Comments from HowardBHaas

Showing 201 - 225 of 2,965 comments

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Paramount Theatre's VistaVision screen on Sep 2, 2019 at 12:18 pm

V Young posted at the Ziegfeld page- from the NYTimes 4/24/55: re VistaVision installation: “The screen now used at the Paramount is 64 by 35 feet…”

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Paris Theatre on Sep 2, 2019 at 5:12 am

The Jewish Voice 9-1-19 article “iconic Paris Theatre in NYC Closes Its Doors After Seven Decades” finished with “The theater has been a destination for many of the city’s intellectuals and movie connoisseurs, as motion pictures by directors including Federico Fellini and Franco Zeffirelli have been shown.”

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Paris Theatre on Sep 2, 2019 at 5:06 am

Seth, I’ve seen movies at London’s Gate Notting Hill & agree it is a wonderful “cinema treasure.” Thanks for mentioning the 45% decrease article, which I just read. I also saw a Twitter feed of comments to the NYTimes Paris article with, again, many people upset at the theater’s closing and also like me upset at the article, some of those posting blaming backbiting in the NY arts community for the negative quotes. Last week, there were many other articles online about the Paris closing, many which I agreed more with. I loved the Town & Country article which included a photo of “Romeo & Juliet” on the marquee & many great quotes- here’s a couple- “It didn’t matter what decade we were in,” recalls Bryan Bantry, an entertainment industry polymath. Bantry’s offices were in a penthouse above the Paris for two decades, and he frequently rented it out for screenings. “Real New Yorkers who loved cinema” were always keen to see the single-screen theater’s latest. (also) In addition to hosting many a New York film premiere and serving up expertly-curated programming, the Paris was a center of gravity for a certain set. “It was a happy place for many people, and we’re always looking for happy places,” Bantry says. He describes the theater’s balcony, which boasted great sight lines; people in the know, he says, always went straight up the stairs. (from Howard- after my 1st several films there, I too, always sat in the balcony!) 

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Paris Theatre on Sep 1, 2019 at 8:11 pm

Today’s NY Times article has one wonderful quote: “That’s terrible,” said Duncan Hannah, a painter who loved the theater on 58th Street by Fifth Avenue for the French movies and the quality of New York gossip you could overhear in the plush seats.

“It looked like the fancy cinema on an old ocean liner,” Mr. Hannah said. “I crossed the Atlantic to France when I was 14, in 1967, and they had a cinema that looked like the Paris.”

Unfortunately, much of the rest of the focus of that one article is by people questioning when we who loved the Paris actually last saw a movie there? Well, I not only saw Pavarotti there this year, but also enjoyed Never Look Away and Sunset, both subtitled foreign films. Last year, I saw Mary Queen of Scotts, Colette, Gauguin: Voyage to Tahiti, and Lean on Pete, in 2017: Victoria and Abdul, Paris Can Wait, Their Finest, and so forth, I saw movies every year for a quarter of a century! I saw my 1st movie at the Paris in 1989 (Crusoe) then in 1995 resuming visits to the Paris (as I don’t live in NYC but in Philly) to see the movie Jefferson in Paris, I saw movies every single year, for a total of 85 movies seen at the wonderful Paris. And, despite the snarky focus of the NY Times, I read the comments of actual film goers online, and understand there were many others who saw every movie or many movies at the Paris. I met some in person while attending movies there & know others here who have. Often those movies that I saw at the Paris were my favorite movies of the year.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Paris Theatre on Sep 1, 2019 at 6:46 am

Posters here need to remember (and realize when comments are deleted) that this website is not about politics or matters that stray from discussing the movie theaters. If the Paris is gutted or demolished for higher economic returns, that would be a tragic loss of a wonderful, movie theater that properly showed films, and a theater that is a cultural resource for New York. I am heartbroken by its possible loss, as are many other people from comments I read at news stories online of its closing. We must enjoy other historic movie theaters while they last, such as City Cinemas Village East and City Cinemas 1,2,3. I can’t quickly think of other commercial (daily movies, for profit) movie theaters in Manhattan that are historic? other than 42nd St’s AMC Empire using a historic theater as a lobby.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Odeon London Covent Garden on Aug 31, 2019 at 8:12 am

Jason, did you mean to type in your 1st post above, “more than substantial harm” rather than “less”?

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Aug 27, 2019 last day City Cinemas operation on Aug 30, 2019 at 9:26 am

1:40 PM matinee “Pavarotti” Photo from the balcony. Other times that day were 11 AM, 4:30 PM, 7:15 PM.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Paris Theatre on Aug 30, 2019 at 4:15 am

Curmedgeon, I agree totally with your description of the Paris. If you google “Paris Theatre NYC closed” as of yesterday, there’s many new articles & at least a couple TV news videos. In those articles & comments to them & the articles earlier this summer, there are many people upset. Many like me who viewed the Paris as their favorite! There’s also movie distributors upset because the this theater produced a significant percentage of their revenues on a film- the Sony guy said up to one third, and for Pavarotti, 9% though the movie was in 300 theaters! And, there were many special events at the Paris, so more who will be upset. As to the Ziegfeld, it was beloved but often dark (closed) as it was huge & the mainstream movies played everywhere & mainstream movies are not so great anymore. The Paris was never closed (except for transitions to new operators such as more than 2 months in 1997 after Loews/Sony departed and briefly for seat refurbishment 2 years ago). And the movies at the Paris were always worthwhile!

