Favorite Theatre Going Memories: Please Share Your Thoughts

[silentstar5]

Hello Nitratevillians,

I would like to learn about your favorite theatre going memories. I live in Toronto but all of my memorable experiences have been in Los Angeles. Grauman's Egyptian theatre is where our Cinecon films are shown. Many happy memories there. Watching The Eagle with Kevin Brownlow in attendance. Watching The Band Wagon with Nannete Fabray in attendance. Being there at other times of the year for a Three Stooges festival. Nyck, nyck, nyck.
The Silent Movie Theatre is my other shrine in LA. One evening years ago I was there for a special screening of Metropolis. Forrest J. Ackerman provided the introduction, Bob Mitchell played the organ and a fellow played the theremin. A great time. Even took Mr. Ackermman up on his offer to visit the Ackermansion the following visit.
One Christmas Bob Mitchell and members of his boychoir were present for a screening of The Bishop's Wife. The boychoir appeared in the film. An only in LA type of experience.
I met Laurence Austin there three weeks to the day before his murder. I recall with fondness the pomp and circumstance opening to the evening and the gold curtain. I saw It's A Wonderful Life there as if I was seeing it for the first time. I had never seen it with an audience.
I recall going to the Demille barn (Hollywood Heritage) over 20 years ago to see a screening of the silent French epic L'Argent starring Brigitte Helm. It was my first trip to LA as an adult and such a unique experience to see a classic film in an historic venue. Needless to say that LA has been very good to me.
I am looking forward to hearing about your experiences in cities all over the world.
Regards,
Robert

[Jim Reid]

I've got many great memories of visits to theaters. The last three Cinecons have been wonderful. Seeing Wings and The Kid Brother at the Lakewood Theater in Dallas. Being the only person to buy a ticket and see Star Wars in Grauman's Chinese one afternoon in 1977. My favorite has to be at the Glen Lakes Theater in Dallas in 1992. Attending the USA Film Festival and seeing two sessions of Roach shorts, sound and silent, with Hal Roach and Spanky McFarland in attendance. They would both be gone in six months.

[Richard P. May]

I guess I'd have to choose the 50th anniversary premiere of GONE WITH THE WIND at the Radio City Music Hall.
At the time, I was VP of Film Preservation for Turner Entertainment Co., which owned the MGM pre-1986 library. We did a full preservation from the original Technicolor negatives (YCM Laboratory did the technical work, Chace Productions did the sound).
The late Mark Felton, who was program manager at the Music Hall, approached us to run the film there. Three showings were booked in January 1989.
Unhappily, Mr. Felton died a couple of months before that.
The first show, in the evening, had a full house of over 5000 people.
It was introduced by the Museum of Modern Art's film curator, Mary Lea Bandy, Turner president Roger Mayer, and L.A. County Museum film head, and Selznick expert Ron Haver. Butterfly McQueen appeared, and recited a poem she had written.
I'm always impressed by the main title of this movie, and the applause it gets from an audience.
All three shows (two evenings and one matinee) were sold out, and it was necessary to use a nearby smaller theater to handle overflow.
Such showings don't happen very often.

[Mike Gebert]

Wichita, where I grew up, hadn't torn down all its movie palaces by the time I was going to movies-- though I saw one of the last shows, I think Snow White or Sleeping Beauty, at what everyone considered the most beautiful of them, the Miller. It was torn down soon after (1972, a site says) but there is at least good news that after years of the usual indignities (porn and so on) its companion the Orpheum is a performing arts venue. Duke Ellington performed there in the early days... but was denied lunch at the Orpheum lunch counter. My best memory of it, however, is House of Wax in 3-D in the early 70s.

Those were downtown houses, but the one that was our neighborhood theater was the Crest. It was no palace, but it did have some Streamline Moderne flair and WPA-esque murals of Wichita's agricultural and industrial might which I loved dearly. I saw millions of Disney comedies there in my childhood, but probably the most meaningful show was that one time, when I was about 12, they had a triple bill of Animal Crackers, Monkey Business and My Little Chickadee. Ever after, if I met someone interested in film, I could say to them, do you remember the time that the Crest showed Animal Cra--

At that point they'd cut me off and recite the entire bill just as I remembered it, and I'd know I'd found a true film buff here in the vast open prairies.

