You won’t see this type of bright lights on anymore inside the Orinda Theatre starting May 1 2021. All the red/blue neon has been restored and black light LED lights put in over the glow wall paintings. The place is very dark now and very colorful, looks great during a movie with the blue neon turned off and black light semi glow on the wall art, red neon in the ceiling coves. No more boring white lights. Now to top it off let’s have them put in some red/orange strip stage lights on the bottom of the curtains or maybe a teal LED color?
The lights still work on the side of the poster frame with a fluorescent tube. New movie theatres today mostly have no lighted outside poster areas near the box office that many times has no one in the ticket booth. Soon you won’t even see one sheets on paper.
Check this place out in downtown LA still intact but selling jewelry now. Time to turn on the projectors put back the screen and show ring wedding movies!
Nice photo of the bright old gold look inside. Pacific put in dark blue curtains many years ago with blue lights. The last few years they let the bulbs go out over the curved screen and many never got replaced. It was so dark when you came into the Dome you could not find your reserved seat number most of the time. They probably new the place was going to close.
Thanks for the neon lobby photo. I don’t think Regal is putting in neon anymore. They may have even bought this cinema from another neon friendly operator? We have a brand new Cineworld Regal Stonestown Galleria 12 Theatre about to open in San Francisco CA and no color neon was put is. They just have a few color LED color light bars. Trying to save money I guess. No more neon showmanship at Regal.
Thanks Gray for these great old slides your grandfather took. Glad you still have them to share with us. The color still looks nice. I wonder how many of these theatres are still around at least the buildings.
Now that Pacific Theatres have turned in the keys to the landlord property owners and closed their theatres they don’t own the land we think this is just a legal thing to get out of underperforming cinemas and expensive rent. The parent company of Pacific Theatres called ‘Decurion’ is not a poor company. Owned by the Forman family they have property all over California. The father William Forman bought up cheap land in the 1950’s/60’s and started Pacific Drive Ins. Many of the old drive in lots have been turned into huge malls that the Forman’s own with some multiplex cinemas on the property. The Syufy family did the same thing. After all the dust settles down you will see some of these classic Pacific Theatres come back open I bet like the Hollywood Cinerama Dome and the Pacific Grove Theatres. Shame on the city of Culver City CA with the Pacific Theatre closed down over a year with no money coming in the city wants all the rental money now. They will find out the hard way when Pacific gets out of Culver City the whole area will suffer in the downtown area. Lets hope the Hollywood Cinerama Dome can re open soon and the Forman brothers can re direct some of their family land money to keeping some of their classic theatres around a little longer. The Forman brothers after the father died never liked Cinerama, at one time they were going to tear down the dome! They are more into real estate today under Decurion.
Thanks Lou for the Warner photo. Like so many theatres they remodel for millions of dollars they go and put in white lights. I guess they did not have in their budget for some blue, red, green, orange or purple LED lights for a nice deco effect during a performance or pre show entrance. With most new LED lights you can change/program the colors from whatever you choose. Looks like they just put white spotlights on the paintings. Maybe some creative person with the opera who likes blue will at least have some dark blue going on with some of the side fixtures. Seems also the seating people like to push red fabric for a opera remodel from a former movie palace. Rich deep dark blue fabric would have looked great, would have matched the side wall art. At least the Grand Warner Bradley was not torn down for a parking lot like so many big downtown movies theatres. Bring dark glasses if you go because of the glare from white bulbs on too bright.
Thanks for the info F4 Tom. Don’t be surprised if Cinemark/Century cuts back and turns a large cinema space into two cinemas to make more money. Just about 2 miles away the brand new Cineworld Regal Stonestown Galleria 12 opens in a nest month. They have many features that Century 20 in Daly City does not have like 4DX® and ScreenX®. I bet no new big screens just maybe new rugs or seat fabric replacement. I don’t like the screens here at this cinema. Not a good place to watch a scope movie on a square screen in letterbox! The IMAX and their XD screens are not that big like other Century Theatres in the area. They never even put a IMAX® sign outside the building when they put in the system last year.
