Ziegfeld Theatre

“The Producers” looks terrible and so does “Rent”. With a past loaded with great musicals, why the HELL can’t someone get it right? The arguement is that todays “kids” won’t believe the musical the way it used to be presented. WRONG. Kids by the millions watch non stop musicals all day on MTV and it’s various channels.

Pauline Kael once said in the late 60’s that the time then was ripe to create more musicals with the present (then) rock stars like Janis Joplin. That’s what made the musicals of the 30s, 40s and 50s successful: they were populated with the top recording artists of the day (Doris Day, Rosemary Clooney, Crosby et. al.). That’s what the studios could do: setup a musical with one or many of today’s contemporary recording artists. This would probably not appeal to some of the older generation on this site (sorry…I do NOT mean this at all as an insult but it’s the truth…you’re not going to see or even want to see the likes of Britney Spears, Sheryl Crowe or a Justin Timberlake crooning a 50s ditty).

The studios lack the creative nerve to do something like this. If someone took the dare to create a really good musical, it would be a blockbuster. Christ, look at “Purple Rain” back in 1984. Maybe not everyone’s cup of tea but it was pretty good.

They are having the premiere of Rent tonight.

According to the Clearview website, the inflated prices will only last for as long as the Ziegfeld shows “The Producers” exclusively (12/16 to 12/24). Ticket prices will be reduced to $10.75 starting on Christmas Day, when the film moves into wider release.

Inside word is that the film isn’t very good and by the looks of the preview I agree. The sets look terrible.

Regarding the above post about films that played the Ziegfeld. “Victor/Victoria,” “Hair,” and each of the three “That’s Entertainment” films played there (all of which were initially at the Ziegfeld on an exclusive basis).

Not sure about “Ishtar” but I don’t believe that “The Wiz” was shown at the Ziegfeld; the Manhattan first run engagements of “The Wiz” were at Loews theaters, including the Astor Plaza.

I loved going to the Ziegfeld to see “The Wiz”, “Hair”, “Victor/Victoria”, “That’s Entertainment III”, and even “Ishtar” !!! Sure hope they get “Rent” and/or “The Producers” ! I’d go in a New York minute !!!

Rent and The Producers will also play at one of the multiplexes on 42nd street so the theater crowds will most likely go there. Will be interesting to see how big a crowd is drawn to the Ziegfeld because of the theater.

Is the theater closed again? I can’t seem to find out what’s playing there.

Saw “Flightplan” there recently and it was empty! Also although it is a really nice single screer theatre the seats are very uncomfortable and the screen is really not that large!

I’m not entirely sure which film was the first I ever saw here. I know my parents took me to see “That’s Entertainment” at this theater, but I also recall seeing a re-issue of Disney’s “Fantasia” at a big theater in Manhattan in the ‘70’s and I think it might have been here… although, now that I think about it, it may have been one of the many films I saw at Radio City Music Hall in the '70’s.

I remember seeing the “Grateful Dead Movie” here in 1977 when I was a pre-teen Dead Head in training. Also “Apocalype Now!” which was presented here in 70mm & Dolby without any opening or closing credits, just a program that was handed out with a listing of those involved in the production. I also recall playing hookey and coming in to Manhattan via subway on Saint Patrick’s Day and braving the crowds to catch a matinee of the musical “Hair” in 1979. I still have the souveneir program from that day. A few years later some college buddies and I caught the movie version of Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” at the Ziegfeld.

I know there were many other movies I caught here, but these stand out in my memory. The most recent one was “Chicago” a couple of years back. And if the Peter Jackson remake of “King Kong” is indeed booked here for December, I will most certainly make the quick trip in to see it. Now with the Astor Plaza converted to a venue for live concerts, the only other movie theater in Manhattan that compares to this (in terms of presentation and spaciousness) is the main “Loew’s” auditorium at the Lincoln Square Multiplex on Broadway and 68th, which has some ersatz “movie palace” decor and features a two-aisle seating plan (with left, center and right orchestra sections) as well as an honest-to-goodness balcony.

Sorry I haven’t posted in a while. I do work for the Ziegfeld, but only when I’m at home (i.e. not when I’m upstate attending college, which is where I am right now). The theater is open right now, showing Flightplan, which is probably at least doing better than The Baxter. That one tanked worse than anything I’ve seen – and I was working there when we got “2 Fast, 2 Furious”.

I am pretty sure the Ziegfeld will be getting Rent, but can’t absolutely guarantee it. No idea about The Producers, but you all are exactly right – it would be perfect. Rent one month, Producers the next? The Ziegfeld could clean up, for once! Our theater never, ever makes money – it is always in the red. The rest of the Clearview multiplexes around the area keep us afloat…it’s been like that for a while, and probably will be for long to come.

As for why the theater is being run the way it is, well, I don’t have a good answer for you Vincent. The managers of the Ziegfeld just do as they’re told, and show the movies that Clearview sends us. I know at least one of the managers would love to see Clearview doing more with the theater, but there’s not much they can do about it. Switching over from a standard first-run theater to a place that shows classics would require a lot of changes. Clearview probably feels it isn’t worth putting in the money, time, and research to seriously consider a switch like that, when they can just throw the latest Hollywood claptrap up onto the screen. I know it’s a shame, but corporate-types are not easily swayed away from their familiar territory, and we all know it.

I wouldn’t expect any changes anytime soon. Just hope that the Ziegfeld will get at least a few solid films during the course of a year.

Update on my last post: According to Boxofficemojo.com, Universal has changed the release strategy for “The Producers.” Opening in limited release on Friday, December 16 with a wide release starting a month later (January 13). Very similar to Miramax’s strategy for “Chicago.”

This would be a perfect attraction for the Ziegfeld.

Any news about “The Producers” opening in December? Can’t think of any other theatre, except RCMH, that I would like to see it play.
I saw a rough cut at a test screening two weeks ago, let me tell you it is going to be HUGE. The audience reaction was tremendous, I have not seen an audience go so wild over a movie in a very long time.