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Topic: Your Favorite Theater

Anthony Matarazzo
Film Handler

Posts: 30
From: Brisbane Australia
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-15-2000 04:36 AM

My favorite cinema here in Brisbane Aust is the Hoyts regent. ( I will send some pictures from the exterior soon) It's have a gothic interior. It houses 4 cinemas and all quite big. They use DP70's and run the annual Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF) in August with keeps growing each year.

Here in Brisbane there has been a surge of suburban cinemas and all are very nice. They have spent a lot of money on them. Garden City south side of Brisbane CBD holds 16 cinemas 2 are gold class. All have stadium seating, digital sound and wall to wall screens.

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Mark Lensenmayer
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1605
From: Upper Arlington, OH
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 03-15-2000 09:32 AM

Here's my list of bests:

Best 70mm presentation - Superman I - Woodfield in Chicago

Best 35mm presentation - Matrix - Marcus Crosswoods 17, Columbus Ohio

Best special presentation - Wexner Center - Columbus Ohio Operator Bruce Bartoo does an outstanding job here. Runs everything reel to reel as programs change almost nightly...a 3 day run is rare here. Mostly one show and out. Bruce has a huge collection of trailers, which he shows at the summer film festivals.

Most thrilling presentation - Napoleon - Ohio Theatre, Columbus Ohio. Full symphony orchestra conducted by Carmine Coppola. (This was the first engagement after RCMH.) 5 projectors in booth, 2 for most of film then the 3 house projectors synched for the 3-screen scene.

Greatest film day -- 1 feature and 4 different IMAX films in one day. Tired eyes, but I loved it

Mark Lensenmayer

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Paul Linfesty
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1383
From: Bakersfield, CA, USA
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 03-15-2000 09:47 AM

The Newport Cinema, Newport Beach. It's beginning to look a bit frayed, but it still has wide rocking chairs, a very good, not great sound system, giant 75 foot screen with rock-steady image, and still uses curtains instead of slides, the over 1200 seat auditorium has not been sub-divided and I understand there are no plans to do so. A real treat for those who love of those big 60's 70mm theatres.

The Chinese Theatre for it's original and historic movie palace look.

The El Capitan for putting on a complex three-curtain and light effect show before the picture starts.

The Cinerama Dome for its unique look and screen. I was there two years ago and it looked pretty much refurbished The screen distorts and washes out the image somewhat, but it somehow adds to the experience. Don't ask me why.

Village, Westwood - for great projection and sound, this theatre recently installed cushy new rocking-chairs that makes this place soar.

Crest, Sacramento - for it's eclectic art-house schedule and it's beautiful restoration (although seats are uncomfortablewith little legroom (pictures at http://www.thecrest.com)

Nuart, West L.A. - Funky to say the least, this worn art house features bright projection, and has all the correct aspect ratios. Ditto the Royal Theatre.

[This message has been edited by Paul Linfesty (edited 03-15-2000).]

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-15-2000 01:53 PM

Hey Scott..... I think Greg has been thinking the same thing I have been.......
What was THE reason for the new flat screen at the Cinerama? IMHO,I think it stinks. I was there not to long ago and I can't really think of a good reason to go back. There are alot of theaters as good as the Cinerama. Perhaps its the best in Seattle at this time though. I've seen alot of films at theaters that have A Cinerama or D-150 screen and it was always enjoyable and usually memorable. The Uptown In D.C. was especially memorable for me. Other people that come there MUST be dissapointed that the Cinerama screen is no longer used for every day showings as it still is in a number of other theaters. I certainly wouldn't bother to go there again unless the curved screen was in use at the time......A Cinerama Theater without a Cinerama screen?????? Ludicrous at best.
Mark

[This message has been edited by Mark Gulbrandsen (edited 03-15-2000).]

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Daryl Lund
Film Handler

Posts: 88
From: Chehalis,WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 03-15-2000 02:09 PM

The Chehalis Theatre ! is the best, built in 1938. The first movie was a Bob Hope show, Thanks for the memories. It has digital dts sound in stalled by scott,s.co. and I went there as a little kid,rolled beer bottles on the floor down to the front,learned how to be a carbon arc operator,worked the door in high school and bought it in 1994. This is the that I like best.

