This past weekend I headed to Amsterdam for a nice day away to celebrate a special occasion. I normally do my movie watching in my own town, but had wanted to go to the Tuschinski theater for a while. The cinema opened in 1921 and still has the same style as it had back then. It’s a mix of styles and looks impressive. This is the entrance:
Which such a grand theater I thought Les Misérables would be the perfect movie to see in such a beautiful place. I was able to buy tickets for love seats in the stalles (where a drink and snack were brought to the seats) and had a great time watching it (still have to write up my thoughts about it). In the world of big multiplexes it’s not often that a cinema itself is as enjoyable to see as a movie and it’s a shame my own town doesn’t have a place like this anymore. One where there are still curtains that open when the movie starts, where you feel like you stepped back in time. It made me wonder:
Are there any old (and beautiful) old cinemas in your town?
ckckred says:
Unfortunately not. I’ve seen the Grauman Chinese theater on a trip to LA but never been inside a famous theater. It would be cool to see a movie there.
Nostra says:
If I ever go to LA I’d probably try to see a movie there. Why didn’t you watch anything? Didn’t you have any time for it?
UnderwoodUncut says:
We do have a nice independent cinema in my home town, but it is a fairly recent development. There is also a local old theatre which sometimes puts on screenings, and that’s a pretty atmospheric place to go for a movie.
In certain nearby towns however, cinemas put on themed screenings, i.e. Casablanca with a smart dress code. A couple of years ago myself and the girlfriend went to a closed shopping mall for a screening of Dawn of the Dead – with local performers stumbling through the closed shops and around the screen dressed as zombies! It was pretty awesome.
Nostra says:
Themed screenings sound like a lot of fun! Nice idea about that Dawn of the Dead screening. Saw a picture earlier of Life of Pi being shown in a swimming pool, with the audience sitting in little boats.
Victor says:
Yes, The Gusman Center for the Performing Arts–The Olympia Theatre. Below is a link to a reblog of a write-up:
http://victorsmoviereviews.com/2012/03/02/806/
Nostra says:
Wow, that looks amazing!
ruth says:
WOW, what a beautiful theater!! I don’t know if there’s any old (and beautiful) old cinemas in my town, at least not THIS pretty. I have to check this out when I visit Amsterdam [hopefully] later this year.
Nostra says:
Yeah, I loved the place and wish these were still around in Rotterdam, but they were mostly bombed or later converted to something else.
Ruth says:
The Astor Theatre in Melbourne!!! http://www.astortheatre.net.au/ It’s one of the few that still plays 70mm prints and it’s gorgeous!
Nostra says:
Based on the movies they play alone I already love it, but looking at the pictures it also looks beautiful.
Scott Lawlor says:
YES!! We are lucky enough to have the oldest constantly run cinema in UK in my home town and it is aces!! I love it there such a lot of character!!
Woohoo
Nostra says:
I remember your post on it Scott. Might have to see a movie there when I’m over in the UK!
wordschat says:
In Ottawa we still have the Mayfair that goes way back. The play double feature themed sets and my fav non mainstream, art house, foreign and classics cinema the Bytowne. See http://www.Bytowne.CA. A little history here; the current site used to be The Nelson a Famous Players cinema going back to the 1950s. A older look with character and a balcony. The original Towne in Vanier a suburb of Ottawa took over the Nelson becoming the Bytowne. Bytown with an e is the original name of the Lumber town that forged the Rideau Canal and became Canada’s capital. By town after Colonel John By.
Nostra says:
That’s soem interesting information, thanks for sharing!
Rory Dean says:
Oh my, what an amazing place! I don’t think I could stay away from that theater, I can imagine seeing all these classic movies there and imagining some great big screen epics in such a lavish, invitingly magical place! You are so lucky to be able to get to that place. We have some amazing small theaters in and around San Francisco, Cali..I remember screening my short film Once Beautiful Past at The Roxy in San Francisco and I’ve been many times to the Grand Theater over by Lake Merrit in Oakland. We have some other amazing places but I’ve definitely not been to as many as I’d like. Thanks for sharing!
Nostra says:
There are lots of cinemas in my own town, so I won’t be heading to Amsterdam each time I want to see a movie, but if I happen to be there I’ll be sure to visit it again. Although I have been to San Francisco I haven’t been to any cinemas there. If I’ll ever get there again I’ll check these out.
Matthew Skelly says:
Our independent Cinemas in Cleveland are ugly holes. I however, frequent the Lorain Palace which is in perpetual restoration mode. It’s a beautiful theatre that doesn’t look like much from the outside. Movies there are usual $3.00 ($5.00 for 3d) and I’ll be heading out there for Les Mis in a week or so myself.
Nostra says:
That’s a shame. Hope that that restoration will finish soon. Hope you’ll enjoy Les Miserables!
Lakisha says:
We have one small cinema left at the moment and it’s just out local corn exchange indie cinema, it’s in part of the town hall, which looks impressive on the outside but it is very 1980′s on the inside!
Nostra says:
Well, 80′s can have its charm
But still it’s disappointing it doesn’t match the amazing outside.
Chris says:
We had a nice old cinema (and I used to work in it) but it closed down and has stood empty for about 7 years now. Apparently it’s going to open as a proper theatre at some point in the future. Other than that, it’s just the usual multiplexes, sadly.
Nostra says:
Wow, that’s a long time for it to be empty, a shame really. Good thing it won’t be torn down but still a shame another cinema has lost. As you know I’ve done a series on ones that closed in Rotterdam (which I still have to continue) and it’s always depressing to see how much history was lost.
Jaina says:
What a gorgeous cinema! I usually just end up at the multiplex. It’s convenient and there’s a boat load of films on. But just this week went to one of the oldest cinemas in London. Well, that’s their claim. Electric Cinema – absolutely stunning. Here’s a photo I took from the inside:
https://plus.google.com/photos/100008418928310505950/albums/5833808805588856433/5833808806594095602?authkey=CMKkjJ326NPwgQE
Definitely want to go back.
Nostra says:
Wow Jaina, that one looks stunning. When I’m in London later this year I definitely want to pay that cinema a visit. Looks like a really posh place. Which movie did you see there?