Comments on: Celebrating Great Old Movie Houses

By: Leon

Leon — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 06:26:51 +0000

I’m about to make a home theater in my home and want to take ideas from some of the old movie theaters I use to go to in New York city back in the 60′s. I remember them being beautiful, large and cozy. If you went at night the bright lights under the marquees generater excitment. Once you walked into the theater they was a quietness/hush type of feeling and no one talked loud, it made you want to talk just above a whisper. After finding more site like this I should be able to get some great ideas for my home theater and create the same ambiance.

By: AIMALAC

AIMALAC — Thu, 08 May 2008 08:31:34 +0000

I can remember the long lines of people waiting to get in to see a
showing of the original "Star Wars" and also the crowds that
waited for the regular features to finish on a late Friday and/or
Saturday night so they could attend the special Midnight showings of
" The Rocky Horror Picture Show" all dressed in their favorite
characters and everyone enjoying everyone elses company because they all
shared a common interest.

By: Medusa

Medusa — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:38:48 +0000

Hi Vincent!Thanks for the memories and the links to your
tremendous Hollywood blog, which is truly terrific! Can't wait
to spend more time there reading all your past material!
I'm going to have to take that walking tour next time I'm
in L.A. — I know I was at ONE of those theatres several years ago for a
taping or something…gosh, I can hardly remember — need to jog my
neurons a bit! Thanks again for your great
comments!- m

By: Vincent

Vincent — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:17:58 +0000

This brings back fond memories for me, specifically of growing up in
Syracuse, N.Y., in the 1960s. Downtown had several moviehouses — the
Eckel on East Fayette Street (where "2001" premiered
locally), the RKO Keith's and Paramount (both demolished in the
late '60s for a department store chain that itself ultimately
went belly-up), and just north of them on South Salina Street, the
Loew's, a showplace that's still around today, hosting live
performances as the Landmark Theater (though it apparently could
use some upkeep).Not long ago, I did an entry at my classic
Hollywood blog, "Carole & Co.", on some of the great movie
palaces of downtown Los Angeles, many of which are still in use or in
the process of being revitalized. Find it at
http://community.livejournal.com/carole_and_co/71388.html.I've
done a few other theater-related entries as well, including a look at
theaters in Morristown, N.J., and Salt Lake City that both opened
at about the same time, but with different Carole Lombard pictures
(http://community.livejournal.com/carole_and_co/62148.html) and on the
famed Brooklyn Paramount
(http://community.livejournal.com/carole_and_co/43015.html).

By: Medusa

Medusa — Wed, 07 May 2008 12:52:40 +0000

Great memories, everyone!And Peter, I do slightly remember
streetcars — don't remember ever riding on one as a child
unfortunately — but do remember being slightly spooked by the whole
rail thing on the street. I recall them particularly as connected
with the times we would go to a nearby city to see movies.Thank
goodness we have photographs to help us remember things that would
ordinarily only survive in the mind's eye!– m

By: Peter Nellhaus

Peter Nellhaus — Wed, 07 May 2008 05:01:42 +0000

I was browsing in a bookstore and noticed a book about streetcars
(remember those?). The cover was not only shot in Denver back when
they had streetcars, but was shot on Colfax Avenue where the Ogden
Theater stands. The Ogden now is a live music venue, but this
photo was taken around 1949 or 1950. The theater marquee clearly
reads Glenn Ford and Janet Leigh in "Doctor and the Girl".

By: john

john — Tue, 06 May 2008 21:00:14 +0000

i have nothing but the fondest memory of the first run movie houses in
downtown washington, d.c. i spent many a saturday afternoon a t the
lowes capitol(with stageshow) and the palace and the warner and
columbia. the capitol was magnificent with a huge staircase, red velvet
wallpaper, two balconies, marble water fountain .for 35 cents (circa
1943-45) you could see the stars while sitting in the lap of luxury.
what i would give to be back there in that golden time! they are all
gone now except for the warner which now does plays. i salute the old
movie palaces their times will never come again, but they will always
have a place in the hearts of those who were there!

By: mel morris

mel morris — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:34:09 +0000

melly (vancouver Island)Great article, great stories.I
still have fond memories growing up in 40's and 50's England,
and standing in long line-ups outside wonderful old 'picture
houses' waiting to get in to see the movie. In those days movie
goers were admitted during the movie, not at the start or finish, (now
it seems so foolish that you would enter half-way through the movie, and
leave when you arrived back at the part you entered. There was no such
thing as buying your ticket in advance.So I still remember the
familiar cry of the theatre usher calling out to the line-up, "I
have two seats in upper balcony, or a single in the back of the
lower".There would be cries of joy or disappointment as the lines
shuffled forward, it was not uncommon to wait two or three hours.

By: Josem

Josem — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:49:36 +0000

I have so many fond memories of the old movie theaters in San Juan,
Puerto Rico. Many of them were torn, a few remain as live theater venues
and only one (the Metro) is still a movie theater. There was nothing
like the experience of standing in line outside a movie theater on a
Saturday afternoon, looking at the lobby cards and wondering how the
movie was going to be like.