THX failed some New York houses for good reasons, then used them in their trade advertising to promote the certification anyway. The failed theatres were then granted certificates anyway when chains stopped paying them. They then awarded certificates to theatres that paid without meeting the requirements at all. They ruined their own brand years ago.
Although it is mostly based maintaining noise reduction in the room, some certified theatres have horrible air conditioning and subway rumbling problems.
The 1943 Film Daily Yearbook lists it with 2163 seats. The multiplex probably used lobby space as well. The proscenium remains as storage area behind the last two screens.
According to the book series “HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN CINEMA” (The Talkies, 1926-1931), the Harlem Apollo was briefly converted into a miniature golf location during the depression, known then as TOM THUMB GOLF.
Some of the worst theatres around the world have THX certificates. Although I admit Lincoln Square has great sound, THX certified means nothing except that a theatre paid to be certified.
When Lucas threatened not to play the STAR WARS sequels at non-certified theatres, suddenly some of the worst theatres around the world became certified overnight.
I would like to believe that the profits of successful low budget films like “PRECIOUS” will bring in a slew of socially conscious well-acted urban dramas about real people.
I am afraid we are in for a few years of heroin-chick, retro-goth, pale, over-bloated, big budget, cliched teenage vampire flicks instead.
And of course there will be more lousy money-losing dumb comic-book action films strictly designed to sell gaming software.
Without a doubt, the worst decade in 100 years of movie-making…
Comic book CGI movies will go down in history the same way we now view early sound movies with insipid dialogue written by incompetent writers just to make dialogue noise.
The nadir is the fatalist mess that was “THE DARK KNIGHT” with tractor trailers stupidly flying into the air and blowing up just because a motorcycle hit them and a wimp BATMAN outwitted by the JOKER in the editing room in order to capitalize on a mediocre young dead actor’s fame. It has already killed the franchise.
The peak will be the last “STAR TREK” movie, the only CGI movie that actually understands the concept of suspension of disbelief. It resurrected the franchise and was solid entertainment.
In the future CGI will be used the way it was in “BENJAMIN BUTTON” and “SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE” and not as the tired gimmick it is being mostly used for in moron movies like “2012”.
3D will continue to be only for kid films like “UP”. I think Pocahontas rip-off “AVATAR” will make sure 3D is never again used for anything but kid films.
The Fine Arts closed in 1978 with “THE DUELLISTS”. The landlord refused to renew the lease and Walter Reade was forced to close the site and move the film to the Waverly.
Screen ads in Europe are well-made short films often with edgy special effects, often funny and even include cursing and nudity when it fits the film rating. They are usually shown in theatres BEFORE they are shown on TV and sometimes even get applause from the audience.
Screen ads in the US tend to be the same obnoxious hard-sell crap we see on TV. This is why Americans resent and often boo them.
When I was a kid growing up in Miami in the sixties the local theatres always advertised local car dealers, newspapers and area restaurants.
You still have to be careful what you allow in. Fried chicken bones and potato chips can play havoc in an auditorium and you will lose just as many customers if you have no rules.
Those big coats also hide guns, beer and whiskey at the kid shows. Shopping bags can include pets, pet food (live crickets), and bombs. When we started checking we found all of the above.
Marcus Loew said “This is the most pretentious of the houses on our string, because my better judgment was over-balanced by my sentimentalism and my longing to do something better here than I ever did before.”
Up to the 1930’s “pretentious” meant “luxurious” and did not have the negative connotations assigned to the word today.
If you check out the website, the $30 tickets are the cheap seats on the sides and back of the auditoriums. Top price in NYC is still around $9 for a child and Clearview is not selling tickets, so I suspect a Disney four-wall gouge fest.
Those are not really movie grosses. The $50 tickets include Mardi Gras Beads, an Exclusive Limited Edition Collectible Lithograph and the Ultimate Disney Experience at the Roseland Ballroom after the movie.
Reminds me of when we sold “DICK TRACY” T-shirts as part the midnight previews to jack up the opening grosses for that stinker.
The old Miami opened in 1937 and became the Town in 1946 when the Miami above was about to open, according to Boxoffice Magazine.
I previously suspected there may have been another silent House called Miami in that still standing tall Hotel building in the postcards but have record of one.
Thanks, Ken! Reminds me of New York where Cinema 3, a single screen inside the Plaza Hotel, was blocks away from Cinema I & II and it got even stranger when separate companies operated the two locations. The matter was further complicated by the Plaza Theatre located between the two, making it a scavenger hunt for tourists trying to find their movie.
Well, good films open and close immediately in NYC once that is in the ad. Avoid Magnolia Six Shooter Films like the plague. They kill them before they open.
The 1943 Film Daily Year Book lists a Newsreel Theatre at 74 E. 42nd street as well as the aforementioned Air Lines theatre at 42nd and Park.
Does anyone know if all three theatres were the same?
THX failed some New York houses for good reasons, then used them in their trade advertising to promote the certification anyway. The failed theatres were then granted certificates anyway when chains stopped paying them. They then awarded certificates to theatres that paid without meeting the requirements at all. They ruined their own brand years ago.
Although it is mostly based maintaining noise reduction in the room, some certified theatres have horrible air conditioning and subway rumbling problems.
THX means nothing.
So, to sum things up.
THX certification means nothing. If I pay enough I can get a certificated even though my sound is shit.
