Comments from terrywade

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terrywade
terrywade commented about Bow Tie Cinemas will use Technicolor's non-digital 3D projection system on Mar 4, 2010 at 7:55 pm

Will the public tell the diffence? Probably not 3-D is 3-D to most of them. It will be interesting to see this new Technicolor 3-D system in action soon. If the 35mm image is cut in half It may be like watching 16mm? and on a big screen! Or does It skip a frame? L/R Wait till a scope print runs on this new system. I know a few theatres in the SF Bay Area that have put in a order for the Technicolor 3-D set up. Time will tell.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Santa Cruz Theatre on Mar 2, 2010 at 7:57 pm

If you walk to the back of the building and look at the back side and the added windows on the side in the cement you will see this was a theatre. If anyone is around this spot look in the office building next door on the right, they have a nice photo of the neon tower that was out front, to bad they took It off I think in the 70’s. Maybe someday someone will pull out the offices and cafe and turn the place back into a theatre. The new Regal 9 up the street tried to copy the Santa Cruz Theatre’s tall tower sign. It looks good but not the same as the art deco one that was removed. Thanks to Jim at the Del Mar Theatre down the street that is up and running with the restored neon marquee after the former owner United Artist Theatres stripped most of the neon off and put a wall down the middle. Visit the Del Mar if your in the Santa Cruz area. Check out the waterfall curtains with red/purple lights in the big downstairs cinema now back to one piece.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Cinelux Scotts Valley Cinema Cafe & Lounge on Mar 2, 2010 at 7:41 pm

CineLux now runs this Scotts Valley Cinema and they are about to start on a major remodel. The first up is the brand new marquee out on the street,It looks great. Next will be the addition of stadium seating and a 3-D projector for the largest screen cinema. I hope they put in a curve screen in the big theatre #4. Good luck to CineLux Theatres from San Jose CA, they also took over the 41st Ave Cinemas in Santa Cruz CA.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Happy 45th, "The Sound Of Music" on Mar 2, 2010 at 11:34 am

This movie is a 70mm Todd Ao® treasure. How lucky many us were to see this film on a true curved Todd Ao® screen. In San Francisco they showed Sound Of Music on a flat screen unfortunately in 70mm at the United Artists. Now the UA theatre in SF is still open under a different name showing girly porn with a false ceiling to cover the huge balcony. How the times of Market St Theatres in SF have changed. From once showing a 70mm flat roadshow print of ‘Sound'now girls go down the runway and they probably have no clue the history of roadshow 70mm at the UA in San Francisco in the 60’s. The big Norelco 70mm projectors sit ideal today way up above the balcony. What a long throw and angle to show Julie Andrews in all It’s 70mm glory. To bad when ABC shows this film every year they play a pan & scan version in 16X9 and you miss all the sides of the 70mm print. I think ABC is afraid to run a scope print with black bars at the top and bottom. They will show the open titles in wide screen but go to full screen when the titles are over. Watch It in the new DVD version in full scope. I think some parts of the new Sound Of Music DVD are from the 65mm elements and the stereo surround sounds great in Dolby®. Thank you Mike for the 'Sound’ theatre listings.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Cinedome 8 on Feb 28, 2010 at 4:02 pm

They have now have 3-D in one of the auditoriums. Most screens have a slight curve. This place is the only theatre in town. Someday some new chain will come into Napa and see this place is a gold mine and open a better state of the art cinema. Great city for a small art theatre as many movies don’t play in a town that only has one company running the whole show. I am surprised the Syufy’s have not cut the Napa domes in half to make more money like they did many years ago to some of their domes in San Jose CA. Napa CA has a lot of $$$ and the locals like to spend it. A wine & food cinema will bring in the people in town that want to get away from all their vineyards.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Sutton Theater on Feb 24, 2010 at 9:48 am

Does any one know when the Sutton played ‘Gigi’ was It a roadshow version and did the Sutton have a stereo print of Gigi or even had stereo or 70MM?

terrywade
terrywade commented about Tarantino serves as 'angel' of the New Beverly on Feb 24, 2010 at 9:25 am

