Comments from HowardBHaas

This was the post by the Lower Merion Conservancy last week at Facebook: The Bala Theatre was awarded Class I designation on the Lower Merion Township Historic Resource Inventory last night! The Conservancy, which included the theatre on its annual WatchList five times during the past six years, is thrilled with this news.

The theatre is a landmark in Lower Merion. More importantly, it is the keystone of historic Bala Avenue and crucial to the revitalization of the commercial district. The Conservancy is appreciative of the Board’s support for this designation. It is also grateful to its many dedicated members, to the Lower Merion Historical Society, the Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwyd, and the Lower Merion Historical Commission for relentlessly pursuing a positive preservation outcome for this iconic building.

new article https://www.npr.org/2019/01/12/684636807/inside-the-world-s-most-beautiful-bookstore-in-argentina?mc_cid=bfaa0f6eaf&mc_eid=91acd9b937&fbclid=IwAR2WOxtV2thw2SHhEO6amdu2Yed5xH2Gg6nWuOYfcTvDO4pWXxvtftMkGy0

LA Times article with ornate lobby photo showing Roma’s director who also had world premiere of Y u Mama Tambien here. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/miranda/la-et-cam-alfonso-cuaron-colonia-roma-20190103-story.html?outputType=amp

I am sure a movie theater will happily charge what the market can bear. Easy enough to see for reserved seat theaters if many customers were paying the prices, by checking online- esp over the weekend. As someone from the States there only once a year, I’d consider 20 & 25 lbs- if they use a curtain! I wouldn’t consider 40 lbs- that’s ridiculously too high.

Lionel, I like to sit in the rear, the raised balcony section. With huge new screen, I sat in the top row (for max leg room) & screen still looked large! Most people though sit in the regular section of seats before the balcony, mid back to all the way back. All sight lines are great with this large screen!

article with photos of existing conditions showing remnants of this cinema https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/the-secret-leeds-cinema-inside-the-merrion-centre-is-up-for-rent-1-9466002

This was linked above-https://www.trustedreviews.com/news/behind-scenes-dolby-cinema-odeon-3635999 which says “In a nice touch, the curtains for the screen replicate the original from the 1930s” That would be very sloppy writing if it meant a projected image of the safety curtain! Let’s hope there’s curtains now or in January when the ladies & whatever other aspects are finished.

I enjoyed Mary Queen of Scots yesterday at the Paris. The brochure is not like the roadshow programs but is very nice. Along with a postcard which specifies that the movie is at the Paris, copies are on the table before the orchestra (main floor) seating, for audience members to take if they wish. Most people don’t seem to go to the table, so the Paris had not run out of the nice items! Exiting the lobby, staffers give an invite to the nearby Plaza Hotel for a deluxe dessert, a regal one inspired by Queen Mary, with the purchase of a cocktail or evening fare. This epic movie, wonderfully acted & filmed, is worthy of seeing at the Paris!

“amorphous blob” (to quote above) 2008 rendering- https://www.standard.co.uk/news/coming-soon-movies-in-the-odeon-basement-6830391.html

much improved 2014 rendering (though I’d rather than original theater have stayed)– https://www.citmagazine.com/article/1228193/leicester-square-odeon-cinema-demolished-new-hotel

Last I asked Vue West End staff, which was 2 or 3 years ago, “tabs” (curtains) & masking/matting, might be used in screens 5,6,7. Last 2 times I saw movies in aud 2, which was in 2012-13, no curtain was used, no masking- the scope movie was letterboxed. As a visitor, I’m not eager to pay top prices for such a presentation. I’ve always been in awe of this Odeon, and seen more movies in recent years (except this year as it was being gutted) and hope for masking & curtain to be used.

Last month, I saw that the Mens toilets had been totally redone & were nice looking. Staff said they had been redone about 4 months prior to my visit. I don’t recall that the downstairs foyer or the ground floor space had changed. I enjoyed 2 classic movies, An American Werewolf in London (DCP) & Death Line (1972, 35mm), both perfect for this visitor from the States. As to the prior comment, I enjoyed better the sightlines from the balcony/circle, which had been open during weekday matinees, and alas is now the 2nd screen. I do have my favorite vantage point in the stalls, about the 10th row from the screen. I’ve not seen a movie in the upstairs auditorium.

I’m glad to see the ladies on the side walls. I would hope for use of curtains (tabs) & masking/matting. The AMC Lincoln Square (New York City) page indicates recent conversion (by Odeon’s owner AMC) of non historic but ornate “Loews” auditorium so that all ornate decoration has been removed from that auditorium, and installed is a “floating screen” with “flat” movies simply letterboxed, not masked/matted.