Comments from jbels

Showing 22 comments

jbels
jbels commented about Sepulveda Drive-In on Feb 4, 2022 at 9:36 am

Featured in the 1974 movie Bank Shot.

jbels
jbels commented about Gateway Film Center on Jan 24, 2006 at 12:28 pm

I have only been to the Gateway twice (and both times saw films in the same auditorium) so I kind of feel the need to be kind. I appreciate their programming but overall I am not too fond of the design. Compared with the Grand (or any of the other Drexel theatres for that matter) this is my least favorite. First of all, it is tucked into the South Campus Gateway area, behind a Mexican restaurant, and it took me several times driving by to figure out where it was. The lobby itself is fantastic, with a long escalator ride reminiscent of the Loew’s Lincoln Square in NY. But the halls leading to the theatres are very, very confusing and are designed like a lab rat’s maze. The one (I believe) men’s room in the whole place is very small, especially considering there are eight theatres. Once you get past the lobby, it basically looks like an apartment that is still under construction (and from what I can tell, the Gateway is finished with construction). The one auditorium I was in was steep, too steep as to make me nervous going down the stairs. I am surprised because the Drexel Arena Grand is so well designed. I will keep going to Gateway though, and hope to warm up to it. They are the only theatre in Columbus showing films like Looking For Comedy in the Muslim World.

jbels
jbels commented about Metro Twin on Jan 24, 2006 at 12:06 pm

Tilly, Woody Allen goes into the Metro in Hannah and Her Sisters to watch the Marx Brothers (though he is so despondent at that point he states “I didn’t even know what was playing”)

jbels
jbels commented about Crosswoods Ultrascreen Cinemas on Dec 8, 2005 at 9:36 am

I remember when they had the IMAX here and I went in to see a Roller Coaster IMAX movie (cannot remember the title of movie). I was looking forward to it but got pretty sick right away. One of the staff members came over to me immediately to make sure I was alright, then offered me a pass. One of the niecest treatments I ever got in a movie theatre.

jbels
jbels commented about Theatre 80 St. Marks on Nov 9, 2005 at 1:02 pm

There was a double feature of It Came from Outer Space and The Creature from the Black Lagoon, which was in 3-D. I am amazed that the three-D was able to work in rear projection, but as I recall, it did.

jbels
jbels commented about Midwood Theatre on Nov 9, 2005 at 12:51 pm

The second run screening of Animal House was amazing there, I will never forget it. At that point, people had seen the film a million times and everyone knew all the lines, so it was like a showing of Rocky Horror with everyone riciting the best moments. The theatre was huge and packed.

jbels
jbels commented about AMC 19th Street East 6 on Nov 9, 2005 at 11:36 am

That “I’m Your Man” project was very confusing. It took them ten minutes to explain it, it was very herky-jerky whenever the “chosen” plot switch took place, and it was unfunny. The best part was that they handed out free passes to a regular movie after you left.

jbels
jbels commented about Sutton Theater on Nov 9, 2005 at 11:19 am

I remember when they first twinned the Sutton, they had a free day of movie previews where you could go in, sit and watch old and new previews and inspect the new set-up.

jbels
jbels commented about Kent Theater on Nov 9, 2005 at 10:07 am

I remember when Caligula took over this theatre and showed for what seemed liked the longest time. At that point, I wasn’t old enough to get into it, but I also remember looking into the theatre and watching the ticket taker watching the screen, a girl who did not look old enough to be seeing it either.

jbels
jbels commented about Alpine Cinema on Nov 9, 2005 at 9:21 am

I remember the nice lady that used to manage the Alpine (Ms. Pulize, not sure of spelling) and she would come out of the office door on the left hand side of the theatre when you needed something (“Ms. Pulize, Please!”). I also remember when the twinned the theatre and you would wait for the next movie to start and people would spill out and ruin the end of the movie, like Rocky. Also sat through The Sunshine Boys twice there. And they showed Dondi for free as a kids' day special.

