Teatro Cinerama
1650 Avenida Fernadez Juncos,
San Juan
00907
1650 Avenida Fernadez Juncos,
San Juan
00907
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Spelling correction to my post above:
“Last year, I had the opportunity to see “How the West was Wonâ€, screened in its original 3-strip format at the Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles.”
JSA
Hello Widescreenman,
The 3-strip Cinerama projection system had its 1952 debut in New York City with “This is Cineramaâ€. In addition to the three 35 mm projectors operating simultaneously, a separate 7-channel/35 mm magnetic soundtrack was run in synchronization with the projectors. A few other 3-strip films were made during the 50’s, these being “travelogues†such as “Seven Wonders of the World†and “South Seas Adventureâ€. Two films, “The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm†and “How the West was Won†were the first and only 3-strip “regular" features made. They were released in 1962. “How the West was Won†was very successful commercially. However, the cost and logistics of shooting and screening 3-strip Cinerama doomed it, especially when compared to the other widescreen processes such as Todd-AO. All subsequent Cinerama productions were single lens Ultra-Panavision (“It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad Worldâ€, “Khartoumâ€) or Super Panavision (“Grand Prixâ€, “Ice Station Zebraâ€). One other film, George Stevens’ “The Greatest Story Ever Toldâ€, began shooting in 3-strip Cinerama, but made the switch to Ultra-Panavision shortly after production began. The Ultra-Panavision Cinerama films were “optically†corrected to compensate for the theater screen curvature. Not all Ultra-Panavision films were single-strip Cinerama though. For example “The Fall of the Roman Empire†was a strictly Ultra-Panavision production, without the “optical†correction for single strip Cinerama.
Regarding the Cinerama in Puerto Rico, 3-strip projection had its run during the mid 60’s. Mr. Andres Roura, who is a frequent contributor to this site (see his Feb 11, 2005 posting above) will undoubtedly know the exact dates and particular details. Mr. Roura is the top authority when it comes to movies and the movie business in PR. My understanding is that “How the West Was Wonâ€, “The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimmâ€, and “This is Cinerama†were the only 3-strip Cinerama features screened at PR. The Cinerama also screened many of the single-strip Cinerama features, but my favorite Super Panavision/Cinerama film, “2001: A Space Odysseyâ€, had its run at the Metro in 1968.
Last year, I had the opportunity to see “How the West Was Wonâ€, screened in it original 3-strip format at the Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles. It was truly a remarkable cinematic experience. The Dome is a fantastic state-of-the-art theatre, with a spectacular giant curved screen and superb sound.
Sadly, today there are only two theaters in the USA capable of screening 3-Strip Cinerama: the Dome and the Martin Cinerama in Seattle. A third theatre with this capability is in England.
Regards,
JSA
Hi JSA
According to my late friend projectionist of UA Paramount Theatre Don Kike Lopez, the Cinerama originally was a three panel projection 3*35 system and he told me once he witness the tests for How The West Was Won so , how long was the system in operation untill it was turned into a single Super Cinerama 70mm system??
Saludos ( mi email es )
Correction to my post from 9/21/06:
The sentence “In comparison, the Cinerama Dome at Los Angeles is 86 feet wide…†should read “In comparison, the Cinerama Dome’s screen at Los Angeles is 86 feet wide…â€
Fred Waller’s “standard" Cinerama screen was approximately 75 feet wide by 26 feet high, with a 146-degree curve (Mr. Waller was the pioneer of Cinerama). Unfortunately I don’t know what the dimensions were for the Teatro Cinerama, but I do remember seeing a few films in that wonderful theatre. In comparison, the Cinerama Dome at Los Angeles is 86 feet wide by 32 feet high with a 126-degree curvature, and seats in the neighborhood of 800. As a side note, the Cinerama Dome at LA did not play 3-strip Cinerama features until recently. “This is Cinerama†and “How the West Was Won†have been screened at the Dome within the last 3 years, after the theatre underwent an extensive renovation. The Dome opened in 1963 with “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World†in single strip 70 mm Cinerama. In LA, the 3-strip Cinerama films were originally screened at the Warner Cinerama (presently closed to the public and also known as the Hollywood Pacific), which had the louvered screen with a 146-degree curve. Back to the Teatro Cinerama: the last film I saw there was the disastrous “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Bandâ€, certainly an unfitting “farewell†to that great cinema.
