In todays SF Chronicle looks like the Vogue has new owners. Did UA/REAGAL sell off the lease. Shows A SFNTF THEATRE wwwvoguesf.com Opening under new management Aug 24 2007. This is good news. UA sells all they can to make money on the land that theatres sit on. But for the San francisco UA/REGAL VOGUE lools like It has a few years left?
I took a private tour of the Fox Oakland a few months ago. Had to put on a hard hat! This will be a super fine remodel. The place doesn’t look to bad on the inside. I took some photos, will try to post some next week.
To bad the Landmark people don’t close the two tiny theatres they run The Lumiere and Opera Plaza. They can take over the long closed Galaxy. A big improvement over what they call art theatres now. Some people have bigger screens on the home screens. The old UA Galaxy needs some work but will go the way of many San Francisco Theatres. Condos will go up some day.
The stereo surrounds are never up. They are on so low you won’t hear them. Turn down the stage speakers and turn up the surrounds. As you know surround sound speakers are never to up to hi, they are just a effect channel. But on many Disney movies the whole surround experience is lost, is the theatre to wide for you to hear the surrounds if your in the middle? Please Pacific/Disney bring in some Dolby THX guys and do a sound balance. Don’t let the surrounds not be heard. I can’t believe at a a big opening some of the Disney sound guys must be in the house, they worked hard on the stereo soundtrack, don’t they notice things are off at this Disney showcase. Probably some old lady complained the surrounds were to loud and some projection guy turned them way down. This is a class showmanship Theatre. Look across the street and the poor Chinese can’t compare. No stage show at the Chinese, sometimes they don’t even close the Chinese main curtain, Mann theatres is to busy running boring adds up to feature time. Long live the El Capitain, turn up the surrounds!, and don’t forget the balcony surrounds!
Thanks Simon for your great report. I seem to remember the story of the paint junk the Blumenfields put on the front and it flooding the marquee. One of these days I hope someone will come along and paint the front of the Castro and the Marquee. The stale light color it is now doesn’t show off the front like the Castro needs. Bring on the greens, oranges, red, yellow and pink. Make it look like a art deco Miami Theatre in San Francisco. I think they have a law in SF, no flashing neon. Seems the front did flash neon at one time? Now the inside, have you ever been to the Stanford Theatre in Palo Alto CA. check out the dark blue lights up in the ceiling during a film showing. This is what the Castro needs. Also on the bottom of the curtain a small border light tray, with a variety of color you can change per movie theme. I remember as a kid going to all the Golden State Theatres in California when they closed the curtain between previews and the main feature they had a dark blue/red light on the curtains as they moved, some of this light went on the bottom of the screen, it was the best in showmanship. Next time I see the Nassers I will talk to them again about adding some color inside. Maybe when no one is watching we can change some bulbs if they don’t!
What a great time this past weekend at the Castro for the 85th anniversary. I have met with both Nasser brothers many times in the past year and have told them about having some color added to the indoor lights. I even offered to by the blue, green and red bulbs. Didn’t hear a word. The whole place is lit up in the main theatre with gold and yellow lights on the curtains. The bulbs under the balcony lights need to be blue during the movie. Most are not working. The best place for some dark blue/red bulbs is on either side of the stage on the bottom of the organ loft curtains during a film showing. They have speakers blocking the side curtains. I wait for the day when the main big light on the ceiling can be re lit. Blue during the film on low with the intermission setting green, yellow and orange red combo. The same in the lobby, the candy counter is so dark I don’t see how the help can make change. More ceiling lights need to be added above the consession stand. And the two big art deco lights in the lobby in place of boring white lights (always turned way to low) replace with some color lights. In the summer put in Blue on the bottom row Green on the next then Yellow on the top. In the winter put in Red on the bottom Orange on the next row top off with Yellow. These lights need to turned up, they are way to low now. The Nassers told me last year they are about to re do the electric in the theatre. Many times I have gone In and found the main theatre in the dark. Someone had to do something with the fuse box? Let’t bring back some color at the Castro. With the new seats, great projection, Dolby Digital and 70mm this is a first class house. Thanks to Bill Longen for helping get this great San Francisco theatre back on track. When he brought back a 70mm print of It’s A Mad Mad World last year he made special masking for the big screen so it fit. This is real showmanship!
When I went to the Rivoli I think In the 80’s they had removed the giant curved D-150 curved screen. The sign above the Rivoli out side said A D150 Theatre. That is what I went to see the screen not the movie. I had a big fight with the UA manager. I wanted my money back and told him it was false advertising to advertise a screen you did'nt have. He gave me my money back after I told him I’d call the police. To bad I missed it by just a few weeks.
