Sadly, the only film I know I saw at the Picwood was “E.T.” It was my second time to see it (don’t remember where else it opened) and I remember so clearly waiting out in front (probably in a line) on a beautiful sunny afternoon with friends who were seeing it their first time. Love the photos here, and I’m sorry I didn’t get there for other films.
Haven’t been to the Avco since the late 1980s when I moved from L.A., but frankly, I’m glad I wasn’t there to see the splitting of the large theater. Nevertheless, very sad to hear of another landmark L.A. film venue closing.
Yes, try the newspapers, in addition to the other ideas offered. I found recently in researching some of the theaters in South Florida, that in the very early ‘60s, there were a few theaters whose starting times were listed under the category “Negro Theaters”.
Google Earth and Google Street View show the facade with the destruction behind it. (Bing Maps still shows the complete building!) Someone out there will have to update us on this.
I just uploaded a flyer for a small Hitchcock festival in August 1972, my introduction to the Mayfair. I have Joseph Cotten’s signature on another part of it, which he graciously gave while chatting with people outside following “Shadow of a Doubt”.
The theater was indeed tiny. I enjoyed the films from the small balcony and the place felt ancient and almost rickety even then. But it had charm, too. The earthquake damage must have been inevitable, but I’m sorry to see it go.
Boy, you gotta wonder where Google gets the location depicted on the map here.
The Museum Center at Union Terminal is, of course, in downtown Cincinnati. It’s a remarkable structure that is well worth a visit for the museum, the OMNIMAX theater, and the overall architectural beauty.
My first time here was in 1972 or 1973. They were playing the double feature “Casablanca” and “Play It Again, Sam”, and since that just happened to be my first time seeing BOTH films, that was an evening never to be forgotten. Saw “Born Yesterday” there a couple of years later, probably just before the theater closed and became a retail space. I seem to recall it was a lovely place, and I wish I’d frequented it regularly.
I discovered the Beverly Canon when walking around there in summer of 1974. I guess it was a repertory house by then, because I saw “The Big Sleep” and something else in a double feature. I loved eating frequently at the little cafe next door — which may have been called Beverly Canon Cafe, not sure now.
But there was also a spooky old abandoned, derelict apartment building on the north side of the street in those years. I’m thinking a couple of blocks west of the Chinese, so, west of the Avon as you were remembering. I think it had a specific name, too, but I’m totally blanking on that. But it was a pretty well known abandoned structure back then, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find pictures.
Pete and all… I’d hoped to get there for the entire HorrorThon, but I drive over from Connecticut, and best laid plans, etc. Made it to the Corman/Bava evening, though, and what a wonderful show that was. Beautiful prints, a great intermission reel, and thanks also for sharing the red “Baskervilles”.
I wouldn’t have missed “The Uninvited” for anything — except for the nastiest storm (at least where I live) which arrived in my driveway at showtime. Hope all is well at the theater and with all of you. Very much looking forward to a fair weather “Birdie” this Saturday!
This question is a real long shot, I know… but in view of my confirming that “West Side Story” opened here following its roadshow engagement, and with all the current controversy over the about-to-be-released Blu-ray, does anyone know if the Warnor had 70mm capability…or know how to research that?
I’m not confusing it with a Pussycat. I said I believe I saw one of those films here, don’t know which one, BEFORE they took up permanent residence at the Pussycat. This was in 1972 or 1973, when it was suddenly all the rage to “openly” go to a “mainstream” (well, sorta) porn flick, for the fancy new ticket price of $5.00, and it was the only time I was in the Cine-Cienega.
Lived in Cleveland 1968 to 1972 and I remember this as being a very nice, modern single-screen suburban theater. Not positive, but I think they ran “2001” following the initial engagement downtown, and I’m pretty sure this is where “A Clockwork Orange” and “Anne of a Thousand Days” and some of the other major films opened on the east side.
Adding to the experience of seeing a film here was the Cedar Center (shopping center) and surrounding area, a decent destination in itself, boasting some informal but very nice places to eat such as Solomon’s (deli) and the Aurora Restaurant which had moved to the area from University Circle.
Went to one movie here (“Risky Business”) on a visit to the area in September 1983. A weeknight, and I recall the theater being pretty empty, but the film was the perfect thing at the time, and there was something comfortable and enjoyable about the place. Sorry to hear of its end.
Loved going to movies here from 1963 to 1967 when it was new and a single screen: “Help!”, “Lady in a Cage”, “Mirage”, “You Only Live Twice”, the filmed-on-stage D'oyly Carte production of “The Mikado”, and I’m sure many others.
