Comments from Al Alvarez

Showing 1,451 - 1,475 of 3,454 comments

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Future Kinopanorama Cinema in Australia on Apr 23, 2010 at 6:03 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 11:43 am

This was already open in 1955.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Lauderhill Mall Cinemas 1 & 2 on Apr 18, 2010 at 5:16 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 Mall Cinemas 1 & 2 on Apr 18, 2010 at 11:31 am

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 5:36 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 12:12 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 7:17 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 7:26 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 5:53 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 8:36 pm

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

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Sony studio head asks for healthier food concessions at theaters on Mar 25, 2010 at 12:58 pm

Try selling healthy snacks at an indulgence activity like the movies and get prepared to throw away much more than you sell.

Perhaps Mr. Lynton expects kids to eat yogurt and fruit while watching the behavioral examples set by his studio with movies like “PAUL BLART: MALL COP” and “CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS”.

Hypocrite.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Southland Cinema on Mar 24, 2010 at 5:26 am

Jeff, the two theatres you mention are the Biscayne Twin and the Holiday. The Holiday was a successful dollar house for many years.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Capitol Theater on Mar 23, 2010 at 9:15 pm

Was that Regal Brewery the one next to Booker T. Washington High (later Junior) High? If so, I remember it well when I went to school there during the first year of integration. A sour smell fill the air all day long at the school.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Tower Theater on Mar 22, 2010 at 1:41 pm

“Gallos” are roosters, Spanish slang for the term “Boys Don’t Cry”.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Tower Theater on Mar 22, 2010 at 12:07 pm

Joe, that thirties remodel was strictly cosmetic. Wometco took it over and made it look more contemporary with Art Deco touches.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's Yorkville Theatre on Mar 22, 2010 at 12:03 pm

As far as I can tell, the Yorkville ran German operettas and legit shows after the Loews days, but not movies.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Another cell phone "innovation:" a movie that calls you on Mar 21, 2010 at 7:14 pm

What? Who is this? I can’t hear. Yes, I am the screenwriter. There must be a bad connection. Call me back and I’ll tell ya, okay? No, he didn’t do it. What? I can’t hear you. It was the other guy. Yeah, forewing…Fuuushowwoing, F-O-R-E-S-H-O-W-I-N-G…FORESHADOWING! What do you mean what is that?

Is this really the future of the movies?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's Yorkville Theatre on Mar 16, 2010 at 12:20 pm

It was directly across the street from the other two Loews, between Third and Lexington.

View link

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rialto Theatre on Mar 14, 2010 at 9:59 am

From the post above, the Dead End Kids fit the policy:

42nd Street Memories * Jerry Kovar on Aug 15, 2006 at 5:52am

  • Copyright 2006 The New York Times Company

“The Rialto opened for Christmas of 1935 with Frank Buck’s ‘'Fang and Claw.’‘ The theater’s manager, Arthur Mayer, saw the Rialto as distinctly masculine in tone. Most theaters, he said in a newspaper interview after the opening, were ’‘rococo, luxurious palaces for the uxorious,’‘ both in styling and choice of films. His theater, both in styling and presentations, sought to satisfy the ’‘ancient and unquenchable male thirst for mystery, menace and manslaughter.’‘ He was soon called the ’‘merchant of menace.’”

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cross County 8 on Mar 14, 2010 at 9:55 am

It was the UA four-plex that opened within months of the Cross County. The much newer UA Village Green really hurt the dog-eared older AMC Cross County when it opened as it attracted the younger suburban westward neighborhoods.

As usual, arrogant egocentric AMC blamed the managers for the drop in business.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Colony Theatre on Mar 12, 2010 at 6:29 am

Still listed as a Trans-Lux theatre in the 1959 Film Daily Yearbook.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Roosevelt Theatre on Mar 12, 2010 at 6:24 am

During its Cinerama stage this was operated by the Stanley Warner Cinerama Corp.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Hialeah Theatre on Mar 12, 2010 at 5:38 am

Interesting find, Harvey. I don’t remember, but apparently it was the case, even if short lived. Opa-Locka was always Aladdin’s historic turf so I guess this was close enough.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Times Theatre on Mar 11, 2010 at 5:17 pm

Still listed in the 1959 Film Daily Yearbook as a J.J. Theatre, as is the Tivoli.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cross County 8 on Mar 11, 2010 at 3:25 pm

I managed this theatre for a few months around 1987-1988. It was haven for the Century Village crowd in a tacky mall. We did have fun when “School Daze” opened and a hip black crowd showed up and danced to “Doin' the Bump” at every performance.