P.S. My mom says that the Orpheum is absolutely gorgeous now. She also said that when they restored the bathrooms, they had a flushing party for benefactors.

[Gumlegs]

P.S. My mom says that the Orpheum is absolutely gorgeous now. She also said that when they restored the bathrooms, they had a flushing party for benefactors.

Wouldn't the benefactors be the last people you'd want to flush?

I have fond memories of the Granada theater in South Bend, Indiana. It was an atmospheric, and as late as the early seventies, they were still using the passing clouds effect on the ceiling. The back wall of the theater was visible from another street, and it had an enormous painting of Nipper, the Victor dog, with the slogan, "For the finest in sound and talking motion pictures ... RCA Photophone."

I was told by someone who worked there that the projection booth had a sign that reminded, "The last person leaving, please turn off the stars."

[Danny Burk]

P.S. My mom says that the Orpheum is absolutely gorgeous now. She also said that when they restored the bathrooms, they had a flushing party for benefactors.

Wouldn't the benefactors be the last people you'd want to flush?

I have fond memories of the Granada theater in South Bend, Indiana. It was an atmospheric, and as late as the early seventies, they were still using the passing clouds effect on the ceiling. The back wall of the theater was visible from another street, and it had an enormous painting of Nipper, the Victor dog, with the slogan, "For the finest in sound and talking motion pictures ... RCA Photophone."

I was told by someone who worked there that the projection booth had a sign that reminded, "The last person leaving, please turn off the stars."

Hey, are you in South Bend too? I also remember the Granada. What a shame that it's gone.

[drednm]

I was probably 7 or 8 in the mid-50s. On a visit to Worcester, MA to visit grandparents I went to the Loew's Poli theater (also called The Palace). I don't recall the film but I remember the theater since it was huge, plush, and quite grand. I'm from Camden, ME.

Apparently Loew had a string of theater around New England. What I remember most was the deep red/maroon plush fabric, gold trimmings, the huge chandeliers, and the curtain that actually parted as the film began.

Compared to theaters in Boston or New York, I'm sure this was small potatoes, but compared to our local theater (in Rockland), this was indeed palatial. I still have no idea, however, was a POLI is....

[Harlett O'Dowd]

Lots of memories of the Atlanta Fox. It works particularly well for BIG films and some films I find moderately enjoyable (Oklahoma! in Todd-AO, Dr. Zhivago, etc.) played amazingly well with a beautiful print and full house. Other big films that were a treat to see there were The Lord of The Rings trilogy in a 30-hour span and a screening of The Best Years of Our Lives to commemorate the 50th anniversary of VJ Day. As mentioned on another thread, being at the Fox for EVS's The Merry Widow when TCM recorded the organ score for broadcast was a dream come true.

But the champ is still GWTW, which the Fox screens every other year or so, with the 50th Anniversary "re-premiere" with (then) every surviving cast member minus Miss Olivia in attendance as the first and best experience of the lot. Truly magical.

Until we were kicked out of Piedmont Park, TCM's "Screen on the Green" series were a hoot. There's nothing better than sitting out under the stars with 15000 of your closest friends drinking, eating and watching an old favorite. Musicals, comedies, camp and Hitchcock played very well and I celebrated one memorable birthday watching Mommie Dearest. Sadly, the festive atmosphere killed more serious fare, like Casablanca. But the annual event was fun while it lasted. A lawn screening of Cinema Paradiso at the High Museum was sublime.

For the west coast, several previously rhapsodized Cinecon memories abound, including my one and only trip to the Chinese and the few pieces of nitrate I've been lucky enough to see.

The SF Castro is also a treat. The 2000 Metropolis restoration played like gangbusters there (and the Atlanta Fox too.)

But perhaps my favorite movie-going memory also involves the Castro. Well over 15 years ago they screened Fantasia. One imagines that the parents of the little girl down front had prepped the youngster that, while it was a Disney cartoon, it was not really a comedy and that the classical (serious) music they would be hearing was the real star of the show.