On a visit to Fort Lauderdale years later I was sad to find it had long since been a nightclub (“Baja”?). Is that, or anything else, still operating in the building now?
The Coral Ridge, Sunrise Cinemas, and the Plantation were THE modern theaters there in the mid-60s. I look back on these with a special fondness.
Since adult fare is mentioned in the description, this must be where I recall either “The Devil in Miss Jones” or “Deep Throat” playing before they settled in (forever and ever) at the Pussycat.
I take it those were the interiors; i.e., the curtains? Because I suspect the curtained wall coverings — especially if blue/green in theater #2 — might be what I’d remembered.
Maybe not a groundbreaking movie for you, but a groundbreaking post in How Many Ways Are There to F* Up a Presentation of a Movie. Holy crap. Glad to hear how you were able to save your audiences from that last travesty. Wow. (Oh, I already said that.)
I was 12 when we were living in Fort Lauderdale while it was playing in Miami Beach, our nearest destination for roadshow engagements. Though my family had always liked musicals, this one flew under their radar, and it would be at least another year anyway before we started going down there to attend roadshows.
In the meantime, I was a musical kid and had gotten the soundtrack album and played it to death, completely thrilled by this discovery of Leonard Bernstein. I really drove everyone nuts with it. When it opened in general release at Fort Lauderdale’s Warnor Theatre (in March 1963, according to Miami News ads), I was there, alone, on the first night, and was blown away. I could talk of nothing else. Driving everyone even crazier, I then acquired the complete score and played it at the piano every day.
The family returned to the film with me a few times as it made its eventual rounds among other theaters in the area, and they did love it, if not quite with the passion I had for it. With all of its faults, this film version has so many great things going for it it’s not even funny. Happy 50th, and many more!
David, thanks for taking the time to write that up. It’s a great read, and I agree that it should appear on the Loew’s State page, too.
And seriously, quit worrying about the length of a post. NOW. Just drop it. That’s practically a non-issue these days, anyway, ESPECIALLY on a site so magnificently redesigned as this one has been. You obviously have plenty to contribute, so just forget about length or any other restrictions… and go write some more!
Sadly, the only film I know I saw at the Picwood was “E.T.” It was my second time to see it (don’t remember where else it opened) and I remember so clearly waiting out in front (probably in a line) on a beautiful sunny afternoon with friends who were seeing it their first time. Love the photos here, and I’m sorry I didn’t get there for other films.
Haven’t been to the Avco since the late 1980s when I moved from L.A., but frankly, I’m glad I wasn’t there to see the splitting of the large theater. Nevertheless, very sad to hear of another landmark L.A. film venue closing.
Yes, try the newspapers, in addition to the other ideas offered. I found recently in researching some of the theaters in South Florida, that in the very early ‘60s, there were a few theaters whose starting times were listed under the category “Negro Theaters”.
Google Earth and Google Street View show the facade with the destruction behind it. (Bing Maps still shows the complete building!) Someone out there will have to update us on this.
I just uploaded a flyer for a small Hitchcock festival in August 1972, my introduction to the Mayfair. I have Joseph Cotten’s signature on another part of it, which he graciously gave while chatting with people outside following “Shadow of a Doubt”.
The theater was indeed tiny. I enjoyed the films from the small balcony and the place felt ancient and almost rickety even then. But it had charm, too. The earthquake damage must have been inevitable, but I’m sorry to see it go.
Boy, you gotta wonder where Google gets the location depicted on the map here.
The Museum Center at Union Terminal is, of course, in downtown Cincinnati. It’s a remarkable structure that is well worth a visit for the museum, the OMNIMAX theater, and the overall architectural beauty.
My first time here was in 1972 or 1973. They were playing the double feature “Casablanca” and “Play It Again, Sam”, and since that just happened to be my first time seeing BOTH films, that was an evening never to be forgotten. Saw “Born Yesterday” there a couple of years later, probably just before the theater closed and became a retail space. I seem to recall it was a lovely place, and I wish I’d frequented it regularly.
I discovered the Beverly Canon when walking around there in summer of 1974. I guess it was a repertory house by then, because I saw “The Big Sleep” and something else in a double feature. I loved eating frequently at the little cafe next door — which may have been called Beverly Canon Cafe, not sure now.
But there was also a spooky old abandoned, derelict apartment building on the north side of the street in those years. I’m thinking a couple of blocks west of the Chinese, so, west of the Avon as you were remembering. I think it had a specific name, too, but I’m totally blanking on that. But it was a pretty well known abandoned structure back then, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find pictures.
