All 3 of those films are quite good. Highly recommended DVD. (Note: There was another film called Venus in Furs, directed by Jess Franco, that came out around that time. It is on a different DVD by another company.)
Syufy sold Century Theaters to Cinemark & mow operate West Wind Drive-Ins & Public Markets. (Kind of ironic, since Syufy was demolishing drive-ins for years in order to build megaplexes. Now they are trying to revive drive-ins in California. Maybe they saw the light.)
In another thread (the Hitching Post in Hollywood), it was mentioned that during the Centre’s days as the Round-Up that Robert Lippman was involved in the theater. (Lippman did operate a film distribution office nearby & is best known for a lot of interesting B-films, both as a producer & as a distributor/importer.)
With regards to that last post, the theater called Round-Up in San Francisco can be found on Cinema Treasures as the Centre, which was one of the many theaters that was on Market Street. (Sort of ironic that both the Centre & the Santa Monica location of the Hitching Post ended their lives as porn theaters.)
I also recall somewhere in Georgia that they tried to prosecute the R-rated Carnal Knowledge for obscenity.
What I am curious of is any attempts made to raid the theater during the showing of gay porn, particularly since Georgia had a rather strong enforcement of laws against sodomy for many years (and homosexuals were the target of such laws).
What is also irrating is too many trailers played before the movie. I recall the only trailers that were played in the 1970’s were for the next attractions—And maybe one other. That’s it.
Question—Did Lippert Theaters have any relation to Robert Lippert, who distributed a number of B-films in the 1950’s (as well as importing British films)?
According to today’s SF Chronicle, Cruising opened here on Feb 15, 1980. (It was to have opened at the Ghiradelli Square Cinema, but General Cinema backed out due to protests.) John, since you managed the St Francis at that time, do you have any recollections as to how it did at the St Francis. According to the SF Chronicle article, there were more protesters than patrons. (And even more interesting that Market Street got this as an SF exclusive during the time that moviegoing on Market was an adventure in itself.)
An article in today’s San Francisco Chronicle mentioned that the film Cruising was supposed to open here on Feb 15, 1980. Due to vandalism & protests, General Cinema cancelled the booking & it opened at the St Francis on Market Street instead.
A number of theaters on Market Street in San Francisco had similar problems. You had homeless using the theaters as flophouses, rats running in the theaters, junkies shooting up, etc.
My most recent experience like this was with the Super Saver 7 in Fremont CA (now an Indian movie house). During its last year or so in business, I recall such things as: fights in the theater, a film showing stopped as theater workers tried to kick out a beligerent man who refused to leave for smoking in the theater, beer bottles being rolled down the isles, and the occasional “patron under the influence of drugs or booze”.
Prior to it going porn in 1980, Market Street Cinema was showing some films in 70mm as a last ditch effort to “bring back the glory”. They had subrun engagements of The Rose & 1941 there. (Both of which were moveovers from the Northpoint Theater, which had 70mm first-run engagements of these films).
From what I understand, it has gone downhill even as a stripjoint. (I remember seeing the late Lisa Deleeuw as a “headliner” here back in the mid-1980s.) Compared to the O'Farrell & the New Century (the former Larkin theater), the women at Market Street seem like streetwalkers. (I was not too impressed at visiting there several years ago.)
The project’s recreation room has saved some of the Palm’s etched glass mirrors & panels for installation there. Also salvaged were “2 faded, framed posters-one of Mae West & WC Fields and one of West alone-in a style reminiscent of the late Al Hirschfeld” and 3 “frayed posters” with the message “If you are easily offended, please do not attend.”
Prices range from $549,000 for a 802 sq ft 1 bedroom unit to $858,000 for a 2 bd, 2 ½ bath unit of 1320 sq ft. HOA dues are $380-424 per month on top of that. 19 units are available for sale.
The original auditorium of the Orinda Theater in Orinda CA is beautiful & intact! Ditto for the main screen of the CineArts in Pleasant Hill (one of the original dome theaters, opened in the mid-1960’s & is laid out like the Century 21 in San Jose CA). Also, the Paramount in Oakland (more a concert & play venue now, but has occasional forays into classic film).
I know that by the mid-1980’s, MSC was strickly live shows only, save for some “video arcade” (aka peep show) booths.
Sounds promising!
All 3 of those films are quite good. Highly recommended DVD. (Note: There was another film called Venus in Furs, directed by Jess Franco, that came out around that time. It is on a different DVD by another company.)
Mini-Skirt love is out on DVD through SWV.
Judinging from the March 1970 ad, it appears that the Monica became a Pussycat in late 1969 or early 1970.
It would truly be a shame to see this theater lost.
Well worth reading!
Got the book a couple of months ago from Amazon. Book is very well written & I recommend it.
