This frankly made me well up with tears. I remember sitting in the Century 21 movie theater in San Jose, CA, or the Century 22 or 23, with a thousand other opening-night sci-fi/Lucas/Spielberg movie nerds waiting for one of those lovely summer movie spectacles between 1977-1987. Everybody would be revved up for the show, the lights would go dim, and then they would play this trailer. Everyone in the audience would clap along and then roar out a cheer as the main feature started and took us to another galaxy. Oh happy memories. Oh happy youth.
OMG! I'm so glad someone was able to preserve this. Syufy/Century alumni here: C-24, C-22, and Mtn. View. Worked in the booth at Mtn. View; the Coke cup was our framing reference.
How fantastic! Spent many summer nights standing in line to see the blockbuster of the week outside the Orange Cinerama Dome. The clapping was the best part. Thanks for posting this. Brought back some great memories.
Thanks for posting this. Syufy Enterprises had quite an imprint here in the Las Vegas Valley. They owned the Red Rock Theatres, and, I believe, the Cinedome theatres, which looked not too unlike the Domed building in this title sequence.
I worked at their Drive-In Theaters back in the late 80s! Worked with Alan and Patrick and got to play free arcade games in the snack bar after the last feature played. Good times!
Hi folks, This video I put up is getting some increased interest due to the fact that the Winchester (Century) 21, 22, and 23 dome theaters will be closing March 30 2014. I was especially touched to read a comment that the operators are including this trailer in front of the last shows. If anyone is interested in a high quality recording of the music used in this piece, a very early comment described the composer and music library where the piece came from. Thanks to a fan, the recording is presented to you now in downloadable MP3 format. You will notice that the trailer only used the 2nd half of the song. Enjoy as we embrace a bittersweet goodbye to the domes we grew up in doing what we all do best.. watching movies! www.lffltd.dreamhosters.com/syufy
I was bummed it didn't play at Century 23 today before the Muppets Most Wanted, but not as bummed as I was when I left while knowing it'd be the last time I'd see a movie here =(
OMG YES!!!! I've told so many people about this -or asked them if they remembered this opening- Totally excited to see it again. Since this advertisement I have yet to see the audience get involved in the movie mood together. The clapping was classic because people actually took part in it together like a family watching a movie :P I still have like 100 old movie ticket stubs from the 80's...I know, nerd right? :P
I remember when the clapping first started: at a 'dry run' of a film. It was all such a big joke. The company thought it was "neat." In fact, when they were working on the 'flying ticket' policy trailer, they wanted to keep the music. It took a number of us to convince them they were being mocked.
having worked at century 22 in san jose the summer of '93 i remember the film fondly. even though i went to the movies weekly, i only saw two people ever do the clapping ... i missed out
Ha, I saw this policy trailer a dozen times at the old Cinedome outside Sacramento back in the 80's and early 90's. I can't recall hearing people clap along but I do remember the trailer being worn out after years of use.
Let me clear something up. I started the Century Syufy clapping. Not only that, I originated it at the theaters on Winchester not at some second fiddle location in Mountain View as someone here attests. The iconic Century Theaters were on Winchester and that's where I started the clap. The actual clap with other movie goers joining in did not immediately catch on, it was at least a full summer where myself and Derrick Barros did the claps alone and on cue. Gradually, other people started to join and we never heard the clap started with anyone but ourselves. It was at least a year after the two of us were doing it that we finally heard patrons doing the clap on their own, and the rest is history. I grew up in San Jose, graduated Mitty High School in 1988 and college at SCU. I'm not bullshitting you about this piece of bay area history. You'll simply have to take my word at it that I did this clap absolutely alone for at least a year in those theaters, across many many movies, before the novelty finally caught on.
I don't recall this clapping making it to the Oakland location near the airport/Coliseum. I do remember the song. That complex was torn down and the Walmart eventually built there (which itself was later shut down).
I feel a deep NEED to respond to this, and thanks you so much for posting this! I worked for Syufy in Sacto & South SF, and this music was the soundtrack to a great time in life - bom bom BOOOOMMMM - da da da DA DA DA!!!
