Comments from Al Alvarez

Showing 1,201 - 1,225 of 3,427 comments

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about York Theatre on Jan 30, 2011 at 1:19 pm

The map above links to the wrong street as the York was on 64th street. Here is a 1964 re-opening ad as a cinema;

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Angelika 57 on Jan 30, 2011 at 1:17 pm

The opening ad as the Lincoln Art;

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Directors Guild of America Theater on Jan 30, 2011 at 1:16 pm

In 1964 the Little Carnegie and the Cinema Rendezvous showed these two related films at a single price under the title “ANATOMY OF A MARRIAGE”. The experiment was not a success.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cinema Village on Jan 30, 2011 at 1:13 pm

Re-launch ad;

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Baronet and Coronet Theatre on Jan 30, 2011 at 1:12 pm

New link to the “GINGER COFFEY” ad;

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Haight Theatre on Jan 30, 2011 at 12:30 pm

According to Variety, an attempt to run the Haight as an arthouse catering to gay audiences in 1964 met with community outrage and police harrasment. The experiment lasted less than a month.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's 86th Street Theatre on Jan 30, 2011 at 8:43 am

A Brandt 86th Street theatre is still advertised in October 1963 but disappears shortly after.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cinema Village on Jan 30, 2011 at 8:34 am

“The Cinema Village opened on October 5, 1964 with Ingmar Bergman’s "All These Women”, not 1963 as previously stated."

I must correct this previous post I made as I have found some ads with a Village theatre playing subrun that pre-date October 1964 and must have been this theatre. The October date was most likely the introduction of a first-run arthouse policy

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Embassy 1,2,3 Theatre on Jan 28, 2011 at 6:19 pm

The definition of grind, like the definition of Roadshow has changed over the years.

The original meaning of grind was that feature showtimes were not advertised, there were no intermissions, and patrons came and went as they pleased. Eventually it came to mean any theatre that ran all day.

For years a roadshow was an exploitation film that traveled from town to town usually on a four-wall deal. The distributors cleaned up with a massive campaign and premium priced tickets, and then moved on to the next town. Eventually the term was used applied for two-show-a-day attractions that skimmed profit from reserved premium priced prestige showings.

By the way ‘theater’ meant legitimate and ‘theatre’ meant movies until AMC started mixing it up in the seventies.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Crown Gotham Theatre on Jan 27, 2011 at 7:47 am

Opening ad;

“…and by all means bring the ladies.”

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about 34th Street East Theatre on Jan 27, 2011 at 7:45 am

Opening ad;

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about United Artists 64th & 2nd Avenue on Jan 26, 2011 at 5:23 pm

Yes it is.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Embassy 1,2,3 Theatre on Jan 26, 2011 at 5:19 pm

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Embassy 1,2,3 Theatre on Jan 26, 2011 at 6:58 am

I think the Sutton move-over was an attempt to re-create the phenomenon of Leslie Caron’s “Lili” which ran on the east side for well over a year.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Embassy 1,2,3 Theatre on Jan 25, 2011 at 8:27 pm

techman,

Nearly six months of ads in the New York Times saying so.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Embassy 1,2,3 Theatre on Jan 25, 2011 at 12:21 pm

“GIGI” ran at the Royale for almost six months before moving to the Sutton.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Embassy 1,2,3 Theatre on Jan 23, 2011 at 8:47 am

Walter Reade merges with Sterling;

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Bay Cinema on Jan 23, 2011 at 8:39 am

Opening ad;

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Essex Theatre on Jan 23, 2011 at 8:38 am

Opening ad;

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Dyckman Theatre on Jan 22, 2011 at 5:29 pm

Still listed in an August 1962 ad for the wide run of “El Cid” as the New Dyckman and no longer operated by Loews.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Embassy 1,2,3 Theatre on Jan 22, 2011 at 7:16 am

By the way, the Paris, Henry Miller (Sondheim), Broadhurst, Selwyn (American Airlines), Embassy 46th St, Times Square, Globe (Lunt-Fontanne), Winter Garden, Hollywood (Mark Hellinger), Royale (Jacobs), and Ambassador all ran roadshows at some point.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Embassy 1,2,3 Theatre on Jan 22, 2011 at 6:33 am

Radio City and the Roxy were too big to sustain a long run roadshow movie. The others were usually remodeled with less seats before a long run.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Baronet and Coronet Theatre on Jan 21, 2011 at 5:15 pm

Architect’s cutaway rendering of the Baronet/Coronet plan.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Palace Theatre on Jan 21, 2011 at 9:09 am

My mistake, William. That was indeed a popular price/continuous show run on “Can-Can”.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Green Acres Cinemas on Jan 21, 2011 at 7:23 am

Opening ad;

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