I did track down the general manager ‘Jason’ this week by phone. I told him about the new white LED lights being way to bright when you come in and during the pre show shorts. He told me safety for the public is his number one concern with the white LED’s. So strange when they do finally turn them off during a movie or stage event there are no lights in the Paramount Theatre auditorium . Adding a little new color dim blue, green or red LED’s will even help with the safety issues he has. Most of the ceiling and under the balcony light fixtures had at one time different circuits for color on low during a performance. I told him also about the white lights shinning on the curtain valance above the giant ‘Paramount’ screen during a movie. I am sure they also leave them on during a stage show also. These dim white lights take a way from the image on the screen and leak onto the screen. Maybe a dim blue look would look better I told him. I think he was surprised by my call so lets see what happens. I told him I had worked at the Paramount Theatre and the color lights were looking great then. He asked what year, told him 1964! ‘Jason’ said times have changed since then as far as the lights go. To bad he probably never saw them as they were in the 1960’s and 70’s with old photos. The color bulbs were in just a few years ago before they got white bright LED security/safety concerns. Lets hope for the best in the future at least when a performance is going on!
These new bright white color LED lights are like being in a grocery store not a classic deco movie theatre like the Paramount. Time to dim them and put back the color bulbs please during a walk in and a performance or screen showing. The Paramount has a new manager I hope I can talk to him soon about what they had just a few years ago now gone.
I worked at the Fox West Coast Oakland Paramount Theatre in High School collecting tickets in the loge section upstairs and the main door. The fantastic house manager ‘Robert Apple’ is were I learned movie theatre showmanship. He ran the Paramount first class. Never made It to a manager job and started working at Local SF Bay Area TV stations instead. The Paramount Theatre ran exclusive sneak Hollywood previews with a first test screening to the public. I met many movie stars in the mid 1960’s in my Fox West Coast gray pants and red jacket with a small tie outfit. Before I worked at the Oakland Paramount also run by Fox West Coast then National General Corp was the ‘Fox Oakland Theatre’ one block away but It closed before my Paramount job. Going into the Paramount today It brings back so many memories. So glad that the city of Oakland never tore these giant movie theatres down like in San Francisco they demolished the ‘Fox’ and many other theatres downtown. Go visit the Oakland Paramount Theatre as they have tours a few times a month. Terry
‘Kevin’ had his Purple outfit on for the 35mm MONO sound showing of ‘Purple Rain’ this past Friday night at the console. To think ‘Prince’ played live on the huge Oakland Paramount Theatre stage many years ago. I wonder If someone filmed the concert?
This was such a strange movie. Shot in 70mm film when most Cinerama Theatres ran out of new 3 strip films to show they cut the 70mm print into 3 sections for the old Cinerama theatres to still play. Must have looked bad! This was just before most Cinerama cinemas switched to one projector 70mm Super Cinerama with ‘It’s A Mad World’. ‘Scent Of Mystery’ & ‘Holiday In Spain’ were also released under different Cinerama names. Thanks GD for the ad.
First and only curved Todd-AO screen in SF. Kind of small for todays giant screens. The surround speakers were placed up on the ceiling. The UA Alexandria Theatre down the street called their 70mm screen Todd-AO with ‘South Pacific’ but It was not as curved as the Coronet Theatre. Looked huge to me as a kid seeing ‘Oklahoma’ when It opened at the Coronet. The Coronet showed ‘Around The World’ in 70mm Todd-AO also. Sad UA sold the Coronet $$$ and It is no longer around but The Alexandria is still there all closed up and rotting away.
Thanks GD. No mention in the ad if the film is shown in 70mm Todd-AO,35mm wide screen Cinemascope or even It was heard in 4 track mag Stereophonic Sound just says Technicolor. The Warwick Theatre did not plug the format being shown very well.
Thanks DB for the ad. Glad they mentioned the words ‘TRUE STEREOPHONIC SOUND’ in this old newspaper ad. So many move over 2nd run movie theatres never got a 35mm 4 track mag stereo print when they played a former 70mm roadshow film just mono sound..
Wish they had brought in a better lighting company during the remodel to put in some change of color lights in all the deco lamps they restored. Most are just bright white light.
I wonder if these tiny back and side wall speakers are hooked up to the movie projection booth for film surround sound 5.1 or 7.1. They may be just hooked to to the electric/pipe organ or live stage events? Recently saw a DCP video of ‘The Sound Of Music’ Singalong, no surround speakers on during all the special effects in this former Todd-AO 70mm movie. I did hear a little stereo stage separation and base from the new tiny scope high screen. With all the refurbishment $$$ going into the Castro Theatre they should have a kick ass ‘Dolby’ surround sound system in place. Will listen next time I go on a stereo film or DCP to hear If any surround movie sound comes out of these small speakers. The Castro may have a amp switch in the projection booth for the organ, stage mike, music and film movie effects. The size of them is not going to give you much base sound. Need to be turned up. They do have a tech sound/light set up near the downstairs back wall. It was all covered over when the DCP film was being shown last Sunday.
