Comments from bigjoe59

Showing 826 - 850 of 1,248 comments

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Jan 21, 2016 at 3:00 pm

Hello-

I am confused, is the theater closing in the very
near future or is it already closed. if its already
closed what was the last day?

also what can they due with the property? they sold their air rights to the London hotel so if its torn down any new building can’t be any bigger than the Ziegfeld.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 commented about AMC Lincoln Square 13 on Jan 21, 2016 at 2:51 pm

Hello-

since a fellow poster mentioned it I have to ask what is an AMC Prime Theater?

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 commented about AMC Lincoln Square 13 on Jan 12, 2016 at 12:47 pm

Hello-

this past Sat. 1/9 i saw The Revenant in the Loews auditorium which was the place to see it. now i noticed the top the screen looked like it was coming off of whatever its supposed to be attached to. this gave the screen a ever so lightly curved look. why don’t they fix it?

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 commented about Uptown Theatre on Jan 10, 2016 at 2:50 pm

to Coate-

a belated HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! and you are to be
commended for your list of this theater’s 80s
bookings.

an item or two-

1.i read the article you suggested and I did indeed have my question answered. but your additions to the list were just as interesting. for instance you said you could find no info that Russian Adventure ever opened in D.C. period let alone presented in Cinerama. I find that odd since it opened in NYC at the Warner in in Cinerama on a reserved seat engagement.

2.i have often wondered why some films that opened on reserved seat engagements were presented “in Cinerama” in some cities and in plain 70MM in others. for instance Krakatoa-East Of Java played the Warner on a reserved seat engagement and was presented “in Cinerama”. yet the reserved seat runs in D.C. and San Francisco were in plain 70mm. did they have a separate souvenir program for those runs? the one I bought at the Warner had its first two pages devoted to the new Cinerama. which you couldn’t sell in a theater where its not being presented “in Cinerama”.

3.also you are again to be commended for you detailed listings of engagements which brings me yet again to “Circus World”. as I am sure you will agree a big budget highly promoted film that turns out not to be bad just not up to all the expectations is the same film in no matter what city it plays in which was the case with Circus World. so I am still trying to understand how CW’s reserved seat run in NYC lasted 13 weeks and in other cities 14, 15 or even 18 weeks yet the D.C. run at the Uptown lasted only 3 weeks. I still don’t get it.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 commented about Uptown Theatre on Jan 8, 2016 at 1:28 pm

Hello-

I’m from NYC and the only time I’ve ever been in the Uptown was Easter vacation 1963 when my parents took my brother and I to D.C. for a trip. we saw How The West Was Won during its roadshow engagement in Cinerama. now what other movie theater in D.C. was converted to show Cinerama aside from the Uptown and does it still exist?

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 commented about AMC Village 7 on Nov 8, 2015 at 2:05 pm

Hello-

i saw Trumbo here yesterday. i greatly enjoyed the film but the theater is in complete disarray due to the renovations. it looks like Super Storm Sandy hit the theater.

also movie tickets are already wayyyyyyyyy to expensive. so by putting in the reclining seats each theater’s capacity is cut in half and the only the only they way can break even is by jacking up an already was to expensive movie ticket.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Nov 8, 2015 at 1:21 pm

Hello-

from this theater’s Dec. 1969 opening over the next 25? years whenever a big studio film had its exclusive Manhattan engagement here the Ziegfeld in many cases played the film along with two UA theaters. one was on Long Island and the other was in New Jersey. are both of those theaters still in operation?

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Nov 2, 2015 at 1:26 pm

Hello-

to longislandmovies I never said that you said this theater’s days are numbered. I should have said
its been said by countless other people in the past year or two. to which since you’re so convinced that it would be a miracle if this theater made it to 2017 what hot inside info do you have that foreshadows the theater’s demise?

