I visted this theater in 2005 and had an excellent experience. The renovation was superb; the lobby reminded me a bit of the United Nations/JFK Airport International Style, bland but clean, with blue tile thoughout.
I was happy to see a lovely pale purple curtain covering the screen, rather than pre-show advertising. The curtain opened to reveal a tremendous screen, which seemed to go from floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall. The manager later told me that the Cinerama screen is folded up behind this screen, and is ready to be reassembled whenever a Cinerama feature is presented, such as How the West Was Won, which screened a while back.
The auditorium seems to be done in a post-modern atmospheric style, including twinkling lights that go out when the feature starts. The orchestra level seats were comfortable rocking ones. I sat in the balcony (because I could!) where the seats didn’t rock, except, oddly, in the front row, which thus provided a good view of the ceiling and a not-so-great view of the screen.
Needless to say, the presentation was first-rate, with a bright, clear picture and crystal clear sound.
The locals really seem to love this theatre, especially since it was spared from the wrecking ball. I join them in their support.
(While in Seattle I also visted and have commented upon the Paramount, the 5th Avenue, the Egyptian, the Colisuem and the Meridian.)
I found it interesting that the marquee wasn’t going to have traditional changeable letters but would get a new special for each attraction. I remember when it was a twin, each side of the marquee had its own custom display but eventually they played movies for which they wouldn’t or couldn’t make a special display and it was back to the red letters on a white background.
I just watched Oh God Book 2 and they go to this theater, but only the outside. No interior shots, but there is an exterior shot of “ABC Entertainment Center.”
Roger Ebert’s website has a lengthy article entitled The Dying of the Light Ebert article about 2D and 3D lenses and why not changing the 3D lens for 2D presentation really messes up the image and the moviegoing experience.
Just saw the documentary Out in the Silence on PBS — a very good, enlightening show — and was pleased to see so much footage about the re-opening of this theater and the girls who bought it and worked hard to bring it back to life. So of course I came here straight-away to find out more.
What’s the present status? It seems the website is down but I hope the theater is still in some kind of performance use.
Here’s the beginning of something I came across written on a website about this theater:
“I wasn’t married yet in the very early 60’s when I first discovered the
famous Fox Theater on N. Illinois Street in Indianapolis…..but later,
when I was married, I still went there! I was actually still in high
school, but they let me in anyway……and I had lots of experiences there
that will be worth repeating. At that time it was a (very famous, locally)
burlesque theater, and just as exciting (for some) when it became a porno
movie palace in later years. Real on-stage performances by such ‘names’ at
the time as "Evelyn West and her $50,000 Treasure Chest.”
But I soon
learned that the REAL excitement was down in the basement — a cavernous,
giant restroom area that required a very squeaky door and a long stairway
to enter. And I soon found out that no one paid much attention (maybe a
raised eyebrow or two?) when they heard that door squeak at the top of the
stairway. The place was wide open, and many a straight guy, there only to
get off by watching the bosom of the latest burlesque queen flopping around
upstairs, would barely glance to the bathroom stalls to the left as he made
his way to the urinal to take a leak. He knew what was going on over
there — no one tried too hard to hide the action, and sometimes the
activity spilled out to the large floor space in front of the stalls…
The building profile posted by Ed Solero on Sept. 5, 2007 should be the image used on this page, since it accurately reflects the actual entrance of the theater.
How do you “activate” a hyperlink? I think in the old format it just did it automatically but I’m not so sure now. And how do you condense a long link into a short phrase like “hitchcockpapers”?
This website link should bring up the Psycho marquee and other shots of the Demille but not the Psycho signage. (Nice website, btw.)
http://thehitchcockpapers.wordpress.com/2009/03/15/psycho-at-the-demille-theater/
Before they landmark the interior I wish they would carefully re-design and install a much bigger screen.
I visted this theater in 2005 and had an excellent experience. The renovation was superb; the lobby reminded me a bit of the United Nations/JFK Airport International Style, bland but clean, with blue tile thoughout.
I was happy to see a lovely pale purple curtain covering the screen, rather than pre-show advertising. The curtain opened to reveal a tremendous screen, which seemed to go from floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall. The manager later told me that the Cinerama screen is folded up behind this screen, and is ready to be reassembled whenever a Cinerama feature is presented, such as How the West Was Won, which screened a while back.
