I saw a number of Jerry Lewis films there in the 1960s when I was a tot. I seem to remember matinees and somebody giving out prizes for costumes or something, but mmy memory is vague. I do remember being extremely impressed with the T&D’s architecture.
I attended a screening of “That’s Entertainment” (the movie about the history of MGM) at the Powell. What’s remarkable about this was that one of the dancers in a movie clip shown extensively in the movie was in the house that night and answered questions about the musicals and MGM.
I really liked the Powell and was sorry to see it closed. In its final days it had been operated by a couple guys who had also operated a gay porn theatre called the Laurel, on Polk just north of Broadway. They’d tried porn at the Powell, but it just didn’t work, so they went back to revivals. I think the Powell was my first exposure to those remarkable Busby Berkeley films.
At the end, much of the equipment had become inoperable. They didn’t even have workable house lights anymore. In order to clean the theatre they had a 150 watt bulb on a boom to light the place.
I saw a number of Jerry Lewis films there in the 1960s when I was a tot. I seem to remember matinees and somebody giving out prizes for costumes or something, but mmy memory is vague. I do remember being extremely impressed with the T&D’s architecture.
I attended a screening of “That’s Entertainment” (the movie about the history of MGM) at the Powell. What’s remarkable about this was that one of the dancers in a movie clip shown extensively in the movie was in the house that night and answered questions about the musicals and MGM.
I really liked the Powell and was sorry to see it closed. In its final days it had been operated by a couple guys who had also operated a gay porn theatre called the Laurel, on Polk just north of Broadway. They’d tried porn at the Powell, but it just didn’t work, so they went back to revivals. I think the Powell was my first exposure to those remarkable Busby Berkeley films.
At the end, much of the equipment had become inoperable. They didn’t even have workable house lights anymore. In order to clean the theatre they had a 150 watt bulb on a boom to light the place.
Still, I was sorry to see it go.