Comments from Al Alvarez

Showing 1,301 - 1,325 of 3,454 comments

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rialto Theatre on Oct 19, 2010 at 8:33 am

Woody, I think that photo may have been just after the opening as the Warner. By the time it closed the 42nd Street marquee was long gone.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Warner Bros. cancels 3D release of "Harry Potter" film on Oct 16, 2010 at 8:05 pm

This from Boxoffice Mojo:

“Jackass 3-D had 2,452 locations presenting the picture in the 3D illusion, and the 3D showings accounted for close to 90 percent of business. That means the initial attendance gains over the previous Jackass movies were not commensurate with the gross gains, and that Jackass 3D did not break the Fall single-day attendance record.”

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Happy 55th, Todd-AO & "Oklahoma!" on Oct 16, 2010 at 7:52 pm

There is an awful movie based on her/his life, “The Christine Jorgensen Story”.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Victoria Theatre on Oct 15, 2010 at 8:27 pm

A September 7, 1943 article in the New York Times explains how this location became an outlet for Russian films in 1943-1944.

Maurice Maurer, owner of the lease for several Times Square theatres including the Victoria, sold his lease to the Stanley, which had been an established outlet for Russian films since 1941. He then competed with the sucessful Stanley by programming first-run films from Russia (or about Russia) at the Victoria for almost a year.

Just prior to this it had been the Laffmovie and the often raided Gaiety Burlesque.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Happy 50th, "Spartacus" on Oct 13, 2010 at 11:48 pm

The original Miami run was such a disappointment for Wometco that they refused to show Road Show films for many year at any of their theatres.

“SPARTACUS” was eventually moved to touristy South Beach for a few weeks, but the film was badly handled in that market.

The 163rd Street theatre was a ‘neighborhood run’ mall location that should never have been expected to succeed with a long run Road Show release.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Happy 55th, Todd-AO & "Oklahoma!" on Oct 13, 2010 at 11:40 pm

1956 Miami Beach was the best place to catch the wealthy elite New Yorkers on summer vacation. It was not about Florida, it was about Miami tourism.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Greenwich Theatre on Oct 11, 2010 at 10:02 pm

That’s the Art Greenwich in DAISY KENYON.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about New Delancey Theatre on Oct 2, 2010 at 3:13 pm

It sure was. Maybe they were aiming at the movie crowd.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about New Delancey Theatre on Oct 2, 2010 at 11:16 am

That’s the Paramount Cafeteria, John.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Apollo Theatre on Oct 1, 2010 at 11:54 am

The female lead is accosted by a masher while looking at Brigitte Bardot displays at the entrance to the Apollo in the John Cassavetes film “SHADOWS”. The scene is a magical snapshot of 42nd street, circa 1959.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Manor Art Cinema on Sep 30, 2010 at 11:38 am

Are you forgetting that the Cinematheque in Miami had been doing a similar program since the seventies and showed those same film films first?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Green Acres Cinemas on Sep 26, 2010 at 6:23 pm

Here it is Markie:

/theaters/4665/

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Greenwich Theatre on Sep 23, 2010 at 2:19 pm

The Village theatre on Eighth Avenue I referred to on February 2 must have been this one.

/theaters/31654/

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Paramount Theatre on Sep 22, 2010 at 9:43 pm

Brad, see my post from May 30 above.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Baronet and Coronet Theatre on Sep 18, 2010 at 11:55 am

A shot of the Arcadia marquee can be seen in the 1950 film “YOUNG MAN WITH A HORN” during the final ten minute montage of Kirk Douglas wandering around Manhattan under the third avenue El.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Summer BO down 6% from last year on Sep 17, 2010 at 2:06 am

It’s not the theatres. It never has been.

It it simply a bad product year motivated, as always, by huge previous grosses for bad movies like THE DARK KNIGHT Batman killer and those LORD OF THE RINGS literature abortions.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Summer BO down 6% from last year on Sep 16, 2010 at 4:07 pm

Edward, summer movies have always included junk but never as bad this past summer.

“What other great movies were released in the summer of 1975, along with Jaws?”

THE RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER, LOVE AND DEATH, NASHVILLE, THE MAN IN THE GLASS BOOTH plus numerous Disney re-releases even during a product shortage year.

“What other perennials were released the same timeframe in 1977, the summer of Star Wars?”

NEW YORK NEW YORK, CRIA!, THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, AGUIRRE- THE WRATH OF GOD, SUSPIRIA, THE HILLS HAVE EYES, plus Disney re-releases

Or 1981, the summer of Raiders?

OUTLAND, FOR YOUE EYES ONLY, THE GREAT MUPPET CAPER, THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, LILI MARLEEN, ARTHUR, EYE OF THE NEEDLE, AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, PRINCE OF THE CITY.

Or 1984, the summer of Ghostbusters?

STAR TREK III, ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA, THE KARATE KID, GREMLINS, ANOTHER COUNTRY, THE POPE OF GREENWICH VILLAGE, THE 4TH MAN, THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY, THE NEVERENDING STORY, PURPLE RAIN, TIGHTROPE, CHOOSE ME.

“Let’s go back 25 years, to 1985. Back to the Future was a smash, but what else came out that summer?”

You name a lot of fun films and classics including:
Cocoon, The Emerald Forest, The Goonies, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, National Lampoon’s European Vacation, Pale Rider, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, Prizzi’s Honor, Rambo: First Blood Part 2, St. Elmo’s Fire, A View to a Kill.

You left out THE HOME AND THE WORLD, A FLASH OF GREEN, THE COCA-COLA KID, THE HOLY INNOCENTS.

Can you name that many fun films or classics in the summer of 2010? I can only name three passable titles all summer. That’s possibly the worst record since theatre air conditioning was invented. That the drop was only 6% is a great testament to the power of opening weekend marketing.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Henry Miller's Theatre on Sep 16, 2010 at 8:43 am

CWalcak, most classic theatres that operate as multiplexes today have little or nothing left of the original interior shell.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's Capitol Theatre on Sep 11, 2010 at 11:53 pm

Nope. “PLANET OF THE APES”.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Regal Battery Park on Sep 11, 2010 at 12:02 pm

This theatre opened in July 2000, so the tenth anniversary was two months ago.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Symphony Space/Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre on Sep 9, 2010 at 4:32 pm

By the way Robert, Cinema 16 was a club that screened films at different venues all over Manhattan. “Pandora’s Box” may well have shown at the Thalia through Cinema 16 in the fifties and sixties.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Symphony Space/Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre on Sep 9, 2010 at 1:49 pm

It was shown as “LULU”.

View link

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Symphony Space/Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre on Sep 9, 2010 at 11:36 am

Robert,

The Thalia ran some Pabst films in 1952 and 1960.

View link

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Riverside Theatre on Sep 8, 2010 at 11:25 am

Thank you Joe. These images appear to be rare.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about New Amsterdam Theatre on Sep 8, 2010 at 11:12 am

According to the book “ A Journey Into Dorothy Parker’s New York” (2005, Kevin C. Fitzpatrick), the New Amsterdam closed as a movie house in 1985.