One answer might be that the New York metropolitan area had multiple Cinerama theaters at the time the MGM Cinerama films were released. There was one in Montclair NJ (the Clairidge), two on Long Island NY (the Syosset in Syosset and the Twin South in Hicksville), and one in Rockland County NY (the Route 59), which was Cinerama only for a short time, but it did play How the West Was Won.
I think the reason “2001”’s Cinerama run in New York was so short is because MGM had “Ice Station Zebra” ready to go out, and there was only one Cinerama theater in New York at that time. So they sacrificed “2001” in Cinerama to make room for “Zebra”. But the 35mm version of “2001” played in only a handful of theaters in Manhattan until March 1969, so the movie played New York for a week or two short of one year before going into wide release.
I guess everybody wanted to see Liz and Dick. It’s a common misconception that “Cleopatra” was a flop, but it was actually the biggest-grossing movie of its year. It just cost so much that it didn’t show a profit until its network TV sale, several years later.
rcdt55b: I guess you can’t be more specific yet, but I hope you meant the Music Hall will soon be showing an actual movie again, and not just something projected for the Christmas show. Looking forward to the answer!
Yesterday I attended a William Castle double bill of “The Tingler” and “Homicidal”. They took interactive movie-going to new heights. Forget 3D – these movies were in 5D. I even got popcorn in my hair. Most fun I’ve had at the movies in years.
I saw Blue Jasmine here last Thursday. I think it was in the biggest of the 6 theaters, and the widescreen projection was just fine. It was also really crowded, especially for a Thursday afternoon. The movie was so good, it deserves to be popular. One sad thing: the framed photos of the Cinerama days that had been hung in the lobby, the ones I got in trouble for rephotographing in 2007, have all been taken down. At least they can still be seen on this page.
1968 was a bad year in American history, but a great year for American movies. And British movies, if you count “2001” as British, and if you consider the year’s Oscar-winning Best Picture “Oliver!”
This season of Mad Men takes place in 1968. They’ve already dealt with the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy, and the Chicago anti-Vietnam war riot at the Democratic National Convention. Characters have gone to see “Planet of the Apes” and “Rosemary’s Baby”. I hope someone goes to see “2001” – season finale is this Sunday. If they do go, it’ll be at the Capitol.
In honor of the 45th anniversary of seeing “2001” at the Capitol this past Saturday 6/15, I’m posting this article from LIFE magazine 6/7/68. I read it in a dentist’s office back then and haven’t seen it since, until today.
Cablevision couldn’t fail to see how popular an event like the annual TCM Road to Hollywood has been at the Ziegfeld. Every seat gets filled. Granted, those shows are free, but I for one would’ve gladly paid for it and I think everyone else would too. Hold more events like that, and the Ziegfeld will have a fighting chance for survival.
The picture of the screen in the article is from the early years. It doesn’t look 62 feet wide in that photo, but I watched “2001” from the front row of that theater and the screen was definitely not small.
This New York Daily News review from April 4, 1968 taught me a great lesson at the age of 13: movie critics' opinions are no more valid than my own. I’d have to see the movie for myself. About two months later, I did, and it’s still my all-time favorite. But I have to admit I was seriously hoping for a 4-star review in the Daily News that day.
232 weeks at the Dominion in London – could that be an all-time longest run for any movie, anywhere? Wonder how many 70mm prints they used up in all that time.
This letter to the Times was written by the future producer of “Airplane!” and “Robocop”. He blames MGM for the shortening of “2001” and the addition of the title cards, but all those decisions were made by Kubrick.
Talk about a spoiler alert. This article in the 4/28/68 NY Times supposedly quotes Stanley Kubrick as he gives away the entire ending of “2001”, explaining it for those in the audience who found it hard to understand. Hard to believe he would do that.
One of the largest is in the AMC Loew’s Lincoln Square complex in New York City, measuring 100' by 80'.
One answer might be that the New York metropolitan area had multiple Cinerama theaters at the time the MGM Cinerama films were released. There was one in Montclair NJ (the Clairidge), two on Long Island NY (the Syosset in Syosset and the Twin South in Hicksville), and one in Rockland County NY (the Route 59), which was Cinerama only for a short time, but it did play How the West Was Won.