Thanks so much Kino for all the nice movie theatre images you post. I loved the United Artist Theatres D-150 curved screen system. They had in a few cinemas around the SF Bay Area and around the world both UA and other circuits. The curved screen looked so nice with all 4 masking motors (35mm flat, 35mm scope, 70mm and D-150) that could be set with the curtains and special D-150 curve lens the image was so hot. To bad UA and most other movie circuits tore all these cinemas down for land use $. One of the best was at the UA Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood were I saw Funny Girl in a 70mm blow up on the giant D-150 curved screen. The theatre is still going but they have a small flat screen now. I will never forget It. The movie theatres built now have no showmanship with screen presentation, a sad day for the new generation that goes to the multiplex today. The inventor of D-150 died a few years ago, hope someone at UA/Regal has the plans and set up so they can bring It back some day?
The brand new Regal Stonestown Galleria 12 Theatre San Francisco CA will replace the old UA Stonestown Twin soon. It’s about a block away in the mall. The address of the new cinema is 3251 20th Ave San Francisco CA. I will post photos here on CT when they are tearing down the old UA theatre. The new 12 plex may open in late May 2021? Long delay because of CV.
The new address for this new Regal Stonestown Galleria 12 Theatre is 3251 20th Ave San Francisco CA just one block in front of the old UA Stonestown Twin do to be torn down soon.
New 4DX® cinema going in at the new Regal Stonestown 12 San Francisco CA. So much effects, wind, air, fans, smoke, mist, and seats that shake and move. They need to re do the old movie SAN FRANCISCO or Earthquake in 4DX® Let the new place move!
I have heard the DNA Comedy Lab has closed in the old Regal Riverfront Twin Theatre. Just could not make It with being closed during the C19 lock down. Hope some other entertainment people can take over the lease and re open soon.
Thanks to the Syufy family at West Wind Drive In’s for taking over the old Regal Cinema 9 in downtown Santa Cruz. After being closed for a year Regal moved out. Syufy still kept many of their old outdoor theatres under the ‘West Wind’ brand now It seems the two Syufy brothers are getting back into the indoor cinema business back again in Santa Cruz CA after selling their Century Theatres to Cinemark many years ago. Their dad Raymond made a fortune when he sold off many of the drive in land outdoor theatres to build malls with indoor cinemas on the same spot the old drive In’s played films. Lets hope the tourist and college local crowd will support the Syufy ‘West Wind’ Santa Cruz 9 Theatre in downtown Santa Cruz CA. Regal never bothered to even advertise. I think the Syufy family will change things around in Santa Cruz moviegoing for the better!
Thanks Kino I have seen this great showmanship curtain theatre. It’s too bad this is only one of a few like this in the USA today. The curved special screen, curtains with pre show color lights ect you won’t find this at your lame multiplex with maybe one large screen and the rest flat and small square screens with no scope masking. No wonder people stay home and watch TV these days.
Thanks for the image. How nice curtains did look put in the stage screen area of many old cinemas in the 1960’s to make them look more modern. Now all torn down fabric and all.
Kino thanks for the color image. The only thing I would have done as a sound designer was to hide the ceiling surround speakers better like in the dark sections not the lit blue strips. Also the side wall speakers maybe try to hide behind the square light panels? Seems like most cinemas that put in stereo surround many years ago just hang all the speakers out in the open. Very few theatres have them hidden from view so you hear the surround sound but don’t see the speakers. I know there can be a problems with the blocked sound coming from the speaker cones if they are blocked by a fabric or panel but in this day and age you would think some creative sound speaker company can hide the effect speakers in new installs!
You won’t see this type of bright lights on anymore inside the Orinda Theatre starting May 1 2021. All the red/blue neon has been restored and black light LED lights put in over the glow wall paintings. The place is very dark now and very colorful, looks great during a movie with the blue neon turned off and black light semi glow on the wall art, red neon in the ceiling coves. No more boring white lights. Now to top it off let’s have them put in some red/orange strip stage lights on the bottom of the curtains or maybe a teal LED color?