I miss hearing the clapping, I think we looked forward to that more than the movie sometimes. My friends and I worked for Syufy in San Jose during the late 80s. Good times!
I worked very briefly at a Century theater in 1992 and they were still using this trailer- even then it was ancient- but they had hand-spliced out the "Smoking Permitted" part, so there was always a loud splice at that point. I guess they didn't think that was a big deal, since the rest of their presentation was just as crappy, or worse. Wonder if the dome theater shown here was cut in half? ;)
unfortunately no. I found this unused print in an abandoned film lab years ago. I just projected it in my living room and videotaped it off the screen. I have some other theater policy trailers that I'll post eventually.
There's been articles and discussion in the Mercury newspaper about the winchester domes and what fates they may meet. The land lease from the owners of winchester mystery house is up this year and they're looking at other uses of the land.
Century 22, 23 and 24 on Winchester Blvd. in the 60s, 70s and 80s. This clapping trailer I recall mostly from the 80s...the entire audience would clap-clap-clap to it. Fun memories. I don't live in San Jose anymore, but I think Century 25 by Westgate closed down (?). I miss those days!
My wife was a worker/manager at a couple of Syufy properties. She loathes that policy trailer. With a burning passion. Just sent it to her. Yea, I'm an evil man.
My first job was working and managing the Salinas Drive in theatre and later the Northridge 8 walk-in for a total of 8 years. What a time 1977 to 1985.
In Cincinnati where I grew up, the USA Cinemas chain used this music too, but these sections were cut together differently, like the trailer house had these riffs and assembled them in multiple ways for multiple chains. It started with (using this videos metrics) the 0:23 "boom boom boom", play out about the same to 1:00, but would continue the riff, then it would switch to the horn bridge from 0:10 to 0:22, THEN go to that big finish at 1:01. Weird and scary I can remember it that precisely.
I remember seeing this up into the mid 90's. It was a little different, the Suffy was replaced with "Century" and some of the wording was dofferent but the music and anamation was the same. I miss the policy trailer spliced onto the film, it's all video now
The Century 25 and 24 theater domes in San Jose were demolished in early 2014. Century 21, 22, and 23 will close at the end of March 2014 and will likely be demolished for new development if they don't get landmark protection, and members of the SJ city council have come out opposing this. See facebook.com/savedome for more information.
I have been looking for this for 10 years. There was a local punk band, The Gizzards, that captured the awesomeness of this song in their own version. No recordings of them that I know of. Actually, I hated the clapping, which ruined the groovin jam and solid beat that starts at :40. Thanks for the post!
@CMLion I believe it was the 'dry run' of Ghostbusters 2 in 1989 at the old Town and Country theatre (which was a Manns, then a UA, then a Century - but now gone and effectively replaced with a Cinemark.) It seemed new at that screening...
@powerpuffgir1 The 25 (my alma mater, if you will) closed the Summer of '09. That September it reopened as the Retro Dome. Great place, they show retro films in the "A" side and live performances in the "B" side.
I'm so old. I actually did the clap along back in the day. Hahaha. I was thinking about putting this as a preamble to my system queuing up a Movie. GET OFF MY LAWN
Century 21 and 22 (23 didn't showcase the main theatrical releases) where we tossed beach balls and inflatable beach babes whilst clapping to the beats. Might get sued for that now days. lol.
If someone can tell me what the name of the actual musical piece is and what band/orchestra recorded it, It'd make my day. Panaflex mentioned that someone posted a reply with the info but I can't find it.
But they'd have to cut out the "smoking is permitted only the lobby" part, though, and replace it with "Please no smoking at any time in the building."
