All, while working on uploading another video I saw this video has 7.5K views since I posted it 6 months ago. I saw that there were no comments, unfortunately. I am not yet well versed in the RU-vid uploading - editing - all the details of posting videos. Comments were disabled because I posted the video as suitable for kids. Too bad, because I'd like to have seen the comments may of you would have left had you been able to. I just changed that setting for this video. Please leave a comment. Please excuse me, as while I was taking the video I was suffering from an affliction relatively rare in the general population of the world, and yet not uncommon to a few specific subsets / demographics across the world, and is likely quite common to AMCA members. That affliction is "J.D.S.T.I. - V.P.O" - Jaw Drop Speech / Thought Impairment due to Visual & Psychological Overload. J.D.S.T.I - V.P.O. all too often manifests itself in those afflicted by causing the individual to grossly underestimate or overestimate the dollar value of physical objects. With AMCA members, those physical objects can run the gamut, from the smallest, rustiest, crustiest, most worn out - clapped out individual part, all the way to the most highly restored or completely original complete motorcycles of the highest rarity & desirability to the wealthiest of the afflicted. Symptoms can range from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, often leaving the afflicted lost to make decisions that the unafflicted would deem irrational, irresponsible, unrealistic, rash, etc...... When the rash happens, it can be very bad for a very long period of time, perhaps affecting the health of the victims marriage or relationship(s), personal economic condition, mental wellbeing, personal project prioritization, and a whole host of other conditions and situations. With that said, it must be remembered that the personal perspectives of the afflicted and those giving the diagnosis may vary widely, and may often lead to misdiagnosis. This is an affliction science may never find a cure for. As I type this, the video thumbnail directly to the right of my cursor is from Mecum Auctions - "1939 Crocker Big Tank Hammers for $640,000". Perhaps we should all watch that one to see how badly I was afflicted while taking the video!!!!!
The SANTANA ROW VALLEY FAIR URBAN VILLAGE PLAN CAN BE FOUND HERE: www.sanjoseca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/32897/637782057381870000 “PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM Public Art The integration of public art within this Urban Village is a placemaking strategy of the Plan.” As the only truly public space in the S.R.V.F. U.V. within our neighborhood, our new Winchester Orchard Park will be the center point of placemaking here. There was no focus on the integration of public art within this Urban Village, as called for in the plan, in our new park. “Public art can play a key role in reinforcing the visual identity of the area and add significant value to both public infrastructure and private development.” “Public art can”, and should be a park project requirement, to “play a key role in reinforcing the visual identity of the area and”, at the same time, “add significant value to both public infrastructure and private development”. The Pulte project could take an active role in furthering the S.R.V.F. U.V. Plan, "and add significant value to" their "private development", setting the platform for the integration of murals as public art, by installing a precast concrete wall as the correct form of U.V. boundary. Doing so on the project property, so that the wall is not partially owned by the adjacent homeowners, and therefore not their responsibility or liability is the right thing to do for everyone. That's the way for Pulte & City, most particularly the Planning department, to make it right and get it right by everyone, themselves, our W.O.N.A. neighbors and neighborhood, the Santana Row Valley Fair Urban Village, he S.R.V.F. U.V. Plan itself, San Jose Parks Department - P.R.N.S., even tourists who could learn our rich history through beautiful art.......but not without the needed walls. "The City’s public art program allocates one percent of all eligible City of San José capital project costs towards the design, fabrication and installation of public artwork to enhance the design and add to the character of the community served by its capital improvements". Since the City of San Jose is not funding the installation of the Winchester Orchard Park, that installation is likely not regarded as a capital improvement. The city should look at this as an opportunity for installation of public artwork to enhance the design and add to the character of the community served. "Public art funds within the City are managed by the Public Art Program/Office of Cultural Affairs, and specific projects are implemented in collaboration with stakeholders and capital project managers". There are so many stakeholders in this U.V. Plan. At a minimum, that stakeholder number is the current population of the City of San Jose. At a minimum within our municipal government, the stakeholders are the D1 / Vice Mayor Office, P.R.N.S., P.C.B.E., the Cultural Affairs Department. At stake is our U.V. and this S.R.V.F. U.V. Plan. Important aspects of the current General Plan may be at stake as well. It is likely the city itself could not properly say how much of their documented goals, policies, procedures, objectives may be at stake. All other U.V. plans may be at stake, should the city continue to get it wrong here.
