Comments from terrywade

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terrywade
terrywade commented about John Waters gives Christmas present to Roxie Theater on Dec 11, 2010 at 7:12 pm

John needs to buy the Roxie Theatre in SF and turn It back into a GRINDHOUSE!!!Re open the Strand Theatre on Market St. Show the young people of SF what a ‘Grindhouse Cinema’ was like. They will line up for the trasy experience. Show old horror trailers and book B films. Run them 24/7.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Landmark spruces up the Piedmont Theatre on Dec 7, 2010 at 6:05 pm

Has anyone been. I hear they put in new stage drapes but do they open and close. A friend told me they just stay open. Now I hope the Landmark gang can do the same thing at the Albany Theatre in Albany CA near Berkeley CA. This palce is very run down. I will not go see a film at the Albany. The place needs new seats a better sound system new rugs ect. Same with the Fox California in downtown Berkeley CA. When Landmark did the small remodel job for earthquake work only many years ago they put in a tiny screen downstairs and moved It forward. The curtains have been broken for many years both at the Albany and California. Landmark leases these two cinemas and maybe they can bring the remodel people over that just finished the Oakland Piedmont and start the badly needed work at the Albany & Fox California. Wow two bring back the large curved CinemaScope screen the Fox California once had!

terrywade
terrywade commented about Cedar Lee Theatre in Cleveland Heights turns 85 on Dec.1 on Nov 30, 2010 at 6:00 pm

Before they chopped up the place did the Cedar Lee have a large curved screen? I think they had roadshow in the 50’s & 60’s for a time with 70mm.

terrywade
terrywade commented about CineMiracle's "Windjammer" at Warner Grand on Nov 23, 2010 at 11:49 pm

Thanks John for the tech info. I’ll try to get Jim at the Del Mar Theatre in Santa Cruz to get in touch with you or Dave about booking of Windjammer in the Smile Box format in Santa Cruz CA. I wrote Ted Gooding about this so he can help.

terrywade
terrywade commented about CineMiracle's "Windjammer" at Warner Grand on Nov 22, 2010 at 3:48 pm

The Seattle Cinerama with a new remodel opened this past weekend with ‘Harry’ What happens when a curved screen type Cinerama theatre shows the new SmileBox version of ‘Windjammer’ on a curved screen that is set up already? Do they just play a flat version if available and let the curve they have play out? I told my friend ‘Jim’ at the art deco large Del Mar Theatre in downtown Santa Cruz CA to try to play the SmileBox version of ‘Windjammer’ for a one week exclusive in Northern California on the Del Mar’s large wide flat CinemaScope screen with SmileBox, they have new digital projectors. Santa Cruz is a sea type town with many surf ocean type people and students that have never seen the curved Windjammer print.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Rave to operate former Magic Johnson Theater in Baldwin Hills after renovations on Nov 17, 2010 at 5:25 am

What about the people in wheel chairs. Do they sit down front for the big view. I like a theatre with a small slant floor and a large curved screen with curtains that work. Bring back the charm.

terrywade
terrywade commented about 1959's "House on Haunted Hill" returns to nearly 500 theaters on October 28 on Oct 23, 2010 at 5:10 pm

I have a question to ask. Many of these gimmick films played at the RKO Golden Gate and the Paramount Theatres in San Francisco CA. Who did all the installation work to put in ‘Emergo’ in ‘House’ and wire the seats for these other films as they even played in many of the neighborhood houses also with the same gimmick the large downtown theatres had. Did the studio provide a full ‘Gimmick Kit’ and did the local theatre owner do the work or the studios come in and set up the things for the run of the picture at each cinema and then take It down or move to another theatre? Does anyone still have the set up for ‘House On Haunted Hill’ with the overhead wire ect? And in the ‘Tingler’ was there a cue track on the print to turn on the seat shock buzz motors or did the projection people just pull a switch to turn on the effect at the correct time? To bad I was way to young to see these in person in a large downtown theatre with thousands of people screaming.

terrywade
terrywade commented about 1959's "House on Haunted Hill" returns to nearly 500 theaters on October 28 on Oct 19, 2010 at 6:35 pm

The new multiplex owners just care about candy money. They have no showmanship. You won’t find AMC or the others having ‘Emergo’ put in for a 35mm showing of ‘House On Haunted Hill’ on Oct 31. Lets bring back ‘The Tingler’ in 35mm with the color section and have Regal & Cinemark Theatres wire up the seats to shock the new people that have no idea what will hit them and turn up the power on the seats. Bring in fake nurses to help the yelling kids and probably some shocked adults. It’s time for a new ‘William Castle’ type person to work with the studios and theatre owners. Bring in something that can’t be done in their home theatres. This new video live showing looks like fun but not like the true original theatre experience.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Theater equipment for sale on Oct 15, 2010 at 4:41 pm

