Comments from Al Alvarez

Showing 1,201 - 1,225 of 3,462 comments

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Embassy 1,2,3 Theatre on Mar 31, 2011 at 5:29 pm

The Mayfair foreign phase was very short lived. Even “M” was dubbed into English by the third week and mainstream films were mostly the norm.

RKO had been the previous operator.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Trianon Twin on Mar 30, 2011 at 5:49 pm

You are going to have to give us more than that. That sounds like just about every movie that played here.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Vintage stills of 1930s theaters for sale on Mar 29, 2011 at 10:28 pm

Sorry Rudy, those links don’t work. Aside from the Winter Garden photos I can’t make out anything else.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Mar 28, 2011 at 5:55 pm

All I remember was the velour wall covering replacement and carpet in both the lobby and inside. If you recall, the whole auditorium was once fully carpeted.

In terms of projection, platters were added after much negotiation with the union who didn’t want them here. All this happened about four years into the Cineplex period.

Sound was constantly being upgraded, but usually at the expense of the movie being premiered, as they always found fault with what was there when they did a test run. The showing of restored prints of classic films were always a touchy subject for the sound techs.

In traditional Cineplex Odeon style, prices went up every year.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Mar 28, 2011 at 4:44 pm

Cineplex Odeon took over Walter Reade Theatres in 1987. The landlord refused CO’s attempt to multiplex the Ziegfeld.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Alpine Cinema on Mar 28, 2011 at 6:57 am

WTVJ, Channel FOUR was the CBS affiliate when I lived there. Channel six was independent.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's Metropolitan Theatre on Mar 27, 2011 at 9:03 pm

The Cineplex Odeon take-over was in the late eighties. There was no Cineplex Odeon in 1978.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Mar 27, 2011 at 8:33 pm

Kids who stutter should have a responsible parent take them and explain the language.

PATHETIC is the right word for ratings changes that compensate for parents who have no business raising children and expect movie theatres to do their work for them.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Alpine Cinema on Mar 27, 2011 at 5:01 pm

techman, are you confusing Bernard Meyerson with Fox executive Sidney Meyer who co-founded Wometco and WTVJ Miami?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Radio City Music Hall on Mar 27, 2011 at 11:03 am

No Justin, it was simply not a top choice for distributors in the seventies and RCMH demanded exclusive runs.

In a parallel universe, could you just imagine what the “Clockwork” stage show would look like?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Radio City Music Hall on Mar 27, 2011 at 10:52 am

Radio City would never have shown the x-rated “A Clockwork Orange” first run nor would Warner Bros. have placed the trendy-hip film into the venue. That would have been the kiss of death for the film. By 1972 Radio City was only top choice for wholesome family films which were themselves out of vogue and most distributors therefore avoided the place.

“Clockwork” opened at the Cinema 1 & 2, the top choice in NYC for quality first-runs along with the Baronet/Coronet.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Embassy 1 Theatre on Mar 26, 2011 at 11:40 pm

I believe the People’s Court is taped on 38th street and only the commentary is done in Times Square.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Embassy 1 Theatre on Mar 26, 2011 at 9:12 pm

I think you are correct, techman.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/noahcoad/5396962675/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jblough/422536912/

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Variety Theatre on Mar 25, 2011 at 9:14 pm

I think that was the Bleecker Street in DSS.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Fine Arts Theatre on Mar 18, 2011 at 5:09 pm

I think the failure of the latter two may explain why they stopped doing it more often.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Golden Glades Twin Drive-In on Mar 16, 2011 at 2:17 pm

Miami Gardens did not exist when this theatre was in operation.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about North Dade Drive-In on Mar 16, 2011 at 2:00 pm

I am not sure how CT handles this, but the city of Miami Gardens did not exist when this drive-in was in operation.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about AMC headquarters may be moving on Mar 12, 2011 at 10:51 am

I think this is just another case of one of the bankrupt square states incurring huge federal loans while campaigning against the budget deficit and calling the Obama administration irresponsible.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about AMC headquarters may be moving on Mar 10, 2011 at 9:02 pm

How can Kansas afford a 47 million dollar incentive credit for a measly 400 jobs?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Radio City Music Hall on Mar 7, 2011 at 7:13 pm

Justin, I think you just explained why Hollywood just keeps making the same type of crap over and over again.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Hollywood and theaters noticing more boomers turning out for movies on Mar 4, 2011 at 7:44 pm

Every time the mainstream junk movies (GREEN HORNET, THE TOURIST, LITTLE FOCKERS) fail at the boxoffice and the award movies stand out, we see this same story. Only the Gorgonzola dip is new here.

The baby boomer love affair with film did not occur in 1969, which was a terrible year at the boxoffice. MEDIUM COOL may have been an amazing film but it was hardly a hit and 1950’s arthouse darling Ingmar Bergman hardly emerged on the college scene in 1972.

The painful truth is that TRUE GRIT, THE FIGHTER, BLACK SWAN and THE KING’S SPEECH put together will not outgross TOY STORY 3. All will be forgotten by summer. These reporters really need to do some actual research before writing these Hollywood fluff pieces.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rivoli Theatre on Mar 3, 2011 at 8:02 am

Movieland
/theaters/2925/

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Juliet I & II on Feb 27, 2011 at 8:36 pm

Actually ABC Southeastern EXCLUDED Florida which had a separate ABC Florida State Theatres subsidiary.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Roosevelt Theatre on Feb 27, 2011 at 2:40 pm

David, you would be competing with an 18 screen state-of-art multiplex on Lincoln Road just south of here.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Murray Hill Cinema on Feb 23, 2011 at 11:32 pm

This Boxoffice Magazine has photos and an article of the remodel;

View link