What a spectacular-looking theatre, both inside and out!! Too bad about the occasional problems with the film, etc. and the lighting. Is there a way to fix it? Just curious. I don’t reside in S. F., or anywhere on the West Coast, but if was a S. F. resident, or West Coast resident, I’d be all ears, if one gets the drift.
“A major component to the ultimate theatrical experience is a wide screen. Yes, the bigger the better is good in this case, too. It would be great if every multiplex had at least ONE auditorium with an Ultra screen or similar”
What a beautiful-looking theatre!! Looks like another cool movie palace for the likes of great golden oldie-but-goody classics such as Dr. Zhivago, West Side Story, Sound of Music, and many others.
I know I’m somewhat late in responding to your post, Simon Overton, but the Waltham Cinemas 1 & 2
complex was located in the Route 128/Winter Street area, pretty much just off of Route 128.
But AlAlvarez, this is the United States and not Britain. Whether people care to believe it or not, sprinklers can be and often enough are a lifesaver, as well as a property saver.
Ian M. Judge, thanks for this. Really..thank you. This post says it all in a nutshell. Because of today’s commercialism of EVERYTHING, including the movie business, digital cinema is yet furthur evidence of that..and this coming from someone who admittedly doesn’t really know diddley-squat about the movie business, except for love of movies, especially older ones. Commercialism, imo, has removed pretty much all understanding of the magical quality of seeing real films at real movie palaces, as opposed to the antiseptic-looking multiplex cinemas that continue to dot the landscape of the USA and play mostly schlocky movies of today.
I would supposed that there may be advantages and disadvantages to both film and digital, but I’d hate to see the revival movie houses, such as Brattle, Somerville, etc., go the way of cinema heaven.
The IOKA looks like a beautiful little theatre, both inside and out. As a movie buff who resides an hour or two south of the MA/NH border, it’s sad to read/hear of yet another movie venue closing. Abiding by the safety code rules, however, really is of utmost importance, though, whether it be a theatre or a nightclub.
Could some of the great, golden-oldie-but-goody classics such as West Side Story, Dr. Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia, to name afew, be re-printed, cleaned up , remastered and put on digital 3D projection? Just curious, because that might be interesting.
Children barred from most theatres? That I didn’t know about, because I recall going to a number of movies in theatres when I was a pre-teen, in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, accompanied by my parents, of course.
I think that it’s criminal to take movies, burn them on DVD’s, and sell them on the streets to people. it’s disgusting. That being said, I curse the day that the SCOTUS voted to allow all this to happen by voting to permit videotaping and VCR playing of ordinary movies, whatever they may be.
FilmNoir1944: I don’t reside in, nor have I ever resided anywhere in NJ, including Maplewood, but I think that this:
“ The only thing that will motivate them to go to the theatres again are large high quality event pictures—an animated family picture, an excellent horror picture, a restored classic which baby boomers want to see and share with a house full of other boomers. This is what I predict will happen to the Maplewood Theatre. I’m hoping that it will happen faster than we think.”
is right on the money, and, if yours (and mine) prediction is correct, it will not only happen to the
Maplewood Theatre in New Jersey, but to various movie palaces throughout the country.
The Loews Jersey looks like a spectacular movie theatre, both inside and out. At the risk of sounding somewhat obsessive, what would be the chances of showing something such as West Side Story, Dr. Zhivago, Sound of Music, or many other favorite classics there, including Lawrence of Arabia? just curious, because Loews Jersey looks like a perfect movie palace for all of these great films.
Okay. thanks, Peter K. and John D. I don’t reside anywhere in the NYC-NY area, but I was just curious. I realize that the Kitty Genovese murder was a serious abberratiion that occurred over 40 years ago, but, from what I understood, it certainly stained the area’s reputation for awhile, because people heard her screams for help, looked out their windows and yet didn’t even so much as call the police.
However, I’m glad to hear that things have changed, and that it is a safe area.
Back to the original topic: the Kew Gardens Cinema looks like a cool cinema, both inside and out.
What a shame! Even though I don’t live in Duluth, MN or the midwest generally, it’s very disconcerting to hear of a theatre losing money like that. Sure hope that something can be worked out. I agree with you, CWalczak. The Omnimax doesn’t sound like it’s holding up very well. IMAX Theatres seem like they’re the order of the day, if one gets the drift.
Both the Kew Gardens Cinema and the Austin look like cool theatres.
Just a bit off-topic, however: How safe is Kew Gardens these days? Just curious, because that’s where the infamous and horrific Kitty Genovese killing took place, if I understand correctly.
I’m aware of that, KingBiscuits, and I agree with you. It’s part of the process called the “dumbing down” of America, which has been going on for many years, and it’s not just in the “Bible Belt” area, either. Pretty much the whole country is shot through with those attitudes, and, unfortunately, the present economic downturn has worsened it. I also agree that it ’s inexcuseable..and shameful.
It sounds as if the owners of the building where your theatre was housed really did lack respect for the films that you were showing. You’ve made some good points, newt wallen.
I agree with both of your points, KingBiscuits and newt wallen. However, here’s a question: Do you think it is it possible that our badly-tanked economy is at least part of what’s driving the above-mentioned situation where people have little to no respect for the arts? Quite honestly, the more I think about it, the more I’m of the opinion that this economy has contributed a great deal, and, unfortunately, in an economic downturn, the arts are generally one of the first, if not THE first to go. That being said, I wonder if it’s possible that overall attitudes might change if and when the economy improves.
What a spectacular-looking theatre, both inside and out!! Too bad about the occasional problems with the film, etc. and the lighting. Is there a way to fix it? Just curious. I don’t reside in S. F., or anywhere on the West Coast, but if was a S. F. resident, or West Coast resident, I’d be all ears, if one gets the drift.
