I agree with Mike. By the time I started, as a visitor from Philadelphia, seeing movies in NYC in the late 1980s, all the grand Midtown 70mm roadshow movie palaces were gone or chopped up (the Criterion & Embassy 2-3-4 ex DeMille). This theater was long gone.
Ridethectrain, this is not the website for technical specifications, but unfortunately, nowhere seems to explain. I’m thinking AMC Prime has Dolby Atmos surround sound but not Dolby Vision picture quality? Here in Philadelphia the downtown AMC Fashion District has both Dolby and Prime auditoriums. I’ve only seen one movie so far in Prime, but many in Dolby.
Thanks, Ed. In March of this year, I returned for the 70mm screening of “Murder on the Nile” and I posted photos in the photo gallery, of this beautiful theater.
I’m in Philadelphia, and on vacation last month, visited Cardiff for the 1st time. I’ve posted photos of the facades & the refurbished former auditorium of the Prince of Wales. Great job, Weatherspoon!This place stands as a loving tribute to the live theater and cinema that it used to be, and serves current customers just fine.
My friend Ken Roe, who is the volunteer Moderator of this website, and I visited the restored foyer and upstairs areas (except for the auditoriums) last month of this theater, and we’ve posted photos. Fantastic refurbishment, Odeon!
My friend Ken Roe, who is the volunteer Moderator of this website, and I visited the restored foyer last month of this theater, and we’ve posted photos of the foyer and the restored facade. Great job, Picturehouse!
To continue from my 2017 post, I’ve visited this theater each year from its 2015 reopening thru 2019, when I had to pause due to the Pandemic my visits to London from Philadelphia. In 2018, I enjoyed a sold out local premiere of an Australian film “Breadth” which was accompanied by a wine reception, and in 2019, “That’ll be the Day” (1973) with a Q & A with the film writer & producer. Last month, I enjoyed “Downton Abbey: A New Era” here and I posted photos of the beautiful auditorium and marvelous hand drawn staffer posters for the movie and for “Top Gun: Maverick” The history panels showcasing the theater’s most remarkable history are no longer in the concession foyer, but I hope they return.
After a Pandemic pause, I revisited London last month & enjoyed a movie, “Benediction” at this theater, in the main screen. I posted photos. The auditorium is gorgeous. The lobby has a remarkable piece of art which I included in my photos.
After a Pandemic pause, I revisited London last month & enjoyed 2 movies at the Prince Charles, in the main theater, a 35mm print of “Badlands” (1973) and “The Lighthouse” (2019). I really enjoy this theater and the immaculate presentations with proper use of the curtain, masking, projection, and surround sound. What happened to the vertical sign? Online, it seems to have been there in the last year, but now gone. Why?
Because of the huge seating capacity of the auditorium, when I visit London, from Philadelphia, I’ve always been more awestruck by this movie theater than any other in London. Last month, after a Pandemic pause for visiting London, I was finally able to see a movie in the redone auditorium. I had seen “Top Gun: Maverick” at the Empire Haymarket, but the movie is worthwhile enough to see a 2nd time, so I saw it in Dolby Vision & Atmos here. Unfortunately, the curtain was not used before or after the film. I posted photos of the exterior, the auditorium, and a closeup of the Circle doors with movie titles that premiered here. I loved that the doors listed the titles. The main stairs to the Circle has screens with images from the history of this theater, another nice touch. Even though the auditorium no longer has the huge seating capacity, the Circle (balcony) still has enough seats to keep me awestruck. Movie theaters should not be only boutique. We should be able to enjoy a movie with a crowd!
This remains one of my favorite movie theaters to visit when I visit London (from Philadelphia) as I did last month, after a Pandemic pause for me since 2019. Renovations mentioned above have not taken place yet. I posted photos of the main upstairs auditorium and the foyer, both of which I love since they are ornate. I saw “Top Gun: Maverick” which looked great on the huge screen and sounded great with 7.1 surround sound.
