Embassy 1,2,3 Theatre

707 7th Avenue,
New York, NY 10036

Unfavorite 38 people favorited this theater

Showing 101 - 125 of 1,093 comments

RobertEndres
RobertEndres on August 20, 2018 at 6:48 am

vindanpar if you set your Blu-ray player for PCM output for Khartoum and then Pro-Logic decode the two tracks in your receiver or control unit you may get a decent L-C-R-S playback which comes closer to mirroring the original Khartoum track. Criterion did this with “Blow-out” which was a Dolby stereo track matrixed for theatrical playback. I don’t know why they just don’t do this in the Blu-ray production process and release the decoded tracks in a normal DTS configuration, and Criterion wasn’t able to tell me why when I asked them about it, but give it a try.

vindanpar
vindanpar on August 19, 2018 at 8:10 pm

I remember seeing the Demille billboard spectacular for Hawaii when I was a boy and was it ever impressive.

I’d love to see a close up color photo of it.

Why wouldn’t Twilight Time put out the roadshow version like they did for Khartoum? The problem with that film is the soundtrack used was a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mix when a 6 track exists. Also their Exodus transfer was taken from a 35mm print and not 70mm as the movie was filmed.

You’ve got to be careful with these blu rays. I understand though Khartoum is in any case visually stunning so I’ll end up paying through the nose for it on ebay.

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig on August 19, 2018 at 4:39 pm

The Blu-ray includes the roadshow cut as a special feature. It’s a non-anamorphic transfer. The short version has been properly transferred and looks much better on the screen, but the longer version is a much better movie.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 on August 19, 2018 at 1:31 pm

Hello-

I saw Hawaii twice during its roadshow at this theater. quite enjoyable. an interesting fact it was the last roadshow film to have a hardcover souvenir program.

another interesting fact. although a complete copy of the roadshow cut exists when Twilight Time issued a Blu-ray disc they used the general release print.

vindanpar
vindanpar on August 17, 2018 at 9:12 pm

Anybody know the size of the screen when it was a 70mm roadshow house? Never a roadshow musical unlike every other roadshow house. Always epics. I believe the last roadshow film there was Shoes of the Fisherman. Also interesting but I believe Hawaii was in Panavision and mono. This seems incredible for such a huge film in the mid 60s. But then unfortunately The Sand Pebbles and Zhivago were Panavision as well.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 on July 20, 2018 at 3:44 pm

Hello-

I know I’ve asked this question before so I hope you don’t mind answering it a second time. i frequently used the TKTS booth since its creation June of 1973. to which my query. considering you’re looking straight at the theater’s marquee while on the TKTS line I honestly never remember seeing Mark 1,2,3 on the marquee. to which anyone ever been able to find a photo with Mark 1,2,3 on the marquee?

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on April 30, 2018 at 1:05 pm

July 1955 photo as Brandt’s Mayfair Theatre added, courtesy of Mase Mason.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on November 23, 2016 at 4:50 pm

1937 photo as the Mayfair added. 13th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Photo credit Walter Kelleher.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on November 18, 2016 at 7:40 pm

Circa 1926 photo as the Columbia added, photo credit Duke University Collection.

Comfortably Cool
Comfortably Cool on June 25, 2016 at 8:52 am

In the Depression spring of 1935, exhibitor Walter Reade found himself in desperate financial straits. He lost the Astor Theatre to its mortgage holders, and couldn’t get major product for the Mayfair, which he’d been running since RKO Theatres gave up management. Loew’s made him an offer that he couldn’t turn down— a ten-year lease for a rent of $55,000 per annum.

coasternut (Robert Morrow)
coasternut (Robert Morrow) on May 12, 2015 at 8:10 pm

Yes there was a Souvenir Program for Patton. The front cover had George C. Scott standing in front of a very large American flag just as he did in the opening of the movie. I bought my program from the University Theatre here in Toronto at the premiere of the Roadshow presentation. I will post it when I locate the box I packed my programs for storage.

Orlando
Orlando on April 7, 2015 at 11:50 am

This theatre building should be changed to DEMOLISHED!

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 on January 28, 2015 at 5:00 pm

to patryan6019-

the traditional soft cover souvenir program for The Lion In Winter that i own was also published by Ronark Pub. i don’t have a souvenir program for Patton. i saw it at my local theater not during its roadshow run at the Criterion. since Tora Tora Tora also from Fox had a program when it opened in Nov. i should think Patton did as well.

also my collection of 137 movie souvenir programs spans the years 1925 -1997.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 on November 6, 2014 at 2:42 pm

Hello to All-

several months back I posted a question and I was wondering if anyone had any new info. the question was simple. April 25, 1896 was a pivotal point in movie history , it was the 1st time movies were projected on a screen in a theater before a paying audience. the theater being Koster Bail’s Music Hall at Bway & 34 St.. now whatever “movie theaters” existed in Manhattan in the first several years of the biz were music halls, vaudeville theaters, legitimate theaters or decent sized unused retail spaces simply converted to show “flickers”. so wouldn’t the 1st theater built brick by brick from the ground up as a “picture house” been made note of in the press at the time?

the first i was able to find was the Crescent which was located at 36 W. 135 St. and opened on the nite of Dec. 16 ,1909.

techman707
techman707 on October 2, 2014 at 8:31 am

Jay Harvey, I have T-shirts, buttons and “programs” from “Rocky Four-The War”. I’m not sure anymore, but I think the buttons and programs were free and they only charged for the t-shirts. But that’s what I meant by other “licensed” materials. IMHO, I NEVER even considered ANY OF THIS the same as an “official roadshow program” that used to be sold during a Roadshow Engagement.

