Comments from Al Alvarez

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Southport Cinema & Drafthouse on Jun 6, 2009 at 9:19 pm

Chris McGuire was a franchise deal similar to Jerry Lewis, so they had many different owners. Their sites were quickly passed on to other operators once mini cinemas became the norm for new builds.

I know the Reef was acquired by ABC Florida State (Plitt) for a few years as was the Chris McGuire Village in Hialeah, which closed as the Atlas Twin.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Palm Aire Cinema 3 on Jun 4, 2009 at 11:51 pm

I have a rough record of the years of operation for these but know little else about them. I posted a photo link for the Village 3 on the Southport page as they were both similar operations.

By the way, here is the site I use for zip codes as it helps CT list and map them easier.

http://www.zip-codes.com/search.asp

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Palm Aire Cinema 3 on Jun 4, 2009 at 9:46 pm

PEMBROKE PINES 3 – 1788 N UNIVERSITY DRIVE, PEMBROKE PINES
WESTFORK PLAZA 13 – 15977 W PINES BOULEVARD, PEMBROKE PINES
GULFSTREAM DRIVE-IN – 1482 E BEACH BOULEVARD, HALLANDALE
HALLANDALE DRIVE-IN – 831 N FEDERAL HIGHWAY, HALLANDALE
ARCADE (Hollywood)
RITZ (Hollywood)

and a number of older theatres I have no address for.

441 FAMILY DRIVE-IN
BROWN’S DRIVE-IN
FULL MOON
NORTH ANDREWS DRIVE-IN
NORTH RIDGE
OCEAN
OLDE TYME MOVIE HOUSE
QUEENE
SUNRISE DRIVE-IN
VILLAGE-3
WEST HOLLYWOOD DRIVE-IN
POMPANO DRIVE-IN
DANIA DRIVE-IN
STATE (Dania)
HALLANDALE

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Palm Aire Cinema 3 on Jun 4, 2009 at 8:57 pm

SUNRISE AT PINE PLAZA 11 – 4321 NW 88TH AVENUE, FT. LAUDERDALE
COCONUT CREEK DRAFTHOUSE 1&2 – 4801 COCONUT CREEK PKWY, COCONUT CREEK
MOVIES AT MARGATE 8 – 5455 W ATLANTIC BOULEVARD, MARGATE
CYPRESS CREEK STATION 16 – 6415 N ANDREWS BOULEVARD, FT. LAUDERDALE
MOVIES AT LAUDERHILL 13 – W COMMERCIAL BOULEVARD, LAUDERHILL
HOLIDAY SPRINGS 3 – 8026 W SAMPLE ROAD, FT. LAUDERDALE
TAMARAC 5 – 10036 W McNAB ROAD, TAMARAC
PARADISE 24 – 15601 SHERIDAN STREET, DAVIE
MOVIES AT PEMBROKE PINES 9 – 11350 PINES BOULEVARD, PEMBROKE PINES
CINEMA FOUR – 128 N UNIVERSITY DRIVE, PEMBROKE PINES

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Palm Aire Cinema 3 on Jun 4, 2009 at 8:41 pm

Great insight, S. Porridge.

I know of a few other Broward sites missing from CT that I know little about. Perhaps you could enter them if you know more about them.
Here they are:

8 AT WESTON – 1338 SW 160th STREET, SUNRISE
VALUE 6 – 1399 S. STATE ROAD 7, FT. LAUDERDALE
CINEMA CAFE 1 & 2 – 1455 SE 17TH STREET, FT. LAUDERDALE
DEERFIELD 5 – 2205 W HILLSBOROUGH ROAD, DEERFIELD
POMPANO 18 – 2315 N FEDERAL HIGHWAY,POMPANO
SAWGRASS 23 – 2600 NW 136th STREET, SUNRISE
FESTIVAL 8 – 2900 W SAMPLE ROAD,POMPANO
CORAL RIDGE 10 – 3401 N 26TH AVENUE, FT. LAUDERDALE
DEERFIELD MALL 8 – 3984 W HILLSBOROUGH ROAD, DEERFIELD

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Omni 10 on Jun 3, 2009 at 12:12 am

The additional four screens opened in 1985.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about AutoNation IMAX 3-D Theater on Jun 2, 2009 at 11:51 pm

This is now the AutoNation IMAX.

http://www.mods.org/IMAX/index.html

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on Jun 2, 2009 at 12:46 pm

Another look at the Hippodrome, then on Avenue B.