8 PM tonight, 35mm directed by the late Peter Bogdanovich “The Last Picture Show” (1971) $8 includes free popcorn with pipe organ at 7:30 PM by Eric Fahner before the movie.
Last week, I had a wonderful visit to the Ritz with Bruce Curless, the founder and director of the theater company that operates it. I added 26 photos. Some interesting tidbits of history:
The ticket booth’s lower panel was covered with aluminum before they tookover but inside the theater is seen in the original marble or stone.
The main, concession lobby, now has to its far left an entry to another room but originally ended with decoration like on the right side. The room that is now entered has a framed carpet that was the original carpet, and was found in a closet at the auditorium’s rear that was turned into a handicapped accessible bathroom.
Most of the light fixtures are not original to the theater except the ticket lobby’s ceiling’s fixtures.(the ticket lobby being where the ticket booth backs up into) In the auditorium, there are 4 chandeliers previously at a church and the central chandelier is from a lighting company.
When they tookover, the movie screen & carbon arc projectors were still there. They tried films with vaudeville but too few attended. The screen is gone. Someone was allowed to take the projectors.
There was a balcony to the left and right of the projection booth. To the left is now the Green Room. The right is also no longer used as a balcony.
The auditorium’s original proscenium arch is present, but often hidden by drapery for shows.
Outside, at the auditorium’s rear is a walled up section that Bruce says was for sound speakers when talkies arrived, but later walled up as speakers became smaller.
I’ve seen a movie in the RPX there. It is a much larger screen. Not matted for ‘scope films. Seats are nicer. I believe sound is better. The auditorium looks & functions much differently than the regular auditoriums.
I agree with Mike. By the time I started, as a visitor from Philadelphia, seeing movies in NYC in the late 1980s, all the grand Midtown 70mm roadshow movie palaces were gone or chopped up (the Criterion & Embassy 2-3-4 ex DeMille). This theater was long gone.
Ridethectrain, this is not the website for technical specifications, but unfortunately, nowhere seems to explain. I’m thinking AMC Prime has Dolby Atmos surround sound but not Dolby Vision picture quality? Here in Philadelphia the downtown AMC Fashion District has both Dolby and Prime auditoriums. I’ve only seen one movie so far in Prime, but many in Dolby.
Thanks, Ed. In March of this year, I returned for the 70mm screening of “Murder on the Nile” and I posted photos in the photo gallery, of this beautiful theater.
I’m in Philadelphia, and on vacation last month, visited Cardiff for the 1st time. I’ve posted photos of the facades & the refurbished former auditorium of the Prince of Wales. Great job, Weatherspoon!This place stands as a loving tribute to the live theater and cinema that it used to be, and serves current customers just fine.
My friend Ken Roe, who is the volunteer Moderator of this website, and I visited the restored foyer and upstairs areas (except for the auditoriums) last month of this theater, and we’ve posted photos. Fantastic refurbishment, Odeon!
My friend Ken Roe, who is the volunteer Moderator of this website, and I visited the restored foyer last month of this theater, and we’ve posted photos of the foyer and the restored facade. Great job, Picturehouse!
To continue from my 2017 post, I’ve visited this theater each year from its 2015 reopening thru 2019, when I had to pause due to the Pandemic my visits to London from Philadelphia. In 2018, I enjoyed a sold out local premiere of an Australian film “Breadth” which was accompanied by a wine reception, and in 2019, “That’ll be the Day” (1973) with a Q & A with the film writer & producer. Last month, I enjoyed “Downton Abbey: A New Era” here and I posted photos of the beautiful auditorium and marvelous hand drawn staffer posters for the movie and for “Top Gun: Maverick” The history panels showcasing the theater’s most remarkable history are no longer in the concession foyer, but I hope they return.
Ian, your 3rd photo link above goes to surfers.
After a Pandemic pause, I revisited London last month & enjoyed a movie, “Benediction” at this theater, in the main screen. I posted photos. The auditorium is gorgeous. The lobby has a remarkable piece of art which I included in my photos.