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Nov 2, 2015 at 12:56 pm

Hello-

according to longislandmovies this theater is
living on borrowed time and from what he/she knows
however they it know it the theater will close
sometime in 2016. the death nell for the Ziegfeld
has been announced many times some rather recently.
so I wonder what hot inside info longislandmovies
has. remember the air rights were sold to the
nearby luxury London hotelso if God forbid the
Ziegfeld were razed they wouldn’t be able to
build any building larger than the theater
itself.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Oct 31, 2015 at 1:45 pm

Hello-

I have a question and I would like my fellow Ziegfeld devotes take on it. lets say for the sake of argument this theater does get SWVII. even with all the anticipation and even if it gets acclaimed as the best Stars Wars film yet would that really sell out the Ziegfeld even for a 2 week period? I ask this because no big film that’s played this theater in the last few years has ever even come close to selling out. plus SWVII will also be playing in God knows how many other theaters in Manhattan. this bring the main reason for the Ziegfeld’s low attendance. I look forward to your replies.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 commented about TCL Chinese Theatre on Oct 18, 2015 at 2:25 pm

Hello-

regardless of the quality of the films being shown if the Chinese has in fact been a 1st run venue since the day it opened “neighborhood house” is not an applicable term is anyway. the fact the Chinese may have debuted a new film along with another theater or two in the L.A. area does not make it a neighborhood house. for New Yorkers a “neighborhood house” is a theater in the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island that played a film only after it had exhausted its 1st run engagements in Manhattan.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Sep 20, 2015 at 3:06 pm

Hello-

I have enjoyed reading the recent posts on this page. a few comments.

  1. the Castro Theater in S.F. is indeed a grand old quite beautiful film house but it was built from the get go in Sept. 1922 as a 2nd/3rd run neighborhood house. it would be interesting to find how many grand old movie theaters built in the heyday of 1914- 1941 that were built from the get go as 1st run venues have continue to operate as such since the day they opened. so the fact a theater as grand and large as the Ziegfeld has continued to operate as a single screen
    1st run venue since the day it opened it Dec. of 1969 is a miracle. this is especially true considering Manhattan real estate mania.

  2. also as grand and gorgeous a theater as the EL Capitan in Hollywood is it was not built as a movie theater. in opened in 1925 as a venue for live performances and only became a movie theater in 1941 when it was the only house in L.A. willing to play Citizen Kane.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 commented about Uptown Theatre on Aug 28, 2015 at 2:54 pm

Hello Again from NYC-

I thank richmurphy for his reply. as stated though Circus World isn’t Oscar material I found it a corny, hokey colorful entertaining film. i just can’t see any roadshow film presented “in Cinerama” starring John Wayne lasting only 3 weeks. a question for you. as i said in my original post i suppose CW suffered from the fact it wasn’t another El Cid. but if that’s the case than why did the film last as long as 13, 15 or 20 weeks in its roadshow run in other cities.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Aug 25, 2015 at 2:22 pm

Hello-

mhvbear’s comment made me think of something interesting. the Coronet was for many years the Ziegfeld of San Francisco. well known for its projection and sound it premiered many of the most anticipated action/sci-fic/fantasy films of the past several years. which brings to my point. though it was meeting its weekly “nut” to use the old show biz term the land the theater was on was wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy more valuable than any $$$ the theater could possibly bring in. so a few back the theater was torn down and a medical facility now occupies the site.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 commented about TCL Chinese Theatre on Aug 10, 2015 at 2:00 pm

Hello Again From NYC-

I want to thank macoco again for the reply to my post. in your reply you may have hit on something that explains Coate’s comment. I and anyone in NYC during the period mentioned in your original reply would have classified a “neighborhood house” as a theater within walking distance of your home in the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn or Staten Island that played a film after it had exhausted its 1st run bookings in Manhattan. as you stated I am equating “neighborhood house” with 2nd or 3rd run. I know I’m being picky but the term “neighborhood house” should be reserved for only those theaters in the time period you mentioned that played films 2nd or 3rd run. in Coate’s way to liberal interpretation of the term the Loew’s Capitol could have been classified as the “neighborhood house” for Hell’s Kitchen.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 commented about TCL Chinese Theatre on Aug 9, 2015 at 4:59 pm