The 1943 Film Daily Yearbook lists it with 2163 seats. The multiplex probably used lobby space as well. The proscenium remains as storage area behind the last two screens.
That aerial shows the screen facing away from Biscayne Boulevard, allowing for x-rated material without too much controversy.
If it was still open today FIU might have something to say.
According to the book series “HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN CINEMA” (The Talkies, 1926-1931), the Harlem Apollo was briefly converted into a miniature golf location during the depression, known then as TOM THUMB GOLF.
Some of the worst theatres around the world have THX certificates. Although I admit Lincoln Square has great sound, THX certified means nothing except that a theatre paid to be certified.
When Lucas threatened not to play the STAR WARS sequels at non-certified theatres, suddenly some of the worst theatres around the world became certified overnight.
I would like to believe that the profits of successful low budget films like “PRECIOUS” will bring in a slew of socially conscious well-acted urban dramas about real people.
I am afraid we are in for a few years of heroin-chick, retro-goth, pale, over-bloated, big budget, cliched teenage vampire flicks instead.
And of course there will be more lousy money-losing dumb comic-book action films strictly designed to sell gaming software.
Without a doubt, the worst decade in 100 years of movie-making…
Comic book CGI movies will go down in history the same way we now view early sound movies with insipid dialogue written by incompetent writers just to make dialogue noise.
The nadir is the fatalist mess that was “THE DARK KNIGHT” with tractor trailers stupidly flying into the air and blowing up just because a motorcycle hit them and a wimp BATMAN outwitted by the JOKER in the editing room in order to capitalize on a mediocre young dead actor’s fame. It has already killed the franchise.
The peak will be the last “STAR TREK” movie, the only CGI movie that actually understands the concept of suspension of disbelief. It resurrected the franchise and was solid entertainment.
In the future CGI will be used the way it was in “BENJAMIN BUTTON” and “SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE” and not as the tired gimmick it is being mostly used for in moron movies like “2012”.
3D will continue to be only for kid films like “UP”. I think Pocahontas rip-off “AVATAR” will make sure 3D is never again used for anything but kid films.
If they used the used the bar area for theatre space then my former loft apartment is now rightfully a movie theatre and all is right with the world.
Where did the WAVERLY marquee sign go? It was once in the bar.
The Fine Arts closed in 1978 with “THE DUELLISTS”. The landlord refused to renew the lease and Walter Reade was forced to close the site and move the film to the Waverly.
Screen ads in Europe are well-made short films often with edgy special effects, often funny and even include cursing and nudity when it fits the film rating. They are usually shown in theatres BEFORE they are shown on TV and sometimes even get applause from the audience.
Screen ads in the US tend to be the same obnoxious hard-sell crap we see on TV. This is why Americans resent and often boo them.
When I was a kid growing up in Miami in the sixties the local theatres always advertised local car dealers, newspapers and area restaurants.
Next time you are asked to pay $8.50 for a hot dog, blame this silly bitch, not Cinemark. All stupid criminals cost all of us.
View link
No one has ever successfully sued a theatre for not allowing outside food and won.
Theatres can allow what they please inside as long as they are consistent and do not discriminate. They are NOT public spaces.
Remember those discount theatres with discount concession stands? Probably not. They are, with rare exceptions, out of business.
Try bringing your popcorn into a Broadway show or a Yankee game next time. And their snack bars make AMC and Regal a bargain.
I wish to thank those chains in advance for trying to keep their theatres clean and their businesses open and profitable.
Oh, I forgot the video recorder, complete with tripod.
You still have to be careful what you allow in. Fried chicken bones and potato chips can play havoc in an auditorium and you will lose just as many customers if you have no rules.
Those big coats also hide guns, beer and whiskey at the kid shows. Shopping bags can include pets, pet food (live crickets), and bombs. When we started checking we found all of the above.
The New 42nd Street Project would be a start.
http://www.new42.org/about_history_times.cfm
From the 2005 post above:
Marcus Loew said “This is the most pretentious of the houses on our string, because my better judgment was over-balanced by my sentimentalism and my longing to do something better here than I ever did before.”
Up to the 1930’s “pretentious” meant “luxurious” and did not have the negative connotations assigned to the word today.
If you check out the website, the $30 tickets are the cheap seats on the sides and back of the auditoriums. Top price in NYC is still around $9 for a child and Clearview is not selling tickets, so I suspect a Disney four-wall gouge fest.
View link
Those are not really movie grosses. The $50 tickets include Mardi Gras Beads, an Exclusive Limited Edition Collectible Lithograph and the Ultimate Disney Experience at the Roseland Ballroom after the movie.
Reminds me of when we sold “DICK TRACY” T-shirts as part the midnight previews to jack up the opening grosses for that stinker.
The Valentino name started at the 1993 re-opening.
Louis,
The old Miami opened in 1937 and became the Town in 1946 when the Miami above was about to open, according to Boxoffice Magazine.
I previously suspected there may have been another silent House called Miami in that still standing tall Hotel building in the postcards but have record of one.
Thanks, Ken! Reminds me of New York where Cinema 3, a single screen inside the Plaza Hotel, was blocks away from Cinema I & II and it got even stranger when separate companies operated the two locations. The matter was further complicated by the Plaza Theatre located between the two, making it a scavenger hunt for tourists trying to find their movie.
Ken, where were Studios 1-5?
Well, good films open and close immediately in NYC once that is in the ad. Avoid Magnolia Six Shooter Films like the plague. They kill them before they open.