The Cinedome was actually busy until its last few days of operation. If memory serves, “Titanic” played on two screens for a considerable amount of time in second-run when the Cinedome was turned into a discount house. That’s pretty impressive for a theatre with the high seating capacity the Cinedome was known for.
The last show I saw there was “Men In Black” (1997). In the lobby, there was an artist conceptional drawing of the new Century 25 going up on Katella Avenue. I knew, at that point, that the Cinedome’s days were numbered. The theatre closed down in early 1999 after nearly 30-years of operation.
Michael Coate is correct that the Century 25 opened earlier than November 1998. :) I recall seeing “Anastasia” there in Christmas of 1997. One of my experiences with this new theater was my family wanted to see “Flubber,” but all four or five screens were sold-out! That didn’t seem to happen at the Cinedome, where seating capacity was high.
Indeed, there were numerous Friday and Saturday nights in which the theatre parking lot was full. I’ve fought to find parking many times there, but usually the experience of seeing films here outweighed the parking problems. I always wondered why Syufy/Century (which are one in the same) didn’t buy extra property around them to expand not only parking—-but the number of screens. I’m sure they certainly made enough money on this complex to justify expansion on that lot. The Cinedome was very popular. I can recall numerous times waiting in long lines in the parking lot for a showing of the popular movies of the day. “Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom.” “True Lies.” “Fatal Attraction.” And for a number of years, the Cinedome usually got 70mm prints of the big films, much like its competitor, Edwards Newport Cinema (a.k.a. “Big Newport.”)
I don’t recall the Cinedome having sticky floors. The theatre was usually kept up better than many other houses I’d been to in the area, including the dreadful AMC Orange Mall 6. I think where I began seeing a decline in showmanship was when the theatre showed vacation slides of Europe and local advertisements. One of the nice things about this theatre for years is that it didn’t show slideshow ads. I often felt like I was going to the movies, not watching television or a relative’s travel slides.
But when the theatre showed big event films, it excelled in presentation. I recall seeing the final “Star Trek” (original series) film in 1991, and they played the “Star Trek” theme as an overture. I also remember those curtains opening up to their very wide screens in the large domes. Talk about an experience. Almost everyone I’ve heard talk about the Cinedome has kind things to say about it. No, it wasn’t perfect. But overall, it was a great place to see movies.
Indeed, a major apartment development is going up, but next door where a hotel and restaurant used to stand. The Cinedome’s lot, at least for now, is vacant. It’s really quite sad to think that Century tore down this theatre. All we have now are The Block of Orange, which is seemingly always crowded, and the Century 25.
This theatre’s last film performance was on August 19, 1975. Pacific’s La Mirada 4 Theatres, located in the La Mirada Mall, opened the next day on August 20, 1975.
Does anyone here recall if the theatre on Hawthorne Blvd or the Cinema 2 were equipped for 70mm? From the looks of it, Cinema 2 was quite large before getting split into two theatres. Does anyone recall when the Cinema 1 and Cinema 2 were opened?
I understand that the third theatre located in the very back of the shopping center was 70mm and THX-certified.
Mryon wrote: Incidentally, I saw “Alien” there. The Dolby-sound was so good that the whole audience jumped when the creature appeared from above.
This is where “Alien” played during its original engagement in 70mm in Manhattan:
Manhattan: [b.S. Moss] Criterion
Manhattan: [Loews] New York 2
Manhattan: [Loews] Orpheum
“Aliens” in 1986:
Manhattan: [Loews] 84th Street Six
Manhattan: [Trans-Lux] Gotham
Manhattan: [Loews] Orpheum I
Manhattan: [RKO Century] RKO Warner Twin
“Alien 3” in 1992:
Manhattan: [uA] Criterion Center
Here’s a very good article on where “Alien” opened in 1979. Do you recall seeing it at the Astor Plaza later in the year? Perhaps, if it played there later on in 1979, was it in 35mm & Dolby Stereo?
