From the 4/4/68 New York Daily News: Kathleen Carroll’s pan of “2001”, which traumatized me at age 13. She was disappointed in the film, I was disappointed in her:
From the Los Angeles Times, November 1963: the premiere of “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” and of the Dome itself. Get a load of that celebrity guest list:
Two ads from the Los Angeles Times – two big premieres of two big pictures at the Chinese – an overload of celebrity guests. If the hosts of these events had to stop and talk to every one of those guests, the show would never get under way on time.
This New York Daily News ad features 1956 Roxy patrons praising “Carousel” and CinemaScope 55. It’s hard to read the names, but you think there are any Cinema Treasures regulars in there? :)
BoxOfficeBill: Thanks to you, I was able to hand out photocopies of an actual 1956 Roxy program to each viewer when I showed “Giant” on a movie night several months ago. Also did the same thing with your Radio City program for “The Nun’s Story”. Cinema Treasures hasn’t been the same without you. It’s good to have you back!
Thanks for the great ad, RobertR. I’d forgotten how much I missed those great old New York critics. Starting October 6th, we can all re-create that day in 1972 by going to the Ziegfeld.
Vito: I guess we won’t be seeing you at the Ziegfeld this fall. But we can still, as Jesse Jackson used to say, keep hope alive. They already have those two 35/70mm projectors up there – what’s wrong with giving them a little workout once in a while?
Ed: I felt the same way when I found out that “How the West Was Won” had its world premiere in London in November 1962, then had several more 1962 openings in Europe, Japan and Australia before finally coming to the US in February 1963. It didn’t even open in New York until April. An unusual release pattern, but I’m sure MGM and Cinerama had their reasons.
They did have a curtain at the Rivoli, but they didn’t always use it. They kept it open with the lights down during the overture for “Cleopatra”, and I had no idea why all those yellow scratch marks were squiggling around up there on the screen. I was around 10 then, and didn’t know that the music was actually printed on the film itself. But it made for a good memory (which I haven’t thought about in many years).
Vito, hope you can make it into NYC for a Ziegfeld show when the classics start again.
In my old neighborhood theater, the Rivoli in Rutherford NJ, they often showed double features right up against each other without a moment’s break. The last shot of the first feature would change over directly to the studio logo of the second feature on the other projector. Sounds strange, but I kinda miss that.
When “The Exorcist” was re-released in 70mm at the Warner Twin (formerly the Strand), the reel alarm was broken and we heard the ding-ding-ding throughout the entire picture.
The front of the Ziegfeld’s marquee, which you could only really see from the other side of 54th St., said “THE ZIEGFELD A Walter Reade Theatre” for several years after it stopped being a Reade theatre. That part of the display is now covered up by a Clearview Cinemas sign.
Ed: The Ziegfeld was a Walter Reade theater too, for many years. It opened as a Reade theater in 1969 and I think it stayed that way into the early ‘80s when Cineplex Odeon took it over.
Ed: excellent idea all around, and not outside the realm of possibility! The Ziegfeld was one of the venues in this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, even though it’s many blocks north of Tribeca.
Remember: at this same time last year the whole concept of classics at the Ziegfeld sounded like a pipe dream too.
“Just to see the words "WEST SIDE STORY” appear towards the end of the overture on the giant screen is pure magic."
I agree – that is a real goosebump moment even on TV, but on a big screen with the music playing loud, there’s nothing else like it. I still remember my reaction to that title appearing when I first saw the movie at the age of 8.
If you haven’t already seen it, this link will take you to a picture of that very shot being created for the film, thanks to Marty Hart:
Before I get corrected: “Becket” had been shown on TV before, but not for at least 20 years as far as I know, which makes this rare screening at the Lafayette that much more of a must-see.
I was beginning to think of “Becket” as a lost film: not on widescreen video, never shown on television – leave it to you, Pete, to find it again. Thanks!
As I left the Ziegfeld tonight after seeing one more underwhelming current movie (“World Trade Center”), the more I couldn’t wait for the classics to begin.
I have no doubt that JAWS will be a blowout of 1975-style audience-pleasing fun. All Ziegfeld doubters and naysayers: come to that show and have your minds changed.
From the Los Angeles Times, April 1968. “2001” was about to begin its very long run at the Warner Cinerama:
View link
Here’s the Daily News “Journey” review. This Fox picture is also (according to the headline) a Paramount picture:
View link
“Ryan’s Daughter” Daily News ad, November 1970. I hope it finds its way back there again someday.
