Comments from terrywade

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terrywade
terrywade commented about Remembering Cinerama on Sep 15, 2008 at 11:27 am

Thanks again Mike for the Cinerama info. Will you be doing LA/Hollywood or San Francisco CA in the future? I hope so!

terrywade
terrywade commented about California Theatre on Sep 14, 2008 at 4:36 pm

Hi**The downstairs theater at the California is the same size as it was before in the 50’s. They only twined the balcony into two small cinemas. They put in a smaller flat screen and moved it up a little. The curtains are still on the sides but they don’t work,the motor is broke. Landmark does have curtains that work across the street at another cinema they run. They have them only because the original owner had put them in. Every time I go to the Landmark Albany or the California I always tell them If you can’t fix your curtains then at least put some blue, green or red lights on the boring white screen. I watch people come in 20 minutes before the film starts and look at a white screen. Sometimes music will be playing or you may be lucky to see video adds run with the house lights up to wash all the add image off the screen. How nice If the California got the motor fixed and put in some blue lights on the curtain like the old days. Some projection managers at Landmark don’t even know the proper way to work the curtains they do have. Some theatres will open the drapes to a dark white screen then wait and start the film. I think the best way is to start the film then open the curtains so you have the film showing on the drapes as they part to the screen. Same at the end close them on the last 10 seconds while the credits are still on the screen. This can be done with the auto tabs moved up a little.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Wonderful Showman has passed away on Sep 13, 2008 at 7:57 pm

Mr Hertz was Mr Showmanship for Fox West Coast Thaeters. I met him when he came up for a true sneak preview at the Paramount Thaetre in Oakland Ca. The Fox West Coast managers like Robert Apple from the Paramount Theater and Jack McDougal from the Fox Oakland always had the highest regard for William Hertz. The managers and companies that run the multiplex junk today don’t have a clue about what Fox West Coast taught their managers thanks to Mr Hertz. Showmanship is now in the heavens with William Hertz Fox West Coast Theatres a National General Corporation.

terrywade
terrywade commented about California Theatre on Sep 13, 2008 at 7:35 pm

Larry***I think the old Fox West Coast managers that ran this once grand small movie palace would be very upset at the current condition that the California Theater is in now in 2008. Like I have said in a past note Landmark is not going to spend a penny on theatres they just lease that they don’t own. How nice If someone came in like ‘Sundance’ and put in a large curved Cinemascope screen with curtains that was once in the downstairs part of the theater. At least with all the people that have complained in the last three weeks and lost business Landmark Theaters is now back to advertising in the Cronicle again starting this past Friday with the times of all their theaters in the SF Bay Area. Thanks to true theatre managers like the Fox West Coast/NGT team at least some of us got to see true showmanship at the once grand California Theatre.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Remembering Cinerama on Sep 9, 2008 at 7:15 pm

Mike**Thanks for the ‘Cinerama’ info. Do you know in 1973 when the Ziegfeld Theatre played the 70mm print of ‘This Is Cinerama’ did they put in a curved screen for this 70mm run? Did anyone see It at the Ziegfeld? At least when it played at the Cinerama Dome that year It was shown on a curved screen without the three projectors. It then played in 70mm flat I believe at the Fox Wilshire Beverly Hills CA. Lets get some rich company to restore all the Cinerama prints blow up each pannel from 35mm to 70mm and run three giant 70mm projectors at once on the largest curved screen in the world!

terrywade
terrywade commented about 60 years of Paris on Sep 3, 2008 at 10:26 am

Does anyone know if The Paris has 70mm projectors? Seems I remember a classic 70mm film playing some time ago. How nice they have curtains that work and they use them. How is the stereo sound system do they have surrounds? Are color lights used on the curtain?

terrywade
terrywade commented about Continental main screen stadium renovation on Aug 30, 2008 at 11:43 am