There is also a book on movie theaters in Houston that just came out as well. I got that through Amazon & it arrived yesterday.
Syufy sold Century Theaters to Cinemark & mow operate West Wind Drive-Ins & Public Markets. (Kind of ironic, since Syufy was demolishing drive-ins for years in order to build megaplexes. Now they are trying to revive drive-ins in California. Maybe they saw the light.)
Apparently, Lippert operated the Centre (next door) during its days as the Round-Up (1948-1952).
In another thread (the Hitching Post in Hollywood), it was mentioned that during the Centre’s days as the Round-Up that Robert Lippman was involved in the theater. (Lippman did operate a film distribution office nearby & is best known for a lot of interesting B-films, both as a producer & as a distributor/importer.)
With regards to that last post, the theater called Round-Up in San Francisco can be found on Cinema Treasures as the Centre, which was one of the many theaters that was on Market Street. (Sort of ironic that both the Centre & the Santa Monica location of the Hitching Post ended their lives as porn theaters.)
I also recall somewhere in Georgia that they tried to prosecute the R-rated Carnal Knowledge for obscenity.
What I am curious of is any attempts made to raid the theater during the showing of gay porn, particularly since Georgia had a rather strong enforcement of laws against sodomy for many years (and homosexuals were the target of such laws).
What is also irrating is too many trailers played before the movie. I recall the only trailers that were played in the 1970’s were for the next attractions—And maybe one other. That’s it.
Question—Did Lippert Theaters have any relation to Robert Lippert, who distributed a number of B-films in the 1950’s (as well as importing British films)?
According to today’s SF Chronicle, Cruising opened here on Feb 15, 1980. (It was to have opened at the Ghiradelli Square Cinema, but General Cinema backed out due to protests.) John, since you managed the St Francis at that time, do you have any recollections as to how it did at the St Francis. According to the SF Chronicle article, there were more protesters than patrons. (And even more interesting that Market Street got this as an SF exclusive during the time that moviegoing on Market was an adventure in itself.)
An article in today’s San Francisco Chronicle mentioned that the film Cruising was supposed to open here on Feb 15, 1980. Due to vandalism & protests, General Cinema cancelled the booking & it opened at the St Francis on Market Street instead.
To add to last comment, website is www.cacinema.com They show movies from South India (Telogu) language.
Drove by today, looks like it is open again and is now called Park Theater, showing foreign language (Afgani or Indian) fare.
A number of theaters on Market Street in San Francisco had similar problems. You had homeless using the theaters as flophouses, rats running in the theaters, junkies shooting up, etc.
My most recent experience like this was with the Super Saver 7 in Fremont CA (now an Indian movie house). During its last year or so in business, I recall such things as: fights in the theater, a film showing stopped as theater workers tried to kick out a beligerent man who refused to leave for smoking in the theater, beer bottles being rolled down the isles, and the occasional “patron under the influence of drugs or booze”.
Prior to it going porn in 1980, Market Street Cinema was showing some films in 70mm as a last ditch effort to “bring back the glory”. They had subrun engagements of The Rose & 1941 there. (Both of which were moveovers from the Northpoint Theater, which had 70mm first-run engagements of these films).
From what I understand, it has gone downhill even as a stripjoint. (I remember seeing the late Lisa Deleeuw as a “headliner” here back in the mid-1980s.) Compared to the O'Farrell & the New Century (the former Larkin theater), the women at Market Street seem like streetwalkers. (I was not too impressed at visiting there several years ago.)
As I recall, the Strand was showing triple bills of subrun fare in 1976, with frequent changes. (Plus the nightly bingo games.)
Article about the new Palm Residences:
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/08/05/RESBR4FA61.DTL
The project’s recreation room has saved some of the Palm’s etched glass mirrors & panels for installation there. Also salvaged were “2 faded, framed posters-one of Mae West & WC Fields and one of West alone-in a style reminiscent of the late Al Hirschfeld” and 3 “frayed posters” with the message “If you are easily offended, please do not attend.”
Prices range from $549,000 for a 802 sq ft 1 bedroom unit to $858,000 for a 2 bd, 2 ½ bath unit of 1320 sq ft. HOA dues are $380-424 per month on top of that. 19 units are available for sale.
Closed in the mid-1970’s & spent its last years showing XXX fare (1972-close). It went to XXX fare right before the Palm theater in San Mateo did.
This was a part of the Amber Theaters chain of XXX houses in the 1970s.
The original auditorium of the Orinda Theater in Orinda CA is beautiful & intact! Ditto for the main screen of the CineArts in Pleasant Hill (one of the original dome theaters, opened in the mid-1960’s & is laid out like the Century 21 in San Jose CA). Also, the Paramount in Oakland (more a concert & play venue now, but has occasional forays into classic film).