Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Your Favorite Theater

This is topic Your Favorite Theater in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=000747

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-14-2000, 04:50 PM:

Since we have all listed the most gruesome theaters to view a film in now its time to list your favorite theater(or screen). This may or may not have the best sound,image,or acoustics, or it might. It might also be a theater where the above is passable but you simply enjoy viewing a film in regardless.
Mark

Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 03-14-2000, 05:03 PM:

Cape Cinema, Route 6A Dennis, MA (First love)

The Flick, Laramer Square in the '70s, Denver, CO (First Art Films)

The Crystal, The Wilma, Missoula, MT, (Proving that you can do cinema anywhere)

Mayan, Denver, CO (Architecture)

UA Continental, (Screen #5 only) Denver, CO (Sound & Image)

The Cooper, Denver, CO (1977 Star Wars, 70mm 6-track mag)(Now a Barnes & Noble)

The Vogue, Denver, CO (Now Condos) (Most fun to run)

The Ogden, Denver, CO (Now a concert venue) (Cool Staff)

The Nugget, The Max, The Strand (Now Gone), The Chuck, Minnie and The Masons, Telluride, CO, Telluride Film Festival, (Best Audience, Best Films, Best Staff)(Funky Venues)

Rialto Cinemas Lakeside, Santa Rosa, CA (Because I own it)

Pacific's Rohnert Park 16, Rohnert Park, CA (Because I have to see a film every now and then without getting up every five minutes to fix something)

[This message has been edited by Ian Price (edited 03-14-2000).]

Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 03-14-2000, 05:29 PM:

When it was new, The Cinerama in Seattle. (Haven't been there since they fixed it up)
Once I went to LA as a kid and saw the premeir of Cleopatra (the Liz Taylor version

) and went to the Chineese Theater (the one with the foot prints in front) that was pretty awsome

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 03-14-2000, 05:32 PM:

Until recently the Eglinton Theatre in Toronto Canada (the first THX in canada) and a beutifull art decco theatre
The royal in toronto
the garneux in edmonton
capitol in York PA

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 03-14-2000, 06:02 PM:

Carmike Cinemas Oakwood 12 Eau Claire, Wisconsin (my theater) screen #12. It isn't THX, but the sound and picture quality are exceellent. Its DTS unit is always working perfectly and even when the film is playing in stereo it sounds good.

Hey Gordon, why the "until recently"? What happened there?

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 03-14-2000, 06:30 PM:

Mann Kipling Place 6, Littleton, CO (Back when it was a Mann Theater. It was my first theater that I worked at, where I learned projection, and the quality of the place was so bad that it was funny.)

Mann Chinese 16, Aurora, CO. (Because I work there. Absolutely no theatre in the state puts on a better, or even as good of a presentation. No theatre is as comfortable either. Also -- best sound and picture)

Greenwood Plaza 12, Englewood, CO (Lots of toys to play with in the booth. Not really an acceptable theatre anymore, but it was once the best in town)

AMC Highlands Ranch 24, Littleton, CO (Because they just wipe the floor with everyone else in quality and presentation. J/K, of course)

GCC Northpark, Dallas Texas (Because Brad says it was good, so I believe it.)

Ian- The Continental has a fantastic picture in #5 if you get a kick out of a whopping 8 footlamberts! Yeah!

[This message has been edited by Joe Redifer (edited 03-14-2000).]

Posted by Evans A Criswell (Member # 381) on 03-14-2000, 07:56 PM:

My favorite theatre is the Regal River Oaks Cinema 8 in Decatur, AL. See http://home.hiwaay.net/~criswell/theatre/generated_subpages/facilities/st72a-r8.html
for the many reasons why. Although it isn't the fanciest theatre in the area, it has the best projection quality. On my WWW site, I gave it the "Gold Projection Quality" award for 1998 and 1999. The manager has a lot of experience and goes that extra mile to keep everything in good working order.

[This message has been edited by Evans A Criswell (edited 03-14-2000).]

Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 03-14-2000, 08:01 PM:

SANDY STARSHIP THEATRES: Auditorium 3, Best sound I have ever heard. This is due thanks to Mike Williams from Hale Centre Theatre in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is thier resident sound engineer and he came out and tweeked our DTS system so well it makes you sound like you are IN the movie itself.