Have you ever found or seen a better quality version of this intermission item played at SFUFY Theatres, back in the day? th-cam.com/video/yS7bHM1BMJ4/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=TheSmartfolks
Hi folks, I want to clear something up concerning local history. A lot of people claim to be the ones who got "The Syufy Clap" started. They didn't. I did. I don't remember the movie, but my friends Jason, Ket, Perrin, and myself were at the Century 10 (now 16) in Mountain View. The intro had been in use for a short while and I thought it was overly bombastic, so this time I started clapping. I know I was the first because quite a few audience members were yelling at me to shut up. Even my friend Jason was slouching in his seat. Meanwhile, Ket and several other audience members joined in. I was a young and obnoxious teenager, as well as a clinic escort at a clinic that performed abortions, so the negative reactions of others didn't faze me To me, what supports my story is that it's the only one that mentions the negative reaction when the clapping started. Every time I hear someone claim to have started "the Syufy Clap" they always tell it like it was an immediate hit with everyone around them. It wasn't, some people were upset. However, the next time I went to a Century Theater most people were doing it.
Greg Palmer Absolutely. I do not remember anyone doing the clap before I did. Also during that first time, for every person who joined in, there was someone in the crowd who was upset with the clapping.
If you are the one who started the clapping theme, I salute you sir. Somehow it got to the Century Park 12 in Redwood City where I first heard it in the early 90's. However I was at a Century Movie Theater in San Francisco when the theme came on and started clapping and being the only one who did it, got some of the oddest looks from people, just assumed everyone knew about it. Just happened to be a treat for people who live in the Peninsula.
Syufy Theaters were the fucking WORST theater chain in America! The sound here reminds of of their crappy sound system they had in the theater. Glad their gone!
Here's a video, STOP THE DOME-ALITION, that tells you what you can do to prevent the Winchester Domes from being demolished: th-cam.com/video/skQqwGT6pRU/w-d-xo.html
@CMLion I believe it was the 'dry run' of Ghostbusters 2 in 1989 at the old Town and Country theatre (which was a Manns, then a UA, then a Century - but now gone and effectively replaced with a Cinemark.) It seemed new at that screening...
This frankly made me well up with tears. I remember sitting in the Century 21 movie theater in San Jose, CA, or the Century 22 or 23, with a thousand other opening-night sci-fi/Lucas/Spielberg movie nerds waiting for one of those lovely summer movie spectacles between 1977-1987. Everybody would be revved up for the show, the lights would go dim, and then they would play this trailer. Everyone in the audience would clap along and then roar out a cheer as the main feature started and took us to another galaxy. Oh happy memories. Oh happy youth.
Oh, you know it!!!
In the 80’s & 90’s for me.
Bom bom bom, clap clap clap clapclapclap!!!
LOVED IT!!!
Yup I remember people clapping.
Loved clapping along with everyone in the theater to this as a kid. Good times! Thanks for uploading!
The timpani on this is underrated.
Seriously, though... SO many memories contained in this little clip.
OMG! I'm so glad someone was able to preserve this. Syufy/Century alumni here: C-24, C-22, and Mtn. View. Worked in the booth at Mtn. View; the Coke cup was our framing reference.
How fantastic! Spent many summer nights standing in line to see the blockbuster of the week outside the Orange Cinerama Dome. The clapping was the best part. Thanks for posting this. Brought back some great memories.
I spent many afternoons as a kid at the Red Rock theatre in Vegas humming along to this tune. Very Cool!!!
Same!
0:42 "Remember, clapping during this trailer is appreciated by all."
Thanks for posting this. Syufy Enterprises had quite an imprint here in the Las Vegas Valley. They owned the Red Rock Theatres, and, I believe, the Cinedome theatres, which looked not too unlike the Domed building in this title sequence.
I worked at their Drive-In Theaters back in the late 80s! Worked with Alan and Patrick and got to play free arcade games in the snack bar after the last feature played. Good times!
This seems like such a fun policy trailer. Really gets you excited for the movie. Can imagine the theater clapping to the beat
What a great tribute ! I remember this from my childhood, thank you!!
