On the day after the USA re-elected a black president, see how different things were back in 1959 and look for the listings for the 5 “Negro Theaters” in Miami, at the bottom left corner of the “Anne Frank” ad page.
Regarding the “light comedy” ad for The Diary of Anne Frank: it may sound strange to anyone who hasn’t seen it, but there are a lot of funny moments in that film, just as there was in the actual diary. It’s a beautiful film in every way, and it’s too bad the public rejected it the way they did.
The only 3-panel Cinerama “story” films, The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm and How the West Was Won, were both MGM productions and played the Loew’s Capitol (then known as the Loew’s Cinerama). The first 70mm Cinerama film, It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, opened at the Warner during the run of HTWWW. Those were the good old days, when NYC had two Cinerama theaters within 3 blocks of each other.
Seeing The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm in Cinerama was one of the great movie experiences of my life. Any flaws in the print were so easy to overlook when the film as a whole was so beautiful. If only George Pal had lived to see this show. His love of storytelling was on display in every scene. I only hope some of his surviving family members were aware of it.
The presentation was fine, except for the lack of surround sound. They also didn’t use the curtains. They asked the audience to fill out a survey at ClearviewListens.com. In the comments section I asked them to use the curtains at every show. Hope they really do listen.
I liked seeing the round 70mm cue marks at the end of each reel – it’s been a really long time – but the movie didn’t really take full advantage of the 70mm format. Most of it seemed to be close-ups of Hoffman and Phoenix.
I made the not-too-difficult extra effort to see “The Master” at the Ziegfeld, even though the Empire 42nd St. is much easier for me to get home to NJ from. I wish I liked the movie better – actually I didn’t like it at all – but I’m glad I saw it at the Ziegfeld. The center section was pretty well filled. Not too bad for a Tuesday night.
Thanks, Tinseltoes. It was fascinating to read about the luxurious design details that went into the Loew’s Jersey. They didn’t call it a movie palace for nothing. So glad it’s still open for business, against all the odds.
Talk about wishful thinking. This ad from August 1960 in Boxoffice magazine announces that “Cleopatra” will be in theaters in June 1961. Of course it didn’t get finished until June 1963, with a completely new cast (except for Liz), director and screenwriter.
Does that say “Gone With the Wind” was being shown on a “Wide-Vision Screen”? Did they just crop off the top and bottom of the image to make it appear wide? A friend of mine owned a ‘50s-vintage print of “Fantasia”, and that’s what was done to that film.
Two years ago I saw the TCM screening of All About Eve at the Ziegfeld, and earlier this year TCM screened To Kill a Mockingbird. Both shows were full houses. If you book the right movies, the people will come. I’ll bet The Amazing Spider-Man is showing to an almost empty Ziegfeld tonight.
Does anyone know if the Egyptian Theater/American Cinematheque in Hollywood is a success? They show classic movies only, several times a week. A format like that might be just what the Ziegfeld needs. I was there once in 2003 (“Dial M for Murder”) and there were no empty seats.
It certainly was. To prove how popular Cinerama was in 1963, I saw it in Montclair, a New Jersey suburb and not a big city by any means. Now there are only three 3-strip Cinerama theaters left in the entire world.
Oh yes, they were all 35mm regular runs at “popular prices” in local New Jersey theaters. I wish I had seen them as roadshows! My first roadshow was “How the West Was Won”, in Cinerama.
Other times (non-Music Hall) when I walked in on the middle of the movie: “Spartacus”, “Lawrence of Arabia”, “Cleopatra”, “My Fair Lady”. It really was a common practice back then. That’s why the “Psycho” restriction was so revolutionary (and effective).
Saps: I’d say the people on those long lines definitely came in the middle. I was on a four-hour line for the 1969 Christmas show, “A Boy Named Charlie Brown”, and we were just glad to finally get in the building. The movie was already playing, but we just found seats and tried to figure out what was going on. I also saw “The Out-of-Towners” at the Hall a few months later under those same circumstances. The line wasn’t as long, but we did walk in while the movie had already been playing for about 45 minutes.
On the day after the USA re-elected a black president, see how different things were back in 1959 and look for the listings for the 5 “Negro Theaters” in Miami, at the bottom left corner of the “Anne Frank” ad page.
Regarding the “light comedy” ad for The Diary of Anne Frank: it may sound strange to anyone who hasn’t seen it, but there are a lot of funny moments in that film, just as there was in the actual diary. It’s a beautiful film in every way, and it’s too bad the public rejected it the way they did.
