Thanks Steve looks like they had some red/yellow bulbs then. Now they just have white lights and they turn off when a movie is run. The whole light needs three or four color bulb circuits. Red/Orange combo when the feature film is not going and a light jade green or blue on low when a movie is playing. New dim Led’s need to be put in someday. Who knows when the old Castro Theatre SF will be back open. Looks like Feb 2021? Maybe they will take this closed time to put in the new electric/pipe organ and sound system along with new waterfall curtains plus deco rugs?
Nice photo of the banner sign. The theatre was across the street from the Wagon Wheel bar on right side. The cinema building is still up in Ben Lomond CA and used now for local plays and musicals, no more movies. Boulder Creek CA next town over in the Santa Cruz mountains also had a movie theatre called the Dolan & Burl Theatre. A quonset type building that is still around today but used as a pizza place. Boulder Creek also had a drive-in Theatre called the Starview. Too bad It’s not around today as there are no indoor theatres open these days in the Santa Cruz area because of C19.
Thanks Stan & David for this classic ad. So strange that 20th Century Fox released this fist run in 70mm Todd-AO roadshow but in this ad there is no mention of CinemaScope® the wide screen format it was released in I think when ‘Can-Can’ played in 35mm scope after the Todd-AO engagements. Just Color By Deluxe. I wonder If even some 4 track 35mm stereo sound prints were made for the wide non roadshow runs.
Thanks DI 54 nice open outdoor cinema with a great size screen. These open or soon to open old drive-ins are a gold mine now that most indoor theatres are closed.
Thanks Grind for the ad. I do remember a old lady did faint at this cinema and they had a ambulance come on a Sat matinee performance. Some say she was a plant for the theatre who knows?
Thanks Ken, this almost looks like It could have been a 70m Todd-AO or Cinerama Theatre with the curved curtains but It has a rather small flat screen in this old classic photo?
Thanks Scott for this article. So many outdoor movie theatres are gone around the SF Bay Area. Many around the USA are being re opened or built new. The property is way to expensive around San Francisco but with all the cinemas closed now for 5 months you may see some outdoor movie lots coming back in areas a bit out of town on farm land?
Thanks JG looks like early 1950’s before CinemaScope® Too bad It is still not around so the folks in Napa CA can go out and see a movie these days. Time for some smart wine business to dig up a few grapes and turn the dirt into a large movie drive-in theatre in wine country with a huge curved metal outdoor screen. Serve wine at the refreshment counter!
Looks like a roll on portable extra wood party screen. No match for the wind!!! Next time hope they use solid metal or steel. Thanks DI 54 for the sad report.
Thanks Vin, the great now gone UA Rivoli Theatre in NYC. First curved Todd-AO screen in NYC then came Dimension 150. Did anyone save the neon marquee,the curved curtain track or the Dimension 150 masking motor box. Probably not, It all ended up in the trash I think. No E Bay at that time!
No mention of 70mm. They had nice huge curved screens with curtains but seems they did not promote 70mm on the marquee. When the owner Ray Syufy passed away and his sons took over the SJ domes screens got smaller and the curtains never got repaired. Now they are all closed and ready to torn out except the fist one Century 21 may be saved.The Syufy family tried to get more money and split many of the single screen domes down the middle for a twin. The worst cinemas in the world, the seats mostly faced the wrong way plus you could hear sound from next door. The Syufy’s got rid of the union projectionists and the candy/manager projection kids ruined so many 70mm film prints in SJ most studios never sent 70mm prints again.
So sad this once great large curved screen 70mm cinema will not open again. When the Blumenfield’s ran It new before Pacifi/Cinerama® took it over they had curtains that worked and the screen was much larger, almost like D-150. When Pacific took over and later Century when they put in video DCP the screen got a little smaller and they never bothered to fix the curtains. Still a nice roadshow type 70mm theatre with good parking and stereo surround sound, was never twinned. Maybe some other smart presentation company will take over the lease and bring some showmanship back to the rich $ Marin area.
Thanks Mike for the image. Looks like they did a great job on the former cinema. This could happen to the Castro Theatre soon in San Francisco CA If movies don’t start playing some time soon!!!!!
One of the best former movie theatres still open on the West Coast. Now used for live events and a few classic 35mm films. Check the place out Kino If you ever come to California. I worked here in high school under the Fox West Coast Theatres ownership with Robert Apple one of their great managers. Saw my first CinemaScope® 4 ch stereo surround films at the FWC Paramount Oakland when they played ‘The Robe’ on the semi curved magic mirror screen.