This link will provide readers (if they haven’t had a chance to look at the site) with every year 70mm played at the Astor Plaza. The theatre indeed played a lot, including the “biggies” like the original Star Wars Trilogy and Indiana Jones Trilogy.
The Fox Cinemaland opened during a minor new theatre building spree during the late 1960s in Orange County.
Edwards opened their Newport Cinema (aka Big Newport) theatre in 1969. Syufy (Century) opened their twin Cinedome down the I-5 Freeway from Cinemaland, also in 1969. In Costa Mesa, the South Coast Plaza Theatre opened in 1968 or 1969. In or around 1972, ABC opened the City Center in Orange. All were luxury theatres of their day and had 70mm capability.
Newport is still open. The Cinedome and City Center have been demolished, and South Coast Plaza still remains vacant.
This theatre was demolished in early 1998 and turned into a bus stop. Technically, though, it wasn’t located directly across from the old Disneyland main entrance, but about a block or two down the street.
I remember going there in the summer of 1974 when “Herbie Rides Again” played. There was a Herbie replica sitting on the red carpet out in front of the theatre. I don’t remember much about the interior, but the outside and lobby were brightly lit. My parents would also drive by the theatre at night on the 5-Freeway. I’d always check out what was playing there on the marquee close to the freeway.
I took a tour of the theatre as it was being demolished. Mann did a terrible job in tri-plexing this place. Where the original screen was, the contractors built a skinny theater at the back wall. The rest of the old single auditorium was subdivided into two auditoriums.
I’m not sure the exact number of seats in the single screen version of this place, but my friend said about 900. His father worked there.
Sadly, this place sat for over a decade empty and vagrants camped out inside.
ve young wrote: BTW, inasmuch as you might as well consider the 70mm “This Is Cinerama” of 1973 a 70mm Cinerama film, then your question is answered, as that film ran there after the Ziegfeld. Also played the Bellevue, Upper Montclair. Cant remember at the moment if it also ran at the Claridge.
Hi,
You wrote that “This Is Cinerama” (70mm version) also ran at the Bellevue, Upper Montclair and possibly the Clairidge. Do you happen to have the ads and dates for these engagements? Thanks.
We’ve included a number of interesting features about “70mm In NY,” including an introductory article about the history of 70mm In NY; a theatre list of 70mm equipped houses; a list of the longest running 70mm engagements in NY, and much, much more.
We feel the most exciting part of the site is the list of 70mm engagements. You can click on any year from 1955 through 2004 and find out information on which films played in the NYC-region in 70mm.
As we’ve seen on this wonderful site, there are quite a few 70mm fans from the New York/New Jersey region, and we hope that you will enjoy this look back on 70mm presentation in your area.
There are some sections of “70mm In NY” that are coming soon, so we please check back.
We encourage your feedback.
Best regards,
William Kallay
Michael Coate
“70mm In NY”
We’ve included a number of interesting features about “70mm In NY,” including an introductory article about the history of 70mm In NY; a theatre list of 70mm equipped houses; a list of the longest running 70mm engagements in NY, and much, much more.
We feel the most exciting part of the site is the list of 70mm engagements. You can click on any year from 1955 through 2004 and find out information on which films played in the NYC-region in 70mm.
As we’ve seen on this wonderful site, there are quite a few 70mm fans from the New York/New Jersey region, and we hope that you will enjoy this look back on 70mm presentation in your area.
There are some sections of “70mm In NY” that are coming soon, so we please check back.
We encourage your feedback.
Best regards,
William Kallay
Michael Coate
“70mm In NY”
We’ve included a number of interesting features about “70mm In NY,” including an introductory article about the history of 70mm In NY; a theatre list of 70mm equipped houses; a list of the longest running 70mm engagements in NY, and much, much more.
We feel the most exciting part of the site is the list of 70mm engagements. You can click on any year from 1955 through 2004 and find out information on which films played in the NYC-region in 70mm.
