Ziegfeld Theatre
141 W. 54th Street,
New York,
NY
10019
141 W. 54th Street,
New York,
NY
10019
131 people
favorited this theater
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“By the way Jeff, you sounded down on 70mm IMAX”
I just wanted to differentiate it from the “classic” 70mm. The Imax 70mm is referred to as 70/15 (70mm, 15 perf horizontal pull). The original 70mm is a 5 perf vertical pull. The 70/15h does have a larger image area than the 70/5v, so with sharper lenses, better film stock, it stands to reason the resolution and image clarity is higher with the Imax.
Most theaters no longer utilize “projectionists”. With platters and automation, pretty much anyone can build a print and thread a projector. That is what my reference to loss of talent, expertise, and pride refers to. Theater chains have chosen this route to save money, and it shows.
What’s the next movie that the theater will play after Dirty Dancing ends on May 18th? I guess it’s Shrek the Third, and then Pirates 3 the following week since the series played at that theater twice. Too bad Spidey isn’t coming to this theater since the chain’s nearest theater in that area, the Chelseas, will play this movie.
Willam and Jeff make good points, Projectionist no longer put on shows and many have lost pride in the presentation. In addition the new boys coming in now have no idea what that strange litle circle in the upper right hand corner of the frame is. A change-over? few today have never made one. I hate to think Clearview can’t cough up a few extra bucks to ship in those prints.
Getting back to the projectionists, I am sure there are a few old timers around like me who would love to work the Ziegfeld booth, and show 70mm the way we did in the ole days. By the way Jeff, you sounded down on 70mm IMAX, I think it’s rather good because it is projected at high speed as was TODD-AO, and with it’s larger frames runs horizontaly the way VistaVision did. So it’s VistaTodd. :) The only thing missing of course is the mag sound.
I went to 3 or 4 performances at the Ziegfeld and every one was sold out. But they had already scheduled a Meryl Streep action film. So that was that and I’m sure that film was a whopping success.
Sometimes it really is just a case of stupidity and who gives a damn.
Vincent: A lack of talent, expertise, and personal pride.
In other words, the theaters have fired or let go everyone who ever gave a damn. It aways is, and always will be, about the money.
What I cannot fathom is why no 70mm print of My Fair Lady is available. When the Ziegeld presented it in the early 90’s they ran it for 9 days! I went to the last performance and it was in perfect condition. It played in a few other theaters after the Ziegfeld but I believe this was in 35mm.
How could this print and the one from Hollywood be in bad condition? Even when these films ran roadshow they ran for many months and survived.
As far as I know the only 70mm print exists at the MOMA and they probably show it once every 5 years. And astoundingly enough the screen is even smaller than the Ziegfeld’s.
Yes, the two 35/70 projectors are still there. The cost is the shipping to and from the theatre and most theatre chains are very cheap about spare xenon bulbs and the cost of the print if the theatre damages it. The new restored prints are for theatres that run change-overs. And they also have to have a GOOD record with doing that with the studios. So if you see that in the first week of the engagement that the print has had film handling damage. Thats not a good sign. All the major film archives will not let their film prints run on platters, because of POOR film handling. Idiot operators cut the leaders and keep cutting frames at the head and tail of the prints on every engagement. So these parts of the prints start looking trashed after a while. As long as the theatre has a GOOD track record with prints then they might see some of those greats on the screen. But the studios still have a few older beatup prints making the rounds. And older 70MM prints do not like to be run on platters, because they tend to tear at damaged parts of the film frames.
The studios have set the projection bar really high for these prints. And the theatre chains have made this job into a lost art of entertainment. I run reel to reel 5 days a week in the city.
I don’t see how it is a matter of cost.
Does the theatre still have the two 35/70mm Century JJ projectors in the booth?? If so, it’s just a matter of throwing a cover over those damn platters and running reel-to-reel.
The question is has any of the magnetic sound equipment
(pre amps, etc) been removed, is the old system still intact.
Assuming all they did was add a digital projector to the booth along with the platter they installed after the “Backdraft: disaster, they should be set to go. Oh wait, the guys probably forgot how to make a changeover. No problem Professor Vito will teach them. :)
Seriously, does anyone know if the two 35/70 projectors are still
there?
The Ziegfeld is just another “Theater”. It is not an Egyptian, NuArt, or Lafayette. I give them credit for trying, but ultimately, I suspect they will not take the necessary steps to bring the high end classic films to NY. It takes money, and the only thing that matters to these companies is ROI. I can’t blame them for that, but that’s the facts.
I doubt it, Clearview is very cheap!
Precisely. What I’m wondering is, that after two runs of classics, and after all the comments posted here on the subject, will the Ziegfeld take the necessary steps towards achieving the level of proficiency required for exhibition of higher-end classic films?
JSA
Those new 70mm prints will not be sent to a theater that can not run reel to reel.
