Over the past six decades I’ve gushed enough tears to float the liner Queen Mary… and I love to have a good cry in a movie palace!
The music, especially quivering violins, turn on my water works: GONE WITH THE WIND’s “As God is my witness…” along with dear Max Steiner’s crashing fanfare statement of music… Bogy’s “Here’s looking at you kid” has to be just about tops … The consummate Clifton Web aboard the sinking TITANIC giving an Oscar performance goodbye to Barbara Stanwyck… Such a tender farewell scene in BRIEF ENCOUNTER … Captain Rex Harrison saying “Come Lucia” to Gene Tierny as they pass through the door into the eternal swirling fog in THE GHOST AND MRS. MUIR … My boyhood pinup Ava Gardner who blew the most delicate dockside kiss as SHOWBOAT sailed into the lovely Mississippi sunset.
And the third LORD OF THE RINGS finale flushed my pupils for ten minutes! Disney’s “FANTASIA” finale, with the long procession of angels entering the cathedral and the glorious choir performing “Ave Maria” … but the grand-daddy of all has to be of Gloria Swanson decending that awesome staircase for her final closeup in SUNSET BOULEVARD.
O.K. Projection… the curtains, quickly! I feel another gullywasher coming on!!!
While waiting for agaes for Greyhound bus connects back to San Francisco, my wife and I came across the magnificent Crest by sheer and wonderful surprise. We peered through the lobby doors and were smiled at by “Syd” a lady who opened up and gave us the “royal tour.” It was a most memorable visit and we’re so pleased to see the Crest is alive and well!
As a new “cast member” of the El Capitan, I’m truly proud to work in a real movie palace and enjoy the hubub of guests excitedly listening to a magnificent pipe organ and oohing and ahhing as the grand curtain rises for a live stage show and movie.
My Santa Ana next door neighbor and dear friend is JOSEPH MUSIL, who was one of the instrumental key figures behind the El Capitan’s horrific restoration (also the CREST and FINE ARTS) of which is on display at his American Museum of Theatrical Design, downtown.
One of the best seats is DD107 in the balcony which has a brass plaque which aptly reads: “Joe, your dream came true."
What a tallented man… What an awesome theater… Long may they reign as giants in the world of showbusiness!
While trying to locate the massive FORUM THEATRE on Pico Blvd I came across the Del Mar Theatre with pleasant surprise.
My wife and I are looking for a small single screen house to re-open (not to far from Hollywood).
We plan to screen British (theme) movies, and maybe some small live presentations, but need various assistance in funding to restore something like the Del Mar Theatre. We have a non-profit 501c3 license, managerial operation and experience as well as professional assistance in art-deco, etc.
To those of you interested in our project, please contact Simon and Kathleen at .. and let’s get the marquee light up again and put the “show” back into show business at the Del Mar!
Yes, that is a good idea, will check it out. My friend and theater designer www.josephmusil.com is responsible for the present appearance of the Fine Arts Theatre. He also created Hollywood’s El Capitan, Westwood Village Crest and a lot more theaters. Thanks.
Hey “ghamilton”: I suggest if you want to see “other” theater pictures then you should NOT log onto the AVALON’s site. I am proud to have worked at the AVALON (2001-2003) as 65 year-old popcorn popping assistant, changed the marquee lettering, replaced burned-out light bulbs, cleaned the auditorium and helped with projection occasionally. I hope this site is flooded with past pictures and memories from patrons!
Hello and thanks for your comments. I’m told that the Hollywood nightclub scene is almost on overload… like the saturation point with just about two Starbucks on every block… and yes, I’m sure they’ll die… after ruining the decor of the Vogue and Fox and the teenyboppers move on to another black box! But I’m NOT giving up!
Hello Griff. I, too, am in the same position as you. Where are you located? I’m in Orange County, southern California, and am looking for a place to re-open with (preferably) British films, especially in nthe catagories of “second run, art, independant etc. My e-mail is Perhaps we can help each other? -Simon
Are you still searching for a place to re-open? The PORT THEATRE in Coasta Mesa (southern California) is available. I am also interested in managing a movie house in the greater Los Angeles/Orange County area. Please contact me if you have questions. Thank you.
Back in 2001, when I was associated with the MURRAY THEATRE in Salt Lake City, it was a church where I was on the show production side of things. I helped restore the marquee and we had the same type of lettering. There is about 150 plus letters AND numbers upstairs in the projection room… but sadly, that lovely theater is “dark”.
Just read today (9-19-06) of another insane act to destroy the METRO… such a beautiful and historical theater (recently restored at great cost and love) all for another stupid apartment building.
Mayor Gavin Nusome MUST step in to stop San Francisco’s fabulous history from destruction. Future generations wont even know what a movie palace was like! My thanks to Mr. Lee (4-STAR) for saving the CINEMA-21 ex-MARINA and the PRESIDEO theaters.
I’m very proud of the gay community for their love and support of the CASTRO. The only thing fairly close to the Castro’s operation is HOLLYWOOD’S magnificent EL CAPITAN -and they have the awsome WURLITZER from San Francsco’s FOX THEATRE. Need I say more?, another travisty!