I think the reason “2001”’s Cinerama run in New York was so short is because MGM had “Ice Station Zebra” ready to go out, and there was only one Cinerama theater in New York at that time. So they sacrificed “2001” in Cinerama to make room for “Zebra”. But the 35mm version of “2001” played in only a handful of theaters in Manhattan until March 1969, so the movie played New York for a week or two short of one year before going into wide release.
I guess everybody wanted to see Liz and Dick. It’s a common misconception that “Cleopatra” was a flop, but it was actually the biggest-grossing movie of its year. It just cost so much that it didn’t show a profit until its network TV sale, several years later.
rcdt55b: I guess you can’t be more specific yet, but I hope you meant the Music Hall will soon be showing an actual movie again, and not just something projected for the Christmas show. Looking forward to the answer!
Yesterday I attended a William Castle double bill of “The Tingler” and “Homicidal”. They took interactive movie-going to new heights. Forget 3D – these movies were in 5D. I even got popcorn in my hair. Most fun I’ve had at the movies in years.
Jay Phelan: I really loved your stories. You made all those actors come alive for us. Thanks!
I saw Blue Jasmine here last Thursday. I think it was in the biggest of the 6 theaters, and the widescreen projection was just fine. It was also really crowded, especially for a Thursday afternoon. The movie was so good, it deserves to be popular. One sad thing: the framed photos of the Cinerama days that had been hung in the lobby, the ones I got in trouble for rephotographing in 2007, have all been taken down. At least they can still be seen on this page.
Whew – that’s good. Nothing like those old neighborhood theaters. We can’t afford to lose any of them nowadays.
Is the Allwood closing for good, or just being renovated? It’s been around for 63 years.
1968 was a bad year in American history, but a great year for American movies. And British movies, if you count “2001” as British, and if you consider the year’s Oscar-winning Best Picture “Oliver!”
This season of Mad Men takes place in 1968. They’ve already dealt with the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy, and the Chicago anti-Vietnam war riot at the Democratic National Convention. Characters have gone to see “Planet of the Apes” and “Rosemary’s Baby”. I hope someone goes to see “2001” – season finale is this Sunday. If they do go, it’ll be at the Capitol.
In honor of the 45th anniversary of seeing “2001” at the Capitol this past Saturday 6/15, I’m posting this article from LIFE magazine 6/7/68. I read it in a dentist’s office back then and haven’t seen it since, until today.
Cablevision couldn’t fail to see how popular an event like the annual TCM Road to Hollywood has been at the Ziegfeld. Every seat gets filled. Granted, those shows are free, but I for one would’ve gladly paid for it and I think everyone else would too. Hold more events like that, and the Ziegfeld will have a fighting chance for survival.
The picture of the screen in the article is from the early years. It doesn’t look 62 feet wide in that photo, but I watched “2001” from the front row of that theater and the screen was definitely not small.
This New York Daily News review from April 4, 1968 taught me a great lesson at the age of 13: movie critics' opinions are no more valid than my own. I’d have to see the movie for myself. About two months later, I did, and it’s still my all-time favorite. But I have to admit I was seriously hoping for a 4-star review in the Daily News that day.
Whenever Vito and/or Rob Endres post anything on Cinema Treasures, it just makes my day. Thanks, guys.
This article concerning the run of South Pacific at the Bellevue in Upper Montclair NJ is more a review of the theater than of the movie.
232 weeks at the Dominion in London – could that be an all-time longest run for any movie, anywhere? Wonder how many 70mm prints they used up in all that time.
Ed: I know, right? Almost like it was submitted to the paper by a Stanley Kubrick impostor.
Audience at Cabaret screening 1/31/13.
Robert Osborne hosting the screening of Cabaret, 1/31/13.
Robert Osborne and Liza Minnelli at the Cabaret screening, 1/31/13
This letter to the Times was written by the future producer of “Airplane!” and “Robocop”. He blames MGM for the shortening of “2001” and the addition of the title cards, but all those decisions were made by Kubrick.
Talk about a spoiler alert. This article in the 4/28/68 NY Times supposedly quotes Stanley Kubrick as he gives away the entire ending of “2001”, explaining it for those in the audience who found it hard to understand. Hard to believe he would do that.