The only 3-panel Cinerama “story” films, The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm and How the West Was Won, were both MGM productions and played the Loew’s Capitol (then known as the Loew’s Cinerama). The first 70mm Cinerama film, It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, opened at the Warner during the run of HTWWW. Those were the good old days, when NYC had two Cinerama theaters within 3 blocks of each other.
Seeing The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm in Cinerama was one of the great movie experiences of my life. Any flaws in the print were so easy to overlook when the film as a whole was so beautiful. If only George Pal had lived to see this show. His love of storytelling was on display in every scene. I only hope some of his surviving family members were aware of it.
The presentation was fine, except for the lack of surround sound. They also didn’t use the curtains. They asked the audience to fill out a survey at ClearviewListens.com. In the comments section I asked them to use the curtains at every show. Hope they really do listen.
I liked seeing the round 70mm cue marks at the end of each reel – it’s been a really long time – but the movie didn’t really take full advantage of the 70mm format. Most of it seemed to be close-ups of Hoffman and Phoenix.
I made the not-too-difficult extra effort to see “The Master” at the Ziegfeld, even though the Empire 42nd St. is much easier for me to get home to NJ from. I wish I liked the movie better – actually I didn’t like it at all – but I’m glad I saw it at the Ziegfeld. The center section was pretty well filled. Not too bad for a Tuesday night.
A wonderful letter from this drive-in’s projectionist was published in the 9/30/68 issue of Boxoffice magazine.
The Dome played the police calls at the 40th anniversary screening in 2003.
From the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, June 6, 1968. Rory is right about what was playing at the Waikiki Theatre.
Thanks, Tinseltoes. It was fascinating to read about the luxurious design details that went into the Loew’s Jersey. They didn’t call it a movie palace for nothing. So glad it’s still open for business, against all the odds.
Talk about wishful thinking. This ad from August 1960 in Boxoffice magazine announces that “Cleopatra” will be in theaters in June 1961. Of course it didn’t get finished until June 1963, with a completely new cast (except for Liz), director and screenwriter.
Hey Vito! Good to hear from you again. Thanks to you and BobbyS for replying to my question.
Does that say “Gone With the Wind” was being shown on a “Wide-Vision Screen”? Did they just crop off the top and bottom of the image to make it appear wide? A friend of mine owned a ‘50s-vintage print of “Fantasia”, and that’s what was done to that film.
Two years ago I saw the TCM screening of All About Eve at the Ziegfeld, and earlier this year TCM screened To Kill a Mockingbird. Both shows were full houses. If you book the right movies, the people will come. I’ll bet The Amazing Spider-Man is showing to an almost empty Ziegfeld tonight.
Does anyone know if the Egyptian Theater/American Cinematheque in Hollywood is a success? They show classic movies only, several times a week. A format like that might be just what the Ziegfeld needs. I was there once in 2003 (“Dial M for Murder”) and there were no empty seats.
Special events always do well at the Ziegfeld. There were hundreds of people there for “Yellow Submarine” in May.
Thanks Gary (Ziegfeld Man) for the funny quote from another great movie I saw from the front row of the Ziegfeld.
The New York Post has been crying doom for the Ziegfeld for months, but here’s an article from today’s paper.
I guess landmark status will be the only thing that can save the Ziegfeld now.
In April, the Loew’s remembered the 100th anniversary of the Titanic disaster with three great shows.
It certainly was. To prove how popular Cinerama was in 1963, I saw it in Montclair, a New Jersey suburb and not a big city by any means. Now there are only three 3-strip Cinerama theaters left in the entire world.
Oh yes, they were all 35mm regular runs at “popular prices” in local New Jersey theaters. I wish I had seen them as roadshows! My first roadshow was “How the West Was Won”, in Cinerama.
Other times (non-Music Hall) when I walked in on the middle of the movie: “Spartacus”, “Lawrence of Arabia”, “Cleopatra”, “My Fair Lady”. It really was a common practice back then. That’s why the “Psycho” restriction was so revolutionary (and effective).
Saps: I’d say the people on those long lines definitely came in the middle. I was on a four-hour line for the 1969 Christmas show, “A Boy Named Charlie Brown”, and we were just glad to finally get in the building. The movie was already playing, but we just found seats and tried to figure out what was going on. I also saw “The Out-of-Towners” at the Hall a few months later under those same circumstances. The line wasn’t as long, but we did walk in while the movie had already been playing for about 45 minutes.
Altered States comes out on Blu-ray in July, but unfortunately my home theater does not have Megasound.