Comments from Al Alvarez

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Apollo Theatre on Jan 20, 2010 at 4:17 pm

Some posters who were regular Apollo patrons found my previous suggestion that the theatre played art but sold sleaze, was offensive.

That photo is a perfect example. “THREE FORBIDDEN STORIES” was never advertised this way anywhere else except perhaps drive-ins.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's 7th Avenue Theatre on Jan 20, 2010 at 4:06 pm

To clarify,

I don’t see where it says Harlem Casino Theatre here. It was indeed a nightclub before Loews took it over.

The photo is of the Loews movie theatre playing “CAMILLE”. At times during its movie years it would stop showing movies and play legitimate plays. No other Loews house did that.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about New Amsterdam Theatre on Jan 20, 2010 at 2:33 pm

The New Amsterdam was a full time movie house from 1937 to 1982.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's 7th Avenue Theatre on Jan 20, 2010 at 7:49 am

http://www.fromthesquare.org/?p=370

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's 7th Avenue Theatre on Jan 20, 2010 at 7:47 am

aka Harlem Casino

http://gotham.fromthesquare.org/?p=79

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's 7th Avenue Theatre on Jan 20, 2010 at 7:39 am

The Seventh Avenue, the only Loews house to sometimes play legitimate theatre.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Savoy Theatre on Jan 19, 2010 at 5:35 pm

The Savoy stopped operating in early September 1952.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about City Theatre on Jan 19, 2010 at 3:52 pm

This disappears from the New York Times movie ad pages around March 16, 1952.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about City Hall Theatre on Jan 19, 2010 at 3:39 pm

This was still listed as open in the Film Daily Yearbook for 1946. It is listed as closed in the 1947 edition.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Beverly Theatre on Jan 19, 2010 at 12:51 pm

This closed around May 17, 1956 when it disappeared from the New York Times movie pages after a run of “DIABOLIQUE”.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Movieland on Jan 19, 2010 at 11:14 am

A correction on the introduction:

“In 1965, the Odeon became the Forum, and a decade later, the Forum 47th Street.”

The Odeon became the Forum in mid-1959.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on Jan 19, 2010 at 10:22 am

Although the intro correctly states that the Globe became a full-time cinema in 1935, from 1927 to 1935 it spent more time each year as a motion picture theatre than as a live venue.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Victoria Theatre on Jan 19, 2010 at 10:11 am

Laffmovie should be added to previous names (1942-1943).

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Liberty Theatre on Jan 18, 2010 at 8:36 am

The Liberty became a full time cinema in 1933.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about O Cinema Miami Beach on Jan 18, 2010 at 8:08 am

The smaller house having 70mm was not rare for Miami twins as this was the designed for roadshows and longer runs in order to capitalize on the improved film terms.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Strand Theatre on Jan 17, 2010 at 10:37 am

I have been scanning these old Miami News pages Mike Rivest has been posting on CT and found very little information on the Strand.

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What does seem apparent from the ads is that there were three Strands in the Miami market.

The first opened at the turn of the century at North Miami Avenue and First Street (then Avenue D and Eleventh)and operated until 1924 showing movies, fights and legitimate theatre.

The second was an open air theatre on Ocean Drive and tenth in Miami Beach that mostly showed movies in 1926-1927. This the year the Seventh Avenue Theatre, listed here, opened. It then became the Strand in 1938 when Wometco took over.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Florida Theatre on Jan 17, 2010 at 9:55 am

This Miami News article contradicts Boxoffice and says the Florida is a remodel of the Rex.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Sunset Theatre on Jan 17, 2010 at 9:37 am

I found a Miami Herald article that confirms the Sunset opened in 1946 as the South Miami. In 1950 it became the Hiway and in 1952 it became the Sunset and was taken over by Wometco.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Southland Cinema on Jan 16, 2010 at 11:20 am

Operating in 1969 as the Under-Ground.

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Thanks to Mike Rivest for finding the Miami News online.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Biscayne Plaza Theatre on Jan 16, 2010 at 11:12 am

Mike, that paper has two other interesting finds.

The First is the re-opening of the Fotosho which had been torn down and rebuilt that year on the same spot. The second is the ad for the Cameo in Allapattah which I had never heard of.

The Riviera mentioned in the copy was in Homestead.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Paramount Theatre on Jan 16, 2010 at 10:58 am

Cool find, Mike.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Irving Place Theatre on Jan 15, 2010 at 6:09 pm

The Irving Place is often crediting for starting the first domestic Film Festival in 1942, a tribute to films from our allies.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Public Theater on Jan 15, 2010 at 5:00 pm

There was another Public theatre on second avenue and fourth street in the thirties that occasionally showed movies.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about People's Theatre on Jan 15, 2010 at 4:49 pm

The Peoples operated at least from 1930 to 1941.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Sun Sing Theatre on Jan 15, 2010 at 4:45 pm

I agree with Warren’s post of August 3, 2007 that this opened in 1921 as the New Strand.