Hello Again From NYC-

i want to thank macoco for the detailed look at movie distribution in the 40s, 50s and 60s in L.A.. but as enjoyable as it was to read it still doesn’t explain why Coate referred to the Chinese as a “neighborhood house”. in NYC a “neighborhood” house in the same time period was a theater in the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn or Staten Island that played a film AFTER its 1st run engagements in Manhattan. in other words wherever else a movie might have been playing its engagement at the Chinese was its 1s run engagement which disqualifies the Chinese from being a “neighborhood house”.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 commented about TCL Chinese Theatre on Aug 7, 2015 at 2:16 pm

Hello Again From NYC-

back in May Coate referred to the Chinese as a neighborhood house for much of its early life. now i have been perplexed for the past 3 months as to what Coate meant. as far as i have read the Chinese has been a 1st run venue since day 1. so my question for L.A. residents- what does Coate mean?

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Aug 6, 2015 at 3:09 pm

Hello-

if I understand the problem so to speak its that no matter how beloved the Ziegfeld is and no matter how well received a film might be said film is probably at 10-12 other theaters in Manhattan so naturally people will got to the theater closest to them. therefore the Ziegfeld has had a problem for a while meeting its weekly nut to use the old show biz term.

my new thought is this- even if this theater was able to meet its weekly nut on a regular basis would that actually be enough? I can’t tell you the number stores I have been shopping in all my life that closed not because they weren’t paying the rent as it were but because the land or building was worth wayyyyyyyyyyy more the store could ever bring in. to which with the value of Manhattan real estate I am surprised as I am delighted that the Ziegfeld has lasted this long. it and the Paris are the only 1st run single screen theaters left in Manhattan.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Aug 4, 2015 at 3:13 pm

Hello Again-

I hope markp’s comment is true. considering its beloved place in NYC moviegoing I can’t see this theater being torn down or repurposed. so again I wish posters would stop continuing to mention the theater’s eminent demise unless they have rock solid proof not some vague rumor.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Aug 4, 2015 at 1:58 pm

Hello Again-

as did xbs2034 I found the projection and audio first rate. I have friends who have never been here and highly recommend they visit it.

now every so often a poster on this page mentions the Ziegfeld’s “eminent closing”. unless a poster has rock solid reliable uncontestable info as to this theater’s “eminent closing” please don’t get fans of this theater worried about the theater’s demise with just vague oft repeated rumors.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Aug 3, 2015 at 2:11 pm

Hello-

I went to the first screening of Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation which was 10:45 a.m. yesterday Sun. 8/2. and I agree with Howard H. that the projection and sound were A+. but I was saddene to see that at most there were 25? people in the audience. there were a lot more people buying tickets for the next showing.

also what is all this talk about the eminent closing of this theater? I read all three NYC papers and lots on the web but have not come across anything that recent. are there links to these rather recent articles about the alleged eminent closing of the Ziegfeld?

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 commented about Pilgrim Theatre on Jul 31, 2015 at 1:17 pm

Hello To Ed S.–

you have been most helpful in the past so i hope you can be this time as well. I have lived in this neighborhood my entire life and even as a child never remember the Pilgrim being opened as a movie theater. the intro at top gives no clue as to the date it ceased functioning as a movie theater. do you know?

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 commented about Cinema 1, 2 & 3 by Angelika on Jul 21, 2015 at 2:33 pm

Hello-

I have been going to the Cinema I for more years than I care to admit. it is my personal opinion that the rather high price for the reserved seating is a further rip off of moviegoers. the Chelsea Multiplex on 8th Ave. and 23rd St. has reserved seating and the same seats as this theater yet they don’t charge more for the reserved seating. further proof the HIGH price at this theater is a big rip off.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 commented about Ziegfeld Theatre on Jun 22, 2015 at 6:48 pm

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.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 commented about Uptown Theatre on Jun 21, 2015 at 5:23 pm

Hello From NYC-

i thank Coate for posting a while back a list of Circus World’s roadshow runs across the U.S. i questioned the D.C listing for the Uptown of only 3 weeks. Coate figured it might be because word had gotten out that the film while enjoyable wasn’t another El Cid. but the film opened in other big city runs after D.C yet had decent runs cancelling out Coate’s theory about word of mouth. my point being the Uptown run of 3 weeks the shortest on the list has got to be a mistake.