Technalight was an enhanced lamphouse for the 35mm projection system that greatly increased the amount of light emitted from the projector. This was particularly important at a Drive-In where ambient light around/behind the screens would wash out the projected image making dark scenes difficult to view. I believe once everybody converted to digital projection it improved image quality even more, making Technalight irrelevant/obsolte. Ambient light continues to be a challenge for most Drive-Ins that aren’t isolated or on the outskirts of town.
The theatre was built on the west portion of the Capitol 6 Drive-In, which itself was reconfigured to continue operation of all six screens on the east portion of the property. Now that the theatre has been demolished, the west portion of the property, including the land the building was on, acts as parking for the Capitol Flea Market/Swap Meet that operates at the Drive-In during the days Thu-Sun.
This one isn’t your typical layout so it may not lend itself to the typical “shut down a hallway” so it’s hard to say. I’ll be in PHX next week, I’ll try and stop by and figure it out.
The shooting is quite unfortunate. Can anybody confirm if this theatre was originally 10-screens or if it has always been 16-screens? If the 10-screen was a separate building, does it have an entry on the site?
Unless the landlord is trying otherwise, I have to think a smaller operator could come in and operate this. It was never really a popular location with large chains. The only reason Regal had it was Wallace had it, became Hollywood and sold it along with the rest of the plexes to Regal. I could see a small chain like Regency or Laemmle coming in if the landlord was motivated.
Mike — AMC is not in dire financial anything due to acquisition of Carmike or any other chain. The cause of their stock price declining so sharply was because of their investment in NCM (essentially an advertising company) and the way they chose to account for this on their financial statements. My understanding is that they reached a deadline and could no longer defer the loss and that accounting practices required them to recognize the loss.
@StanMalone — Classic Cinemas in Illinois had a number of theatres that regularly used the Endless Loop Platters for their daily operation.
Below is a link to a picture on Cinematour of one such operation. I remember seeing this in a few of their theatres and thought it was pretty ballsy, since one thing went wrong with that platter and I have to imagine you were down for the rest of the day trying to get the film back in order.
I learned today that the XD auditorium is actually an addition to the building. I haven’t been inside, but I assume they carved out one of the existing regular theatres to provide access to the XD screen, keeping the total count at 12.
Jordan — I think the article is referring to the Cinema 21 (originally the Marina Theatre) which was converted into a Walgreens and also houses a new Marina Theatre.
This is great! It’s details like this that I love. Similarly, the Krikorian (now Cinepolis) Pico Rivera 15 was originally supposed to have a giant screen concept added to it in the big empty field to the side of the building, but it never happened. So the theatre is built with theatres 2-15, and no theatre #1.
I understand that the theatre isn’t part of the mall. But the current building doesn’t appear on historic arial maps until 2004 images. Prior to that the space where the current building stands is an empty field. That’s why I suspect the 1975 building is not part of the current complex, and actually stood somewhat west of the current building.
I help run a handy site called Cinematour.com — when in doubt, check there. (But please, do not post here unless you give us credit.)
https://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/5044.html
Regency II did have an escalator from the street level into the lobby.
Technalight was an enhanced lamphouse for the 35mm projection system that greatly increased the amount of light emitted from the projector. This was particularly important at a Drive-In where ambient light around/behind the screens would wash out the projected image making dark scenes difficult to view. I believe once everybody converted to digital projection it improved image quality even more, making Technalight irrelevant/obsolte. Ambient light continues to be a challenge for most Drive-Ins that aren’t isolated or on the outskirts of town.
The theatre was built on the west portion of the Capitol 6 Drive-In, which itself was reconfigured to continue operation of all six screens on the east portion of the property. Now that the theatre has been demolished, the west portion of the property, including the land the building was on, acts as parking for the Capitol Flea Market/Swap Meet that operates at the Drive-In during the days Thu-Sun.
This one isn’t your typical layout so it may not lend itself to the typical “shut down a hallway” so it’s hard to say. I’ll be in PHX next week, I’ll try and stop by and figure it out.
The shooting is quite unfortunate. Can anybody confirm if this theatre was originally 10-screens or if it has always been 16-screens? If the 10-screen was a separate building, does it have an entry on the site?
I did not. Born and raised in Northern California.
http://www.telegram.com/news/20171102/questions-remain-as-westboros-only-movie-theater-closes-doors
Interesting article about how nobody knows who actually owns the building.
Probably safe to call this straight up AMC Metreon… all Loews signage has finally been removed inside and outside the building.
This location closed after business on 8/31.
Unless the landlord is trying otherwise, I have to think a smaller operator could come in and operate this. It was never really a popular location with large chains. The only reason Regal had it was Wallace had it, became Hollywood and sold it along with the rest of the plexes to Regal. I could see a small chain like Regency or Laemmle coming in if the landlord was motivated.
Mike — AMC is not in dire financial anything due to acquisition of Carmike or any other chain. The cause of their stock price declining so sharply was because of their investment in NCM (essentially an advertising company) and the way they chose to account for this on their financial statements. My understanding is that they reached a deadline and could no longer defer the loss and that accounting practices required them to recognize the loss.
NCG Cinemas is taking over.
Post remodel pictures show the original 18-30 hallway is now just 18-24, so I have to imagine that 25-30 are blocked off.
This is not a picture from this theatre. This belongs to a Premiere Cinema — my guess in Temple, TX or Oralndo, FL
@StanMalone — Classic Cinemas in Illinois had a number of theatres that regularly used the Endless Loop Platters for their daily operation.
Below is a link to a picture on Cinematour of one such operation. I remember seeing this in a few of their theatres and thought it was pretty ballsy, since one thing went wrong with that platter and I have to imagine you were down for the rest of the day trying to get the film back in order.
http://www.cinematour.com/picview.php?db=us&id=1692
Regal Entertainment Group acquired this theatre from Georgia Theatre Company on 9/4/2015.
What were the first seven before that?
I learned today that the XD auditorium is actually an addition to the building. I haven’t been inside, but I assume they carved out one of the existing regular theatres to provide access to the XD screen, keeping the total count at 12.
Jordan — I think the article is referring to the Cinema 21 (originally the Marina Theatre) which was converted into a Walgreens and also houses a new Marina Theatre.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/1624
Quite a claim — they don’t have to drive 15-minutes down the road.
It is now the “Royal Range” where the E and G have been replaced with a similar font O and Y.
This is great! It’s details like this that I love. Similarly, the Krikorian (now Cinepolis) Pico Rivera 15 was originally supposed to have a giant screen concept added to it in the big empty field to the side of the building, but it never happened. So the theatre is built with theatres 2-15, and no theatre #1.
Since those are pretty standard AMC designs of the time, I assume that AMC remodeled to match the additions just without stadium.
I understand that the theatre isn’t part of the mall. But the current building doesn’t appear on historic arial maps until 2004 images. Prior to that the space where the current building stands is an empty field. That’s why I suspect the 1975 building is not part of the current complex, and actually stood somewhat west of the current building.