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Paul Linfesty
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1383
From: Bakersfield, CA, USA
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 03-15-2000 03:46 PM

I don't know about the Cinerama in Seattle, but when the Cinerama Dome in L.A. showed "Evita," the director (or studio) required the screen to be removed and a flat one installed. The theatre was even required to put in a false ceiling to hide the dome (for acoustical purposes). After "Evita" showed, the original deeply curved screen was returned. When preservationists were trying to save this theatre, Steven Spielberg wrote a letter defending that theatre's (proposed)remodeling, saying in effect that he wouldn't allow his pictures to play on that huge curved screen (due to image distortion). Strange, two of his earliest blockbusters, "E.T." and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" played for sold-out shows exclusively in L.A. Fortunately, the preservationists have won out.

[This message has been edited by Paul Linfesty (edited 03-15-2000).]

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-15-2000 03:57 PM

Seems to me though that the main reason one goes to a theater like that is because of the screen in the first place. If a flat screen is in place then there is no reason to seek out and see a given film at one of those theaters. I'm not sure about Speilberg and the screen at the Dome but since the majority of his films are flat there is very little distortion at all. Especially on the D-150 screen there. The real Cinerama screen has a much deeper curve and might cause a bit more distortion, but still not too much in flat. The Evita thing was a one time deal, and the film was pretty much a looser anyway. A Cinerama theater without the curved screen would seem the equivelent to me of a car without an engine.
Mark
Mark

[This message has been edited by Mark Gulbrandsen (edited 03-15-2000).]

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John Eickhof
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 588
From: Wendell, ID USA
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 03-15-2000 05:38 PM

#1...the Colfax Theatre, Colfax, Cal.
small semi-stadium built 1939 renovated 1984
Now sports all three digital formats, dual XLs in the booth with a platter! and 16mm
also! (It had a Simplex 35/70 in the beginning but it was pulled when 70 prints were scarce) A high grossing 235 seat house!!!

#2...The Wilma, Missoula, MT. You just can't beat the old palaces, pipe organ and all! see it on our website at www.nteequip.com

#3...The Washoe, Anaconda, MT. right down
to the gold leaf & three projector booth! It
is a palace to remember!

#4...The Liberty, Kalispell, MT. A beautiful house, with a BIG screen, balcony, and Dolby
Digital. Very well maintained & CLEAN!!

#5...ROXY, Forsyth, MT. Gorgeus theatre!
Excellent condition, excellent presentation!

#6...Judith Theatre, Lewistown, MT. A perfect
remnant of the FOX-Intermountain circuit, stage & all, lots of great initials and signatures along the pin rail wall and dressing rooms!!!

#7...Roxy, Choteau, MT. A beautiful mid-30s
house, town of 400! Classic marquee, well run! Supers! (was carbon arc 'til two years ago)

See pictures of these soon on our website at www.nteequip.com

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Scott Hicks
Film Handler

Posts: 24
From: Portland, Oregon, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 03-15-2000 11:43 PM

Hey Mark,

Sorry to hear that you're offended by the 8 foot cord "flat" screen at Cinerama. But for reasons mentioned above, non-Cinerama product keystones on a 24 foot cord screen, not to mention inconsistent focus, esp. on scope, and then there's the FL problem with a strip screen. ITEA discovered that the ideal curvature for single projector screens was 1 foot of chord depth for each 20 feet of width. At this ratio light and focus seemed to peak. At an 8' chord, the Cinerama "Flat" screen is about twice as deep as the ideal - mainly because Mr. Allen pushed for more curve. You are not alone in your desire, many people romance the deep curve of the C-screen. But our goal was to optimize the projected screen image for 35mm (which of course is 98% of product run at Cinerama).

Incidently, the Cinerama 24' chord strip screen is still installed there. It is used for 3 projector Cinerama Projection only. You may be interested to go back and see John Harvey's prints of How the West Was Won and This is Cinerama in 3-proj. format on the full curve strip screen in May. The screen is 35 x 91 on the radius.

Anybody who was impressed by Dayton (as I was) will be blown away by the Seattle presentation.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-16-2000 02:55 AM

Thanks Scott,
Yes, compared to the strip screen its flat. I do understand your reasons, and I am aware of the ITEA suggestions. However I wouldn't paint a screen blue just because it was in their suggestions. They are NOT the final word and the screen there was something special to begin with and really should have been treated as such. It was still a big dissappointment for me to see that it was not being used, and I'm sure for alot of other people as well. Gee, Bob Harris feels the Uptown presentation to be good enough to re-premiere a number of his restoration efforts there. Sure the picture is NOT perfect even there, but then I've never heard anyone complain about it to any great extant either. Only how blown away they were after watching a film there. Ive always felt that the the inherent problems are for the most part an accepted part of it by the majority.
Mark

[This message has been edited by Mark Gulbrandsen (edited 03-16-2000).]