“GUIDELINES A toolkit for Art and Placemaking: elements that frame and define a place The following are intended to provide guidelines for community, and public and private development to integrate public art with places and in placemaking. • Elements of Distinction are unique, memorable features. − Consider art as a large scale and character defining element” Large scale murals as a character defining element can not happen without walls to put them on. “− Incorporate iconic, destination-quality artwork, particularly in commercial development and open space where the scale of the location may support larger scale artwork.” Large scale murals that depict our area and neighborhood history can include historic progressions and transformations, like: The proposed and denied Winchester Drive In Theater, opposed by Frank Fiscallini and the neighborhood, to the C21, C22 & C23 Domes, to the triple-dome conversion of C22 & dome split of C23, to dome closures and Santana West project. This could also feature an iconography list of the most important films to come through the theaters, starting with “It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad World”, “2001: Space Odyssey”, “Clockwork Orange” “Jaws” “Towering Inferno”, “Star Wars”, “Exorcist”, “Indiana Jones”, “Paint Your Wagon”, “Doctor Zivago”, “Alien” , etc… Town & Country Village to Santana Row including Courtesy Chevrolet. Original Valley Fair and Emporium, to first Vally Fair expansion, to recent expansion. Cypress Elementary to Cypress Community Center. And so on….. "− Integrate art with linear parks" With a wall, our park will be perfect for integration.
Continued from “PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM" It was only through thorough review of this plan that the Cultural Affairs Department was identified as a stakeholder. They will likely not know or understand until this document is read in that department. Since the beginning of 2023, those other stakeholders within the municipal government should have been working directly and diligently with the other two major stakeholders, the W.O.N.A. residents, and Pulte. Had that been done, as requested, an appropriate solution could have been implemented in collaboration with stakeholders. It still can be. "While there is currently no private development funding requirement for public art, the inclusion of public art and public art maintenance into private development projects is highly encouraged, and is a demonstrated benefit for developers." If the city in fact can not require a wall as the appropriate U.V. boundary, which would allow the inclusion of public art and public art maintenance into this specific private development project, the city should be highly encouraging it as a demonstrated benefit for the developer and the rest of us. "For this Urban Village to meet its public art goals, additional funding sources or strategies need to be identified". We urge the city to fully, and in all regards, live up to the U.V. plan, also meet its public art goals, and work collaboratively with our neighborhood to "identify" any "additional funding sources or strategies needed" to advance and improve the plan.
I guess I should ask if you got any video of the demolition. I should see it painful as it is. I saw a few pictures that day and felt sick the rest of the week. Part of me went with this theater.
I did get plenty of demolition footage. I'd like to get that all posted within the next few months. all the demo footage was of Century 22 triple dome.
Seriously, shame on Federal Realty for wanting this theater gone. I don’t even go to theaters anymore since most new ones are ridiculously small. This should have been preserved for eternity. San Jose once had FIVE big domes, then the greedy owners split 3 of them in half during the 70s and were eventually torn down. At least the two unspoiled ones should have stayed with the smaller ones also. Now they want to mess up Century 21.
As much as any of us might like to blame & shame for our changing times, I really can't do that with regards to the Century 22 triple dome going down. Our Winchester Orchard Neighborhood Association - W.O.N.A., believes Federal Realty, has done the right thing on the property. That's generally speaking. I personally believe that is the case, and think that is the common perspective by most residents in our neighborhood. The big question is, what can we get done with Century 21?
@@chrisgiangreco6529 A parking garage is a suitable replacement for this theater, where most of my early moviegoing was and the standard by which I’ve since judged all other theaters (none of which have met that standard)? What theaters are left which are comparable to this one? Most new ones have small screens with the wrong aspect ratio (common-width).
