Ziegfeld Theatre
141 W. 54th Street,
New York,
NY
10019
141 W. 54th Street,
New York,
NY
10019
131 people
favorited this theater
Showing 476 - 500 of 4,512 comments
Hey moviebuff82 you seems to be very knowledgeable about formats and projection stuff. Wondering how you learned this?
I hope star wars plays at this theater if the theater is still around…
Hello-
the main reason for the Ziegfeld’s often mentioned possible closing is its unprofitable status. but I find something even more fascinating. even if it was fairly profitable and met its weekly nut I am sure the land underneath it is wayyyyyyy more valuable than any $$$ the theater could possibly bring in. so I am surprised it hasn’t been sold for that very reason.
Fears seem to stem from a statement made in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter by Cablevision CEO James Dolan this past April. Here’s the question and his answer:
Q: You run the Ziegfeld Theatre, which is said to be unprofitable. Are you going to close it?
A: Probably. Yeah. [It] loses a lot of money. The theater business is a tough business.
The link above is to an article about what Dolan said in the interview and was posted here over 2 months ago, not the interview itself. I will post a link to that if anybody asks, but this was the only mention of the Ziegfeld in that interview.
Cablevision was quick to issue a statement that said the Ziegfeld would remain open for the “foreseeable future”. Most take that to mean they are looking for somebody to take over the lease, which is reported to run till 2018. If they don’t… well, they can close it anytime they choose.
If they can’t find someone and continue to lose money till the lease is up, who will take it over and keep it a single screen? Endangered is a term that comes to mind when talking about the status of the Ziegfeld.
I found this article by NY Post film critic Lou Lumenick from April worth the read and perhaps some discussion of its content.
Hello-
when was the last report either online or in newspapers that this theater could actually close at anytime?
THeres got to be someone, anyone who has a love of cinema or a ton of money who could take this place over and keep it going like has happened in many other cities around the country. Christ, at this point I wish Tarantino would take it over. At least we know film would always be there.
Saw Avengers: Age of Ultron here on its opening Friday night: the middle section was nearly full, but the sides and the balcony mostly empty.
My friend (who either has never been to the Ziegfeld or not in years) also really liked the theater- certainly hope something is worked out so it can remain open.
No regular movies at Dolby in LA. Mostly live performances.
JSA
One booking change to this house I have notice is that they no longer hold their features forever; they seem to get a new picture every couple of weeks…
Does the Dolby Theater in LA show movies on a regular basis?
As an alternative: How about Dolby taking over the Zieg as it did the former Kodak theatre in Los Angeles? The Dolby New York offices and two screening rooms are right across the Avenue of the Americas from the Ziegfeld, and it would be a nifty site for both a Dolby Atmos installation and the Dolby Vision projectors which use laser illumination.
corporate synergy…
Agreed about Disney! We cannot lose this theater. I also don’t understand why this theater is not landmarked. It is a beautiful example of a 60’s Movie Palace, the last of its kind and should be preserved.
Great idea NYer about Disney taking over operations like the El Capitan in LA. It would put the Ziegfeld back on the map. Maybe you can write to someone about the posibility.
to Mikeoaklandpark-
its funny you should mention the Paris since the Ziegfeld and the Paris are the only two single screen 1st run theaters left in Manhattan. and to answer your question as to why the Paris unlike the Ziegfeld still gets exclusive 1st runs. the Paris has always been an art house and has never to the best of my knowledge shown big studio type films. so while it has shown many prestigious award winning films, most recently The Imitation Game whatever films play at the Paris only get art house releases.
Big Joe I agree and wonder why The Paris can get mostly exclusive first run films but the Ziegfeld can’t
to xbs2034-
I am dating myself but I can remember quite well when screenings at the Ziegfeld were close to capacity if not actually sold out. the reason this has not happened in years is simple- the Ziegfeld no longer gets exclusive runs of big studio film. the reason for the low attendance at this theater is that whatever big studio film is playing is also playing at 12 other theaters in Manhattan. it has nothing to do with the theater or the location.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/new-yorks-ziegfeld-theatre-danger-786922
The Hollywood Reporter stated that James Dolan is getting frustrated with it losing money, and it is in danger of closing again.
It would certainly be a sad day for me (I try and go as much as a I can, went to 5 films plus the premiere for The Imitation Game here last year, and would probably see Age of Ultron here if it plays the Ziegfeld) but true that it has been a long time since I’ve seen it anywhere near full for a regular screening.
I haven’t seen the curtains open at the Ziegfeld in years. I keep hoping it’s going to happen, and I catch 6-10 films a year there, but the curtains are always open when we walk in, even at the world premiere of Led Zeppelin’s movie with the band in attendance. Just a white screen.
Cablevision does NOT owns the site/building. It is owned by a billionaire whose name escapes me.
I don’t think Cablevision owns the actual building but has a long-term lease on the site.
Thanks for the tip movieguy. Sadly when my wife and I went to see Interstellar on Veterans Day, the curtain wasn’t used. I went to the Ziegfeld on purpose cause A) I was never there. B)I wanted to see the movie on film, and C) I wanted to see the curtain. Well 2 out of 3 aint too bad. I had later found out from Joe Masher that there was a technician in the building that day and that’s why the curtain wasn’t used. But the rest of the time, theres no excuse.
I went to see out of the woods for the 7:30 PM screening I New Year’s Day January 1, 2015. There was a very good attendance I’m happy to report. Looked like to me about 550 people. Quite a good turnout. Sadly they did not use the curtains. I want to find a manager after the show to ask them why they did not use the curtains, because they were used for the 70 mm showing of interstellar in November 2014.I had to hustle to make the train back home. Here a tip to save on the $15 admission. BJ’s Wholesale Club as well as Cosco or if you’re AAA member. You have the option of buying tickets for any bowtie cinema. They only cost seven dollars. Then when you bring the voucher to the box office at the Ziegfeld. You pay one dollar surcharge. So that’s $8.00 vs & 15 quite a savings.
Since 2013, the Ziegfeld has been managed by Bow Tie Cinemas, on behalf of Cablevision, which owns the theater (the theater was previously part of the Clearview Cinemas theater chain prior to the chain’s sale to Bow Tie; the actual ownership of the Ziegfield building was excluded from the sale).
It would then be Cablevision’s decision to update the seats,
Touching on what Curmudgeon said on Dec.27, the last film I saw there was Steven Soderbergh’s “Che"… both parts were shown and during the intermission, the projectionist switched screen formats to accommodate the 2nd part (using focus grids) along with re-aligning the curtains, sort of film nerdish of me, but I found it a treat. Ziegfeld rules.