My friend Donna who lives in nearby Deltona told me she saw Cosi Fan Tutti here recently. Of course I only wanted to know about the theater (I already know about Mozart…), and here it is! I love finding restored gems like this one.
The a nice (but quick) shot of the vertical blade and dilapidated marquee near the beginning of the new movie “La Mission,” now in limited release in theaters.
Excerpt from NY Times' review of The Blob (11/7/58)
“Speaking of shocks, be wary of the Mayfair floor as you go in. During the first scene, as the insistent screen goo began eating a screaming farmer alive, this spectator uneasily hoisted a foot, took one look at a giant blob of chewing gum clinging to the shoe and almost lit out for Cape Canaveral. One thing you can count on with "The Blob” â€" goo galore."
A magical night at the Ziegfeld, and a great motion picture.
The place was packed (though not sold out,) Robert Osborne and Elaine Stritch were fascinating and took a few audience questions, which resulted in a lot of laughs.
And “All About Eve” was perfect — nominated for 14 Oscars and winner of six, including Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, Costumes, Sound and George Sanders for Supporting Actor. The other Oscar-nominated performances were by Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, Celeste Holm, and crowd favorite Thelma Ritter.
The picture hasn’t aged a day in 60 years (aged in wood?) and its views on show business and the theater are still perceptive and relevant.
And no post on this page would be complete without a comment on the curtain — and the masking. The masking was perfectly placed; Academy ratio never looked bigger or bolder. And the two curtains closing at the end added another elegant touch to an already classy evening.
Excerpt from the New York Times' review of a Dead End Kids picture “Call A Messenger”
“To say that "Call a Messenger” fits in with the policy of the Rialto, which is to improve on any time-tested formula for shock by the simple expedient of doubling the dose, is to say everything. It doubles the dose, and although this method, on a few unfortunate occasions, has been known to prove fatal, it ought rather to be good for a minute portion of amusement in the present case."
Many of you have probably heard the recent buzz surrounding the upcoming construction project for the Virginia Theatre, in particular the replacement of the marquee. We thought it would be helpful to provide you with the facts.
One of our top priorities for the historic Virginia Theatre is to restore it, as best as possible, to its original glory of the 1920’s when it first opened. The current marquee is not original to the building, in fact it was not placed on the building until the 1950’s and does not fit with the original style and design of the theatre. If you look closely you’ll notice that the current marquee blocks much of the beautiful Italian Renaissance Revival style detail of the upper floors of the building, which the original style did not.
The new marquee will NOT have an LED reader board. Like the original, the letters on the new marquee will still have to be hand placed to promote upcoming shows and it will visually look more like that of the original, but the back lighting and undercarriage lighting will be greener in overall energy efficiency. The current marquee is not energy efficient, is no longer operating as it should and would be costly to repair. In addition, replacement of the marquee to one more fitting of the original, has been a component of the overall restoration master plan since that plan was adopted in 2000.
The architectural firm of Westlake Reed and Leskosky, known for their historic restoration projects including historical theatres, has designed the next phase of the restoration and bids are currently being accepted for this project which, along with the marquee, includes replacement of the outer and inner doors, renovation of the entire lobby from floor to ceiling, repairing the lost plaster, the concession stand as well as replacement of the west storefront windows, preserving the copper trim as was done two years ago in the east lobby. The Champaign Park District will consider the result of the bids in April. Construction is scheduled to begin in June and continue through the fall.
The Virginia Theatre was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in October of 2003 as a property of local (not national) significance. According to National Register personnel and the National Register website, National Register listing places no restrictions on the use or renovation of the property as long as there are no federal monies attached to the property, which for the Virginia, there are not.
For more information, please contact Bobbie Herakovich at 819-3819 or stop by the Bresnan Meeting Center at 706 Kenwood in Champaign to review the plans.
Per the theater owners Champaign Park District, a new marquee is coming — more in the style of 1921’s original, which will reveal more of the Italian Rennaissance Revival style detail of the facade. The present marquee was installed in the 1950s (maybe in 1955 when the lobby and ticketed booth were remodeled.)
The Park District issued a press release today (I got it in a PDF) and if I can copy the text I will post it here.
