General Cinema Pre-Show Bumpers and Policy Trailers

[JBarg25]

Where I grew up (Rochester, NY) it was either GCC or Loews until Regal/Cinemark pushed them out in 1996 or so. Lot of memories with these bumpers. Thanks.

[richconte1]

The policy trailer with the snaping camera that you said was from 1975. That is actually from 1980. I used to work at a GCC theater from 1986 to 1989. The music from that trailer was recorded in 1980 or 1979. it is from Network music from San Diego which got bought by Killer tracks from L.A. in the late 1990s.

[brandonefron2064]

General Cinema used to release Pokemon 3 the Movie in 2001 but they backed out of it since AMC acquired the company in 2000.

[brandonefron2044]

i have seen both the cloudy one (1985, before Silverado) and the candy band one (1993, before a Disney movie) as well as the different candy band trailer from 1997 (1999, before Pokemon the First Movie shortly before GCC went bankrupt in 2000 after the release of Pokemon the Movie 2000 which was shown in a now-defunct General Cinema theater when AMC acquired the company 2 years later)

[PShields79]

Thanks! I remember all of these well. Have been looking for 70s and 80s Mann Theatres bumpers, but to no avail. Any ideas?

[spongevee1]

Garden City Cinema in Cranston RI <3.

[bachelordan0470]

I do miss those days:'( There was an GCC theater in South Portland, ME. It was across the street from the Maine Mall. I used to go with my old buddy to see films there. We also remember those bumpers .... well, the ones of the 80's also the 90's. Nowadays, the theatre is gone:( torn down since about 2000:( It represents an era that isn't there anymore. Thanks so much for posting this. How did you capture this?

[davelounder]

Here in CT I worked at General Cinema I II III in Newington until it was traded to Redstone Corp. (Showcase Cinemas / National Amusements). GC gave Showcase its Newington and Orange locations in return for two of theirs in MA, where GC was headquartered. GC evidently wanted out of CT because I guess the sites weren't producing enough revenue for them. I'm so angry that I didn't keep my blue GC blazer and bowtie!!! Dave Lounder

[TBird100636]

We had 2 General Cinemas in Braintree, MA. The first was originally a 2 screen theater, opened in the late 60's- early 70's. It was later divided into 4, late 70's (I was born in 82, so it was always 4 when I went. It was a detatched anchor of my local mall. It closed in 1993, when the new 10 screen theater opened. It was gutted, and became a Circuit City. The exterior archetecture was retained, and up till 95 the mall shared the same archetecture. Continued in next reply...

[TBird100636]

@TBird100636 All of the glass in front of the building was removed and walled in. Circuit City closed of course, and now it's being gutted again, to be turned into a Dave & Busters. Only this time, the stepped roof structure is gradually being removed. The second General Cinema, which is still open today as an AMC theater, opened in 1993. It is a ten screen theater. It wasn't part of the mall, but close by, it overlooks a former drive-in that closed in 1985.

[TBird100636]

I remember most of those 80's up bumpers/trailers. Cool to see them again.

[abehammy]

Didn't a bunch of theatre chains and circuits go bankrupt around 2000 and 2001?

[cstoczyn]

RIP General Cinemas

[CelesteK]

Is the GCC defunct now?

[jonrev]

@CelesteK LONG gone... bankruptcy in 2000 and the rest was nabbed by AMC 2 years later. The trademarks, however, were auctioned off last December.

[gencinjay]

@jonrev I hadn't heard about the trademarks being aucitoned. After some searching, I see that they will only have it if they open by May 5th so it may end up for sale again. I wonder if it includes Popcorn Bob and the Candy Band.

[drumboyy1980]

i miss GCC. I think over the years of visiting theaters, i gave them more money than any other theater. I loved them. Miss them a lot !!!

[richconte1]

The Policy trailer cannot be from 1975. I used to work in a GCC theater in the Mid 1980s and I know that the music from the old trailer is from Network Music of San Diego. It was recorded in 1980.

[bensaret]

Man, I haven't seen these bumpers in years :D (especially the sapce candies at 2:45, lol). Love how Youtube has everything!

