Comments from richarddziadzio

Showing 21 comments

richarddziadzio
richarddziadzio commented about Showcase Cinemas 16-19 on Dec 26, 2002 at 2:07 pm

This house was built by E.M LOEW Theatres around 1968 as a 1000 seat house. SACK THEATRES twinned house around middle 70’s doing a very good job, both sides had traveler curtains,left side maintained the dual 70mm equipment.

Showcase Theatres then quad-ed the house and it was still a good operation. Closed in 2002.

richarddziadzio
richarddziadzio on Dec 26, 2002 at 1:46 pm

I saw my first 3D movie here, FORT TI.Years later I was a projectionist here, in the Summer time on a hot day about 110 degrees in the booth.

richarddziadzio
richarddziadzio commented about Arcade Theatre on Dec 26, 2002 at 1:38 pm

I worked as a projectionist here its last couple years. They had very good equipment. In the early 60’s they put in 3 projector Cinemiracle for WINDJAMMER FOR A FEW WEEKS.

richarddziadzio
richarddziadzio commented about Capitol Theatre on Dec 26, 2002 at 1:32 pm

I worked here as a projectionist in its last year. Stanley Warner kept the house in first class condition until the end.

richarddziadzio
richarddziadzio commented about Loew's-Poli Theatre on Dec 26, 2002 at 1:28 pm

This was the first house in Spfld. to have Cinemascope. The backstage wall still exists on the Taylor St. side

richarddziadzio
richarddziadzio commented about Liberty Theatre on Dec 26, 2002 at 1:21 pm

This house had the only one piece traveler curtain I ever saw, run manually by side ropes. Slight correction,this house was on the edge of the Hungary Hill area, not Winchester Sq. The Strand was in Winchester Sq.The Strand,Liberty, and Jefferson usually all had the same bookings.

richarddziadzio
richarddziadzio commented about Cutler Majestic Theatre on Dec 26, 2002 at 1:06 pm

This was the first 70MM roadshow house I believe in New England. Opened with OKLAHOMA. At its backstage door was the rear of the GARY Theatre (originally the Plymouth) another BEN SACK roadshow theatre. Currently still across the rear is the backstage of the Colonial Theatre.

richarddziadzio
richarddziadzio commented about Center Theatre on Dec 26, 2002 at 12:53 pm

In the 60’s and 70’s, this was the E.M.LOEWS CENTER THEATRE. Theatre was built as the GLOBE. It was upstairs/downstairs twinned,then the downstairs was left/right split all as the Pagoda Theatre.

richarddziadzio
richarddziadzio commented about Criterion Theatre on Dec 26, 2002 at 11:44 am

Theatre was first twinned upstairs/downstairs. Then the downstairs was split left/right. The last 4 houses were in the basement. I was in here first time XMAS week 1962 for Lawrence Of Arabia.

richarddziadzio
richarddziadzio commented about Syosset Triplex on Dec 26, 2002 at 11:22 am

This theatre had 3 projector Cinerama in the early 60’s. The Able and Charly booths were built into the outside walls sticking out over the walkways. I saw GONE WITH THE WIND in 70MM IN 1968. I believe the theatre had private press showings of MAD MAD WORLD IN 70MM IN 1963 before the WARNER CINERAMA IN NYC had been renovated for the No. 1963 opening.

richarddziadzio
richarddziadzio commented about Loew's Capitol Theatre on Jun 11, 2002 at 4:43 pm

I was in this theatre first time in 1962 after they remodeled for 3 projector Cinerama. The original theatre had 5 sections of seats even in the balcony. They hung curtains blocking off the outer 2 sections leaving the middle 3 sections. They also draped off the rear third of the balcony. You could stand on the railing in the balcony, lift the curtain, and see the original theatre intact. They created an temporary huge theatre inside even a bigger one. This must have been a beautiful house.

richarddziadzio
richarddziadzio commented about Victoria Theatre on Jun 11, 2002 at 4:19 pm

In Times Square, the Embassy 1 was the old newsreel theatre, the Embassy 234 was the old Mayfair/DeMille. The “5” in Embassy 5 was to designate Guild Theatres fifth screen in the area: I don’t believe the theatre was ever split up. I have always been confused with the other Victoria up on 125th St. which was five plexed. Can anybody confirm this?

richarddziadzio
richarddziadzio commented about Hollywood Theatre on May 31, 2002 at 2:27 pm

The movie version of Chorus Line was filmed here in the middle 80’s. I saw my first Broadway show here around 1963, “Sound Of Music” which I think ended its run here after it moved over from the Lunt Fontaine Theatre.

richarddziadzio
richarddziadzio commented about 68th Street Playhouse on May 31, 2002 at 1:45 pm

I was in here for “Gods Must Be Crazy” around 1984. The lobby was so small I don’t think they even had room for a snack bar.

richarddziadzio
richarddziadzio commented about Colonial Theatre on May 31, 2002 at 1:24 pm

I believe NBC did the original “Price Is Right” with Bill Cullen here in the 1950’s.

richarddziadzio
richarddziadzio commented about Palladium Times Square on May 28, 2002 at 3:58 pm

I believe when theatre was built,they also had noise and vibration problems from the Broadway IRT subway line in the theatre rear. The projection booth is located very close to the tracks.

richarddziadzio
richarddziadzio commented about Rialto Theatre on May 28, 2002 at 1:58 pm

Around 1979 Cineplex Odeon remodeled the theatre very nicely, even renaming it the Warner for a short time after their big Warner on 47th St. closed.

richarddziadzio
richarddziadzio commented about Village East by Angelika on May 2, 2002 at 3:49 pm

The 1968 movie “Night They Raided Minsky’s” was filmed inside the theatre.

richarddziadzio
richarddziadzio commented about Rivoli Theatre on May 2, 2002 at 3:23 pm

I was in projection booth in 1968. The operator I met was there when 70MM was put in.He told me when Mike Todd’s “80 Days” first opened that Mike Todd was virtually living in the booth for several weeks he was such a perfectionist. He had the amperage on the carbon arcs raised so high for more light that the 70mm prints were lasting less than 10 runs per print! The day I was there they were running “Sweet Charity” in 70mm. The last movie I saw in 70mm was “1941” in 1979 I believe.

richarddziadzio
richarddziadzio commented about Embassy 1,2,3 Theatre on May 2, 2002 at 2:41 pm

When theatre was multiplexed,all they did was divide balcony into left and right thirds. Center portion was left open to downstairs house to permit original projection booth to service the big screen. Theatre could be returned to original condition with minimal work.

richarddziadzio
richarddziadzio commented about Paramount Center on Apr 25, 2002 at 1:20 pm

Vertical Marquee has been either restored/rebuilt or new one installed. There appears to be new light bulbs. Looks good even in daytime. Front of building looks like it was sandblasted.