Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: America's Best Movie Theatres

This is topic America's Best Movie Theatres in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 06-10-2011, 02:18 PM:

Go At It:
http://flavorwire.com/185882/the-best-movie-theaters-in-america?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Day%205%20%28Friday%29&utm_campaign=All%20Cities%20Unified%20Mailer

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 06-10-2011, 03:11 PM:

Hey! The Radio City Music Hall didn't make the list! [Big Grin]

But seriously, those all look great. They could make a companion article, The Best Multiplexes in America. (The ones where the picture is bright and in focus.)

Posted by Bernie Anderson Jr (Member # 410) on 06-10-2011, 07:04 PM:

The problem with the music hall is, its been over 30 years since it was a first run theatre. Most people I know NEVER even knew it was a movie theatre!

Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 06-10-2011, 08:03 PM:

HOwever, it's been even longer that the Paramount in Oakland has been a regular first-run movie theatre, and it made the list.

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 06-11-2011, 05:17 AM:

^^^ And I'd hope that the white thing in the middle of the stage pic isn't the actual screen they use for movies there. Otherwise, I'd say that the place demonstrably sucks (as a movie theater).

Posted by Edward Havens (Member # 4715) on 06-11-2011, 11:24 AM:

This is what I hate about internet writers. A personal bias between the writer and their friends (the only criteria appears to be "these are theatres myself or my buddies have been to"), poorly written and horribly researched with zero fact checking.

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 06-11-2011, 01:38 PM:

Page 6.

You may go ahead and shower me with praises. [Big Grin]

quote:
You wouldn’t expect to find a world-class movie house in Traverse City, but Michigan native Michael Moore and a thriving local arts community brought the long-dormant State, originally built in 1918, back to life — first as the venue for the Traverse City Film Festival, then as a year-round art house operated by that group. Their schedule mixes art-house fare with special film events and 25-cent matinees of family and classic movies. Plus, the State offers an incentive for summer movie-going — if the temperature hits 100, admission is free. (Big, big thanks to our friend Lauren Epstein for the 411 on the Castro and the State.)

Fact checking here is a bit fuzzy as well. The first theatre that opened on this property was The Lyric in 1916, which burned down completely and was replaced with the new Lyric in the late 1920s. Another fire in 1948 destroyed most of that building. The State was built in 1949, using what was left of the 20s Lyric. About 80% of the current building is the 1949 construction, with the notable exception of the basement, stage, and flyloft which were leftover from the Lyric. The building was extensively renovated in 2007 and fire suppression was added [Wink]

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 06-11-2011, 02:45 PM:

Though not on the list, the Loews Jersey, Jersey City and the Byrd, Richmond both get a mention in the comments. The Lafayette, Suffern NY is missing from both list and comments though.

Posted by Carl Martin (Member # 1146) on 06-16-2011, 05:39 AM:

whatever that white square is at the front of the paramount, it isn't the screen, which is appropriately sized for the proscenium, although that might still seem small given the colossal interior. it's not really that great a place to see a movie, the acoustics being way too loud, but just as a space it's breathtaking. there are theaters out there smaller than the lavatories at the paramount.

so what's up with the 600' screen at the 21st st warren? that's pretty, um, impressive.

Posted by Edward Havens (Member # 4715) on 06-17-2011, 01:04 AM:

I think that's supposed to be the square footage of the screen.

Posted by Carl Martin (Member # 1146) on 06-17-2011, 02:57 AM:

in that case, not so impressive for imax.

also, i meant to say "live", not "loud" in previous post.

Posted by Edward Havens (Member # 4715) on 06-17-2011, 10:37 PM:

I think it's also the person who wrote the article doesn't know how to multiply. 100ft wide times 60ft wide is 6,000 square feet, not 600 feet.