The first Cine Capri I think had a D-150 big curved screen? The new one does not have the wrap around curve look on the screen,just a small curve. At least they have a curtain! Long live the Cine Capri!
Yes this area of East 14th was the place to be on Friday and Sat nights. The Stadium had a big screen tower as the Oakland DI was not as big. Went by last week and found the Prings Coffee Shop has changed to a new name and food type served. The Oakland Police tried to stop the cars on the weekend but when both Drive Ins let out it was one big party. If you had a GTO like I did the cruise got HOT. With the Bal Theatre down the street Prings Burgers and a Bowling Alley in the same few blocks it was teen heaven in the 60’s. Drive Ins are coming back around the USA. Can you imagine the Century people bulldozing their new Multiplex nearby at puting in a big Drive In with 5 screens? Bring on the Hot Dogs and Pizza!
The front of the Delmar also looked like the front of the now open Delmar in Santa Cruz CA. Check out the Delmar in Santa Cruz. The waterfall curtains in the main downstairs with the red/blue lights on them are worth a look. Jim did a great job at the Delmar. The inside is very different then the San Leandro Delmar, but the outside is almost the same, both built by Golden State Theatres.
I remember seeing ‘Journey To The Center Of The Earth’ at the Bal many years ago. They had the best 4 track stereo surround system in the 50’s and 60’s. Someone needs to reopen the place. Book movies from the 50’s, get the seniors to come, make it like the old days. People are tired of the multiplex experience. The Lorenzo is about to be re opened one day.
Does anyone know if the Balboa has Dolby Digital or a reguler stereo set up with surrounds? Last time I went it was mono sound. If they are now showing first run films please put in a better sound system. Most people now have Dolby Digital at home. Some day I hope they take out the wall down the middle and turn it back to single screen. I don’t like the narrow long look it is in know.
Robb thanks for the info on the remodel. It will be great, the movie people of Alameda will have a big movie theatre to go to again. Hope they put in a big curved scope screen in the main theatre. And curtains that work. The stereo will sound great in the old Alameda. Do you know how big the smaller cinemas will be on the side building? When will be the grand opening?
Yes for a old UA cut up they did a good job. Two big theatres downstairs, two big ones uptairs in the old balcony. The lobby is still looking very deco. The other small theatres are not worth seeing movies in. One is in the backstage area the others are closets. The last time I went a few months ago the right stereo speaker in the upstairs left big theatre was not on. I got my money back, they didn’t believe me but after checking it out they said I was correct. Go see a film and check out the lobby. The stereo I think is DTS and the surrounds are up at a good level. Not like the Landmark down the street. You can stand under a surround speaker and hear about 10% audio at the California and Albany Theatres.
Next time you go complain that the curtains don’t work. Wait till you hear what the manager tells you. I don’t understand why they put in such a small screen in the downstairs part. The manager says it’s because they had to move the screen up during the seismic work. It can still be enlarged on the sides. The projector is in a strange area below the old balcony. The lens looks plastic not a good image. Landmark won’t spend any $ to fix the curtains or put in a larger screen. I remember seeing with my parents in the 50’s a double bill of The King & I with Anastasia when it was a big single screen house with 4 track stereo on a huge curved cinemascope screen. No wonder people are staying home and watching Dvd’s. The California needs to bring back that showmanship experience. At least they do have some nice lights up on the side walls in the upstairs twin and use red and blue bulbs.Someone must be awake still at the CAL. With all the students going to school at UC this is a hot spot for good movies.
Bruce thanks for your note. I don’t think seeing Sound of Music at the Roxie in Oakland after it had played in SF for many months on the Roxie small screen in 35mm was Roadshow. Same at the Grand Lake, they didn’t show in full 70mm nor most times they didn’t give programs for sale. You may have thought you were at at a Roadshow presentation, but if you saw the same film in Hollywood or SF a few months before it looked great. Did the Grand Lake have reserved seats? I don’t remember. What bothered me with the Roxie in Oakland they put in the advertisement 70mm or Todd-Ao many times they just took the logo from the reel roadshow and just used it. Most people that didn’t go to SF prob didn’t know the 35mm rip off. Wow if the Grand Lake had put in a big curved sceen how great this theatres projection roadshow look for the people of Oakland. 35mm or 70mm at least the Grand Lake is still open, but I think Its roadshow days are gone. I saw Dreamgirls at the big theatre downstairs and the right surrounds did'nt come on. I asked the projectionist Steffon about it, he told me they need to fix it. Next time you go to the Grand Lake check to see if the right surrounds are on. The place needs new rugs in the lobby very bad.