Any links to pics of the original marquee would be welcome!
I don’t know when the last movie played, but I do remember when it returned to showing movies after its stint as a legit playhouse. It was an odd joy to be in a restored 42nd Street theater, including carpeting, drapes, chandeliers and quality seating, to see “DC Cab” (released 12/16/83).
In the heart of little old New York,
You’ll find a thoroughfare.
It’s the part of little old New York
That runs into Times Square.
A crazy quilt that “Wall Street Jack” built,
If you’ve got a little time to spare,
I want to take you there.
Come and meet those dancing feet,
On the avenue I’m taking you to,
Forty-Second Street.
Hear the beat of dancing feet,
It’s the song I love the melody of,
Forty-Second Street.
Little “nifties” from the Fifties,
Innocent and sweet;
Sexy ladies from the Eighties,
Who are indiscreet.
They’re side by side, they’re glorified
Where the underworld can meet the elite,
Forty-Second Street.
I’d like to add that the American Airlines auditorium is a loving restoration of the original Selwyn theater and is not “all-new;” the Selwyn is intact. (The lobby collapsed during construction of the surrounding office building and is new.)
The Hilton was built from the ground up (except for the exterior walls and some decorative elements saved from the Lyric/Apollo demolitions.)
I don’t know, Luis, but some houses don’t seem to attract hits — the Belasco, the Cort, the Lyceum, the Nederlander…
I wonder if a true IMAX (not a mini-Imax) would fit in here?
And not one picture palace has been spared.
I don’t think they’re actually imbedded, more like a visual link. MBD, care to elaborate?
My friend Donna who lives in nearby Deltona told me she saw Cosi Fan Tutti here recently. Of course I only wanted to know about the theater (I already know about Mozart…), and here it is! I love finding restored gems like this one.
There was a quick shot of the marquee and vertical blade in tonight’s Project Runway.
I’d love to see a picture of the auditorium or lobby.
The a nice (but quick) shot of the vertical blade and dilapidated marquee near the beginning of the new movie “La Mission,” now in limited release in theaters.
I wonder when the first new R-rated T & A schlockfest is coming. I’d love to see something like The Stewardesses remade in better technology.
Excerpt from NY Times' review of The Blob (11/7/58)
“Speaking of shocks, be wary of the Mayfair floor as you go in. During the first scene, as the insistent screen goo began eating a screaming farmer alive, this spectator uneasily hoisted a foot, took one look at a giant blob of chewing gum clinging to the shoe and almost lit out for Cape Canaveral. One thing you can count on with "The Blob” â€" goo galore."
I’d still like to know how to display the pictures (I don'think they’re actually embedded) and I’ll take my chances.
A magical night at the Ziegfeld, and a great motion picture.
The place was packed (though not sold out,) Robert Osborne and Elaine Stritch were fascinating and took a few audience questions, which resulted in a lot of laughs.
And “All About Eve” was perfect — nominated for 14 Oscars and winner of six, including Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, Costumes, Sound and George Sanders for Supporting Actor. The other Oscar-nominated performances were by Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, Celeste Holm, and crowd favorite Thelma Ritter.
The picture hasn’t aged a day in 60 years (aged in wood?) and its views on show business and the theater are still perceptive and relevant.
And no post on this page would be complete without a comment on the curtain — and the masking. The masking was perfectly placed; Academy ratio never looked bigger or bolder. And the two curtains closing at the end added another elegant touch to an already classy evening.
Hi MBD — could you explain again how you get a photo to show up right in the posting? (You may email me if you don’t care to post to the group.)
That was some interesting photostream posted above — here’s the link: View link
Maybe they should book a fetish film festival next to take advantage of the area’s un-natural resources.
It has air conditioning. It’s just not working.
Excerpt from the New York Times' review of a Dead End Kids picture “Call A Messenger”
“To say that "Call a Messenger” fits in with the policy of the Rialto, which is to improve on any time-tested formula for shock by the simple expedient of doubling the dose, is to say everything. It doubles the dose, and although this method, on a few unfortunate occasions, has been known to prove fatal, it ought rather to be good for a minute portion of amusement in the present case."