Most of us that heard the new giant electric/organ on Sunday at the Castro for the first time thought It would shake the place. Music from ‘The Sound Of Music’ were played not loud at all, the whole organ was on very soft before the film on DCP scope video started. Maybe all the speakers and pipes are not hooked up yet? The former cinema was sold out and they had allot of people talking before the movie started. A good reason to turn up the organ volume. Time for Disney/Fox to make a new 70mm Todd-AO 6 track singalong restored film print version.
They just put a blue spotlight to light up the polished up ceiling and the fixed and cleaned giant deco lamp had no color combo bulbs turned on. Only had white LED’s on when you came in at the start. Just turned the whole fixture off during the movie. Should have been on in a dim dark/purple blue. Every film has a theme and a color match up. Westerns like red or orange. Love stories use blue, purple or pink. Green for outdoor movies or a Irish movie. Yellow for Easter type films. Military movies turn on red, white and blue. Turquoise for a water or ocean flick. The list goes on. But please the music gang (APE) that now run the Castro Theatre SF don’t just leave the cleaned up deco ceiling light off sitting in the dark during a film or stage show. Bring back some showmanship please.
Seems to many us scope 35mm/70mm film buffs in SF the new roll up/down screen could have been a few feet wider on the sides If the new thick stage ‘Castro’ curtains were thinner and pushed all the way behind the pillars out of site on the side of the screen.
They spent extra money for new stage curtains at the Castro Theatre and here last Sunday for ‘The Sound Of Music’ Singalong they just sat on a frozen Intermission sign on the screen for 15 minutes. The projectionist should have closed the curtains and projected the sign on the curtain fabric then opened on the second part of the movie. Bring some showmanship back at the new Castro Theatre please. .
They cleaned up the huge deco ceiling fixture It can change into 16 different colors but so far I have only seen It lit in white and they turn It off during a movie. Here in this photo they turned on a blue spotlight to light up the roof. Complain If you go and have them turn on the giant roof top fixture in a different color when something is going on the stage. If you don’t they spent all this money to clean re wire and fix it up for nothing and the light will just stay dark except for white light when you enter.
The deco balcony ceiling lamps change to a red color during a event when the house goes dark. I think they can change to other colors but for now they are stuck on red.
I did track down the general manager ‘Jason’ this week by phone. I told him about the new white LED lights being way to bright when you come in and during the pre show shorts. He told me safety for the public is his number one concern with the white LED’s. So strange when they do finally turn them off during a movie or stage event there are no lights in the Paramount Theatre auditorium . Adding a little new color dim blue, green or red LED’s will even help with the safety issues he has. Most of the ceiling and under the balcony light fixtures had at one time different circuits for color on low during a performance. I told him also about the white lights shinning on the curtain valance above the giant ‘Paramount’ screen during a movie. I am sure they also leave them on during a stage show also. These dim white lights take a way from the image on the screen and leak onto the screen. Maybe a dim blue look would look better I told him. I think he was surprised by my call so lets see what happens. I told him I had worked at the Paramount Theatre and the color lights were looking great then. He asked what year, told him 1964! ‘Jason’ said times have changed since then as far as the lights go. To bad he probably never saw them as they were in the 1960’s and 70’s with old photos. The color bulbs were in just a few years ago before they got white bright LED security/safety concerns. Lets hope for the best in the future at least when a performance is going on!
These new bright white color LED lights are like being in a grocery store not a classic deco movie theatre like the Paramount. Time to dim them and put back the color bulbs please during a walk in and a performance or screen showing. The Paramount has a new manager I hope I can talk to him soon about what they had just a few years ago now gone.
I worked at the Fox West Coast Oakland Paramount Theatre in High School collecting tickets in the loge section upstairs and the main door. The fantastic house manager ‘Robert Apple’ is were I learned movie theatre showmanship. He ran the Paramount first class. Never made It to a manager job and started working at Local SF Bay Area TV stations instead. The Paramount Theatre ran exclusive sneak Hollywood previews with a first test screening to the public. I met many movie stars in the mid 1960’s in my Fox West Coast gray pants and red jacket with a small tie outfit. Before I worked at the Oakland Paramount also run by Fox West Coast then National General Corp was the ‘Fox Oakland Theatre’ one block away but It closed before my Paramount job. Going into the Paramount today It brings back so many memories. So glad that the city of Oakland never tore these giant movie theatres down like in San Francisco they demolished the ‘Fox’ and many other theatres downtown. Go visit the Oakland Paramount Theatre as they have tours a few times a month. Terry
‘Kevin’ had his Purple outfit on for the 35mm MONO sound showing of ‘Purple Rain’ this past Friday night at the console. To think ‘Prince’ played live on the huge Oakland Paramount Theatre stage many years ago. I wonder If someone filmed the concert?
Great huge semi curved outdoor screen. Hope It opens again soon.
Former Pacific Theatres building. Have some great semi curved screens.
This was such a strange movie. Shot in 70mm film when most Cinerama Theatres ran out of new 3 strip films to show they cut the 70mm print into 3 sections for the old Cinerama theatres to still play. Must have looked bad! This was just before most Cinerama cinemas switched to one projector 70mm Super Cinerama with ‘It’s A Mad World’. ‘Scent Of Mystery’ & ‘Holiday In Spain’ were also released under different Cinerama names. Thanks GD for the ad.
