Roxy Theatre
153 W. 50th Street,
New York,
NY
10020
153 W. 50th Street,
New York,
NY
10020
83 people
favorited this theater
Showing 151 - 175 of 1,209 comments
Sigh…
I vaguely recall seeing a vintage 1920s or 30s architecture magazine article which described Roxy Rothafel’s NYC apartment (the actual home, not theater) in which he proudly displays a grilled doorway. Wish I could remember the exact details. These may be those doors, in which case the EBAY listing is somewhat incorrect.
I’m not saying those gates aren’t from the Roxy, but I’d be more convinced if they said “Rambusch” instead of Tiffany. Too bad they don’t have a photo of them in the theatre. Just saying they came from the Roxy isn’t exactly “great provenance” in and of itself.
Take a look at this EBAY listing:
Bronze Tiffany Studio Doors
According to the listing they originate in the NYC ROXY. Does anyone know where in the building they were originally located? My guess is in a non-public area.
Look at the original movie Naked City. In the opening minute is a scene of NY while the city sleeps.A quick shot shows a cleaning woman with a bucket moping the rotunda . Talk about thankless jobs
BigJoe, My guess would be “The King and I” (9 weeks), “Bus Stop” (6 weeks), “Giant” (9 weeks) “Anastasia” (8 weeks) all in 1956. There were many A films after that but these had the longest runs and made the most money and were critically acclaimed. Next case.
Hello Again-
as i mentioned in previous posts in the late 50s Hollywood was still operating on the A movie and B movie production level. now just because a film is a A level picture doesn’t mean its going to any good or receive critical acclaim or be a hit at the box office. to which what was the last A level picture to play the Roxy that was both critically well received and had a healthy run?
Direct link to Roxy marquee photo
interesting marquee photo here:
http://www.boxoffice.com/the_vault/issue_page?issue_id=1946-4-27&page_no=17#page_start
Tinseltoes thanks so much for that link to the Box-office magazine archives. I have often wished I had saved my original copies. I recall how I would look forward to the new addition and now I can relive those wonderful glory days of movies.
Tinseltoes, thanks for going through the effort of extracting the most interesting and pertinent articles.
But it’s a double-edged sword, since almost every article is interesting and I have spent many, many (wasted?) hours perusing the back issues that you have selected. So, thanks so much and thanks for nothing!
Thanks Tinseltoes for your article on Cinemascope one year old and your terrific magazine as always.
Hello-
sorry about that. i thought anything to do with motion picture exhibition was a legitimate topic. oh, well. never said i was perfect. :–)
therefore since this website is apparently only for the discussion of actual physical theaters rather than motion picture exhibition policy do you know where i could discuss the topic of souvenir programs? thanks in advance.
I’m not speaking for Ross & Patrick, but a discussion of a collection of souvenir programs that don’t relate to a particular theater IS going off topic. Ed, some of your post above would seem relevant to the Radio City page on this website. There are conversation threads over at cinematour
Hello-
as always i thank my fellow posters for their replies. today i have an interesting two part question. hear from you soon.
*i have a decent size collection of souvenir programs. i think approx. 120? these are actual souvenir programs that were sold in the the theater lobbies and not the thin but colorful leaflets or pamphlets theaters often gave out
during a film’s run. here’s part one- for all of you with a sizable collection of actual souvenir programs which are your favorites? now this has nothing to do with the quality of the film itself just how well designed you think the program is. my top 3 are “The Greatest Story Ever Told” which may be the most elaborate souvenir program in my collection.“Don Juan” starring John Barrymore. not only is the program itself in mint condition but its a complete program in that is still has the separately printed colorized full length portrait of Barrymore that was placed in the middle of the program. then i would choose “The Ten Commandments” from 1956 which rather than have photos from the film had full color paintings of the scenes. so for people with sizable collections what are your favorites?
*part two. everyone who collects x,y or z whether it be coins, stamps, 1st edition books has a “Holy Grail” that one item they have always wanted but never been able to locate. for movie souvenir programs mine would be the one for “The Birth of a Nation”. i believe TBOAN was the 1st film to sell a souvenir program in the lobby. i found a copy in a movie memorabilia store in L.A. a few years ago but it was in such frayed worn condition there’s was no point in spending the $35. i would be willing to spend a reasonable amount for a near mint if not a mint condition copy.
The practice of selling souvenir programs continued on a fairly widespread basis, as far as I can recall, into the early 1980’s. In fact, even some local theaters (such as the UA Lynbrook and the Century’s Green Acres, in my neck of the woods) sold them at the candy counters. I recall picking up booklets for a number of films, including the original “Star Wars,” “1941,” “Rocky II,” “The Empire Strikes Back,” “Dawn of the Dead,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Return of the Jedi,” and “Reds.” I believe I still have a number of these – albeit in pretty worn condition – stored away in a bin somewhere in my basement.
