The Glorious El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood is on a small scale the heir apparent to RCMH’s Movie and Show policy… And they have a live organist center stage as the audience comes in… The quality of the stage shows has varied from simple and fun to elaborate and cheesy. Still the potential and the effort is there.
Well I couldn’t resist taking a couple days and many hours skim-reading through the long string of previous posts here and now know who Mr. Endres is. I’m not sure which is more amazing, that I remember his name after 30 years, or that he is still with us, but I’m very grateful for both.
My memories of the Music Hall begin in 1968 when my father took me to see THE ODD COUPLE. I clearly remember being very impressed with the place, the lower lounge with a TV playing, no popcorn then, only Cracker Jacks (?!?) The amazing grand curtain, and, okay this will sound funny… the Men’s Room was so big and so very Art Deco that I thought all that was missing was Ann Miller tapdancing her way past that long wall of urinals! (hey, I was a kid)
Some time later I think I saw WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT? there… and I’m certain I saw BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS there on Thanksgiving (‘71 I think) I didn’t know then how much the picture had been cut to play the Hall but I do remember Disney had abandoned its original classy ad art for the kind of cheesy stuff normally only seen in post roadshow popular price runs. Part of th e fun of the Christmas show was the Nativity and watching to see if one of the camels would choose that moment to relieve himself on The great Stage. I also clearly remember the show’s ice skating gag and even as a kid knew they were on a turntable.
When I moved to NY in 76, I saw THE SLIPPER AND THE ROSE with a Christmas show at Thanksgiving. Before it stopped showing movies, I also saw CROSSED SWORDS, and HARRY AND WALTER GO TO NEW YORK among other things. It was obvious the caliber of film booked at the Hall had plummeted. I think the last thing I saw there was the sad VIncente/Liza Minnelli “musical” A MATTER OF TIME. I heard in its later years the Hall had lost out on many blockbuster films because they reportedly insisted on maintaining their policy of being exclusive for a 50 mile radius. Some years later, after a pretty decent restoration, I saw a godawful stage show called NEW YORK SUMMER, and a concert or two…
I remember the Hall as a great place to watch a movie and I would love to see a classics film festival done there, or maybe a steady regular once a week or twice a month kind of thing, something they could sell in advance. Something like personal appearances or programming like the old days with vintage newsreels, cartoons and trailers might make it special enough to fill the house. Of course the organ and grand curtains would have to be running. Sponsorship/advertising tie-ins from some Studio Home Video departments or TV networks might help. I’d also suggest a wide range of prices so that most regular folks could afford it, while the affluent could pay a high premium for VIP treatment in the first Mezzanine.
For many years I’ve missed seeing a good movie there with a Christmas show, and was happy to find a double LP from RCA called CHRISTMAS AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL that consisted entirely of Christmas Carols played on the Mighty Wurlitzer, just like I remember between shows at Christmas. I still have the LP although attempts to transfer it to CD have been unsuccessful… If anyone knows a way to get that album on a CD I’d be thrilled.
It is also disappointing to note that the once impressive RMCH website that used to offer 360 views of the place and much more history and pictures, is now a memory.
REndres: your name seems really familiar and I’m amazed that it sticks in my mind… is your first name Roger or Robert? I seem to remember sreading that name like 30 years ago… were you mentioned in 60s-70s souvenir books about the Music Hall? Either that or I remember you from a Boxoffice article about presenting a roadshow inthe late 60s… Boy do I miss Showmanship!
I posted this earlier and it seems to have disappeared, but one would hope adults would have the maturity and consideration to know better than to talk, text or otherwise play with a cell phone in a dark theatre during a film. Immaturity and inconsiderate behavior comes from all ages. I see grown adults sprawling their feet all over the seats every time I go to a movie.
a_Proj: I used to know the top Projectionist at one of the studios… one of the last places where a union card means something. Because of his expereince and ability, he had been asked to work in many different places, including the private screening rooms of some Hollywood “names.” He had lots of interesting stories, was always ready for “tech talk” and gave a very good explanation for why modern movies are often too loud. My opinion in a previous post that a projectionist who has worked in several places is probably a good one, was based on this guy. When I introduced screenings in the studio’s handsome multimillion dollar theatre, I would explicitly advise against a wide variety of unacceptable conduct. A snooty guest once tried to complain about my speech, and this guy totally backed me up.