Thanks Quentin for saving the Beverly Theatre. Now next time your visiting the SF Bay Area let’s turn a closed little cinema into a B picture Grindhouse! A chain of these type of theatres needs to be brought back for a new generation to enjoy. Bring on the crazy trailers and the B movies you won’t find on junky TV. Make the place seedy like the old downtown cinemas of the past. Hire some of the old managers that ran these places in the 60’s to give attitude to the young punk college kids today. Get some old trashy lady to run the boxoffice that won’t put up with cell phones in the theatre.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Hollywood pushing dates of movies on DVD shorter on Feb 19, 2010 at 6:43 pm

Many theatre circuit owners in Europe will not be booking Disney’s ‘Alice’ 3-D or 2-D because of the new Disney DVD window as a protest. Will this spread to the USA? With all the new 3-D movies coming out soon most multiplex cinemas only have one 3-D screen per complex, you may have to settle for flat 2-D after a few weeks of third dimension play so they can make room for the next 3-D movie.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Avatar in 4D...only in Korea!!! on Feb 18, 2010 at 11:30 am

Smell-O-Vision is back with motion seats!

terrywade
terrywade commented about Lease expiring on Berkeley's Oaks Theater; new operator sought on Feb 11, 2010 at 11:01 am

I hope who ever takes the Oaks over will take out the wall down the middle and make the downstairs one big cinema and put the twin up in the former balcony. The Oaks is in much better shape then Landmarks Albany and California Theatres in the area. Those need major remodling but Landmark won’t spend a dime on property they don’t own and just lease. The Rialto chain has done wonders to the Elmwood & Cerrito Cinemas they run lets hope they move into the Oaks Theatre. The North Oakland and Berkley areas need a nice cinema to attend.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Movie theater popcorn named as one of America's biggest ripoffs on Feb 10, 2010 at 12:54 pm

Rick at least your snack prices are a fare price to pay. I’d much rather go to a big screen movie theatre and see a big image with good sound and don’t mind having a small drink at the candy counter with cold ice at a good price. For the guy that brings in Chinese food into the Cinema the smell must have been something else. If theatres offered good food at a reasonable price people will dine in your cinema. Like we have a few pizza cinemas in the SF Bay Area and the crowd loves the snacks and does not bring in their own pizza, because the price is fare,they buy them at the theatre and the cold drinks to go with it. I think the small movie owner does not overcharge but the big chains do with lousy service to match!

terrywade
terrywade commented about Movie theater popcorn named as one of America's biggest ripoffs on Feb 10, 2010 at 10:20 am

I believe It is against the law in many cities to be searched at the door but ok for guns/weapons, cameras/video only. Just tell them If they want to search you call the police and get a warrant or give your admission money back. The candy/drink prices are way over the top. Just eat something before you get to the theatre as most big chain multiplex’s don’t have enough help in the concession counter you will miss the movie open just waiting in line after you waited at the boxoffice set up for 10 windows and they only have one open on a big weekend with a girl that can’t do credit cards correct! Many people just stay home and eat all the food they want without being searched and have the big screen look with a volume control you can adjust the Dolby Digital® Surround how you like it. A friend of mine just put in a big curved screen in his house with masking and he has free popcorn!

terrywade
terrywade commented about Remembering Cinerama (Part 47: Phoenix) on Jan 21, 2010 at 5:40 pm

I have not heard of any other SmileBox® Blue Ray movies yet. But I bought a Blue Ray player just see the curved look on my LCD with How The West Was Won as many other people did. I think they will do a few more of the 3 panel Cinerama prints first and see how they sell then with some of the Super Cinerama 70mm movies. Now the Home Theatre people have three different types of huge curved screens for the Theatre in the home crowd. I have seen one and It looks great. So no need for SmileBox® for these lucky movie people. The curved home screens have moving masking and are very $$$$$$$. When I win the Lotto I’ll get one. Can’t wait for the Windjammer release with the curve look.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Remembering Cinerama (Part 47: Phoenix) on Jan 21, 2010 at 10:24 am

