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Author Topic: Your Favorite Theater Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-06-2010 03:07 PM                     My favorite was the Eglinton Theatre in Toronto and The Odeon Carlton  |  IP: Logged Rick Raskin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1100 From: Manassas Virginia Registered: Jan 2003 posted 01-07-2010 07:43 AM                     Mine would have to be the long gone Loew's Capitol in Washington, D.C. Truly a grand old movie palace it was a joy to watch a film there. The only booth shot I have was taken by the late Fred Kelley who was once buisness agent of now defunct IA Local 224:  |  IP: Logged Robert Burtcher Expert Film Handler Posts: 194 From: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Registered: Jun 2005 posted 01-09-2010 06:09 AM                     I know it's a digital house, but I'll happily deal with the gridlines of DLP to experience Bill Warren's showmanship. The Warren theatre in Moore, OK is hands down the best theatre in the OKC area, and my personal favorite. Just wish there was some film running through that booth instead.  |  IP: Logged F. Hudson Miller Film Handler Posts: 48 From: Los Angeles, CA, USA Registered: Jun 2009 posted 06-11-2010 08:34 PM                  In Los Angeles: Best Sound & Picture: AMPAS GOLDWYN THEATER in Beverly Hills, CA. Best Showmanship: The EL CAPITAN THEATER, Hollywood, CA Best Audience Experience: The ARCLIGHT CINEMAS, Hollywood, CA Best Overall Commercial Experience: THE GROVE CINEMAS, Beverly Hills, CA Best Film Society Presentation - AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUEEGYPTIAN, Hollywood, CA  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 06-11-2010 09:22 PM                        I've never chimed in on this thread for some reason. I guess my favorite movie theatre (besides my own) is the AMC Pleasure Island 24, in Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World. Huge screens, excellent presentation and ... well, it's in Disney World. quote: #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) These are both still open but have been "twinned." I have not been in the Lewistown one, but the Roxy in Choteau now has one auditorium behind the other. (At least they didn't shoe-box'em.) Both now owned and/or operated by Polson Theatres of Polson, MT, so they're well-run even if they're now a little less "classic." The theatre in Lewistown has a beautiful old marquee, the looks of which is spoiled by a stupid (more recent) lamppost just a little off center, right in front of it. If I owned the place I would have raised total hell over that when it was installed.  |  IP: Logged Jonathan Goeldner Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1360 From: Washington, District of Columbia Registered: Jun 2008 posted 06-11-2010 10:05 PM                     just one theatre?!, oh that's too difficult: current theatres: - AFI Silver: for it's programming and the fact they play 70mm films once and a while. - Uptown (if the 35mm print they project doesn't look like it's been dragged through mud) - Cinemark Egyptian 24: The XD screen - the sound is jaw dropping. - Rave Motion Pictures Fairfax - the four very large DP screens to the right and left of the concession stand are ace - Avalon Theatre: programming, sound and image. Past theatres: - Cinema: second to the Uptown in terms of screen size and IMO better sound with the surrounds surrounding you, not thrown into your face at the Uptown (if you're sitting in the balcony) - Pentagon Mall Cinema - the one screen that featured 8-channel Sony Dynamic Digital Sound, had strong extremely 'dynamic' sound and was literaly the best place to 'hear' a movie. - Tenley Circle (screen 1) 'Little Shop of Horrors' 'Blue Thunder' in 70mm - ah those were the days.  |  IP: Logged Connor Wilson Expert Film Handler Posts: 190 From: Sterling, VA, USA Registered: Jan 2011 posted 02-19-2011 09:41 PM                     AMC Lowes Lincoln Sqaure - Formely known as the Sony Theaters Lincoln Square. When I was younger, some of my adventures to New York City would include this marvelous place. Whether it was the flagship, beautiful Lowes screen (THX in its heyday), the more humble smaller screens in the basement, or the amazing IMAX screen (the ONLY 15/70 IMAX screen in the city), each visit was memorable. I recently checked Fandango and it seems like all their auditoriums converted to digital projection, but I hope they didn't change the IMAX screen! I haven't