That’s a shame, VJD. Sorry about your awful experience! They should’ve refunded your money, no questions asked, right away, when the concert you’d purchased tickets for got cancelled. $150.00,
especially nowadays, isn’t exactly peanuts, either. Too bad that such a beautiful-looking theatre is presently managed by such nasty, dishonest people! As some people say; create a monster and it’ll eventually turn on you. It sounds as if that’s where these venal managers are headed, if that’s the way they operate. Although I don’t reside in the Bronx, or in the NY area generally, here’s hoping that decent, honest people take charge of that theatre…and soon.
Btw: It looks like a perfect movie palace for the great, golden oldie-but-goody classic films.
Looks like a pretty cool theatre. My (now-deceased) grandparents lived in Tucson, having moved there from Brooklyn, NY in 1959. Sadly, none of us ever got to know about the Fox Theatre, let alone see any movies there.
KingBiscuits, from what I’ve been reading/hearing about Regal, if this:
“I’m guessing that Regal will be the favorite to buy National Amusements since they seem to eat up the older chains.”
is really the case, it may well mean the eventual death-knell to many, if not most of the multiplex cinemas, or at least a movement in that general direction.
I remember them when they were originally called “Showcase Cinemas”. We’ve got a bunch of them here in the Bay State, too. Somebody was telling that they read/heard that many of the multiplex cinemas will begin to disappear, but there’ll always be movie palaces and multiplex cinemas alike left because there’ll always be people (myself included) who want to continue to go to the movies, rather than just sit home and watch them on TV.
Where was the screening of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” in 70mm on December 21st scheduled to take place, William? Just curious. Also, “Top Gun” doesn’t sound like a movie that I want to see.
I looked at your article over at Universal Hub, Ron. Thanks.
I also saw the film “Love Story” at the Circle years ago.
Here’s hoping that they build another theatre instead of luxury condos or a parking lot, and that they build a theatre that doesn’t play the same schlocky stuff in the way of movies that most of the theatres these days play.
I remember the Circle Cinemas (along with other now-defunct cinemas) with a somewhat sad fondness. It was a beautiful theatre before it got “twinned”, and I saw some very nice films there, before and after it was “twinned'.
The Great Race
Chinatown
Superman I and Superman II
Thoroughly Modern Millie
Munich
Zodiac
to name afew. Just as often as not, as kids, my sister and I would attend movies there with or without family or friends, and then eat in the Howard Johnson’s afterwards.
Harry Potter and the Phoenix
Good points, Ian M. Judge. As a person who goes to the Coolidge quite a bit and holds a yearly membership there, I’m fully aware of that. it’s dlear that digital cinema definitely has its problems, as many other posts here on this site suggest.
I only wish that the Coolidge would get more 70mm film features, but I guess that’s just me.
The recent Harvard vs. Yale game was on at both the Brattle Theatre, and then the Coolidge Theatre recently. So, yeah, I guess 3-D Sports, as well as sports being shown on an ordinary big screen movie theatre is another order of the day.
Oh, wow!! I don’t live anywhere in the NY/NJ area, but I, too remember briefly seeing scenes from a drive-in movie from the highway while driving on or home from a family trip somewhere. Sure wish I could someday see West Side Story at a drive-in theatre. It must’ve been fantastic.
I wholeheartedly agree, movie534. How I wish this could come to the Boston area, and also include such great, golden oldie-but-goody classics such as West Side Story, Dr. Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia and many others.
Tim O'Connor and jnjeisen: you’ve both made some good points.
The multiplex cinemas have become a staple of the American movie experience and they’re also where the money is…that’s true. However, jnjeisen, the reasons that you point out above are what have turned a great many people (myself included) to going to these multiplexes. More to the point, the multiplex cinemas, with rare exceptions, often tend to play much schlockier films
Regarding rude, cellphone using patrons, sticky floors, etc., I have found these to be considerably less of a problem in a true-blue movie palace than in the multiplex cinemas.
Tim: I also agree with your points about embracing the multiplex cinemas being counterproductive to the classic movie palaces trying to stay afloat in today’s market, and about this site’s helping to preserve these great movie palaces.