CENTURY 16: Salt Lake City, Utah. Best seats. Very comfy rocker seats. Also best projection. Sound could use some work though.

------------------
"If it's not worth doing, I have allready been there and done it"

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 03-14-2000, 08:33 PM:

Byrd Theatre (Richmond, VA.), Senator Theatre (Baltimore, MD.) - overall favorites

Cinerama Dome (Los Angeles, CA) - it's a dump, but the sound system is AWESOME!

Williamsburg Theatre (Williamsburg, VA) - I used to work there and I spent a lot of time in the audience before then...it has "charm" and shows good stuff; also recommended - Naro Expanded Cinema (Norfolk, VA.), which has similar programming and superior pix/sound quality, though not as nice an auditorium

Wang Theatre / fmr. Metropolitan Theatre (Boston, MA.) - rarely shows films, but is a really classy place...definitely recommended, esp. if they're showing 70mm.

AFI Theatre (Washington, DC) - usually shows good stuff; picture and sound quality are top-notch

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 03-14-2000, 08:37 PM:

Ack! I need to mention two more:

Uptown Theatre (Washington, DC) - top-notch picture/sound quality, perfect for "event" films

Cape Cineam (Dennis, MA) - great programming, neat theatre that looks like a church...cool booth, too.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-14-2000, 10:16 PM:

A few are:

CHINEESE #1: Hollywood,Ca: A really neat place to step back in time.

The CHICAGO THEATER: not equipped to run film anymore but a simply magnificent theater with a great pipe organ. Have seen a number of absolutely amazing silent film shows there with the organ acompanying.

CINERAMA DOME: Wasn't a dump last time I was there(to see Roger Rabbit)perhaps it is now since all the hoopla about tearing it up. Seeing that film there was a great experience.

ELGIN FOX #1: Elgin, Ill. Originally an independent theater, bought by, and probably ruined by Marcus by now. Century JJ 35/70 SN 102, Full blown CP-200 with 1/3 octave eq on the surrounds,SRD,DTS,you name it. Huge 5 channel THX system with full frontal baffle wall 60 feet wide by 28 feet tall. Also had the BGW M2200 subwoofer running on 240 vac!! A no holds barred sound system that I designed and installed. An article about it appeared in Film journal shortly after the theater opened.

REEL THEATERS:ONTARIO,OREGON #1 and #2. These identical theaters have full baffle walls and the JBL 5672 3 way speaker systems, tri-amped, dual JBL 4642 subs. All QSC power. Dolby SRD, and EX.
The effortless sound reproduction there is absolutely amazing.

EGYPTIAN THEATER: Boise,Idaho: This place just underwent a major renovation by a fanatic restoration architect that recreated every nuance that was originally there when it was built. Thank god Cineplex left and this happened!! Pretty good to see and hear a film, but the screen is a bit smallish for the size of the room, and the acoustics lack quite a bit. Still overall enjoyable though and the double procenium will knock you dead in your tracks. Has the Simplex 35/70 that was in the Seattle Cinerama Theater. SRD, and real Dolby EX. All QSC powered. I managed to sneak in a BGW M2200 there as well and its also powered by 240 vac.

There are alot more, The CHINEESE #2, CINESPHERE in Toronto, and of course last but not least the most important one: HIGHLANDS CINEMA in Kinmount, Ontario which boasts the most unique theater set up in the world. 5 theaters atached to the owners home and all surrounded by antique projection equipment,posters,lobby cards,etc. Expect to be blown away when you walk in the front door and plan on several hours just looking around the corridors, lobbys, and theaters filled with all this stuff. This collection is one of the largest in existance. A MIND BLOWER!! This guy does more buisness in a week during the summer than most large plexes do in a month. There have been numerous articles written about it. If interested contact me and I'll scan them for you.

Mark

Posted by Scott Hicks (Member # 376) on 03-14-2000, 10:20 PM:

Greg Mueller:

But the Cinerama IS new!

My favorite was the Corvallis Cinema Center, a 4-plex with dual Motiographs in each booth - a real challenge to keep on screen. The owner scavenged used airline seats for the auditoriums - complete with snack tray and recliner button. Actually it was a dump, but I have fond memories.

