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This topic comprises 4 pages: 1 2 3 4
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Author
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Topic: When did XXX theaters stop using film?
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William Hooper
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1879
From: Mobile, AL USA
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 06-11-2001 01:35 AM
I found out about 6 months ago that Mobile, Alabama's XXX "Midtown Cinema" had closed.It was located on Dauphin Street, & a few years ago when the Dauphin Street properties got hot again, moved to the back of the building & the main portion of the building was renovated as a dance club. Before it was the Midtown, it was called the Century, & before that it was the Crown (built in about 1924). So while the Midtown was showing dirty movies, it was the oldest continually-operating movie theater in Mobile, & the oldest I could think of in a large area. It made me happy to think of it that way. Now, the oldest continually operating movie theater in Mobile is like many cities, a ten-year old multiplex.
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Geoffrey Weiss
Film Handler
Posts: 68
From: Lexington, KY, USA
Registered: May 2001
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posted 06-11-2001 02:49 PM
I probably shouldn't admit, but, being a bit of a punster, I'm addicted to porn titles like: "Yank My Doodle, It's a Dandy," "L. A. Raw," and my favorite, "Analmentary, My Dear Watson."So I was checking out titles in the "adult" room of the local video store the other day, Brad, and found a DVD that did have multiple angles--master show (so to speak), and various close-ups. On the subject of police and 3-D movies, unrelated on this thread until now, a local rep. house showed a 3-D copy of "Disco Dolls in: Hot Skin!" last year. Apparently it was making the rounds of college-type theatres. Our local councilman decided to make a name for himself by slapping an injunction on the theatre, which he did. It was promptly declared unconstitutional and the show went on: to packed houses both Friday and Saturday midnight as well as an added show on Sunday (Porn!?! On Sunday?!?) I saw it. 800 screaming college kids. It was a hoot!
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Bruce McGee
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1776
From: Asheville, NC USA... Nowhere in Particular.
Registered: Aug 1999
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posted 12-29-2002 09:36 AM
In around 1981, the local obscenity laws were changed, and the one local porn theatre, 'The Fine Arts,' closed. The city snatched it up for taxes, and it sat there empty for 6 years. In 1987, I was hired by the new owner of the building to assess the inventory and see what might be salvagable.
We opened the doors and were greeted by a dank musty smell. (Not what you think.) there was some major water damage. There was lots of old equipment laying everywhere. The consession stand still had popcorn in the popper! We won't even discuss the restrooms.
As for the booth, the 2 Century CC projectors were complete, but both had fogged lenses, and burn-holes in their shutters. Believe it or not, the ORC xenon lamphouses worked somewhat. The sound system was DOA. They had a wild system for hooking all the PA equipment through this amplifier. You'd have to have seen it. There were 10-3-reel cans of film sitting on the shelf in this booth. No VS. I guess the coolness of the booth for 6 years 'preserved' them. (These cans, and the system amplifier wound up in my posession... Nothing good to report... soft-core junk...) There was also alot of Eiki parts, lenses, etc, but no projector. The inventory sheet that the city provided listed an Eiki "professional" projector, but we never found it.
I had the 2 projectors running in about 2 days. Fine machines.
The Fine Arts Theatre opened in 1947, playing alot of Allied Artists, RKO, etc. titles. They had decent crowds thru most of the 1950's. In 1962, they began running "Art" films. Tiny ads in the newspaper were the norm. They continued this practice until they closed. I remember seeing the film, "I Am Curious (Yellow)" there in 1970 (?) While looking through all the boxes of paper items, I came across a meticulously kept journal of all of the 16mm, and 35mm titles that came through the doors. The new owner of the theatre has this book on display in his new lobby. Many prints run there were brand new. None that I got were.
There was some nice old equipment under the balcony. A Century E-7, and several Motiograph machines. I dont know what happened to any of this stuff. The only things that I know of that were kept were Century parts for the CC's.
In the early 90's, the Fine Arts reopened. It plays alot of off the wall titles now. The old CC projectors are installed with platters. One downstairs in the main auditorium, and one upstairs in what used to be the balcony. Decent on-screen images in both venues.
People in this town still avoid the place. It will never live down its history, I am afraid.
It really does look nice now.
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