TE, I do hope that when I get back to Toronto, our paths might cros some tme. There is nothing like talking to a local about topics of shared interest!
The article’s last paragraph indicates that its author does not know too much about Toronto’s movie theater history; this small multiplex was built into an apartment building erected some years after the original stunning Odeon Carlton was sadly demolished. It served a purpose, but the screening rooms were always small, non-descript shoeboxes (if I am not mistaken, some used rear projection) and the place was very shabby toward the end. I hope that the new Bell Lightbox when it opens will pick the the kind of films this place used to show.
I am sure these venues are much loved by patrons and deserve to be by embraced film lovers; I can understand that regular attendees might be a bit miffed reading the article. But I think the article was pointing the absence of a full time, seven-days-a-week art theater. Looking at the three venues websites, the need still seems to be present, unless the information there is inaccurate. There won’t be any films showing as a part of the International Film series until January; the Boulder Theater shows only one film (“The Big Lebowski”) between now and the Boulder Film Festival in February, and the library’s film schedule from now into December only shows one feature film showing on a Thursday night (1959’s “Lil Abner” – not exactly art house fare) in addition to a one night special event that is part of a series focusing on dance on a Wednesday night in December.
And if the studios have their way, that “3 or 4 months” could shrink to a few weeks or even less. Sony wanted DVDs of the Michael Jackson documentary “This is It” in stores for Christmas and only backed down after massive theater-owner protest. Recently, theater owners in France shut their theaters down briefly in protest of the shrinking release-to-DVD windows, and there has been talk of making some new releases concurrent with theatrical releases as premium computer downloads.
The theater in FD Yearbook was probably not the Clarksville Drive-in; it was probably an older theater called the Theatreair Drive-in which became the Twin Drive-in after a second screen was added. The Theatreair was at 4505 Highway 31, which was apparently gone by 1970 if the information in the Rivest list is accurate,
I have not been able to locate an opening date for the Clarksville Drive-in, but the Eberson Archives indicate that Drew Eberson designed a drive-in for Clarksville in 1972.
When it opened as a triplex, the entrance was inside the mall; when GCC expanded it to eight, a new outside entrance was created at the side of the mall that faced Johnny Cake Ridge Road and the interior entrance closed off.
Yes, Trans-Lux did operate some Cinerama houses, but this was never one of them. This theater is too close to Louisville for Cinerama to have been exhibited there; Cinerama markets were well-defined and care was taken to never over-saturate a geographical area. In fact, according to this well-researched list of Cinerama theaters, the only Indiana city that had Cinerama showings was Indianapolis: View link
Eberson did build one purpose-built Cinerama house for Trans-Lux in Harrisburg. PA; the chain also took over the Martin Cinerama theaters in St. Louis and New Orleans.
I think its quite likely though that what was when this theater may have looked very much like other Eberson single-screen theater designs of the latter 1960s. Many of these had large, gently curved screens and many had 70mm equipment.
When the original theater was twinned, it apparently was called the Trans-Lux Blue and Gold. I have a hunch that when this twinning occurred, the original single auditorium was split in half, the original screen removed, and the projectors re-positioned to hit the new screens.
It has been four years since Katrina, and while I agree that there is much, much to do in terms of housing, infrastructure, and other human needs (especially after all bungling and mismanagement that went on), the city must at some point begin to consider the repair of its cultural heart and the need to assure that citizens and visitors will eventually have theaters, museums, and other places of entertainment. If this is done reasonably, without impairing the efforts to make New Orleans a livable, attractive city, than this is an effort that deserves to go forward.
This theater has indeed become a gynmasium; the story is here:
View link
TE, I do hope that when I get back to Toronto, our paths might cros some tme. There is nothing like talking to a local about topics of shared interest!
The article’s last paragraph indicates that its author does not know too much about Toronto’s movie theater history; this small multiplex was built into an apartment building erected some years after the original stunning Odeon Carlton was sadly demolished. It served a purpose, but the screening rooms were always small, non-descript shoeboxes (if I am not mistaken, some used rear projection) and the place was very shabby toward the end. I hope that the new Bell Lightbox when it opens will pick the the kind of films this place used to show.