Hey a_proj, of course I don’t make all inclusive generalities but in this case, juvenile arrogance was the only explanation for someone who clearly joined this site only to tease the old folks, calling us “retards” and insisting that careless behavior be accepted as the norm.
I once met a young projectionist at well known pretentious multiplex here in Hollywood, and was amazed to find he had some appreciation for showmanship (though little opportunity to practice it) He totally “got it” but hadn’t had any opportunity to experience it for himself. These days it’s hard to find adults who “get it” – including those who run said multiplex. This young man picked it up from some “old folks” who came into the theatre as volunteer staff to help run a very special movie event.
Moviegoing was a memorable event back when theatres had atmosphere and some finesse in presentation. FYI check out American Widescreen Museum www.widescreenmuseum.com and read the sections marked ROADSHOW. Prestige theatres were run like a Legit (live) theatre and even rehearsed curtain cues to avoid showing a blank screen.
It takes countless little details to be handled with consideration and finesse to make a movie experience an event. All those details were stripped away from movie exhibition long ago and without them, well it IS “just a movie” When it’s presented as “just a movie” the audience is very likely to treat it as nothing special and careless behavior is a common result.
As far as things changing, well they really HAVE to, because people really are staying away from the plexes. This is exactly the kind of issue we’re going to cover at CinemaSightlines.com (as soon as we get someone to help build it properly). Once we get up and running, moviegoers will be able to review and rate public movie theatres, and make a more informed choice of where to spend their money. Eventually theatre owners will have to take notice and make an effort to improve their ratings…
If improving the moviegoing experience is a heartfelt issue for any of you, you’d fit right in with our crowd at CinemaSightlines. And until we get it built, go explore the great resource at American Widescreen Museum. That site, aling with CinemaTour and this one, are fine resources for anyone who truly appreciates how exciting and memorable a moviegoing experience can be.
Back to the topic, as the article i referenced points out, the moviegoing experience has been degraded by exhibitors for decades to the point where the standards are lower, and that has encouraged lower standards for behavior. I believe in running a theatre where the standards are high and the regulations strict enough to preserve them. That invloved great attention to details of presentation and operation. (More on that coming to our site) That may make me a dinosaur but a lot of people think dinosaurs are pretty cool.
For the record, I have been involved in every aspect of operating a theatre, including manager and projectionist (back when these were separate jobs) for over thirty years.
Obviously a college degree doesn’t indicate an ability to spell… or the ability to understand that pervasive behavior is not always acceptible behavior. It’s an ignorant notion that if everybody else does it it must be okay. txt also hasn’t realized that on this board we are the norm and he is in the minority here. long island, do you think a trip to the Ziegfeld would educate him a bit? probably not.
Again the opinions of this youngster are indeed pure ignorant arrogance… having never experienced the finer points of the moviegoing experience, he has no idea why the behavior is wrong. Which is why he is best suited to the kind of typical bland ‘plex that most of us here avoid.
And Chalet: If you are aiming for a simply mediocre experience, that’s the best you can achieve…
Again this site is a place to appreciate the nearly extinct ideal moviegoing experience. It still exists here and there but it takes a considerable effort. And the results are well worth the effort. I’ve been in theatres where there was real theatrical atmosphere and showmanship – it’s very now, but today’s audience does notice and appreciate the difference. Exhibitors need to learn how to do it and re-educate patrons how to behave accordingly.
Texting is just one of many problems degrading the moviegoing experience. The degradation was begun by exhibitors in the first place back in the 70s. To save money, theatres were stripped of all atmosphere and showmanship… when video brought movies home, movie screens shrunk while TVs grew… so there’s nothing left to distinguish today’s cinema as a unique or memorable experience. That’s another reason why people don’t know how to behave in theatres. Check out our article on movie manners at http://cinemasightlines.com/id2.html
Ah, the ignorant arrogance of youth. The above comment is a perfect example of the kind of the mentality that keeps people away from seeing movies in public. This is a board for people who appreciate the finer points of the moviegoing experience. A college degree does not necessarily indicate common sense.
