Comments from Bill_Lonee

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Bill_Lonee
Bill_Lonee commented about Southland Cinemas 5 on Aug 17, 2020 at 8:33 am

I saw Willy Wonka there, when I was six. My grandmother took me. She bought me popcorn in the mall and thought it would be a good idea to have me carry it as we walked across the parking lot. Needless to say, it was not a good idea. I wound up with less than half of it by the time we got inside. I guess they didn’t care so much about that, back then. Parts of the movie scared the bejesus out of me. I didn’t live anywhere near there, so I only went to a couple of other films, the whole time, but I’ve never forgotten the first time.

Bill_Lonee
Bill_Lonee commented about Hillcrest Theatre on Aug 11, 2020 at 2:59 am

Moved to Pleasant Hill in 78. By then, this was a second-run theater, but I recall it being in very good shape. Saw several movies there, over the next few years, including the double-feature that closed the place. Weirdly, I also saw the last film at Fox in Concord. Maybe I should stay out of movie theaters, so they’ll stay open.

Bill_Lonee
Bill_Lonee commented about CineArts 5 at Pleasant Hill on Aug 11, 2020 at 2:57 am

Saw so many movies there. Even continued when they would play mainstream new releases, after converting to an art house, simply because it was the largest screen in the area. I saw a lot of movies in the smaller theaters, behind the Dome, too, but those auditoriums, frankly, were mostly sub-par. Sad to see the Dome go.

Bill_Lonee
Bill_Lonee commented about SunValley Cinema I & II on Aug 3, 2020 at 8:36 am

I moved to the area in ‘78. I think around '81 or '82, I went with some friends to see Dawn of the Dead. Ten minutes or so in, the girls all left to watch Pink Floyd: The Wall, instead. I don’t recall ever seeing any other movies, there, though.

Bill_Lonee
Bill_Lonee commented about Solano 2 Drive-In on Aug 3, 2020 at 8:34 am

I remember going with a buddy who brought a VHS camcorder and set it up to record Batman and Lethal Weapon. He had the whole thing in a box, so that it would pick up the sound better!

Bill_Lonee
Bill_Lonee commented about Showcase Theater on Aug 3, 2020 at 8:32 am

Went there once, while it was showing adult movies. They left the overhead lights on. It was very uncomfortable. I think I left after about twenty minutes. Pretty crowded, though.

Bill_Lonee
Bill_Lonee commented about Capri Theatre on Aug 3, 2020 at 8:31 am

Saw a lot of movies when it was a 2nd-run place. A double feature for a dollar! Hard to beat that. When I first went, it was a single screen theater. One side even allowed smoking! Eventually they parsed it into three. Very funky, then. The two smaller screens were located way up the wall, and you had to sit rather close to the main screen. But hey, it was still super cheap!

Bill_Lonee
Bill_Lonee commented about Fox Concord Theatre on Aug 3, 2020 at 8:28 am

The one and only movie I ever saw there was “Death on the Nile,” so I guess I closed the place down! Too bad, I really like those big screen auditoriums.

Bill_Lonee
Bill_Lonee commented about Fine Arts Cinema on Aug 3, 2020 at 8:26 am

Saw my first porn film there! Back in the day, of course, before home video. I think I went two or three times.

Bill_Lonee
Bill_Lonee commented about UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall on Aug 3, 2020 at 8:22 am

Used to love going there in the early-to-late 80s, when it was a revival house. Saw the Marx Brothers in Duck Soup with a full house. I laughed so hare, I thought I would pass out, several times! It was the first place I’d been that showed all three original Star Wars films in on order, in one day! Saw great films from some of the best filmmakers, from all over the world. Even got to see a few silent films, accompanied by live organ music! Having a baby is what stopped me from going and of course, home video killed the whole thing off, eventually. It was great in it’s day, though. I wish there were still revival houses. Seeing a film with a theater full of fans is a great experience.

Bill_Lonee
Bill_Lonee commented about TCL Chinese Theatre on Aug 3, 2020 at 8:17 am

Back in ‘77, our parents woke us up and let us know that we would not be going to school that day. Instead, we drove to Hollywood from Glendora and stood in a very long line for a couple of hours. To see a movie I’d never even heard of. I ate a pita sandwich for the first time in my life because we happened to be standing in front of a pita shop when we got hungry. I was blown away by the outside of the theater but underwhelmed by the weird lobby card photos from the film. Once inside, I was blown away again by just how big the screen was, then disappointed when the trailers started and they only filled the middle of the screen. HOWEVER, once the movie started, my whole universe changed. Twelve, going on thirteen, and seeing Star Wars for the first time, on the biggest screen you’ve ever seen, will do that to you.

Bill_Lonee
Bill_Lonee commented about Covina Twin Drive-In on Aug 3, 2020 at 8:11 am

Saw a few movies there, growing up between 67 and 78. The two I remember the most were The Love Bug, with the whole family. And Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, with a babysitter. I also remember being in Boy Scouts and we had our meetings at the VFW next door. My friends and I would sit on the wall over there and watch the movies without any sound!

Bill_Lonee
Bill_Lonee commented about Fox Covina Theatre on Aug 3, 2020 at 7:39 am

I probably saw more movies in this theater, growing up, than any other in the area. In the early 70s, my mom would buy us tickets to the summer series. Second-run kids films shown very, very early in the day, and for very cheap. Sometimes, we would stop on the way and stock up on candy at 7-11! I can’t remember exactly what I saw here, but I do know that I saw the original Rocky movie, here.

Bill_Lonee
Bill_Lonee commented about Plaza Theatre on Aug 3, 2020 at 6:36 am

I lived in Glendora from the age of 3 through 13. I’m fairly certain I went to this theater twice. Once to see one of those Sun Classics documentaries on Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster, and the other time to see Logan’s Run, if I’m not mistaken. Even at that young age, though, I thought its location was a bit strange.

Bill_Lonee
Bill_Lonee commented about Canyon Theatre on Aug 3, 2020 at 6:23 am

I remember going at least twice, back in the early-to-mid seventies. My friend’s mom took him and me to it, but I can’t remember the movie. I think the only other time I went, it was to see King Kong in 1976. The place only had one screen which was probably partially responsible for its eventual decline.

Bill_Lonee
Bill_Lonee commented about Regal Village Square Stadium 18 on Aug 3, 2020 at 6:15 am

Even though it’s older than most other theaters, it’s one of my favorites. Free-standing, with plenty of parking, this 18 auditorium theater plays a whole host of indie and foreign films, as well as documentaries. Mix in some newer films and you’ve got quite the selection to choose from.