This:
“A major component to the ultimate theatrical experience is a wide screen. Yes, the bigger the better is good in this case, too. It would be great if every multiplex had at least ONE auditorium with an Ultra screen or similar”
would be a cool idea, JodarMovieFan. Thanks.
What a beautiful-looking theatre!! Looks like another cool movie palace for the likes of great golden oldie-but-goody classics such as Dr. Zhivago, West Side Story, Sound of Music, and many others.
I know I’m somewhat late in responding to your post, Simon Overton, but the Waltham Cinemas 1 & 2
complex was located in the Route 128/Winter Street area, pretty much just off of Route 128.
But AlAlvarez, this is the United States and not Britain. Whether people care to believe it or not, sprinklers can be and often enough are a lifesaver, as well as a property saver.
Excellent points well taken, CinemarkFan. Thanks.
Ian M. Judge, thanks for this. Really..thank you. This post says it all in a nutshell. Because of today’s commercialism of EVERYTHING, including the movie business, digital cinema is yet furthur evidence of that..and this coming from someone who admittedly doesn’t really know diddley-squat about the movie business, except for love of movies, especially older ones. Commercialism, imo, has removed pretty much all understanding of the magical quality of seeing real films at real movie palaces, as opposed to the antiseptic-looking multiplex cinemas that continue to dot the landscape of the USA and play mostly schlocky movies of today.
I would supposed that there may be advantages and disadvantages to both film and digital, but I’d hate to see the revival movie houses, such as Brattle, Somerville, etc., go the way of cinema heaven.
The IOKA looks like a beautiful little theatre, both inside and out. As a movie buff who resides an hour or two south of the MA/NH border, it’s sad to read/hear of yet another movie venue closing. Abiding by the safety code rules, however, really is of utmost importance, though, whether it be a theatre or a nightclub.
Sounds cool!!
What a sweet-looking theatre! Are there any photos of the interior?
Could some of the great, golden-oldie-but-goody classics such as West Side Story, Dr. Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia, to name afew, be re-printed, cleaned up , remastered and put on digital 3D projection? Just curious, because that might be interesting.
Children barred from most theatres? That I didn’t know about, because I recall going to a number of movies in theatres when I was a pre-teen, in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, accompanied by my parents, of course.
Peter K and East Coast Rocker;
I think that it’s criminal to take movies, burn them on DVD’s, and sell them on the streets to people. it’s disgusting. That being said, I curse the day that the SCOTUS voted to allow all this to happen by voting to permit videotaping and VCR playing of ordinary movies, whatever they may be.
FilmNoir1944: I don’t reside in, nor have I ever resided anywhere in NJ, including Maplewood, but I think that this:
“ The only thing that will motivate them to go to the theatres again are large high quality event pictures—an animated family picture, an excellent horror picture, a restored classic which baby boomers want to see and share with a house full of other boomers. This is what I predict will happen to the Maplewood Theatre. I’m hoping that it will happen faster than we think.”
is right on the money, and, if yours (and mine) prediction is correct, it will not only happen to the
Maplewood Theatre in New Jersey, but to various movie palaces throughout the country.
The Loews Jersey looks like a spectacular movie theatre, both inside and out. At the risk of sounding somewhat obsessive, what would be the chances of showing something such as West Side Story, Dr. Zhivago, Sound of Music, or many other favorite classics there, including Lawrence of Arabia? just curious, because Loews Jersey looks like a perfect movie palace for all of these great films.
Since when have hotels become more popular than and started to take the place of cinemas? (LOL)
btw: If I lived anywhere in the NY area, the Kew Gardens Cinema is a place that I, too, would frequent.
Okay. thanks, Peter K. and John D. I don’t reside anywhere in the NYC-NY area, but I was just curious. I realize that the Kitty Genovese murder was a serious abberratiion that occurred over 40 years ago, but, from what I understood, it certainly stained the area’s reputation for awhile, because people heard her screams for help, looked out their windows and yet didn’t even so much as call the police.
However, I’m glad to hear that things have changed, and that it is a safe area.
Back to the original topic: the Kew Gardens Cinema looks like a cool cinema, both inside and out.
What a shame! Even though I don’t live in Duluth, MN or the midwest generally, it’s very disconcerting to hear of a theatre losing money like that. Sure hope that something can be worked out. I agree with you, CWalczak. The Omnimax doesn’t sound like it’s holding up very well. IMAX Theatres seem like they’re the order of the day, if one gets the drift.
Both the Kew Gardens Cinema and the Austin look like cool theatres.
Just a bit off-topic, however: How safe is Kew Gardens these days? Just curious, because that’s where the infamous and horrific Kitty Genovese killing took place, if I understand correctly.
Aha.
I’m aware of that, KingBiscuits, and I agree with you. It’s part of the process called the “dumbing down” of America, which has been going on for many years, and it’s not just in the “Bible Belt” area, either. Pretty much the whole country is shot through with those attitudes, and, unfortunately, the present economic downturn has worsened it. I also agree that it ’s inexcuseable..and shameful.
I’m not saying that at all, newt wallen. That’s clearly THEiR attitude, which stinks.
It sounds as if the owners of the building where your theatre was housed really did lack respect for the films that you were showing. You’ve made some good points, newt wallen.
I agree with both of your points, KingBiscuits and newt wallen. However, here’s a question: Do you think it is it possible that our badly-tanked economy is at least part of what’s driving the above-mentioned situation where people have little to no respect for the arts? Quite honestly, the more I think about it, the more I’m of the opinion that this economy has contributed a great deal, and, unfortunately, in an economic downturn, the arts are generally one of the first, if not THE first to go. That being said, I wonder if it’s possible that overall attitudes might change if and when the economy improves.