This is topic General Cinemas in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.


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Posted by Jeff Stuckey (Member # 1718) on 06-11-2003, 10:47 AM:
 
Okay...so am I a hopeless movie geek because I miss anything General Cinema? I grew up with that company, visiting the Village I & II cinemas in my neighborhood just about everyday. What can I say? I miss the way their theaters were setup. I miss the lettering on the marquees. I miss the policy trailers. I miss the door marquees. (Man...I really do need help.)

In any case, do you know if anyone on the web has any video of the policy trailers? I really have enjoyed looking at the pictures of the theatres here on the website. But I was curious if anyone knew of other places to look up GCC stuff. I found a discussion board with a few posts, and a wav copy of the "drummer" policy trailer. If you guys know of any other resources, please let me know.

I visited a theater here in OKC that was an old GCC theater converted into a new stadium seating monstrosity. When the manager took me on the tour, he told me they threw away just about anything that had General Cinema on it. He also showed me the "popper room", and he said he'd "heard stories" about how people would pop popcorn all day then bag it up. Of course, he was only about 18 and doesn't even remember having General Cinema here in Oklahoma.

Sorry to drool on and on about GCC. In my opinion, it was one of the great circuits.

Thanks for the ear. [Big Grin]
 
Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 06-11-2003, 11:00 AM:
 
It was a nice company to work for when I was in California. I have one of those signs they had in the lobby. That was for one of our THX auditoriums that lights up. I have a few policy trailers around here on a reel.
 
Posted by Eric Hooper (Member # 1730) on 06-11-2003, 05:31 PM:
 
Jeff,
You are not alone. I too miss General Cinema. [Frown] They were the best Circuit EVER. Very high standards. (I used to be a 'mystery shopper' for them - they even wanted me to check to make sure the employee's shoes were polished!)

I have been collecting GCC stuff here and there from what I can find on Ebay. I have a 'dater' with the GCC logo hanging in my living room. (This is the thing that went in the poster boxes and signs). I also got a copy of the candy band trailers on 16mm and had them converded to DVD.

I miss their clean theatres. I miss their red blue and gray colors. I miss their hi-back blue comfy seats and the metallic gray and red walls and screen lights. I miss the Candy Band.... I am glad I'm not alone.
 
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 06-12-2003, 09:46 AM:
 
The famous old GCC theme:

http://members.aol.com/psymanteum/gcc.wav

And a GCC BB:

GCC Bulletin Board
 
Posted by Jesse Skeen (Member # 586) on 06-12-2003, 01:45 PM:
 
Their Sacramento Inn theatre finally got knocked down a couple weeks ago after sitting vacant for several years.
 
Posted by Daniel Fuentz (Member # 1684) on 06-13-2003, 01:28 AM:
 
I only got to go to a GCC theatre once, when I was visiting relatives in Florida. I absolutely loved the candy band trailer -- it's right up there with the UA "Magician"! [thumbsup]

I'm told GCC had a theater here in Fresno in the 60's at Manchester Mall. When I started going there in the 80's, UA was running it as a sub-run house and it was a dump. They remodeled it in the late 80's, but the presentation was still terrible. (Even though I was only a kid at the time, I would rather stay home than go to that theater since the scratched films bothered me THAT much!) The theater still sits abandoned, though I doubt it will be revived as a theater since there is a new Signature 16 screen complex at the other end of the mall.
 
Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 06-16-2003, 02:56 PM:
 
Daniel

As of 1969, these were the GCC California locations.

The first GCC in Southern California was in Montclair
 
Posted by Betsie Beadling (Member # 591) on 06-16-2003, 08:02 PM:
 
I Miss that Company Also
even that one Policy Trailer
where Popcorn Guy Goes out on a Date with
his Soda Girlfreind [Frown]
 
Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-16-2003, 08:05 PM:
 
They may have had some nice locations in some cities, but Chicago was not one of the "nicer" General Cinema locations. They were known there as Genneral Enema.
Mark
 
Posted by Kenneth Wuepper (Member # 1174) on 06-16-2003, 08:38 PM:
 
In SAGINAW MI we had two General Cinema houses. The Green Acres Cinema and the Fort Saginaw Mall Cinema. They were single screen reel houses when they opened and then later twined and plattered the green acres but closed the Fort Saginaw.

What was so great about these houses was their lobbies. They were very large and bright and each had a display area for local artists and their work.

As a photographer, I posted many of my framed prints there over the years. Later owners of the Green Acres did not see the need for the "gallery" lobby and so it disappeared.

The Green Acres Cinema is now a fabric store.

KEN
 
Posted by Daniel Fuentz (Member # 1684) on 06-17-2003, 03:50 AM:
 
Bill, thanks a lot for posting that list! Like I say, the Manchester Mall cinema is still there, waiting to be gutted and turned into a Dollar Tree or a MacFrugal's... From what I can tell UA stripped it pretty good -- the only things left in the lobby are a Coke fountain type dispenser in the snack bar, the snack bar counter itself and a glass partition from the box office.
 
Posted by Eric Hooper (Member # 1730) on 06-17-2003, 10:11 AM:
 
In the SF Bay Area:

GCC Southland 1 + 2 was turned into a 5 plex. The building is still standing vacant since they closed in 1999.

GCC Hillsdale was turned into a 4-plex. Closed in 1998 (the first one to close). Since been turned into a home furnishings store (I believe).

We also had the:

GCC Dublin Place in Dublin (the last of 'em in the area to close in 2000)- building has been demolished.