A followup… 1) about the woman in the theatre: the phone wasn’t pointed at the stage in this case, but yes camera phones introduce another aspect to phone use in theatres… 2) as for the remarks by Chalet Theatres (remind me not to go there) a really good projectionist these days will often be asked to work “all over the place” – experience in many different locations is a plus! Having strong security (like Police) is a good thing and necessary these days when people don’t see any boundries.
Well it’s about bloody time! Any idiot who doesn’t realize what an obnoxious distraction texting is in a theatre does not belong in a public Cinema. The screens on these new phones are made to show up in bright sunlight, so in a darkened theatre they stand out like beacons in the night! Look around any full theatre as the lights go down, it looks like Manhattan at midnight.
About a year ago, I was in a grand old movie palace watching a hit Broadway show, while some woman in down in front of us held out her damn phone at arms length all the way through the show. Impossible to concentrate on this wonderful show (that you just paid 80 bucks a seat for) when some clueless fool is waving a bright light around. She was distracting literally hundreds of people.
I totally applaud the theatre for boucing the texting teens. As for their using the police to eject the offenders, does anyone think these obnoxious kids would respond to anyone BUT the police? Many theatres employ off duty police officers as security personnel, and for good reason. It’s bad enough that people can’t keep their feet off the seats in front of them!
While content is always going to be an issue, the fact is, a good or bad movie can be appreciated anywhere for what it is or isn’t. However, being that we are on a site dedicated to THEATRES, what we are focused on here is the fact that the venue can be a very significant factor in the enjoyment of a film. I have enjoyed many less than great films more than I would have elsewhere because I saw them in nicer theatres. The main issue with the moviegoing experience is exactly that – The Experience.
The Oswego Theatre was part of the Schine circuit, which had their name on the top of the marquee, until the mid sixties when the theatre was sold. (note the Auburn Schine Theatre for similar design)
Even in the sixties, The theatre decor was still impressive. Clouds on a blue ceiling in the auditorium, a nice deco style in the lobbies and lounges. Movies changed on Wednesday, sometimes with shorts or cartoons, and rarely played more than a week. The original concession stand had a Manley popcorn popper that filtered out the broken and unpopped kernels and actually kept the popcorn hot until served. Circa mid to late 60s, Adult admission was about $1.50 – 2.00, Children .50 to .75 cents.
The main curtain was hung flat (not gathered) and had stripes on a brown background, with a floral theme along the bottom, which was lit by footlights. There were two small spotlights fixed onto the two (ornamental) side balconies that formed an oval spot on the front curtain.
There was a nice attempt at showmanship at this theatre in the 60s, even though there were no dimmers for the house lights. When the show began, the projectionist played a 45 record of Bent Fabric’s ALLEY CAT as the house lights went off and the front curtain opened. The screen was at the back of the stage, behind a second set of (beige) curtains that were lit by red and blue lights.
There were several other movie theatres in Oswego, including the Strand and Hippodrome… all were either torn down by the mid sixties, one was converted to an army-navy store. There was a theatre called the STATE in nearby Fulton, NY, that closed in the sixties.
In 1970 Carrols Development Corporation (a string of fast food restaurants and movie theatres mostly in Syracuse) built a 350 seat MiniTheatre caIled Oswego Cinema, on the East end of town off a shopping center. It opened with Disney’s THE BOATNIKS.
Not long after, circa 1972, the balcony of the Oswego Theatre was cut off for a second screen, a new projection booth was built at the back of the main level, the boxoffice was moved inside with a divider to split the lobby, and the concession was moved to the back of the lobby, serving both sides. The second screen upstairs used the original booth and had a wine and cream color striped curtain. The marquee board was replaced with two-toned glass color coded to the two theatres. First movies to play the split Oswego 1& 2 were SUMMER OF 42 and A NEW LEAF.
Not long after, Fulton NY got a new little theatre in the middle of downtown called the Cine. It didn’t last more than a few years before being converted into a bank.
Through the years most of the Oswego Theatre marquee’s neon and chaser lights burned out. The back curtain in the main house broke, and then the front one as well. Eventually the balcony was divided in two… two more screening rooms were formed by walling off the back left and right of the main house, and an additional two rooms were built in the parking lot next to the theatre.
