I was not suggesting that new theatres (or even old ones) add a marquee…but taking a well placed and working one down makes no sense to me. Disagree with me all you wish. My opinion isn’t going to change. AMC is now Chinese owned and, well…I’ll just leave it at that…but I seriously doubt they are actually losing money regardless of what they report.
To Jeff Platt: Evidently, you are some sort of authority on this subject. Regardless. I totally disagree with you…and for your info, according to the staff at the theatre, I am far from the only one complaining about the removal of the marquee…and frankly, I don’t give a flip about the AMC Logo.
Once more…I still say taking down the highly visible marquee at the corner of Crescent Heights and Sunset Blvds in West Hollywood was just plain stupid. It did NOT show feature times but it did provide info to thousands of people driving by as to which films they were showing. Since this theatre doesn’t even bother to provide info in newspaper or other print publications, the only way to discover their current attractions is the computer I consider that short-sighted.
I have a vivid recollection of seeing RAINTREE COUNTY here in its “roadshow” engagement in 1957 while I was a student at Tulane University. I loved it. My only negative was the fact that the “waterfall” screen curtain was lowered too soon right at the end of the film destroying a moment 3 hours in the making! As with the legend, pleasures/experiences along the journey are more important than whatever you find or don’t find at the journey’s end.
Removing the marquee on the front of the complex is as stupid as any move I’ve ever seen done to a theatre. I’m guessing management didn’t want to budget to have a person make the necessary changes as presentations changed. DOES ANYBODY KNOW HOW THE DECISION TO REMOVE IT WAS REACHED?
Excellent job, JLMovieBuff! I continue to hope another theatre chain will decide to build a modern theatre in Natchez. I’d like to think a well-booked 6-plex could be a success. (The current booking policy is to always go for the low-brow/junk choice every time.) My Natchez relatives/friends go to see films they really want to see in Baton Rouge…90 miles away…and almost never patronize this theatre for reasons you point out here.
It’s deed not dead in the caption above. !
This picture was taken as the photographer stood at the back of the stage pointing his camera out over the seating as the building was being demolished.
Fall 2013…Still standing; still vacant…or so it appears from outside. This theatre was never special. It is basically just a box…and it had no stage. Nevertheless, it’s a shame it isn’t being used for anything.
The picture (RAIDERS…LOST ARC on the marquee) shows Poulsbo Wash native, the late Ken Williams, out in front of the theatre in 1981-82. This was Ken’s boyhood theatre and he spent many happy hours there.
I stuck my head in there yesterday (July 31, 2012) and they have made quite a bit of progress. My guess is that there is a good chance they can actually open at the end of Auguast 2012. I hope so. What they have done is break through the roof adding height to the auditorioums and allowing them to have stadium seating.
Can anybody confirm?
Once again, it most certainly IS still operated by United Artists Theatres STILL. Call and ask them. 818-593-4000. Regal Entertainment Group bought/ownes United Artists Theatres. (I don’t think Royal Cinemas were ever involved with this theatre.)
I went around to the back of the Ritz building awhile back and am sad to report that there is no roof on it and nothing is left between the walls. (There is not even a floor as best I could see when looking through the cracks in the fence surrounding the building.) I understand that the location will never be a theatre again but that it’s possible that a restaurant could be build there from the ground up while keeping what’s left of the restored facade intact. Here’s hoping for at least that with help & thanks donations and the assistance of The Historic Natchez Foundation.
This picture is of the Eola Hotel, located a couple of blocks from where the Baker Grand once proudly stood. The theatre was build in 1902-03 as an opera house and converted to a movie theatre later. Sadly, it was torn down in 1972 or 73. A horrible building stands on the spot now. Maybe the site was cursed by the destruction of the theatre because nothing on that spot has been a success.
Feel free to contact me if you want to discuss.
Wayne
I was not suggesting that new theatres (or even old ones) add a marquee…but taking a well placed and working one down makes no sense to me. Disagree with me all you wish. My opinion isn’t going to change. AMC is now Chinese owned and, well…I’ll just leave it at that…but I seriously doubt they are actually losing money regardless of what they report.
