http://www.michtheater.org/images/slideshow/today01.jpghttp://www.michtheater.org/images/slideshow/today03.jpghttp://www.michtheater.org/images/slideshow/today06.jpg

Get comfy at these classic movie theaters (http://cityguides.msn.com/citylife/article.aspx?cp-documentid=10085052&gt1=24000)

An interesting article in the link above. Ann Arbor has preserved the Michigan Theater with it's ornate ticket booth, gold leaf ceilings and a working Barton Organ. Small in scale to some of the grand palaces across America, but wondered what memories you've had from classic theaters where you grew up, or around you now. I'd be interested in hearing your stories.

The Westmont in Haddon TWP, NJ.

http://www.haddontwphistoricalsociety.org/hths--photos--westmonttheatre.htm

I had one my most memorable moive-going experiences there. It was sometime in late 1973 or early 1974 during the first run of The Exorcist. I remember my sister and her boyfriend coming home from seeing it and my sister was TOTALLY spooked. She had nightmares for a week. Her boyfriend was a buddy of mine and neither one of them could stay for the whole show. I remember thinking "I HAVE to go see this."

About a week later, we had a snow day from school. It was one of those days that by 10:00am all the roads are clear and it's a fine winter day. My mother (who worked at the school) and had read the book, says to me "Let's go to a movie...you drive, I'll buy" because she didn't drive.

So we go to the Westmont. Big old theater with the balcony and the big red velvet curtain, closed. NO house music, no coming attractions, nothing, just the buzz of a full house. Then the lights dim, the curtains open to that black screen with the red lettering...THE EXORCIST. I remember thinking...."come on baby, scare me!" One of the greatest movie experiences of my life.

In contrast, the next year I go away to a small city college and in the fall the Exorcist is just getting to town. So I convince a bunch of kids who haven't seen it to go. THIS theater not only runs all the pre-show commercials, etc, but they show coming attractions of....Blazing Saddles! Needless to say, the experience was not the same.

This is a pretty good site for theater research.

http://cinematreasures.org/


This was my "growing up" theater until I had wheels. Then the drive-ins around town were where I had my most memorable experiences.

http://cinematreasures.org/images/photos/2776.jpg

http://cinematreasures.org/theater/2776/

http://www.michtheater.org/images/slideshow/today01.jpghttp://www.michtheater.org/images/slideshow/today03.jpghttp://www.michtheater.org/images/slideshow/today06.jpg

Get comfy at these classic movie theaters (http://cityguides.msn.com/citylife/article.aspx?cp-documentid=10085052&gt1=24000)

An interesting article in the link above. Ann Arbor has preserved the Michigan Theater with it's ornate ticket booth, gold leaf ceilings and a working Barton Organ. Small in scale to some of the grand palaces across America, but wondered what memories you've had from classic theaters where you grew up, or around you now. I'd be interested in hearing your stories.





Been there!
Beautiful theater. I happened to see Metropolis there a few years back.

This theater is in my home town of Jackson MI.
It is still a restoration project in progress. I had some great memories from here. :)


http://www.michigantheatre.org/slideshow1/1.jpg

http://www.michigantheatre.org/slideshow1/20.jpg

http://www.michigantheatre.org/slideshow1/21.jpg

Man they just don't make them like this anymore... :(

http://www.senator.com/

A very cool place that is semi local to me. I've been to see quite a few flicks here. It's the best theater in the DC area to go to. When they did the re-release for the "Wizard of Oz" it was like going back in time seeing it there. They have a really cool walk of fame with movie posters painted into the sidewalks. It was built in 1939 and has been updated with state of the art sound and projection equipment.

It's THE place to go for a blockbuster flick. The auditorium has over 900 seats and a really cool Rotunda lobby. The other cool feature is their pop corn. Real butter on the pop corn and it's delicious! Man, I think I need to go see a flick out that way again soon.

Guys,

Nice examples! After the renovation at the Michigan, they would recreate the aura of the Movie house experience with The Barton Organ pre-show entertainment. The organ would appear up through the stage floor and then dissappear at the end of the performance. Very cool.

What The Michigan does well these days is being a venue for live performances. Good acoustics, good line of site, shows feel intimate.

I saw Stevie Ray Vaughan back in the spring of 1990 at the Michigan and thought it was one his better sounding shows. I remember it gave me chills just watching him.