Comments from Al Alvarez

Showing 1 - 25 of 3,453 comments

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Olympia Theatre at Gusman Center on May 17, 2026 at 2:10 am

50sSNIPES, Paramount owned Florida State Theatres. Once the government forced them to separate the theatres from the studio (The Paramount Consent Decrees) they created subsidiaries and placed the ABC TV network under them.

So the theatres owned ABC, not the other way around.

In the mid 70’s the subsidiaries added the ABC name to their ads since the network was now a bigger entity than the theatres. Paramount, Florida State Theatres and ABC were all the same company, so there was no “taking over” taking place. It wasn’t until the sale to PLITT that the company changed hands and even Henry Plitt had been a Paramount employee.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cinema Luna on May 15, 2026 at 9:27 pm

Unless there was another theatre at Canal and Mulberry, this was operating as the Cinema Luna in 1972, an X-rated house.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rex Art Cinema on May 11, 2026 at 2:22 am

Is it possible that the (S.A. Lynch-Paramount Theatre) company owned the Rosetta but had a long term lease to Wometco? After the Paramount Consent Decrees (1948) it would not be allowed to break that lease, specially since Paramount had competing theatres nearby.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rex Art Cinema on May 10, 2026 at 3:01 pm

50sSNIPES, I am not sure where you’re getting your information, but the Rosetta was always a Wometco house before its porn days. Did you mean to post for the REGENT?

Also, Florida State Theatres was a subsidiary of Paramount Theatres, (later ABC) and not a take-over. The “Florida State Theatres” branding did not start until 1950.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Regal Battery Park on May 8, 2026 at 2:12 am

Besides downsizing, they (and the mall) also received massive federal funds after 9/11 to help bring business traffic back to Ground Zero. This location may have survived because of that tragic event.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cinemark Century Orange & XD on May 5, 2026 at 2:29 am

It took me a while to find that this multiplex still exists. Orange County over screening. “Thou shall not Orange”.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cinema 1, 2 & 3 by Angelika on Apr 8, 2026 at 8:22 pm

The last commercial cinema in the Upper East Side is officially for sale at $50 million.

https://eastsidefeed.com/real-estate/ues-movie-theater-that-opened-in-1962-could-be-headed-for-final-credits/

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Bleecker Street Cinemas on Mar 1, 2026 at 4:27 pm

The second screen, the James Agee Room, opened in late December 1980, not 1983.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's Brevoort Theatre on Jan 19, 2026 at 2:05 am

RCBriley, I just joined this theatre link because of your post. Although I have never been to this particular cinema, I think your post explains, why, in many ways, in my opinion, why this website even exists.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Bay Harbor 4 Theatres on Jan 18, 2026 at 1:55 am

This was never a General Cinema (that deal failed) and it never played “THE LION IN WINTER”.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Angelika Film Center on Jan 17, 2026 at 2:03 am

For three years now it has been the ANGELIKA FILM CENTER. NYT ads still advertise it as that. Their website does not. What is Cinema Treasures to do?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cine Metropolitan on Dec 28, 2025 at 1:00 am

I see from the photo page that this cinema hosted the World Premier of “CYRANO DE BERGERAC” (1950, Jose Ferrer). You would think that would be headline here.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Paramount Columbus Circle on Dec 13, 2025 at 1:51 am

Both Loews and Loew’s were used at the same time for many years by the company.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Regal Bistro at The Falls on Dec 11, 2025 at 1:58 pm

You would think they would choose a name that tells the public they also show movies.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Metro Private Cinema on Nov 3, 2025 at 8:05 pm

rivest266, it actually opened to the public on September 1 and tickets were on sale. October 29th must have been an official launch party. I walked by on October 24 and it was open for business.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cinema Cafe 1 & 2 on Nov 2, 2025 at 1:28 pm

Re-opened in 1997 as the Cinema Cafe and operated until 2004.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Plantation Theatre on Nov 2, 2025 at 1:25 pm

Although Plitt stopped operating it in 1980, it did continue open as a subrun house well into 1981.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cinema 1, 2 & 3 by Angelika on Oct 15, 2025 at 2:04 pm

This theatre opened the 3 hr, 39 minute version of HEAVEN’S GATE. The 5 hour plus version was not shown to the public.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Lyric Theatre on Oct 10, 2025 at 3:46 am

The Lyric showed movies from 1926 to 1959. It was called the Lincoln at some point, probably as a legitimate theater.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Temple Theater on Oct 10, 2025 at 1:58 am

Became a synanogue for the Jewish Congregation Shaare Zedeku in 1941.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Strand Theatre on Oct 8, 2025 at 3:33 am

This is most probably the Downtown Miami STRAND, not the one in Allapattah.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Strand Theatre on Oct 8, 2025 at 3:27 am

This opened in 1926 as the 7TH AVENUE THEATRE. The 1915 STRAND mentioned in the overview was in Downtown Miami and also has a listing here on CT.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Flagler Theater on Oct 7, 2025 at 1:57 am

This theatre was used for fund raising in 1955 for Castro’s Cuban revolution. After Castro’s 1959 revolution, the dynamic between him and Miami shifted dramatically.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Absinthe House Cinematheque on Oct 6, 2025 at 1:29 am

This overview needs editing. The Merry-Go-Round was a children’s live theatre that started hosting more adult plays before becoming a cinema. It was never an “adult movie theatre”. Those were rare in 1973 and Coral Gables would never have allowed one to open anyway. After all, this the town that tried to shut down “WOODSTOCK”.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Metro Private Cinema on Oct 5, 2025 at 1:24 am

Nice tour of the new cinema on FACEBOOK.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/682556647610114