Comments from marinermc

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marinermc
marinermc commented about Ouimetoscope on May 28, 2010 at 1:41 pm

I’m not so sure about this language: “In Montreal, Canada, on August 31st 1907, the world’s first and largest cinema theatre, the OUIMETOSCOPE, was inaugurated.”

The Electric Theatre in California (purpose-built) predates it by 5 years.

marinermc
marinermc commented about Center Theatre on May 17, 2010 at 7:40 pm

The description mentions movie visitation as a “high-society” event. I would argue it was anything but — movie-going was, and still is, a democratic pursuit and at the time (as it is today) ticket prices were (are) much less than those granting admission to legitimate theaters. I agree, though, that audiences dressed up for the occasion, but only because of the inherent societal microcosm of a theater. People you know might see you and be impressed by your new hat. Also, it’s simple imitation by intimidation: the interiors were often elaborate, thus the audience tended to oblige.

marinermc
marinermc commented about Loew's New Rochelle Theatre on Nov 10, 2009 at 7:11 am

Facade painted black? Cast stone and terra cotta originally, I’d imagine. Whatever they slapped over the facade has to be wrecking the integrity of the underlying material(s).