Comments from jackjs2swartz

Showing 11 comments

jackjs2swartz
jackjs2swartz commented about 66 Drive-In on Aug 16, 2022 at 12:36 am

Enjoyed the last comments. I was the Mgr during the years’74-‘75 . I later moved to the Esquire theater which was a tri - plex at the time.

jackjs2swartz
jackjs2swartz commented about Randolph Theatre on Jun 6, 2019 at 1:23 am

Howard I haven’t been on this site since ‘14 but I just saw a post from Bertinphilly and since he mentioned me by my full name I would love to make contact with him to reminisce I don’t know if you could help me with this ,Jack

jackjs2swartz
jackjs2swartz commented about Randolph Theatre on Jun 7, 2011 at 4:01 pm

as we started to close the theatre,nothing was left we pulled ou the seats and sent them to a theatre in chambursburg. the screen,which was made up of 2 inch louvre strips was simply cut down and we sold the scaffolding on which it was installed. the cinemascope lenses ,which were rented, i retuned.with the warning,if you drop these kid,just keep going.

jackjs2swartz
jackjs2swartz commented about Randolph Theatre on Jun 7, 2011 at 3:55 pm

last show at the randollph theatre was tora,tora,tora. reserved seating with advanced sales. opened to alarge audience. but was not received very well. apparently the older americans, who served during word war two,memories of the event were far different than those portrayed in the film.quote , by one customer “if you think we were that stupid, you’re crazy!” “who made this movie a bunch of commies.!” at any rate within a few weeks the theatre as well as the show died a slow,painful death.

jackjs2swartz
jackjs2swartz commented about Esquire Theatre on Jun 4, 2011 at 12:12 am

I almost forgot,even ‘though I mentioned monty python,we also were showing about the same time One flew over the cookoos nestand did a sneak preview for the omen.

jackjs2swartz
jackjs2swartz commented about Philadelphia Film Center on Jun 2, 2011 at 3:18 am

although I never assigned as a mgr or asst, mgr, athe the midtown most of the goldman asst. mgrs. worked the school shows when “Scrooge” starring Albert Finney was playing there for the Christmas holidays. ‘70 or '71 I am not quite sure of the dates any more. our major jobs were to push 800 children out the back exit doors while another group of mgrs pushed 800 more in the front doors.

jackjs2swartz
jackjs2swartz commented about Esquire Theatre on Jun 2, 2011 at 3:06 am

I amsorry to hear of the demise of the esquire.I was the mgr of this fine theatre for 2 years from'75-‘77. there were a lot of fine shows exhibted during that time,but oddly my favorite is “Monty Python and The Holy Grail.

jackjs2swartz
jackjs2swartz commented about Goldman Theatre on Jun 2, 2011 at 2:50 am

howard-to answert your question about openings with celebrities: the only one that I can recall is the opening of patton with george c. scott in attendace. goldman gave it the full treatment including cleg lights,reminded us of what used to be seen at graumans in hollywood. I was not in attendance but my freind,Alan Kosher was the asst. mgr. of the goldman at that time would have the advantage in information over me.

jackjs2swartz
jackjs2swartz commented about Goldman Theatre on May 31, 2011 at 5:45 pm

after leaving the randolph theatre in 71 as assostant mgr I went to the goldman theatre. because we started showing films lke mondo cane,a young booker named mitch goldman(no relation) started booking a lot of older movies for mini film festivals. for example in late ‘71 we had a garbo festival for 1 week featuring films like ninotchka, these were alsovery profitable because they were very inexpensive to rent. I promised howard some information about premiers,but i guess I get pretty sidetracked these days. i try to get back on track tomorrow.-jack swartz former asst. mgr randolph/goldman theatres.

jackjs2swartz
jackjs2swartz commented about Randolph Theatre on May 30, 2011 at 5:07 pm

howard,i worked at the randolph for two years from ‘69-closing in '71 the only “hollywood” style 0pening that i can remember was the running of patton at the gold man theatre. by the time I was working there the hay day of hard ticket films were at a close. during hello dolly there were perhaps 5-15 people in the audience,with about 30 in the evening show. I have to leave for work now, but I have more for you on tora,tora,tora.when I’m done this evening.

jackjs2swartz
jackjs2swartz commented about Randolph Theatre on May 30, 2011 at 2:57 pm

my name is jack swartz,I was the last assistant mgr of the randolph theatre. norman cohen was our district mgr. and his office was located in the randolph. my office was located just down the hall from the old ice house,which was used for early air conditioning efforts during the keiths era.since the randolph was built inside of the keiths we used to store our supplies up the old marble staircase which led to the balcony of the keiths theatre.any information that I may have I will be glad to furnish. there may be some lapses of memory to to a recent stroke I sustained but I hope I may be able to help out some people.