This theatre needs a major remodel job. Landmark won’t spend a dime on it. Needs curtains fixed and working. The stereo sound needs a upgrade, the surrounds are never on. The little art deco lights on the side are dirty and dusty. The out side is the wrong color. The only good thing is the lobby. I have never been upstairs in the twin. Landmark runs the California also, I think they just lease both theatres and won’t spend any money on them. The people of the east bay need better art theatres.
Id love to see the curtains working again. They don’t close them lack of showmanship by the Syufy brothers. The curve from the big screen they had is gone. To bad they didn’t keep it in at least for the 21 Dome. The Syufy people need to do a big 70mm week at the Century 21.
Good news in todays LA Times Thurs Aug 9 the Pacific team has the listing CINERAMA DOME not just The Dome. Did they read my note this week? Now lets get the great Cinema Treasure book for sale in the gift shop and bring back the Cinerama shirts. The tourists will snap them up. It’s time for a new print of Cinerama Holiday to play. Play it up for the summer vacation people in Hollywood.
This theatre had a great curved screen. almost like a D-150 screen.It’s sister theatre the Reg 1 had a smaller screen and like many Blumenfield theatres they just droped masking down to make it cinemascope. I believe they both had 70mm.
Last time I went last year I looked up at the ceiling. It was full of cobwebs. Watch out a spider may come down on your popcorn. The surround speakers are never up full. I was told by a cranky manager that if they turned them up they will be heard in the next theatre. I will pass on this UA dump.
To bad Ray Syufy got money hungrey and split many of his Domes down the middle. Leaking sound, seats going the wrong way. It was a mess. At least he didn’t split the flagship The Century 21 in San Jose.
Does anyone know when the Parkway is to be fixed up? I heard now that they have worked things out on a lease they can start with some touch up. Please put in a good Dolby unit downstairs and up. I don’t want to see a movie I missed first run in Mono sound at the Parkway. They the owners did a great job at the El Cerito. Curtains that work and a great stereo sound system. Check it out. Now it’s time the do the same at Oakland’s Parkway. A former manager friend of mine told me the old owner Mr Foster didn’t have enough plastic letters so he had to go to the Piedmont or the Albany all the time and borrow some letters he was missing. They also oversold the house when it was a first class art house. Lucky the Oakland Fire dept didn’t come in and see many people on the floor blocking exits. If you complained you lost your job. This was in the 60’s. Things are better know at the Parkway. Strange thing the owners don’t advertise what is playing in the Oakland Tribune. But they advertise in the Contra Costa paper many miles away. Did they get mad at the Tribune for a bad review? They miss boxoffice customers by not running a small ad in the Tribune.
Went in a few weeks ago. A real mess. The old projection guy was living in the projection booth. He is no longer the projection guy. The sound is the worst in any theatre. They advertise Dolby Stereo but it is so bad with a hum and scrathy sound. The light on the screen is about 30%. A long wire hangs from the uper left part of the screen. The same guy has been in the little boxoffice booth for years. The manager is very bad news. I complained about the sound and screen. He told me it was his theatre and if I didn’t like it I can leave. To bad with a little clean up and screen cleaning and some color lights they can make this into a tourist grindhouse and show films from the 50’s and 60’s. They don’t even light the neon stars under the marquee any more. The worst thing when you go in on the right ramp you are greated with a mop and bucket with Clorox smell. Mr Tarintino needs to by this place, as he goes to the Vine from time to time. Clean it up and bring back the action, horror Grindhouse only with a clean picture and sound. This theatres days are numbered. It will be another night club with no parking. Like what is going into the Fox Hollywood and they tried to put into the Vogue Hollywood. The film people need to check this place out before they book the second run prints. The movie is so dim you can’t tell anything on a dark scene. Enter at your own risk. Check it out and see all what goes on before it is closed. Behind the candy counter (drinks are all carbon) you will see the old boat wheel from the Admiral days long gone. All this going on near The Broadway Hollywood fancy new condos about to open. PS If it’s hot outside in Hollywood wait till you feel the heat at the Vine. The air is not working or they won’t turn on. Take a look at the big curtains above the screen. Looked great at one time when they worked, they are the waterfall type. Now covered in so mutch dust. Go and check it out and have some fun. You won’t find another place like it in California.