Nearly every other movie theatre for miles is now gone (including nearly all the single screen showcase theatres in Syracuse). Given that fact, though it is not the showplace it once was, it is remarkable that the Oswego Theatre survives.
The ArcLight complex is loaded with flaws (many are easily correctable) and it doesn’t even begin to live up to its own hype.
However I wouldn’t fault the Dome’s design for the inferior picture problems. It is entirely possible to have a brighter picture without any geometric distortion on a curved screen, but Pacific/ArcLight chose not to make the necessary adjustments. Instead, they used cheap workarounds… The bottom masking is actually curved UP on the ends to try to hide the keystoning, which doesn’t really work, and there is still a dip in the horizon line. They also chose a low-gain screen material to lessen cross-reflection. As a result, the picture is indeed much softer and dimmer than it could be, and darker curtains on the walls don’t hide that fact. The picture is distorted even with digital projection, (which one would think should have some capacity to adjust for the curve).
So many details in the Dome and the adjoining houses could have been much better with some thoughtful showmanship and finesse, but sadly, the ArcLight decision-makers are utterly clueless to that kind of thing. There aren’t many people around who know how to do it well, and the ones in charge don’t like to listen to them.
It is amazing that the ArcLight promotes its zero decor in their ads, and that they got someone at the LA times to say they had the best screens and best popcorn. I personally don’t find sitting in a “black box” a plus, I have seen seams on several of the screens, and I’ve gotten sick from the popcorn, which is rarely even warm, and often filled with broken pieces and unpopped kernels.
I much prefer the presentation and atmosphere at the El Capitan… not perfect, but there is at least is an attempt at showmanship, and I always have a better time there.
The new owner has changed the theatre’s name to the Majestic Crest.
Why is it still listed as the Westwood Crest?
The Glorious El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood is on a small scale the heir apparent to RCMH’s Movie and Show policy… And they have a live organist center stage as the audience comes in… The quality of the stage shows has varied from simple and fun to elaborate and cheesy. Still the potential and the effort is there.
Well I couldn’t resist taking a couple days and many hours skim-reading through the long string of previous posts here and now know who Mr. Endres is. I’m not sure which is more amazing, that I remember his name after 30 years, or that he is still with us, but I’m very grateful for both.
My memories of the Music Hall begin in 1968 when my father took me to see THE ODD COUPLE. I clearly remember being very impressed with the place, the lower lounge with a TV playing, no popcorn then, only Cracker Jacks (?!?) The amazing grand curtain, and, okay this will sound funny… the Men’s Room was so big and so very Art Deco that I thought all that was missing was Ann Miller tapdancing her way past that long wall of urinals! (hey, I was a kid)
Some time later I think I saw WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT? there… and I’m certain I saw BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS there on Thanksgiving (‘71 I think) I didn’t know then how much the picture had been cut to play the Hall but I do remember Disney had abandoned its original classy ad art for the kind of cheesy stuff normally only seen in post roadshow popular price runs. Part of th e fun of the Christmas show was the Nativity and watching to see if one of the camels would choose that moment to relieve himself on The great Stage. I also clearly remember the show’s ice skating gag and even as a kid knew they were on a turntable.
When I moved to NY in 76, I saw THE SLIPPER AND THE ROSE with a Christmas show at Thanksgiving. Before it stopped showing movies, I also saw CROSSED SWORDS, and HARRY AND WALTER GO TO NEW YORK among other things. It was obvious the caliber of film booked at the Hall had plummeted. I think the last thing I saw there was the sad VIncente/Liza Minnelli “musical” A MATTER OF TIME. I heard in its later years the Hall had lost out on many blockbuster films because they reportedly insisted on maintaining their policy of being exclusive for a 50 mile radius. Some years later, after a pretty decent restoration, I saw a godawful stage show called NEW YORK SUMMER, and a concert or two…
I remember the Hall as a great place to watch a movie and I would love to see a classics film festival done there, or maybe a steady regular once a week or twice a month kind of thing, something they could sell in advance. Something like personal appearances or programming like the old days with vintage newsreels, cartoons and trailers might make it special enough to fill the house. Of course the organ and grand curtains would have to be running. Sponsorship/advertising tie-ins from some Studio Home Video departments or TV networks might help. I’d also suggest a wide range of prices so that most regular folks could afford it, while the affluent could pay a high premium for VIP treatment in the first Mezzanine.
