I fondly remember seeing a 70mm DTS print of "Titanic" at the GCC Northpark with a group of other Kodak
engineers on February 3, 1998. "Perfection" --- what more can I say? Great sound, flawless print, bright and
steady picture. The theatre's modest "mall" exterior and tiny lobby hid the gem that was inside. After the show,
Ron Beardmore graciously gave us a tour of the booth, and shared his love of the 70mm format and projection with
us.

AFAIK, that 70mm print of "Titanic" was the same one screened at the White House, and personally approved by director James Cameron --- which shows how much distributors appreciated the quality of presentation at the Northpark.

A perfect example of "Film done RIGHT!"

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Mr. Nasher, Thank you for taking such an awaited, historical experience away from everybody. Your greed has exceeded you. what an ass!!!

I have heard several stories about other people's experience at Northpark. I wonder if there could be anybody else out there that could share some more with me.

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--"That's my story and i'm sticking to it!"--

For those who remember Harry Truman, he said it correctly. Mr. Truman said, "The problem with the people in this country is they worship money."

I'll be almost willing to bet that Nasher is one of those who worships money.

Maybe they had excellent projection and sound, comfortable seats, were clean and many of them even had a curtain. But where was the showmanship, and more then that, where was the theatrical invionment? A bland box for auditoriums, lobbies that were no better. It's a shame that we brought up a generation thinking that these were great theatres. We can't blame that generation as it wasn't their fault. They were robbed of the opportunity to experience really great theatres. Some of them are still around, but are now Performing Arts centers. If you want to see some magnificent theatres which were built for the presentation of movies, go visit the Fox's in St Louis, Detriot, or Atlanta, the Shea's Buffalo in Buffalo, Radio City in New York, the Chicago in Chicago, the Los Angelas in LA, the Paramount in Oakland and the list goes on and on. Every city and town had a theatre or theatres of that caliber, maybe much smaller, but just as flamboyant.

I never thought that I would see the day that anyone would miss a theatre built in the sixties or later. My generation thought of them as depressing substitutes for the real thing.

On second thought, I have something to say even without the "F" word:

I will not patronize the Northpark Mall ever again!

I would suggest that anyone else who lives in Dallas do the same.

I was born in the Dallas area, I grew up there, and lived never more than an hour's drive away until just three short years ago. I frequently go back for a visit. Ever since I moved away, I have waited to do my Christmas shopping until after I returned to Dallas to visit my family, and the Northpark mall was always part of that shopping trip. Not anymore. Not ever again.

The Northpark 1-2 theater was responsible for my love of movies, for my love of 70mm, and for my love of the theatrical experience. Before I was able to drive I would beg and plead with my parents to take me to the Northpark to see movies. After I was able to drive, I rarely went to see movies anywhere else. I had other theaters that I liked, but none compared to Northpark.

Yes, it really was that good. I recently exchanged e-mail with someone who would regularly drive 200 miles to visit the Northpark theater.

If I close my eyes, I can still see and hear in my mind the magnificent presentations that took place there. I do not believe these memories are enhanced by nostalgia. As I grew up and my perceptions and tastes became more sophisticated, the Northpark still continued to impress me.

I actually liked waiting in line at the Northpark 1-2, even in the rain. I've still not seen another theater that has picture quality quite like it. And with 70mm dead as a doornail and TI's crappy 1280x1024 digital "cinema" system threatening to take over everything, I guess I never will again.

My hands are shaking as I type this. I feel like someone just killed my dog.

Brad, I am curious about these parties who were wishing to revive the theater. Were you involved with them? Can you give us more information? Also, I thought the equipment had been removed and sold. If so, unless the exact same equipment was taken back and installed and tuned the same way, it would not have been the same.

The idea of AMC building one of their horrible "theaters" in its place just adds insult to injury. If anyone from AMC is reading this: Don't even try. You will never be as good.

Richard, Brad is right. This theater was not known for its decor. It was known for its presentation. And when the lights go down, that's all that matters. A full-blown "palace" design would have been nice, but that's not what made this theater great.

I honestly have to say that Mr. Nasher is a complete and total BASTARD! I apologize to the members of the forum for using such a vulgar term but BASTARD seems to be the only adjective suitable enough to describe this BASTARD’S actions without getting into some really heavy language. But I don’t expect Mr. Nasher (a.k.a. BASTARD) to understand the effects of his actions. I know I’m not alone on this. There were several letters in one of the Dallas Morning News papers in October of ‘98 sharing the common viewpoint that shutting down the Northpark 1 and 2 was disheartening as well as a mistake. But as I understand it Mr. BASTARD doesn’t like movies that much to begin with. It’s his mall. Let the BASTARD do what he likes. It doesn’t mean I have to like it though.

But that mall seems to cater only to the rich or extremely snobby. Anyone on this forum who has ever been inside the mall will know what I’m talking about. There are clothing stores galore along with expensive interior restaurants. But I don’t remember seeing any bookstores inside. At least none worth talking about. Oh but they got Abercrombie, Pier One Imports, and several other high fashion clothing outlet stores. Now that I think about it, I don’t think there’s anything inside that costs less than six fifty. That’s why the movie theater has to go! Come to think about it, most paperbacks are about six dollars, so maybe that’s why there’s hardly a bookshop in sight inside that mall. Just because Mr. Nasher’s preferred clientele enjoy epicurean raiment and edible delights is no reason to expect they’d enjoy broadening their imagination with a good book, is there? Oh but these people are willing to shell out fifty dollars for a stinking aromatherapy candle!

Anyway many thanks Nasher for dozing down my childhood memories like so much clutter. Thank you for marring and tainting Northpark’s sacred ground so you can service the hundreds of snobby customers while denying the thousands upon thousands of movie customers a place to enjoy a truly remarkable film presentation. You grumpy old BASTARD!

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The man with the magic hands.