As we’ve seen on this wonderful site, there are quite a few 70mm fans from the New York/New Jersey region, and we hope that you will enjoy this look back on 70mm presentation in your area.
There are some sections of “70mm In NY” that are coming soon, so we please check back.
We encourage your feedback.
Best regards,
William Kallay
Michael Coate
“70mm In NY”
We’ve included a number of interesting features about “70mm In NY,” including an introductory article about the history of 70mm In NY; a theatre list of 70mm equipped houses; a list of the longest running 70mm engagements in NY, and much, much more.
We feel the most exciting part of the site is the list of 70mm engagements. You can click on any year from 1955 through 2004 and find out information on which films played in the NYC-region in 70mm.
As we’ve seen on this wonderful site, there are quite a few 70mm fans from the New York/New Jersey region, and we hope that you will enjoy this look back on 70mm presentation in your area.
There are some sections of “70mm In NY” that are coming soon, so we please check back.
We encourage your feedback.
Best regards,
William Kallay
Michael Coate
“70mm In NY”
RobertR wrote: Anyways since this is the Syosset and it opened 12/67 it was astonishing run for a re-release
In today’s era of megaplex theaters, it’s kind of difficult to ponder that a movie could remain in one theater for more than a month, let alone almost a year or more!
Although that re-release of GWTW was critcized for having its original aspect ratio altered (and rightfully so), it was extremely popular during a number of additional re-issues and special series engagements through 1976 in the NYC region.
I wasn’t trying dispute the date. :) I was trying to clairify the theater in which it played in since this thread covers the UA Cinema 150, which didn’t open until 1970. “Gone With The Wind” played at the Syosset Theatre begining on December 21, 1967, and continued into 1968.
The Syosset Theatre (which opened in 1956) and the UA Cinema 150 were close to each other. It appears that because of their proximity in the city of Syosset, and the fact that both were roadshow houses that ran lots of 70mm, they can be easily confused with one another.
I misunderstood your original post. I thought that your post meant that the film had started its re-release engagement at the UA Cinema 150 in 1968.
Do you happen to have the date of that 1968 engagement of GWTW? My records show that it indeed played in Syosset and was a reserved seat engagment, but on December 21, 1967 @ the Syosset. Thanks.
Vito, those were very kind words about Joe Kelly. I’ve corresponded with him recently regarding his work. I was referred to him by a friend of mine who has had nothing but kind things to say about Joe.
From what I’ve gathered, he loved his job and running those UA theatres in LI, NYC and NJ with class. Too bad more people today in the exhibition business don’t run things like Joe did. Going to the movies nowadays is just going to the movies; it’s not an experience anymore, with few exceptions.
Very well put, Capt. Ron LI. That must’ve been such a treat to see the “Star Wars” Trilogy in 70mm there.
This theater was a class-act and ran a lot of roadshows during the ‘50s and '60s.
There’s an old UA in Buena Park, CA that was converted to retail space. It was a fine theater for about three years after it opened, with 70mm/THX Sound capability. It went downhill after that. As with many UA theaters, it was eventually closed. Now, you can still see where the old large auditoriums were inside of the store. Though it wasn’t the greatest theater in the world, its presentation was impressive and I have a lot of great memories there. It’s odd to see clothing racks sitting where I saw “Aliens” and “Robocop.”
GCC had been splitting big theaters for years prior to the Avco. They split almost all of the former Statewide Theaters that were built in Anaheim, Bakersfield and San Bernardino, only to let those theaters perish. Not too long after the Avco split, GCC went into bankruptcy. Another fine theater damaged by another exhibition company. I just find it ironic that the Avco will book a very popular film, like a Lord of the Rings, and will fill the two houses that once equaled one auditorium.
The Avco was a great example of a modern theater that had class and excellent presentation. You’re correct, William, on that the ceiling was lower and the screen smaller than the National. It was a unique design. The Avco had some of the best 70mm projection I’ve ever seen.
