Comments from Al Alvarez

Showing 1,476 - 1,500 of 3,462 comments

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's Yorkville Theatre on Mar 16, 2010 at 12:20 pm

It was directly across the street from the other two Loews, between Third and Lexington.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rialto Theatre on Mar 14, 2010 at 9:59 am

From the post above, the Dead End Kids fit the policy:

42nd Street Memories * Jerry Kovar on Aug 15, 2006 at 5:52am

  • Copyright 2006 The New York Times Company

“The Rialto opened for Christmas of 1935 with Frank Buck’s ‘'Fang and Claw.’‘ The theater’s manager, Arthur Mayer, saw the Rialto as distinctly masculine in tone. Most theaters, he said in a newspaper interview after the opening, were ’‘rococo, luxurious palaces for the uxorious,’‘ both in styling and choice of films. His theater, both in styling and presentations, sought to satisfy the ’‘ancient and unquenchable male thirst for mystery, menace and manslaughter.’‘ He was soon called the ’‘merchant of menace.’”

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cross County 8 on Mar 14, 2010 at 9:55 am

It was the UA four-plex that opened within months of the Cross County. The much newer UA Village Green really hurt the dog-eared older AMC Cross County when it opened as it attracted the younger suburban westward neighborhoods.

As usual, arrogant egocentric AMC blamed the managers for the drop in business.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Colony Theatre on Mar 12, 2010 at 6:29 am

Still listed as a Trans-Lux theatre in the 1959 Film Daily Yearbook.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Roosevelt Theatre on Mar 12, 2010 at 6:24 am

During its Cinerama stage this was operated by the Stanley Warner Cinerama Corp.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Hialeah Theatre on Mar 12, 2010 at 5:38 am

Interesting find, Harvey. I don’t remember, but apparently it was the case, even if short lived. Opa-Locka was always Aladdin’s historic turf so I guess this was close enough.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Times Theatre on Mar 11, 2010 at 5:17 pm

Still listed in the 1959 Film Daily Yearbook as a J.J. Theatre, as is the Tivoli.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cross County 8 on Mar 11, 2010 at 3:25 pm

I managed this theatre for a few months around 1987-1988. It was haven for the Century Village crowd in a tacky mall. We did have fun when “School Daze” opened and a hip black crowd showed up and danced to “Doin' the Bump” at every performance.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Harlem Opera House on Mar 11, 2010 at 2:54 pm

Still listed as open in the 1959 Film Daily Yearbook and operated by Leo Brecher.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's 86th Street Theatre on Mar 11, 2010 at 2:47 pm

Checkout the Loew’s Yorkville page for more details on the theatre Loew’s on this block.

/theaters/12586/

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's 86th Street Theatre on Mar 11, 2010 at 2:42 pm

The 1959 Film Daily Yearbook lists a Brandt 86th Street. If this was the only Brandt on 86th Street then it was open that late.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Stanley Theatre on Mar 11, 2010 at 8:02 am

Mark Rivest has the only photo I have seen of the Stanley marquee. Check page 63 of his Manhattan collection.

http://movie-theatre.org/usa/ny/NYC/readmanhattan

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Metro Twin on Mar 10, 2010 at 5:23 pm

There is some wrong information about this theatre above.

It went from being the Midtown 99th Street porno house to the Metro Cinema in late 1982, a Talbot run repertory house.

It was restored and became the Metro Twin in 1986 while still one of Talbot’s New Yorker theatres, but having already gone mainstream first-run for several years with occasional quirky titles.

In 1987 Cineplex Odeon took over, re-did the lobby in faux marble, and re-opened with similar programming.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Essex Theatre on Mar 10, 2010 at 2:20 pm

How about “Stiletto” or if you saw them in 1972, “Carnal Knowledge”.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Essex Theatre on Mar 10, 2010 at 10:11 am

This was still open in 1994.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Eldorado Theatre on Mar 10, 2010 at 9:16 am

The story above about bed sheets and funeral chairs is repeated in the movie “The Brothers Warners” as urban legend on how the Warner Brothers started their exhibition business. I suspect it is all fabrication.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Apollo Theatre on Mar 10, 2010 at 8:00 am

Does anyone know the last year it showed movies?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Bijou Cinema on Mar 9, 2010 at 4:53 pm

The First Film Forum was at 256 west 88th Street. I am not sure when they had screenings here although I do not doubt they probably did.

http://www.filmforum.org/mission.html

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Juliet I & II on Mar 9, 2010 at 4:18 pm

The Juliet 1 & 2 opened in late December 1970 with “The Aristocats” and closed in June 1976.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Beekman Theatre on Mar 9, 2010 at 2:58 pm

Loew’s New York Twin opened on March 2, 1979 With “Norma Rae” and “Fast Break”.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Manhattan Theatre on Mar 9, 2010 at 2:17 pm

If this was closest movie theatre to the El train station then it was already there by 1915.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about United Artists 64th & 2nd Avenue on Mar 9, 2010 at 10:05 am

Opened as the Columbia 1 & 2 in October 1971.

Became the Gemini 1 & 2 in July 1978.

Became the Gemini 1, 2 & 3 in June 1996.

Became the 64th & 2nd 1, 2 & 3 in October 1996.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Lincoln Plaza Cinemas on Mar 9, 2010 at 8:42 am

This opened on April 8, 1981 with Fellini’s “City Of Women”.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about New Plaza Cinema on Mar 9, 2010 at 8:04 am

The introduction implies that Clearview had to divest of some locations during the Loews takeover of Cineplex Odeon. In actuality, Loews had to divest of some of its locations, allowing Clearview to take over this one.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Embassy 1,2,3 Theatre on Mar 9, 2010 at 7:18 am

Another Mayfair Theatre operated in the early seventies at 235 West 46th street in the Paramount Hotel. It alternated between Vaudeville, plays, and films. The film programs were mainly in Yiddish or with Jewish appeal and the theatre may have been operated by remnants of the old White Rats Vaudeville Union.

Does anyone know anything else about it?