Criterion Theatre

Thanks, William. Funny, I went to the Rivoli several times during the ‘60s. I saw “The Sand Pebbles” there in '66 or '67 and the re-release of “Gone With The Wind” there in '68. The last time I was there was in 1980 or '81 to see the remake of “Cat People.” Yet I never realized that I saw “The Alamo” there. Thanks again for your help.

Thanks for the information, William.
By the way, would you know where John Wayne’s The Alamo played when it was reserved seat on Broadway? On my 10th. (or 11th.) birthday, my father gave me the choice to get reserved seat tickets to see either The Duke’s “The Alamo” or Kirk Douglas' “Spartacus” on Broadway. I chose The Alamo. After the film was over, my father said “I think we should have chosen Spartacus.” I wish I could remember what theater we saw The Alamo in. Perhaps you would know. (Even though it wasn’t the greatest picture, I still have a great deal of affection and nostalgia for Wayne’s epic western.)

I went to the Criterion several times growing up. I can remember proudly going there to see “Valley of the Dolls” myself, when that film was just released and was a big deal at the time. Later, I saw “Patton,”“Tora,Tora,Tora” and “Funny Girl"on reserved-seat at the Criterion.
However what I really remember was going to Manhattan with my mother and father, Xmas season 1962 (or ‘63.) At the Criterion was "Lawrence of Arabia.” On the next street at the Loews State was the Brando “Mutiny on the Bounty.” A few blocks away at the Warner/Demille, (I forget which,) was “The Longest Day.” And I think (though I am not sure,) that across the street at the Warner/Cinerama was “How the West Was Won.” These are some of my favorite films and all were playing on reserved-seat. I like to think that if I could discover a time machine and go back in time, I would return to that time and see all those lavish films again on all those big screens. What a time to be a movie-goer in New York.
I hadn’t been to the Criterion in many years but returned in the late '90s to see “The Sixth Sense,” which was playing there and fit into my schedule. It was obvious to me that the theater probably wouldn’t be around very much longer. And as I sat in that enormous theater one last time, I began to imagine the overture of “Lawrence of Arabia” wafting through this great theater one more time.

Times Square is a little crowded in this 1956 photo from Life:
http://tinyurl.com/qcl224

The problem with this theater and the remnants of other old theaters in the Times Square area by the 1980’s was the smell. I usually chose to see movies on the east side in the newer houses for this reason.

“The Desperate Hours” would have opened at the Criterion in October 1955 and possibly played much/most of November.

1966
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Good ad. Wish it was larger.

Had no idea that “A Night to Remember” had started in the States as a roadshow attraction — at the large Criterion no less. It did not do much business in this country. The Rank Organization, which distributed it, cannot have been gratified to find that the U.S. returns did not measure up to the raves. I concur that it’s incomparably superior (in all but the epic elements and special effects) to the 1997 version.

Here is a 1942 Life photo. The lights were dimmed to save energy during the war:
http://tinyurl.com/57uzn8

Here is an October 1957 photo from Life Magazine. The Criterion marquee is visible in the background. Apologies if this photo has already been posted.
http://tinyurl.com/6c3le3

You can see a 1958 era shot of Times Square and the Criterion Theatre playing “South Pacific” in the film “It Happened to Jane” (1959) from Columbia Pictures.