Comments from dbellis54

Showing 1 - 25 of 128 comments

dbellis54
dbellis54 commented about 1990s Cinema (1995) on Jul 26, 2026 at 6:39 pm

Larry Clark is better known as a documentary photographer with serveral exhibitions in cities like New York with many photo galleries. The Film was very controversial in its time of release. Mr. Clark is little heard of nowadays, but the actresses Rosario Dawson and Chloe Sevigny emerged from the cast of unknowns to become well-known performers.

dbellis54
dbellis54 commented about The First of the Suburban Shopping Centers with a Movie Theater (1958) 10th Anniversary on Jul 26, 2026 at 6:29 pm

The Lane Theater closed in September 1958, by the time this article was written. Over the next decades, the suburban shopping center and enclosed malls that included a movie theater became the preferred business model in Columbus, Ohio. Meanwhile, the downtown department stores and continous run movie theaters vanished over the same timeframe. Innovations like an enclosed downtown mall (City Center, opened from 1989 through March 5, 2009) and a multiplex movie theater (Arena Grand, opened from 2001 through 2017) eventually failed to attract sufficent numbers of consumers.

dbellis54
dbellis54 commented about Tom Hanks--Number One Box Office Star (1998) / 16 Weeks Run on Jul 25, 2026 at 2:08 pm

No one genre dominated the domestic box office in 1998. The number one movie was “Titanic.” Other diaster-science fiction hits were 2) “Armageddon”; 7) “Deep Impact”; 8) “Godzilla;” and 20) “The X-Files.” There were action dramas like 3)“Saving Private Ryan”; “Lethal Weapon 4”; 16) “The Mask of Zorro”; 17) “Enemy of the State”. Also, the usual comedies or some mixed with drama: 4) ‘There’s Something About Mary"; two with Adam Sandler–5) “The Waterboy”, 21) “The Wedding Singer”; 6)“Doctor Dolittle”; 9) “Rush Hour”; 10) “Good Will Hunting”; 13)“The Truman Show”; 14) “As Good as It Gets.” Lastly, the surging popularity of animated features–12) “A Bug’s Life,” “Mulan,” 18) “Antz,” and 19) “The Rugrats Movie.”

dbellis54
dbellis54 commented about Robin Williams--Number Eight Box Office Star (1988)/25 Weeks & 5 Days Run on Jul 25, 2026 at 12:53 pm

Comedies dominated the box office biggest hits in 1988. The number one hit was Who Framed Roger Rabbit; 2) Coming to America; 3) Good Morning, Vietnam; 4) Big; 5) Crocodile Dundee II; 6) Three Men and a Baby; 10) Beetlejuice; 11) A Fish Called Wanda; 16) Twins–Source: Box Office Mojo

dbellis54
dbellis54 commented about The Great Directors: Spike Lee (1992)/ Actor: Al Freeman, Jr. since the Sixties on Jul 24, 2026 at 5:21 pm

I saw “Malcolm X” at the Eastland Plaza 6 during my Thanksgiving Holiday visit to Columbus, Ohio.

dbellis54
dbellis54 commented about The Great Movie Franchises: Mad Max 2 (Called 'The Road Warrior' in the USA (1982) on Jul 24, 2026 at 1:52 pm

I was lucky to see “The Road Warrior” at a sneak preview at the Amboy Multiplex in Sayreville, New Jersey/

dbellis54
dbellis54 commented about Remodeling on Jul 21, 2026 at 9:42 pm

Was the theater rebuilt for some reason?

dbellis54
dbellis54 commented about Northern Theater on Jul 21, 2026 at 2:31 pm

Please place the Northern in its proper location, the Downtown area of Columbus zip code 43215, just on the southern edge of the Short North neighborhood (where the 670 expressway crosses N. High St.)

dbellis54
dbellis54 commented about Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Skeet Ulrich (1999) on Jul 19, 2026 at 11:34 pm

I attended a free summer concert back in the 2000s, featuring Cuba Gooding, Sr. that focused on his hits with the soul group, The Main Ingredient (“Everbody Plays the Fool,” etc.) He mentioned that Cuba Jr. had won an Academy Award (for ‘Jerry Maguire’).

dbellis54
dbellis54 commented about Free Christian Drive-In on Jul 15, 2026 at 8:25 pm

The last documented notice that I found of the Free Christian Drive-in being in operation was June 10, 2005. Source: Columbus Dispatch.

dbellis54
dbellis54 commented about College Cinema on Jul 13, 2026 at 1:50 am

The last movie running at the College appears to be “The Front” on January 31, 1977. The theater listing for the College from February 1, 1977 through December 22, 1977 only states “closed temporarily.” Source: Columbus Dispatch

dbellis54
dbellis54 commented about Cleve Theatre on Jul 12, 2026 at 11:26 pm

The last newspaper listing for the Cleve appears to be on November 21, 1964 in the Columbus Dispatch.

