For most people, Hawaii is an earthly paradise, filled with awe-striking natural beauty and blessed with a near-perfect climate. Even noted cynic Mark Twain wrote that in Hawaii, "the good that die experience no change, for they but fall asleep in one heaven and wake up in another." I can only guess he never tried to get a decent DirecTV satellite signal there.
Brothers Peter and Bobby Farrelly are the legendary duo behind some of the most raucous, outrageous, original - and successful - comedies ever, including Dumb & Dumber, There's Something About Mary, and most recently, The Heartbreak Kid.
Except for the color bursting from the reception-area movie posters - The Double Life of Veronique, Black Orpheus, and the Beastie Boys Video Anthology among them - the Criterion Collection's new Park Avenue South headquarters in Manhattan are styled in the same palette as many of the films that the company painstakingly restores and releases on DVD: black and white, with profound gray area
Here's a predictable plot: A world-famous director buys a mansion in the Hollywood Hills and immediately demands that his underlings bring forth a traditional screening room - an opulent show-place, sealed off from the rest of the house, complete with a hulking projector, Voice of the Theater-type speakers, leather recliners on shag-covered risers, red velvet curtains, and a touchscreen rem
John Chance was a typical Sound & Vision reader - at least, until a year ago. That's when he turned his love of A/V gear and do-it-yourself projects into a custom-installation business. Back in 2002, this New York City fireman designed and built an addition for his house that included a home theater.
Chris Wyllie has had his share of tough missions. As a Navy SEAL from 1994 to 2000, he was dispatched to the Persian Gulf, where he drove high-speed cigarette boats, supervised military electronics, and gathered photo intelligence.
Much of my work as owner of Experience AV in Montrose, Colorado, is in the strange world of spec homes - and in this market, a developer with a little foresight is the best friend a custom installer can have.