The Roxy sold souvenir programs for ALL ABOUT EVE, THE ROBE, THE EGYPTIAN, THE BIG CIRCUS, LIL ABNER, 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD, KING AND I, THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS and CAROUSEL. ALSO multi page programs for THE RAZOR’S EDGE and GIANT. I am not sure if these 2 were available to general public or just distributed to premier audiences. Does anyone know of any others? A special program for LOUIS ARMSTRONG’s 1957 appearance was also available. And of course WINDJAMMER. Does anyone know of any others?
Souvenir programs were not “exclusive” to the location they were being sold in. Rather they are publications like any book or magazine. The publisher would get a license from the movie company, in this case 20th Century Fox and publish and print the book to be sold at the theatre at the time it was playing. The Robe booklet probably sold for 50 cents with the Roxy keeping a percentage of each copy sold. Although there may have been “left overs” at the locations, generally the unsold copies would be the property of the publisher and should have been returned to them. The publisher (also known as vendor) would be responsible for distribution of the book. Running operations like this would be difficult and expensive in the fast moving age of the multiplex.
Hello to Simon S.
thanks for the info about the engagement of “The Robe” at the Roxy. now the film had a souvenir program of which i picked up a almost mint condition copy of in a memorabilia store about ten years ago. which leads to this question-if a film playing at the Roxy had a souvenir program when the film ended its run would the Roxy send all the unsold copies back to the studio in question or did they keep a few? i have always wondered about that.
the reason i ask is simple. in early 1966 i was at my friend’s house after school and noticed a souvenir program for “The Great Race” on the bookshelf. he mentioned his parents had gotten it when the film played its first run engagement at Radio City Music Hall. when TGR had played my local theater they didn’t sell the program. so i said “oh,well”. the next week i had an idea. i wrote a letter to RCMH and inquired as to whether they had any copies left. now this was several months after the film had left the theater. i included a $1 for the program and $1 for s&h. guess what? the next week i received a package from RCMH which contained not only a mint condition copy of the souvenir program but the two $1 bills. :–)
That’s an easy one as anyone who knows and loves the Roxy will know. Stage shows were dropped when the house converted to Cinemascope. “The Robe” opened in mid September 1953 and played 13 weeks. It was only exclusive, however, in the Metropolitan area as it also opening gradually throughout the country in select theaters. It was following by “Beneath the Twelve Mile Reef” as the Christmas attraction. “The Robe” grossed $264,000 in its first week, the largest gross for one theater in one week anywhere in the world (seven shows a day)beginning at 9 AM. with a midnight show. Prices were Weekday $1.00;1.50; 2.00 weekdays; 1.50; 2.00 and 2.50 weekends. At the time the top price at other mainstem houses were $1.80 with a top of $1.50 at RCMH.(Previous record holder was “Forever Amber” which grossed $163,00 opening week and had a five-week run in 1947)
Hello-
the first Cinemascope film “The Robe” debuted at the Roxy. but how long did it run on what i assume was an exclusive engagement? the reason i ask is simple. in the approx. 50+ years it was a first run venue even the most successful films ran just so long at Radio City Music Hall.
Maybe they never played a B movie, but they sure played a lot of forgettable films.
Bigjoe59, You’re question opens a can of worms as to what constitutes an A Level film. Among (of course debatable)the A level films that played the Roxy during its last year included “That Kind of Woman” (Loren and Hunter)“Lil Abner”, “This Earth is Mine” (Rock Hudson),“The Big Circus” (Victor Mature) and the last film “The Wind Cannot Read” with Dirk Bogarde….and to be factual as well as fair, the Roxy, except during the Depression Era, never played a B level film.
Hello- the Roxy was torn down if i remember correctly June/July of 1960. which prompts this question-
at that point Hollywood was still operating on the A level and B level movie system. so does anyone know what the last successful long run of an A level film was a the Roxy?
Adding to the great photo sent by Tinseltoes: “Ten Gentlemen from West Point” was a great hit for the Roxy beginning the post war boom of movie going along the stem. It ran an unprecedented four weeks in June beginning with an opening week gross of $55,000. The stage show featured the Stuart Morgan Dancers, ballet soloist Carol King, impressionist Cookie Bowers and the Gae Foster Roxyettes all of whom participated in a spectacular salute to the United Nations in which the entire company descended a huge stairway waving the flags of all nations. This, in the light of stiff competition from the Music Hall where “Mrs. Miniver” also opened ($100,000 opening)and was destined to run a record-breaking 11 weeks. That same week, “In This Our Life” broke the house record at the Strand. What a week! Wish I was there.