I recently attended a press screening for “Thunderbirds” in the other 70mm house upstairs. AMC has actually kept the curtain presentation and the sound and picture presentation is still top-notch. I can’t say the same for the former big house downstairs. The new sightlines are terrible.
I find it hard to believe that theater chains today can turn a profit with the newer megaplexes (20 screens and more). The buildings that house all of these screens are much, much bigger than the old multiplexes (10 screens or less), and seem to require much more overhead. Where they get you is at the box office with higher ticket prices (for mediocre presentation) and very high concession prices.
It’s not as though a lot of these theaters are crowded during the week. If I recall, that was a factor in splitting the Avco. Not enough people were seeing shows during the week; only Friday and Saturday nights were good for business.
I think this thread is interesting. Once decent chains, like Cineplex Odeon and GCC, did some really great theatrical upgrades during the building boom of the late ‘80s, then allowed their properties to fall apart. Then those same chains ultimately were bought out or went under.
Dave-Bronx wrote: You can put Cineplex right up there behind UA when it comes to running theatres into the ground.
You can add General Cinemas to that list. They took a lot of their good/great theaters and ruined them. Perfect example is the Avco Westwood. They split their 1000+ seat main auditorium into two separate theaters. The result? Off-center screens, bad seating, bad theater.
The Cinedome was actually busy until its last few days of operation. If memory serves, “Titanic” played on two screens for a considerable amount of time in second-run when the Cinedome was turned into a discount house. That’s pretty impressive for a theatre with the high seating capacity the Cinedome was known for.
The last show I saw there was “Men In Black” (1997). In the lobby, there was an artist conceptional drawing of the new Century 25 going up on Katella Avenue. I knew, at that point, that the Cinedome’s days were numbered. The theatre closed down in early 1999 after nearly 30-years of operation.
Michael Coate is correct that the Century 25 opened earlier than November 1998. :) I recall seeing “Anastasia” there in Christmas of 1997. One of my experiences with this new theater was my family wanted to see “Flubber,” but all four or five screens were sold-out! That didn’t seem to happen at the Cinedome, where seating capacity was high.
Indeed, there were numerous Friday and Saturday nights in which the theatre parking lot was full. I’ve fought to find parking many times there, but usually the experience of seeing films here outweighed the parking problems. I always wondered why Syufy/Century (which are one in the same) didn’t buy extra property around them to expand not only parking—-but the number of screens. I’m sure they certainly made enough money on this complex to justify expansion on that lot. The Cinedome was very popular. I can recall numerous times waiting in long lines in the parking lot for a showing of the popular movies of the day. “Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom.” “True Lies.” “Fatal Attraction.” And for a number of years, the Cinedome usually got 70mm prints of the big films, much like its competitor, Edwards Newport Cinema (a.k.a. “Big Newport.”)
I don’t recall the Cinedome having sticky floors. The theatre was usually kept up better than many other houses I’d been to in the area, including the dreadful AMC Orange Mall 6. I think where I began seeing a decline in showmanship was when the theatre showed vacation slides of Europe and local advertisements. One of the nice things about this theatre for years is that it didn’t show slideshow ads. I often felt like I was going to the movies, not watching television or a relative’s travel slides.
But when the theatre showed big event films, it excelled in presentation. I recall seeing the final “Star Trek” (original series) film in 1991, and they played the “Star Trek” theme as an overture. I also remember those curtains opening up to their very wide screens in the large domes. Talk about an experience. Almost everyone I’ve heard talk about the Cinedome has kind things to say about it. No, it wasn’t perfect. But overall, it was a great place to see movies.
Indeed, a major apartment development is going up, but next door where a hotel and restaurant used to stand. The Cinedome’s lot, at least for now, is vacant. It’s really quite sad to think that Century tore down this theatre. All we have now are The Block of Orange, which is seemingly always crowded, and the Century 25.
This theatre actually opened on December 25, 1964.
This theatre’s last film performance was on August 19, 1975. Pacific’s La Mirada 4 Theatres, located in the La Mirada Mall, opened the next day on August 20, 1975.