The Somerville Theatre, in Davis Square, Somerville, MA has a policy of NOT letting children under 8 years of age into their evening screenings due to their propensity for making noise. The more I think about it, the more I think that it’s probably a good pollicy. Young children and infants don’t belong in movies, but, even though I’m not a parent, I can understand why parents of infants and young children don’t want to always get stuck at home with their kid(s), and want to do something else once in awhile. However, a number of theatres do have matinee afternoon showings for parents with infants, and I welcome that change even though I’m not a parent.
I know I’m waaaaaayyyy late in responding here, but the fact that this kind of illegal piracy of movies is allowed to occur at all is a complete and total disgrace. Yes, I really think that it has helped promote the slow death of cinema and the movie business as we all know it. I thank my lucky stars that I’ve gotten to experience great movies on the great big wide movie theatre screens both before and after this kind of illegal piracy of films began taking place. If not for the few movie palaces left here in the United Staes, including the Brattle and the Coolidge, both of which I hold memberships to, I’d probably never, ever see any of my alltime favorite films, including my real favorite, West Side Story, on the great big, wide movie theatre screen again. Thank heavens I’ve got a fuel-efficient ca(A Honda Civic Hybrid), so I’ve been able to make occasional road trips to neighboring states to see a West Side Story screening, too, and not feel bad about using the gas because I don’t drive long distances that much, and my car is fuel-efficient.
Anyway, back to the subject at hand: Now, people are downloading movies on their computers, iPods, etc, or taping them in theatres on occasion, which strikes me as rather parasitic, imho. It’s a case of wanting something for nothing. I honestly wish they’d prohibit this kind of piracy of films, and I often find myself cursing the day that the SCOTUS voted to allow videos to be made of movies.
That’s a shame, VJD. Sorry about your awful experience! They should’ve refunded your money, no questions asked, right away, when the concert you’d purchased tickets for got cancelled. $150.00,
especially nowadays, isn’t exactly peanuts, either. Too bad that such a beautiful-looking theatre is presently managed by such nasty, dishonest people! As some people say; create a monster and it’ll eventually turn on you. It sounds as if that’s where these venal managers are headed, if that’s the way they operate. Although I don’t reside in the Bronx, or in the NY area generally, here’s hoping that decent, honest people take charge of that theatre…and soon.
Btw: It looks like a perfect movie palace for the great, golden oldie-but-goody classic films.
That is so sad. This country doesn’t need any more big box stores. There are too many of these big box-stores as it is.
Great-looking theatre!! Love the round marquee on the outside, which makes for a distinguished look.
Another one bites the dust. How sad to read/hear about another beautiful theatre closing down.
Looks like a pretty cool theatre. My (now-deceased) grandparents lived in Tucson, having moved there from Brooklyn, NY in 1959. Sadly, none of us ever got to know about the Fox Theatre, let alone see any movies there.
KingBiscuits, from what I’ve been reading/hearing about Regal, if this:
“I’m guessing that Regal will be the favorite to buy National Amusements since they seem to eat up the older chains.”
is really the case, it may well mean the eventual death-knell to many, if not most of the multiplex cinemas, or at least a movement in that general direction.
Love that photograph!! Thanks for posting it, whoever did.
Well, movies10063….Ever heard the adage “What goes around comes around”?
Bill, I think that, with rare exceptions, the days of popular films playing for a year or two at a given theatre are gone forever.
The Loews Grand was also a spectacular-looking theatre, which certainly lived up to its name in its day.
I remember them when they were originally called “Showcase Cinemas”. We’ve got a bunch of them here in the Bay State, too. Somebody was telling that they read/heard that many of the multiplex cinemas will begin to disappear, but there’ll always be movie palaces and multiplex cinemas alike left because there’ll always be people (myself included) who want to continue to go to the movies, rather than just sit home and watch them on TV.
I still miss the days when the Harvard Square Theatre was a revival movie house.
Oops—my bad. It’s in California. sorry.
Where was the screening of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” in 70mm on December 21st scheduled to take place, William? Just curious. Also, “Top Gun” doesn’t sound like a movie that I want to see.
I looked at your article over at Universal Hub, Ron. Thanks.
I also saw the film “Love Story” at the Circle years ago.
Here’s hoping that they build another theatre instead of luxury condos or a parking lot, and that they build a theatre that doesn’t play the same schlocky stuff in the way of movies that most of the theatres these days play.
