Ron, thanks for confirming Joe DiCarlo’s number on seats. The balcony was actually street level. I’d love to see a photo of the theatre, , if you’d care to reply. Thanks again for your reminicenses.
We both worked at different Cinemas as ushers around the same time. I was at the Framingham Cinema as an usher from 1966 until about 1968. We weren’t as formal as the Circle, from the way it sounds. Usher’s jackets were bright orange, tux pants, white shirts, and black clip-on bow ties. (I think General Cinema did it a bit cheaper than Redstone.) The Circle being closer to Boston probably played first run, while the suburbs had to wait 21 days.
I remember watching the end of the Silencers and The Group a few dozen times, standing on the back aisle with a flashlight behind my back. We were taught to ask “where would you like to be seated”, rather than “where do you want to sit?” which I guess sounded less polite.
National Amusements is also known as Redstone Theatres, owned by Sumner Redstone. Their home office is in Dedham, and they only had suburban theatres, like Dedham, Woburn, Revere, etc. Nothing downtown Boston that I can think of.
Back in the day, Sumner would get in a helicopter, and fly over an area, pointing out locations to buy land to build theatres. That was the difference between him and Richard Smith. Smith didn’t believe in buying land, thus nearly all the GCC theatres were leased, located in Malls. The Redstone Theatres were close, but not actually in a Mall.
I would describe a film festival as a series of films linked with a common theme, advertised to attract an audience that would like to see them all. You might book a group of classic films, and run a different one every day and call it a “Classic Hollywood Festival”, for example. More complex festivals would involve independant film not yet released, that are run in series with the presence of the Directors or Producers. Or by invitation, amateur productions that are hoping to find a distributor. This would more than likely require presentation in 16mm. It would also be the harder to organize and require the time to make contacts in colleges around the country, for film. I like longislandmovies ideas of church rental and retro candy store.
We were issued a black clip on bow tie as part of the uniform. The company was supposed to provide the black tux pants that had a satin stripe down the side, but usually, the Manager told us to buy our own, as it would help him save on his uniform budget. Girls had the white blouse, with a fold across black tie that clipped in the front. Once in awhile, the head usher would be given some petty cash to walk over to Kennedy’s which was next to Jordan Marsh, to buy a few ties. (people sometimes lost them while on break.)
Upstairs in the usher’s room, which was above the balcony next to Booth I, there was a solitary military looking woolen top coat that had epaulets. On cold winter’s nights, if the line was long outside, the announcer would put on the coat to announce the line outside. I always thought that coat was the last remnant of a long-ago era. The coat disappeared at some point, it was that era when kids thought wearing old military-style clothing was the hippie thing to do.
Mark Davis, did you get caught by Shoppers World security? To Jeff, the blue jackets were considered pretty nice looking, as they replaced bright orange which I wore when I was an usher there, 1966-1968.
The difference between general chat, and theatre specific makes a huge difference, in my opinion. If one wants to discuss moviegoing in general, here, there are plenty of news stories to comment on. Or if one feels inclined to discuss their own favorite neighborhood theatre, one can find it and talk about it under that heading. There’s a largeness about this site that makes it the best.
No, Jordan’s Furniture paid for an audio commercial which ran in front of the coming attraction snipe, just as the lights dimmed. Barry and Elliot still do the same, only on TV today. And in front of the film at their IMAX Theatre across the street from the original Shoppers World in Framingham.
The very first ones had a solid black background, but scratches made them look shabby faster, so the swirl patterns were added. Does anyone remember the first audio spot commercials, recorded by Jordan’s Furniture? Barry and Elliot only had a store in Waltham at the time.
This listing is a duplicate for the Memorial Hall in Shelburne Falls, and the information on the movie program should have been added to the comments. This listing is simply an advertisement.
A quick glance at Ebay shows people selling thousands of posters from the 60’s to the 80’s in large lots. Why speculate on the unknown when you can buy a sure thing. Any talk about “climate controlled garages” and “granny driving a Mercedes” is suspect, especially when they can’t provide a list of film titles, because they’re too “busy” investing in more important things. You don’t get something for nothing, and a $900 investment means look a lot deeper. (that’s what he quoted to several who inquired.)
In a small town without a megaplex, the idea of a discount theatre is attractive, going out for an inexpensive entertainment should work. Problem is, there wouldn’t be a big profit, and I’d say maybe the operator would barely break even or lose money.
I think the days of successful discount theatres is over, because of the shorter film runs, and closer window before DVD release. But people still like to go out. If you have the location, an existing theatre already running, go for it.
Try finding an independent booker in the area that services small neighborhood theatres. You might need to go outside your area though. The booker has established relationships already, probably handling small art houses, or doing film festivals in the city with an independent theatre not tied to a chain.
Ron, thanks for confirming Joe DiCarlo’s number on seats. The balcony was actually street level. I’d love to see a photo of the theatre, , if you’d care to reply. Thanks again for your reminicenses.
We both worked at different Cinemas as ushers around the same time. I was at the Framingham Cinema as an usher from 1966 until about 1968. We weren’t as formal as the Circle, from the way it sounds. Usher’s jackets were bright orange, tux pants, white shirts, and black clip-on bow ties. (I think General Cinema did it a bit cheaper than Redstone.) The Circle being closer to Boston probably played first run, while the suburbs had to wait 21 days.