For many years the stereo surround sound in the large original Orinda Theatre has been turned way down as the former IA union projectionist did not care for people looking up when they heard effect surround speaker volume so he turned the ceiling/wall surround speakers way down. That projectionist is no longer in the booth so the volume has been turned back up like It was in the past. Hope they can re open soon so we can go and see this classic deco neon cinema with better sound at least in the large cinema space. Turn on the marquee neon and bring back the movie crowd!
You never know about classic theatres that burn. They may have some fire insurance money to at least save the front Lorenzo neon tower sign plus the box office & marquee. The inside black light cement walls could be saved and cleaned up. A brand new 6 plex movie theatre with state help feed money along with a new movie/entertainment operator may be interested in taking over the project and building inside the former Lorenzo walls? Time for Live Nation or the guys that run the Fox Oakland to get involved to bring music/movies and live events to to Lorenzo Theatre.
Maybe they can save the neon marquee tower and front of the building, put a new 6 plex in the shell of the old Lorenzo Theatre. At least the boxoffice didn’t burn down.
Thanks Lou, looks like the black light art on the walls still is in place, a little singed but maybe cleaned? Just needs a new roof, electric and seats. They will probably demolish the place because of the cost to replace. To think The Lorenzo Theatre has been around since 1947 and now this! Was It a insurance scam like the United California/Golden Gate Fruitvale Theatre fire in Oakland CA many years ago? The Fruitvale sat there burned out for many years before they tore her down. Let’s see what they say caused the Lorenzo Theatre fire. I know It was a left over burning cigarette past closeing in the balcony at the Fruitvale but the Lorenzo has been closed, maybe a homeless person was cooking or smoking inside. I wonder if they had a alarm system to prevent something like this disaster?
Thanks Steve looks like they had some red/yellow bulbs then. Now they just have white lights and they turn off when a movie is run. The whole light needs three or four color bulb circuits. Red/Orange combo when the feature film is not going and a light jade green or blue on low when a movie is playing. New dim Led’s need to be put in someday. Who knows when the old Castro Theatre SF will be back open. Looks like Feb 2021? Maybe they will take this closed time to put in the new electric/pipe organ and sound system along with new waterfall curtains plus deco rugs?
Nice photo of the banner sign. The theatre was across the street from the Wagon Wheel bar on right side. The cinema building is still up in Ben Lomond CA and used now for local plays and musicals, no more movies. Boulder Creek CA next town over in the Santa Cruz mountains also had a movie theatre called the Dolan & Burl Theatre. A quonset type building that is still around today but used as a pizza place. Boulder Creek also had a drive-in Theatre called the Starview. Too bad It’s not around today as there are no indoor theatres open these days in the Santa Cruz area because of C19.
Thanks Stan & David for this classic ad. So strange that 20th Century Fox released this fist run in 70mm Todd-AO roadshow but in this ad there is no mention of CinemaScope® the wide screen format it was released in I think when ‘Can-Can’ played in 35mm scope after the Todd-AO engagements. Just Color By Deluxe. I wonder If even some 4 track 35mm stereo sound prints were made for the wide non roadshow runs.
Thanks DI 54 nice open outdoor cinema with a great size screen. These open or soon to open old drive-ins are a gold mine now that most indoor theatres are closed.
Thanks Grind for the ad. I do remember a old lady did faint at this cinema and they had a ambulance come on a Sat matinee performance. Some say she was a plant for the theatre who knows?
Thanks Ken, this almost looks like It could have been a 70m Todd-AO or Cinerama Theatre with the curved curtains but It has a rather small flat screen in this old classic photo?
Thanks Scott for this article. So many outdoor movie theatres are gone around the SF Bay Area. Many around the USA are being re opened or built new. The property is way to expensive around San Francisco but with all the cinemas closed now for 5 months you may see some outdoor movie lots coming back in areas a bit out of town on farm land?
Thanks AP must have been a nice cinema.
Thanks JG looks like early 1950’s before CinemaScope® Too bad It is still not around so the folks in Napa CA can go out and see a movie these days. Time for some smart wine business to dig up a few grapes and turn the dirt into a large movie drive-in theatre in wine country with a huge curved metal outdoor screen. Serve wine at the refreshment counter!
