Comments from Al Alvarez

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about AMC Empire 25 on Jul 22, 2008 at 7:18 am

All those huge airport-like waiting areas and the exit patterns are scrutinized by the buildings department before they issue a permit to open. The inadequate AMC exits may have been dictated by the city.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about AMC Empire 25 on Jul 20, 2008 at 7:27 am

If anything, the ‘Stairway to Heaven’ escalator at Lincoln Square is more daunting and that only has a mere thirteen screens.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Big 3D opening weekend on Jul 18, 2008 at 8:29 am

This article is a sales pitch. So people with a propensity to see JOURNEY chose 3D over 2D?

The film opened at 2811 locations. According to this article there are 1400 3D systems installed. If all the system screens were showing JOURNEY, and they probably were, then there was a 7% increment which is easily explained by 3D installations being bought for higher grossing locations anyway.

The real story here is – “In spite of the 3D gimmick audiences choose "Hancock” and “Hellboy II” over “Journey to the Center of the Earth”.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about AMC 34th Street 14 on Jul 17, 2008 at 11:16 pm

West 34th Street should be an aka here.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Palace Theater on Jul 17, 2008 at 2:05 pm

Although the address above places this theatre on 123rd street, a Paramount week ad in 1924 places another second avenue Palace at 45th street.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about RKO Shore Road Theatre on Jul 17, 2008 at 12:39 pm

On May 5, 1993, The Brooklyn Spectator published two pages of Bay Ridge movie palace memories written by Andrew Johnson and John Cocchi.

Here they are:
View link
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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about RKO Dyker Theatre on Jul 17, 2008 at 12:38 pm

On May 5, 1993, The Brooklyn Spectator published two pages of Bay Ridge movie palace memories written by Andrew Johnson and John Cocchi.

Here they are:
View link
View link
View link
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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Harbor Theatre on Jul 17, 2008 at 12:38 pm

On May 5, 1993, The Brooklyn Spectator published two pages of Bay Ridge movie palace memories written by Andrew Johnson and John Cocchi.

Here they are:
View link
View link
View link
View link

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Fortway Theatre on Jul 17, 2008 at 12:37 pm

On May 5, 1993, The Brooklyn Spectator published two pages of Bay Ridge movie palace memories written by Andrew Johnson and John Cocchi.

Here they are:
View link
View link
View link
View link

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Alpine Cinema on Jul 17, 2008 at 12:35 pm

On May 5, 1993, The Brooklyn Spectator published two pages of Bay Ridge movie palace memories written by Andrew Johnson and John Cocchi.

Here they are:
View link
View link
View link
View link

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Coral Theatre on Jul 17, 2008 at 12:22 pm

In 1971, when The Miami Herald would not accept more than a two inch by one column ad for the X-rated “A Clockwork Orange”, ABC Forida State Theatres and Warner Brothers resorted to full page ads for the soundtrack album and the publication of THE ORANGE TIMES magazine.

A cover of THE ORANGE TIMES is linked below.
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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Rialto Theatre on Jul 17, 2008 at 12:08 pm

The Rialto II in the basement appears to have operated from 1968 to the mid-seventies. Since the main Rialto never closed one has to wonder where the space came from. Perhaps it was the old restaurant/TV studio space mentioned in Jerry Korvac’s post on Aug 15, 2006?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Monroe Theatre on Jul 16, 2008 at 1:33 pm

The into address of E. 79th street should be changed to E. 76th street.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Jul 16, 2008 at 11:07 am

Warren, TESS was running in 22 Manhattan locations on December 25, 1922. It was running in 33 Manhattan locations sometime during that week. I never stated they were first runs.

Life is not an argument. Get some help, man!

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Movie-Plex 42 on Jul 16, 2008 at 10:12 am

Roxy Twin should be added as an aka here.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Liberty Theatre on Jul 16, 2008 at 10:10 am

The Museum of the City on 103rd street and Fifth Avenue has the following inscription on their exhibit about motion pictures:

“Movies started when ‘The Birth of a Nation’ opened at the Liberty Theatre in 1915.”

A bit misguiding, isn’t it?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Remembering "Die Hard" on Jul 16, 2008 at 7:44 am

Good action. Yes! Interesting special effects. Yes!
Memorable dialogue? Did we see the same movie?
Take out the F word and you practically have a silent movie.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Bridge Theatre on Jul 15, 2008 at 3:05 pm

This advertised in a 1921 Paramount Week ad as the Palace & Annex.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Palace Theater on Jul 15, 2008 at 3:03 pm

Advertised as showing movies in 1929 and 1935.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Teatro Latino on Jul 15, 2008 at 2:53 pm

There was a Grant theatre on 116th street by 1920 (listed here as Jewel). This may however been known as the Nile in 1921.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Colon Theatre on Jul 15, 2008 at 12:14 pm

For several years the Paramount Week ads featured a Schuyler Theatre at 251 West 82nd street and therefore on Broadway, not Columbus. Were there two?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Morningside Theatre on Jul 15, 2008 at 7:48 am

This was already showing movies in 1919 according to a Paramount Week ad in the NYT.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Stadium Theatre on Jul 15, 2008 at 7:42 am

A Paramount week ad from 1919 lists a Globe Theatre at 3rd Avenue and 119th St. Could this have been the Stadium?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Odeon Theatre on Jul 15, 2008 at 7:23 am

A 1919 Paramount week ad features an Avenue theatre at 145th street and 8th Avenue. Could this have been the Odeon?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Eaton Centre Cinemas on Jul 15, 2008 at 6:52 am

This theatre opened with subrun films because Odeon and Famous Players would not allow Cineplex access to first run films and Canada did not have trade regulations to stop the duopoly.

Garth Drabinski followed the early AMC policy of playing just what he could get and the theatre was still a huge success. The megaplex innovation received enough backing that he was able to finance the takeover of Odeon (hence Cineplex Odeon) and therefore access to first-runs.

The success of his Beverly Hills Cineplex also eventually led to financing to enter the U.S. market in a big way. The involvement of MCA/Universal also allowed him the deep pockets to buy up huge chains of U.S. theatres such as Plitt and RKO.