Does anyone here recall if the theatre on Hawthorne Blvd or the Cinema 2 were equipped for 70mm? From the looks of it, Cinema 2 was quite large before getting split into two theatres. Does anyone recall when the Cinema 1 and Cinema 2 were opened?
I understand that the third theatre located in the very back of the shopping center was 70mm and THX-certified.
Thanks.
Mryon wrote: Incidentally, I saw “Alien” there. The Dolby-sound was so good that the whole audience jumped when the creature appeared from above.
This is where “Alien” played during its original engagement in 70mm in Manhattan:
Manhattan: [b.S. Moss] Criterion
Manhattan: [Loews] New York 2
Manhattan: [Loews] Orpheum
“Aliens” in 1986:
Manhattan: [Loews] 84th Street Six
Manhattan: [Trans-Lux] Gotham
Manhattan: [Loews] Orpheum I
Manhattan: [RKO Century] RKO Warner Twin
“Alien 3” in 1992:
Manhattan: [uA] Criterion Center
Here’s a very good article on where “Alien” opened in 1979. Do you recall seeing it at the Astor Plaza later in the year? Perhaps, if it played there later on in 1979, was it in 35mm & Dolby Stereo?
View link
This link will provide readers (if they haven’t had a chance to look at the site) with every year 70mm played at the Astor Plaza. The theatre indeed played a lot, including the “biggies” like the original Star Wars Trilogy and Indiana Jones Trilogy.
View link
Thanks.
The Fox Cinemaland opened during a minor new theatre building spree during the late 1960s in Orange County.
Edwards opened their Newport Cinema (aka Big Newport) theatre in 1969. Syufy (Century) opened their twin Cinedome down the I-5 Freeway from Cinemaland, also in 1969. In Costa Mesa, the South Coast Plaza Theatre opened in 1968 or 1969. In or around 1972, ABC opened the City Center in Orange. All were luxury theatres of their day and had 70mm capability.
Newport is still open. The Cinedome and City Center have been demolished, and South Coast Plaza still remains vacant.
Here is a link to more 70mm presentations at the Loews Meadow Six.
View link
This theatre was demolished in early 1998 and turned into a bus stop. Technically, though, it wasn’t located directly across from the old Disneyland main entrance, but about a block or two down the street.
I remember going there in the summer of 1974 when “Herbie Rides Again” played. There was a Herbie replica sitting on the red carpet out in front of the theatre. I don’t remember much about the interior, but the outside and lobby were brightly lit. My parents would also drive by the theatre at night on the 5-Freeway. I’d always check out what was playing there on the marquee close to the freeway.
I took a tour of the theatre as it was being demolished. Mann did a terrible job in tri-plexing this place. Where the original screen was, the contractors built a skinny theater at the back wall. The rest of the old single auditorium was subdivided into two auditoriums.
I’m not sure the exact number of seats in the single screen version of this place, but my friend said about 900. His father worked there.
Sadly, this place sat for over a decade empty and vagrants camped out inside.
Here are some more picture of the State and other New York City-area theatres.
View link
ve young wrote: BTW, inasmuch as you might as well consider the 70mm “This Is Cinerama” of 1973 a 70mm Cinerama film, then your question is answered, as that film ran there after the Ziegfeld. Also played the Bellevue, Upper Montclair. Cant remember at the moment if it also ran at the Claridge.
Hi,
You wrote that “This Is Cinerama” (70mm version) also ran at the Bellevue, Upper Montclair and possibly the Clairidge. Do you happen to have the ads and dates for these engagements? Thanks.
Thank you, Harwel, for the positive words!
Bill Kallay
Michael Coate
Dear Cinema Treasures Readers,
After years of research, Michael Coate and I are proud to announce that “70mm In NY” has been posted on our site, www.fromscripttodvd.com
To navigate directly to this part of the site, copy and paste the following into your browser:
View link
We’ve included a number of interesting features about “70mm In NY,” including an introductory article about the history of 70mm In NY; a theatre list of 70mm equipped houses; a list of the longest running 70mm engagements in NY, and much, much more.