Hi folks, This video I put up is getting some increased interest due to the fact that the Winchester (Century) 21, 22, and 23 dome theaters will be closing March 30 2014. I was especially touched to read a comment that the operators are including this trailer in front of the last shows. If anyone is interested in a high quality recording of the music used in this piece, a very early comment described the composer and music library where the piece came from. Thanks to a fan, the recording is presented to you now in downloadable MP3 format. You will notice that the trailer only used the 2nd half of the song. Enjoy as we embrace a bittersweet goodbye to the domes we grew up in doing what we all do best.. watching movies! www.lffltd.dreamhosters.com/syufy
I was bummed it didn't play at Century 23 today before the Muppets Most Wanted, but not as bummed as I was when I left while knowing it'd be the last time I'd see a movie here =(
Dang I guess I was too late
OMG YES!!!! I've told so many people about this -or asked them if they remembered this opening- Totally excited to see it again. Since this advertisement I have yet to see the audience get involved in the movie mood together. The clapping was classic because people actually took part in it together like a family watching a movie :P I still have like 100 old movie ticket stubs from the 80's...I know, nerd right? :P
I remember when the clapping first started: at a 'dry run' of a film. It was all such a big joke. The company thought it was "neat." In fact, when they were working on the 'flying ticket' policy trailer, they wanted to keep the music. It took a number of us to convince them they were being mocked.
having worked at century 22 in san jose the summer of '93 i remember the film fondly. even though i went to the movies weekly, i only saw two people ever do the clapping ... i missed out
Ha, I saw this policy trailer a dozen times at the old Cinedome outside Sacramento back in the 80's and early 90's. I can't recall hearing people clap along but I do remember the trailer being worn out after years of use.
Let me clear something up. I started the Century Syufy clapping. Not only that, I originated it at the theaters on Winchester not at some second fiddle location in Mountain View as someone here attests. The iconic Century Theaters were on Winchester and that's where I started the clap. The actual clap with other movie goers joining in did not immediately catch on, it was at least a full summer where myself and Derrick Barros did the claps alone and on cue. Gradually, other people started to join and we never heard the clap started with anyone but ourselves. It was at least a year after the two of us were doing it that we finally heard patrons doing the clap on their own, and the rest is history. I grew up in San Jose, graduated Mitty High School in 1988 and college at SCU. I'm not bullshitting you about this piece of bay area history. You'll simply have to take my word at it that I did this clap absolutely alone for at least a year in those theaters, across many many movies, before the novelty finally caught on.
The clapping made it down to Century Park 12 in Redwood City even in 1995. Tried Clapping in a S.F. theater and not one person joined in.
Are you the legendary Ken Oh that always had your name on the water tower overlooking highway 85 in the Sunnyvale/Mountain View border?
Peter Noble nobody believes you, knows you, or cares.
& your bragging about a clap to this shitty movie theater chain?
I don't recall this clapping making it to the Oakland location near the airport/Coliseum. I do remember the song. That complex was torn down and the Walmart eventually built there (which itself was later shut down).
I feel a deep NEED to respond to this, and thanks you so much for posting this! I worked for Syufy in Sacto & South SF, and this music was the soundtrack to a great time in life - bom bom BOOOOMMMM - da da da DA DA DA!!!
I miss hearing the clapping, I think we looked forward to that more than the movie sometimes. My friends and I worked for Syufy in San Jose during the late 80s. Good times!
Panaflex, can't thank you enough. Experiencing this again brought tears to my eyes. Bygone days!
I loved that song. Been looking for it for years! Thanks.
oh damn! thanks for the nostalgic memories. My days were at the Century Plaza 10 in South SF but got closed down and moved over to Tanforan Mall.
Even though I wasn't in the 80s, I LOVE THIS POLICY TRAILER. Especially the song "Made in USA"!
i fondly remember this. group clapping, good times.
I worked very briefly at a Century theater in 1992 and they were still using this trailer- even then it was ancient- but they had hand-spliced out the "Smoking Permitted" part, so there was always a loud splice at that point. I guess they didn't think that was a big deal, since the rest of their presentation was just as crappy, or worse.
Wonder if the dome theater shown here was cut in half? ;)
unfortunately no. I found this unused print in an abandoned film lab years ago. I just projected it in my living room and videotaped it off the screen. I have some other theater policy trailers that I'll post eventually.
There's been articles and discussion in the Mercury newspaper about the winchester domes and what fates they may meet. The land lease from the owners of winchester mystery house is up this year and they're looking at other uses of the land.