United Artist was the worst chain ever! Now Regal has the UA mini plexes to have under there non showmanship wing. They both turn so many movie fans off. Go up high in a UA house and look at the years of dust on top of the surround speakers. Since Cinemark has taken over most Syufy ‘Century’ Theatres things have gotten worse at ‘Century’. At the semi new plex at Powell & Market Sts in downtown SF they have the bright work lights on when you watch the video adds before the film! The glare on your eyes is to much. I guess its good because the video pre show adds are all washed out. You can’t watch them because of the bright overhead vapor lights! It will be a miricle if UA/Regal keeps the D-150 screen. Don’t be surprised if they turn the lage curved screen Continental Theatre into 3 tini cinemas with small flat screens. It’s not just the sea ting they will change. It does not take two months to put in stadium seats. UA/Regal are in the real estate business not film presentation in this day and age. Go look at the empty lot in Seattle Wa where the UA D-150 curved screen Dome Theatre once stood. They may be building on the property now.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Continental main screen stadium renovation on Aug 29, 2008 at 7:58 pm

I hope they don’t take out the large curved D-150 screen like they have in all the other theatres they got from UA.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Disney's animated "Sleeping Beauty" reawakens at El Capitan on Aug 27, 2008 at 9:52 am

Will the new digital video DLP version be as crisp and clear as the 70mm roadshow film? The split surround speakers at The El Capitan Theatre Hollywood CA are never turned up to hear them If you have a seat in the middle or up in the big center balcony. I hope the Disney people do a new 70mm transfer to DVD and Dolby Digital®. The 70mm print played at the ‘Coronet Theatre’ in San Francisco when It was released many years ago. Now the Coronet is gone but the 70mm print is coming back on video.

terrywade
terrywade commented about The Brooklyn Paramount returns after 46 years on Aug 25, 2008 at 9:48 am

I hope they will show some movies from time to time with the regular school music and plays. If they do show some prints they will have the largest wide screen in town. Does someone have some good 35mm projectors for them or do you think they still have them in the old booth?

terrywade
terrywade commented about Roseway Theater reopens on Aug 22, 2008 at 9:46 am

The best thing about this theatre is the neon marquee with the neon rose. I hope they kept the history info about this cinema still up in the front. Next time I visit Portland I’ll check out the Roseway Theatre.

terrywade
terrywade commented about 3rd Todd-AO festival at Schauburg-Cinerama Theatre : October 3rd to 5th 2008 on Aug 17, 2008 at 9:53 am

The ‘Forman’ brothers at Pacific Theatres need to bring the Todd-AO festival to the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood. Many classsic 70mm prints are now ready. They may not have two 70mm projector change over. As most studios will only show 70mm If it’s not used on a platter. Forget having It at the ‘Egyptian’ Hollywood as their screen is a small flat one and they have no curtains for a proper ‘Roadshow’ presentation. If the Dome in Hollywood won’t do It they can run the Todd-AO/70mm festival up in Seattle WA at the Cinerama Theatre.

terrywade
terrywade commented about CineMedia income down in Q2 on Aug 12, 2008 at 7:28 pm

Most of the theatres that have this advertising before the film starts in most of the theatres I have been to keep the ceiling lights on during the video ads. Some cinemas even have a row of lights over the screen top and the image of the ads is all washed out. I can’t believe companies that pay to advertise with these advertising theatre guys need to check out the bad image in many theatre chains around the USA. Many of the bulbs in the video projectors are way low and old/worn ready to go out plus mixed with the bad angle as most pre show projectors are not in the center port spot in the booth but off to the side. When you see tilted letters this is the problem. It is very easy to put lower watt bulbs in the ceiling above the screen or turn them off in the first row only and dim the house lights. Most movie people I know don’t even watch the ads. Some commercials can be very entertaining but they are very seldom used in the pre show line up. A theatre I went to last week in downtown San Francisco had the worst light level for the pre show ads. They even had the work lights on during the commercials. The bulb in the video ad projector was at about 10% level. I complained to the manager and she told me the bulb was bad and ready to go. (How about just turning it off and put in a new bulb) The overhead lights in the theatre while the pre show was on had the bright level up as people had newspapers out reading them and not watching the boring pre show ads. At least If your home you can watch commercials in the dark by turning down your house lights.

terrywade
terrywade commented about The Stanford Theater: Old Films Are New Again on Aug 11, 2008 at 4:08 pm

If you ever go to the Stanford Theatre get in the doors early for the organ pre show and two sets of curtains opening. Very few movie theatres today have curtains and the Stanford has two different types. One goes up the other parts. Check out the blue/purple lights up in the ceiling. This is a classic place to go if your in the Palo Alto area near San Francisco CA.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Breaking news on the Boyd on Aug 10, 2008 at 9:06 am