We feel the most exciting part of the site is the list of 70mm engagements. You can click on any year from 1955 through 2004 and find out information on which films played in the NYC-region in 70mm.
As we’ve seen on this wonderful site, there are quite a few 70mm fans from the New York/New Jersey region, and we hope that you will enjoy this look back on 70mm presentation in your area.
There are some sections of “70mm In NY” that are coming soon, so we please check back.
We encourage your feedback.
Best regards,
William Kallay
Michael Coate
“70mm In NY”
Dear Cinema Treasures Readers,
After years of research, Michael Coate and I are proud to announce that “70mm In NY” has been posted on our site, www.fromscripttodvd.com
To navigate directly to this part of the site, copy and paste the following into your browser:
View link
We’ve included a number of interesting features about “70mm In NY,” including an introductory article about the history of 70mm In NY; a theatre list of 70mm equipped houses; a list of the longest running 70mm engagements in NY, and much, much more.
We feel the most exciting part of the site is the list of 70mm engagements. You can click on any year from 1955 through 2004 and find out information on which films played in the NYC-region in 70mm.
As we’ve seen on this wonderful site, there are quite a few 70mm fans from the New York/New Jersey region, and we hope that you will enjoy this look back on 70mm presentation in your area.
There are some sections of “70mm In NY” that are coming soon, so we please check back.
We encourage your feedback.
Best regards,
William Kallay
Michael Coate
“70mm In NY”
Dear Cinema Treasures Readers,
After years of research, Michael Coate and I are proud to announce that “70mm In NY” has been posted on our site, www.fromscripttodvd.com
To navigate directly to this part of the site, copy and paste the following into your browser:
View link
We’ve included a number of interesting features about “70mm In NY,” including an introductory article about the history of 70mm In NY; a theatre list of 70mm equipped houses; a list of the longest running 70mm engagements in NY, and much, much more.
We feel the most exciting part of the site is the list of 70mm engagements. You can click on any year from 1955 through 2004 and find out information on which films played in the NYC-region in 70mm.
As we’ve seen on this wonderful site, there are quite a few 70mm fans from the New York/New Jersey region, and we hope that you will enjoy this look back on 70mm presentation in your area.
There are some sections of “70mm In NY” that are coming soon, so we please check back.
We encourage your feedback.
Best regards,
William Kallay
Michael Coate
“70mm In NY”
Dear Cinema Treasures Readers,
After years of research, Michael Coate and I are proud to announce that “70mm In NY” has been posted on our site, www.fromscripttodvd.com
To navigate directly to this part of the site, copy and paste the following into your browser:
View link
We’ve included a number of interesting features about “70mm In NY,” including an introductory article about the history of 70mm In NY; a theatre list of 70mm equipped houses; a list of the longest running 70mm engagements in NY, and much, much more.
We feel the most exciting part of the site is the list of 70mm engagements. You can click on any year from 1955 through 2004 and find out information on which films played in the NYC-region in 70mm.
As we’ve seen on this wonderful site, there are quite a few 70mm fans from the New York/New Jersey region, and we hope that you will enjoy this look back on 70mm presentation in your area.
There are some sections of “70mm In NY” that are coming soon, so we please check back.
We encourage your feedback.
Best regards,
William Kallay
Michael Coate
“70mm In NY”
RobertR wrote: Anyways since this is the Syosset and it opened 12/67 it was astonishing run for a re-release
In today’s era of megaplex theaters, it’s kind of difficult to ponder that a movie could remain in one theater for more than a month, let alone almost a year or more!
Although that re-release of GWTW was critcized for having its original aspect ratio altered (and rightfully so), it was extremely popular during a number of additional re-issues and special series engagements through 1976 in the NYC region.