Pete and all… I’d hoped to get there for the entire HorrorThon, but I drive over from Connecticut, and best laid plans, etc. Made it to the Corman/Bava evening, though, and what a wonderful show that was. Beautiful prints, a great intermission reel, and thanks also for sharing the red “Baskervilles”.
I wouldn’t have missed “The Uninvited” for anything — except for the nastiest storm (at least where I live) which arrived in my driveway at showtime. Hope all is well at the theater and with all of you. Very much looking forward to a fair weather “Birdie” this Saturday!
BEAUTIFUL.
This question is a real long shot, I know… but in view of my confirming that “West Side Story” opened here following its roadshow engagement, and with all the current controversy over the about-to-be-released Blu-ray, does anyone know if the Warnor had 70mm capability…or know how to research that?
I’m not confusing it with a Pussycat. I said I believe I saw one of those films here, don’t know which one, BEFORE they took up permanent residence at the Pussycat. This was in 1972 or 1973, when it was suddenly all the rage to “openly” go to a “mainstream” (well, sorta) porn flick, for the fancy new ticket price of $5.00, and it was the only time I was in the Cine-Cienega.
Lived in Cleveland 1968 to 1972 and I remember this as being a very nice, modern single-screen suburban theater. Not positive, but I think they ran “2001” following the initial engagement downtown, and I’m pretty sure this is where “A Clockwork Orange” and “Anne of a Thousand Days” and some of the other major films opened on the east side.
Adding to the experience of seeing a film here was the Cedar Center (shopping center) and surrounding area, a decent destination in itself, boasting some informal but very nice places to eat such as Solomon’s (deli) and the Aurora Restaurant which had moved to the area from University Circle.
Went to one movie here (“Risky Business”) on a visit to the area in September 1983. A weeknight, and I recall the theater being pretty empty, but the film was the perfect thing at the time, and there was something comfortable and enjoyable about the place. Sorry to hear of its end.
Loved going to movies here from 1963 to 1967 when it was new and a single screen: “Help!”, “Lady in a Cage”, “Mirage”, “You Only Live Twice”, the filmed-on-stage D'oyly Carte production of “The Mikado”, and I’m sure many others.
On a visit to Fort Lauderdale years later I was sad to find it had long since been a nightclub (“Baja”?). Is that, or anything else, still operating in the building now?
The Coral Ridge, Sunrise Cinemas, and the Plantation were THE modern theaters there in the mid-60s. I look back on these with a special fondness.
Since adult fare is mentioned in the description, this must be where I recall either “The Devil in Miss Jones” or “Deep Throat” playing before they settled in (forever and ever) at the Pussycat.
Thank you — again!
Thank you!
I take it those were the interiors; i.e., the curtains? Because I suspect the curtained wall coverings — especially if blue/green in theater #2 — might be what I’d remembered.
Wow, thanks for the write-up.
Maybe not a groundbreaking movie for you, but a groundbreaking post in How Many Ways Are There to F* Up a Presentation of a Movie. Holy crap. Glad to hear how you were able to save your audiences from that last travesty. Wow. (Oh, I already said that.)
I was 12 when we were living in Fort Lauderdale while it was playing in Miami Beach, our nearest destination for roadshow engagements. Though my family had always liked musicals, this one flew under their radar, and it would be at least another year anyway before we started going down there to attend roadshows.
In the meantime, I was a musical kid and had gotten the soundtrack album and played it to death, completely thrilled by this discovery of Leonard Bernstein. I really drove everyone nuts with it. When it opened in general release at Fort Lauderdale’s Warnor Theatre (in March 1963, according to Miami News ads), I was there, alone, on the first night, and was blown away. I could talk of nothing else. Driving everyone even crazier, I then acquired the complete score and played it at the piano every day.
The family returned to the film with me a few times as it made its eventual rounds among other theaters in the area, and they did love it, if not quite with the passion I had for it. With all of its faults, this film version has so many great things going for it it’s not even funny. Happy 50th, and many more!
David, thanks for taking the time to write that up. It’s a great read, and I agree that it should appear on the Loew’s State page, too.
And seriously, quit worrying about the length of a post. NOW. Just drop it. That’s practically a non-issue these days, anyway, ESPECIALLY on a site so magnificently redesigned as this one has been. You obviously have plenty to contribute, so just forget about length or any other restrictions… and go write some more!
I’m no expert on finding these things myself, but here’s a link that was posted earlier in this thread:
http://cinematreasures.org/blog/2009/11/18/happy-50th-ben-hur
Go there and scroll way down for David’s post.
And by the way, David, thank you for a delightful read!
When was Lincoln Road malled? Sometime in the 1960s, right? But which year?