@@TheMediaHoarder Trust me, I feel your pain regarding this. No, from the standpoint of serving the broader public, the parking garage in no way is a suitable replacement for Century 22 as the stand alone dome it started out as or the triple dome it ended as. There are no operational theaters comparable to this in northern California, at least that I know of. The only thing that could compare is the Century 21, which if you are a south S.F. Bay resident, you probably know still exists. From the very first discussions of closing and demolishing the theaters, I have taken an adamant stance that the Century 21 Dome is a cultural asset for not just the municipality of San Jose, but the south bay & Silicon Valley as well. I along with a few dedicated individuals from the neighborhoods close to the C21 Dome, as well as others from the south bay and the San Jose Preservation Action Council, were ultimately able to get State and City historic landmark designation for C21. That's the only reason the C21 Dome still stands. Had our efforts not succeeded, C21 would have been leveled along with the rest of them. You are right about the wrong aspect ratio and any other complaints you might have about modern movie theaters - I have the same complaints. For all the poor souls who never got to experience a movie in one of these big domes, you'll never get to experience the special cinematic grandeur it was. So that leaves us with the shell of the dome, which in the current state is somewhat like a structural Alzheimer patient. It may look somewhat alright on the outside, but there is little to nothing left on the inside, and can not function. When lease with Cinemark ended, they took everything the could, seats, screen, projection equipment, cash registers. The building may look OK from the outside, particularly since it got a recent paint job all the way around, from the scalloped roofline down. Federal Realty rebuilt the stacked C21-C22 - C23 part or the old marquis that used to be against the boulevard, and placed it next to the Dome. It looks great during the day, and great at night when lit up. So my take on it has always been that the City of San Jose should partner with Federal Realty to bring this historic treasure back to life. West of the Center for Performing Arts, the City of San Jose has zero theater or auditorium space. Nothing. Nada. Zip. From S.J.'s C.P.A., The C21 Dome is 3.3 miles west down San Carlos & Stevens Creek, and another 0.3 miles down Winchester. 2.2 miles south of the Dome, the west valley has the Campbell Heritage Theater which "seats a maximum of 800m patrons". But that's in Campbell. 5.4 miles west down Stevens Creek, the west valley has the Flint Center at De Anza College. But that's in Cupertino. So what can we do with the Dome? Little to nothing meaningful to the valley unless Federal Realty and the City of San Jose both want it. My personal opinion is that the Dome should be rebuilt as a multi-purpose theater / auditorium space. What would that take? Tons of money. Just to rebuild the existing structure, bringing up to current seismic standards, fire - electric & other safety codes would likely take upwards of $20 million. That's just to rebuild the structure. The Federal Realty representative responsible for doing anything with the dome has said it would be more cost effective and we'd all get a better building if they did complete laser scans of the Dome interior & exterior, capturing all the details & dimensions, worked with the original drawings, and rebuilt the Dome from scratch using the best materials & technologies. I'd be for that, as the goal would be a brand new duplicate of the existing building. One major problem is what would the building do and who would operate it? Federal Realty is not in the business of operating such a venue. West San Jose not only needs but deserves a multipurpose theater & auditorium space. The only way I can see that coming about would be to start a non-profit having collaborative partners in the City of San Jose, Federal Realty, interested parties like myself and philanthropic organizations. The purpose of the non-profit would be to determine how a multi use partnership between all parties would work, and who / how the venue would be programmed and operated.
San Jose CA, probably April 2014 as that’s when the theater closed. Seats were removed the first week it was closed, then it sat empty for 5 years til it was demolished. I saw Star Wars for the first time in this theater. Nothing else compares.
That's awesome 👌 Yeah I didn't get to first experience Century 22 until 1999 or so. It was the most amazing theater. I always preferred the large dome in Century 22 to Century 21. It had better sound quality I felt. I also used to frequent Century Park 12 in Redwood City back until it closed in 2008. It's still sitting vacant to this day. I'd love to see what it looks like inside in its current state. Good memories