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Paul Linfesty
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1383
From: Bakersfield, CA, USA
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 03-16-2000 08:51 AM

Mark, I hope I didn't sound like I was AGREEING with Steven Spielberg on replacing the D-150 screen at the Dome. I agree with you, that screen is the only reason to go there (especially in this era of multiple theatre runs in L.A. (although "Evita" was exclusive for awhile, leaving no other choice). It surprises me, since 35mm scope is masked way down at that theatre, so a lot of the curvature is masked, anyway. Since the current screen is flat-surfaced (instead of strips), there is a light reflection problem, but it is only really obvious on full-sized 70mm presentations, a rarity today. I'm making an assumption that a new kind of screen (maybe the original strip design of Cinerama screens) will be installed when they start their remodeling. Pacific Theatres has changed 180 degrees their original plan of ruining what they had called a dinosaur, but what I think of as a museum for old theatre designs and projection formats. I guess Pacific realized the only reason people would go out of their way to see a movie at that location because they like the theatre just the way it is.

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Harry Robinson
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 155
From: Franklin Tennessee
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 03-16-2000 09:36 AM

As long as we're talking about favorite movie theaters, maybe one of you guys from the Pacific Northwest can fill me in. In 1973 I was touring with a folk group (The Limeliters). We played at a place called the Trojan Horse. Because it was a sit down gig I was able to roam the town a bit. I found a theater called "The Harvard Exit." They were playing a Jaques Tati film. I remember a grand piano in the lobby (with someone there to play it), and hors'ourves instead of popcorn. The short subjects consisted of Bambi vs. Godzilla and Thank You Masked Man, with Lenny Bruce. Because the shorts were adult-oriented, the theater provided a story-teller for the children. After the shorts, the owner (or manager) gave an informative talk about the evening's fare, the children were brought back in, and the show went on. I have never seen anything to match this in 27 years. Is it still there?

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 03-16-2000 10:37 AM

>>"Sorry to hear that you're offended by the 8 foot cord "flat" screen at Cinerama. But for reasons mentioned above, non-Cinerama product keystones on a 24 foot cord screen, not to mention inconsistent focus, esp. on scope, and then there's the FL problem with a strip screen. ITEA discovered that the ideal curvature for single projector screens was 1 foot of chord depth for each 20 feet of width."<<

The ITEA? The same group (and NATO) that pushed for polyester film?

Actually it was a group study by Schnieder and Famous Players using Harkness screens. The 1 in 20 rule is hardly conclusive and a bit flawed for a "standard." It give a rule-of-thumb for people that want minimal image distortion and sharp focus but it isn't the best light reflector, if that is your goal. On larger screens, light is often an issue and as such the 1 in 20 thing is not the best choice. Ray tracing can achieve superior light levels using higher gain screens. (Incidently, the 1 in 20 screen is best with matte white).

As to the deep curve screen, there are adequate lenses available for minimize the distorion on 35mm "Flat" projection with excellent focus (70mm too). The Scope stuff is a bit more difficult but I feel is also achievable with "off-the-shelf" lenses (based on my experimentation.

Steve

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-16-2000 10:53 AM

The 1 in 20 was based on an experiment that was preformed to basically justify the format that famous players uses not to find the ideal
Many years ago we had a theatre in Toronto that had about a 35 degree downward angle into a curved screen that was 35' wide on a 40' throw.
Ed McCormack the head of engineering at canadian odeon theatres had custom ground lens that had a slight teardrop if you looked at the elements that corrected forcus and magnification keystone problems.
They were very expensive but Lietz would probably be able to make a few more if ever required

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Daryl Lund
Film Handler

Posts: 88
From: Chehalis,WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 03-16-2000 12:13 PM

Harry The Harvard exit is still there as far I know. I think it is a Samual Goldnwin theatre in the Seattle area. I ahve never been there but I met the manger a few years ago and she said that the the pianio was still there.

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