The renovations are complete: the story can be read here: View link
Re-opened under new management on November 20, 2009 as the Windsor 10. Story here: View link
Two additional screens are opening officially on November 25 making this a ten screen multiplex: http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=337803
Here’s a follow-up article:
View link
I am sure these venues are much loved by patrons and deserve to be by embraced film lovers; I can understand that regular attendees might be a bit miffed reading the article. But I think the article was pointing the absence of a full time, seven-days-a-week art theater. Looking at the three venues websites, the need still seems to be present, unless the information there is inaccurate. There won’t be any films showing as a part of the International Film series until January; the Boulder Theater shows only one film (“The Big Lebowski”) between now and the Boulder Film Festival in February, and the library’s film schedule from now into December only shows one feature film showing on a Thursday night (1959’s “Lil Abner” – not exactly art house fare) in addition to a one night special event that is part of a series focusing on dance on a Wednesday night in December.
A recent article recalling the Garrick: http://www.twincities.com/business/ci_13783041
Here’s a follow-up article about the Garrick, another downtown St. Paul theater that was not mentioned in the original article:
http://www.twincities.com/business/ci_13783041
This theater is being purchased by the local Optimist Club; details in this article: View link
And if the studios have their way, that “3 or 4 months” could shrink to a few weeks or even less. Sony wanted DVDs of the Michael Jackson documentary “This is It” in stores for Christmas and only backed down after massive theater-owner protest. Recently, theater owners in France shut their theaters down briefly in protest of the shrinking release-to-DVD windows, and there has been talk of making some new releases concurrent with theatrical releases as premium computer downloads.
Status should be Closed/Demolished.
This theater closed briefly, but is now reopened under new management. Story here: View link
Sorry, forgot the link: View link
There is a picture of the King Square Cinema on this page (scroll down to see it). It apparently closed as a twin.
Here’s a folllow-up article: http://www.thenewstribune.com/ae/story/952695.html
This will be operated by Jones Theatres in partnership with Carmike after it closes down early in 2010 for renovation. Story here: View link
The theater in FD Yearbook was probably not the Clarksville Drive-in; it was probably an older theater called the Theatreair Drive-in which became the Twin Drive-in after a second screen was added. The Theatreair was at 4505 Highway 31, which was apparently gone by 1970 if the information in the Rivest list is accurate,
I have not been able to locate an opening date for the Clarksville Drive-in, but the Eberson Archives indicate that Drew Eberson designed a drive-in for Clarksville in 1972.
When it opened as a triplex, the entrance was inside the mall; when GCC expanded it to eight, a new outside entrance was created at the side of the mall that faced Johnny Cake Ridge Road and the interior entrance closed off.
Yes, Trans-Lux did operate some Cinerama houses, but this was never one of them. This theater is too close to Louisville for Cinerama to have been exhibited there; Cinerama markets were well-defined and care was taken to never over-saturate a geographical area. In fact, according to this well-researched list of Cinerama theaters, the only Indiana city that had Cinerama showings was Indianapolis: View link
Eberson did build one purpose-built Cinerama house for Trans-Lux in Harrisburg. PA; the chain also took over the Martin Cinerama theaters in St. Louis and New Orleans.
I think its quite likely though that what was when this theater may have looked very much like other Eberson single-screen theater designs of the latter 1960s. Many of these had large, gently curved screens and many had 70mm equipment.
When the original theater was twinned, it apparently was called the Trans-Lux Blue and Gold. I have a hunch that when this twinning occurred, the original single auditorium was split in half, the original screen removed, and the projectors re-positioned to hit the new screens.
It is from here: http://www.commercialsource.com/cs680212
It has been four years since Katrina, and while I agree that there is much, much to do in terms of housing, infrastructure, and other human needs (especially after all bungling and mismanagement that went on), the city must at some point begin to consider the repair of its cultural heart and the need to assure that citizens and visitors will eventually have theaters, museums, and other places of entertainment. If this is done reasonably, without impairing the efforts to make New Orleans a livable, attractive city, than this is an effort that deserves to go forward.
A picture from a realtor’s site:
View link
This IMAX theater ceased operations on October 1, 2009.