Posted by Tyler Skinner (Member # 229) on 03-14-2000, 11:29 PM:

The County Theater, Doylestown PA. Little 2 screen art house with fantastic Image quality and good film selections along with older film programs and short film festivals.
http://www.countytheater.com

Posted by George Roher (Member # 91) on 03-14-2000, 11:40 PM:

My favorite theatre is the Uptown, in Washington DC.

Posted by Ari Nordström (Member # 288) on 03-15-2000, 02:03 AM:

My favourite theatre is, of course, my theatre, the Draken in Göteborg, Sweden. It's got excellent (new!) sound, a huge screen, and an auditorium mostly intact since its Cinerama days.

Most other theatres around here that I love are closed (specifically a small one called Spegeln where I used to work), but the Victoria is still there even though it's a dump now.

A favourite of mine abroad is the Colosseum in Oslo, Norway, supposed to be the largest THX theatre in the world. I also like the Empire theatre in London.

Posted by Anthony Matarazzo (Member # 63) on 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.

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 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

Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 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).]

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 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).]

Posted by Daryl Lund (Member # 356) on 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.

Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 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).]

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 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).]

Posted by John Eickhof (Member # 323) on 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

Posted by Scott Hicks (Member # 376) on 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.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 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).]

Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 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.

Posted by Harry Robinson (Member # 265) on 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?

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 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

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 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

Posted by Daryl Lund (Member # 356) on 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.

Posted by Patrick S. Chaffins (Member # 348) on 03-16-2000, 12:47 PM:

The Harvard Exit is run by Landmark Theatres - gives bios on each of theatres, some history involved. http://www.landmarktheatres.com
-----
pat

Posted by Mark Ogden (Member # 43) on 03-16-2000, 05:43 PM:

For technical presentation, the best theater in the USofA has to be the Mann Fox Westwood Village in LA. One Norelco AAII, beautifully maintained, and a sound system that cannot be beat (wired together with Monster Cable, for heaven's sake). Every show flawless. Whenever you see footage of a premiere in Hollywood, 9 times out of ten it's at the Village, and for good reason.(or maybe the Bruin, its sister theater across the street).

As far as the Cinerama Dome on Sunset goes, there will always be debate about the projection there. There is a strong horizon sag problem there on the curved screen, (honestly, there isn't a straight line to be found anywhere) and focus always seems to be an issue as well. The projectionist there once told me that he fought the foucs throughout the show because of heat from the lamp (35mm: 7500w.) deforming the lens elements, that's tough to belive though (but it is a mighty damn big screen).

I used to travel to Toronto quite a bit and always enjoyed the big screen at the Varsity, which I understand has been chopped up now. Also, the upstairs #3 screen at the (Uptown?) theater on Yonge just before Bloor was pretty impressive, best balcony conversion I ever saw. And the late, lamented University.

For sheer love of cinema: The Castro theater in San Francisco's Castro District. Stunning old palace and Hal Rowland (the head) puts on a great show.

Posted by Patrick S. Chaffins (Member # 348) on 03-16-2000, 09:51 PM:

For "Classic" films my favorite place is Detroit's Redford Theater . . . Great Picture . . . the only place to see 70mm in the area that looks right . . . plus a great website http://theatreorgans.com/mi/redford/index.htm . . . pipe organ isn't bad either (That is for a Fartin' Barton)

For the best Theater Organ music in the Midwest the only place to go is Detroit's Senate Theatre

[This message has been edited by Patrick S. Chaffins (edited 03-16-2000).]

Posted by Rick Newton (Member # 389) on 03-16-2000, 11:07 PM:

As for favorite theatres, in 21 years of working as a technician on both coasts, I have to say that the Cinerama in Seattle is the most technologicaly advanced cinema in the world. With over 56kw of power by Cyberlogic, Sound interface by BSS Sound Web,CP 500 - DTS - SDDS, Tri Amped speakers by EAW and the only FP 75 E in the US. Also fully restored Century Cinerama machines, this theatre ROCKS.
Having seen the test run of Cinerama in November, the May film festival will be something to behold.
Rick Newton

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 03-17-2000, 04:13 AM:

Mark-- Have you been to every theatre in the USofA? The Village is very good indeed. I know the tech who helped wire the place (and the Chinese) with Monster Cable. He said it was a very tough job. The cable was about the thickness of a garden hose. Just plain overkill. As far as the signal that runs through it, he said it was akin to "pissing through a garden hose". It was just a deal that Mann had with Monster Cable back then.