No mention about 70mm or stereophonic sound. I wonder If they just showed it in mono 35mm scope at reserved seat prices?
First and only curved Todd-AO screen in SF. Kind of small for todays giant screens. The surround speakers were placed up on the ceiling. The UA Alexandria Theatre down the street called their 70mm screen Todd-AO with ‘South Pacific’ but It was not as curved as the Coronet Theatre. Looked huge to me as a kid seeing ‘Oklahoma’ when It opened at the Coronet. The Coronet showed ‘Around The World’ in 70mm Todd-AO also. Sad UA sold the Coronet $$$ and It is no longer around but The Alexandria is still there all closed up and rotting away.
No mention of 70mm or Stereophonic Sound in this ad? Was It shown in 35mm I wonder
Glad they put Stereophonic sound on the ad. Must have bens a 35mm 4 track mag scope print
Thanks GD. No mention in the ad if the film is shown in 70mm Todd-AO,35mm wide screen Cinemascope or even It was heard in 4 track mag Stereophonic Sound just says Technicolor. The Warwick Theatre did not plug the format being shown very well.
Thanks DB for the ad. Glad they mentioned the words ‘TRUE STEREOPHONIC SOUND’ in this old newspaper ad. So many move over 2nd run movie theatres never got a 35mm 4 track mag stereo print when they played a former 70mm roadshow film just mono sound..
Wish they had brought in a better lighting company during the remodel to put in some change of color lights in all the deco lamps they restored. Most are just bright white light.
New rugs look great just like the old design. Not very soft, seems the padding underneath is lite.
I wonder if these tiny back and side wall speakers are hooked up to the movie projection booth for film surround sound 5.1 or 7.1. They may be just hooked to to the electric/pipe organ or live stage events? Recently saw a DCP video of ‘The Sound Of Music’ Singalong, no surround speakers on during all the special effects in this former Todd-AO 70mm movie. I did hear a little stereo stage separation and base from the new tiny scope high screen. With all the refurbishment $$$ going into the Castro Theatre they should have a kick ass ‘Dolby’ surround sound system in place. Will listen next time I go on a stereo film or DCP to hear If any surround movie sound comes out of these small speakers. The Castro may have a amp switch in the projection booth for the organ, stage mike, music and film movie effects. The size of them is not going to give you much base sound. Need to be turned up. They do have a tech sound/light set up near the downstairs back wall. It was all covered over when the DCP film was being shown last Sunday.
Let’s hope a rowdy music rap or hard rock crowd does not trash the place after all the work that has been done inside.
Most of us that heard the new giant electric/organ on Sunday at the Castro for the first time thought It would shake the place. Music from ‘The Sound Of Music’ were played not loud at all, the whole organ was on very soft before the film on DCP scope video started. Maybe all the speakers and pipes are not hooked up yet? The former cinema was sold out and they had allot of people talking before the movie started. A good reason to turn up the organ volume. Time for Disney/Fox to make a new 70mm Todd-AO 6 track singalong restored film print version.
They just put a blue spotlight to light up the polished up ceiling and the fixed and cleaned giant deco lamp had no color combo bulbs turned on. Only had white LED’s on when you came in at the start. Just turned the whole fixture off during the movie. Should have been on in a dim dark/purple blue. Every film has a theme and a color match up. Westerns like red or orange. Love stories use blue, purple or pink. Green for outdoor movies or a Irish movie. Yellow for Easter type films. Military movies turn on red, white and blue. Turquoise for a water or ocean flick. The list goes on. But please the music gang (APE) that now run the Castro Theatre SF don’t just leave the cleaned up deco ceiling light off sitting in the dark during a film or stage show. Bring back some showmanship please.
Seems to many us scope 35mm/70mm film buffs in SF the new roll up/down screen could have been a few feet wider on the sides If the new thick stage ‘Castro’ curtains were thinner and pushed all the way behind the pillars out of site on the side of the screen.
Great they will offer fresh hot popcorn for the first time in this added snack bar in the upstairs lobby area.
They spent extra money for new stage curtains at the Castro Theatre and here last Sunday for ‘The Sound Of Music’ Singalong they just sat on a frozen Intermission sign on the screen for 15 minutes. The projectionist should have closed the curtains and projected the sign on the curtain fabric then opened on the second part of the movie. Bring some showmanship back at the new Castro Theatre please. .
They cleaned up the huge deco ceiling fixture It can change into 16 different colors but so far I have only seen It lit in white and they turn It off during a movie. Here in this photo they turned on a blue spotlight to light up the roof. Complain If you go and have them turn on the giant roof top fixture in a different color when something is going on the stage. If you don’t they spent all this money to clean re wire and fix it up for nothing and the light will just stay dark except for white light when you enter.
I wish they would have added color bulbs or LED’s that change color in all the lobby deco lamps not just bright white light.
The deco balcony ceiling lamps change to a red color during a event when the house goes dark. I think they can change to other colors but for now they are stuck on red.