Sou da na... Zannen na...
How many seats? How large was the screen and how many? What kind of sound system did it have? What kinds of film played at this theatre?
Was it international, domestic or both?
-Claude
I've never been to that theatre myself. From the article it sounded like the typical neighborhood theatre of the '50's that just happened to survive into the aught's. Probably a dive with just basic projection and sound, but lots of character. The pictures and description of the place remind me very much of the long-gone theatres I used to frequent as a kid in LA's Little Tokyo, Chinatown and Crenshaw districts.
And for Michael,
そうだなー 残念なー
Sou da na... Zannen na...
Mata ne,
Pouru
Do mo arigato go zae masu --- for the information.
How is Japan these days? I have visited the country of my ancestors twice but I have not been back since 1983. I remember making an effort to see a movie by myself in 1976 during my first visit to Japan because the film was only playing in 70mm in Japan. All of the American prints was 35mm only. All I remember about the film was the two leading cast members. It was Gene Hackman and Liza Menelli. The movie in Japan was playing at a TOHO theatre between my hotel, The Imperial and the Ginza. I remember paying big bucks for the movie and recall not enjoying it very much.
-Claude
Yes, you are right. It was "LUCKY LADY". You might also be right about the film playing in LA and in NY in 70mm. It was a long time ago. The movie came out at about the time when I used to buy the Los Angeles Times at a book store in Honolulu at least three times during the weekdays and every Sunday and I could have over looked the fact that the movie was in playing in that large format.
-Claude
) and see the World's Fair at Tsukuba Science City in 1985. In 1995 I was a USAFA escort officer for a small group of cadets during that year's IACE (Int'l Air Cadet Exchange). I miss the place terribly and am still trying to figure out a way to get back over there for a longer-term stay. In the mean time I take Japanese classes (and teach beginning ones or volunteer at J-school) whenever I can just to keep my ears (barely) alive.I've never been in a movie house in Japan, though there was talk of sending me over there for the Japanese premiere of Casino in 1996. Long story, but my part of that trip (as a projectionist) got cancelled!
Speaking of 70mm in Japan, how's this for vintage stuff:
Ja ne,
Paul
It is good to know that you have relatives that live in the Kaimuki area of Honolulu. Did you have an opportunity to visit them? When I was younger, I used to go to the Queen Theatre in Kaimuki a lot to see foreign films before the now defunct Royal Theatres turned the house into a reserved seat venue by puttng in 70mm for the Hawaii premiere of Walt Disney's "SLEEPING BEAUTY" in 1959. The revival of "FANTASIA" also played in that theatre in true four track mag stereo that was taken from the original "Fantasound" optical tracks also in the late fifties. Later showings of this film before the sound was remastered in Dolby Stereo featured terrible stereo sound because the tracks for some reason was mastered from a monaural track and it was pretty bad! I remember seeing "PORGY & BESS" also in 1959 at the Princess Theatre in 35mm & four track mag just before the theatre closed for two months for the conversion to play three strip Cinerama films. Watching films in the fifties, sixties, seventies and even the early eighties was a joy because of the introduction of films shot on 65mm film and released in 70mm, great two projector 35mm 3-D films (Natural Vision), CinemaScope with a 2.55.1 aspect ratio with four track mag stereo sound and Cinerama. Those were the days!
-Claude