Comments from Bill Huelbig

Showing 301 - 325 of 2,119 comments

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig commented about Lafayette Theatre on Apr 22, 2015 at 8:18 am

Dine-in movie theaters are becoming popular. I think there are one or two in NJ. I just hope the diners don’t mess up the beautiful Lafayette.

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig commented about Lafayette Theatre on Mar 4, 2015 at 1:53 pm

To the overseers: Let Jeff speak! (That’s also a line from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, which I’m sure has played the Lafayette at least once).

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig commented about Loew's Jersey Theatre on Feb 12, 2015 at 4:17 pm

Theatrefan: the Loew’s Jersey did not originally have a 70mm projector, but I hope it will have one someday soon.

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig commented about Kings Theatre on Feb 9, 2015 at 10:06 am

I’d heard both sides of the story about Barbra Streisand working at the Kings as an usherette – Streisand herself has denied it – so I asked an employee. Before he could answer, two older women who were standing nearby yelled out, “YES! YES! SHE DID! 1959!” Then the employee agreed with them that she indeed did work there. I believe them!

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig commented about Kings Theatre on Feb 7, 2015 at 2:54 pm

One of the employees I talked to said there’s a possibility that movies will one day be shown here again. Right now, though, there’s no screen installed.

The restoration is indeed an amazing sight. I didn’t want to leave.

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig commented about Kings Theatre on Feb 7, 2015 at 2:49 pm

The Kings held a free neighborhood open house today to celebrate the re-opening. I posted some pictures in the photo section, but all the pictures I took can be seen here.

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig commented about Kings Theatre on Feb 7, 2015 at 2:05 pm

From a free neighborhood open house celebrating the re-opening of the Kings after a $90 million restoration, 2/7/15.

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Nov 17, 2014 at 8:48 pm

Just got back from the premiere of The Imitation Game at the Ziegfeld. Harvey Weinstein and most of the actors in the movie (Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Charles Dance, etc.) were there. What puzzled me was that they didn’t use the curtains for this big event, leaving the blank screen exposed at all times. They would have added a nice touch of class to the proceedings.

The movie was very good, if not quite the Oscar juggernaut Harvey thinks it is. He has a great Oscar track record, so I could be wrong about that.

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Nov 11, 2014 at 8:16 pm

Thank you, Mr. John Sittig. I just saw you a few minutes ago in my home theater in “The Last Days of Cinerama”, part of the “Search for Paradise” Blu-ray package.

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Nov 11, 2014 at 11:27 am

Thanks for your photo essay, Howard. You really captured the Ziegfeld experience!

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Nov 11, 2014 at 8:28 am

Thanks, Vito, for all the cue info. “Cue” is the word I was looking for! I actually tried to count them to see how many reels “Interstellar” would be, but I lost track somewhere after Reel 5.

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Nov 11, 2014 at 4:50 am

I’ve seen that too, long ago. There was nothing like that at the Ziegfeld, but the film print did have the circular 70mm reel change markings, as opposed to 35mm anamorphic widescreen markings which are oval. It was good to see the circles again after a very long time.

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Nov 10, 2014 at 4:40 pm

I brought up the ‘70s only as far as the Ziegfeld is concerned. They were the glory days for this theater.

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Nov 9, 2014 at 4:38 pm

Went to the 2:45 show this afternoon with three friends who hadn’t been to the Ziegfeld in at least 9 years, since Revenge of the Sith. They all enjoyed the movie, and understood it better than I did. This was actually my third time seeing it – the first time I was totally baffled. Now I’ve made my peace with it and see it for the good movie it is.

I’d like to second what Luis said about the curtains. Funny how such a simple thing can add so much good feeling to the show. In fact, they were closed when we came in, which is unusual. There are usually commercials being played at that time. Seeing those beautiful gold curtains while walking in was like going back to the ‘70s in a black hole time warp.

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Nov 6, 2014 at 3:03 pm

My friend was going to see Interstellar in some multiplex on Staten Island, where he lives. I said he should go to the Ziegfeld, and he took my advice. He’ll be there for the first time tomorrow night.

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Oct 8, 2014 at 10:45 am

moviebuff82: you should make the trip in for “Interstellar” in 70mm. It’ll be like going back to the Ziegfeld’s glory days. Hope the movie is as good as I want it to be!

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Oct 6, 2014 at 12:31 pm

For me, it was the movie itself. I know it got 3 Oscar nominations for acting, but I found it almost unwatchable. Projection and sound were fine, as they usually are at the Ziegfeld.

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Oct 6, 2014 at 11:52 am

I just thought it was a bad movie. Even 70mm couldn’t save it.

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Oct 6, 2014 at 10:41 am

Too bad about no 6-track magnetic. But the very fact that the newest big sci-fi epic will be playing at the Ziegfeld in 70mm is cause for celebration. It’s like 1977 and “Close Encounters” all over again. This should make up for the lousy experience that was “The Master”.

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig commented about Embassy 1,2,3 Theatre on Oct 1, 2014 at 1:50 pm

My parents bought a souvenir program for “Coal Miner’s Daughter” in 1980 in suburban New Jersey. Definitely not a roadshow.

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Sep 5, 2014 at 7:50 pm

I’m proud to be a faithful Ziegfeld customer. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes was the most recent time I went out of my way to see a movie there. I understand all the reasons why, but it’s still sad to see so many empty seats. I’ll never forget people desperately hunting down a place to sit before a sold-out Lawrence of Arabia show began (1989). Those were the days.

It’s easier to get home from the Empire 25 on 42nd St. – it should be, anyway, but it takes about 10 minutes to get out of that building. It all evens out. Better off going to the Ziegfeld.

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Sep 5, 2014 at 7:29 am

I went to two Ziegfeld morning shows this summer (around 10-10:30 AM): Jersey Boys and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. But there were no pre-12 noon discounts. There were also just a handful of people at both shows.

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig commented about Embassy 1,2,3 Theatre on Sep 4, 2014 at 10:06 am

Elmer wrote the score for “Cast a Giant Shadow” too. His music was being heard at the DeMille for years!

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig commented about Embassy 1,2,3 Theatre on Sep 4, 2014 at 9:09 am

The 2-tape VHS version of “Hawaii” was also the complete roadshow version, more than 3 hours long. Someone dropped the ball when they released the DVD.

Techman and I have completely opposite opinions. I thought “The Hallelujah Trail” was boring and felt like it was never going to end, but I loved “Hawaii” back then and still do. At least they both had great music by Elmer Bernstein.

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Aug 16, 2014 at 9:58 am

I found my tickets.