Neither the Village, Bruin, or the Chinese are the number one money-makers in the Mann chain though. But perhaps that's 'cuz they are so small (in screen count). That honor goes to the Mann Chinese 16 in Aurora, Colorado. Another "flawless" Mann Theatre, presentation wise.

[This message has been edited by Joe Redifer (edited 03-17-2000).]

Posted by Mark Ogden (Member # 43) on 03-17-2000, 05:09 AM:

Wellllll, I've been to a bunch of them, Joe, including the Cinerama in Seattle, and a few out your way, especially the Mayan, The Continental (when it was a single), and the old Cinerama house (The United Artists, was it called?) out near Cherry Creek, I think it's a Barnes and Noble now. (including the rowdiest night I ever spent at the movies, at the Flatiron in Boulder). Never made it to any of the Mann theaters but i'm sure they are all top notch.
I mentioned the Fox Westwood Village because I've been there a number of times, and it just floors me every time I see a movie there. Rock steady, and the sound just can't be beat, IMHO. Westwood is coming back slowly but surely, and Mann seems to be putting a few dollars here and there into it's screens. They've recently redone the Festival, and there are new seats at the Village and the Bruin, and there is talk about finally doing something about the National, which also has great picture and sound but must have the rankest seating and carpets i've ever seen.

Posted by Erika Hellgren (Member # 22) on 03-18-2000, 12:56 AM:

I have two favorites. The first being the Chinese in Aurora, CO - yes, I work there, but the reason I work there is BECAUSE of the excellent presentation. If that ever deminished, I would quit. (partly because it would be my falut, I guess

)

My second is the Landmark Esquire in Denver. It's an art house with two auditoruims. Lousy presentation, but the atmosphere is very professional and not at all commercial. The commercialism at multiplexes takes its toll on me sometimes.

Posted by Chris Erwin (Member # 176) on 03-18-2000, 09:16 AM:

The University Cinema,Morehead,KY.

This place (even before I started working there) feels like a big 600 seat living room.

A Simplex PR1014 keeps even the WORST prints steady and on the screen. The AW2 that will NEVER die faithfully pays-out and takes up again all the shows. We run Dolby via a CP50,but the room was built for sound!

Personal memories surround this place. I went there when I first started dating. Sadly I watched ALL the films!

--Chris

Posted by System Notices (Member # 2357) on 01-03-2010, 02:57 PM:

It has been 3578 days since the last post.

Posted by Jeremy Jorgenson (Member # 2989) on 01-03-2010, 02:57 PM:

So, it's been about a decade, what are your favorites now?

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 01-04-2010, 01:42 AM:

My favorite still hasn't changed and no theater will ever be what it was.

link

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 01-04-2010, 03:04 AM:

quote:
REEL THEATRES:ONTARIO,OREGON #1 and #2. These identical theaters have full baffle walls and the JBL 5672 3 way speaker systems, tri-amped, dual JBL 4642 subs. All QSC power. Dolby SRD, and EX.
The effortless sound reproduction there is absolutely amazing.

Now, No.1 contains the same sound equipment, but now has a NEC1600C digital shooting on a silver screen.

As for the EX for No.2: never got the upgrade software for the CP500 to handle the EX, let alone don't think that there is any more soundtracks encoded for EX reproduction. Thus, it sits idle now.

..just wish that those floating screens were masked, for we get occasional complaints on flat movies not filling the screen completely and the patrons think that they're not getting the full picture for the price.

-Monte

Posted by Demetris Thoupis (Member # 833) on 01-04-2010, 04:35 AM:

quote: Brad Miller
My favorite still hasn't changed and no theater will ever be what it was.

Brad is this the place you got your projectors?

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 01-04-2010, 09:34 AM:

The Lafayette, Suffern, NY deserves a mention.

http://www.bigscreenclassics.com/lafayette.html

West of the Hudson, a few hundred metres over the border from NJ.

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 01-04-2010, 10:09 AM:

All of the great "event" theatres are long gone. All of the places around me are just about the same, so it really doesn't matter where I go. I'm more apt to choose a location due to a particular restaurant I want to go to or just a more convenient showtime. OR, what is the cheapest and easiest place to get to.