Wow a Imax Theatre with curtains. This was a first. Does anyone know If this was just a large format 70mm type of theatre not true Imax? Not to many seats for a Imax screen. Was the screen a wrap around curved or just a big Imax square type screen. A great deal if you own a cinema and this will fit in one of your auditoriums.

terrywade
terrywade commented about New movie about old theaters on Oct 7, 2010 at 2:43 am

Mike I hope when you do this doc you don’t just do the potrn theatres but many of the grindhouse theatres that played B movies and 3 features. Do you have a contact e mail. Terry

terrywade
terrywade commented about New movie about old theaters on Oct 6, 2010 at 4:53 pm

Sounds like a great project. You need to call Jack Tillmany who lives in the East Bay. He has plenty of photos and stories to tell but may be camera shy. Also my friend ‘Ed Jacklich’ who managed and worked at some area movie theatres like the Oakland’s T&D. I’ll try to e mail you. I also have some stories to tell. Market St in SF had so many little theatres in the 50’s & 60’s like the Hub, Pix, Regal,Strand,Embassy,Paris,Centre,Esquire Telenews,plus the large theatres like the Fox,Paramount,State,UA and many more in the neigborhoods like the Fox Parkside, Mission, El Rey, Granada ect. Oakland had many also like the Rex, Broadway, Lux, Moulin Rouge, Peerlex, Central, Globe in the Broadway area in downtown Oakland. As a kid in High School I collected movie posters from many of these theatres and managers in the Oakland area. Like I said you need to interview my friend ‘Ed Jacklich’ who managed the Fairfax Theatre in Oakland when the Hells Angels rented the theatre for a American International preview of a new biker movie called ‘Hells Angels On Wheels’ hundreds of bikers came and parked their bikes outside the theatre on Foothill Blvd in Oakland and the business peoople in the area got upset. Many stories you need to get on video. Also the time at the Fruitvale Theatre in Oakland he also managed booked the movie ‘The Tami Show’ and he was beat up in the lobby! Good luck on your project. PS*** You got to get the story from Jack Tillmany on your new doc about a theatre in Oakland he managed when a projectionist who went out to the roof to sun bathe between reels and the wind closed the projection room door. It locked and he had 15 minutes to climb down the fire exit in the nude to go thru the lobby to get back into the booth! We will talk soon and I will e mail you. Terry

terrywade
terrywade commented about CityPlace project approval spells doom for St. Francis Theatre on Sep 26, 2010 at 2:16 am

Aw the St Francis in It’s roadshow 70mm days as a single screen theatre. Does anyone have a list of the roadshow movies they did play. I remember ‘Sweet Charity’ in 70mm played at the St Francis. I don’t think the new mall is going to work out in this area. This has to be the most seedy area in SF and It won’t change just because new stores are coming on the block. The shoppers and tourists will see who is walking on the streets and turn back. The new owners need to save their building money and re open the St Francis with a remodel job and show $2 second run movies like the Embassy Theatre now gone up the street. The zombie drug street people will be glad to come in from the rain and they might even pay for a cold drink or popcorn. What a great place to take a rest and not have to lay on the streets and beg all day. The new St Francis Theatre owners can offer wine to the street people. The local liquor stores will miss the business. If the new owners want to make some extra money they can build condos above the air space on top of the St Francis. The new condo owners will get a good view and smell day and night from this section of Market St. It’s time to remove the plywood and open up the boxoffice again!

terrywade
terrywade commented about Left in the Dark: Portraits of San Francisco Movie Theatres on Sep 23, 2010 at 4:45 pm

Love this new book with great color photos of the inside of the UA Coronet(a Todd-AO house) before the wrecking ball came. Now It’s time for the New Mission Theatre(on the cover) to re open before It’s to late. Julie & R. A. McBride did a super job going into many of the SF Theatres to show us what is left. My pre sample ‘Left in the Dark’ book came 3 months ago from Julie and I have showed it to many eager movie theatre fans in the Bay Area that will now have their own copy to look at soon. Don’t miss this new book to add to your movie theatre photo book collection. My friend Jack Tillmany who has done many local SF & Oakland movie palace books and is now working on his third B&W classic book on the ‘SF Peninsula Movie Theatres’ will realy like this new color theatre book. Thanks again to everyone that got involved in the production of ‘Left in the Dark’

terrywade
terrywade commented about Admiral Twin Drive-In Consumed by Fire on Sep 5, 2010 at 5:24 pm