True, many of the classics are no longer available in 70 mm, but there are still quite a few titles to choose from. In recent years, new 70 mm prints of “Pattonâ€, “South Pacificâ€, “The Sound of Musicâ€, “Hello Dollyâ€, “Lord Jimâ€, “The Agony and the Ecstasyâ€, “Cleopatra†and a few others have surfaced. These have been screened at places like the Castro in San Francisco, Paramount at Austin, and the Aero & the Egyptian in the LA area. Plus the usual 70 mm favorites such as “Lawrence of Arabia†and “Baraka†also make the rounds from time to time. A new Super Panavision print of “Grand Prix†is scheduled to be screened later this month at the Academy of Motion Pictures. So, it can be done. I don’t know the particulars of the situation, but it has been stated before in this thread: the Ziegfeld needs to demonstrate the ability to run these films, if they are to host a 70 mm classics festival.
JSA
“I recently ran into a young whipper snapper at a screening who admitted to have never seen a movie in 70mm. Ya gotta feel sorry for the lad.”
Arf! Indeed.
Even with last year’s problems with the Laurence of Arabia show, it was still spectacular to see it in 70mm. It had been decades since I saw something in 70mm, and you have no idea what you’re missing until you see it again, or see it for the first time. I think it’s safe to say all of us have been to a 70mm screening (and not the current flavor called Imax). I’m all for a 70mm series, but there aren’t that many 70mm prints left in existence.
It’s a good caption – we’ve been using it for 5 years at the Lafayette Theatre’s Big Screen Classics shows.
Use the caption:
MOVIES THE WAY THEY WERE MEANT TO BE SEEN!
So many folks have only experienced the classics at the local shoeboxplex. we need to drag em away from their 50" plasma.
I recently ran into a young whipper snapper at a screening who admitted to have never seen a movie in 70mm. Ya gotta feel sorry for the lad.
Any Classic retrospective at the Ziegfeld should be titles of a large widescreen nature…70MM if you can get them and make it truly special..The Alamo…(1960)…Around Word/80 Days…I definitely agree with the 70’s disaster festival….titles that are not often seen….so no Casablanca, GWTW, Kane etc…..big screen stuff
“STAR!” would be great to see again on the big screen!
Thanks, Craig, for the fall Classics Series. Whatever the titles might be, I will be there. My friend at work loves “Dirty Dancing” -I have to tell her about your upcoming event.
I’d like to see a Robert Wise retrospective: “Day the Earth Stood Still” “West Side Story” (70mm)
“Sand Pebbles” or “Star” (70mm), Star Trek: The Motion Picture (70mm, Director’s Edition, if one can be struck)
Or, a Sci-Fi week featuring: “2001: A Space Odyssey” (70mm), “THX:1138” (restored in DP), “Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind” and Disney’s “The Black Hole” (70mm), “Brainstorm” (70mm..yes, at least ONE print is in circulation..see if Douglas Trumbull is available for Q&A for both films), any Star Trek motion picture (70mm, if Doug Trumbull is available he could do Q&A for ST:TMP, too :).. “Dune"
No more "Star Wars” anything. Might as well wait for the Digital 3D versions coming out soon.
Maybe a themed restrospective like “disaster week” with “Earthquake” in Sensaround, Titanic (70mm DTS). Animation week: “Sleeping Beauty,” “The Black Cauldron” both were in 70mm, or anything your contacts with Disney might have and release in 70mm.
An actor retrospective of say.. Lawrence Olivier week: “Wuthering Heights,” “Marathon Man,” “Inchon”…no..just kidding about the last one.
Oh..how about Guilty Pleasures week? “Mommie Dearest” “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes”
“Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?”
Hello,
It’s been a while since I have posted on Cinema Treasures, but rest assured that I always take the time to read the comments posted here.
Clearview may host another Classic Series in the Fall for several weeks. We do not know the dates yet, but as soon as I know, you will be the first to hear about it!
We are very happy to be hosting 20th Anniversary of DIRTY DANCING and will actually have some of the stars there on opening night for a Q & A session. Kelly Bishop is already confirmed.
Once again, we truly appreciate the comments and suggestions that are posted here, so keep them coming. If you have any film suggestions for the classics, also post them here and we will see if we can book them.
Thanks again
Craig O'Connor
That’s cheaper than the regular price at the theater, though it’s not as cheap as the Succasunna classics (hopefully I’ll see “The Goonies” there with my cousins in a few weeks).
The classics series played last year, no new serie as of yet. The “Dirty Dancing” 20th Anniversary engagement is May 11- May 17 (all seats $7.50).
Hi everyone, sorry to interupt the discussion but I have a quick question. I know Dirty Dancing is playing at the Ziegfeld and I know they play lots ‘o classics, but I haven’t seen any information on it but Dirty Dancing. There’s no page on the Clearview Cinemas website for Ziegfeld classics and I can’t find anything. I really want to see West Side Story there and I was wondering if anyone has any info when they’ll be playing classics.
Thanks!
Yes Peter I recall Rob teling that story, as I recall the projectors were set up in the first mezz. With the average cost of a digital projector as high as it is, although the cost is coming down,this is of course a totally unpactical idea for the average venue. As you know 3-D requires maximum mlight output from the projector as well as a silver screen. However there are digital projectors becoming available with greater light output, up two four times the current pixel count and will not require a silver screen for 3-D.
The digital revotution has been on fire this past year, with great improvements and lower cost. My industry insiders tell me that they now can really see a big push for conversion from film to digital sooner than expected.