[METALMAN4Wii]

Remember people back in 1975 $10 would buy you 10 Tickets.

now it won't even buy you 1 in some Theaters.....!

[RkivUnderground]

@METALMAN4Wii Remember inflation. $10 back in 1975 would have been about $40 in today's money. But 1975 still has advantage, because tickets are not only priced higher today for the illusion of inflation, but corporate greed, 3D, etc.

It must've been simpler in the past. I was born in '95, which is not a bad thing. My generation has its flaws, so did the seventies, but it has special timeless things too, like the seventies. They're just different.

[lastgarlicfinger]

Does anybody know how long Hoyts General Cinema has been in business? I am mentioning it because the Popcorn guy from the Candy Band trailer(s) is (if not was) the mascot for HGC in South America. Yes, they serve Pepsi there, I've seen the trailers myself. Although I am Canadian and shouldn't mention it here, but a 5-plex (it had that many screens by the time I was born) I used to go to until I was 8 or 9 had Pepsi as well.

[JimRotunda]

We had two General Cinema Theaters in Racine, Wisconsin untill 1986, when the Marcus Theater Corporation bought them out.

[jonrev]

@JimRotunda Yeah, the Westgate Cinema on Washington Ave. was one of them. Marcus boarded it up about 4 years ago and built a megaplex in Sturtevant.

Last year I found myself up there one evening and stumbled upon it. While taking pics, some guy on a bike came up to me thinking I was vandalizing the place.

[JimRotunda]

@jonrev I live just around the corner from the old Westgate Cinema, & yes it closed in September 2006, the last film showed there was "Hollywoodland". On the last night it was open, the manager gave me the old Pepsi clock that hung in the lobby for 20 years. The building is for sale, & was boarded up 2 years ago, because the crack addicts & bums broke in & trashed the place. We hated to see it close...But I guess that's progress.

[Dimension150]

They really outdid themselves with the last one at 6:50 in my opinion. Of course the one from 1977 is a classic!

[antster1983]

@Dimension150 Fighting to keep their identity until the bitter end. Such a bittersweet yet fitting end to a cinema chain with memorable snipes.

[Mayakasi7]

Wonderful pioneer ideas:)

[tempetiger]

I think the one at 4:10 and afterwards was one of the greatest ones that ever was. It had that jazzy sound that just could not be beat!

[ewanplaza]

Candy Band!



[ewanplaza]

Candy Band!

[rickjr37]

You had me squealing like a girl at the 1977/1980 "feature presentation" bumpers.

Such great memories as a boy living briefly in Houston,TX and going to the Greenspoint Mall 5 then coming back to California as a teen and going to the Montclair Plaza 8,Rancho 6 in Colton and my beloved Inland TwIn in San Bernardino.

[ozarkdevilfish]

Thank you for putting this together.

[CajunGypsy]

I have very fond memories of the GCC policy trailer from 1975 at 1:42. I thought the music was so cool!

[Cajundweeb]

@CajunGypsy I Agreee. The Policy Trailer music has even shown up on television programs and commercials, from what I can recall (for example, a commercial for Oral Roberts University's City of Hope Medical Center in Tulsa, OK back in the 1980s)

[rescuehero942]

The 1975 Policy Trailer, The 1993 Coming Attracions Bumper, and The 1993 And 1997 Feature Preentation Bumpers are Awesome.

[jriveraiv]

5:40-8:06 This brings me back good memories.

[Dudeman37]

I worked for GCC from 1985-1987 (GC Town East 5 in Mesquite, TX) and I remember most of these bumpers like they were yesterday!! As a matter of fact, at the 2:44 mark, on this particular "candy space" bumper, when we FIRST got this in to our theater, GCC ran what they called the "Count The Candy" contest, in which you watched this bumper and entered a contest where you guessed how many pieces of candy was used in the bumper! We always ran out of the entry forms!! Thanks for posting this!!

[bradhig]

Don't see many trash cans with the pitch in sign much anymore.

[jakestooge34]

Why couldn't we still have this stuff today?