GCC Fremont - built in 1989 w/8 screens and THX. Closed in 1999 when Century opened a 25 screener down the street. - was run as an Indian movie theatre for a while but now standing vacant.
 
Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 06-17-2003, 12:45 PM:
 
TouchStar Cinemas (local company) has reopened the former GCC Colonial Promenade in Orlando. This theater became an EFW shortly after GCC closed it. TouchStar is running it as a sub-run, and showing Bollywood movies on the weekdays.

A lot of the GCC stuff was stripped away when EFW took over, but there's still plenty of the trademark decor left. It's a typical 6-plex, 3 on each side, Cinemeccanica booth with AW3's. Booth is in remarkable condition, and all the 70mm stuff is still there and working AFAIK. (Now only to convince the owner to book some 70mm for when ShowEast rolls into town! [Wink] ) The "big" house has curtains and was originally up to THX specs but couldn't get certified because it was too close to an airport.

TouchStar did a great job cleaning and fixing up the place after EFW let it go to hell. [thumbsup] No more [puke] smell!!

There's something about GCC theaters that makes you "feel" like your at the movies. Even at their standard plexes, the colors and lighting make for a cool, but not in-your-face ambiance. [Smile]

=TMP=
 
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 06-17-2003, 01:11 PM:
 
The GCC Projection Website is still on-line:

http://zulugruv.home.texas.net/gcc/

I believe Tim Reed and Steve Geiger had a role in originally developing the site.
 
Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 06-18-2003, 06:55 PM:
 
From the GCC Projection Website:

"WD-40 works very well for cleaning sprockets and rollers" [Eek!]

=TMP=
 
Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 06-18-2003, 10:33 PM:
 
I know Steve Geiger from when I worked for Loews he works for NCS now and he serviced the Freshpond 10 when I worked there. He is an excellent tech.
 
Posted by Daniel Fuentz (Member # 1684) on 06-19-2003, 06:02 AM:
 
Watching the GCC Candy Band trailer, I noticed something mildly disturbing... Mr. Popcorn goes to the snack bar and buys a candy bar and a soda. He returns and gives the candy to his girlfriend, and the soda he gives to his soda friend, who drinks it. A soda drinking a soda... Isn't that cannibalism???? [Big Grin] [Big Grin] (I know, I know, that joke was so bad it could've been lifted from "Life With Bonnie"...)
 
Posted by Paul Trimboli (Member # 1509) on 06-19-2003, 07:40 AM:
 
Hey Daniel, that is off Seinfeild! Jerry talks about that with Elain! [Big Grin]
 
Posted by Scott D. Neff (Member # 185) on 06-19-2003, 10:52 AM:
 
Me thinks it's time to watch all my policy trailers again... it's been too long...

I didn't have much chance to go to any GCCs -- I grew up with Pacific Theatres, but I agree... there is something strange about all the GCC's... just walking into them really felt like you were going to the movies... they were probably pumping gas into the lobby to make ya all popcorny.
 
Posted by Jeff Stuckey (Member # 1718) on 06-19-2003, 12:50 PM:
 
I agree Scott. It's definitely time for someone to roll out a DVD with all of the old circuit policy trailers. Before GCC closed, I asked someone at their corporate office if they would ever do such a thing. They told me they were working on it...and then, GCC was dead.

I sent an e-mail to Brad earlier today about just how unbelievably pathetic I am when it comes to General Cinema stuff. The new Ford Center here in OKC must mop their floors with the same brand chemicals that GCC used, because they smell just the same. It really takes me back.

Now comes the hard part of admitting that I have a problem enhaling floor cleaning solutions. Do they have a support group for that? Or maybe my problems are just too far gone.
 
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 06-19-2003, 02:24 PM:
 
Thomas Procyk wrote:

quote:
"WD-40 works very well for cleaning sprockets and rollers"
Note that it is NOT being suggested as the proper lubricant. As a cleaning solvent, WD-40 is quite handy. Just don't expect it to lubricate moving parts adequately, and keep it out of bearings and bushings where it will wash out the proper lubricant.
 
Posted by Daniel Fuentz (Member # 1684) on 06-19-2003, 02:30 PM:
 
That was on Seinfeld??? Well, pooh. I *thought* I made that up all by myself. [Big Grin]
 
Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 06-19-2003, 06:02 PM:
 
Scott
quote:
I grow up with Pacific Theatres.
People pleasing people [Big Grin]

The best GCC's to work in Southern California were:
the rest were ok to work.
 
Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 06-19-2003, 09:07 PM:
 
GCC had a number of theatres in my area, now all gone.

3 were the white box theatres with CINEMA on the top. Originally singles, later twinned. They had the blue interiors and the shadowbox screens.

They took over 2 mall theatres that were twinned. Both had 70mm capability, and they ran a very few 70mm prints. Both had AA-II's.

They built 2 8-screen theatres in the early 80's. One was nothing special, but the other was an early THX installation with the sweetest, most musical sound sound system I've ever heard. Sounded closest to live music I've ever experienced.

I liked the old GCC intro with the reels going around on the logo myself.

I sure do miss that old THX room. I think they might even have had curtains in there, but the elderly brain is not quite sure.
 
Posted by Betsie Beadling (Member # 591) on 06-20-2003, 08:51 PM:
 
I Cant seem to Find GCC/General Cinema
Stuff on ebay when i type GCC or Genneral Cinema in [Eek!] [eyes]

Should i look under 16mm or 35mm [Confused]
 




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