dbellis54
dbellis54 commented about Major Box Office Stars of the Fifties: Yul Brynner on Jul 6, 2026 at 4:06 pm

Yul Brynner also had a cultural impact in the 1960s. We used to call getting a shaven haircut, a ‘Yul Brynner.’

dbellis54
dbellis54 commented about Michigan Theatre on Jul 2, 2026 at 8:47 pm

I was fortunate to have attended some movie shows at the Michigan. It was a beautiful palace in the the 1960s. I was ‘horrified’ to learn it was turned into a parking garage.

dbellis54
dbellis54 commented about The Great Movie Franchises: Rush Hour (1998)/9 Weeks and 5 Days Run on Jun 5, 2026 at 4:39 pm

“Rush Hour” opened on September 18, 1998 at the Dublin Village 18 and closed on November 24, 1998. Source: Columbus Dispatch, Sept. 18, 1998.

dbellis54
dbellis54 commented about Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis, Jr. (1989) on Jun 4, 2026 at 5:52 pm

Suzzanne Douglas, R.I.P. (1957 - 2021)

dbellis54
dbellis54 commented about The Great Directors: Tim Burton (1993) on Jun 1, 2026 at 10:38 am

:The Night Before Christmas" had a 9 weeks and 1 day run at the Northland 8, opening on October 22, 1993 and ending on December 24, 1993.

dbellis54
dbellis54 commented about The Great Producers and Directors: Doug McHenry and George Jackson (1991) on May 30, 2026 at 11:31 pm

“House Party 2” had a 7 weeks and 2 days run at the Continent, opening on October 23, 1991 and ending on December 12, 1991.

dbellis54
dbellis54 commented about 1986 Box Office Stars: Tom Cruise--# 1 and Paul Newman--# 10 on May 30, 2026 at 1:18 am

“The Color of Money” ran for 9 weeks and 6 days at the Eastland Mall Cinema.

dbellis54
dbellis54 commented about Harrison Ford--Number Seven Box Office Star (1983) on May 27, 2026 at 12:45 am

“Return of the Jedi” had a 25 weeks and 2 day run at the Eastland Mall. The film opened on May 25, 1983 and ended on November 17, 1983.

dbellis54
dbellis54 commented about Richard Dreyfuss--Number Three Box Office Star (1978)/His Only Year on the List on May 19, 2026 at 11:32 pm

The Academy Awards that recognized films released in 1977 proved to be a landmark year for science fiction films. For the first time two science fiction films received several nominations each and the two films: ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ received nominations for Best Director. The two films competed in the same category in several cases. One case was Best Film Editing–‘Star Wars won; another, Best Sound–'Star Wars’ won; Best Visual Effects–‘Star Wars’ won; Best Music (Score)–John Williams won for ‘Star Wars’ over his score for ‘Close Encounters…’ In the competitive categories: ‘Close Encounters…’ won only one–Best Cinematography. In addition, ‘Star Wars’ was presented a Special Achievement Award for an unspecified reason; ‘Close Encounters…’ was granted a Special Achievement Award for Sound Effects Editing. It is especially impressive that these films received so many nominations since previously only three science fiction or horror films had been nominated for Best Picture. I asked AI to comment on which film ‘Star Wars’ or ‘Close Encounter of the Third Kind’ was better. AI did not make a choice but said to consider these points: 1) Cultural Impact; 2) Storytelling; 3) Visual Effects; 4) Character Development; 5) Franchise Potential; and 4) Themes. Lastly, I find it extremely interesting of the personal attachment that people have with ‘Star Wars’ characters, since these guys are not American or even from anywhere else on Earth, but live in a galaxy far…far…away!

dbellis54
dbellis54 commented about The Great Directors: Otto Preminger (1953) on May 10, 2026 at 4:50 pm

I used to walk past the Stanley Theatre often on my lunch break when the agency that I was assigned to as a field rep was located about a block away. Now, of course, I wished that I had taken photos of the Stanley, which at that time was church.

dbellis54
dbellis54 commented about Clint Eastwood--Number Three Box Office Star (1985) on May 4, 2026 at 7:50 pm

I just saw the last part of ‘Pale Rider’ over the weekend on GRIT or OUTLAW free television channel.

dbellis54
dbellis54 commented about Lee Marvin--Number Two Box Office Star (1967) on May 4, 2026 at 12:59 am

The film ran for three weeks.

dbellis54
dbellis54 commented about The Great Directors: Bong Joon-Ho (2014) on Apr 29, 2026 at 9:38 pm

Bong Joon-Ho directed ‘Snowpiercer,’ a science fiction flick. Source: Columbus Dispatch, July 12, 2014