Century OG here 21-25 and I clapped every time this makes me a happy kitty cat
Century 22, 23 and 24 on Winchester Blvd. in the 60s, 70s and 80s. This clapping trailer I recall mostly from the 80s...the entire audience would clap-clap-clap to it. Fun memories. I don't live in San Jose anymore, but I think Century 25 by Westgate closed down (?). I miss those days!
Pretty sure they're both gone. =(
My wife was a worker/manager at a couple of Syufy properties. She loathes that policy trailer. With a burning passion.
Just sent it to her. Yea, I'm an evil man.
Hi Douglas, you know she has myself, Ket Theriot, and Perrin to blame for it.
Please make an edited version with the clapper. Corporate would highly appreciate it. Thx in advanced.
I grew up in Massachusetts. I think this music was used at USA Cinemas back in the mid-late 80's.
Now this gets me ready for a movie.
Oh, how I miss the days when a full orchestra got together to record something as simple as movie theater music!
Oh, my goodness!!!! That was so fun! Yea, I remember those days! (San Jose, CA)
Back when theaters also had big, cool, expansive video arcades
That's why I always loved going to the movies. I don't remember the movies, I remember the arcades.
My first job was working and managing the Salinas Drive in theatre and later the Northridge 8 walk-in for a total of 8 years. What a time 1977 to 1985.
Sniff, sniff, reminds me of when I was a little kid going to the movies and seeing this as the lights went down.
I remember that because I lived in San Jose during when they had these.
In Cincinnati where I grew up, the USA Cinemas chain used this music too, but these sections were cut together differently, like the trailer house had these riffs and assembled them in multiple ways for multiple chains.
It started with (using this videos metrics) the 0:23 "boom boom boom", play out about the same to 1:00, but would continue the riff, then it would switch to the horn bridge from 0:10 to 0:22, THEN go to that big finish at 1:01.
Weird and scary I can remember it that precisely.
I remember seeing this up into the mid 90's. It was a little different, the Suffy was replaced with "Century" and some of the wording was dofferent but the music and anamation was the same. I miss the policy trailer spliced onto the film, it's all video now
The Century 25 and 24 theater domes in San Jose were demolished in early 2014. Century 21, 22, and 23 will close at the end of March 2014 and will likely be demolished for new development if they don't get landmark protection, and members of the SJ city council have come out opposing this. See facebook.com/savedome for more information.
Awh, I miss being a kid!!! Those were the days...
I have been looking for this for 10 years. There was a local punk band, The Gizzards, that captured the awesomeness of this song in their own version. No recordings of them that I know of. Actually, I hated the clapping, which ruined the groovin jam and solid beat that starts at :40. Thanks for the post!
@MikeAM78
Are you kidding? We clapped to this all the way through the 80's!
@CMLion I believe it was the 'dry run' of Ghostbusters 2 in 1989 at the old Town and Country theatre (which was a Manns, then a UA, then a Century - but now gone and effectively replaced with a Cinemark.) It seemed new at that screening...
hahaha K-K-K-Ken!
@powerpuffgir1 The 25 (my alma mater, if you will) closed the Summer of '09. That September it reopened as the Retro Dome. Great place, they show retro films in the "A" side and live performances in the "B" side.
The good old days
I forgot about the beach balls! thanks for remembering!
Oh yeah I was there for the last of those, the Cries of WILSON IM SORRY!! echoe to this day
miss the star wars lazer one was my fav syufy commercial
I'm so old. I actually did the clap along back in the day. Hahaha. I was thinking about putting this as a preamble to my system queuing up a Movie. GET OFF MY LAWN
Good times at the Solono drive in, Concord, CA
As of this morning, 21 is no more...
0:46 "Smoking is permitted in the lobby area only" 😂
This is probably around the early-80s.
Century Park 12, Redwood City, CA
I don't know why I'm searching old theatre policy's but I find old ones to be cool the music here is ace
Update: Now there even more intresting considering I work at a theatre now
Ene-Chan That’s the kind of follow-up comment TH-cam was made for!
@panaflex do you happen to remember where that film lab was by any chance?
Memories!
My favorite Century theater was the Cinema Dome, In the city of Orange Ca
film weave. It was slightly warped from being in storage. The camera was on a tripod.