In todays SF Chronicle looks like the Vogue has new owners. Did UA/REAGAL sell off the lease. Shows A SFNTF THEATRE wwwvoguesf.com Opening under new management Aug 24 2007. This is good news. UA sells all they can to make money on the land that theatres sit on. But for the San francisco UA/REGAL VOGUE lools like It has a few years left?
I took a private tour of the Fox Oakland a few months ago. Had to put on a hard hat! This will be a super fine remodel. The place doesn’t look to bad on the inside. I took some photos, will try to post some next week.
To bad the Landmark people don’t close the two tiny theatres they run The Lumiere and Opera Plaza. They can take over the long closed Galaxy. A big improvement over what they call art theatres now. Some people have bigger screens on the home screens. The old UA Galaxy needs some work but will go the way of many San Francisco Theatres. Condos will go up some day.
The stereo surrounds are never up. They are on so low you won’t hear them. Turn down the stage speakers and turn up the surrounds. As you know surround sound speakers are never to up to hi, they are just a effect channel. But on many Disney movies the whole surround experience is lost, is the theatre to wide for you to hear the surrounds if your in the middle? Please Pacific/Disney bring in some Dolby THX guys and do a sound balance. Don’t let the surrounds not be heard. I can’t believe at a a big opening some of the Disney sound guys must be in the house, they worked hard on the stereo soundtrack, don’t they notice things are off at this Disney showcase. Probably some old lady complained the surrounds were to loud and some projection guy turned them way down. This is a class showmanship Theatre. Look across the street and the poor Chinese can’t compare. No stage show at the Chinese, sometimes they don’t even close the Chinese main curtain, Mann theatres is to busy running boring adds up to feature time. Long live the El Capitain, turn up the surrounds!, and don’t forget the balcony surrounds!
Thanks Simon for your great report. I seem to remember the story of the paint junk the Blumenfields put on the front and it flooding the marquee. One of these days I hope someone will come along and paint the front of the Castro and the Marquee. The stale light color it is now doesn’t show off the front like the Castro needs. Bring on the greens, oranges, red, yellow and pink. Make it look like a art deco Miami Theatre in San Francisco. I think they have a law in SF, no flashing neon. Seems the front did flash neon at one time? Now the inside, have you ever been to the Stanford Theatre in Palo Alto CA. check out the dark blue lights up in the ceiling during a film showing. This is what the Castro needs. Also on the bottom of the curtain a small border light tray, with a variety of color you can change per movie theme. I remember as a kid going to all the Golden State Theatres in California when they closed the curtain between previews and the main feature they had a dark blue/red light on the curtains as they moved, some of this light went on the bottom of the screen, it was the best in showmanship. Next time I see the Nassers I will talk to them again about adding some color inside. Maybe when no one is watching we can change some bulbs if they don’t!
What a great time this past weekend at the Castro for the 85th anniversary. I have met with both Nasser brothers many times in the past year and have told them about having some color added to the indoor lights. I even offered to by the blue, green and red bulbs. Didn’t hear a word. The whole place is lit up in the main theatre with gold and yellow lights on the curtains. The bulbs under the balcony lights need to be blue during the movie. Most are not working. The best place for some dark blue/red bulbs is on either side of the stage on the bottom of the organ loft curtains during a film showing. They have speakers blocking the side curtains. I wait for the day when the main big light on the ceiling can be re lit. Blue during the film on low with the intermission setting green, yellow and orange red combo. The same in the lobby, the candy counter is so dark I don’t see how the help can make change. More ceiling lights need to be added above the consession stand. And the two big art deco lights in the lobby in place of boring white lights (always turned way to low) replace with some color lights. In the summer put in Blue on the bottom row Green on the next then Yellow on the top. In the winter put in Red on the bottom Orange on the next row top off with Yellow. These lights need to turned up, they are way to low now. The Nassers told me last year they are about to re do the electric in the theatre. Many times I have gone In and found the main theatre in the dark. Someone had to do something with the fuse box? Let’t bring back some color at the Castro. With the new seats, great projection, Dolby Digital and 70mm this is a first class house. Thanks to Bill Longen for helping get this great San Francisco theatre back on track. When he brought back a 70mm print of It’s A Mad Mad World last year he made special masking for the big screen so it fit. This is real showmanship!
When I went to the Rivoli I think In the 80’s they had removed the giant curved D-150 curved screen. The sign above the Rivoli out side said A D150 Theatre. That is what I went to see the screen not the movie. I had a big fight with the UA manager. I wanted my money back and told him it was false advertising to advertise a screen you did'nt have. He gave me my money back after I told him I’d call the police. To bad I missed it by just a few weeks.