Our entire family went to see “Chitty Chitty” during the opening weekend at the Cinerama. Me and my brothers just had to see that movie!
I also want some pics if they are available. I love cinemas (the old ones, MOVIE PALACES) and Im young. I hate the new stadium seating. Love to see some pictures of the old cinemas of Ponce De Leon…my email is: or
Andy
Do you have any old photos of the Cinerama or other movie theaters? I’ve been dying to get some for many years!!! I would really aprreciate that!!!!! My e-mail is :
Seeing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Cinerama remains one of my special movie memories as a kid. It was awesome seeing that film there. I still recall that the intermission came just as the car was about to fly for the first time. I recently saw it on DVD and it was amazing to see the intermission replayed on the tv screen 30 years later!
Your stories also brought back memories of when theaters had curtains and they would open majestically before the movie. I remember the ones at the Cinerama and the Radio City as the most impressive.
Josem, here is the “Metropolitan story:” When “Lawrence of Arabia” premiered, as usual it was a charity event and this time the organizers had a fashion show before the picture. When I saw the program, I told the woman in charge that “Lawrence” was a very long picture and she and her models had to be off the stage by 8PM sharp so we coud start the film. By 7:45 or so I knew we were running late, so I called the projectionist on the intercom (Rafa), and told him that I would stand by the stage and signal him at 8 sharp to cut the mikes on stage and start the overture even if there were still people on stage. Remember, the stage at the Metropolitan was not too big since the 70mm screen was installed in front of the original proscenium arch with a drop curtain, not the traveler type curtain that opens sideways, because it was a wall-to-wall screen. I went down to the front of the orchestra , called the oganizer aside, and told her she had 5 minutes to clear the stage because I was starting the picture at 8, period. She said she could not finish in 5 minutes because not all the models had paraded on stage. At 7:59 I signaled Rafa and he dimmed the house lights. In one minute the stage was cleared and we started on time. The woman threatened me and said she was going to call Mr. Cobian — the owner of the theater chain — to have him fire me. I told her to call him in the morning and gave her his phone number. She never called. I was not fired. Incidentally, that “Lawrence” was not the director’s cut. About 15 minues had been cut which were later added to the restored version that played here in the 90’s (I think it was the 90’s). The fully restored version was made from the original 65mm elements (the other 5mm that made a 70mm print was for the six magnetic tracks). It is now on DVD and video in letterbox format. I don’t think the restored version has played in PR. Has it? Finally, I suggest to you and other “members” of Cinema Treasures that miss the old 70mm and Cinerama spectaculars, to check the website of the American WideScreen Museum (www.widescreenmuseum.com). As today’s teenagers say, it’s awsome!
Josem, “no me des cuerda” (for the unfortunate monolinguals: don’t get me started). When “Chitty-Chitty” opened at the Cinerama, we got the print late afternoon the day of the 8 PM “charity gala premiere” for a local organization. We did not have time to screen the picture in advance, we bought it (actually rented it) “sight unseen” as they say in the industry. At about 6PM, the Cinerama chief projectionist called me. We had a problem: the opening credits on the film had the “Sound of Music” opening credits soundtrack instead of the “Chitty” opening credits music. Called Jamie at United Artisis who called UA in NY. Nothing could be done, we could not get a new first reel until the next day at about noon. I remembered I had the “Chitty” soundtrack LP in the office which was not far away, at the Cobian Center where the Radio City/Excelsior twins were, and went to get it. Back to the Cinerama. “Rafa” was a terrific projectionist, a graduate of the 70mm spectaculars at the Metropolitan. I told him: start the picture silent, play the first track of the LP on the record player we used for playing music while the audience came in, and as soon as the “Directed by” credit fades out in the screen, drop the phonograph and raise the projector’s volume. It worked like a beauty. No one new the difference. Cross my heart and hope to die this is a true story. Now I have to do some work in the office. An anecdote about the Metropolitan will follow, soon I hope. Andres.