Does anyone remember when the original Cine Capri played This Is Cinerama in 70mm on the D-150 screen they had? How did It look? Thanks so much Mike for the Cinerama news you have given us on all these roadshow Cinerama dates and cities. Now If we can get Pacific Theatres and some sponsors to restore a few more of the 3 panel films to play in England,Hollywood & Seattle. We hear they are cleaning up some of the prints for DVD release in SmileBox® for Blue Ray. At least Windjammer is being worked on at this time, but the things they have to work with are not that good. Lets hope the DVD print comes out good. When they tried to copy the new Cine Capri now in Arizona they missed the boat and did not curve the screen much. What were they afraid off.

terrywade
terrywade commented about A Guide to seeing "Avatar" in several formats on Jan 4, 2010 at 4:40 pm

Thanks for the LA times info on 3-D Avatar. I will try to see It in San Francisco at a true IMAX 3-D screen the former Sony/Loews now AMC Metreon. The large Castro Theatre in SF was to have Avatar in 3-D but changed things at the last minute to a boring ‘Nine’. They have It booked for 4/5 weeks. ‘Nine’ is dying a slow death on the big Cinemascope® digital screen the Castro Theatre. I think they are going to pull it soon. As ‘Avatar’ is still the number one film three weeks in a row 2-D or 3-D I think the Castro wishes they had booked the 3-D ‘Avatar’ film all are going to see. It’s sad in San Francisco we lost our distibutor for the LA Times paper in the SF Bay Area. I liked reading the movie section. Strange in LA you can get the SF Chronicle in some newspaper stores but in SF we have no LA newspaper. Now the ‘Castro’ has the new Disney 3-D print of ‘Alice In Wonderland’ booked soon, lets hope they don’t change there mind at the last minute. The 2-D preview for ‘Alice’ was shown at the ‘Castro’ at the start of ‘Nine’ and got more applause then the main feature did. People will love this new Disney film at a Imax 3-D or regular 3-D Theatre. Thanks again to the LA Times for telling us about the 3-D format wars. Soon Technicolor will join the bandwagon with 3-D film.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Former Towne 3 in San Jose becomes BIG Cinemas San Jose on Jan 4, 2010 at 8:40 am

Great News for San Jose. We hope the new Tower has a few English language art films sometimes as the San Jose area is short many times in the booking of special art films. I’d like to check out the remodel job. If anyone goes please report If they have curtains in the large house and how the stereo surround sounds,and the neon marquee looks,Thanks

terrywade
terrywade commented about Remembering Cinerama (Part 45: Las Vegas) on Dec 27, 2009 at 12:10 pm

Was this Las Vegas Cinerama Dome turned into a church after Cinerama left? I think I remember reading about this. I guess the place has been torn down now, or is it still up as a church? Bring on a big pipe organ at the Dome and pray for Cinerama to make a come back in Las Vegas for the tourists that don’t want to gamble. Was It Cinerama Holiday that had a segment on LV? Some new theatres in Asia now have screens over 100'. Does anyone have photos of the Nevada DI test screen for Cinemiracle in Las Vegas?

terrywade
terrywade commented about Ebert's take on Avatar on Dec 21, 2009 at 5:51 pm

Technicolor is working on a film 3-D system for theatres not wanting to spend the $$$ on new digital equipment. All the cinemas that have spent big bucks for Digital 3-D in the last year needed to wait. The Image Iam told is just as good 3-D wise as the digital. The public can’t tell the diference as long as they have the 3-D glasses. True Imax 3-D will always look way better. Now Regal in Oakland CA and Santa Cruz can install and save money with the new Technicolor system. Regal can charge more for the glasses and save on the projector cost. Both of these towns are way behind on digital instalations much less on any other movie advances. I like the film look in a movie theatre. The big studios just want to save print and shiping cost on 35mm film. If they want Video in a movie cinema let them pay for the new Digital Projectors, not the movie theatre owners. I don’t think 3-D will last in the movie world, when It hits TV in the USA next year It will have worn It’s welcome. Lets get the studios to bring back showmanship with huge 70mm film on a large curved screen with curtains. The little screens that many multiplex’s now have are tired. Has anyone seen the new XD screens that Cinemark has in a few cities? How big are they? Some have 3-D. Iam going to see Avatar 3-D soon on one of these giant screens.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Ebert's take on Avatar on Dec 20, 2009 at 12:27 pm

