Here is the ad Al Alvarez mentioned. Thanks, Al, for steering us to it. Renata Adler, who is still alive at age 80, seemed to have an aversion to popular movies which later became classics, but she did like “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”.
She wasn’t crazy about “2001” either. She complained that its purely visual storytelling should be “verbalized”. But she did include it in her list of the best of 1968 at year’s end (not in the top 10, though). A lot of critics changed their feelings about that movie as time went on.
Last night at this wonderful movie palace, a classic horror triple feature: House on Haunted Hill (1959), Island of Lost Souls (1933) and Halloween (1978). In the lobby, Halloween’s villain Michael Myers played the theme from the movie on a grand piano. He also played music from The Exorcist, Rosemary’s Baby, and Barry Lyndon (?). The crowd was huge for all three films.
There’s a stage in the diagrams, which is probably where the screen will be, but it looks like the seating will be individual tables and chairs. I guess I should just be grateful they didn’t tear the place down.
The Ziegfeld we knew and loved is gone, but here’s what they’re calling “the next act”. They mention movie premieres, so there must be a screening room somewhere in the building. Opens in the fall. Hope I get to go inside someday, but right now I don’t see how. Maybe they’ll have an off-hours tour for the general public?
Still hard to believe that the Ziegfeld is gone, along with almost all the other theaters vindanpar mentions (except Cinema I and II, I think). And in a city like New York. I wish NYC were more like Los Angeles in that regard.
I don’t recall the curtain, although there must have been one up there. I just remember that the seats seemed to go on forever, up and up. That theater made a huge impression on me. It’s still the most awesome screen I’ve ever seen, after almost 50 years.
The balcony was in use when I saw 2001 at the Capitol on 6/15/1968. I was 13 years old. My dad and I were in the front row of the loge (what they called the divans) and I remember looking up at the balcony, filled with people. Although it was probably just the lower part compared to what it was in the 30’s and ‘40s, it seemed huge to me.
My dad missed seeing the stage. He used to go there all the time for stage show/movie combinations.
How sad that all we can do now is look back to the good old days at the Ziegfeld. To be honest, I never thought it would actually close. I always figured it would be saved by landmark status or something like that.
I just finished watching Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon, and I had similar memories from when it was the Christmas 1975 attraction at the Ziegfeld, and how beautiful it looked and sounded from the 5th row.
It must be one of the few theaters to be mentioned in an Academy Award-winning Best Picture and Best Screenplay. From “Marty” (1955), partially filmed on location in the Bronx: “I hear there’s a good picture in the Loew’s Paradise”.
I got there at 7 and security was very fast, but hardly anyone was there yet. It was like airport security: open all bags, go through metal detector, people being wanded, etc. My friend mentioned that it was advertised in the NY Times the day before, and that may have contributed to the unexpected box office crush.
I was at the Barry Lyndon show. The 8 PM show started at exactly 8:46 PM. It was annoying, but the movie and the orchestra were so great that the long wait was soon forgotten. The theater staff in my section were extremely nice and helpful. They did continue to seat people after the show began, but they did it in a very quiet and unobtrusive way. I’m very glad I attended this show.
Saw Walking Dead star Norman Reedus in the lobby at intermission. He was going into a private party room on the second floor of the Kings.
In 1988 my dad went to a weekly Catholic Mass where he was asked to take a pledge that he would not go see Martin Scorsese’s “The Last Temptation of Christ”. That immediately made him want to see it, which he did. And he liked it.
On the way to Radio City for Blazing Saddles on Thursday night, I passed by the Ziegfeld. Construction was still going on with whatever they’re turning the theater into, but it did still say Ziegfeld Theatre on the outside of the building, high up on the brick wall, and the marquee is still up. Maybe they’re going to keep them?
TCM did have an annual screening of classic movies for the rest of the country to coincide with their big festival, called The Road to Hollywood. Sadly, I don’t think they do it anymore. I was lucky enough to see All About Eve, To Kill a Mockingbird and Cabaret at the Ziegfeld, complete with Robert Osborne hosting special guests (Liza Minnelli, Michael York, Spike Lee), and all for free admission. Needless to say, all shows were filled to capacity.
I also saw The Birds in Huntington, Long Island, NY: Tippi Hedren on stage interviewed by Ben Mankiewicz in another sold-out show. Just the other night, Blazing Saddles with a live appearance by Mel Brooks sold out the almost 6,000-seat Radio City Music Hall. The audience for classic movies on the big screen is out there, and waiting for more events like these.
From the New York Times, January 5, 1969. It’s sad to read this now, but we did get to enjoy the Ziegfeld for 47 years.
Here is the ad Al Alvarez mentioned. Thanks, Al, for steering us to it. Renata Adler, who is still alive at age 80, seemed to have an aversion to popular movies which later became classics, but she did like “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”.
She wasn’t crazy about “2001” either. She complained that its purely visual storytelling should be “verbalized”. But she did include it in her list of the best of 1968 at year’s end (not in the top 10, though). A lot of critics changed their feelings about that movie as time went on.