Does anyone have any photos of the Boyd in It’s Cinerama days? It’s so hard to find photos of the inside of theatres that had the big curved Cinerama screen. Good luck to all the people that have stayed with the ‘Boyd’ over the years. I remember going to Philly as a young kid and going to the ‘Randolph Theatre’. This place had the largest Todd-AO screen ever with ‘Cleopatra’ running to a empty crowd. Now I think It has been torn down for many years. It’s time for Regal, Cinemark, Landmark Theatres or the Disney people to get involved with the ‘Boyd’ and turn this old movie palace back into a first run movie theatre only this time with other entertainment pleasures not just movies. ‘Music Food Drinks and Movies!’ Let’s bring the Magic back to the Boyd Theatre. Make this the East Coast destination for Showmanship and Presentation. The curtains will rise again in downtown Philly!

terrywade
terrywade commented about Detroit historic theatres tour on Aug 8, 2008 at 6:46 am

This sounds like a good tour. To bad i am in californis. my friend Richard will be going this Sat. No one has any photos of the Oriental Theatre in Detroit. Once called the RKO Downtown. Rich is looking with interest to at least seeing what is left of the lobby. Even in MH’s great ‘Detroit Theatre Book’ no photos come up for the Oriental. I guess they went with the bulldozer in the early 70’s. How lucky people will be on this special Saturday tour and to hear the organ at the ‘Fox Detroit’ and a box lunch. If your in the Detroit area make it a date this Sat Aug 9 to see what is left in the MotorCity. Someday they may be able to go into the long closed ‘United Artists Theatre’ and see the torn out mess inside of what was once a great movie palace. Park your car in the once former ‘Michigan Theatre’. This place is a real trip to see and I think is on the tour. Have fun this Saturday!

terrywade
terrywade commented about "Lawrence of Arabia" back at the Silver on Aug 7, 2008 at 6:54 pm

Thanks Jodar**To bad they can’t add another 50ft and put a slight curve on it. Many studios have come out with new restored 70mm prints in the last year. I wonder if the ‘Silver’ has five speakers behind the scrren for full 6 track stereo with surrounds? With only 40ft the sound may not have much separation. In small 70mm theatres I have gone to and watched 70mm in the past some theatres have put the far left and far right stage speakers way up to the side away from the screen hidden, this gives a full wide sound look and feel when they don’t have the room behind the screen. Many theatres today don’t have the 5 speakers but they still do show 70mm from time to time. I often wonder what happens to the missing two channels of sound. I had a school friend who was a theatre sound nut. One time many years ago when no one was in the theatre before the film started he found his way backstage and moved the 3 stereo Altec speakers as the old owner had them 5 inches from each one in the center of the screen behind a 70ft semi curved screen with bad masking. This friend moved the right speaker way over to the right and the left speaker way over to the left behind the screen. They had wheels on them and had giant cones. This made a big change in how the stereo came across the stage speakers. This was in the early 70’s. We went back to the same theatre last year (now with Dolby Digital and air conditioned) and the same dusty Altec stage speakers had not been moved, they still gave off a great sound and kick ass base with the added distance. My friend was lucky the speakers had enough wire and he was not caught almost 40 years ago! His foot tracks were probably still on the dirty stage floor from that hot Saturday many years ago. The single screen cinema was in a big downtown theatre in a California valley town and is still open today. I think It did close late in the 80’s for some time.

terrywade
terrywade commented about "Lawrence of Arabia" back at the Silver on Aug 7, 2008 at 2:57 pm

Does anyone know if the Silver Theatre has a curved or semi curved screen for 70mm projection?

terrywade
terrywade commented about Where have all the drive-ins gone? on Aug 7, 2008 at 5:56 am

Thanks Mike for the list. These outdoor theatres are most gone now. Some Drive-In’s today must still have some 70mm projectors left in the booth?

terrywade
terrywade commented about Culver Plaza Theatres continues movie revivals on Aug 6, 2008 at 2:07 pm

Are they showing these films on video or 35mm print film?

terrywade
terrywade commented about Providers of weekly box office info on Aug 6, 2008 at 2:05 pm

