Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Downton Abbey: Palo Alto film district

This is topic Downton Abbey: Palo Alto film district in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Mike Croaro (Member # 3123) on 09-23-2019, 06:24 PM:

It seems very strange that Focus Features "Downton Abbey" is not playing the Palo Alto, CA film district. It would have typically played at Landmark's Aquarius or the Cinearts Palo Alto Twin. Both Theatres are currently booked with mediocre fare. I'm curious why?
Mike

Posted by Mark Ogden (Member # 43) on 09-23-2019, 07:26 PM:

Why "typically?" It's not really a specialized/arthouse picture. It's a major studio 3,000+ screen release. That doesn't preclude art houses, but I imagine that there is a Century or AMC around there somewhere that has the picture and would have a clearance issue. I must say, their release strategy paid off for them, it ate everything else's lunch last week.

Posted by Mike Croaro (Member # 3123) on 09-23-2019, 10:56 PM:

I know of no clearances over the Landmark Aquarius or the Century Cinearts Palo Alto Twin. These two are essentially in their own zone.

BTW, period pieces always do well in Palo Alto and at other Bay Area arthouses.

Posted by Terry Monohan (Member # 8285) on 10-01-2019, 11:35 AM:

Mike time to move out the renters at the Varsity Theatre in Palo Alto CA and re open the place for movie lovers in this college town! Even the Fox Stanford Theatre can stop running the same old 35mm films they run every year and play some 1st run DCP movies a few times a year. 'Downtown' would have done well at both of these places.

Landmark does not have the best large cinemas in the area now that the 'Guild' is gone in nearby Menlo Park CA.

Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 10-01-2019, 11:52 AM:

I believe both of these theatres are "cleared" by the Mountain View Century.

Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 10-02-2019, 04:33 PM:

Second Tier openings are this Friday, see if it shows up then.

Posted by Mike Croaro (Member # 3123) on 10-03-2019, 07:36 PM:

Terry - You're spot on. They could have 2-3 cinemas on the ground floor and something different on the upstairs.
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Mike S. - I find it hard to believe the Mountain View Kerosites has clearance over the 2 aforementioned art houses. Cinearts Twin is 4.3 mils away and the Aquarius 7.3 miles away.