@blueknob5538 which city ?
they did an 'updated 'version of this - I think branded Century theatres. Anyone have it?
That was so much fun.
Century 21 and 22 (23 didn't showcase the main theatrical releases) where we tossed beach balls and inflatable beach babes whilst clapping to the beats. Might get sued for that now days. lol.
If someone can tell me what the name of the actual musical piece is and what band/orchestra recorded it, It'd make my day. Panaflex mentioned that someone posted a reply with the info but I can't find it.
Dave Ristrim. The track is called "Made in U.S.A." and is (was) part of the Omni production music library which is apmmusic.com
@@panaflex Many thanks. I did find it online. This song is almost TOO infectious.
why didn't they expand east
But they'd have to cut out the "smoking is permitted only the lobby" part, though, and replace it with "Please no smoking at any time in the building."
Who. Composed the music
It was part of the Omni production music library. You can download it here: tinyurl.com/y7yo8svt
The song is called "Made in U.S.A."
Century Capitol 16 and Century Drive-In in San Jose anyone?
I remember when the Capitol drive in was also an inside theater. Long gone now. The drive-in is still there though.
CLAP CLAP CLAP! CLAPCLAPCLAP CLAPCLAPCLAP!
It was nice that they ran 2001 as the last movie, but they ran it from a BluRay and in the wrong aspect ratio. Terrible.
All in all, the destruction of the Dome was a travesty. A pity that a benefactor couldn't save it!
@jreafsnyder Yep me to that theater was Awesome !
Clap clap clap/clap clap clap! (repeat) LOL!
Have you ever found or seen a better quality version of this intermission item played at SFUFY Theatres, back in the day? th-cam.com/video/yS7bHM1BMJ4/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=TheSmartfolks
Hi folks, I want to clear something up concerning local history. A lot of people claim to be the ones who got "The Syufy Clap" started. They didn't. I did. I don't remember the movie, but my friends Jason, Ket, Perrin, and myself were at the Century 10 (now 16) in Mountain View. The intro had been in use for a short while and I thought it was overly bombastic, so this time I started clapping. I know I was the first because quite a few audience members were yelling at me to shut up. Even my friend Jason was slouching in his seat. Meanwhile, Ket and several other audience members joined in. I was a young and obnoxious teenager, as well as a clinic escort at a clinic that performed abortions, so the negative reactions of others didn't faze me
To me, what supports my story is that it's the only one that mentions the negative reaction when the clapping started. Every time I hear someone claim to have started "the Syufy Clap" they always tell it like it was an immediate hit with everyone around them. It wasn't, some people were upset. However, the next time I went to a Century Theater most people were doing it.
***** Are you serious?
Greg Palmer Absolutely. I do not remember anyone doing the clap before I did. Also during that first time, for every person who joined in, there was someone in the crowd who was upset with the clapping.
That is awesome. It's just too bad they haven't kept the "Syufy Clap" theme around on a regular basis.
If you are the one who started the clapping theme, I salute you sir. Somehow it got to the Century Park 12 in Redwood City where I first heard it in the early 90's. However I was at a Century Movie Theater in San Francisco when the theme came on and started clapping and being the only one who did it, got some of the oddest looks from people, just assumed everyone knew about it. Just happened to be a treat for people who live in the Peninsula.
Definitely 1980s
How special for you
@htnguyen: clap-clap-clap-kla-kla-clap!
Unfortunately no.
Syufy Theaters were the fucking WORST theater chain in America! The sound here reminds of of their crappy sound system they had in the theater. Glad their gone!
kinda like general cinema in its last days
Here's a video, STOP THE DOME-ALITION, that tells you what you can do to prevent the Winchester Domes from being demolished:
th-cam.com/video/skQqwGT6pRU/w-d-xo.html
Just found it! YES! watch?v=aFdKYHKvGt4
It doesn't work anymore
@CMLion I believe it was the 'dry run' of Ghostbusters 2 in 1989 at the old Town and Country theatre (which was a Manns, then a UA, then a Century - but now gone and effectively replaced with a Cinemark.) It seemed new at that screening...