Over the past six decades I’ve gushed enough tears to float the liner Queen Mary… and I love to have a good cry in a movie palace!
The music, especially quivering violins, turn on my water works: GONE WITH THE WIND’s “As God is my witness…” along with dear Max Steiner’s crashing fanfare statement of music… Bogy’s “Here’s looking at you kid” has to be just about tops … The consummate Clifton Web aboard the sinking TITANIC giving an Oscar performance goodbye to Barbara Stanwyck… Such a tender farewell scene in BRIEF ENCOUNTER … Captain Rex Harrison saying “Come Lucia” to Gene Tierny as they pass through the door into the eternal swirling fog in THE GHOST AND MRS. MUIR … My boyhood pinup Ava Gardner who blew the most delicate dockside kiss as SHOWBOAT sailed into the lovely Mississippi sunset.
And the third LORD OF THE RINGS finale flushed my pupils for ten minutes! Disney’s “FANTASIA” finale, with the long procession of angels entering the cathedral and the glorious choir performing “Ave Maria” … but the grand-daddy of all has to be of Gloria Swanson decending that awesome staircase for her final closeup in SUNSET BOULEVARD.
O.K. Projection… the curtains, quickly! I feel another gullywasher coming on!!!
While waiting for agaes for Greyhound bus connects back to San Francisco, my wife and I came across the magnificent Crest by sheer and wonderful surprise. We peered through the lobby doors and were smiled at by “Syd” a lady who opened up and gave us the “royal tour.” It was a most memorable visit and we’re so pleased to see the Crest is alive and well!
As a new “cast member” of the El Capitan, I’m truly proud to work in a real movie palace and enjoy the hubub of guests excitedly listening to a magnificent pipe organ and oohing and ahhing as the grand curtain rises for a live stage show and movie.
My Santa Ana next door neighbor and dear friend is JOSEPH MUSIL, who was one of the instrumental key figures behind the El Capitan’s horrific restoration (also the CREST and FINE ARTS) of which is on display at his American Museum of Theatrical Design, downtown.
One of the best seats is DD107 in the balcony which has a brass plaque which aptly reads: “Joe, your dream came true."
What a tallented man… What an awesome theater… Long may they reign as giants in the world of showbusiness!
While trying to locate the massive FORUM THEATRE on Pico Blvd I came across the Del Mar Theatre with pleasant surprise.
My wife and I are looking for a small single screen house to re-open (not to far from Hollywood).
We plan to screen British (theme) movies, and maybe some small live presentations, but need various assistance in funding to restore something like the Del Mar Theatre. We have a non-profit 501c3 license, managerial operation and experience as well as professional assistance in art-deco, etc.
To those of you interested in our project, please contact Simon and Kathleen at .. and let’s get the marquee light up again and put the “show” back into show business at the Del Mar!
Yes, that is a good idea, will check it out. My friend and theater designer www.josephmusil.com is responsible for the present appearance of the Fine Arts Theatre. He also created Hollywood’s El Capitan, Westwood Village Crest and a lot more theaters. Thanks.
Hey “ghamilton”: I suggest if you want to see “other” theater pictures then you should NOT log onto the AVALON’s site. I am proud to have worked at the AVALON (2001-2003) as 65 year-old popcorn popping assistant, changed the marquee lettering, replaced burned-out light bulbs, cleaned the auditorium and helped with projection occasionally. I hope this site is flooded with past pictures and memories from patrons!
Hello and thanks for your comments. I’m told that the Hollywood nightclub scene is almost on overload… like the saturation point with just about two Starbucks on every block… and yes, I’m sure they’ll die… after ruining the decor of the Vogue and Fox and the teenyboppers move on to another black box! But I’m NOT giving up!
Hello Griff. I, too, am in the same position as you. Where are you located? I’m in Orange County, southern California, and am looking for a place to re-open with (preferably) British films, especially in nthe catagories of “second run, art, independant etc. My e-mail is Perhaps we can help each other? -Simon
Are you still searching for a place to re-open? The PORT THEATRE in Coasta Mesa (southern California) is available. I am also interested in managing a movie house in the greater Los Angeles/Orange County area. Please contact me if you have questions. Thank you.
Back in 2001, when I was associated with the MURRAY THEATRE in Salt Lake City, it was a church where I was on the show production side of things. I helped restore the marquee and we had the same type of lettering. There is about 150 plus letters AND numbers upstairs in the projection room… but sadly, that lovely theater is “dark”.
Just read today (9-19-06) of another insane act to destroy the METRO… such a beautiful and historical theater (recently restored at great cost and love) all for another stupid apartment building.
Mayor Gavin Nusome MUST step in to stop San Francisco’s fabulous history from destruction. Future generations wont even know what a movie palace was like! My thanks to Mr. Lee (4-STAR) for saving the CINEMA-21 ex-MARINA and the PRESIDEO theaters.
I’m very proud of the gay community for their love and support of the CASTRO. The only thing fairly close to the Castro’s operation is HOLLYWOOD’S magnificent EL CAPITAN -and they have the awsome WURLITZER from San Francsco’s FOX THEATRE. Need I say more?, another travisty!