SIFF Cinema Downtown
2100 4th Avenue,
Seattle,
WA
98121
2100 4th Avenue,
Seattle,
WA
98121
48 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 273 comments
If they can’t use the Cinerama Theatre name they can change to SUPERAMA It will fit in the neon sign light. Go with a different color not red white and blue. I think the Cinerama Inc people will let them keep the name with a fee.
I wrote a couple of articles about the theater a few years ago. I may write a new one with the updates, and have other questions answered.
That’s great news that the theater will finally be reopened. They said that the Cinerama name will be dropped, but I sure hope that they will retain the equipment to show 3 strip Cinerama films, as that is a bit of film history that deserves to be preserved.
Thanks, Neeb! This is incredible news, and who better than SIFF to acquire it!
IT’S COMING BACK!!!!
https://www.siff.net/blog/cinerama-announcement
“TWITTER
INSTAGRAM
SIFF Acquires Seattle Cinerama Theater
Thursday, May 11, 2023
SIFF logo and the Seattle Cinerama Theater
Huge news! We’ve acquired the Seattle Cinerama Theater from the estate of Paul G. Allen and will be reopening later this year. This acquisition adds to our current venue offerings: SIFF Film Center, SIFF Cinema Uptown, and SIFF Cinema Egyptian. We look forward to stewarding this historic venue for magical moviegoing experiences well into the future—with all of you.
In the meantime, please enjoy the 49th Seattle International Film Festival in venues across Seattle now through May 21, followed by a week of select films streaming on the SIFF Channel May 22–28."
Here’s the link to a newly-published 70mm playdate chronology for the Seattle region which, of course, includes numerous mentions of the Cinerama Theater.
Based on what I am able to obtain from different online news sources, it appears Vulcan Inc., owned by the late Paul Allen attempted to renovate the theater (fix wear and tear items and adjust the concession menu..no disclosed tech changes) but stopped in Feb. Now Vulcan puts out a statement that the venue remains closed for the forseeable future and has shut down its arts & entertainment division.
The speculation now is Amazon may be interested in the venue for its own venture into the entertainment business as Netflix has bought the Egyptian in Hollywood. Sounds sensible, if this all turns out to be true.
I can’t imagine anyone dismantling what is in place now, including the 3 strip projection set up. Its just crazy. On the other hand, DC’s Uptown had a 3 strip set up way back when..and it is now currently vacant. Bezos, who has a large presence in DC owning the Washington Post and opening up a campus in Arlington VA, could take over that venue. The 3 strip set up could be transferred there and DC could have show Cinerama. Okay, that last part is my fantasy projection.
I wonder what Paul Allen’s will had to say about his intentions for the theater
Who is it that will actually decide the fate of the Seattle Cinerama? The city of Chicago purchased the iconic Chicago Theatre to save it.
I’m glad I got to live here in Seattle while it was open, since I moved here in 2013. I never saw anything on the deep curved Cinerama screen (afaik still installed behind the modern, less-curved screen), but I’m grateful for all of the films I got to see there, including 2001. I hope someone steps in to rescue it.
Absolutely true: the Cinerama Dome in LA was designed to present 70mm single projector “Cinerama”. Stanley Kramer, director of the opening feature Mad Mad Mad World, stated “It’s not Cinerama.” The screen in the Cinerama dome is not louvered but is deeply curved and somehow manages not to wash out the projected image, perhaps using lenticular technology. Despite its large size I did not find it entirely successful at “putting you in the picture” even with the two projectors later added to present three strip Cinerama. This makes losing the Seattle Cinerama an even greater tragedy.
Giving up the Seattle Cinerama leaves only a single Cinerama equipped theatre in the US, namely the Cinerama Dome in LA which has such a steep projection angle the screen is tilted. I find that decreases the Cinerama experience, which probably means a complete loss of the process in the near future. Transferring 3 individual 35mm images to a single 70mm frame will preserve the Cinerama releases, but does not replicate the original experience. I hope the original triple reels will be turned over to the Library of Congress film restoration and preservation division.
So Paul Allen’s estate is f-cking up this theater?
This is unfortunate, but not unexpected given today’s pandemic. I suppose another philanthropist needs to step in and take over. Probably would need to be a Hollywood type individual who appreciates the film experience. Page Steven Spielberg and/or George Lucas, please. :) Or both of them. How about programming on during the weekends/week of exclusive screenings of their films? Maybe do the original un-tweaked Star Wars one weekend..CE3K original edition the next? Yeah..yeah.. Disney owns Lucasfilm now. Its just an idea.
Sounds like the Cinerama is going the way of the late UA 150. They were the last Seattle theatres with deep-curved screens. The Blue Mouse was long gone when I lived in Seattle and it may have had a deep-curved screen, ditto the Paramount during its Cinerama phase. Now Seattle will be like everywhere else, a nation of flat screen multiplex exhibitors.
On the news yesterday, they mentioned the Cinerama is closed, possibly never to re-open.
what a shame it’s being shutdown…it’s an iconic theater and one of the last cineramas in the world.
Hello-
to MSC77- in my original post discussing Manhattan’s roadshow houses during the prime period of Sept. 1952 to Dec. 1972 as opposed to Seattle’s I listed the 7 that were “regularly” used. though they are/were fine theaters the Royale, Sutton, Coronet etc….. were not “regularly” used as roadshow houses.
also to Mike(saps)– you are correct in that the Liberty (which is now used as an event space for the adjacent Hilton Hotel) was used for the roadshow run of The Birth of a Nation Feb. 1915 it doesn’t fall into the time period I stated.
The Cinerama is currently closed for “upgrades”. Does this mean that it is going to be divided up into a multiplex?
Or how about the Liberty (Birth of a Nation)?
bigjoe59: Regarding the New York roadshow houses you have been citing here and elsewhere, is there a reason you haven’t been including the Royale (Gigi), Sutton (The Blue Max), Coronet (The Taming of the Shrew), Fine Arts (The Charge of the Light Brigade), 57th Street Lincoln Art (The Lion in Winter), Ziegfeld (Marooned), or the Columbia (Young Winston)?
Hello-
since I was talking about the fate of the prime roadshow houses in New York as opposed to Seattle I think it was a valid comment to make.
I’m not sure how the current observations apply to the Seattle Cinerama, but it was heartbreaking to see a gem like the United Artists in Detroit run into the ground with adult films and neglect. The United Artists in Los Angeles is often referred to as a twin, but is in fact much larger and more elaborate and beautifully restored. What happens to theatre buildings is a direct reflection of the health of their community. That does apply to the Seattle Cinerama.
to Mike(saps)– many thanks for your reply. Boys Scouts Honor the first two times I tried only 5 theaters ever showed up. I have no idea what I clicked on. speaking of Seattle. its interesting none of the 7 theaters the studios used for their roadshow engagements in Manhattan(Criterion, Loews State, RKO Palace, Demille, Warner, Rivoli and Loews Capitol ever wound up showing “adult” films. that apparently is not the case in other cities.
Link to Seattle page
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/united-states/washington/seattle