It’s sad that Regal Theatres has Avatar booked in reg 2-D In their big multiplex theatres in Santa Cruz & Oakland CA. Another movie theatre does have a booking in 3-D the Grand Lake in Oakland not far from the Regal Jack London Sq in Oakland, they will get the business on this film in Oakland CA. Same in the Santa Cruz CA area, most film lovers will go to Monterey CA and see the film as It was meant to be shown like in 3-D at the Cinemark Monterey CA or go to San Jose CA Every time I go to the box office of the Regal 9 in downtown Santa Cruz CA. I ask the Reegal 9 dim boxoffice people about 3-D coming to Santa Cruz they give me the worst info. They say It’s a corporate thing ??? Regal won’t get my business in these two cities nor most of the people in this big college coast town of Santa Cruz.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Korean theater claims to have world's largest screen on Dec 16, 2009 at 12:09 pm

Does anyone know if this GIANT screen is curved or flat. I hope they have curtains.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Remembering Cinerama (Part 44: Sacramento) on Dec 15, 2009 at 3:40 pm

I think the Tower put in the D-150 curved screen

terrywade
terrywade commented about TCL Chinese Theatre on Sep 28, 2008 at 9:34 pm

Someone needs to start up Fox West Coast Theatres again and bring in stage shows at the Chinese with the movies like Disney is doing across the street. The place went down when they got rid of the neon dragons out front! The theatre is so dark and cold out front. Mann needs to add some color lights to the front. If they can’t get good first run films then book some 70mm classics and open up the big curved screen to it’s full width. Have some movie stars that are still around for the showing. Let’s get Doris Day to fly down and show Pillow Talk! or Kim Novak with a new 70mm print of Vertigo! The tourists will come in the doors not just stand out front and take photos. Lets get some SHOWMANSHIP back at the Fox Graumans Chinese Hollywood. The Place To Go!

terrywade
terrywade commented about TCL Chinese Theatre on Sep 28, 2008 at 9:34 pm

Someone needs to start up Fox West Coast Theatres again and bring in stage shows at the Chinese with the movies like Disney is doing across the street. The place went down when they got rid of the neon dragons out front! The theatre is so dark and cold out front. Mann needs to add some color lights to the front. If they can’t get good first run films then book some 70mm classics and open up the big curved screen to it’s full width. Have some movie stars that are still around for the showing. Let’s get Doris Day to fly down and show Pillow Talk! or Kim Novak with a new 70mm print of Vertigo! The tourists will come in the doors not just stand out front and take photos. Lets get some SHOWMANSHIP back at the Fox Graumans Chinese Hollywood. The Place To Go!

terrywade
terrywade commented about Remembering Cinerama Part III on Sep 19, 2008 at 11:16 am

Thanks again Mike for having my home town ‘San Francisco’ on the Cinerama list this week. The Cinerama screen at Orpheum was one of the largest for Cinerama. I remember seeing all the films you have listed as a kid. As a young person I wondered how the three projectors had three different lights and they didn’t get mixed up with the picture when they criss crossed in the middle of the theatre. The whole theatre was painted Cinerama pink. The curtains had a light grey look with pink/red lights on them. Every time I go into the Orpheum today I think of the huge presentation this was at the SF Orpheum. The 70mm Super Cinerama screen put in down the street at the RKO or Beacon Golden Gate was a major disappointment. They did a cheap job and just put in a small curved screen on the back of the large stage. Flat curtains were used. When you first went into the Golden Gate it looked like any other theatre with curtains on the stage till they opened them up then you saw a curved screen. The huge Cinerama curved screen at the Orpheum curved into the audience and extra drape around the whole front sides of the orchestra seats.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Refurbished Warfield to open Saturday on Sep 15, 2008 at 11:43 am

I hope the new people running the Fox Warfield will not only fix up the inside but the outside also. I was by the front a week ago and the old plastic marquee was still painted dusty brown with pigeon mess all around it. If they put in new dark blue rugs how about repainting the front a shade of blue and get rid of the old brown. We hope the new renters at the Fox Warfield have good security at night as that part of Market St is very rough at night still. It’s to bad my THS friend ‘Fred Beall’ has passed on last week. He had many photos/slides in his collection of The ‘Warfield’ and had many stories to tell of all the grand SF Market St movie palaces. Goodbye ‘Fred’ I will miss you and our many movie theatre photo shoots.