Was this a set up of one screen tower with two sides, one for one lot the backside for the other lot? If you have the space this seems like a great way to have two large screens on the same property.If they rebuild they can make the two new screens larger then the old ones.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Only operating cinema in Blythe closing on Aug 31, 2010 at 4:40 pm

I think the AC bill each month did them in. Now the people in Blythe CA will find out what’s It like not to have a ‘Cinema’ in town. Maybe someone else will buy the theatre in time for the holiday movie lineup. At least in the winter you don’t need the air conditioner going all the time. They can re build the DI and not worry about the AC. How far will the town folk go now to see a film? Or will they just sit back and not bother saving the Cinema and order DVD’s to watch on the 16x9 TV’s with home a/c. If you like Cactus and HOT weather this may be the place for some new person to get into the theatre business.

terrywade
terrywade commented about "Windjammer" screening at Cinerama Dome on Aug 27, 2010 at 5:03 pm

This showing I think will just be a single video digital projector with all three images on one digital print. The sound may sound great but from going from a 35mm CinemaScope print to make this new digital version don’t expect the big 3 projector experience of CineMircle or Cinerama. May look good when It is released on DVD later. Now let’s work on some of the other Cinerama films that still have better prints or negs to work on. Pacific Theatres can put them in SmileBox and sell them with new Blue Ray DVD’s for a new generation to enjoy. I am ready for ‘South Seas Adventure’ or ‘Seven Wonders Of The World’.

terrywade
terrywade commented about New theatre in Mid-Wilshire in LA!!! on Aug 27, 2010 at 4:36 pm

Watch for water mist from the ceiling. I hope they make the cinemas semi large not the tiny small screens many art type theatres have still going in the LA area. Bring on the showmanship,curtains,food, lights and fancy sound the people will pay extra for a new experience that they are not seeing now in Southern CA. Just heard the new Dolby 7.1 system in the Delmar Theatre Santa Cruz CA and wow what a great surround sound experience. How many more channels will they come up with. Good luck to this new CGV Theatre company, show us what Mann, AMC, Regal and Landmark Theatres won’t do and get our movie money.

terrywade
terrywade commented about San Francisco's classic Clay Theatre closing on Aug 17, 2010 at 4:49 pm

Shops and a condo on top I guess for the Clay Theatre spot. A pricy area of SF. Will the Bridge Theatre San Francisco be next to go? Landmark needs to take over the closed Galaxy Theatre on Van Ness in SF and do a remodel and close the It’s other two small theatres in the same area. Landmark Theatres in Berkley CA show regular movies not just art films. They can do the same in SF now that the Clay Theatre will soon be gone. Maybe some one else will take over the lease of the Clay. I think the owners of the Clay property want top dollar for the lot for something else then a Cinema.

terrywade
terrywade commented about LA's downtown United Artists Theatre for sale on Aug 15, 2010 at 5:35 pm

The old offices above these theatres may need some earthquake retro fit work done before they can be leased out or brought up to a new handicap code. The UA needs It’s marquee re lit with new neon and paint and open for erntertainment by a new group of owners. Does anyone have any photos to share when they had a large curved Todd-AO screen with curtains up in the UA in the 50’s?

terrywade
terrywade commented about AMC Metreon 16 on Aug 4, 2010 at 10:20 pm

Went to see ‘Inception’ last week at the large AMC IMAX Metreon in San Francisco. The place is no longer a Sony or Loews place. As usual one lady selling tickets in a boxoffice for 7 opening. You have to wait to buy a ticket same at the candy counter. Over 10 slots just two open. Why wait to by the expensive junk. The worst was in the Imax Theatre (at least this is a big full old time Imax theatre not the Imax Experience some chains are doing to make extra money) They are now showing ads in the middle part of the big Imax screen way before the show starts. The thing that bothered me was the projection room work light was shining on the screen during the whole ad part of the pre show commercials. I looked for a manager to have them turn off the light but no manger to be found. At least when they started the film someone in the booth finally turned off the light. The worst was yet to come. Only the middle part of the huge Imax screen was used for ‘Inception’ A mid wide screen CinemaScope look from a blow up shot film. Not true big square IMAX. I like good stereo sound but the sound in the IMAX Metreon was way to loud. Many people I saw covering their ears. The stage speakers were so loud, you can’t even hear the surround speakers that are always way to low at the Metreon IMAX. Next time you go start your search for a manager if you have a problem like sound and leaking light they may be out for lunch at the SF AMC Metreon and you will miss the film. This is not the best place to see IMAX in the area. I know some films may not be shot in true 70mm or digital IMAX but I am not getting a discount when only part of the screen is being used. I think I’ll save my ears and just see It in a regular size large screen auditorium next time. The people next to me cut up paper and stuck it in their ears. Have not ever seen that take place in a Cinema. The bass was so over the top my ears were ringing out on the street after I left. Some of San Francisco’s most rowdy people will attend the Metreon and talk all during the show. They have fights and a person was killed in this Cinema a few years ago. Enter at your own risk and bring ear plugs!