I remember the Circle Cinemas (along with other now-defunct cinemas) with a somewhat sad fondness. It was a beautiful theatre before it got “twinned”, and I saw some very nice films there, before and after it was “twinned'.
The Great Race
Chinatown
Superman I and Superman II
Thoroughly Modern Millie
Munich
Zodiac
to name afew. Just as often as not, as kids, my sister and I would attend movies there with or without family or friends, and then eat in the Howard Johnson’s afterwards.
Harry Potter and the Phoenix
Good points, Ian M. Judge. As a person who goes to the Coolidge quite a bit and holds a yearly membership there, I’m fully aware of that. it’s dlear that digital cinema definitely has its problems, as many other posts here on this site suggest.
I only wish that the Coolidge would get more 70mm film features, but I guess that’s just me.
I wish they’d come to the Boston area somewhere. I’d pay to watch afew of them that sound really appealing.
The recent Harvard vs. Yale game was on at both the Brattle Theatre, and then the Coolidge Theatre recently. So, yeah, I guess 3-D Sports, as well as sports being shown on an ordinary big screen movie theatre is another order of the day.
Oh, wow!! I don’t live anywhere in the NY/NJ area, but I, too remember briefly seeing scenes from a drive-in movie from the highway while driving on or home from a family trip somewhere. Sure wish I could someday see West Side Story at a drive-in theatre. It must’ve been fantastic.
Jonathan:
I know that there are new 70mm prints of West Side Story and Lawrence of Arabia.
Fairly recently, West Side Story played at San Francisco’s Castro Theatre on a least a couple of occasions.
Lawrence of Arabia’s played in a number of places, too, recent.y
I wholeheartedly agree, movie534. How I wish this could come to the Boston area, and also include such great, golden oldie-but-goody classics such as West Side Story, Dr. Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia and many others.
Tim O'Connor and jnjeisen: you’ve both made some good points.
The multiplex cinemas have become a staple of the American movie experience and they’re also where the money is…that’s true. However, jnjeisen, the reasons that you point out above are what have turned a great many people (myself included) to going to these multiplexes. More to the point, the multiplex cinemas, with rare exceptions, often tend to play much schlockier films
Regarding rude, cellphone using patrons, sticky floors, etc., I have found these to be considerably less of a problem in a true-blue movie palace than in the multiplex cinemas.
Tim: I also agree with your points about embracing the multiplex cinemas being counterproductive to the classic movie palaces trying to stay afloat in today’s market, and about this site’s helping to preserve these great movie palaces.
The Somerville Theatre, in Davis Square, Somerville, MA has a policy of NOT letting children under 8 years of age into their evening screenings due to their propensity for making noise. The more I think about it, the more I think that it’s probably a good pollicy. Young children and infants don’t belong in movies, but, even though I’m not a parent, I can understand why parents of infants and young children don’t want to always get stuck at home with their kid(s), and want to do something else once in awhile. However, a number of theatres do have matinee afternoon showings for parents with infants, and I welcome that change even though I’m not a parent.
I know I’m waaaaaayyyy late in responding here, but the fact that this kind of illegal piracy of movies is allowed to occur at all is a complete and total disgrace. Yes, I really think that it has helped promote the slow death of cinema and the movie business as we all know it. I thank my lucky stars that I’ve gotten to experience great movies on the great big wide movie theatre screens both before and after this kind of illegal piracy of films began taking place. If not for the few movie palaces left here in the United Staes, including the Brattle and the Coolidge, both of which I hold memberships to, I’d probably never, ever see any of my alltime favorite films, including my real favorite, West Side Story, on the great big, wide movie theatre screen again. Thank heavens I’ve got a fuel-efficient ca(A Honda Civic Hybrid), so I’ve been able to make occasional road trips to neighboring states to see a West Side Story screening, too, and not feel bad about using the gas because I don’t drive long distances that much, and my car is fuel-efficient.
Anyway, back to the subject at hand: Now, people are downloading movies on their computers, iPods, etc, or taping them in theatres on occasion, which strikes me as rather parasitic, imho. It’s a case of wanting something for nothing. I honestly wish they’d prohibit this kind of piracy of films, and I often find myself cursing the day that the SCOTUS voted to allow videos to be made of movies.