After a Pandemic pause, I revisited London last month & enjoyed 2 movies at the Prince Charles, in the main theater, a 35mm print of “Badlands” (1973) and “The Lighthouse” (2019). I really enjoy this theater and the immaculate presentations with proper use of the curtain, masking, projection, and surround sound. What happened to the vertical sign? Online, it seems to have been there in the last year, but now gone. Why?
Because of the huge seating capacity of the auditorium, when I visit London, from Philadelphia, I’ve always been more awestruck by this movie theater than any other in London. Last month, after a Pandemic pause for visiting London, I was finally able to see a movie in the redone auditorium. I had seen “Top Gun: Maverick” at the Empire Haymarket, but the movie is worthwhile enough to see a 2nd time, so I saw it in Dolby Vision & Atmos here. Unfortunately, the curtain was not used before or after the film. I posted photos of the exterior, the auditorium, and a closeup of the Circle doors with movie titles that premiered here. I loved that the doors listed the titles. The main stairs to the Circle has screens with images from the history of this theater, another nice touch. Even though the auditorium no longer has the huge seating capacity, the Circle (balcony) still has enough seats to keep me awestruck. Movie theaters should not be only boutique. We should be able to enjoy a movie with a crowd!
This remains one of my favorite movie theaters to visit when I visit London (from Philadelphia) as I did last month, after a Pandemic pause for me since 2019. Renovations mentioned above have not taken place yet. I posted photos of the main upstairs auditorium and the foyer, both of which I love since they are ornate. I saw “Top Gun: Maverick” which looked great on the huge screen and sounded great with 7.1 surround sound.
before Top Gun Maverick, scope movie
before Top Gun Maverick, scope movie
actually 5-20-22 photo
The Trans-Lux became Eric’s Place
8 PM tonight, 35mm directed by the late Peter Bogdanovich “The Last Picture Show” (1971) $8 includes free popcorn with pipe organ at 7:30 PM by Eric Fahner before the movie.
There are other raked, non stadium seated multiplexes in the Philly area that were converted to recliners, and became very popular with audiences.
Michael, thanks, I’ve heard of the Philly policy. I’ve been to El Capitan, but I didn’t remember its prior names.
Michael, re Dirty Harry, Philadelphia’s Fox listing with MW. What’s MW? Also was Hollywood Loews the one at 6764 Hollywood Blvd?
After reopening Sept 10, 2021 from the March 2020 Covid shutdown, the Ritz East closed again October 10, 2021, its fate uncertain!
the original run of A Raisin in the Sun.
Last week, I had a wonderful visit to the Ritz with Bruce Curless, the founder and director of the theater company that operates it. I added 26 photos. Some interesting tidbits of history:
The ticket booth’s lower panel was covered with aluminum before they tookover but inside the theater is seen in the original marble or stone.
The main, concession lobby, now has to its far left an entry to another room but originally ended with decoration like on the right side. The room that is now entered has a framed carpet that was the original carpet, and was found in a closet at the auditorium’s rear that was turned into a handicapped accessible bathroom.
Most of the light fixtures are not original to the theater except the ticket lobby’s ceiling’s fixtures.(the ticket lobby being where the ticket booth backs up into) In the auditorium, there are 4 chandeliers previously at a church and the central chandelier is from a lighting company.
When they tookover, the movie screen & carbon arc projectors were still there. They tried films with vaudeville but too few attended. The screen is gone. Someone was allowed to take the projectors.
There was a balcony to the left and right of the projection booth. To the left is now the Green Room. The right is also no longer used as a balcony.
The auditorium’s original proscenium arch is present, but often hidden by drapery for shows.
Outside, at the auditorium’s rear is a walled up section that Bruce says was for sound speakers when talkies arrived, but later walled up as speakers became smaller.
I’ve seen a movie in the RPX there. It is a much larger screen. Not matted for ‘scope films. Seats are nicer. I believe sound is better. The auditorium looks & functions much differently than the regular auditoriums.
That is the original 1927 marquee.