been there for years, but I would like to visit it soon. College Point Multiplex Cinemas - Putting this up here for nostalgia purposes. This was the multiplex I went to during my childhood, and if you go there today, I'll just remind you that this place was not as good as it used to be. For a brief period, this complex was THX certified, but during that time they never advertised it. No trailers, no posters, nada. Just a little logo on those electronic ticketing machines claiming that it was THX. Still the best place in the area to see a new blockbuster on opening night if you couldn't drive any farther. My trips to NY after I moved still warrants visits here. Bethesda Row Cinema - A fancy art house cinema. Still not the best place for showmanship, but maybe the best place to see an indie in the area. AMC Loews Palisades Center 21 - This 21-screener, I feel, has great showmanship. Even before they turned digital, I thought the same way. In fact, I never saw a digital presentation there! The seats are comfy, the concessions are good, and it's an all-around decent theater! IMAX Theatre at Palisades Center - To see a "beneficial" IMAX DMR film like The Dark Knight, or a breathtaking document on what's under or above us, this may be the place to go. located RIGHT NEXT to the AMC there, this IMAX shines with the brand's criteria that includes the signature massive screen, the killer sound system, and more. This 15/70 IMAX is great, but I don't have many good things to say about it. The stupid projectionist sometimes interrupts the credits to direct the audience to the exits, which is really annoying. Also, I saw many shit DMR films on that screen from Superman Returns to Speed Racer. But the Palisades does have advantages. It's capable for IMAX 3D and by rumors, the staff are very nice to the children. There is also a huge window where you could see the projection booth and watch the projectionist do his/her thing. Theatres I wish to go someday: Mann Grauman's Chinese Theatre - The whole place is classic, from the exterior to the less-talked-about interior. The theatre in itself defines Hollywood. Mann Chinese 6 - The smaller multiplex around the Grauman is just as good, I've heard. Empire Leichester Square - Oh, I have dreams of that masterful showmanship there. Oh, Fred Fullerton, you're a British ambassador of film! Uptown Theatre - May not be as good as its heyday, but an awesome place by legend! GCC Northpark Screen #1 - I know this place was killed by a greedy monster, and that is very sad. If only we can somehow revive this theater to make it America's best place for showmanship. I wish I had a time machine and watch a movie like, for example, Die Hard in that place. E Street Cinema - Bethesda Row's brother. Somehow I wish to catch one of those midnight screenings of The Room there. AFI Silver Theater and Cultural Center - When 70mm and THX are said in the same breath, you know it's one hell of a place.  |  IP: Logged Per Hauberg Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 883 From: Malling, Denmark Registered: Jul 2000 posted 03-02-2011 07:22 PM                        My favorite cinema is no longer there: The "3 Falke Bio" in Copenhagen, Denmark was nothing but great: Build on purpose 70mm Todd-AO, 50 foot curve, DP70, stadium seating for 976, perfect 6-track magnetic sound. Did not live to have 70mm Dolby or DTS. Closed 1982. Empire, Leicester Square, London - The "Motion Picture Showplace of the Nation" sign is not all together wrong  |  IP: Logged Tony Gallimore Expert Film Handler Posts: 108 From: Willis, Virginia, USA Registered: Jul 2009 posted 03-02-2011 09:41 PM                     Louis... Sorry I didn't get back to answer your question a little sooner. The theatre I mentioned was the Hillsville Drive-In Theatre in Hillsville, Virginia as seen through the eyes of a fifteen year old kid (me). This was my first job as a projectionist. The Theatre was located on a tract of property that was purchased by the local school board. After a long court battle, the theatre's lease was condemned and the theatre forced to close in the 60's. I guess the small town aspect was what made it a favorite place to be. You always knew most of the people who came to see a movie. It was kind of like some fast food places... a local hangout. The new high school was built on the tract of land with the football field taking most of the theatre field. We had two Century C's in the booth with Strong Mogul lamphouses and Century sound/field booster.  |  IP: Logged Daniel Schulz Master Film Handler Posts: 387 From: Los Angeles, CA USA Registered: Sep 2003 posted 03-02-2011 11:39 PM                        F. Hudson Miller absolutely nailed it for the LA area, I agree completely. I do miss the National in Westwood, that was gorgeous.  |  IP: Logged Robert E. Allen Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1078 From: Checotah, Oklahoma Registered: Jul 2002 posted 03-03-2011 02:26 AM                     One of my favorites would have to be the Fox in Pomona, CA where I received part of my training as an IA projectionist. It has since been restored in all its glory.  |  IP: Logged Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 03-03-2011 10:08 AM                     quote: Robert Burtcher I know it's a digital house, but I'll happily deal with the gridlines of DLP to experience Bill Warren's showmanship. The Warren theatre in Moore, OK is hands down the best theatre in the OKC area, and my personal favorite. The Moore Warren 14 is easily the best movie theater in Oklahoma. It's not perfect though. I wish they had something better (and a little brighter) than 2K projection in the two largest houses. The theater's auditoriums typically have good, clean sound quality (all houses are THX certified), but the sound output isn't as powerful as what I experienced at the old General Cinemas Northpark 1-2 in Dallas. I think that's the gold standard. Nevertheless, if I watch a movie in the OKC area I'm going to watch it at the Warren Moore. The Warren Theater does very well on showmanship. The movies typically have few, if any, movie trailers preceding the main feature. Cell phone use is banned. Decor is plush throughout the complex. I was impressed by the waiting area between the mens and womens restrooms; it has a fireplace!  |  IP: Logged Manny Knowles "What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???" Posts: 4247 From: Bloomington, IN, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 03-03-2011 10:41 AM                     quote: Daniel Schulz F. Hudson Miller absolutely nailed it for the LA area I never took to the Arclight -- I mean the multiplex portion. Definitely a "smug alert" situation going on there. They are not as good as they believe they are. I could do without the usher coming in to tell me the name of the movie I'm about to see. And I had two bad experiences with the whole "reserved seating" thing where I got stuck sitting next to someone who smelled bad. Also, they have very pronounced early reflections in several of their rooms. Drives me crazy. And I don't think I'm super-sensitive -- I just think they are that severe. As for the Cinerama Dome (Sunset Blvd) -- one of the worst presentations I ever saw IN MY LIFE was their DLP presentation of "Happy Feet." IIRC the projector was in the left corner of the booth and shooting down at a pretty steep angle onto that curved screen. Yuck. But I did have a soft spot in my heart for the Dome -- It's where I saw "Lawrence of Arabia" for the first time, and it was in 70mm. I saw other 70mm screenings there also. This was back in the mid-90s, before the Arclight came along.  |  IP: Logged Bernie Anderson Jr Master Film Handler Posts: 435 From: Woodbridge, New Jersey Registered: Apr 2000 posted 03-03-2011 11:46 AM                        Roxy Theatre - Northampton, PA - Best Showmanship Roxy Theatre County Theatre - Doylestown, PA - Interesting Programming Loews Lincoln Square - NY City - Best IMAX 70mm Presentation Walter Reade Theatre - Lincoln Center - NY - Best 70MM and 35MM Presentation and Best Audience (real movie crowd) Theatres that are gone: Loews Astor Plaza - Times Square - Now the Nokia Theatre (live venue) Embassy - Times Square - Original 1925 Newsreel theatre that played first run up to the mid 90's. Designed by Thomas Lamb. Embassy - Cinema Treasures Zeigfeld Theatre - NY City - Before Clearview Cinemas took it over. Now run very poorly Loews New Brunswick (original #17) - NJ - Multiplex still exists, but #17 was convertered to Digi IMAX last year. The seating went from 700 seats in one theatre down to 500 with the conversion. Not the same anymore. Theatre's I wish I could have seen: Roxy - NYC Paramount - Times Square  |  IP: Logged Marcial Feliciano Ramos Expert Film Handler Posts: 108 From: Puerto Rico Registered: Oct 2003 posted 03-10-2011 12:30 PM                     Laguna Cinema 150 (UA Cinema 150) till it closed in 2002. Now the Metro in Santurce, Puerto Rico  |  IP: Logged

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