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Memories
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January 4, 2005
Avalon Theater - Chicago
Remembering the glorious Avalon Theater (New Regal) on Chicago’s south side in the 1950s and ‘60s from my childhood, I included a lot about it in my new true family, true crime book, The Pied Piper of South Shore, Toys and Tragedy in Chicago. The story is set around my parent’s toy store, Wee Folks, across the street from the Avalon.
My parent’s held many toy giveaway promotions on the stage of that theater. I thought you would all enjoy an excerpt from the book about the Avalon. For more information on the book with an artistic rendering of the Avalon on the cover contact me at or visit www.chicagospiedpiper.com to see it LIVE.
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December 15, 2004
Saturday Afternoons At The Oasis
RIDGEWOOD, NY — I can remember going to the Oasis every Saturday with my older sisters.
Before entering the movie theater, we would stop at Mr. White’s candy store a few doors from the theater. My oldest sister would get so angry with me because I would constantly disappear somewhere in the theater, looking for friends, and she could never find me.
I also remember the matron with her flashlight constantly shining it down the rows of seats, and yelling at us to behave. As I got older, I continued to frequent the Oasis with friends, and sometimes after the movie, we would frequent Jimmy’s Pizzeria diagonally across the street from the movie house.
I remember that it cost 26 cents to get into the theater on Saturday, with a feature film, newsreels, sing-a-longs, and cartoons. A great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
DianeS.
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November 30, 2004
Memories Of Newsreel Theaters?
Does anyone have any memories of newsreel cinemas?
I’m a graduate student at Brown University and I’m working on a project about newsreels in the United States. I’m particularly interested in how people remember these specialized theaters.
I’d be interested to hear anecdotes or specific memories, but i’d also be interested to hear about the more mundane details of visiting these cinemas. When and how often would you go? How much did it cost? Did you go to see films of specific news/sports events? Which ones?
Please email me your memories directly at .
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November 3, 2004
Mission Drive-In Theater Sign
‘Kevin Culhane’ asks…
I came across an old wooden sign a few years back I think it’s an original from the San Juan Capistrano Drive-In Theater. It’s about 8' x 15". I have a picture of it.
I didn’t want to throw it out and went looking that’s when I came across your site. Would anyone you know be interested in it?
It’s not in the best of shape but it’s gotta be worth something to someone. It’s says “Mission Drive-In Theater San Juan Capistrano”.
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October 20, 2004
Loew’s Paradise Theater
Enough people have already submitted their experiences of going to the “movies” at the Paradise, one of the greatest movie theaters ever.
Of course, the ceiling in the theater with it’s twinkling stars was magical. Some are too young to know that it originally had stage shows along with the movie in the old days. Very much like Radio City Music Hall. And that gorgeous baroque staircase to the balcony.
Did anyone mention the goldfish? There were pools (3 or 4) of huge goldfish in the lobby.
If The Paradise is not restored and saved it will be the shame of New York, just as the demolition of Penn Station was. So Bronxites, what can we do?
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September 3, 2004
The Movie Palace Series: Interview with Larry Grossman
Cinema Treasures concludes its look at the work of artist/photographer Larry Grossman with an interview with the artist.
What are your favorite movie theaters?
All in CA (since that’s where I live and go to the movies): Chinese, El Capitan, Cinerama Dome, Los Angeles, Avalon (Catalina), Fremont, Pantages (but they no longer show films), to name few.What are your favorite movies?
The Maltese Falcon, Bringing up Baby, Chinatown, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Splendor in the Grass, Godfather I & II., L.A. Confidential, American Graffiti, etc, etc.What tools do you use to create your work?
Olympus digital camera and Photoshop 8 -
September 2, 2004
The Movie Palace Series: Gallery (Part Two)
Today, we have shots of Graumann’s Chinese Theatre, Warner Grand Theater, Alex Theater, Rio Theater, Fremont Theatre, and the Crest Theatre.
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The Movie Palace Series: Before and After
In this before and after image, Larry Grossman reveals how he creates his amazing images: “the top is my original photo, the bottom obviously an archival shot. Aside from the fact I had to create a lobby (there is no longer a central box office), you can see how much work I put into ‘restoring’ the marquee and sign back to its original look, plus I had to guess at the colors.”
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September 1, 2004
The Movie Palace Series: Gallery (Part One)
Today, we’re proud to share with you Larry Grossman’s “retrovisions” of the Pantages Theater, Cinerama Dome, Hollywood Theatre, Fox Westwood Village, Fremont Theatre, Star Theater, and the Vista Theater.
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August 31, 2004
The Movie Palace Series: An Introduction
Cinema Treasures is featuring the beautiful work of artist/photographer Larry Grossman throughout this week. Today, we begin with an introduction to Grossman’s work and artistic process. During the rest of the week, we’ll also be showing several pieces of Grossman’s work each day, as well as an interview with the artist.
The “Movie Palace” series is a collection of images of vintage Movie Theaters created by artist/photographer Larry Grossman. These images depict classic theaters and their environments, as they looked in their “Golden Age”.
“I begin each image by shooting a photograph of the theater (note my original Pantages photo next to the completed Pantages image). To ‘transport’ the theaters back in time to their ‘heyday’, I digitally remove all contemporary items such as cars, signs, parking meters, streetlights, and stores from the photos.