Hi RobertR,
I wasn’t trying dispute the date. :) I was trying to clairify the theater in which it played in since this thread covers the UA Cinema 150, which didn’t open until 1970. “Gone With The Wind” played at the Syosset Theatre begining on December 21, 1967, and continued into 1968.
The Syosset Theatre (which opened in 1956) and the UA Cinema 150 were close to each other. It appears that because of their proximity in the city of Syosset, and the fact that both were roadshow houses that ran lots of 70mm, they can be easily confused with one another.
I misunderstood your original post. I thought that your post meant that the film had started its re-release engagement at the UA Cinema 150 in 1968.
Hi RobertR,
Do you happen to have the date of that 1968 engagement of GWTW? My records show that it indeed played in Syosset and was a reserved seat engagment, but on December 21, 1967 @ the Syosset. Thanks.
Do you know when this theater opened and if it was equipped for 70mm? Thanks.
LI Movies,
Do you remember when this theater opened and if it was equipped for 70mm. Thanks.
Thanks for the updates on the theater.
Vito, those were very kind words about Joe Kelly. I’ve corresponded with him recently regarding his work. I was referred to him by a friend of mine who has had nothing but kind things to say about Joe.
From what I’ve gathered, he loved his job and running those UA theatres in LI, NYC and NJ with class. Too bad more people today in the exhibition business don’t run things like Joe did. Going to the movies nowadays is just going to the movies; it’s not an experience anymore, with few exceptions.
Is this theater still standing?
Very well put, Capt. Ron LI. That must’ve been such a treat to see the “Star Wars” Trilogy in 70mm there.
This theater was a class-act and ran a lot of roadshows during the ‘50s and '60s.
There’s an old UA in Buena Park, CA that was converted to retail space. It was a fine theater for about three years after it opened, with 70mm/THX Sound capability. It went downhill after that. As with many UA theaters, it was eventually closed. Now, you can still see where the old large auditoriums were inside of the store. Though it wasn’t the greatest theater in the world, its presentation was impressive and I have a lot of great memories there. It’s odd to see clothing racks sitting where I saw “Aliens” and “Robocop.”
GCC had been splitting big theaters for years prior to the Avco. They split almost all of the former Statewide Theaters that were built in Anaheim, Bakersfield and San Bernardino, only to let those theaters perish. Not too long after the Avco split, GCC went into bankruptcy. Another fine theater damaged by another exhibition company. I just find it ironic that the Avco will book a very popular film, like a Lord of the Rings, and will fill the two houses that once equaled one auditorium.
The Avco was a great example of a modern theater that had class and excellent presentation. You’re correct, William, on that the ceiling was lower and the screen smaller than the National. It was a unique design. The Avco had some of the best 70mm projection I’ve ever seen.
I recently attended a press screening for “Thunderbirds” in the other 70mm house upstairs. AMC has actually kept the curtain presentation and the sound and picture presentation is still top-notch. I can’t say the same for the former big house downstairs. The new sightlines are terrible.
I find it hard to believe that theater chains today can turn a profit with the newer megaplexes (20 screens and more). The buildings that house all of these screens are much, much bigger than the old multiplexes (10 screens or less), and seem to require much more overhead. Where they get you is at the box office with higher ticket prices (for mediocre presentation) and very high concession prices.
It’s not as though a lot of these theaters are crowded during the week. If I recall, that was a factor in splitting the Avco. Not enough people were seeing shows during the week; only Friday and Saturday nights were good for business.
I think this thread is interesting. Once decent chains, like Cineplex Odeon and GCC, did some really great theatrical upgrades during the building boom of the late ‘80s, then allowed their properties to fall apart. Then those same chains ultimately were bought out or went under.
Dave-Bronx wrote: You can put Cineplex right up there behind UA when it comes to running theatres into the ground.
You can add General Cinemas to that list. They took a lot of their good/great theaters and ruined them. Perfect example is the Avco Westwood. They split their 1000+ seat main auditorium into two separate theaters. The result? Off-center screens, bad seating, bad theater.