For many years I’ve missed seeing a good movie there with a Christmas show, and was happy to find a double LP from RCA called CHRISTMAS AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL that consisted entirely of Christmas Carols played on the Mighty Wurlitzer, just like I remember between shows at Christmas. I still have the LP although attempts to transfer it to CD have been unsuccessful… If anyone knows a way to get that album on a CD I’d be thrilled.
It is also disappointing to note that the once impressive RMCH website that used to offer 360 views of the place and much more history and pictures, is now a memory.
REndres: your name seems really familiar and I’m amazed that it sticks in my mind… is your first name Roger or Robert? I seem to remember sreading that name like 30 years ago… were you mentioned in 60s-70s souvenir books about the Music Hall? Either that or I remember you from a Boxoffice article about presenting a roadshow inthe late 60s… Boy do I miss Showmanship!
I posted this earlier and it seems to have disappeared, but one would hope adults would have the maturity and consideration to know better than to talk, text or otherwise play with a cell phone in a dark theatre during a film. Immaturity and inconsiderate behavior comes from all ages. I see grown adults sprawling their feet all over the seats every time I go to a movie.
a_Proj: I used to know the top Projectionist at one of the studios… one of the last places where a union card means something. Because of his expereince and ability, he had been asked to work in many different places, including the private screening rooms of some Hollywood “names.” He had lots of interesting stories, was always ready for “tech talk” and gave a very good explanation for why modern movies are often too loud. My opinion in a previous post that a projectionist who has worked in several places is probably a good one, was based on this guy. When I introduced screenings in the studio’s handsome multimillion dollar theatre, I would explicitly advise against a wide variety of unacceptable conduct. A snooty guest once tried to complain about my speech, and this guy totally backed me up.
Bravo.
Hey a_proj, of course I don’t make all inclusive generalities but in this case, juvenile arrogance was the only explanation for someone who clearly joined this site only to tease the old folks, calling us “retards” and insisting that careless behavior be accepted as the norm.
I once met a young projectionist at well known pretentious multiplex here in Hollywood, and was amazed to find he had some appreciation for showmanship (though little opportunity to practice it) He totally “got it” but hadn’t had any opportunity to experience it for himself. These days it’s hard to find adults who “get it” – including those who run said multiplex. This young man picked it up from some “old folks” who came into the theatre as volunteer staff to help run a very special movie event.
Moviegoing was a memorable event back when theatres had atmosphere and some finesse in presentation. FYI check out American Widescreen Museum www.widescreenmuseum.com and read the sections marked ROADSHOW. Prestige theatres were run like a Legit (live) theatre and even rehearsed curtain cues to avoid showing a blank screen.
It takes countless little details to be handled with consideration and finesse to make a movie experience an event. All those details were stripped away from movie exhibition long ago and without them, well it IS “just a movie” When it’s presented as “just a movie” the audience is very likely to treat it as nothing special and careless behavior is a common result.
As far as things changing, well they really HAVE to, because people really are staying away from the plexes. This is exactly the kind of issue we’re going to cover at CinemaSightlines.com (as soon as we get someone to help build it properly). Once we get up and running, moviegoers will be able to review and rate public movie theatres, and make a more informed choice of where to spend their money. Eventually theatre owners will have to take notice and make an effort to improve their ratings…
If improving the moviegoing experience is a heartfelt issue for any of you, you’d fit right in with our crowd at CinemaSightlines. And until we get it built, go explore the great resource at American Widescreen Museum. That site, aling with CinemaTour and this one, are fine resources for anyone who truly appreciates how exciting and memorable a moviegoing experience can be.
It’s not unusual for theatre security to be off duty policemen; a good idea and a common practice.
It’s not just prices that keep people out of theatres. The standards are way too low.
Back to the topic, as the article i referenced points out, the moviegoing experience has been degraded by exhibitors for decades to the point where the standards are lower, and that has encouraged lower standards for behavior. I believe in running a theatre where the standards are high and the regulations strict enough to preserve them. That invloved great attention to details of presentation and operation. (More on that coming to our site) That may make me a dinosaur but a lot of people think dinosaurs are pretty cool.
