Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Cinema Houston (New book published)

This is topic Cinema Houston (New book published) in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Floyd Justin Newton (Member # 1316) on 12-13-2007, 07:35 PM:

A brand new book, Cinema Houston; from nickelodeon to megaplex,
has just been published. Although it doesn't cover any booth
operations through it's 332 pages and 19 chapters it covers just about every aspect of exhibition. There are hundreds of
photographs!
Cinema Houston can be had through Amazon.
GOOD reading! [thumbsup]

Posted by James Westbrook (Member # 3690) on 12-14-2007, 02:30 PM:

In Amazon, when you look into "customers also bought..." one finds even MORE books about cinemas in other cities.
Dang...
They almost all look collectable...

Posted by Scott D. Neff (Member # 185) on 12-15-2007, 01:19 PM:

I know this is a lame question, but how much of the book focusses on modern times? Usually those books are divided 70% - "The Golden Age" - 25% 1965-1975 and then 1 page on Multiplexes and then the rest is index.

I'm sure a book about multiplexes would be a snooze for many people, but I for one would love it!

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 12-15-2007, 04:36 PM:

I think I'll pick this one up. I serviced a lot of those theatres: The Windsor, River Oaks, the McLendon drive-ins... great memories. [thumbsup]

Posted by James Westbrook (Member # 3690) on 12-19-2007, 03:30 AM:

Scott,
If anyone wants to write and publish a book on Multi-plex Theatres, I am sure you and Adam will have to be involved.
(even if only to get permission to print some of the photos found on Cinematour.)
Shoot...you two can write one yourselves. Lord knows you've been through plenty of them.

Posted by Scott D. Neff (Member # 185) on 12-20-2007, 06:01 PM:

I just wouldn't know where to start. And with my attention span, it'd likely be a picture book with captions that say "Yep, it was 1978 alright..."

Posted by James Westbrook (Member # 3690) on 12-20-2007, 07:12 PM:

I just wandered all over my house pondering how one could start said book...
The history of the technologies that made multiplex theatres possible could be a good start (safety film, xenon bulbs, solid-state amplifiers, automation, computerized ticketing...)
But, yes...I'm stuck after that.
A chapter on how a multiplex DIES would be a blast. (wall coverings and carpet starts to show wear, roof starts to leak more, Coca-cola seeps into the auditorium floor's cracks and makes the complex smell like feet...)
There definitely will be nostalgia for the multiplex, as the current generation has only experienced multiplex theatres, rarely seeing a movie in a single screen theatre or a drive-in. "That theatre used to have sloped floors in it's auditoriums, I kid you not!"
"They used to run actual FILM there!"
"The sound only came from the front, behind the center of the screen!"
Some of the mistakes of the industry could be brought up, like...
"Some complexes were built with as many as 30 screens, but the industry realized that 14 to 16 screens was the ideal number."

Posted by Michael Coate (Member # 757) on 12-20-2007, 08:04 PM:

Sounds like Chris Slycord may wish to take a peek at the book and see what details there are concerning the Loews Town & Country, for which a question about its years of operation was raised in the recent "CE3K" thread.

Posted by Scott D. Neff (Member # 185) on 12-22-2007, 01:04 PM:

But then I'd have to get facts, and cite sources. We all know the extent of my fact finding is "1970's GCC CINEMA I-II-III rule!!! -- Scott Neff."

Posted by Fred Tucker (Member # 4482) on 10-08-2008, 06:34 AM:

I have a copy of it & loaned it to my tech that has been in the industry his entre life. Brought back a lot of good memories for him..... BTW, Frank can I get my book back?