Comments from Al Alvarez

Showing 2,051 - 2,075 of 3,427 comments

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Columbia Cinema on Apr 13, 2009 at 8:00 am

As the Edison.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about New Delancey Theatre on Apr 13, 2009 at 7:50 am

Was this the New Delancey?

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about RKO Warner Twin Theatre on Apr 13, 2009 at 7:33 am

As the Cinerama 1 and II.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Astral Theatre on Apr 13, 2009 at 7:06 am

Is this the Empress?

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Sunset Theatre on Apr 13, 2009 at 6:33 am

Get a load of this, S Porridge.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Boulevard Theatre on Apr 13, 2009 at 6:28 am

Although I am not positive, this may have been the Boulevard.
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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Grove Art Cinema on Apr 13, 2009 at 6:19 am

Credit to Harvey for pointing me to this website below.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Tivoli Theatre on Apr 11, 2009 at 8:22 am

Wow! You’ve hit a gold mine of rare Miami theatres images, Harvey!

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Town Theatre on Apr 7, 2009 at 9:01 pm

This Christmas 1942 Wometco ad shows the old Miami theatre which may or may not have been the Town (see April 17, 2008 7:41am post). It opened in 1937 and disappeared from ads when the Town opened in 1946.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Roosevelt Theatre on Apr 7, 2009 at 8:43 pm

Announcing the Grand opening of the new Roosevelt:

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Sorry for the poor quality reproduction.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Suniland Triple on Apr 7, 2009 at 8:40 pm

The Suniland opens:

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Fox won't foot 3-D glasses bill on Apr 7, 2009 at 3:55 pm

There is no law to stop Fox from doing that, thanks to Ronald Reagan. Theatres just don’t produce the obscene profits distributors expect, so most got back out the business after rejoining it in the nineties. They did try to get into the concession business with movie merchandise, but they screwed that up with overproduction of merchandise for bad movies and late deliveries for good ones.

Back when Fox owned theatres in the fifties, THEY paid for the Cinemascope conversions, and the silver screens, and the cheesy 3-D glasses out of the take so theatres would go along with their gimmicks.

Where would they be without theatres willing to show all the dross they produce, like the recent “MISS MARCH”?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Lincoln Theatre on Apr 5, 2009 at 1:43 pm

The Lincoln opened in 1936. As a movie theatre it was operated by Wometco (1940’s), Florida State (1950’s), Brandt (1960’s) and Southland (1970’s). Up until the Southland discount cinema days it was mostly a first class Roadshow house.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Lib-City & Palm Drive-In on Apr 5, 2009 at 1:38 pm

This opened in 1949 as the Liberty City Drive-In. In 1953 it started advertising as the 22nd Avenue presumably to lure white audiences.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Hialeah Theatre on Apr 5, 2009 at 1:33 pm

The first mention I found of this theatre in the Miami Herald was in 1934.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Roosevelt Theatre on Apr 5, 2009 at 1:27 pm

This opened with much fanfare and full-page newspaper ads in 1949.

From the Herald article posted by Harvey on Mar 23, 2008 at 11:47pm
“It’s hard to conceive that the same theater that bowed out with sex romps was originally called the Lemonade Theater when it opened in 1949 because free lemonade was served during intermission.”

The name “Lemonade” mentioned in the article must have been a nickname as the ads proclaimed it as the Roosevelt from day one.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Sheridan Theatre on Apr 5, 2009 at 1:17 pm

The Sheridan opened in 1937.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Biltmore Theatre on Apr 5, 2009 at 1:12 pm

The Biltmore opened in 1921 and closed in 1954. It was operated by Wometco from at least 1932.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Dade Theatre on Apr 5, 2009 at 1:05 pm

This theatre appears in the Miami Herald ads from 1940 to 1955.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Teatro Trail Theatre on Apr 3, 2009 at 7:48 pm

Yes. Tamiami Trail, Calle Ocho and 8th Street are all the same.

The Trail is now the Latin Quarter Cultural Center presenting Spanish language plays. Since it has been refurbished it appears the bank idea has happily fallen by the wayside.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Flagler Theater on Apr 3, 2009 at 7:43 pm

This Flagler/Radio Centro must have been torn down for the I-95 expressway.

Ripshin, the Trail is still there and is now a Latin Quarter Cultural Center presenting spanish language plays.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Surf Theatre on Apr 3, 2009 at 11:36 am

The Surf gets ready to open in 1938. Although it is not identified as a Wometco Theatre yet, it already has a suspicious “W” out in front.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Roxy Theatre on Apr 3, 2009 at 11:32 am

The Miami Roxy opens:

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Strand Theatre on Apr 3, 2009 at 11:29 am

This Christmas 1932 movie ad page includes a small Strand ad when operating as the new 7th Avenue.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Flagler Theater on Apr 3, 2009 at 11:24 am

Ripshin, could you be thinking of the Trail on 37th Avenue and 8th Street?

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