For the record, I have been involved in every aspect of operating a theatre, including manager and projectionist (back when these were separate jobs) for over thirty years.
Obviously a college degree doesn’t indicate an ability to spell… or the ability to understand that pervasive behavior is not always acceptible behavior. It’s an ignorant notion that if everybody else does it it must be okay. txt also hasn’t realized that on this board we are the norm and he is in the minority here. long island, do you think a trip to the Ziegfeld would educate him a bit? probably not.
I wish I was 23 again so I could know everything too!
Sounds like people like Txt beling in theatres like Chalet. That would be a good arrangement.
And with that collective attitude the moviegoing experience is doomed to degrade into total mediocrity.
As for the rest of us, we can hold together and encourage those who see the difference to set the bar back to the height it should be.
Again the opinions of this youngster are indeed pure ignorant arrogance… having never experienced the finer points of the moviegoing experience, he has no idea why the behavior is wrong. Which is why he is best suited to the kind of typical bland ‘plex that most of us here avoid.
And Chalet: If you are aiming for a simply mediocre experience, that’s the best you can achieve…
Again this site is a place to appreciate the nearly extinct ideal moviegoing experience. It still exists here and there but it takes a considerable effort. And the results are well worth the effort. I’ve been in theatres where there was real theatrical atmosphere and showmanship – it’s very now, but today’s audience does notice and appreciate the difference. Exhibitors need to learn how to do it and re-educate patrons how to behave accordingly.
Texting is just one of many problems degrading the moviegoing experience. The degradation was begun by exhibitors in the first place back in the 70s. To save money, theatres were stripped of all atmosphere and showmanship… when video brought movies home, movie screens shrunk while TVs grew… so there’s nothing left to distinguish today’s cinema as a unique or memorable experience. That’s another reason why people don’t know how to behave in theatres. Check out our article on movie manners at http://cinemasightlines.com/id2.html
Ah, the ignorant arrogance of youth. The above comment is a perfect example of the kind of the mentality that keeps people away from seeing movies in public. This is a board for people who appreciate the finer points of the moviegoing experience. A college degree does not necessarily indicate common sense.
A followup… 1) about the woman in the theatre: the phone wasn’t pointed at the stage in this case, but yes camera phones introduce another aspect to phone use in theatres… 2) as for the remarks by Chalet Theatres (remind me not to go there) a really good projectionist these days will often be asked to work “all over the place” – experience in many different locations is a plus! Having strong security (like Police) is a good thing and necessary these days when people don’t see any boundries.
Well it’s about bloody time! Any idiot who doesn’t realize what an obnoxious distraction texting is in a theatre does not belong in a public Cinema. The screens on these new phones are made to show up in bright sunlight, so in a darkened theatre they stand out like beacons in the night! Look around any full theatre as the lights go down, it looks like Manhattan at midnight.
About a year ago, I was in a grand old movie palace watching a hit Broadway show, while some woman in down in front of us held out her damn phone at arms length all the way through the show. Impossible to concentrate on this wonderful show (that you just paid 80 bucks a seat for) when some clueless fool is waving a bright light around. She was distracting literally hundreds of people.
I totally applaud the theatre for boucing the texting teens. As for their using the police to eject the offenders, does anyone think these obnoxious kids would respond to anyone BUT the police? Many theatres employ off duty police officers as security personnel, and for good reason. It’s bad enough that people can’t keep their feet off the seats in front of them!
While content is always going to be an issue, the fact is, a good or bad movie can be appreciated anywhere for what it is or isn’t. However, being that we are on a site dedicated to THEATRES, what we are focused on here is the fact that the venue can be a very significant factor in the enjoyment of a film. I have enjoyed many less than great films more than I would have elsewhere because I saw them in nicer theatres. The main issue with the moviegoing experience is exactly that – The Experience.
It would also help if you posted some kind of link for people to contact you.
