stevenj
commented about
el lidoon
Oct 23, 2020 at 9:10 am
English translation:
In its beginnings, this new “Meeting Center for all the elegant ladies” (according to its slogan), had black light, artificial climate, (a true luxury then) ventilation system, as well as a good number of security entrances and exits, with the capacity to receive 1,325 spectators. Since its inauguration, the Lido cinema was, together with the Lindavista, one of the main apples of the discord between national and foreign film production companies and distributors, which dedicated entire pages to them in the most important newspapers of the country in which, incidentally , announced the exclusive premieres that they were fighting to allocate for each of these rooms. The Lido began its activities with the screening of the film Hunting for a boyfriend (His cardborad lover), by Georges Cukor and starring Norma Shearer and Robert Taylor. Until infinity … and beyond …! As can be seen in this image taken from the interior of the enclosure in the 40s, the only limit for the architect S. Charles Lee was imagination (and ah pa'pinche imagination that this bastard was loaded!) Check out the garigoledas details that They “adorned” the walls of the cinema.
bigjoe55….Don’t know what month in 1980 you were there but this blog post for the Vista Theatre says that Mike Thomas (who ran several SF theatres) “rescued” it in 1980 and turned it into a revival house.
bigjoe59….If I remember correctly, Titanic opened around Christmas time in 1997 at the Presidio on Chestnut St and had a fairly long run of several months. You probably saw it there.
jordanlage…..I just purchased a book, Gold Mountain Big City published this year, about Ken Cathcart, a 1930’s-60’s mapmaker/photographer/chronicler of Chinatown history whose 1947 illustrated map of Chinatown this fascinating book details. The Mandarin Theatre is included on Cathcart’s map and the author of the book (Jim Schein) includes a couple of photos and an already uploaded postcard in Photos. The text for the Mandarin reads in part, “It was a traditional Chinese theatre employing live actors, depicting traditional stories and operatic tales with elaborate costumes and sets. The 1920’s and 30’s constituted the golden age of Chinese opera in the United States, with female performers leading the charge (as opposed to the male dominated opera theaters in China at the time).
This theater is part of the Toho Theaters chain. It is in the Yurakucho area near Yurakucho Station and adjacent to the Ginza. It’s address is 2-2-3 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
I finally have had the time to locate and scan the slides I took in August 1976 of Dan McLean on stage spinning the Ten O Win wheel and posted them in the photo section.
According to Michael Coate’s Showcase Presentations list for Silicon Valley, Doctor Zhivago opened August 17, 1966 (58 weeks) at Cinema 21, The Sound of Music opened July 12, 1966 (67 weeks) at Cinema 22 and The Sand Pebbles opened March 14, 1967 at Cinema 23 (34 weeks).
Indeed. This theater has 3699 so hopefully, even with limited capacity it will eventually come back ok. But the smaller and/or independent theaters (of any size) are likely to have problems. My closest local theater (an independent) has 1400 seats but in the past only the orchestra floor seating was open. Seems they were doing a good business with their varied programming up until the shutdowns but may have to reopen the balcony to increase the capacity.
robboehm Parts of California, yes. But the governor has allowed counties or groups of counties in the same geographical area to supercede state covid regulations based on public health data. We have been told here in the Bay Area that reopening will be very slow. In SF where I live the mayor has said “August” for theaters reopening (that could change) and at that only limited capacity allowed.
New York Times article from June 9 on AMC reopening some of it’s theaters in July. I’m posting here since this is where the conversation is but if someone wants to move it to the main page be my guest.
“youtube UA Theater Westwood Animal Crackers” typed into a goggle search brought the May 23, 1974 Animal Crackers re premiere video up. There is no sound and Marx is wearing a pith helmet and smoking a cigar.
“Groucho Marx and companion Erin Fleming arrive at the May 23, 1974 repremiere of ANIMAL CRACKERS at the U.A. Westwood Theater. The campaign to get ANIMAL CRACKERS back in theaters after it was tied up in litigation for decades was spearheaded by UCLA student Steve Stoliar, who later became Groucho’s secretary. Also shown are ANIMAL CRACKERS director Victor Heerman, Groucho’s longtime publicist Bill Feeder, and rocker Alice Cooper. At the end is footage of the news story on a TV set. (This silent, Super 8 footage was taken by Michael W. Johnson.)”
English translation:
In its beginnings, this new “Meeting Center for all the elegant ladies” (according to its slogan), had black light, artificial climate, (a true luxury then) ventilation system, as well as a good number of security entrances and exits, with the capacity to receive 1,325 spectators. Since its inauguration, the Lido cinema was, together with the Lindavista, one of the main apples of the discord between national and foreign film production companies and distributors, which dedicated entire pages to them in the most important newspapers of the country in which, incidentally , announced the exclusive premieres that they were fighting to allocate for each of these rooms. The Lido began its activities with the screening of the film Hunting for a boyfriend (His cardborad lover), by Georges Cukor and starring Norma Shearer and Robert Taylor. Until infinity … and beyond …! As can be seen in this image taken from the interior of the enclosure in the 40s, the only limit for the architect S. Charles Lee was imagination (and ah pa'pinche imagination that this bastard was loaded!) Check out the garigoledas details that They “adorned” the walls of the cinema.
