Saturday Night at the Movies

Besides the weather, there is one thing that Los Angeles does infinitely better than New York. That's the preservation of classic movie theater palaces.

At one time, back in the 1940s and 1950s, New York was the place to be when you wanted to head out to the movies. In Manhattan, you could find over a dozen single screen theaters that sparkled in their grandeur. Beyond Radio City Music Hall, you had places like the Rivoli, the Criterion, and the Roxy. You weren't just going for a movie. You were destined for an experience like no other. I only got the very tailend of that era, but I can still sense how special it was to head downtown with one of those places on your agenda.

But, then again, even if you stayed "uptown," you had an assortment of cinematic cathedrals for your afternoon or evening's disposal. Mount Vernon, New York was no different. There was RKO Proctor's: a tri-level theater that smelled like a movie theater. There were always hot dogs spinning on that wheel at the candy counter. The right side of the orchestra was designated for smokers....like the smoke wouldn't blow over to you thanks to the "It's Kool Inside" air conditioning.

Two blocks away was Loew's Mount Vernon, which, for some reason, was always incorrectly pronounced as "low-ees." This was only two levels: orchestra and balcony. But, the lobby was huge and there was a huge staircase headed upstairs to this gigantic smoking lounge. I can still remember the display ads in the lobby with these "view-master" slides clicking through as they heralded the picture that would be coming next Wednesday.

I can't tell you how many Pom Poms I dropped on the floor in those places. I can still remember what pictures opened at which theater. Proctor's got all the Universal, 20th Century Fox, and Disney releases. Loew's got MGM, Paramount, and Columbia.

They're both gone now. Loew's was demolished to become this eyesore of a parking garage in what is now a pig sty of a city. The Proctor's building still stands, but it has been completely revamped for offices.

There are countless theaters just like that in the NYC area. No, correction, there WERE countless theaters just like that in the NYC area. That city has done nothing to maintain that rich heritage. Sure, Radio City Music Hall still stands in its opulence, but they stopped showing movies when Carter was president. All it is now is a concert hall and a place for senior citizens to go every Christmas to see pre-recorded taps by the Rockettes. They make a big deal of the Ziegfeld as being a movie palace. But, it was created in the 60s and tries to replicate the original theater that was torn down nearby. The Ziegfeld being an oldtime theater is like saying the current Yankee Stadium has anything in common with the old Yankee Stadium besides the dirt.

In Los Angeles, you can still find, see, and enjoy the rich history of a night at the movies. No stadium seating. No cup holders. Just a bag of popcorn in a, gulp, balcony. I will relate some tales about these gems in future posts.

Last Saturday night, I went to one such gold nugget: the Alex in Glendale. Sure, they have refurbished it. But, from the displays in the lobby, the theater hasn't changed that much since they hosted the premiere of Ben Hur in 1959. The theater doesn't show films all the time, but there is an organization, the Alex Film Society, that takes it over about five Saturdays a year. They give you a cartoon, coming attractions, and sometimes a newsreel. Then a classic film. Last week, it was "The Best Years of Our Lives." An amazing evening. As always.

If I closed my eyes, I could see and hear those hot dogs slowly spinning at Proctor's all over again.

Dinner last night: sandwich and salad