[ApacheMan2K]

From what I read on the Wikipedia article about General Cinema, the Candy Band was created by Lucasfilm. So, maybe Industrial Light & Magic did the Candy Band bumpers?

[Excuse711]

been looking for the footage at 540!

[macdadsp]

I live in Colorado and we use to have a chain of theaters called "Mann". I have been looking for that policy trailer for a long time. Does anyone have it or remember it?

[quirpco]

The original bumper from the 1960s (3:41) was continuously used into the '80s! I distinctly remember it coming on right before seeing such films as "Raiders of the Lost Ark", "The Empire Strikes Back", "Six Pack", and "E.T.".

[ottoskidoo]

The clip at 5:06 is my favorite. I always felt secure and ready for the movie.

[quirpco]

I agree! I think it's the thundering sound of the kettle drums that do it for me.

[spirmessi]

if you like to see the cinema history watch *BIRTH OF CINEMA* in youtube and enjoy!!

[moviemagicusa12]

very nice job

[noobasaurus2]

I remember that symbol! I have been looking for years for it! When I was 4, I saw Elmo and Grouchland in a General Cinema in Federal Way, WA.

[Cajundweeb]

I remember that GCC ALWAYS ran a policy trailer between the film trailers and the feature. I think that the music on the one from about the early to mid 80's was up-tempo, but don't know the name of the score. Anyone know?

[jnnfrjnnty]

The feature presentation mid 1980s was 1986.

[phineasandferbpinky]

does anyone know where i could find a video that shows commercals at a movie theator

[Gregor1883]

I worked for GGC from 1990 to 1996 this brought back so menny memories you are the best for posting this

[ramtha9]

I love this stuff! Say, there was a cinema logo, I don't remember which one, that had a kind of jazzy bass intro, that I have been trying to find on the 'Tube. If anybody might remember it, in spite of my lack of any real information, please post. Thanks!

[Kimballsarmy]

Probably thinking of the Wehrenberg Theaters jingle they used until the mid-90's.

[TackleberryLives]

Too funny. I used to go the General Cinema in Stoneham, MA it was a dollar house and it looks like pretty dumped on by General Cinema's parent office. They ran that 1975 clean up video well into the 80's and the General Cinema Feature Presentation graphic from 1965 was also run well into the 80's. (Love the cheesy cannned music from the 1975 clean up video. How many UFH channels in the 70's used that as bumper music.) I miss that place. Fun times. It closed on 1990 last film Ghost.Appropriate.

[josels35]

Childhood memories are rushing back. I sure do miss the concession band. Thanks for posting this!

[mrscovil]

i remember all of these, the one at 5:07 is my favorite, its kinda trippy and reminds me of my child hood...cool stuff

[AvantGardeGuy2]

Why did GCC go bankrupt, anyway?

[Cajundweeb]

@AvantGardeGuy2 I would have no idea, but I figure that the home video industry had a hand in it somehow (only guessing, can't say for sure...)

[Interests2009]

Great video. Thanks for sharing. 5 stars.

[Bananas1971]

What memories these clips bring back. I worked for a NH GCC theater from 12/84 to 8/88, from the final version of the "dots of light" projector era through the first few years of the Clouds and New Projector logo and the "space candy" clip. When "space candy" came (1986) a lot changed at the theaters: blue blazers= Out, red vests = in; new cup designs and all the new pre-show bumpers. I seem to recall "space candy was produced by ILM. Can anyone conrfirm my recollection? Thanks for posting!

[atrac88]

@Bananas1971 Confirmed! ILM did most of what you see here actually.

[atrac88]

@atrac88 I meant the 80's stuff! Sorry.

[jpillz09]

im looking for a more recent movie theater policy trailer thats more jazzy. I dont think ive seen it at any bigger chains, but if anyones seen anything that might be what im looking for, let me know pleaseeee. i would be sooo happy

[har9020]

I'd seen all of them, even some older ones, except for the last one from 1997. I guess by then another theatre chain had established dominance in my hometown and I never went back to the GCC theatres. The seats there were never as comfortable as the recliners in the newer chain that hit town.