That was all well and good. Until we got to "The Dance of the Hours." Specifically until we go to the moment when the tutu-wearing, pointe-dance hippo takes a running leap and squashes the poor skinny crocodile who is to catch her.

Naturally, everyone in the audience laughed heartily.

Then a small, indignant little voice down front yelled "It's NOT funny!"

And the entire audience fell apart.

[rudyfan]

Until we were kicked out of Piedmont Park, TCM's "Screen on the Green" series were a hoot. There's nothing better than sitting out under the stars with 15000 of your closest friends drinking, eating and watching an old favorite. Musicals, comedies, camp and Hitchcock played very well and I celebrated one memorable birthday watching Mommie Dearest. Sadly, the festive atmosphere killed more serious fare, like Casablanca. But the annual event was fun while it lasted. A lawn screening of Cinema Paradiso at the High Museum was sublime.

Your Fantasia story reminds me of another classic Castro moment which happened to be a screening of Mommie Dearest. I can't remember the exact part of the film, but Faye (Joan) was going psycho over something Cristina did, a tense moment, to be sure. A voice called out from the balcony at the height of the drama, "Oh My God! Look at that couch!!!!" and the entire theater errupted into gales of laughter. Does not translate well, but in person, it was one of the single funniest moments in a movie theater, ever.

[Mike Gebert]

Well, on the subject of local humor, I saw The Seven-Year Itch at the university film society, a fairly full house, and there comes the moment when Tom Ewell imagines that Krahulik, the ape-like super, is actually spying on him, and Krahulik says "That's right! I'm a private detective and my real name is Johnny Darr!"

And the house erupted in laughter for five minutes.

Okay, so why was that funny?

http://www.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriff/sheriffs.htm
#3 in top row

[Shorty]

The Mayfair Theatre in Asbury Park, saw first-run MAD WORLD (roadshow beauty, I remember every uncut minute of it) MY FAIR LADY, SHENANDOAH, HTWWW, LAWRENCE OF ARABIA , MAGNIFICENT MEN, and others - The Paramount, St. James & Lyric Theares, also in Asbury boasted of more films, but Mayfair was ornate, resplendent of old movie palaces with cherubims painted amidst blue skies and white clouds atop the scrim, carved and chiesled features throughout, plush carpeting, men dressed in colorful uniforms, and popcorn that truly had a churning butter mechanism going round and round, making it hot, fresh and wonderful - For a kid, it was pocket change those days for admission - I hope that building is still there at least, wonderful memories - Shorty

[Michael O'Regan]

The ORMONDE CINEMA, Cobh, Co. Cork, Ireland - my hometown. It's where my love affair with cinema began. My first ever visit to a cinema was LADY AND THE TRAMP with my Dad sometime in the late 60's.
There, I saw Christopher Lee in DRACULA, all the early BONDS, many old movies such as GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN, which showed up on the bottom half of double bills with the newer Hammer Films.

I became a projectionist there in 1979 for 5 years while going to college. Nice job, except when PORKY'S and the like was in town for two weeks.

Nothing as grand as some of your theatres but, to me, wonderful memories, which flood back any time I'm in a darkened room with a screen full of silver.

It has now made way for an apartment building!!!

[Gumlegs]

Hey, are you in South Bend too? I also remember the Granada. What a shame that it's gone.

I've visited from time to time, but I don't live there. South Bend was enduring hard times when I was there, and it looks as though things are rough again. Too bad, really. It had/has its very interesting points.

Do you remember The Philadelphia?

[Gumlegs]

I still have no idea, however, was a POLI is....

I can help with that!

Sylvester Poli operated a circuit of vaudeville theaters in New England. He was famous for waiting until acts had no offers, and then booking them on the cheap. Vaudevillians didn't hold this against him, apparently.

Aside from Wooster, he had theaters in Hartford, Waterbury, Meriden, and New Haven CT; Scranton and Wilkes Barre, PA; and Springfield, MA.

[Danny Burk]

Hey, are you in South Bend too? I also remember the Granada. What a shame that it's gone.

