Comments from Al Alvarez

Showing 1,401 - 1,425 of 3,427 comments

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about New Amsterdam Theatre on May 11, 2010 at 4:48 pm

That Church at the Mark Hellinger used to be at the Nederlander. They moved out due to the location so I am sure they have no intention of going back.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Henry Miller's Theatre on May 11, 2010 at 3:01 pm

On March 22, 2010, on his eightieth birthday, it was announced that Henry Miller’s Theatre would be renamed to honour American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Hippodrome Theatre on May 10, 2010 at 8:42 am

Beautiful shot. Note the Hotel Algonquin in the background.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Bryant Theatre on May 9, 2010 at 11:16 am

B.S Moss' Cameo Theatre, The Salon of the Cinema.

October 1927, program during the glamour years.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Movieland on May 6, 2010 at 1:10 pm

That photo is actually from March 1972 and the porn revolution was still in its infancy. “THE GODFATHER” was the State, “NICHOLAS AND ALEXANDRA” on roadshow at the Criterion, “FIDDLER ON THE ROOF” on roadshow at the Rivoli, “DIRTY HARRY” at the Embassy and “CABARET” at the Ziegfeld.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Heights Theater on May 4, 2010 at 7:07 pm

Thanks for your honesty, Gary27. So many on this forum have denied the sex angle of fifties and sixties ‘art house’ success.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about New Amsterdam Theatre on May 4, 2010 at 7:04 pm

LuisV, if you read that article again you will see that shows failed to open because they could not find the ‘right theatre’. It states that that some productions have resorted to second choice available theatres. Part of the reason there is a lack of theatres is that the three big theatre owners keep the numbers down so they can drive productions to places like the Nederlander. This was a major consideration in limiting the new 42nd Street locations when the Shuberts and Nederlanders and Jujamcyn fought 42nd street redevelopment in the seventies.

As tourists walk around they fill the seats at the shows that are in their face, not those on the side streets. The same way movies fill up. Hence a second rate cast of WICKED is still the biggest hit on Broadway. That wonderful production of HAIR was never full.

The Ziegfeld is still struggling and barely breaking even on world premieres, the way it did when I worked there twenty years ago. You and I may choose the Ziegfeld over a screen on 42nd street but most of my neighbors here on 42nd street never heard of the Ziegfeld.

The fact remains that if you have the right theatre, you have a much better shot.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about New Amsterdam Theatre on May 4, 2010 at 5:25 pm

LuisV, if that was true then the Empire would not consistently outgross the Ziegfeld which is just off the beaten-path. Every other theatre on Broadway or on Seventh Avenue that day and dated with the Ziegfeld outgrossed it. Move-overs from the Ziegfeld and Radio City Music Hall often picked up.

If location didn’t matter there would be no theatre district in Manhattan.

By the way, the lowest grossing musical on Broadway is HAIR at the Hirshfeld, on the wrong side of Eighth Avenue.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about New Amsterdam Theatre on May 4, 2010 at 2:49 pm

Bill, although it just opened it already has the second lowest attendance percentage for a musical on Broadway. The Tony nomination could help but so could getting out of the Nederlander.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about AMC Empire 25 on May 3, 2010 at 11:15 am

Justin, I don’t think any theatres were evacuated, not even legitimate theatres on the block where the attempt occurred.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Hialeah Theatre on Apr 30, 2010 at 8:23 am

The 1975 Miami News lists a Windsor Theatre. Does anyone know where that might have been?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Small cinemas buck the multiplex trend in offshore places in SW Florida on Apr 28, 2010 at 2:34 pm

75% of this island’s population is over 45 and 40% is over 65 years old. The median age is 60. It doesn’t take much to surmise they haven’t bought DVD players yet. Those are not good popcorn numbers.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Regal Times Square on Apr 27, 2010 at 6:30 pm

Why is digital “exciting”?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Apr 24, 2010 at 4:35 pm

Most Clearview Theatres were built by someone else, in this case Walter Reade. The Ziegfeld is like no other theatre and was described as having “New Orleans whorehouse decor” when it first opened. When the red velvet started to fade the theatre started looking classier.

“Ryan’s Daughter” holds the long run record.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Remembering Cinerama (Part 48: Orlando) on Apr 23, 2010 at 11:23 pm

Cool stuff!

Remember that pre-Disney World Orlando was a pretty slow town.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Future Kinopanorama Cinema in Australia on Apr 23, 2010 at 8:03 am

I think this is Russian Cinerama, not Drive-In movies.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Davie Boulevard Drive-In on Apr 22, 2010 at 1:43 pm

This was already open in 1955.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Lauderhill Theatre on Apr 18, 2010 at 7:16 pm

S Porridge, I checked The Miami News for April 1972 it appears that the second Lauderhill opened the same week as the transfer from Loews to GCC. I suspect it took a while to change all the signs but I don’t think there was ever a case where each company ran one of the sites. The 16th Street Lauderhill opened as the Lauderhill II.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Lauderhill Theatre on Apr 18, 2010 at 1:31 pm

This should be listed as the Lauderhill and not Loews Lauderhill as it was only a Loews theatre for five years before it was sold to GCC.

It was located in the city of Lauderhill, not Fort Lauderdale, and it was already a GCC house when they opened the 16th Street Lauderhill location nearby.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about City Council approves financing for IMAX screen at Wichita area theater on Apr 13, 2010 at 7:36 pm

So taxes that would normally go to build schools or fix roads will be used to create a profit-making commercial venue that will compete with struggling local theatres. I wonder how many crooked Wichita politicians they had to buy in order to get public funds passed on to a private enterprise?

I see that Bush-era economic abuse is still alive and well in the Midwest.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Lafayette Theatre on Apr 11, 2010 at 2:12 pm

“The Graduate” was labeled a comedy by its studio in 1968 when it won the Golden Globe in that category.

It is silly to argue the point based on 2010 values. “The Graduate” is a satire of the ridiculous values of the ‘older’ generation made for 17 year old movie-goers who thought that being seduced by your girlfriend’s mother and being told to dedicate your life to making “plastics” was the height of absurdity.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about AMC Lincoln Square 13 on Apr 10, 2010 at 9:17 am

The Lincoln Square only has the real IMAX. “Alice In Wonderland” shows at midnight only.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Could the 3D fad die like it did during the 50's? on Apr 5, 2010 at 9:26 am

Already 3D is becoming a gimmick to attract American kids to theatres and to prop up a stinker like “CLASH OF THE TITANS”. That is exactly what killed 3D the last two times when the US was still the major market.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Could the 3D fad die like it did during the 50's? on Apr 5, 2010 at 7:53 am

I am not so sure “AVATAR” will be able to save 3D. It is the highest grossing film of the year in both 3D and non-3D markets. The same cannot be said of other 3D titles and the US boxoffice does not drive technology changes anymore. China and India do.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Bunche Theatre on Mar 31, 2010 at 10:36 pm

2299 W. Bunche Park Drive places it where it should have been located.