My namer is Hunter and I’ve been working in motion picture production for 26 years, some of it in Mexico. I have always loved the old movie theaters in the US and Mexico. The other day I was in Agua Prieta, Sonora and saw Cine Arie, which has been closed for many years. It’s across from a plaza and I have to wonder how many people really notice it anymore. I’m sure people miss the matinees and memorable evenings spent there.
I may not be able to re-open an old Mexican cinema but I do intend to bring my mobile cinema to many cities in Mexico. I’ll be
screening films from Mexico’s Gran Epoca de Oro(the golden era of
cinema). This includes films by Tin Tan, Cantiflas, Jorge Negrete,
Sara Garcia, Maria Fleix, Pedro Infante, Lola Beltran and others.
I’ll be screening most of the films outdoors, all shows will be
free. Yes, there may be some problems in presenting such screenings.
The films technically belong to studios and distributors, though most of these films have long ago moved from cinemas to the home video market. These classics can be seen on spanish language TV but
they are usually shorter than the original and have lots of
commercials every 15 minutes. Who really owns these movies? The
Mexican people, that’s who. Beyond traditional ownership of movies,
these are national treasures and a very significant part of Mexican
history & heritage.
My traveling cinema is called Highway Cinema. So far, I’ve
presented 650 free screenings. My tours have been in the US, Canada
and on the west coast of Mexico. In Mexico my cinema is called Mi
Cinito(my little cinema). Imagine the delight for a poor Mexican child to tell everyone where he’s going, “A mi cinito!”. However
brief, this child has his own cinema, his own cinema paradiso. It’s
not mine, I’m just the delivery person who turns the projector on…
Though most of my shows were on the beach in small towns in
Mexico, I also showed movies in Mazatlan while I was teaching at the university there(Taller de Cine). One memorable screening there was in the open air lobby of the Angela Peralta Theater, a restored opera house. While living in Guadalajara I showed movies at the Cafe La Opera, at an art gallery and even on a few rooftops.
I’m presently completing my first feature film script, which I'll
be directing, co-producing and co-starring in. It’s a spanish-language comedy about tourists in Mexico…
A note on Mexican cinemas: In Puerto Vallarta there is the Sala Elizabeth Taylor, a cinema that has been there for over 30 years. Though it was an elegant cinema with current feature films in it’s heyday, during the past 15 years it’s been an adult movie theater. How embarrasing for Liz Taylor, si? I’ve heard rumors that they are trying to revive it as a premiere movie house and to even
have La Muestra de Cine come to PV from Mexico City. La Muestra is
the annual international film festival presented by Cineteca
Nacional.
A note on US cinemas: In Douglas, Arizona, work is finally underway to restore the Grand Theater. Architect/builder Bruce Endres is presently restoring the ticket booth, next will be the new roof. The whole project will cost over $7 MIL. It’s a wonderful old movie palace that’s worth seeing when you’re in the Tucson area.
A toast to the old cinemas,
Hunter
I have a small website if anyone wants to see it: www.HighwayCinema.homestead.com
Hola Elizabeth, Mario, Ken and others,
My namer is Hunter and I’ve been working in motion picture production for 26 years, some of it in Mexico. I have always loved the old movie theaters in the US and Mexico. The other day I was in Agua Prieta, Sonora and saw Cine Arie, which has been closed for many years. It’s across from a plaza and I have to wonder how many people really notice it anymore. I’m sure people miss the matinees and memorable evenings spent there.
I may not be able to re-open an old Mexican cinema but I do intend to bring my mobile cinema to many cities in Mexico. I’ll be
screening films from Mexico’s Gran Epoca de Oro(the golden era of
cinema). This includes films by Tin Tan, Cantiflas, Jorge Negrete,
Sara Garcia, Maria Fleix, Pedro Infante, Lola Beltran and others.
I’ll be screening most of the films outdoors, all shows will be
free. Yes, there may be some problems in presenting such screenings.
The films technically belong to studios and distributors, though most of these films have long ago moved from cinemas to the home video market. These classics can be seen on spanish language TV but
they are usually shorter than the original and have lots of
commercials every 15 minutes. Who really owns these movies? The
Mexican people, that’s who. Beyond traditional ownership of movies,
these are national treasures and a very significant part of Mexican
history & heritage.
My traveling cinema is called Highway Cinema. So far, I’ve
presented 650 free screenings. My tours have been in the US, Canada
and on the west coast of Mexico. In Mexico my cinema is called Mi
Cinito(my little cinema). Imagine the delight for a poor Mexican child to tell everyone where he’s going, “A mi cinito!”. However
brief, this child has his own cinema, his own cinema paradiso. It’s
not mine, I’m just the delivery person who turns the projector on…
Though most of my shows were on the beach in small towns in
Mexico, I also showed movies in Mazatlan while I was teaching at the university there(Taller de Cine). One memorable screening there was in the open air lobby of the Angela Peralta Theater, a restored opera house. While living in Guadalajara I showed movies at the Cafe La Opera, at an art gallery and even on a few rooftops.
I’m presently completing my first feature film script, which I'll
be directing, co-producing and co-starring in. It’s a spanish-language comedy about tourists in Mexico…
A note on Mexican cinemas: In Puerto Vallarta there is the Sala Elizabeth Taylor, a cinema that has been there for over 30 years. Though it was an elegant cinema with current feature films in it’s heyday, during the past 15 years it’s been an adult movie theater. How embarrasing for Liz Taylor, si? I’ve heard rumors that they are trying to revive it as a premiere movie house and to even
have La Muestra de Cine come to PV from Mexico City. La Muestra is
the annual international film festival presented by Cineteca
Nacional.
A note on US cinemas: In Douglas, Arizona, work is finally underway to restore the Grand Theater. Architect/builder Bruce Endres is presently restoring the ticket booth, next will be the new roof. The whole project will cost over $7 MIL. It’s a wonderful old movie palace that’s worth seeing when you’re in the Tucson area.
A toast to the old cinemas,
Hunter
I have a small website if anyone wants to see it: www.HighwayCinema.homestead.com