge it with some ushers and it would not move even when not wrapped around a drum.

Chalk it up to poor installation, safety breaks, heavy fabric, or lazy stagehands, the fact remains that it was more trouble than it was worth often cost more to fix than what the Ziegfeld had grossed that week. Be thankful it is still there at all.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Jul 24, 2007 at 8:52 am

As I stated in a previous post and having once worked at the Ziegfeld, the curtain system was broken 80% of the time and we used to tie it up so we could run the film as it was too heavy to run manually. I suspect it is either broken or they do not want to risk losing a sold-out show of HAIRSPRAY to a curtain.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about RKO Warner Twin Theatre on Jul 23, 2007 at 1:41 pm

This NEW STRAND was open in 1924 under the Manhattan Bridge (78 East Broadway). Does anyone have any more info so they can list it on CT?

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Jul 22, 2007 at 5:44 pm

There are no theatres near east 42nd street, so no, however, the Chrysler building is closed and being checked for structural damage.

That would be a tragedy!

For Cinema Treasures in peril check out the flooding in England…

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Jul 22, 2007 at 4:53 pm

You can do the preshow and then open and close the curtain before the feature. Although I hate them as well, the preshow is here to stay. The revenue of preshow alone can pay for digital delivery.

I think it is very telling of conditions today that Justin thinks masking is a new invention. We have a generation used to crap presentation and we then wonder why so many stay home between blockbusters.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Jul 22, 2007 at 8:17 am

You can get pictures from the HAIRSPRAY premiere on thousands of websites (IMDB for starters). CT is about preservation.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about AMC Fresh Meadows 7 on Jul 20, 2007 at 9:53 pm

The Meadows, opening day newspaper ad and a daytime shot soon after re-opening as a Cineplex Odeon multiplex.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Capitol Theatre on Jul 19, 2007 at 5:16 pm

The latest Google map shows it gone but the building on the corner is still there.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's Yorkville Theatre on Jul 18, 2007 at 2:34 pm

Warren, your photo link is missing the sign for an 86th Street theatre on the north side of the street. I thought that was your point (?)

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's Yorkville Theatre on Jul 18, 2007 at 1:44 pm

Gents, this page from the book NEW YORK THEN AND NOW might help.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Adult theater pioneer Jim Mitchell passes away on Jul 17, 2007 at 9:51 pm

The Mitchell Brothers made Marilyn Chambers a star.
Walt Disney made Annette Funicello a star.

To all those who kept downtown palaces and small town drive-ins open for so many years past their sell-by dates, we salute you both!

…and Michael, thank you for acknowledging Mr. Mitchell’s significant contribution to our industry. He was indeed a beacon at a time when the public turned its back on almost everything mainstream, and instead embraced things BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Olympia Theatre at Gusman Center on Jul 17, 2007 at 9:17 pm

Here is that mystery link to SPARKS' THEATRES I mentioned above.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Paramount Theatre on Jul 17, 2007 at 4:17 pm

Vaudeville at the Paramount?

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Olympia Theatre at Gusman Center on Jul 17, 2007 at 4:15 pm

Before it was demolished for the Olympia, this site was the Hippodrome.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rex Art Cinema on Jul 17, 2007 at 4:13 pm

The Rosetta.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Capitol Theatre on Jul 17, 2007 at 4:11 pm

I think this i sthis Capitol.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Miami Theatre on Jul 17, 2007 at 4:09 pm

The Miami on a postcard.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Town Theatre on Jul 17, 2007 at 4:04 pm

The photos of the Town.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Coral Theatre on Jul 17, 2007 at 1:15 pm

The Coral in 1964.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Adult theater pioneer Jim Mitchell passes away on Jul 17, 2007 at 1:13 pm

I disagree. His place in movie history is as valid, if not more, than many others in the industry who in the pursuit of profit inadvertently stumbled into art.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Sheridan Theatre on Jul 17, 2007 at 9:06 am

Happy holidays from Florida State Theatres, 1965.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Baronet and Coronet Theatre on Jul 17, 2007 at 7:47 am

THE LUCK OF GINGER COFFEY at the Baronet.

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