Comments from Al Alvarez

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Herald Square Theatre on May 15, 2009 at 10:52 pm

According to the book THE TRANSFORMATION OF CINEMA (Eileen Bowser) this started showing movies as Loew’s Herald Square on October 20, 1913 with a program of five reels and evening admission of fifty cents.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cinema Studio 1 & 2 on May 13, 2009 at 3:05 pm

Sounds more like “SAPS AT SEA”.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Radio City Music Hall on May 11, 2009 at 5:40 pm

No, actually that was the Center in that ad.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cinema Cafe 1 & 2 on May 10, 2009 at 7:39 pm

The Southport opened as a Chris McGuire Cinema in 1968. It was twinned in 1980 and became a drafthouse cinema in 1983 and closed around 1993.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Art Towne Twin on May 10, 2009 at 7:32 pm

The Towne opened as a Chris McGuire Cinema.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Gables Triple on May 8, 2009 at 11:10 pm

The architect was Robert C. Broward.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Remembering Cinerama (Part 29: Pittsburgh) on May 6, 2009 at 6:19 pm

The most fabulous story telling medium in the history of entertainment!

http://issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_100254-1

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's Delancey Theatre on May 6, 2009 at 4:36 pm

Part of this marquee was behind the bar of a Times Square bar that closed and demolished in the last few years. Does anyone know where it went?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Theater chain on the brain on May 5, 2009 at 11:08 pm

These cookie-cutter multiplex operations have paid off handsomely as customers swarmed to them at the expense of smaller theatres.

Viacom’s money troubles have nothing to do with their theatre operations. The theatres are being sold in order to help make the corporate giant’s interest payments.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cinema Studio 1 & 2 on May 3, 2009 at 11:17 pm

The Colonial Bank (1964 Broadway) became Bank Leumi Trust in the eighties. The Cinema Studio was located just next to it at 1968 Broadway.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rivoli Theatre on May 1, 2009 at 7:51 pm

An article regarding the $1,250,000 front payment made by the Rivoli for rights to show the “CLEOPATRA” roadshow can be found here.

http://issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_011463

Although it was obviously an industry publicity stunt, it was a good one.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about State Theatre on May 1, 2009 at 7:21 pm

Here is a postcard view that clearly shows another building between the State and the corner. The marquee seems to read ‘BELLE OF THE NINETIES" which would make it 1934.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Strand Theatre on May 1, 2009 at 7:16 pm

Thanks for the kind words, Louis.

Here is a 1941 Wometco Christmas ad with yet another “Havana” themed movie at the Strand.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cinema Studio 1 & 2 on May 1, 2009 at 2:45 pm

Warren, since the 1931 Broadway address is listed as the address for the Arcade Theatre in Film Daily yearbooks I suspect it was possibly caused by Lincoln Square Arcade access perhaps changing traditional east and west assignments.

Since the Studio Cinema was built from the ground up in 1946 (the first post-war new build in NYC according to Brecht) it may have inherited the number from the Arcade but, you are correct, I cannot find anything with that number attached to the Studio Cinema, or in fact any number.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cinema Studio 1 & 2 on Apr 30, 2009 at 10:12 pm

How it have been above 66th street when called Studio 65?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Radio City Music Hall on Apr 30, 2009 at 4:08 pm

The Tuxedo and Pastime were on the east side on 42nd and 54th, respectively.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Radio City Music Hall on Apr 30, 2009 at 4:05 pm

Here is my list of operating midtown cinemas in 1934.

LOEWS 42ND STREET
CAMEO
LYRIC
TIMES SQUARE
APOLLO
HARRIS
SELWYN
LIBERTY
TIMES
STANLEY
TUXEDO
RIALTO
PARAMOUNT
IDEAL
NEW YORK
ASTOR
CRITERION
STATE
GAIETY
GLOBE
MIAMI
MAYFAIR
PALACE
CENTRAL
STRAND
CARUSO (Hindenberg)
CENTER
WESTMINSTER
CASINO
RIVOLI
LITTLE PICTURE HOUSE
ROXY
RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL
TRANS-LUX 50-1
TRANS-LUX 50-2
CAPITOL
HOLLYWOOD
LEXINGTON
PASTIME
ZIEGFELD
55th ST. PLAYHOUSE
CHALONER (Town)

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's Capitol Theatre on Apr 28, 2009 at 4:18 pm

The Capitol opening, December 1919.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about B.S. Moss' Broadway Theatre on Apr 27, 2009 at 4:01 pm

20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA (1916)

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about 44th Street Theatre on Apr 27, 2009 at 3:58 pm

JOAN THE WOMAN.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Liberty Theatre on Apr 27, 2009 at 3:57 pm

Intolerance

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rialto Theatre on Apr 27, 2009 at 3:56 pm

Opening Next Saturday Noon:

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about AMC and Cinemark might merge on Apr 26, 2009 at 6:40 am

I meant Cinemark…

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about AMC and Cinemark might merge on Apr 26, 2009 at 6:40 am

Hmmm.

What exactly is an “electric scootered wife” and what further explanation does a power failure require?

Is “the wife” disabled or just really lazy? Did her scooter derive its power from AMC Theatres?

Both AMC and Carmike have some bad operations and young staff and both have really good operations with young staff, but really…aren’t the customers the real idiots?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about "American Theatres of Today" special reprint edition update on Apr 25, 2009 at 2:31 am

I received my copy today and it was well worth the wait.