Thanks for the excellent retrospective on Planet of the Apes. A great way to kick off the exceptional movie year 1968.
For a typically snooty, dismissive New York Times review of this classic, click here. They even got the running time wrong.
I can back up what Joseph said. I saw 2001 here in June 1968. I’d say there were at least 1200 seats in the balcony alone.
I get Eastern Time on my page and I’m in New Jersey. Happy 50th to Planet of the Apes!
Last night at this wonderful movie palace, a classic horror triple feature: House on Haunted Hill (1959), Island of Lost Souls (1933) and Halloween (1978). In the lobby, Halloween’s villain Michael Myers played the theme from the movie on a grand piano. He also played music from The Exorcist, Rosemary’s Baby, and Barry Lyndon (?). The crowd was huge for all three films.
There’s a stage in the diagrams, which is probably where the screen will be, but it looks like the seating will be individual tables and chairs. I guess I should just be grateful they didn’t tear the place down.
The Ziegfeld we knew and loved is gone, but here’s what they’re calling “the next act”. They mention movie premieres, so there must be a screening room somewhere in the building. Opens in the fall. Hope I get to go inside someday, but right now I don’t see how. Maybe they’ll have an off-hours tour for the general public?
Still hard to believe that the Ziegfeld is gone, along with almost all the other theaters vindanpar mentions (except Cinema I and II, I think). And in a city like New York. I wish NYC were more like Los Angeles in that regard.
The Criterion may have been classier, but nothing compared to the Cinerama screen at the Capitol!
They called the balcony the Upper Mezzanine in this ad. Either way, it was still the cheapest seat.
I don’t recall the curtain, although there must have been one up there. I just remember that the seats seemed to go on forever, up and up. That theater made a huge impression on me. It’s still the most awesome screen I’ve ever seen, after almost 50 years.
The balcony was in use when I saw 2001 at the Capitol on 6/15/1968. I was 13 years old. My dad and I were in the front row of the loge (what they called the divans) and I remember looking up at the balcony, filled with people. Although it was probably just the lower part compared to what it was in the 30’s and ‘40s, it seemed huge to me.
My dad missed seeing the stage. He used to go there all the time for stage show/movie combinations.
Time for my annual post about seeing “2001” at the Capitol on June 15, 1968. Best moviegoing experience of my life. Next year: the big 5-0!
Movieholic: that would have been a great way to save the Ziegfeld. If I was a billionaire, I’d have paid for it myself.
How sad that all we can do now is look back to the good old days at the Ziegfeld. To be honest, I never thought it would actually close. I always figured it would be saved by landmark status or something like that.
I just finished watching Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon, and I had similar memories from when it was the Christmas 1975 attraction at the Ziegfeld, and how beautiful it looked and sounded from the 5th row.
It must be one of the few theaters to be mentioned in an Academy Award-winning Best Picture and Best Screenplay. From “Marty” (1955), partially filmed on location in the Bronx: “I hear there’s a good picture in the Loew’s Paradise”.
Good one, Mark! 😊
One thing that made the long wait bearable was just being able to sit in the Kings and look around at the beautiful job they did with the theater.
I got there at 7 and security was very fast, but hardly anyone was there yet. It was like airport security: open all bags, go through metal detector, people being wanded, etc. My friend mentioned that it was advertised in the NY Times the day before, and that may have contributed to the unexpected box office crush.
I was at the Barry Lyndon show. The 8 PM show started at exactly 8:46 PM. It was annoying, but the movie and the orchestra were so great that the long wait was soon forgotten. The theater staff in my section were extremely nice and helpful. They did continue to seat people after the show began, but they did it in a very quiet and unobtrusive way. I’m very glad I attended this show.
Saw Walking Dead star Norman Reedus in the lobby at intermission. He was going into a private party room on the second floor of the Kings.
I believe “Rosemary’s Baby” was also condemned.
In 1988 my dad went to a weekly Catholic Mass where he was asked to take a pledge that he would not go see Martin Scorsese’s “The Last Temptation of Christ”. That immediately made him want to see it, which he did. And he liked it.
On the way to Radio City for Blazing Saddles on Thursday night, I passed by the Ziegfeld. Construction was still going on with whatever they’re turning the theater into, but it did still say Ziegfeld Theatre on the outside of the building, high up on the brick wall, and the marquee is still up. Maybe they’re going to keep them?
TCM did have an annual screening of classic movies for the rest of the country to coincide with their big festival, called The Road to Hollywood. Sadly, I don’t think they do it anymore. I was lucky enough to see All About Eve, To Kill a Mockingbird and Cabaret at the Ziegfeld, complete with Robert Osborne hosting special guests (Liza Minnelli, Michael York, Spike Lee), and all for free admission. Needless to say, all shows were filled to capacity.
I also saw The Birds in Huntington, Long Island, NY: Tippi Hedren on stage interviewed by Ben Mankiewicz in another sold-out show. Just the other night, Blazing Saddles with a live appearance by Mel Brooks sold out the almost 6,000-seat Radio City Music Hall. The audience for classic movies on the big screen is out there, and waiting for more events like these.