[loretano]

wow, now this brings back memories. thanks!

[Boudosaved]

2:48 to 3:12 was played in the 1980s. I used to clap to the beat and everyone in the audience would clap along. When the drink goes in the trash can I used to yell TOUCH DOWN and the audience would cheer or laugh. Good times!! This was at the old location on Van Nuys near Sepulveda in Los Angeles. Did anyone visit that one? It got torn down for a Best Buy. One childhood memory deleted just like that. Sucks big time.

[megawatt11]

3:41 is the one I remember --and it wasn't from the 60's. It was used in the 70's and 80's.

[bigman2257]

The bumper at around 4:50 with the blue background I'll never forget!!

[myohiolawyer]

The policy trailer at 1:45 is simply classic! Cheesy 70's production music ... Brings back lots of memories!

[Reed488]

With that being said, I think that it is one of the best policy trailers I've ever seen.

[GhostHostAnth]

Did anyone ever get the exact # of candies floating in space? They had a contest in the late 80s where if you guessed the correct number, you got a prize.

[TheDarksage1978]

I miss GCC. Never realized the logo was supposed to resemble an old school projector.

[johnfink]

I miss GC - the clip with the twizzler man and popcorn bob they used right before AMC took over (and right after GC went from serving pepsi to coke, thus forcing them to remove the candy band trailer and pepsi logos throughout the cinema - at Essex Green in West Orange, Pepsi was carved into the plastic cup-holder arm rests and sloppily removed with a drummel later)

[FlareonJupiter]

Thanks for posting these -- I never thought I'd see them again!

BTW, I can't count the number of times I've heard people talking during the movies I've seen at GC (or any theater, for that matter), despite the bumper at 3:17 LOL

[pookie67]

I remember that 1986 Voice-Over bouncing all over the Cineramadome (Hollywood) way back then and thinking how ridiculous it was. And how over-long that 1997 CGI-band playing to UFO-clouds intro was.

[Jac2Mac]

What month in 1993 was the 1993 General Cinema logo first used?

[KidAJonni]

I do remember the GCC clouds in the sky bumper when i went to see Beetlejuice in 1988and at that time i was 9 years old. In 1993 i saw Jurrasic Park and the clouds in the sky bumper was still in effect. In 1995 i saw The Jerky Boys movie and the candy band was now there. I remember the candy band bumper because i brought my camcorder in the theatre at that time and taped pieces of the movie, but i really took it there to tape the bumpers. I still have the tape today.

[GiantUnknownPrimate]

The 1975 Policy tune has been hiding in the back of mind for a long time. Can hardly believe I can actually experience it again. Thanks!

[jucurtis23]

I remember the one with the clouds in the sky.....it scared me when I was kid!....

[heebieandjeebie]

quiet the movie is starting!!!!!

[abenesk2]

thank you sooo very much for posting this... i grew up with this theater watching and listening to these sites before the presentation and the 1993 and 1997 candy band are when i started working there... the best job ever...

[redeyespy]

The cloud bumper really holds a special place in my memory, too...seeing and hearing it for the first time in well over 20 years really puts me back there. Thanks.

[livewithrespect]

Same here. It really seems to bring back the rush of watching a movie in the theater at that age; a weird kind of majesty. How amazing that something like that can create an emotional reaction all these years later!

[Yazmat10]

The bumper with the clouds..... My first date, going to see Fly 2 with Tammy who days later dumped me. Oh well, she now has three kids and I'm Rich!

[AvantGardeGuy2]

I remember seeing both the 1993 and the 1997 Candy Band bumpers when I was little, thanks for finding them. I also remember seeing 'Runawawy Brain' at General Cinema a long time ago.

[Jac2Mac]

You mean that Mickey Mouse cartoon that Disney would rather forget?

[AvantGardeGuy2]

Yeah, that one. You can find it on this site.

[Necropsy75]

Thanks for putting this one on Youtube. This was really fun to watch. My favorite is the bumper at 5:15 with the clouds. I know it's from the "early to mid-80's", but I distinctly remember seeing it occasionally as recently as 1995.