The first Cine Capri I think had a D-150 big curved screen? The new one does not have the wrap around curve look on the screen,just a small curve. At least they have a curtain! Long live the Cine Capri!
Yes this area of East 14th was the place to be on Friday and Sat nights. The Stadium had a big screen tower as the Oakland DI was not as big. Went by last week and found the Prings Coffee Shop has changed to a new name and food type served. The Oakland Police tried to stop the cars on the weekend but when both Drive Ins let out it was one big party. If you had a GTO like I did the cruise got HOT. With the Bal Theatre down the street Prings Burgers and a Bowling Alley in the same few blocks it was teen heaven in the 60’s. Drive Ins are coming back around the USA. Can you imagine the Century people bulldozing their new Multiplex nearby at puting in a big Drive In with 5 screens? Bring on the Hot Dogs and Pizza!
The front of the Delmar also looked like the front of the now open Delmar in Santa Cruz CA. Check out the Delmar in Santa Cruz. The waterfall curtains in the main downstairs with the red/blue lights on them are worth a look. Jim did a great job at the Delmar. The inside is very different then the San Leandro Delmar, but the outside is almost the same, both built by Golden State Theatres.
I remember seeing ‘Journey To The Center Of The Earth’ at the Bal many years ago. They had the best 4 track stereo surround system in the 50’s and 60’s. Someone needs to reopen the place. Book movies from the 50’s, get the seniors to come, make it like the old days. People are tired of the multiplex experience. The Lorenzo is about to be re opened one day.
Does anyone know if the Balboa has Dolby Digital or a reguler stereo set up with surrounds? Last time I went it was mono sound. If they are now showing first run films please put in a better sound system. Most people now have Dolby Digital at home. Some day I hope they take out the wall down the middle and turn it back to single screen. I don’t like the narrow long look it is in know.
Robb thanks for the info on the remodel. It will be great, the movie people of Alameda will have a big movie theatre to go to again. Hope they put in a big curved scope screen in the main theatre. And curtains that work. The stereo will sound great in the old Alameda. Do you know how big the smaller cinemas will be on the side building? When will be the grand opening?
Yes for a old UA cut up they did a good job. Two big theatres downstairs, two big ones uptairs in the old balcony. The lobby is still looking very deco. The other small theatres are not worth seeing movies in. One is in the backstage area the others are closets. The last time I went a few months ago the right stereo speaker in the upstairs left big theatre was not on. I got my money back, they didn’t believe me but after checking it out they said I was correct. Go see a film and check out the lobby. The stereo I think is DTS and the surrounds are up at a good level. Not like the Landmark down the street. You can stand under a surround speaker and hear about 10% audio at the California and Albany Theatres.
Next time you go complain that the curtains don’t work. Wait till you hear what the manager tells you. I don’t understand why they put in such a small screen in the downstairs part. The manager says it’s because they had to move the screen up during the seismic work. It can still be enlarged on the sides. The projector is in a strange area below the old balcony. The lens looks plastic not a good image. Landmark won’t spend any $ to fix the curtains or put in a larger screen. I remember seeing with my parents in the 50’s a double bill of The King & I with Anastasia when it was a big single screen house with 4 track stereo on a huge curved cinemascope screen. No wonder people are staying home and watching Dvd’s. The California needs to bring back that showmanship experience. At least they do have some nice lights up on the side walls in the upstairs twin and use red and blue bulbs.Someone must be awake still at the CAL. With all the students going to school at UC this is a hot spot for good movies.
Can anyone tell me did the Tower have the D-150 curved screen at a time?
Bruce thanks for your note. I don’t think seeing Sound of Music at the Roxie in Oakland after it had played in SF for many months on the Roxie small screen in 35mm was Roadshow. Same at the Grand Lake, they didn’t show in full 70mm nor most times they didn’t give programs for sale. You may have thought you were at at a Roadshow presentation, but if you saw the same film in Hollywood or SF a few months before it looked great. Did the Grand Lake have reserved seats? I don’t remember. What bothered me with the Roxie in Oakland they put in the advertisement 70mm or Todd-Ao many times they just took the logo from the reel roadshow and just used it. Most people that didn’t go to SF prob didn’t know the 35mm rip off. Wow if the Grand Lake had put in a big curved sceen how great this theatres projection roadshow look for the people of Oakland. 35mm or 70mm at least the Grand Lake is still open, but I think Its roadshow days are gone. I saw Dreamgirls at the big theatre downstairs and the right surrounds did'nt come on. I asked the projectionist Steffon about it, he told me they need to fix it. Next time you go to the Grand Lake check to see if the right surrounds are on. The place needs new rugs in the lobby very bad.