The site already has a long developed article on movie manners: www.CinemaSightlines.com
The Oswego Theatre was part of the Schine circuit, which had their name on the top of the marquee, until the mid sixties when the theatre was sold. (note the Auburn Schine Theatre for similar design)
Even in the sixties, The theatre decor was still impressive. Clouds on a blue ceiling in the auditorium, a nice deco style in the lobbies and lounges. Movies changed on Wednesday, sometimes with shorts or cartoons, and rarely played more than a week. The original concession stand had a Manley popcorn popper that filtered out the broken and unpopped kernels and actually kept the popcorn hot until served. Circa mid to late 60s, Adult admission was about $1.50 – 2.00, Children .50 to .75 cents.
The main curtain was hung flat (not gathered) and had stripes on a brown background, with a floral theme along the bottom, which was lit by footlights. There were two small spotlights fixed onto the two (ornamental) side balconies that formed an oval spot on the front curtain.
There was a nice attempt at showmanship at this theatre in the 60s, even though there were no dimmers for the house lights. When the show began, the projectionist played a 45 record of Bent Fabric’s ALLEY CAT as the house lights went off and the front curtain opened. The screen was at the back of the stage, behind a second set of (beige) curtains that were lit by red and blue lights.
There were several other movie theatres in Oswego, including the Strand and Hippodrome… all were either torn down by the mid sixties, one was converted to an army-navy store. There was a theatre called the STATE in nearby Fulton, NY, that closed in the sixties.
In 1970 Carrols Development Corporation (a string of fast food restaurants and movie theatres mostly in Syracuse) built a 350 seat MiniTheatre caIled Oswego Cinema, on the East end of town off a shopping center. It opened with Disney’s THE BOATNIKS.
Not long after, circa 1972, the balcony of the Oswego Theatre was cut off for a second screen, a new projection booth was built at the back of the main level, the boxoffice was moved inside with a divider to split the lobby, and the concession was moved to the back of the lobby, serving both sides. The second screen upstairs used the original booth and had a wine and cream color striped curtain. The marquee board was replaced with two-toned glass color coded to the two theatres. First movies to play the split Oswego 1& 2 were SUMMER OF 42 and A NEW LEAF.
Not long after, Fulton NY got a new little theatre in the middle of downtown called the Cine. It didn’t last more than a few years before being converted into a bank.
Through the years most of the Oswego Theatre marquee’s neon and chaser lights burned out. The back curtain in the main house broke, and then the front one as well. Eventually the balcony was divided in two… two more screening rooms were formed by walling off the back left and right of the main house, and an additional two rooms were built in the parking lot next to the theatre.
Nearly every other movie theatre for miles is now gone (including nearly all the single screen showcase theatres in Syracuse). Given that fact, though it is not the showplace it once was, it is remarkable that the Oswego Theatre survives.
The ArcLight complex is loaded with flaws (many are easily correctable) and it doesn’t even begin to live up to its own hype.
However I wouldn’t fault the Dome’s design for the inferior picture problems. It is entirely possible to have a brighter picture without any geometric distortion on a curved screen, but Pacific/ArcLight chose not to make the necessary adjustments. Instead, they used cheap workarounds… The bottom masking is actually curved UP on the ends to try to hide the keystoning, which doesn’t really work, and there is still a dip in the horizon line. They also chose a low-gain screen material to lessen cross-reflection. As a result, the picture is indeed much softer and dimmer than it could be, and darker curtains on the walls don’t hide that fact. The picture is distorted even with digital projection, (which one would think should have some capacity to adjust for the curve).
So many details in the Dome and the adjoining houses could have been much better with some thoughtful showmanship and finesse, but sadly, the ArcLight decision-makers are utterly clueless to that kind of thing. There aren’t many people around who know how to do it well, and the ones in charge don’t like to listen to them.
It is amazing that the ArcLight promotes its zero decor in their ads, and that they got someone at the LA times to say they had the best screens and best popcorn. I personally don’t find sitting in a “black box” a plus, I have seen seams on several of the screens, and I’ve gotten sick from the popcorn, which is rarely even warm, and often filled with broken pieces and unpopped kernels.
I much prefer the presentation and atmosphere at the El Capitan… not perfect, but there is at least is an attempt at showmanship, and I always have a better time there.
Sounds like some creative editing. The Dome is nowhere near the Sunset Strip.