Comments from DKelley

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DKelley
DKelley commented about Oaks Theater on May 30, 2004 at 5:45 am

The Oaks is a lovely place to see a movie!

Even though some of the Chandeliers were “stolen” for use at the Alameda Naval Air Base theatre…but that theatre is BEAUTIFUL!

The owner here keeps a very comfortable little theatre to see films in. Needs some new seats…but theatre#1 still has a balcony that is used for overflow traffic. Good sized auditoriums and REAL butter. Check it out!

DKelley
DKelley commented about Grand Lake Theatre on May 30, 2004 at 5:38 am

P.S.-the charm of the rooftop sign is diminished as you are too cheap to ever turn the d*mn thing on.

DKelley
DKelley commented about Grand Lake Theatre on May 30, 2004 at 5:37 am

Hey Michaan,

Why dont you spend some money on your arthouse theatre, the Park? You’ve got a wealthy populus there that would poney up full prices to see the art films you play there. But you’re obsessed with your antique show and your political messages.

I always thought the idea of going to the movies was to be able to for a short time be taken out of the real world. But to walk up and pay modern full prices for the shows and have to listen to your political commentary is sickening. Why don’t you replace the carpets in the lobby? As I recall, they haven’t been touched since Roger Rabbit opened, what was that, 1988? I am very glad that you keep classic houses opened up, but why not spend a little bit on your theatre business and less on the antique shows? YOu’ve spent it all there, and a great theatre there, but you wont on the theatres you still operate. The Grand Lake hsan’t had new carpets in 15 years…nor seats…the Oaks in Berkeley doesn’t even have air conditioning (which you stole the lovely chandeliers from for alameda) and the park theatre you wont even paint. You charge almost $9 for your papark theatre covered in duct tape and cracked paint. You also make enemies with Sony and Paramount so you don’t or can’t play 2 major studios films. Your projection is first rate, good people running your theatres, but why not spend half the time fixing up your places. You ever think that the payroll you’ve spent placing your political messages probably collectively has been enough to paint the park theatre and recarpet the grand lake?

DKelley
DKelley commented about Park Theatre on May 30, 2004 at 5:26 am

The Park Theatre is a classic but its owner sadly refuses to spend any money on it. It has a lovely tower marquee with some operable neon, but where the neon has died over the years now is a valahlla of duct tape and cracked paint. The theatre does boast Dolby Stereo Sound, but it is one of the original Dolby Stereo systems of the 1980s…a CP55 processor for those in the film business. It still uses a 2 projector “change-over” system which is nearly unheard of now-a-days, but that combined with its lobby provides a sense of classicness that is lacking in most operating original theatres. Somehow, it wouldn’t be fitting to see a big DTS digital disc preview roll in before an art film here. If the owner of this theatre would spend a 10th the money here in one shot that he has spent in his obsession antique show in the alameda point naval base show, the theatre would do a great business. Sadly, the owner here views it as some kind of cash cow not worthy of even a coat of paint. The ownership of this theatre has also made enemies of Paramount Picture and Sony Picture companies thereby making it harder in this competitive business. I would ask anyone who cares for the continuation of this theatre to go to the Oakland Grand Lake theatre and ask why they can’t spend a dime on the park…its really a sad state of aaffairs.

DKelley
DKelley commented about Camera 12 Cinemas on May 30, 2004 at 5:14 am

This is a truly stupid idea! Camera Cinemas is adding 12 screens to an already completely super-saturated marketplace. This theatre will face over 150 screens in direct competition within a 10 miles radius. Additionally, Camera lacks the finances to make this a truly state of the art theatre. Case in point is their Dolby Digital sound system plan—most “state of the art” cinemas these days spend the extra money for THX certification to tout that comment. I’m sure this Cinema will be very modern in comparison to its dumpy dirty Camera 3 just across the street, but a brand new Daewoo Hatchback still isn’t a Mercedes. This Daewoo will charge Mercedes prices, but not provide the amenties of AMC or Century, or the friendly feel of CineLux. Boo!