Thanks for sharing your memories, Mr. Roura…it will be great to know about your experiences with other Wometco-Commonwealth theaters!!!!!
As I said on my posting on the Metro theater site, I worked for both Commonwealth and Wometco theaters and also worked as theatre and publicity manager for the Metro theater and MGM-Puerto Rico. The Cinerama was the old Bolivar second run “barrio” moviehouse on Fernandez Juncos Ave., in a working class area in the Santurce section of San Juan. In the early 60s, Cuban TV producer Gaspar Pumarejo leased the site and converted it into a TV studio for his nightly variety show. The audience sat in the stadium style seating mezzaninne and the orchestra space was where they had the sets, cameras, lighting, etc. The control room was in the projection booth, which was as wide as the theater. After Pumarejo moved his operations to the NY/New Jersey area when Spanish TV started in NY, the theater remained closed until it was converted into a triple projection Cinerama venue seating about 600 or so. The opening picture was the 3-strip “How The West Was Won” from MGM. After the 3-strip Cinerama films supply was exhausted, it played “flat” films, which looked terrific in the center of the huge Cinerama screen. The opening of the Plaza Las Americas cinemas did not affect the attendance at the Cinerama. It played to capacity with films such as “Rosemary’s Baby,” which was picketed by Christian groups because we opened it on Christmas day. The pickets were on the front page of every paper boosting the business. One of Comonwealth’s VPs, Sidney Kramer, got the idea of getting an anamorphic lens that could fill the whole screen and we started playing scope pictures which filled the entire Cinerama screen. The first one was “Fantastic Voyage.” Then we installed 70mm for the 70mm “Cinerama” films such as “Grand Prix,” “Battle of the Bulge,” etc. In my opinion the theater and the other theaters in Santurce that closed, closed because of the deterioration of the inner city just at it happened here in NY. I understand the San Juan administration is revitalizing the downtown Santurce area and is renovating, or already renoveted, one theater, the Matienzo. Let’s hope that as Rudy Giuliani revitalized Times Square, downtown Santurce is revitalized and, even if as in here, we do not have the old movie palaces, at least Times Square is again a safe film entertainment hub as it was years ago. Let’s hope the same thing happens in Santurce. My understanding is that the carpet store uses the entire theater area. Andres Roura.
Is the theatre still intact behind the store?
The Cinerama, along with the Radio City, were the two jewels of Santurce cinemas. This was the place to see all the great epic films. From “Grand Prix” to “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” to “Krakatoa, East of Java”, they all played at the Cinerama. I remember lines around the block when “Earthquake” played at The Cinerama. And this was due to the fact that watching a movie there was an inccredible experience. Just seeing those huge curtains open was a show in itself. And when the movie started, well, it was magic. One felt part of the movie watching that giant screen. So much so that once in a while a little kid would walk up to the screen , touching the screen in amazement.
Between epics, the Cinerama would also play stange horror movies such as “Horror Hospital” and “House that Screamed”. The latter featured a classic promo of giving away Alka Seltzers before the movie began.
When Plaza Las Americas mall opened its huge mall theaters, attendance at the Cinerama dwindled. And unfortunately, this wonderful theater was one of the first Santurce theaters to close down. For years, the marquee with its huge Cinerama sign, stood there waiting for someone to rescue this fine theater. No one did. In 1999 it became a carpet store.