SF Chronicle archives.
1983 photo credited to Chris Stewart.
Photo dated May 12, 1988 by Scott Sommerdorf, SF Chronicle.
Photo credited to Clem Albers SF Chronicle. Dated 1974.
Normally I would put in a direct link but CT thought it was spam so you’ll have to cut and paste into your browser.
bigjoe55….Don’t know what month in 1980 you were there but this blog post for the Vista Theatre says that Mike Thomas (who ran several SF theatres) “rescued” it in 1980 and turned it into a revival house.
www.losangelestheatres.blogspot.com/2017/02/vista-theatre.html
bigjoe59….If I remember correctly, Titanic opened around Christmas time in 1997 at the Presidio on Chestnut St and had a fairly long run of several months. You probably saw it there.
jordanlage…..I just purchased a book, Gold Mountain Big City published this year, about Ken Cathcart, a 1930’s-60’s mapmaker/photographer/chronicler of Chinatown history whose 1947 illustrated map of Chinatown this fascinating book details. The Mandarin Theatre is included on Cathcart’s map and the author of the book (Jim Schein) includes a couple of photos and an already uploaded postcard in Photos. The text for the Mandarin reads in part, “It was a traditional Chinese theatre employing live actors, depicting traditional stories and operatic tales with elaborate costumes and sets. The 1920’s and 30’s constituted the golden age of Chinese opera in the United States, with female performers leading the charge (as opposed to the male dominated opera theaters in China at the time).
Photo credited to SF History Center, SF Public Library.
Photo credited to Alex Hobbs, Found SF.
4 new photos added from SF Public Library and Found SF.
July 15, 1927. Photo from SF History Center, SF Public Library.
Photo of 1935 aerial view of Yurakucho with the Yurazuka labeled “C” added to Photos.
This theater is part of the Toho Theaters chain. It is in the Yurakucho area near Yurakucho Station and adjacent to the Ginza. It’s address is 2-2-3 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Yurakuza
I scanned from my copy of Ben M Hall’s book The Best Remaining Seats and uploaded to Photos the Roxy’s final day ad for The Wind Cannot Read.
I finally have had the time to locate and scan the slides I took in August 1976 of Dan McLean on stage spinning the Ten O Win wheel and posted them in the photo section.
1033 Kearney St. Home of the former Lusty Lady.
According to Michael Coate’s Showcase Presentations list for Silicon Valley, Doctor Zhivago opened August 17, 1966 (58 weeks) at Cinema 21, The Sound of Music opened July 12, 1966 (67 weeks) at Cinema 22 and The Sand Pebbles opened March 14, 1967 at Cinema 23 (34 weeks).
walterk – thanks for the detailed info.
Indeed. This theater has 3699 so hopefully, even with limited capacity it will eventually come back ok. But the smaller and/or independent theaters (of any size) are likely to have problems. My closest local theater (an independent) has 1400 seats but in the past only the orchestra floor seating was open. Seems they were doing a good business with their varied programming up until the shutdowns but may have to reopen the balcony to increase the capacity.
robboehm Parts of California, yes. But the governor has allowed counties or groups of counties in the same geographical area to supercede state covid regulations based on public health data. We have been told here in the Bay Area that reopening will be very slow. In SF where I live the mayor has said “August” for theaters reopening (that could change) and at that only limited capacity allowed.
New York Times article from June 9 on AMC reopening some of it’s theaters in July. I’m posting here since this is where the conversation is but if someone wants to move it to the main page be my guest.
AMC
“What will SF movie theaters look like when the pandemic wanes?”
SFGate story Here
“youtube UA Theater Westwood Animal Crackers” typed into a goggle search brought the May 23, 1974 Animal Crackers re premiere video up. There is no sound and Marx is wearing a pith helmet and smoking a cigar.
“Groucho Marx and companion Erin Fleming arrive at the May 23, 1974 repremiere of ANIMAL CRACKERS at the U.A. Westwood Theater. The campaign to get ANIMAL CRACKERS back in theaters after it was tied up in litigation for decades was spearheaded by UCLA student Steve Stoliar, who later became Groucho’s secretary. Also shown are ANIMAL CRACKERS director Victor Heerman, Groucho’s longtime publicist Bill Feeder, and rocker Alice Cooper. At the end is footage of the news story on a TV set. (This silent, Super 8 footage was taken by Michael W. Johnson.)”
Animal Crackers Re Premiere