The Exhibitor (1961)

New Paris House Serves Scotch, Champagne PARIS, FRANCE — What is certainly the newest and probably the most modern motion picture theatre in the world was opened here for the exclusive showing of Cinerama films. The old Empire Theatre has been complete¬ ly rebuilt and renamed the “Empire Abel Gance,” in honor of the famed French movie director. The distinguished 72-year old film innovator was the recipient at opening night ceremonies of the first annual “Prix Inter¬ national Cinerama,” a Gold Medal and $2000 award to be given each year by an interna¬ tional jury of people in the arts and sciences to the person making the most important con¬ tribution via cinematography furthering in¬ ternational communications and human un¬ derstanding. The opening night theatre audience reach¬ ed its seats by means of a series of escalators running up to the orchestra level. In the lobby, which features a magnificent modern decor in red, gray, black and orange, is a huge 15-foot bronzed chandelier. One fea¬ ture of the theatre which should appeal to world-wide audiences is serving bars on every level of the theatre. On the main or¬ chestra level, one bar serves only scotch, while another serves only champagne. Another unique feature of the theatre in¬ terior is that, following the plans for SuperCinerama houses, it is furnished entirely in one color! The seats, walls, floor covering and even the curtain covering the world’s largest screen are all of the same color, a pleasant rust shade. The seats themselves are extremly luxurious, being extra-wide and covered in real leather, while the curtains are of anti¬ que watered silk. The new theatre will show only Cinerama films. The gala opening night audience saw ‘^Windjammer” in Cinerama; also shown was a trailer for the first story-line Cinerama film, “How The West Was Won,” scheduled for release this year. The huge screen of the “Empire-Abel Gance,” 108 feet wide and 36 feet high, follows another rule for Super-Cinerama theatres, acting as the entire fourth wall for the the¬ atre, running from floor-to-ceiling and wallto-wall. Nicolas Reisini, president of Cinerama, Inc., in Paris for the opening, explained how the theatre got its name. “I saw a movie here in Paris in 1927 called ‘Napoleon,’ made by a director named Abel Gance. It was filmed by using three motion picture cameras simul¬ taneously in tandem and it produced the sensational wide-screen effect we have today. I never forgot the impact this had on me. From that moment on, I realized the future of the motion picture industry lay in using such a wide-screen process. It has taken Hollywood 25 years to realize that the genius who made that film, Monsieur Abel Gance, had the right idea. Awarding him the ‘Prix International Cinerama’ and naming this the¬ atre for him is but belated recognition of his enormous contribution to film-making.” A e Nat'l Cine Acquires John M. Wall Company National Cine Equipment, Inc., New York, designers and manufacturers of professional equipment for making 35mm and 16mm tv and Motion Picture. Films, announced that it has acquired the John M. Wall Company, manufacturers of the professional “Wall Cam¬ era”, known throughout the world since 1929. The John M. Wall Company also built the equipment for Cinerama. AY WE BE OF ELP I Just Check the items on which you want additional information. ... We will get it into your hands quickly and completely. No obligation. ADVERTISING ACCESSORIES ..Attraction Board . . Banners, Flags Display Cases, Casela . Letters, Silhouette . Marquees . . Marquee Letters Poster Frames . Posters, Heralds . Signs Trailers AIR CONDITIONING Air Conditioning Systems Air Filters Blowers Diffusers Fans CONCESSIONS Bags Barbecue Products Beverages Beverage Dispenser, Pountain Boxes Bun Warmers Butter Dispenser . Candy Coffee . Coffeemaker . Chocolate Drink . Chocolate Drink Dispensei . Concession Stand . Concessionaire Canned, Prepared Foods . Cups . Cup Dispenser . Food, Frozen . Food Preparation Equipment . Fountains . Gum Hamburger Grills . . Hot Dog Machines . Ice Cream . Ice Cream Cabinets . Ice Cream Dispensers . . Ice Machines Malt, Shake Machines . Nuts Pizza Equipment & Supplies . Popcorn . Popcorn Seasoning . Popcorn Warmers Popcorn Machines . Refrigeration Units . Soft Drinks Snow Cones COIN VENDING MACHINES Candy Vender Cigarette Vender Coffee Vender Coin Changers Drink Vender, Cup Gum Vender Hot-Cold Cup Venders Ice Cream Vender Juice Vender Milk Vender Nut Vender Popcorn Vender Sandwich Vender DECORATION • FURNISHING , Carpets Carpet Cushion Curtains, Stage Curtain Controls & Track Decorators, Designers Draperies . Drink Fountain Fabrics, Wall Flooring Lounge Furniture Mats, Rubber Paint Sand Urns Stage Rigging Tile Traffic Control HEATING Fans Furnaces Heat Pumps Humidifiers Insulation, Thermal, Acoustic LIGHTING Aisle Lights Batteries Color Wheels Dimmers, Co.mol? Directional Signs Emergency Light Spot & Flood Lights Switchboards Transformers MANAGEMENT Theatre Forms and Systems, Personnel Training Uniforms PROJECTION Aperture Hates Blowers, Lamphouse. Porthole Carbons Carbon Saver Changeover Dowsers Film Cabinets Film Cement Film Coolers Film Magazines Film Reels Film Rewinders Film Splicers . Lenses Motor Generator . Projectors Projection Arc Lamp Projector Parts Pedestals Rectifiers Reel End Signals Reflectors Rewinds Rheostats Screens Sound Equipment Sprockets Television, Theatre Transformers SAFETY SUPPLIES Door Hardware Exit Devices Fire Alarms Fire Extinguisher Fire Hose .... Kick-Push Plates .... Ladders SANITARY SUPPLIES . Carpet Cleaners . . DeodorantsDisinfectants . Floor Cleaners . Glass Cleaners . Hand Dryers . Mops — Brushes . Soap Dispenser . Upholstery Cleaner ..Vacuum Cleaners SEATING Auditorium Seats Drive-In Seating Seat Covers Seat Cushion Seat Reconditioning Upholstery Material SOUND EQUIPMENT . Amplifiers . Inter-Corns . Exciter Lamps . Microphones . Pre-Amplifier Cabinet . Public Address System . Sound Equipment, Theatre . Sound Heads Sound Service Companies TICKET OFFICE . Admission Signs Boxoffices . Cash Controj Systems Change Making Machine* . Coin Sorters . Tickets . Ticket Boxes . Ticket Machines . Ticket Registers . Turnstiles DRIVE-INS . . . Admission Control System* . . Attraction Lights . . . Benches . . . Directional Lights . . . Dust Control Systems . . . Fences . . Fireworks . . .Floodlights . . . Insect Controls . . . Flares, Light . . . Heater, In-Car . . Miniature Trains . . . Paint ...Picnic Table . . Playground Equipment, Ride* . Pools, Swimming Post Lights . . Quarter Midget Racers . . Ramp Lights . Screen Facing . Screen Paint Screen Towers . . Seats, Walk-In Patron . . Speakers, In-Car . . Speaker Cords . Speaker Cover . . Speaker Posts . . Speaker Repair . . Sweepers Underground Cable Without charge or obligation, please send me additional information on above items that are checked: I Name . Theatre . . I | Address . . . City, State Check items, fill in coupons, tear off on dotted line and mail to MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 317 N. BROAD ST., PHILADELPHIA 7, PENNA. Have you remodeled your theatre recently? Redecorated? Put in new seats, carpels or furnishings? New Marquee or lobby? We would like to know about it. Just drop us a card or letter with details — photos if available. PE-20 PHYSICAL THEATRE • EXTRA PROFITS DEPARTMENT of .MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR February 14, 1962