terrywade
terrywade commented about 3-D boom going bust? on Aug 4, 2010 at 9:32 pm

What about all the eye infections people are getting from some 3-D glasses? The theatre owners don’t tell you about because some of the 3-D glasses need to be returned and washed before the next show. Some cost the movie cinema owners $17 each for the un wraped 3-D glasses.I have seen some of the candy people do this fast clean of the glasses before the next show. Bring back true 70mm on a big curved screen. The new films in Imax are just blow up’s from 35mm or digital video CinemaScope and only the middle part of the big Imax screen is used. They take your extra Imax money but you only see part of the big screen. A big rip off. 3-D will only make It if the film was shot in 3-D and not a poor 2-D make over. The public is smart,they like the true 3-D effect and will pay extra to see things come out at them or have good depth. Stop making 3-D animation for kids, adults want to see regular films in 3-D. Not every new movie needs to be with the Third Diminsion Experience!

terrywade
terrywade commented about Oakland's Grand Lake owner vows to keep going on Jul 26, 2010 at 7:49 pm

Go check out the new 3-D system the Grand Lake has in the large theatre. It is the best in the Bay Area, tons of light and great 3-D if the movie was filmed in true 3-D. I will not spend my extra 3-D money on movies that are made in 2-D and converted over to a poor mans 3-D. When the Grand Lake Theatre was run by Fox West Coast Theatres in the 50’s and early 60’s this was a great place to see showmanship in operation and I am glad Allen still keeps the history going at this classic East Bay movie palace. Even the up stairs balcony cinema is fun to watch a film on a semi large CinemaScope screen. Thanks Allen for having different low colored lights on when the movie is on. If your tired of the Multi Shoe Box cinemas go visit the large downstairs #1 Grand Lake Theatre. Now if only the Castro Theatre in SF can put some blue bulbs when they have a film showing like in the main overhead large light and organ grill curtains plus border stage bottom title curtain lights with blue/purple Led’s they can be more like the Grand Lake. Let’s send the Nasser brothers(owners of the Castro)over to the Grand Lake in Oakland and the Stanford Theatre in Palo Alto so they can see how It’s done with color lights.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Traditional repertory theaters fading; film festivals gaining on Jul 26, 2010 at 7:10 pm

The Roxie in SF just remodled with a new stereo system, new rugs & seats but a bad problem shows up on the screen during the pre show trailers. A overhead lamp over the first 5 rows of seats shines on the lower part of the scrren so all the images are washed out by this light. I looked for a manager last week and there was none to found. They just need to put a small filter on the bottom of the light so the screen stays in the dark. I hope they will bring back the blue/red side lights in the theatre in place of boring white light bulbs now on. Good luck to the Roxie San Francisco that finally after all these years has STEREO! Watch for the new doc ‘American Grindhouse’ that they played last week.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Small but determined group hopes to reopen Portland's Guild Theatre on Jul 17, 2010 at 12:16 am

The restaurant next door to the Guild has put a wall up and taken over the theatres restrooms. Will the wall come down and the bathrooms go back to the Guild or will the new remodel put in new restrooms? Hope the remodel takes effect someday so the Portland downtown movie crowd can see films and other events again in a single screen venue. A sad day when the Broadway Theatre(Todd-AO) & Fox Theatre (CinemaScope) got torn down in downtown Portland many years ago. How many seats does the Guild have? Any one have photos of the inside? Thanks Terry.

terrywade
terrywade commented about New development to demolish theaters on Jul 16, 2010 at 3:34 am

Watch out cam bugs they may do a sneak attack soon on the St Francis like at the Embassy Theatre when it’s time came to go. Have your cameras ready for some interesting inside shots of the long closed St Francis Theatre. This new building will not help this part of Market St.