The lights still work on the side of the poster frame with a fluorescent tube. New movie theatres today mostly have no lighted outside poster areas near the box office that many times has no one in the ticket booth. Soon you won’t even see one sheets on paper.
Check this place out in downtown LA still intact but selling jewelry now. Time to turn on the projectors put back the screen and show ring wedding movies!
Nice photo of the bright old gold look inside. Pacific put in dark blue curtains many years ago with blue lights. The last few years they let the bulbs go out over the curved screen and many never got replaced. It was so dark when you came into the Dome you could not find your reserved seat number most of the time. They probably new the place was going to close.
Thanks again Gray for these nice color slides. I wonder if some of side wall art did glow during the movie under black lights?
Thanks for the neon lobby photo. I don’t think Regal is putting in neon anymore. They may have even bought this cinema from another neon friendly operator? We have a brand new Cineworld Regal Stonestown Galleria 12 Theatre about to open in San Francisco CA and no color neon was put is. They just have a few color LED color light bars. Trying to save money I guess. No more neon showmanship at Regal.
One year later I wonder what they did for CinemaScope®
Thanks Gray for these great old slides your grandfather took. Glad you still have them to share with us. The color still looks nice. I wonder how many of these theatres are still around at least the buildings.
Now that Pacific Theatres have turned in the keys to the landlord property owners and closed their theatres they don’t own the land we think this is just a legal thing to get out of underperforming cinemas and expensive rent. The parent company of Pacific Theatres called ‘Decurion’ is not a poor company. Owned by the Forman family they have property all over California. The father William Forman bought up cheap land in the 1950’s/60’s and started Pacific Drive Ins. Many of the old drive in lots have been turned into huge malls that the Forman’s own with some multiplex cinemas on the property. The Syufy family did the same thing. After all the dust settles down you will see some of these classic Pacific Theatres come back open I bet like the Hollywood Cinerama Dome and the Pacific Grove Theatres. Shame on the city of Culver City CA with the Pacific Theatre closed down over a year with no money coming in the city wants all the rental money now. They will find out the hard way when Pacific gets out of Culver City the whole area will suffer in the downtown area. Lets hope the Hollywood Cinerama Dome can re open soon and the Forman brothers can re direct some of their family land money to keeping some of their classic theatres around a little longer. The Forman brothers after the father died never liked Cinerama, at one time they were going to tear down the dome! They are more into real estate today under Decurion.
Thanks Lou for the Warner photo. Like so many theatres they remodel for millions of dollars they go and put in white lights. I guess they did not have in their budget for some blue, red, green, orange or purple LED lights for a nice deco effect during a performance or pre show entrance. With most new LED lights you can change/program the colors from whatever you choose. Looks like they just put white spotlights on the paintings. Maybe some creative person with the opera who likes blue will at least have some dark blue going on with some of the side fixtures. Seems also the seating people like to push red fabric for a opera remodel from a former movie palace. Rich deep dark blue fabric would have looked great, would have matched the side wall art. At least the Grand Warner Bradley was not torn down for a parking lot like so many big downtown movies theatres. Bring dark glasses if you go because of the glare from white bulbs on too bright.
Thanks for the info F4 Tom. Don’t be surprised if Cinemark/Century cuts back and turns a large cinema space into two cinemas to make more money. Just about 2 miles away the brand new Cineworld Regal Stonestown Galleria 12 opens in a nest month. They have many features that Century 20 in Daly City does not have like 4DX® and ScreenX®. I bet no new big screens just maybe new rugs or seat fabric replacement. I don’t like the screens here at this cinema. Not a good place to watch a scope movie on a square screen in letterbox! The IMAX and their XD screens are not that big like other Century Theatres in the area. They never even put a IMAX® sign outside the building when they put in the system last year.