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Paris Theatre on Aug 28, 2019 at 5:37 am

As of yesterday morning, Pavarotti was listed at the Paris as “sold out” at every screening today Wed & tomorrow Thursday, which would not be accurate since it has been showing for more than a couple months. I could be wrong, but my sense was that yesterday were the last screenings.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Paris Theatre on Aug 28, 2019 at 4:03 am

As of this morning, the City Cinemas website does not list this theater or its sister theater (as the building is owned by the same landlord) the Beekman (the twin that was renamed the Beekman). I do not know whether or not either theater will be reopened by a different theater operator, or not. I hope so.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Beekman Theatre on Aug 28, 2019 at 4:00 am

Today, City Cinemas website does not list this theater (or the Paris). Yesterday at this theater, “Blinded by the Light” and “The Farewell” were splitting a screen (different times). “After the Wedding” was being shown on the other screen. At 10 AM this morning was listed “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation” but I am not sure that screening will take place. I do not know whether or not this theater will go to a different theater operator or whether it will not reopen.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Beekman Theatre on Aug 28, 2019 at 3:56 am

Seth, thanks for your post! Yesterday morning when I woke, I read it & checked the Paris Theatre website because it is the same landlord as this theater. It looked like yesterday might be the last day for City Cinemas showing movies at the Paris. So though I am in Philly, I went to the Paris because I have been going there for many years to see movies and wished to be there considering news reports earlier this summer that it might be forever closing.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Paris Theatre on Aug 27, 2019 at 6:35 pm

At the 1:30 PM screening today of “Pavarotti” the curtain opened, after having been closed (as always) with music playing. One trailer, “Judy” was shown. The City Cinemas trailer appeared. Then the movie! As the movie finished, the audience applauded, and the curtain closed. Customers asked staff if the theater is closing? I hope the Paris is not closing forever! But from news reports, I fear it might be. The Paris is a very cool place to see excellent films.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Cinema 1, 2 & 3 by Angelika on Aug 26, 2019 at 8:30 am

“The Joker” is not an art movie like the opening attraction, but all movies were not art movies. The most popular movies from the start were movies like Dracula and Frankenstein. That said, this site isn’t for reviews of individual movies, and not at all for TV or general culture. We can be happy that this movie theater is not only still open, but will showcase The Joker in 70mm.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Cinema 1, 2 & 3 by Angelika on Aug 25, 2019 at 11:05 am

As their website says, The Joker which seems to have early word as excellent, opens in 70mm on October 4 here. So nobody is surprised, the aspect ratio is “flat” not ‘scope. https://www.citycinemas.com/cinemas123/showtimes-and-tickets/coming-soon

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Angelicum Cinema on Aug 25, 2019 at 9:40 am

On October 23, 1992, I saw “My Cousin Vinny” here. My notes indicate the theater was modern, not ornate, and did not use a curtain.It had a few hundred seats & a medium to large screen. Frommer wrote that English language films are shown in their original version here with screenings Wednesday to Sunday, starting at 5 PM but at 2:15 PM Sundays. This was the only Milan cinema in the 1991 Frommer Italy guide book.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Victoria Theatre on Aug 25, 2019 at 9:24 am

recent article https://www.keystoneedge.com/2019/08/12/a-small-town-movie-theatre-comes-back-to-life/

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Palace Theater on Aug 25, 2019 at 7:40 am

This photo is from 1917 according to the January 12, 1992 Phila Inquirer article.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Paris Theatre on Aug 23, 2019 at 8:26 am

I wish that article’s indications would come true! However, at least one article indicated that the theater is not booking new films because allegedly the building owner is not going to keep it as a theater. This month, August, I believe is the last month of the 10 year City Cinemas lease. Again, I truly wish the reports of the theater’s pending death are exaggerated & that the Paris could live on with more movies, but I fear the worst.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Renel Theatre on Aug 23, 2019 at 5:22 am

Google street view shows the former theater is Upper Room Missionary Baptist Church

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Loew's Theatre on Aug 21, 2019 at 7:05 pm

Photo of this theater’s auditorium as gym http://www.montrealinfo.com/en/news/2019-08-13/closure-of-the-mansfield-athletic-club

scroll to last photo of this theater’s auditorium as Club Med https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/little-trace-remains-of-montreals-glamorous-theatre-era

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Philadelphia Film Center on Aug 20, 2019 at 11:05 am

Tonight & next Tuesday eve, “Apocalypse Now Final Cut” here. Digital. The theater has 2k projection, 7.1 surround sound. My notes are that the “Redux” version was here 7-31-01.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Paris Theatre on Aug 19, 2019 at 5:18 pm

Unfortunately, if you google “Paris Theatre NYC closing” you will find many articles. It is sad, very sad, since so many people love this theater, myself included.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Paris Theatre on Aug 19, 2019 at 3:26 pm

from what I can figure, August is the last month of the 10 year lease that City Cinemas holds. The theater’s last day may be this Thursday, or next Thursday, or whenever, but I fear it is coming!

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas commented about Sedgwick Theatre on Aug 19, 2019 at 7:38 am

This is the fountain in the foyer, the space whose photo was posted by Atmos on August 11, 2019. The fountain can be seen at the far end. The writing on the back of that foyer photo mentions “Grand Foyer of Sedgwick Theater Showing Decorated Vitrolite Drinking Fountain Panels” and the panels are from Vitrolite Products Co. That photo is dated August 24, 1928.