I've visited from time to time, but I don't live there. South Bend was enduring hard times when I was there, and it looks as though things are rough again. Too bad, really. It had/has its very interesting points.

Do you remember The Philadelphia?

Yes I do. It's actually still in business; it's moved several times, and is currently in Granger (the main shopping district for the area).

[drednm]

Aside from Wooster, he had theaters in Hartford, Waterbury, Meriden, and New Haven CT; Scranton and Wilkes Barre, PA; and Springfield, MA.

It's Worcester.... Wooster is in Ohio

I never heard of this Poli guy... thanks for the info. Marcus Loew started his theater chain in 1904 in Cincinnati...

[R Michael Pyle]

Two experiences stick in my memory more than others:

1) When Abel Gance's "Napoleon" (1927) was restored, we had here in Indianapolis a showing with the tryptich screens and a live (Indianapolis Symphony) orchestra playing Carmine Coppola's score. It was riveting!!

2) I went to a showing of the "restoration" (the ending is/was stills) of "Queen Kelly" (1929). "Sadie Thompson" was also shown. What made the evening incredibly memorable was that Gloria Swanson was there and did commentary - sometimes right in the middle of a scene, too! Afterwards, she talked for a considerable amount of time and answered questions from the audience. When all that was over, I went back to see if I could meet her. I did. She was incredibly kind. She was also amazingly tiny!! About 5 feet, if that. She was an older lady - probably nearly 80 at the time, but she still had that face. Great evening. I forget - unfortunately, Rodney! - who the accompaniest was that evening, but he was very well known. I had earlier seen Philip Carli do some accompaniment to Chaplins in the same theater, and it may have been him, but I don't remember anymore.

[greta de groat]

while reading this thread, a few memories have floated to the top:

A free screening at the PFA of Sadie Thompson with James Card, to dramatize the necessity for film preservation. This was before they patched together something to finish of the film, so it just ended when Lionel was sneaking up on Gloria. Then everyone groaned and the lights came up. Someone did have to ask how it ended!

The first movie i took my husband to was a screening of Dancing Mothers paired with Sex Life of a Polyp. It was in some upstairs warehouse right after a performance of the Flying Karamazov Brothers, so we helped them clean up the chairs.

A few months later, i think, we were blown away by a screening of Terje Vigen at PFA. Crystal clear print, great dramatic story. Have a lot of great memories of PFA--a nitrate print of Sunrise, a hilariously awful double bill of Salt for Svanetia and A Nail in the Boot, the wonderful multi-day serial La Maison du Mystère, the whole Italian Diva series, a grimly silent presentation of The Cossacks followed by an academic panel that had my husband and i poking each other in the ribs and stifling giggles. Crashing a Russian class there when they were showing Solaris, and hours into the film one character said "Have you been here a long time?" and someone in the audience said "Da" and everyone started laughing. We've spent a lot of happy years there.

More recently at the Castro in San Francisco, there was a memorable screening of Peter Pan, where when Peter exhorted us to clap if we believed in fairies, the whole house erupted in laughter and applause. It was both funny and heartwarming. The Castro is is really a wonderful place.

I found it absolutely thrilling to watch films on the Steenbeck at the Library of Congress. I couldn't believe they'd just hand me some gloves and a reel of film and let me have at it.

Really enjoyed the Ronald Colman series at the Stanford Theater as well. I hadn't seen him in so long i'd taken him for granted. Not any more.

greta

[missdupont]

Two stories come to mind:

I was in Pordenone in 2004 and THE COTTAGE ON DARTMOOR (wonderful film) was showing. Stephen Horne won the admiration of the audience early on with applause for his accompaniment while the couple attends a silent movie and a huge ovation at the end. During the silent movie sequence, one man in the audience snored loudly on cue as a man snored onscreen. It drew a huge laugh, and he stayed sleeping!

Another memorable experience was at Cinecon in 2008 I believe when Bob Mitchell accompanied DOROTHY VERNON OF HADDON HALL and received a great response at the end, he was interviewed, and then he took questions from the audience.

J'ACCUSE received a great response in December at the SF Film Festival, and the enrapt audience attention for the last 15 minutes made it even more touching and dramatic.