In 1979, Albert Berger and I took a lease on the Sandburg Theatre on the Near North side of Chicago, and reopened it as a repertory cinema showing classic films in double-features that changed three times a week. We learned the history of the theatre, which had previously been owned and operated as the Playboy Cinema in the 1970's, and before that as the Surf, and had its origins as a vaudeville theatre going all the way back to the 1920's.
The Sandburg was torn down in the early '80's to make way for a Walgreen's drug store which still operates on that site.
Now there is a website that catalogues and provides a forum for information about old movie theatres around the country and around the world and efforts to save them.
Cinema Treasures is where I found a list of Havana's old deco movie palaces, and which ones are still open and operating today.
Cine 23 y 12, the Riviera, La Rampa,and el Yara are colorful houses of cinema that have survived to the present day.
Cine San Francisco, above, looks like it could be ready for a restoration and refurbishment. Its architectural facade certainly gives hint of its former splendor.
Maybe it will reopen one day and be a home to a Cinematheque for classic Latin American films - a kind of Sandburg Theatre for the rich heritage of Cuban, Mexican, Brazilian, Argentinian and other home grown cinemas of the South?
A nice, air-conditioned Friday night screening of Tomas Gutierrez Alea's "Memories of Underdevelopment" in a restored 35mm print on the silver screen?
Hmm, who wants to join me?
william
Check out the documentary, Havana: The New Art of Making Ruins. Here's the trailer, with a shot of the "Florida" theatre. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGi9egGWbnQ. there used to be a full-length English language version online, but apparently the it has been taken down.
Posted by: Frances Archer | July 09, 2010 at 07:05 AM
Okay, the theaters are cool, but WHAT is that little yellow vehicle that looks like a three wheeled school bus? I LOVE it!!!
p.s. Come visit my blog!
Posted by: Maiz | July 10, 2010 at 08:40 AM
Movie theaters have become relics and it seems that they are hard to re-purpose. There were two movie theaters in my neighborhood, https://cdm.sos.mo.gov/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/ucdelmar&CISOPTR=56&CISOBOX=1&REC=11
one still exists and shows vintage, foreign and independent films, the other is now a drug store. It was always a treat to go to the movies and it was a special experience.
p.s. I'm with Maiz in wondering what that yellow vehicle was? It's so cute.
Posted by: Janet M | July 10, 2010 at 09:46 AM
The coco-taxi looks like a little yellow baseball on wheels. They are common on the streets of Havana and zip around on 3 wheels.
Posted by: Elsita :) | July 11, 2010 at 10:39 PM
I'll bring the popcorn.
Posted by: kirsten | July 12, 2010 at 08:11 AM
my fave so far is in Olinda Brazil. I have a small collection now of pix of old shuttered movie palaces. yet we struck gold last week when we drove past the Capri, a working drive-in near Coldwater Michigan- see my Facebook page
Posted by: mh | July 13, 2010 at 09:15 PM
i found the theatre of my youth on that list. The bytowne cinema in Ottawa https://www.flickr.com/photos/dim_gm/482895975/
It is where I saw such cult classics as the rocky horror picture show, eraserhead, elephant man ....
Posted by: margie oomen | July 18, 2010 at 07:09 AM
I guess everyone has a childhood memory of his cinema building in his town. The structures are always exciting even if they bit neglected. Thank you for the wonderful post.
Posted by: free movies | August 28, 2010 at 10:29 AM
I grew up going to the movies in El Yara, Riviera, La Rampa. Thanks for posting those pictures, they bring back lots of memories!
Posted by: Lisette M | February 12, 2011 at 04:46 PM