To Jeff Platt: Evidently, you are some sort of authority on this subject. Regardless. I totally disagree with you…and for your info, according to the staff at the theatre, I am far from the only one complaining about the removal of the marquee…and frankly, I don’t give a flip about the AMC Logo.
Once more…I still say taking down the highly visible marquee at the corner of Crescent Heights and Sunset Blvds in West Hollywood was just plain stupid. It did NOT show feature times but it did provide info to thousands of people driving by as to which films they were showing. Since this theatre doesn’t even bother to provide info in newspaper or other print publications, the only way to discover their current attractions is the computer I consider that short-sighted.
In my previous comment, my better guess is that I saw RAINTREE COUNTY at the Panaroma in New Orleans in 1958 rather than 1957.
I have a vivid recollection of seeing RAINTREE COUNTY here in its “roadshow” engagement in 1957 while I was a student at Tulane University. I loved it. My only negative was the fact that the “waterfall” screen curtain was lowered too soon right at the end of the film destroying a moment 3 hours in the making! As with the legend, pleasures/experiences along the journey are more important than whatever you find or don’t find at the journey’s end.
Removing the marquee on the front of the complex is as stupid as any move I’ve ever seen done to a theatre. I’m guessing management didn’t want to budget to have a person make the necessary changes as presentations changed. DOES ANYBODY KNOW HOW THE DECISION TO REMOVE IT WAS REACHED?
Excellent job, JLMovieBuff! I continue to hope another theatre chain will decide to build a modern theatre in Natchez. I’d like to think a well-booked 6-plex could be a success. (The current booking policy is to always go for the low-brow/junk choice every time.) My Natchez relatives/friends go to see films they really want to see in Baton Rouge…90 miles away…and almost never patronize this theatre for reasons you point out here.
HELP!
It’s deed not dead in the caption above. ! This picture was taken as the photographer stood at the back of the stage pointing his camera out over the seating as the building was being demolished.
Fall 2013…Still standing; still vacant…or so it appears from outside. This theatre was never special. It is basically just a box…and it had no stage. Nevertheless, it’s a shame it isn’t being used for anything.
The picture (RAIDERS…LOST ARC on the marquee) shows Poulsbo Wash native, the late Ken Williams, out in front of the theatre in 1981-82. This was Ken’s boyhood theatre and he spent many happy hours there.
I stuck my head in there yesterday (July 31, 2012) and they have made quite a bit of progress. My guess is that there is a good chance they can actually open at the end of Auguast 2012. I hope so. What they have done is break through the roof adding height to the auditorioums and allowing them to have stadium seating. Can anybody confirm?
The Joy reopened with live music performances on Dec. 29, 2011. From the outside it looks great. I understand they can still show film.
Once again, it most certainly IS still operated by United Artists Theatres STILL. Call and ask them. 818-593-4000. Regal Entertainment Group bought/ownes United Artists Theatres. (I don’t think Royal Cinemas were ever involved with this theatre.)
To Chuck 1231. It is still there at this location you mention. Well, the front and the shell of the building
is, anyway!
This is the Clarke Theatre as it looks in 2010-11.
I went around to the back of the Ritz building awhile back and am sad to report that there is no roof on it and nothing is left between the walls. (There is not even a floor as best I could see when looking through the cracks in the fence surrounding the building.) I understand that the location will never be a theatre again but that it’s possible that a restaurant could be build there from the ground up while keeping what’s left of the restored facade intact. Here’s hoping for at least that with help & thanks donations and the assistance of The Historic Natchez Foundation.
This picture is of the Eola Hotel, located a couple of blocks from where the Baker Grand once proudly stood. The theatre was build in 1902-03 as an opera house and converted to a movie theatre later. Sadly, it was torn down in 1972 or 73. A horrible building stands on the spot now. Maybe the site was cursed by the destruction of the theatre because nothing on that spot has been a success. Feel free to contact me if you want to discuss. Wayne