Press release 3/10/10:
Many of you have probably heard the recent buzz surrounding the upcoming construction project for the Virginia Theatre, in particular the replacement of the marquee. We thought it would be helpful to provide you with the facts.
One of our top priorities for the historic Virginia Theatre is to restore it, as best as possible, to its original glory of the 1920’s when it first opened. The current marquee is not original to the building, in fact it was not placed on the building until the 1950’s and does not fit with the original style and design of the theatre. If you look closely you’ll notice that the current marquee blocks much of the beautiful Italian Renaissance Revival style detail of the upper floors of the building, which the original style did not.
The new marquee will NOT have an LED reader board. Like the original, the letters on the new marquee will still have to be hand placed to promote upcoming shows and it will visually look more like that of the original, but the back lighting and undercarriage lighting will be greener in overall energy efficiency. The current marquee is not energy efficient, is no longer operating as it should and would be costly to repair. In addition, replacement of the marquee to one more fitting of the original, has been a component of the overall restoration master plan since that plan was adopted in 2000.
The architectural firm of Westlake Reed and Leskosky, known for their historic restoration projects including historical theatres, has designed the next phase of the restoration and bids are currently being accepted for this project which, along with the marquee, includes replacement of the outer and inner doors, renovation of the entire lobby from floor to ceiling, repairing the lost plaster, the concession stand as well as replacement of the west storefront windows, preserving the copper trim as was done two years ago in the east lobby. The Champaign Park District will consider the result of the bids in April. Construction is scheduled to begin in June and continue through the fall.
The Virginia Theatre was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in October of 2003 as a property of local (not national) significance. According to National Register personnel and the National Register website, National Register listing places no restrictions on the use or renovation of the property as long as there are no federal monies attached to the property, which for the Virginia, there are not.
For more information, please contact Bobbie Herakovich at 819-3819 or stop by the Bresnan Meeting Center at 706 Kenwood in Champaign to review the plans.
The CPD press release said the marquee was designed by Westlake Reed and Leskowsky and that the plans may be viewed at the CPD office.
Per the theater owners Champaign Park District, a new marquee is coming — more in the style of 1921’s original, which will reveal more of the Italian Rennaissance Revival style detail of the facade. The present marquee was installed in the 1950s (maybe in 1955 when the lobby and ticketed booth were remodeled.)
The Park District issued a press release today (I got it in a PDF) and if I can copy the text I will post it here.
Any links to pics of the original marquee would be welcome!
I don’t know when the last movie played, but I do remember when it returned to showing movies after its stint as a legit playhouse. It was an odd joy to be in a restored 42nd Street theater, including carpeting, drapes, chandeliers and quality seating, to see “DC Cab” (released 12/16/83).
I haven’t seen The African Queen yet, but I’m looking forward to it. I’m saving it for the big screen.
Fantastic photo, ken. One of the best I’ve seen.
Columbia 1910 to 1930 (20 years)
Mayfair 1930 to 1960 (30 years)
DeMille 1960 to 1976 (16 years)
Mark Triplex 1976 to 1977 (1 year)
Embassy 2, 3, 4 1977 to 1997 (20 years)
Embassy 1, 2, 3 1997 to 1998 (1 year)
Is that about right?
In the heart of little old New York,
You’ll find a thoroughfare.
It’s the part of little old New York
That runs into Times Square.
A crazy quilt that “Wall Street Jack” built,
If you’ve got a little time to spare,
I want to take you there.
Come and meet those dancing feet,
On the avenue I’m taking you to,
Forty-Second Street.
Hear the beat of dancing feet,
It’s the song I love the melody of,
Forty-Second Street.
Little “nifties” from the Fifties,
Innocent and sweet;
Sexy ladies from the Eighties,
Who are indiscreet.
They’re side by side, they’re glorified
Where the underworld can meet the elite,
Forty-Second Street.
I’d like to add that the American Airlines auditorium is a loving restoration of the original Selwyn theater and is not “all-new;” the Selwyn is intact. (The lobby collapsed during construction of the surrounding office building and is new.)
The Hilton was built from the ground up (except for the exterior walls and some decorative elements saved from the Lyric/Apollo demolitions.)