Even the IMAX and 3D theatres are nothing special any more.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 01-04-2010, 11:39 AM:

No, those projectors were transferred to a different GCC.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 01-04-2010, 12:01 PM:

For me...I guess it will always be the K-B MacArthur. It was the world-premier theatre for Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The booth was just "home" to me. The theatre also was really nice to see a movie in. It had decent acoustics too. I do miss it. (in 1983 it was cut up into a 3-plex by Circle Theatres...It was closed under the Cineplex or Loews banner and is now a CVS drugstore <sniff>.

Certainly, I also have a fondness for the Uptown (Washington, DC). That theatre can make any movie feel better.

Steve

Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 01-04-2010, 12:58 PM:

Hmmmmm.

Well, I sure miss the Coralwood 6. That's the theatre I started at in 1989. I believe it's still there in Cape Coral, Florida. Now a ten plex run by Marquee Cinemas.

Also, I sure do like the theatre I manage now: The Royale 14 in Hyattsville, Maryland.

However, my favorites of yesterday would be the Highway 28 Drive-In in Goshen, Ohio (gone for a long time) and the Mariemont Theatre in Mariemont, Ohio. The two places I went to as a kid.

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 01-04-2010, 03:48 PM:

No favorites for me in this shithole town anymore. Just less crappy ones.

Back in the day it would have been the Fox Charleston Plaza.

Posted by Todd McCracken (Member # 4718) on 01-04-2010, 04:27 PM:

My favorite is gone. The old neighborhood Fox theater on Reseda Blvd in Granada Hills, Los Angeles.

It was a small 1 screen with a balcony built in the 20's or early 30's. It just was perfect for watching movies as a kid. You got 70's films in a 20/30's atmosphere. Great combo.

Posted by Caleb Johnstone-Cowan (Member # 3710) on 01-04-2010, 06:38 PM:

The best screens in London are Empire 1 in Leicester Square and NFT 1 on the South Bank. Flawless projection and sound, well designed stadium auditoriums, get the feeling one inspired the other, Empire 1 is about five times bigger though. I also really like the BFI IMAX, even for a 35mm show it looked good. These are the only cinemas worth going out of your way to see if you're in London.

Notable mentions go to Odeon Leicester Square, vue Fulham 6, vue West End 5 and 7 (identical twins!) Odeon West End 2 and the Chelsea Cinema, all are big screens, seating is good and film is done right there.

Cinemas that I like but don't have good projection and/or screens are the Prince Charles Cinema, Riverside Studios, Odeon Swiss Cottage, Odeon Panton Street and Odeon Covent Garden, mainly because the customers aren't arseholes and they show good films. The Riverside in particular is the best arthouse in London for their double bills, although they've gone too commercial at weekends now.

Posted by Tom Inglis (Member # 5181) on 01-04-2010, 06:42 PM:

i went to the new HMVcurzon in wimbledon today, and it was lovely. Really nice homey feel, great seats, great legroom, great foyer, nice relaxed staff. Great presentation.

Posted by Caleb Johnstone-Cowan (Member # 3710) on 01-04-2010, 06:58 PM:

Want to add Cineworld Haymarket 1 to the notable mentions actually, kinda scuzzy in there but great screen and you see glimmers of what it once was.

Tom I was meaning to check the hmvcurzon out, but I don't like the pretentiousness of the Curzon chain. Also they are really expensive, and my new company show all the art films at their smaller West End sites anyway (I mentioned the names above) so would rather not pay. I have a 2 for 1 thing there, might see what it is like.

Posted by Tony Gallimore (Member # 5358) on 01-04-2010, 07:23 PM:

I'm going to break ranks and choose a long gone drive-in theatre as my favorite of all times... not because the sound was especially wonderful (plain old mono on a post speaker) and the screen had a small piece missing on the right side (about a foot square) that gave it character, plus there was no zenon, just 70 amp carbon arc and twenty minute changeovers. Nothing mind blowing there, but the atmosphere in general was out of this world. Friends met there every weekend, pulled out their lawn chairs and sat around a speaker post, some even brought a grill, but most just got their hotdogs at the concession stand. The popcorn was popped in peanut oil and they offered only four flavors of soft drinks, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper and Orange. People would begin pulling in between 6:00 or 7:00PM for the 8:45pm showtime. Two or three times during the summer, there was an all night show... usually four features which ran until the dawn light washed the image off the screen. Best theatre I ever worked for. Oh yeah, we eventually replaced that missing shingle on the screen!

