Comments from Al Alvarez

Showing 26 - 50 of 3,427 comments

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about 72nd Street Playhouse on Jan 13, 2023 at 7:44 am

This was a Trans-Lux house from 1948 to 1955. It is odd that they gave it up when Upper East Side art houses were in such high demand, but perhaps someone else was willing to pay more.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Roosevelt Theatre on Dec 1, 2022 at 10:27 am

The architect was Albert Anis.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Palace Theatre on Nov 18, 2022 at 11:28 am

Looks like that to me. http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/557/photos/122646

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Capitol Theater on Oct 15, 2022 at 5:44 am

Dallas, you may want to double check that. The Miami Herald Movie Time Clock carries a Capitol listing until 1975. Did it continue to run as an independent?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Capitol Theater on Oct 14, 2022 at 12:14 pm

Sad Miami History, Dallasmovietheatres. I remember Jimmy Barnett, manager of the Olympia in the 50’s and 60’s, telling me that white Cuban stage dancers from Havana were forced to wear white make-up because the City of Miami thought they were a little “too dark” to perform there otherwise.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about 170th Street Cinema on Sep 23, 2022 at 5:29 am

“ROOSTER COGBURN” in 1975.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Florida Theatre on Sep 13, 2022 at 6:23 pm

It closed as a cinema in 1972. I don’t know when the building came down.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Sunny Isles Twin on Sep 10, 2022 at 7:19 pm

Dallas, I believe the lawsuit was for the Plitt Suniland, and not the Sunny Isles.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Regal Times Square on Aug 19, 2022 at 5:48 pm

Because Times Square is the center of the world.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Regal Times Square on Aug 19, 2022 at 11:54 am

Things are not going well at Cineworld/Regal.

https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/uks-cineworld-preparing-file-bankruptcy-wsj-2022-08-19/?fbclid=IwAR3wz71KSssnLim6MneWXpfAHAy79-aPVHaYPRJGIOrzs8kPt6QjgLq-AX0

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Regal Times Square on Aug 16, 2022 at 2:55 pm

I uploaded some photos of the new REGAL marquee signs. I assume the Japanese writing that appears occasionally behind the “REGAL” name is a “BULLET TRAIN” promo.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about RKO Warner Twin Theatre on Aug 9, 2022 at 12:46 pm

I think they give the Strand credit instead of the Regent because unlike the Regent, it was an immediate success. Anyway, I think the brothers Moe and Mitchel Mark deserve a mention in the intro.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about RKO Warner Twin Theatre on Aug 9, 2022 at 9:57 am

On a question often asked on this site by bigjoe, a November 3, 1932, NYT obituary article on Moe Mark credits this location as the first purpose built non-nickelodeon motion picture theatre.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Carib Theatre on Aug 5, 2022 at 3:55 am

It was a major Roadshow town but Brandt and ABC had most of the runs. The main Roadshow venues were Sheridan, Beach, Colony, Lincoln, Roosevelt, and later Sunny Isles and Dadeland twin. By the way AIRPORT also had a Carib exclusive.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Carib Theatre on Aug 4, 2022 at 7:06 pm

vindanpar, it did not run many Roadshows because Wometco was not a big fan of those after the failure of “SPARTACUS” at their 163rd Street theatre. It did host many World Premieres if the stars were in town for winter performances at local hotels. It did run exclusive area runs of PLANET OF THE APES, VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN, DIARY OF A MAD HOUSEWIFE, CARNAL KNOWLEDGE and CABARET among others in a town where non-roadshow exclusives were rare.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cinema 1, 2 & 3 by Angelika on Jul 21, 2022 at 2:51 pm

By the way, bigjoe, the documentary “SEARCHING FOR MR. RUGOFF” is a ‘must-watch’ for Cinema Treasures fans.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cinema 1, 2 & 3 by Angelika on Jul 21, 2022 at 2:48 pm

I think they are not investing in a property they plan to re-purpose as soon as it becomes feasible. Although a theatre incorporated into the new project may be possible, it is also not likely.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cinema 1, 2 & 3 by Angelika on Jul 21, 2022 at 1:25 pm

Bigjoe, I found this on the internet from Reading International;

We own, through our 75% managing member interest, the fee interest in our Cinemas 1,2,3 property in Manhattan. While we are evaluating the potential to redevelop this property as a mixed-use property, these endeavors have been deferred as we deal with the challenges posed by the COVID 19 pandemic. However, located on 3rd avenue, across from Bloomingdales on Manhattan’s Upper Eastside, this property is a prime long-term hold-for-development asset of our Company.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about 34th Street East Theatre on Jul 17, 2022 at 5:07 pm

bigjoe, this small drop may have resulted from some duplicate entries of old Bowery theatres from the early days of cinema being combined. For example the M & S New Delancey was listed as both the M & S as well as the New Delancey.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's American Theatre on Jul 17, 2022 at 6:32 am

That’s actually the Proskauer/Microsoft Building on that corner, Vindanpar. The newspaper of record is between 40th and 41st.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's Capitol Theatre on Jul 12, 2022 at 2:56 pm

These have been around since the American with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990. Maybe there are more showings now with an aging population.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's Capitol Theatre on Jul 12, 2022 at 1:02 pm

bigjoe, you probably attended a showing aimed at the hearing impaired. I recently saw “TOP GUN: MAVERICK” at the Empire and there were no subtitles.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about St. Marks Cinema on Jul 2, 2022 at 3:30 pm

Ed, on December 24 and 25, 1978 the Cinema Village was showing two other made for TV Beatles movies (“BEATLES AROUND THE WORLD” and “WHAT’S HAPPENING! THE BEATLES IN THE USA”) at 2:55pm only.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Belmore Theatre on Jun 17, 2022 at 3:05 pm

This was operating as the Belmore from 1927 to 1930.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Anderson Theatre on May 12, 2022 at 10:09 am

Yes, it was. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/98/Satz_Moshiach_Kumt.jpg