View link

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Gateway Theatre on Jun 1, 2009 at 2:43 pm

Can someone help with the location of this Village Cinema. It operated from 1968 to 1978 and closed as a triplex.

View photo

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Airdrome on Jun 1, 2009 at 2:30 pm

Two views of the Airdome:

View link

Note the two different spellings (AIRDROME and AIRDOME) used at the entrance. I have submitted “Airdome” as that was the most common listing.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on Jun 1, 2009 at 2:24 pm

A few views of the Hippodrome here:

View link

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Strand Theatre on Jun 1, 2009 at 2:05 pm

Correction, The Mank did show films in 1926-1928 but was mostly legitimate theatre.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Strand Theatre on Jun 1, 2009 at 1:58 pm

I just found some new information.

The downtown Strand in the photo above indeed predated this Strand and was operating in 1914.

The Park Theatre in this photo below was also known as the Mank theatre and did not show films.

View photo

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cineworld Cinema - Leicester Square on May 31, 2009 at 12:30 am

Since the Curzon Soho down the street with constant rumbling tube noise is also THX certified, what does that really mean?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Mega-Plex Guzzo Taschereau 18's owner ordered to pay $10,000 in damages for a search on May 31, 2009 at 12:21 am

Alas, in the U.S. we have the Bush/Cheney Patriot Act which means theatres can search as they please or toss your ass out.

Still, I recently saw a movie at the AMC Empire in New York along with a howling cat, property of a fellow patron with enough bags for a week’s travel.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Biscayne Twin on May 30, 2009 at 4:08 pm

The Biscayne Twin operated in 1980-1981 as a first run location. I remember seeing a weird little movie called “HAPPY BIRTHDAY,GEMINI” which starred Madeline Kahn and Rita Moreno and had its exclusive Miami run here.

I also remember The theatre failed to provide the advance required for “FLASH GORDON”, their Christmas 1980 film, and Universal did not deliver their print.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cine Palacio de la Musica on May 30, 2009 at 1:00 pm

El Palacio, 1960.

View link

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cutler Ridge Cinema on May 30, 2009 at 12:55 pm

The Cutler Ridge opens with “THE BIRDS”.

View link

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Strand Theatre on May 30, 2009 at 12:15 am

I think this may have been an older, pre-1918 Strand. That same photo site also has a Star Theatre in Miami that I have never heard of.

The Center and Parkway are on CT already.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Miami Theatre on May 30, 2009 at 12:11 am

Louis, the Center and the Parkway are on CT. I actually went to the Parkway as a kid. It was a wonderful Wometco art house with art exhibits in the lobby but it has since been demolished.

I have not listed the old Miami because my brother (who still lives in Miami) insists that the old MIAMI building was not the same as the Town location and that it is still there today.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Victory Theatre on May 29, 2009 at 2:48 pm

At the Victory in 1956.

View link

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Florida Theatre on May 29, 2009 at 2:47 pm

At the Florida in 1966.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Gables Theatre on May 29, 2009 at 12:45 pm

This photo would imply that the Coral Gables Theatre (Famous players/Lasky 1500 seats)open in 1926 indeed became the Gables in 1936.

View photo

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Strand Theatre on May 29, 2009 at 12:12 pm

Nice Strand shot here:

View photo

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Olympia Theatre at Gusman Center on May 29, 2009 at 11:53 am

How the boxoffice used to face:

View photo