[Jac2Mac]

Which movies did you see in 1994-95 that had the 1986 General Cinema cloud logo?

[Necropsy75]

For certain the movie was Halloween VI. The reason I distinctly remember this is because it was my first date with the woman who would become my wife. The date was October 1st, 1995. The theater location was Blaine, MN, which has since been demolished.

[Jac2Mac]

Did it have the 1993 candy band trailer before the 1986 General Cinema cloud logo or the 1986 Space Candy bumper? Also, were there any other 1994-95 movies that you saw that had the 1986 General Cinema cloud logo

[Necropsy75]

I only vaguely remember the 1986 Space Candy one from my youth, so I'm fairly certain that the 1993 candy band trailer was in there somewhere. As far as other mid-90's movies that had the 1986 cloud bumper, I know there was at least one or two more, but I can't remember. I want to say Dumb and Dumber was one of them, but again, the only thing I am absolutely positive about was seeing it before Halloween VI.

[chabba77]

Yeah, I remember that particular location, right by Northtown. There was another one in Brooklyn Center that was identical to the Northtown theater, which is still standing. That building is currently occupied by a church. I refer to it as the "Cinema Church" since it still has the basic GCC "look", but with an added cross on the roof.

[JimmySand9]

The 1986 bump at 3:17 was voiced by Chris Clausen, who was best known for doing news voiceovers. He recently passed away, and he will be missed sorely.

[WhatsAYak]

Didn't Clausen also do an "exit locator" snipe for National Amusements that's been running @ their theatres for close to 20 years now? Sure sounds like him...

[Tomblappy]

I use to be scared of the 1993 one since i was a kid But Thanks to E.T.'s 20th Anniversary i kind of Like it Now.

[kstar8706]

It's really cool to see this again! BTW, that "1975" policy trailer actually dates back to 1980. The stock music cue in there is no older than about that time, and I believe it was introduced at the same time GCC updated their logo snipes to the one with the blue background and the clarinet music.

[WhatsAYak]

Anyone know the name of the piece used in that policy trailer?

[nxdat81]

That would be "New Horizons" by Network Music (which has since become a part of Killer Tracks).

[WhatsAYak]

Thanks for the info...and as I might have guessed, it's yet another Craig Everett Palmer piece (he also did "Ponderosa" and "Energy III", the pieces that accompanied the versions of UA's 1980s policy trailer seen in the East and West, respectively).

[HeidiJo236]

OMG-- I grew up right by a General Cinema theater and watching this was like getting into a time machine!

[time708090]

Thanks for posting this! I miss General Cinema. I would always get excited seeing these just before the film. Those were the good old days! I too wish this was on a dvd and watch this with friends.

[KidAJonni]

i wish this could be on a dvd. Imagine having a dvd of this and youre at home and a bunch if friends were over and were about to watch a movie on a 65 inch tv and before i put the movie in, i put the dvd in with these trailers and u hear""please no talking during the movie", lol

[mnine]

this is so awesome.

[fuckwad3]

spent many nights and afternoons at the GC in waterbury CT. the good ol days!! Thank You for bringing it all back!!

[AdamJ617]

I miss General Cinemas

[leeevansfanatic]

if u can try and find cineworld intros if thats alright please?

[kpl1228]

where in the heck did you get this?

[jonrev]

Most of them were found by Google Video searching "General Cinema". Alot of these were not on YouTube so that is why I made this video.

[XenonExplosion]

Actually, they were all posted on here a long time ago by myself, but were taken down by YT.

[madaracs]

Which makes no sense whatsoever because they're defunct. The property will never be reused... so they should be public domain.

[XenonExplosion]

I agree. Which makes me think most of these "copyright claims" are false. What harm could this possibly cause anyone? It just brings back memories for people. But somehow, they all got removed. I hope this one stays up for a long time!

[iabhornc]

Great video.

[Cinemajig]

OMGCC!

[LOSTGrrrl]

ah the memories

[DIOTD2008]

Excellent editing work on this.

Thanks for putting it together. 5 stars!