Looks like a roll on portable extra wood party screen. No match for the wind!!! Next time hope they use solid metal or steel. Thanks DI 54 for the sad report.
So nice that this long closed drive in has re opened after all these years. The locals will enjoy It!
Thanks Vin, the great now gone UA Rivoli Theatre in NYC. First curved Todd-AO screen in NYC then came Dimension 150. Did anyone save the neon marquee,the curved curtain track or the Dimension 150 masking motor box. Probably not, It all ended up in the trash I think. No E Bay at that time!
Thanks KINO nice curved screen!!!
No mention of 70mm. They had nice huge curved screens with curtains but seems they did not promote 70mm on the marquee. When the owner Ray Syufy passed away and his sons took over the SJ domes screens got smaller and the curtains never got repaired. Now they are all closed and ready to torn out except the fist one Century 21 may be saved.The Syufy family tried to get more money and split many of the single screen domes down the middle for a twin. The worst cinemas in the world, the seats mostly faced the wrong way plus you could hear sound from next door. The Syufy’s got rid of the union projectionists and the candy/manager projection kids ruined so many 70mm film prints in SJ most studios never sent 70mm prints again.
So sad this once great large curved screen 70mm cinema will not open again. When the Blumenfield’s ran It new before Pacifi/Cinerama® took it over they had curtains that worked and the screen was much larger, almost like D-150. When Pacific took over and later Century when they put in video DCP the screen got a little smaller and they never bothered to fix the curtains. Still a nice roadshow type 70mm theatre with good parking and stereo surround sound, was never twinned. Maybe some other smart presentation company will take over the lease and bring some showmanship back to the rich $ Marin area.
Thanks Mike for the image. Looks like they did a great job on the former cinema. This could happen to the Castro Theatre soon in San Francisco CA If movies don’t start playing some time soon!!!!!
No 70mm 6 track stereo blow up showings even at the UA Syosset. Thanks Grindhouse for the ad. I guess they saved them for NYC?
Thanks Grind must have looked great on the big screen with all the surround speakers in 1996.
Thanks Kino, we like the blue gold side wall curtains. I hope this nice curved screen opens more with the side masking for a CinemaScope® movie?
I wonder if a tornado hit the theatre June 9 2020 or were they showing the classic 35mm film Earthquake in Sensurround?
One of the best former movie theatres still open on the West Coast. Now used for live events and a few classic 35mm films. Check the place out Kino If you ever come to California. I worked here in high school under the Fox West Coast Theatres ownership with Robert Apple one of their great managers. Saw my first CinemaScope® 4 ch stereo surround films at the FWC Paramount Oakland when they played ‘The Robe’ on the semi curved magic mirror screen.
For many years the stereo surround sound in the large original Orinda Theatre has been turned way down as the former IA union projectionist did not care for people looking up when they heard effect surround speaker volume so he turned the ceiling/wall surround speakers way down. That projectionist is no longer in the booth so the volume has been turned back up like It was in the past. Hope they can re open soon so we can go and see this classic deco neon cinema with better sound at least in the large cinema space. Turn on the marquee neon and bring back the movie crowd!
You never know about classic theatres that burn. They may have some fire insurance money to at least save the front Lorenzo neon tower sign plus the box office & marquee. The inside black light cement walls could be saved and cleaned up. A brand new 6 plex movie theatre with state help feed money along with a new movie/entertainment operator may be interested in taking over the project and building inside the former Lorenzo walls? Time for Live Nation or the guys that run the Fox Oakland to get involved to bring music/movies and live events to to Lorenzo Theatre.
Maybe they can save the neon marquee tower and front of the building, put a new 6 plex in the shell of the old Lorenzo Theatre. At least the boxoffice didn’t burn down.
Thanks Lou, looks like the black light art on the walls still is in place, a little singed but maybe cleaned? Just needs a new roof, electric and seats. They will probably demolish the place because of the cost to replace. To think The Lorenzo Theatre has been around since 1947 and now this! Was It a insurance scam like the United California/Golden Gate Fruitvale Theatre fire in Oakland CA many years ago? The Fruitvale sat there burned out for many years before they tore her down. Let’s see what they say caused the Lorenzo Theatre fire. I know It was a left over burning cigarette past closeing in the balcony at the Fruitvale but the Lorenzo has been closed, maybe a homeless person was cooking or smoking inside. I wonder if they had a alarm system to prevent something like this disaster?