Paul, maybe the theatre in Fredonia was the one that had the balcony after all (at least when I was seeing films in the 70’s). Either way, it scared me a bit as a kid.
mcmaenza
commented about
Cineon
Dec 20, 2006 at 8:00 pm
Paul, it was Mickey Flicks. Thanks for remembering. I guess I’m getting old.
I remember growing up in the 70’s and seeing “Disney’s Fantasia” in this fine Fredonia theatre. That viewing had to be long before renovations were done. I remember the place seemed very old at the time and often folks spoke of bats that would swoop down from the high lofty ceilings. Still, the sound of all that classical music with the fine Disney animation resonated in that old structure.
mcmaenza
commented about
Cineon
Dec 20, 2006 at 5:43 pm
Patsy, sorry but I don’t know a lot of the details about the Cine other than as a patron. I went away to college in Rochester in 1983 (back only on breaks until graduation in November of 1987). By 1988, I had moved down south to NC and only came back on occasion at holidays and for class reunions. The last time I saw a movie in the Cine was probably during a college break in the 80’s – back when it was still a single screen. Around that time, just a few hundred yards away in the rest of the D/F Plaza, a place called Central Video opened up. It was kind of something new – they had these small screening rooms (a half dozen to a dozen I think) that had TV screens and VCRs in them. You would go and pick out a video in the main part and then go see it in one of the rooms. I remember going there at least once with a few of the girls I went to high school with (six people could be comfortable in the single viewing room). They also sold candy, popcorn and drinks. So, it was like a personal theatre thing. I don’t know who ran the place or how long it lasted. But, the presence of something like that could have had some effect on the Cine attendance (as it gave folks another alternative for a movie out – albeit these would not be first run flicks being seen here).
Paul, I think it might have been you who posted a comment on the Van Buren Drive-In page asking “does anyone remember the neon blue Leeds Jewelers sign at the Regent?”. I do remember a neon blue diamond now that you mention it. But I don’t know if it was Leeds Jewelers or Reeds Jewelers. I remember Reeds Jewelers in Dunkirk. I went with my father there a few times growing up in the 70’s when he went out to buy my mother presents. The Reed family was also members of Shorewood Country Club which is how my father would have known them.
The Van Buren Drive-In was definitely open (under new managment I would gather from reading the above posts) in the 80’s. August of 1982 was the last time I saw a film there – it was my first drive-in date with a girl from Silver Creek and we saw a double-feature. One of the films was “Zapped!” starring Scott Baio and Willie Ames, a teen romp.
I vaguely remember the balcony at the Regent. By the time I saw my first films there (most likely Disney releases in 1969 or 1970), the balcony was surely closed off to public access (I don’t recall anyone sitting there). But, having read mention of it, I seem to recall it – if nothing else as a kid you’d look up there to see if anyone was spying down on you.
mcmaenza
commented about
Cineon
Dec 20, 2006 at 4:49 pm
I remember when the Cine opened in the 70’s – given that I lived nearby on East Green Street. The D/F Plaza was a quick bike ride away. One of the first films I can remember seeing there was Logan’s Run (which was 1975 or 1976) and Disney’s Robin Hood. I remember going to see Superman II there with my father and Mr. Burgett was arriving (as he did every night) to get the box office receipts as soon as the show started. My father must have known him enough to talk to him – and I think he managed to convince Mr. Burgett to let us have the Superman II movie poster after the run completed (I being a huge comic book fan).
Paul, maybe the theatre in Fredonia was the one that had the balcony after all (at least when I was seeing films in the 70’s). Either way, it scared me a bit as a kid.
Paul, it was Mickey Flicks. Thanks for remembering. I guess I’m getting old.
I remember growing up in the 70’s and seeing “Disney’s Fantasia” in this fine Fredonia theatre. That viewing had to be long before renovations were done. I remember the place seemed very old at the time and often folks spoke of bats that would swoop down from the high lofty ceilings. Still, the sound of all that classical music with the fine Disney animation resonated in that old structure.
Patsy, sorry but I don’t know a lot of the details about the Cine other than as a patron. I went away to college in Rochester in 1983 (back only on breaks until graduation in November of 1987). By 1988, I had moved down south to NC and only came back on occasion at holidays and for class reunions. The last time I saw a movie in the Cine was probably during a college break in the 80’s – back when it was still a single screen. Around that time, just a few hundred yards away in the rest of the D/F Plaza, a place called Central Video opened up. It was kind of something new – they had these small screening rooms (a half dozen to a dozen I think) that had TV screens and VCRs in them. You would go and pick out a video in the main part and then go see it in one of the rooms. I remember going there at least once with a few of the girls I went to high school with (six people could be comfortable in the single viewing room). They also sold candy, popcorn and drinks. So, it was like a personal theatre thing. I don’t know who ran the place or how long it lasted. But, the presence of something like that could have had some effect on the Cine attendance (as it gave folks another alternative for a movie out – albeit these would not be first run flicks being seen here).
Paul, I think it might have been you who posted a comment on the Van Buren Drive-In page asking “does anyone remember the neon blue Leeds Jewelers sign at the Regent?”. I do remember a neon blue diamond now that you mention it. But I don’t know if it was Leeds Jewelers or Reeds Jewelers. I remember Reeds Jewelers in Dunkirk. I went with my father there a few times growing up in the 70’s when he went out to buy my mother presents. The Reed family was also members of Shorewood Country Club which is how my father would have known them.
The Van Buren Drive-In was definitely open (under new managment I would gather from reading the above posts) in the 80’s. August of 1982 was the last time I saw a film there – it was my first drive-in date with a girl from Silver Creek and we saw a double-feature. One of the films was “Zapped!” starring Scott Baio and Willie Ames, a teen romp.
I vaguely remember the balcony at the Regent. By the time I saw my first films there (most likely Disney releases in 1969 or 1970), the balcony was surely closed off to public access (I don’t recall anyone sitting there). But, having read mention of it, I seem to recall it – if nothing else as a kid you’d look up there to see if anyone was spying down on you.
I remember when the Cine opened in the 70’s – given that I lived nearby on East Green Street. The D/F Plaza was a quick bike ride away. One of the first films I can remember seeing there was Logan’s Run (which was 1975 or 1976) and Disney’s Robin Hood. I remember going to see Superman II there with my father and Mr. Burgett was arriving (as he did every night) to get the box office receipts as soon as the show started. My father must have known him enough to talk to him – and I think he managed to convince Mr. Burgett to let us have the Superman II movie poster after the run completed (I being a huge comic book fan).