View link
From the 4/4/68 New York Daily News: Kathleen Carroll’s pan of “2001”, which traumatized me at age 13. She was disappointed in the film, I was disappointed in her:
View link
Here is an ad for “Journey to the Center of the Earth” from the New York Daily News – December 1959:
View link
Here is an ad for “Journey to the Center of the Earth” from the New York Daily News:
View link
In honor of Joseph Stefano, who died yesterday:
View link
From the New York Daily News, September 1951:
An unusual ad for the Mayfair’s next attraction:
View link
Kate Cameron’s review. She sounds a little surprised to have enjoyed it – I guess science fiction didn’t get much respect back then:
View link
From the Los Angeles Times, November 1963: the premiere of “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” and of the Dome itself. Get a load of that celebrity guest list:
View link
Two ads from the Los Angeles Times – two big premieres of two big pictures at the Chinese – an overload of celebrity guests. If the hosts of these events had to stop and talk to every one of those guests, the show would never get under way on time.
West Side Story – December 1961:
View link
On the Beach – December 1959:
View link
This New York Daily News ad features 1956 Roxy patrons praising “Carousel” and CinemaScope 55. It’s hard to read the names, but you think there are any Cinema Treasures regulars in there? :)
View link
BoxOfficeBill: Thanks to you, I was able to hand out photocopies of an actual 1956 Roxy program to each viewer when I showed “Giant” on a movie night several months ago. Also did the same thing with your Radio City program for “The Nun’s Story”. Cinema Treasures hasn’t been the same without you. It’s good to have you back!
Thanks for the great ad, RobertR. I’d forgotten how much I missed those great old New York critics. Starting October 6th, we can all re-create that day in 1972 by going to the Ziegfeld.
Vito: I guess we won’t be seeing you at the Ziegfeld this fall. But we can still, as Jesse Jackson used to say, keep hope alive. They already have those two 35/70mm projectors up there – what’s wrong with giving them a little workout once in a while?
Ed: I felt the same way when I found out that “How the West Was Won” had its world premiere in London in November 1962, then had several more 1962 openings in Europe, Japan and Australia before finally coming to the US in February 1963. It didn’t even open in New York until April. An unusual release pattern, but I’m sure MGM and Cinerama had their reasons.
They did have a curtain at the Rivoli, but they didn’t always use it. They kept it open with the lights down during the overture for “Cleopatra”, and I had no idea why all those yellow scratch marks were squiggling around up there on the screen. I was around 10 then, and didn’t know that the music was actually printed on the film itself. But it made for a good memory (which I haven’t thought about in many years).
Vito, hope you can make it into NYC for a Ziegfeld show when the classics start again.
In my old neighborhood theater, the Rivoli in Rutherford NJ, they often showed double features right up against each other without a moment’s break. The last shot of the first feature would change over directly to the studio logo of the second feature on the other projector. Sounds strange, but I kinda miss that.
When “The Exorcist” was re-released in 70mm at the Warner Twin (formerly the Strand), the reel alarm was broken and we heard the ding-ding-ding throughout the entire picture.
The front of the Ziegfeld’s marquee, which you could only really see from the other side of 54th St., said “THE ZIEGFELD A Walter Reade Theatre” for several years after it stopped being a Reade theatre. That part of the display is now covered up by a Clearview Cinemas sign.
Ed: The Ziegfeld was a Walter Reade theater too, for many years. It opened as a Reade theater in 1969 and I think it stayed that way into the early ‘80s when Cineplex Odeon took it over.
Ed: excellent idea all around, and not outside the realm of possibility! The Ziegfeld was one of the venues in this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, even though it’s many blocks north of Tribeca.
Remember: at this same time last year the whole concept of classics at the Ziegfeld sounded like a pipe dream too.
JSA said:
“Just to see the words "WEST SIDE STORY” appear towards the end of the overture on the giant screen is pure magic."
I agree – that is a real goosebump moment even on TV, but on a big screen with the music playing loud, there’s nothing else like it. I still remember my reaction to that title appearing when I first saw the movie at the age of 8.
If you haven’t already seen it, this link will take you to a picture of that very shot being created for the film, thanks to Marty Hart:
View link
Before I get corrected: “Becket” had been shown on TV before, but not for at least 20 years as far as I know, which makes this rare screening at the Lafayette that much more of a must-see.
I was beginning to think of “Becket” as a lost film: not on widescreen video, never shown on television – leave it to you, Pete, to find it again. Thanks!
Here is the schedule for the Fall season of Ziegfeld Classics:
View link
As I left the Ziegfeld tonight after seeing one more underwhelming current movie (“World Trade Center”), the more I couldn’t wait for the classics to begin.
I have no doubt that JAWS will be a blowout of 1975-style audience-pleasing fun. All Ziegfeld doubters and naysayers: come to that show and have your minds changed.