jbels
jbels commented about Loew's Oriental Theatre on Nov 9, 2005 at 8:55 am

That photo is great JohnG, I remember seeing The Deep there. We would ride the bus up from Bay Ridge (The B-13 if I remember correctly, or B-39? Can’t remember and don’t live around there anymore). Saw The Big Bus there, saw Airplane, the Psychic Killer, one of the Friday the 13th’s, Ferris Bueller, etc…Last film I saw there was The Brady Bunch Movie and the theatre was in disrepair by that time.

jbels
jbels commented about Cinema Village on Apr 25, 2005 at 3:59 pm

Some great double features there in the heyday. Down by Law and She’s Gotta Have It on one bill. Koyaanisqatsi and Powaqatsi, so packed we had to sit on the stairs. A Face in the Crowd and Sterile Cuckoo. Used to love those double-faced flyers with all the upcoming double features.

jbels
jbels commented about Marboro Theatre on Apr 25, 2005 at 3:42 pm

This was the place in Brooklyn to see the Sensurround premieres. Saw Earthquake, Midway, and Rollercoaster here with the monolithic speakers in the back and front of the theatre. Loved the disclaimer about how management was not responsible for any distress caused by Sensurround.

jbels
jbels commented about Paramount Columbus Circle on Apr 25, 2005 at 3:35 pm

Went on a school trip to this theatre to see The Little Prince.

jbels
jbels commented about Kings Plaza 6 Theaters on Apr 25, 2005 at 3:33 pm

I remember seeing The Sentinel there when we were nowhere near old enough to get into it. Also saw The Last Waltz with great sound.

jbels
jbels commented about Harbor Theatre on Apr 25, 2005 at 3:28 pm

I remember when the Harbor opened the X-rated Alice in Wonderland with Kristine DeBell and how I begged my babysitter to go in and open the side door so I could sneak in. Never came to pass. I also remember seeing All The President’s Men as a kid and management yelling at us that it was too grown up a film. Other good memories—Halloween (went again and again to see it) and Dawn of the Dead, when an older couple came in, saw about two seconds of it, groaned, and walked out!

jbels
jbels commented about Fortway Theatre on Apr 25, 2005 at 3:22 pm

The last time I was there the floors were a complete mess. I remember seeing the revival of House of Wax in 3-D when I was a kid and being blown away by the paddle-ball scene. Used to go up there every week in the summer too when they had their Disney double features. Other memories include Dog Day Afternoon and Monty Python and The Holy Grail.

jbels
jbels commented about Palladium Times Square on Apr 25, 2005 at 3:05 pm

Managed to get into one of the early shows of Titanic during the first day of its run. After that, it was a very tough ticket at this theatre, as they could only show a few a day with its running length. Also saw an early show of Bringing Out The Dead, and there were only a handful of people for that. When the film flips upside down (intentionally) I thought there was something wrong with the projection

jbels
jbels commented about Angelika New York on Apr 25, 2005 at 2:56 pm

One of the most memorable engagements at the Angelika had to be Henry Portrait of a Serial Killer. Management had posted up a ton of warning signs about how anyone leaving the film would not get their money back. Surely enough, people were tripping over each other to run out of the theatre during this film. One thrill was seeing star Tom Towles after the movie and the fact that he did indeed still have his head attached.

jbels
jbels commented about Alpine Cinema on Apr 25, 2005 at 2:50 pm

The Alpine showed a midnight preview of Carrie when they were showing Norman, Is That You?

jbels
jbels commented about 8th Street Playhouse on Apr 25, 2005 at 2:44 pm

Once in a while they used to have all night music film festivals, staring around midnight and running straight through till 8 am, with films like The Song Remains The Same and The Grateful Dead Movie.

jbels
jbels commented about 68th Street Playhouse on Apr 25, 2005 at 2:34 pm

This is the theatre that Syndey Pollack and Lysette Anthony come out of in Husbands and Wives after seeing Ran.