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Events
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February 15, 2008
The Eighth Wonder of the World turns 75!
March 2, 1933 was a milestone date in movie history! That was the day that the legendary RKO motion picture, KING KONG, made its New York City premiere at Radio City Music Hall and it’s sister theater, The Roxy. It was a giant box office succes, despite being released in the midst of the Great Depression, when money for movies, even at 10 cents a ticket, was scarce. Over the past 75 years, King Kong has become one of the most, if not the most, iconic movie figure in history.
Now, while I cannot claim to be any kind of King Kong expert or geek/freak, here are some fun facts you may find interesting about this film:
- The story for King Kong was influence by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Lost World”
- Willis O'Brien’s ground-breaking stop-motion animation would later influence Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park”
- It is ranked at #41 of the AFI’s list of best American Films.
- For subsequent theatrical re-releases throughout the 20th Century, the film featured several edits enforced by the Hays Office, in accordance with stiffer decency rules. These scenes included Kong peeling the clothes off of Ann Darrow and dropping a New York woman to her death from her apartment window.
- It was sold to television in 1956 and was the premiere TV airing for the WOR-TV Channel 9 “Million Dollar Movie”. It was aired many times inside of one week for repeated viewings.
- It was remade by John Guillermin in 1976 and Peter Jackson in 2005.
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February 12, 2008
Oscar Night America celebrates 15 years
BEVERLY HILLS, CA — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced they will be continuing the annual tradition of Oscar Night America with formal viewing parties around the U.S. to benefit charities.
On Sunday, February 24, charities in 52 cities will host official Oscar telecast viewing parties during the 80th Academy Awards ceremony as part of Oscar Night America, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' grassroots outreach program.
The Academy sanctions charities across the country to host celebratory viewing parties on Oscar Night, with proceeds directly benefiting the charities. All parties will feature the live broadcast of the Awards presentation; many will integrate Hollywood style party elements, including red-carpet arrivals, local celebrities, “paparazzi” photographers, predict-the-winner contests and live entertainment.
Read more at the Academy Website.
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February 11, 2008
Charleston International Film Festival this May
CHARLESTON, SC — Submissions must received by March 1,2008 for the Charleston International Film Festival. Go to the official website for more details.
Terrace Theater
Charleston, South Carolina -
February 6, 2008
Amazing Grace slated as Fiske Theatre’s Feb Movie of the Month
OAK GROVE, LA — The Historic Fiske Theatre will feature the moving motion picture Amazing Grace, February 15-17 as this month’s Movie of the Month.Friday and Saturday night showings beginning at 7 p.m. and the Sunday matinee is at 2 p.m. The Sunday showing will be deemed “Church Day at the Fiske” where patrons will receive free popcorn with their church bulletin.
Amazing Grace is a inspiring film directed by Michael Apted about the campaign against the slave trade in 18th century Britain, led by famous abolitionist William Wilberforce, who was responsible for steering anti-slave trade legislation through the British parliament. The title is a reference to the hymn “Amazing Grace” and the film also recounts John Newton’s writing of the hymn.
In publicity material the film is tagged “Behind the song you love is a story you will never forget."
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February 1, 2008
Paris photo exhibition related to forgotten theaters
We are doing an exhibition of pictures taken in the New York area related to forgotten theaters. Sometimes partially reused as retail or abandoned since decades, the city keeps a lot of unexpected relics behind their walls.
It will be held at the Naco Gallery, 38 rue de Citeaux in Paris from February 1st to March 16th and the vernissage(preview) will be January 31th from 7PM.
More info on our website.(Thanks to Yves Marchand for providing the picture.)
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Catch up on nominated films at AMC
AMC is holding a promotion next month where you’ll be able to see all five best picture nominees the day before the Oscars. All five along with a free large popcorn and all you can drink soft drinks for $30.
Read more at the AMC Theatres Website.
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January 15, 2008
Orson Welles Weekend at Loew’s Jersey
A Touch of Welles
February 1 & 2, 2008
At the Landmark Loew’s Jersey Theatre
54 Journal Square, Jersey City, NJ 07306
Tel: (201) 798-6055 Fax: (201) 798-4020 Email:
Web: www.loewsjersey.orgTo Mark the 50th Anniversary of the Release of Orson Welles' Now-Legendary Touch of Evil, Universal Pictures Has Struck a Brand New Print. The Loew’s Jersey Will “Premier” This New Print of Touch of Evil On February 2 Preceded By The Magnificent Ambersons, The Lady From Shanghai on Feb 2 & Citizen Kane on Feb 1.
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January 11, 2008
Winter in the Hamptons
Even though it’s not summer, there’s still reason to go to the Hamptons with the film series at the Bay Street Theater.
Just because it’s off-season in the Hamptons doesn’t mean there aren’t any good reasons to go there. From now through February, in fact, there are at least 14 good reasons. And all of them involve sitting in the dark and staying warm.
The Bay Street Theater at Sag Harbor has an inviting array of classic American films screening every Friday and Saturday night through Feb. 23. Sponsored by BookHampton, the winter series offers theme-oriented programming aimed at casual moviegoers and cinema buffs alike.
Read more in Newsday.
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January 9, 2008
London cinema to host a stage & screen production
LONDON, ENGLAND — A stage production based on David Lean’s film Brief Encounters will begin February 2 at “The Cinema on The Haymarket” (Cineworld Haymarket) and last until at least June 22. Both stage and screen will be used. Westminster Council agreed to change the use from cinema to live shows on stage. The official, gala opening will be on February 17. Top price tickets will be only $29.50 pounds, a bargain for the West End.
There will be a red carpet every night for a Brief Encounter with a fabulous difference. A new multi-layered stage production based on the David Lean film, which in turn was adapted from Noel Coward’s one-act 1936 play Still Life, will begin previews at a new venue to be known as The Cinema on The Haymarket from February 2.
Well, it’s sort of new. Actually, it occupies the cinema on The Haymarket, currently called Cineworld, which is on the site of the former Carlton Theatre.
The auditorium boasts Art Deco chandeliers, and the 444 seats, because they’re designed for a cinema, all have perfect views. To keep with the Forties period, staff will wear cinema attendant uniforms of the era and the cinema, inside and out, will be dressed with a nod to another age.
The article does not state whether movies will continue in the two auditoriums placed in the former stalls (orchestra).
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Seminar at Egyptian
The American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre and the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles present a Slide Show presentation and lecture surrounding the publication of the new book Los Angeles Theatres (Arcadia Press) which details historic theatres in Los Angeles through rare photographs and text. Many of the photos were taken by movie location scouts and have never been published before. This Saturday, January 26th event starts at 2:00 PM (approximately 2 ½ hour event total) will consist of the slide show/lecture, a question and answer period and a book signing with co-authors Marc Wanamaker (Bison Archives), Suzanne Tarbell Cooper and Amy Ronnebeck Hall. The Art Deco Society of Los Angeles will begin the event with a short progress report on their activities in historic preservation in 2007 and a preview of plans for 2008.Los Angeles and the movies grew up together, so it is only fitting that this city would boast the biggest, the best and the brightest theatres imaginable.
Other lectures in this series are planned and will be announced as they are confirmed.Tickets for this event are $5 for members of Hollywood Heritage, the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles and the American Cinematheque. Other regular prices apply for the general public and students/seniors.
This event is in the Spielberg Theatre at the historic Egyptian (6712 Hollywood Boulevard between Highland and Las Palmas) in Hollywood. Tickets are available on www.fandango.com Guests subject to availability.