Comments from Al Alvarez

Showing 1,451 - 1,475 of 3,462 comments

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about New Amsterdam Theatre on May 4, 2010 at 6:25 pm

LuisV, if that was true then the Empire would not consistently outgross the Ziegfeld which is just off the beaten-path. Every other theatre on Broadway or on Seventh Avenue that day and dated with the Ziegfeld outgrossed it. Move-overs from the Ziegfeld and Radio City Music Hall often picked up.

If location didn’t matter there would be no theatre district in Manhattan.

By the way, the lowest grossing musical on Broadway is HAIR at the Hirshfeld, on the wrong side of Eighth Avenue.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about New Amsterdam Theatre on May 4, 2010 at 3:49 pm

Bill, although it just opened it already has the second lowest attendance percentage for a musical on Broadway. The Tony nomination could help but so could getting out of the Nederlander.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about AMC Empire 25 on May 3, 2010 at 12:15 pm

Justin, I don’t think any theatres were evacuated, not even legitimate theatres on the block where the attempt occurred.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Hialeah Theatre on Apr 30, 2010 at 9:23 am

The 1975 Miami News lists a Windsor Theatre. Does anyone know where that might have been?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Small cinemas buck the multiplex trend in offshore places in SW Florida on Apr 28, 2010 at 3:34 pm

75% of this island’s population is over 45 and 40% is over 65 years old. The median age is 60. It doesn’t take much to surmise they haven’t bought DVD players yet. Those are not good popcorn numbers.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Regal Times Square on Apr 27, 2010 at 7:30 pm

Why is digital “exciting”?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Apr 24, 2010 at 5:35 pm

Most Clearview Theatres were built by someone else, in this case Walter Reade. The Ziegfeld is like no other theatre and was described as having “New Orleans whorehouse decor” when it first opened. When the red velvet started to fade the theatre started looking classier.

“Ryan’s Daughter” holds the long run record.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Remembering Cinerama (Part 48: Orlando) on Apr 24, 2010 at 12:23 am

Cool stuff!

Remember that pre-Disney World Orlando was a pretty slow town.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Future Kinopanorama Cinema in Australia on Apr 23, 2010 at 9:03 am

I think this is Russian Cinerama, not Drive-In movies.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Davie Boulevard Drive-In on Apr 22, 2010 at 2:43 pm

This was already open in 1955.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Lauderhill Mall Cinemas 1 & 2 on Apr 18, 2010 at 8:16 pm

S Porridge, I checked The Miami News for April 1972 it appears that the second Lauderhill opened the same week as the transfer from Loews to GCC. I suspect it took a while to change all the signs but I don’t think there was ever a case where each company ran one of the sites. The 16th Street Lauderhill opened as the Lauderhill II.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Lauderhill Mall Cinemas 1 & 2 on Apr 18, 2010 at 2:31 pm

This should be listed as the Lauderhill and not Loews Lauderhill as it was only a Loews theatre for five years before it was sold to GCC.

It was located in the city of Lauderhill, not Fort Lauderdale, and it was already a GCC house when they opened the 16th Street Lauderhill location nearby.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about City Council approves financing for IMAX screen at Wichita area theater on Apr 13, 2010 at 8:36 pm

So taxes that would normally go to build schools or fix roads will be used to create a profit-making commercial venue that will compete with struggling local theatres. I wonder how many crooked Wichita politicians they had to buy in order to get public funds passed on to a private enterprise?

I see that Bush-era economic abuse is still alive and well in the Midwest.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Lafayette Theatre on Apr 11, 2010 at 3:12 pm

“The Graduate” was labeled a comedy by its studio in 1968 when it won the Golden Globe in that category.

It is silly to argue the point based on 2010 values. “The Graduate” is a satire of the ridiculous values of the ‘older’ generation made for 17 year old movie-goers who thought that being seduced by your girlfriend’s mother and being told to dedicate your life to making “plastics” was the height of absurdity.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about AMC Lincoln Square 13 on Apr 10, 2010 at 10:17 am

The Lincoln Square only has the real IMAX. “Alice In Wonderland” shows at midnight only.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Could the 3D fad die like it did during the 50's? on Apr 5, 2010 at 10:26 am

Already 3D is becoming a gimmick to attract American kids to theatres and to prop up a stinker like “CLASH OF THE TITANS”. That is exactly what killed 3D the last two times when the US was still the major market.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Could the 3D fad die like it did during the 50's? on Apr 5, 2010 at 8:53 am

I am not so sure “AVATAR” will be able to save 3D. It is the highest grossing film of the year in both 3D and non-3D markets. The same cannot be said of other 3D titles and the US boxoffice does not drive technology changes anymore. China and India do.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Bunche Theatre on Mar 31, 2010 at 11:36 pm

2299 W. Bunche Park Drive places it where it should have been located.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Sony studio head asks for healthier food concessions at theaters on Mar 25, 2010 at 3:58 pm

Try selling healthy snacks at an indulgence activity like the movies and get prepared to throw away much more than you sell.

Perhaps Mr. Lynton expects kids to eat yogurt and fruit while watching the behavioral examples set by his studio with movies like “PAUL BLART: MALL COP” and “CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS”.

Hypocrite.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Southland Cinema on Mar 24, 2010 at 8:26 am

Jeff, the two theatres you mention are the Biscayne Twin and the Holiday. The Holiday was a successful dollar house for many years.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Capitol Theater on Mar 24, 2010 at 12:15 am

Was that Regal Brewery the one next to Booker T. Washington High (later Junior) High? If so, I remember it well when I went to school there during the first year of integration. A sour smell fill the air all day long at the school.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Tower Theater on Mar 22, 2010 at 4:41 pm

“Gallos” are roosters, Spanish slang for the term “Boys Don’t Cry”.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Tower Theater on Mar 22, 2010 at 3:07 pm

Joe, that thirties remodel was strictly cosmetic. Wometco took it over and made it look more contemporary with Art Deco touches.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's Yorkville Theatre on Mar 22, 2010 at 3:03 pm

As far as I can tell, the Yorkville ran German operettas and legit shows after the Loews days, but not movies.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Another cell phone "innovation:" a movie that calls you on Mar 21, 2010 at 10:14 pm

What? Who is this? I can’t hear. Yes, I am the screenwriter. There must be a bad connection. Call me back and I’ll tell ya, okay? No, he didn’t do it. What? I can’t hear you. It was the other guy. Yeah, forewing…Fuuushowwoing, F-O-R-E-S-H-O-W-I-N-G…FORESHADOWING! What do you mean what is that?

Is this really the future of the movies?