Jay Harvey
Jay Harvey on October 1, 2014 at 4:48 pm

I have a program for ‘Rocky III’, not even close to a roadshow

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig on October 1, 2014 at 1:50 pm

My parents bought a souvenir program for “Coal Miner’s Daughter” in 1980 in suburban New Jersey. Definitely not a roadshow.

Ed Solero
Ed Solero on October 1, 2014 at 9:09 am

As techman707 says, souvenir programs were not limited to just “Roadshow” engagements. Programs (official, licensed, or otherwise) continued well into the 1980’s. I picked up many of these at the local multiplex, not just the big houses in Manhattan.

techman707
techman707 on October 1, 2014 at 4:43 am

BigJoe, I don’t know the answer to your question, but you can be sure it was driven by money. I also know there were “official” souvenir programs that were planned along with a Roadshow release of a film and then there were/are “run of the mill” souvenir programs that were just licensed (by man different companies) for a fee. Sorry I can’t be of more help.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 on September 30, 2014 at 3:23 pm

to techman707-

you make a most interesting suggestion in that CT should have a page devoted just to souvenir programs. to which i have a question for you.

the prime roadshow period as i have stated was the October 1955 opening of “Oklahoma” to the Dec. 1972 opening of “Man of La Mancha”. now i didn’t go to every such film in that period but everyone i did go to had a souvenir program. so here’s my question- during this period the studios still opened their continuous performance films in 1 maybe 2 theaters in Manhattan. so of these films how do you think the studios decided which would have souvenir programs?

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 on September 29, 2014 at 12:09 pm

Hello to All-

I don’t know how many of you subscribe to the page for the Astor but I have come upon a contradictory bit of info about the theater that I would like you thoughts on.

techman707
techman707 on September 16, 2014 at 12:14 am

Hey guys, I think that at this time a separate thread or section should be created on CT that just deals with “Motion Picture Souvenir Programs”. The only reason I bring this up now is because we’ve barely touched on this interesting subject and it has already become pretty long. With a separate thread it would be much easier for us to find what we’re looking for……just a suggestion. And while we’re on the subject of changes, the previous suggestion of a “like button” IS VERY IMPORTANT. However, I’d also like to add a “DISLIKE” button while we’re on the subject. If you’ve ever been on Facebook and wanted make your opinion known WITHOUT having to start typing a comment. Yet, your only choice is “LIKE” or select nothing and have to type a whole “COMMENT”, which as you know, can become quite long. Just as it will tell you “82 members also LIKED this ”, it could now tell you that “105 members also DISLIKED the story content”. Now you would have a better barometer of how the members REALLY feel! Just my opinion.

patryan6019
patryan6019 on September 14, 2014 at 11:03 pm

bigjoe59…WhenI saw Lion in 1969 I did not buy the program—soft cover—being sold at the theatre. In 1971 I wanted to correct that studidity and buy one.I was annoyed when a hard cover copy was air mailed from AVCO Embassy in NY. I should have inquired at that time who merited this version at the time of the original release. Does this mean other programs existed that way—maybe? probably? 45 years later could I have the only one that survives? If you could, tell me who published the soft cover. Ronark Program Co. NYC did the one I have. Also, do you have the program for Patton? I have no programs before the 50s so I have no personal knowledge of the silent era. But you might find the following interesting. A book published in 1977 is titled Souvenir Programs of Twelve Classic Movies 1927-1941 edited by Miles Kreuger. I don’t nave the book(only photocopies of parts of it)but in the foreward he wrote on Dec 2, 1975 he says “Although infrequently seen today, early souvenir programs…were issued for almost every major motion picture released from the mid-1920s until the paper shortage of World War Two…For the first half of this century, almost all souvenir programs for Broadway shows and later for Hollywood movies were priced at 25 cents…This is not film history being analyzed in retrospect. These are reproductions of the actual programs…”.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 on September 14, 2014 at 1:03 pm

Hello to patryan6019-

as I said I was 98% accurate in my memory so I
don’t mind you adding new info. to which two new
question-

*the souvenir program I bought at The Lion In Winter was the traditional one with staples in the spine. I bought it at the film’s premiere roadshow run at the Lincoln Art Theater on 57th Street. I never knew it had a hardcover edition as well.at what theater did you by yours?

*also while its not perfect I find Kim Holston’s book “Movie Roadshows” fascinating since its the only book I have ever come across on the subject. now during the silent era the author lists 85 feature films as having opened on roadshow runs
in Manhattan. now whether I own them or have read about them i know of only five souvenir programs- The Birth of A Nation, The Big Parade, Ben-Hur, Don Juan and The King of Kings. i can’t believe of the 85 films Holston lists only 5 had souvenir programs. what’s your best guess at finding out which of the other 80 films had souvenir programs?

patryan6019
patryan6019 on September 13, 2014 at 8:36 pm

Ed Solero…To clarify for you the roadshow database that I created, the number for each month is only for the first opening in each state, province and capital city which 99% of the time is the largest city. The roll out was intentional, the whole point of a roadshow right up to the end. The 13 months for Tango was about average,some are longer (80 Days took 23 months). It had nothing to do with its x rating. It was UA’s last roadshow with La Mancha just ahead of it and Fiddler a year before that rolling out the same way. Reserved seats are what made it a roadshow