The top grossing theatre in the USA when they have a stage show and movie is the El Capitain in Hollywood CA. At least that is what I read in Daily Variety. The two theatres on 42nd St in NYC are also each week in the top ten. To bad the city didn’t keep some of the other movie theatres they tore down on 42nd St as it’s so popular at this time. Most people in NYC don’t even bother going to the two big multiplexes on 42nd as they are way to crowded(mainly tourists). Even the AMC Metreon in SF makes it in the top ten from time to time. With three new movies opening today Wed many of the Multiplexes have moved ‘Dark Knight’ to the small cinemas. Strange the ‘Bat Man’ movie is still #1. Do they think the ‘Pineapple’ film is going to do bigger business then ‘Dark Knight’ or ‘The Mummy’? I think ‘Mamma Mia’ will hang on with word of mouth with the seniors who like it. If you get Daily Variety each week they list the top ten movie theatres in the USA and the money taken in per week.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Where have all the drive-ins gone? on Aug 6, 2008 at 8:58 am

Some Drive-Ins in the 50’s and 60’s had 70mm projectors and got a few 70mm prints to run on the big outdoor screens. With a new 70mm print of ‘West Side Story’ now avail I wonder If any drive-ins still have 70mm equipment in the booth today that can run this new 7Omm print and do a big advertising thing with it. The larger the outdoor screen the better for 70mm! One outdoor theatre in the Los Angeles CA area even had a curved Cinerama screen and three projector booths in the late 50’s or early 60’s.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Where have all the drive-ins gone? on Aug 5, 2008 at 6:24 pm

Great story in the SF Cronicle about past Bay Area Drive-Ins. Now I hope they will do a story about the loss of the many indoor theatres in the SF Bay Area in the last 50 years. Many still remain but used for other things. The single screen theatres around the SF area are going fast. To start with the Cronicle needs to have a page from the movie listings of 1954 of all the local theatres that survived the Cinemascope remodel, then cross out all the cinemas that are no longer with us. You will find very few are still with us in 2008. Please don’t list any multiplexes as I don’t think we had any in the early 50’s. Show some photos of the Fox SF, Delmar San Leandro CA, Fruitvale and T&D in Oakland, Laurel in San Carlos CA. All torn down sadly now.

terrywade
terrywade commented about Uptown Theater sold to Jam Productions on Aug 2, 2008 at 7:49 am

Just because Jam bought the building doesn’t tell the story on what they are going to do with it. It may be turned into a huge night club with no seats and levels of bars. Or they can cut it up and turn it into mega mini movie theatres. They may want to put in a Imax type system upstairs and a comedy night club downstairs. The Jam people need to bring in some other type of entertainment into this huge theatre that will draw all kinds of people not just the rock crowd. Thanks and good luck on bringing this great Uptown Theatre back to life!

terrywade
terrywade commented about Regal profit falls; digital upgrade advances on Jul 31, 2008 at 12:21 pm

In cities like Santa Cruz CA Regal took over the new Harris SC 9. The city of Santa Cruz has no digital theatres or 3-D. Regal won’t even spend money in the local papers for disply adds on what they are showing. Jim who runs the Nickelodeon Theatres ‘Delmar Theatre’ and other art theatres in the Santa Cruz area runs display adds in the local papers. Regal is so cheap but they love the money they are making in this Surf City Santa Cruz as being the only big megaplex in town. Most movie people have to drive over the hill to San Jose Ca (30 mn drive) to see the new digital 3-D as the Regal 9 in Santa Cruz does not have digital projection or even advertise. It’s so sad a big college town like SC and you have to leave town to see a movie like ‘Journey’ in 3-D because the Regal 9 is showing it in 35mm no 3-D. Now I hope someday the art deco ‘Delmar’ with it’s waterfall curtain and red/blue stage lights and a great Dolby Digital® surround system will have digital and 3-D. Regal down the street has no showmanship and even if they do install a digital projector no one in Santa Cruz will find out as Regal won’t advertise it! I guess you can drive downtown and look at the Regal 9’s dusty dirty marquee to see what is showing each week and stand in the long line with one cashier in a 3 window booth. Someone needs to open a big Imax Theatre with 3-D in this coast tourist city. Then Regal will wake up.