Comments from Al Alvarez

Showing 2,126 - 2,150 of 3,427 comments

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Roxy Theatre on Mar 10, 2009 at 5:45 pm

The Roxy opened in 1932 and closed in 1943. It was a Sparks/Paramount theatre.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Ritz Theatre on Mar 10, 2009 at 5:39 pm

The Ritz was opened as a “negro house” servicing the mixed nationality black residents of Overtown, once known as Coloredtown.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Gateway Theatre on Mar 10, 2009 at 3:39 pm

The architect was Roy F. France who also helped designed the Miami Beach Carib.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about St. Johns Theatre on Mar 10, 2009 at 3:27 pm

The architect was Robert E. Collins.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rio Theatre on Mar 10, 2009 at 3:26 pm

The Dixie opened in 1948 and the architect was Robert E. Collins.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Radio City Music Hall on Mar 9, 2009 at 4:55 pm

Good to have you back, Denpiano!

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Baronet and Coronet Theatre on Mar 6, 2009 at 3:36 pm

This issue of Boxoffice flagged by HowardBHaas on the Beekman page features a rare shot of the Arcadia just before it became the Baronet. Go to page 160.

View link

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Radio City Music Hall on Mar 6, 2009 at 11:09 am

A good guess would be 5,963.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Terrace Theater Charleston wins Best Movie Theater! on Mar 6, 2009 at 8:24 am

Congratulations Mike! Well done.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Will the recession change movies? on Mar 6, 2009 at 5:40 am

Kirk, if you think “DOUBT” was about bad priests then you either badly misunderstood the film or never saw it. “FROST/NIXON” is fascinating piece of American history and as close as we will get to an American president going on trial. Old politician “MILK” is the Martin Luther King of the Gay Rights movement and “CHE” may be the most misunderstood politician in recent history and even this latest film fails to show many aspects of him after four and half hours. “VALKYRIE” was about Hitler’s henchmen trying to do away with him. I cannot recall a single previous film on that subject.

I think you will find most movies are about “old subjects”, I mean that JONAS BROTHERS concert SO already happened. As for that great movie, “ENCHANTED”, it was released in 2007 but I have my DOUBTS it was a true story.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Audio watermarking technique could locate movie pirates on Mar 5, 2009 at 5:54 am

VHS saved a dieing industry by providing a new audience for ailing franchises and allowing for sequel after sequel of hit movies and discovery of new stars by older home viewers. It may have created an artistic vacuum but it allowed for the economic windfall which increased the product flow that also allowed multiplexes to blossom.

There are even some indications that piracy may help sequels such as when modest VHS hit “FIRST BLOOD” lead to blockbuster world wide openings for its sequel “RAMBO”.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Audio watermarking technique could locate movie pirates on Mar 4, 2009 at 8:57 am

Since this technology has been in place for over three years now, it will have little effect.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Warnor Theatre on Mar 4, 2009 at 5:20 am

I show it still advertised in the Miami Herald in 1962, but not beyond that.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Riviera Theatre on Mar 3, 2009 at 7:18 pm

This is now the Teatro Area Stage en el Riviera Theatre featuring Spanish language live theatre.

http://www.teatroareastage.com/

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about 3-D Revolution at movie theaters on Feb 16, 2009 at 7:39 pm

Unfortunately, if you adjust for inflation on that same site you will find HOUSE OF WAX is still as good as it gets.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Bleecker Street Cinemas on Feb 15, 2009 at 8:49 pm

al pettiford, I don’t believe Lorenzo was making a political commentary. I believe he was referring to the marketing “sexappeal” of Obama vs., for example, Joe Biden.

It would not matter how many marketing dollars you threw out at “DOUBT” or “THE SEVENTH SEAL”, they would never come to close to “THE DARK KNIGHT” at the box office.

As anyone who has worked in a movie theatre can tell you, everyone asks for health foods and then buy buttered popcorn, Cokes and chocolate bars while the healthy snacks go out of date.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Bleecker Street Cinemas on Feb 15, 2009 at 3:56 pm

..and on the eve of the Academy Awards, the number one film in America (and so far this year) is a remake of “FRIDAY THE 13TH”.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Feb 13, 2009 at 3:57 pm

LOL. I didn’t know Shirley Jones was the latest rage!

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Nostalgic video website on Feb 12, 2009 at 10:05 am

Great site, Micheal.

It would help many of us if each clip named the film it came from. Not all do and it is particularly difficult to place them when they come from titles not readily found on DVD.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Trans-Lux 85th Street Theatre on Feb 9, 2009 at 3:23 pm

posted by BobMaar on Sep 19, 2005 at 2:12am
“The film "Deep Throat” did indeed play at this theatre for four weeks and did record business. There was no neighborhood pressure to remove the film."

According to a Variety article there were petitioners in front of the theatre demanding that the film be removed and protest organizer William Diamond insisted that the film belonged on 42nd street.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Suniland Triple on Feb 9, 2009 at 2:58 pm

Write to me at

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Suniland Triple on Feb 9, 2009 at 2:47 pm

Oh my god! Is the Diane Walker I think it is?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rivoli Theatre on Feb 9, 2009 at 1:49 pm

The 1969 re-release of “Ben-Hur” opened exclusive at the Palace. Other runs may have come later.

“Last Tango in Paris” had a roadshow run after “Man of La Mancha”. It was much more successful that the the disappointing “La Mancha”

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rivoli Theatre on Feb 9, 2009 at 9:28 am

“The Greast Waltz' had a similar three theatre opening the month before. They advertised it as "Reserved Performance” and I wonder if the “Man of La Mancha” run was similarly handled as there is no mention of reserved seats in the ad.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Harlem Grand Theatre on Feb 8, 2009 at 11:49 am

Interesting that a Pentecostal church would call itself “The Synagogue”.