Thanks so much Kino for all the nice movie theatre images you post. I loved the United Artist Theatres D-150 curved screen system. They had in a few cinemas around the SF Bay Area and around the world both UA and other circuits. The curved screen looked so nice with all 4 masking motors (35mm flat, 35mm scope, 70mm and D-150) that could be set with the curtains and special D-150 curve lens the image was so hot. To bad UA and most other movie circuits tore all these cinemas down for land use $. One of the best was at the UA Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood were I saw Funny Girl in a 70mm blow up on the giant D-150 curved screen. The theatre is still going but they have a small flat screen now. I will never forget It. The movie theatres built now have no showmanship with screen presentation, a sad day for the new generation that goes to the multiplex today. The inventor of D-150 died a few years ago, hope someone at UA/Regal has the plans and set up so they can bring It back some day?
The brand new Regal Stonestown Galleria 12 Theatre San Francisco CA will replace the old UA Stonestown Twin soon. It’s about a block away in the mall. The address of the new cinema is 3251 20th Ave San Francisco CA. I will post photos here on CT when they are tearing down the old UA theatre. The new 12 plex may open in late May 2021? Long delay because of CV.
Next time I visit will re check the numbers. The RPX® screen may be in space #12 not #2
New Theatre is inside the Stonestown Galleria Mall on the 2nd level 3251 20th Ave San Francisco CA.
This brand new Regal 12 Cinema is located inside the Stonestown Galleria Mall on the 2nd level at 3251 20th Ave San Francisco CA.
The address for this brand new cinema by Regal Cinema is 3251 20th Ave in San Francisco CA located in the Stonestown Galleria Mall 2nd level.
The new address for the Regal Stonestown Galleria 12 is 3251 20th Ave in San Francisco 94132.
The new address for this new Regal Stonestown Galleria 12 Theatre is 3251 20th Ave San Francisco CA just one block in front of the old UA Stonestown Twin do to be torn down soon.
New 4DX® cinema going in at the new Regal Stonestown 12 San Francisco CA. So much effects, wind, air, fans, smoke, mist, and seats that shake and move. They need to re do the old movie SAN FRANCISCO or Earthquake in 4DX® Let the new place move!
I have heard the DNA Comedy Lab has closed in the old Regal Riverfront Twin Theatre. Just could not make It with being closed during the C19 lock down. Hope some other entertainment people can take over the lease and re open soon.
Thanks to the Syufy family at West Wind Drive In’s for taking over the old Regal Cinema 9 in downtown Santa Cruz. After being closed for a year Regal moved out. Syufy still kept many of their old outdoor theatres under the ‘West Wind’ brand now It seems the two Syufy brothers are getting back into the indoor cinema business back again in Santa Cruz CA after selling their Century Theatres to Cinemark many years ago. Their dad Raymond made a fortune when he sold off many of the drive in land outdoor theatres to build malls with indoor cinemas on the same spot the old drive In’s played films. Lets hope the tourist and college local crowd will support the Syufy ‘West Wind’ Santa Cruz 9 Theatre in downtown Santa Cruz CA. Regal never bothered to even advertise. I think the Syufy family will change things around in Santa Cruz moviegoing for the better!
Thanks Kino I have seen this great showmanship curtain theatre. It’s too bad this is only one of a few like this in the USA today. The curved special screen, curtains with pre show color lights ect you won’t find this at your lame multiplex with maybe one large screen and the rest flat and small square screens with no scope masking. No wonder people stay home and watch TV these days.
Thanks for the image. How nice curtains did look put in the stage screen area of many old cinemas in the 1960’s to make them look more modern. Now all torn down fabric and all.
Kino thanks for the color image. The only thing I would have done as a sound designer was to hide the ceiling surround speakers better like in the dark sections not the lit blue strips. Also the side wall speakers maybe try to hide behind the square light panels? Seems like most cinemas that put in stereo surround many years ago just hang all the speakers out in the open. Very few theatres have them hidden from view so you hear the surround sound but don’t see the speakers. I know there can be a problems with the blocked sound coming from the speaker cones if they are blocked by a fabric or panel but in this day and age you would think some creative sound speaker company can hide the effect speakers in new installs!