This theatre needs a major remodel job. Landmark won’t spend a dime on it. Needs curtains fixed and working. The stereo sound needs a upgrade, the surrounds are never on. The little art deco lights on the side are dirty and dusty. The out side is the wrong color. The only good thing is the lobby. I have never been upstairs in the twin. Landmark runs the California also, I think they just lease both theatres and won’t spend any money on them. The people of the east bay need better art theatres.
Id love to see the curtains working again. They don’t close them lack of showmanship by the Syufy brothers. The curve from the big screen they had is gone. To bad they didn’t keep it in at least for the 21 Dome. The Syufy people need to do a big 70mm week at the Century 21.
Good news in todays LA Times Thurs Aug 9 the Pacific team has the listing CINERAMA DOME not just The Dome. Did they read my note this week? Now lets get the great Cinema Treasure book for sale in the gift shop and bring back the Cinerama shirts. The tourists will snap them up. It’s time for a new print of Cinerama Holiday to play. Play it up for the summer vacation people in Hollywood.
This theatre had a great curved screen. almost like a D-150 screen.It’s sister theatre the Reg 1 had a smaller screen and like many Blumenfield theatres they just droped masking down to make it cinemascope. I believe they both had 70mm.
Last time I went last year I looked up at the ceiling. It was full of cobwebs. Watch out a spider may come down on your popcorn. The surround speakers are never up full. I was told by a cranky manager that if they turned them up they will be heard in the next theatre. I will pass on this UA dump.
To bad Ray Syufy got money hungrey and split many of his Domes down the middle. Leaking sound, seats going the wrong way. It was a mess. At least he didn’t split the flagship The Century 21 in San Jose.
Does anyone know when the Parkway is to be fixed up? I heard now that they have worked things out on a lease they can start with some touch up. Please put in a good Dolby unit downstairs and up. I don’t want to see a movie I missed first run in Mono sound at the Parkway. They the owners did a great job at the El Cerito. Curtains that work and a great stereo sound system. Check it out. Now it’s time the do the same at Oakland’s Parkway. A former manager friend of mine told me the old owner Mr Foster didn’t have enough plastic letters so he had to go to the Piedmont or the Albany all the time and borrow some letters he was missing. They also oversold the house when it was a first class art house. Lucky the Oakland Fire dept didn’t come in and see many people on the floor blocking exits. If you complained you lost your job. This was in the 60’s. Things are better know at the Parkway. Strange thing the owners don’t advertise what is playing in the Oakland Tribune. But they advertise in the Contra Costa paper many miles away. Did they get mad at the Tribune for a bad review? They miss boxoffice customers by not running a small ad in the Tribune.
Went in a few weeks ago. A real mess. The old projection guy was living in the projection booth. He is no longer the projection guy. The sound is the worst in any theatre. They advertise Dolby Stereo but it is so bad with a hum and scrathy sound. The light on the screen is about 30%. A long wire hangs from the uper left part of the screen. The same guy has been in the little boxoffice booth for years. The manager is very bad news. I complained about the sound and screen. He told me it was his theatre and if I didn’t like it I can leave. To bad with a little clean up and screen cleaning and some color lights they can make this into a tourist grindhouse and show films from the 50’s and 60’s. They don’t even light the neon stars under the marquee any more. The worst thing when you go in on the right ramp you are greated with a mop and bucket with Clorox smell. Mr Tarintino needs to by this place, as he goes to the Vine from time to time. Clean it up and bring back the action, horror Grindhouse only with a clean picture and sound. This theatres days are numbered. It will be another night club with no parking. Like what is going into the Fox Hollywood and they tried to put into the Vogue Hollywood. The film people need to check this place out before they book the second run prints. The movie is so dim you can’t tell anything on a dark scene. Enter at your own risk. Check it out and see all what goes on before it is closed. Behind the candy counter (drinks are all carbon) you will see the old boat wheel from the Admiral days long gone. All this going on near The Broadway Hollywood fancy new condos about to open. PS If it’s hot outside in Hollywood wait till you feel the heat at the Vine. The air is not working or they won’t turn on. Take a look at the big curtains above the screen. Looked great at one time when they worked, they are the waterfall type. Now covered in so mutch dust. Go and check it out and have some fun. You won’t find another place like it in California.