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 01-04-2010, 08:36 PM:

Tony: is this place mythical? Real location? Louis

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 01-04-2010, 09:00 PM:

Following Tony's lead I'll mention the Surf Theater in Huntington Beach, CA. As a kid in the 60s, we went there all the time. As I recall the auditorium's stucco walls (great acoustics!) were painted with scenes of naked mermaids riding dolphins. They had a "Pal Club" for kids with a kids show on Saturday. On your birthday you got in free and they gave you a Hershey's bar. Oh yeah the presentation was probably horrible too. I remember seeing some movie there that was in "inemaScop" according to the opening titles. The concession stand was directly behind the rear wall of the auditorium and water leaked through the wall and under the seats. The biggest deal I remember there was somehow they got A Hard Days Night and it played to huge crowds.

Those were the days!? [Confused]

Posted by Brian D. Whitish (Member # 825) on 01-05-2010, 12:24 AM:

Here in Seattle most of my favorites are gone.(UA 150, Southcenter, John Danz). My current favorite is Cinerama here in Seattle, Mann Village, Cinerama Dome, Big Newport, and Bruin. Theatres I miss are Eastgate and Westgate in Portland. Mann National, Plitt Century Plaza, and pre carved up Avco in LA. Northpoint in SF.

Posted by Mike Schindler (Member # 1309) on 01-05-2010, 12:38 AM:

Speaking as a customer, my favorite theater of all-time was McClurg Court in Chicago. Unfortunately, it has closed. [Frown]

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 01-05-2010, 01:45 AM:

Course, my favorite theatre was the one in my home town of Idaho Falls: The Paramount Theatre.

Built in 1919 as a stage house with a large balcony. When film and sound came into town, the theatre had to convert the spotlight room which was inside the balcony itself. Thus, there was only a 50 ft throw to the screen, which was lifted up in the fly for stage usage.

When Cinemascope and stereophonic sound came to being, the building was totally remodeled in the French romantic to accomodiate the wide screen with full adjustable masking tabs to use all the available aperture ranges. Place also had full waterfall curtains along with title curtains.

I grew up seeing all of the Disney features here and in 1971, finally had the opportunity to become a projectionist, but on part time basis.

I goet full time there until I moved over here in 1984 and it was closed a year later. The city bought the theatre and converted it to an art center with a full restoration completed along with renaming it back to the original name of "The Colonial"

As for Drive-in's, was the "Motor-Vue Dr.In" in this town with a screen of well over 140 ft wide and almost 100ft tall. Booth had Motiographs with Strong Futura II's, but the real treat was there were Motiograph mag penthouses and twice as many Motiograph amp racks so each car would have two speakers to hear stereo sound. This drive-in is still in operation today.

-Monte

Posted by Eric Hooper (Member # 1730) on 01-06-2010, 01:10 PM:

quote: Brad Miller
My favorite still hasn't changed and no theater will ever be what it was.

Brad the old GCC Southland Cinemas in Hayward, CA was an almost exact replica of your theatre, but the main auditorium like you have pictured was twinned, with a wall down the center. Even the light pattern on the ceiling creating the shadows on the seating is the same. And the smaller auditorium was cut into three. (So, from a twin to a 5-plex). Even twinned, the two large theatres were very good. God I miss that place. [Frown]

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 01-06-2010, 03:07 PM:

My favorite was the Eglinton Theatre in Toronto and The Odeon Carlton

Posted by Rick Raskin (Member # 1561) on 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:

Posted by Robert Burtcher (Member # 3227) on 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.

Posted by F. Hudson Miller (Member # 5318) on 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

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 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.

Posted by Jonathan Goeldner (Member # 4854) on 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.

Posted by Connor Wilson (Member # 6088) on 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.

Posted by Per Hauberg (Member # 529) on 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 [Smile]

Posted by Tony Gallimore (Member # 5358) on 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.

Posted by Daniel Schulz (Member # 1881) on 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.

Posted by Robert E. Allen (Member # 1351) on 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.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 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!

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 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.