The auditorium seems to be done in a post-modern atmospheric style, including twinkling lights that go out when the feature starts. The orchestra level seats were comfortable rocking ones. I sat in the balcony (because I could!) where the seats didn’t rock, except, oddly, in the front row, which thus provided a good view of the ceiling and a not-so-great view of the screen.
Needless to say, the presentation was first-rate, with a bright, clear picture and crystal clear sound.
The locals really seem to love this theatre, especially since it was spared from the wrecking ball. I join them in their support.
(While in Seattle I also visted and have commented upon the Paramount, the 5th Avenue, the Egyptian, the Colisuem and the Meridian.)
I found it interesting that the marquee wasn’t going to have traditional changeable letters but would get a new special for each attraction. I remember when it was a twin, each side of the marquee had its own custom display but eventually they played movies for which they wouldn’t or couldn’t make a special display and it was back to the red letters on a white background.
Al where’s page 17? (And I love the no-nonsense delivery of the old Variety!)
Awaiting your report, Ed…
Bloop — could you post some of your Larkfield ads in the photos section? I really enjoyed seeing them.
And has the Bakers' daughter contacted you? I was very fond of her parents and I’d love to share some memories with her.
Please post those photos as soon as you can, They are an invaluable record of an era long gone.
The only house in New Jersey playing the ballet Esmerelda performed by the Bolshoi Ballet.
I can’t believe this closed. I was here not to long ago to see the Smurfs in 2D (no 3D at this site!)
Any word on how or why? Or what’s next?
I always wanted to go here before it closed — they had some dynamite exploitation double features.
And that shot posted on August 17, 2010 must be the balcony after the theater was divided.
I just watched Oh God Book 2 and they go to this theater, but only the outside. No interior shots, but there is an exterior shot of “ABC Entertainment Center.”
Didn’t anyone like my poem about the search for a photo of the Mark?
Joe, since asking for the photos in a haiku or free-form peom didn’t work, how about using a limerick?
There once was a theater called Mark
Played movies until it went dark
So where are the pics
To prove that this flicks
Existed, and not just a lark?
George Burns mentioned on his TV show (in 1954) that he played this theater.
I’ve been watching The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show currently running on Antenna TV, and he mentions this theater many times.
Let me try again Ebert Article
Roger Ebert’s website has a lengthy article entitled The Dying of the Light Ebert article about 2D and 3D lenses and why not changing the 3D lens for 2D presentation really messes up the image and the moviegoing experience.
Just saw the documentary Out in the Silence on PBS — a very good, enlightening show — and was pleased to see so much footage about the re-opening of this theater and the girls who bought it and worked hard to bring it back to life. So of course I came here straight-away to find out more.
What’s the present status? It seems the website is down but I hope the theater is still in some kind of performance use.
Here’s the beginning of something I came across written on a website about this theater:
“I wasn’t married yet in the very early 60’s when I first discovered the famous Fox Theater on N. Illinois Street in Indianapolis…..but later, when I was married, I still went there! I was actually still in high school, but they let me in anyway……and I had lots of experiences there that will be worth repeating. At that time it was a (very famous, locally) burlesque theater, and just as exciting (for some) when it became a porno movie palace in later years. Real on-stage performances by such ‘names’ at the time as "Evelyn West and her $50,000 Treasure Chest.”
But I soon learned that the REAL excitement was down in the basement — a cavernous, giant restroom area that required a very squeaky door and a long stairway to enter. And I soon found out that no one paid much attention (maybe a raised eyebrow or two?) when they heard that door squeak at the top of the stairway. The place was wide open, and many a straight guy, there only to get off by watching the bosom of the latest burlesque queen flopping around upstairs, would barely glance to the bathroom stalls to the left as he made his way to the urinal to take a leak. He knew what was going on over there — no one tried too hard to hide the action, and sometimes the activity spilled out to the large floor space in front of the stalls…
The building profile posted by Ed Solero on Sept. 5, 2007 should be the image used on this page, since it accurately reflects the actual entrance of the theater.
That image is off by couple of miles — how to fix it?
I think there is a “remove” icon available as soon as the post is published, but I don’t know how long it stays there.
How do you “activate” a hyperlink? I think in the old format it just did it automatically but I’m not so sure now. And how do you condense a long link into a short phrase like “hitchcockpapers”?
This website link should bring up the Psycho marquee and other shots of the Demille but not the Psycho signage. (Nice website, btw.) http://thehitchcockpapers.wordpress.com/2009/03/15/psycho-at-the-demille-theater/
Isn’t there a nice shot of the Psycho wrap-around signage out there somewhere? A re-post of it would be nice.