I remember watching the end of the Silencers and The Group a few dozen times, standing on the back aisle with a flashlight behind my back. We were taught to ask “where would you like to be seated”, rather than “where do you want to sit?” which I guess sounded less polite.
Actually, Wollaston, heres a link to that picture View link
Here’s a link to the first store, View link and the page it’s from details the history of HoJos.
Thank you for the great description of the way things used to be.
National Amusements is also known as Redstone Theatres, owned by Sumner Redstone. Their home office is in Dedham, and they only had suburban theatres, like Dedham, Woburn, Revere, etc. Nothing downtown Boston that I can think of.
Back in the day, Sumner would get in a helicopter, and fly over an area, pointing out locations to buy land to build theatres. That was the difference between him and Richard Smith. Smith didn’t believe in buying land, thus nearly all the GCC theatres were leased, located in Malls. The Redstone Theatres were close, but not actually in a Mall.
I’d love to see that color slide. Would you be willing to link that to us?
I would describe a film festival as a series of films linked with a common theme, advertised to attract an audience that would like to see them all. You might book a group of classic films, and run a different one every day and call it a “Classic Hollywood Festival”, for example. More complex festivals would involve independant film not yet released, that are run in series with the presence of the Directors or Producers. Or by invitation, amateur productions that are hoping to find a distributor. This would more than likely require presentation in 16mm. It would also be the harder to organize and require the time to make contacts in colleges around the country, for film. I like longislandmovies ideas of church rental and retro candy store.
I think changing it to simply “Fenway 13” covers all the bases on this one. They can list “Regal” under the chain info.
We were issued a black clip on bow tie as part of the uniform. The company was supposed to provide the black tux pants that had a satin stripe down the side, but usually, the Manager told us to buy our own, as it would help him save on his uniform budget. Girls had the white blouse, with a fold across black tie that clipped in the front. Once in awhile, the head usher would be given some petty cash to walk over to Kennedy’s which was next to Jordan Marsh, to buy a few ties. (people sometimes lost them while on break.)
Upstairs in the usher’s room, which was above the balcony next to Booth I, there was a solitary military looking woolen top coat that had epaulets. On cold winter’s nights, if the line was long outside, the announcer would put on the coat to announce the line outside. I always thought that coat was the last remnant of a long-ago era. The coat disappeared at some point, it was that era when kids thought wearing old military-style clothing was the hippie thing to do.
Mark Davis, did you get caught by Shoppers World security? To Jeff, the blue jackets were considered pretty nice looking, as they replaced bright orange which I wore when I was an usher there, 1966-1968.
The difference between general chat, and theatre specific makes a huge difference, in my opinion. If one wants to discuss moviegoing in general, here, there are plenty of news stories to comment on. Or if one feels inclined to discuss their own favorite neighborhood theatre, one can find it and talk about it under that heading. There’s a largeness about this site that makes it the best.
Wouldn’t it be great if Lost Memory had his own website?
Here’s a link View link
to a photo, taken in 1967, of the Embassy in downtown Waltham.
No, Jordan’s Furniture paid for an audio commercial which ran in front of the coming attraction snipe, just as the lights dimmed. Barry and Elliot still do the same, only on TV today. And in front of the film at their IMAX Theatre across the street from the original Shoppers World in Framingham.
The very first ones had a solid black background, but scratches made them look shabby faster, so the swirl patterns were added. Does anyone remember the first audio spot commercials, recorded by Jordan’s Furniture? Barry and Elliot only had a store in Waltham at the time.
Not in the Uptown, but maybe across the street on Huntington Ave? Or around in back?
They give them more time now, so that they can get upstairs to the booth to lace up the next show. Back in “the good old days”, we had projectionists.
This listing is a duplicate for the Memorial Hall in Shelburne Falls, and the information on the movie program should have been added to the comments. This listing is simply an advertisement.
A quick glance at Ebay shows people selling thousands of posters from the 60’s to the 80’s in large lots. Why speculate on the unknown when you can buy a sure thing. Any talk about “climate controlled garages” and “granny driving a Mercedes” is suspect, especially when they can’t provide a list of film titles, because they’re too “busy” investing in more important things. You don’t get something for nothing, and a $900 investment means look a lot deeper. (that’s what he quoted to several who inquired.)
In a small town without a megaplex, the idea of a discount theatre is attractive, going out for an inexpensive entertainment should work. Problem is, there wouldn’t be a big profit, and I’d say maybe the operator would barely break even or lose money.
I think the days of successful discount theatres is over, because of the shorter film runs, and closer window before DVD release. But people still like to go out. If you have the location, an existing theatre already running, go for it.
By ticketing, I’m referring to the system, not the location, nor method. The distributors won’t contract with someone until they know.
What sort of ticketing system do you think might work best for a “drafthouse”?
Try finding an independent booker in the area that services small neighborhood theatres. You might need to go outside your area though. The booker has established relationships already, probably handling small art houses, or doing film festivals in the city with an independent theatre not tied to a chain.
Are you expecting to pay film rental, sell hard tickets, and reconcile the deposits with a distributor, who will work out a percentage?