Posted by Bernie Anderson Jr (Member # 410) on 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

Posted by Marcial Feliciano Ramos (Member # 1989) on 03-10-2011, 12:30 PM:

Laguna Cinema 150 (UA Cinema 150) till it closed in 2002. Now the Metro in Santurce, Puerto Rico

Posted by Chad M Calpito (Member # 3736) on 03-17-2011, 08:52 PM:

I would have to say the Century Suncoast Stadium 16 in Las Vegas. I visited the theatre last year in May, 2010 and I liked the theatre layout, film and sound presentation.

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 03-18-2011, 11:47 AM:

LaGuna D150 I upgraded projection and sound....Metro Cinema I worked on the renovation into a three plex....for Caribbean Cinemas

Posted by F. Hudson Miller (Member # 5318) on 07-15-2011, 03:49 PM:

Favorite Lost Theaters: Los Angeles - Plitt Twins in Century City
New York - The Roxy (wish I had seen it myself)
Favorite Los Angeles MIA theaters: The Los Angeles & The Million Dollar

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 07-16-2011, 10:19 PM:

Thank you. I did the rebuild for the Plitt Twins for Ghandi (should have been for Heavens Gate, but that didn't open.) Louis

Posted by Gordon Bachlund (Member # 124) on 07-17-2011, 06:14 AM:

The Million Dollar is alive and well and is featured along with the Los Angeles and others in the L. A. Conservancy's annual "Last Remaining Seats" retrospective screening series.

Posted by Jason Metcalfe (Member # 5739) on 07-18-2011, 12:39 PM:

They don't always show movies, but the Paramount Theater in Austin, TX is one of the most gorgeous venues i've seen a film in.

I may be a bit biased but the Inwood Theater in Dallas has the greatest marquees i've ever seen, and I'll challenge anyone to find one better.

Also Studio Movie Grill on 75&Royal in Dallas, I believe it was constructed in the early 1920s.

Posted by Donald Brown (Member # 5427) on 07-18-2011, 05:33 PM:

The best theatre in Delaware is an easy choice; it's the Clayton Theatre in Dagsboro! The Clayton is a single screen operation with Motiograph heads and Strong X-16 lamps, a beautifully maintained neon marquee, and a vey inviting balcony. The presentation is spot-on, and the atmosphere is accented by the aroma of freshly popped corn wafting in from the lobby! It's not an exaggeration to describe the Clayton Theatre as one of Delaware's small wonders! The Clayton makes going to the movies fun again!

Don Brown

Posted by Mike Rivest (Member # 5500) on 07-18-2011, 06:45 PM:

Mine:

Cinema Banque Scotia AKA: Paramount (for its IMAX (80 foot) and mostly large screens throughout) I heard it's quite a beast to manage.

Imperial 1981-1993 Star Trek movies etc. first THX in Quebec. (now used for film festivals)

York (70mm 6-track, demolished for Concordia)

Seville (Great rep house that closed in 1984 and left to rot until 2010. Condos going up on the site.)

All in Montréal, QC

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 07-18-2011, 07:09 PM:

quote: Jason Metcalfe

Also Studio Movie Grill on 75&Royal in Dallas, I believe it was constructed in the early 1920s.

Studio Movie Grill Royal was opened in Feb 2008. It was previously a grocery store.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 07-18-2011, 10:27 PM:

quote: Jason Metcalfe
I may be a bit biased but the Inwood Theater in Dallas has the greatest marquees i've ever seen, and I'll challenge anyone to find one better.

The Inwood Theater has a decent looking marquee, but it's not difficult to find ones that are better.

The El Capitan theater marquee in Hollywood has the Inwood beat on multiple fronts. The El Capitan marquee and blade sign are quite a bit larger, have a lot more neon and even boast full color RGB LED electronic variable message center displays while the Inwood marquee still uses the old track-based changeable copy letters approach.

I'm kind of proud of the Land of the Sun theater marquee in my home town of Artesia, NM. Carmike runs the theater, but I suspect the oil money town fathers helped with the neon on the movie theater's front. It's not bad for a town of only 10,000 people and it even gives the Inwood marquee a run for its money.

Posted by Jason Metcalfe (Member # 5739) on 07-19-2011, 12:45 PM:

quote: Bobby Henderson
have a lot more neon and even boast full color RGB LED electronic variable message center displays while the Inwood marquee still uses the old track-based changeable copy letters approach

you're more of a digital guy, aren't you Bobby.

also, i was being facetious, though i guess that doesn't translate well over the internet/to an Oklahoman