This is the last known 35mm Technicolor print of the Roadshow version, and the Archive providing it would not allow more than a few shows. In order to secure this booking, the Ziegfeld had to get their second projector running. The Archive would not allow it to be run on a platter.
In addition, the print has 4 channel magnetic stereo tracks as well as the standard mono optical. However, I was told the technicians weren’t sure they could get the magnetic equipment working again. It hasn’t been used in MANY years.
We’ll know for sure on Wednesday, and let’s hope the Overture doesn’t play on a blank screen…
Unfortunately, like my experience with the Royal in Bloomfield NJ, you won’t get to see what survives of the original ornamentation until they tear it down. At that point, there’s no hope to save it!
I stopped by the theater during demolition. The drop ceiling had fallen and the original proscenium and organ chambers were once again visible. They were in pretty good condition and quite ornate. It’s a shame the town let this one go.
The above article from 2000 has an ironic quote from a city council member. He claimed that demolishing the theater would help to “re-invent” downtown Bloomfield. You know what’s there now? An empty parking lot.
Back in June when demolition had just started, I walked through the entire building up to the projection booth. It had been triplexed with the balcony converted into 2 small theaters. The original booth still projected onto the main screen through a tunnel between the 2 balcony theaters.
There is still a lot of original ornamentation, but everything on the ceiling and proscenium is painted black. Quite surprisingly, there was one intact and un-touched column on the right side of the orchestra level with the original colors, and it was quite ornate. They appear to be gutting the building to the bare walls, so I don’t know if that still survives.
The projection booth is quite high, about 5 levels up from the lobby. The theater originally had a lounge on the balcony level, and a smaller one on the upper balcony. The booth is one level up from there. There is no equipment, but the room was fairly large running the entire width of the building. There is a large bathroom with two windows looking out onto 7th Avenue, and the booth has more windows with that similar view.
There were quite a few small rooms near the lounge areas that I couldn’t see because the lights weren’t working. In the main areas where the workers are cleaning debris, they have strung work lights so it’s pretty bright in there.
There was an interesting space that had been closed off directly above the lobby. You could walk around the top and see the people below as they entered the lobby. This space still had 3 or 4 very cool 30’s-era light fixtures hanging from the ceiling, and there were working bulbs in it.
I’m sorry to say that I didn’t have a camera. But while nobody bothered me as I walked around, they might have said something if I was taking pictures.
It is a rather sad end to what had once been a very grand theater.
They will tear down one of the last surviving landmarks of the towns fabled past, all in the sake of “cleaning up” downtown.
The sad truth is that more people know it as a porno theater (nearly 40 years) than would ever remember it as a great theater in the Warner Bros. chain.
Roadshow: You’re discussing 1950’s technology, yet refer to the anaglyph 3-D presentation system, which was widely used in the 1930’s and partially in the 1970’s.
Surely you know that of the 50 features done in 3-D in 1953/1954, all of them were shown in dual-strip Polaroid.
While a few were converted to the inferior red/green process for 70’s re-issues, all were originally seen in Polaroid.
According to a piece in a local Clifton paper, the Fabian is being gutted for retail purposes, and the Alexander Hamilton is being renovated for condos.
The Lafayette Theater in Suffern, New York does fantastic presentations of classic films, complete with curtains, footlights, overtures, and all the bells/whistles which make for the total Classic Movie Experience. Plus they have a great sound system and a truly big screen.
It’s not in New York City – but Ms. Verlotsky would truly showcase this important film in a grand movie palace if she secured a booking at this showplace!
Plus the Adams theater (formerly the Shubert) sits vacant just around the block. Lots of history at that place, going back to the 20’s. There’s also the Paramount just up Market Street.
Unfortunately, the City sinks all of their arts money into the new Performing Arts Center and neglects the decaying palaces.
I’m sorry to report that they appear to be demolishing the interior to the brick walls. There were workers on scaffolds attacking the decorative plaster with hammers the other day.
The Montauk is still standing and doesn’t look too bad from the exterior. It looks like they simply pulled down the gate and walked away. Check out this discussion thread: /theaters/4308/
In the meantime, here’s a non-PC ad from Bud and Lou’s latest, which opened locally in the summer of 1949: View link
This is the last known 35mm Technicolor print of the Roadshow version, and the Archive providing it would not allow more than a few shows. In order to secure this booking, the Ziegfeld had to get their second projector running. The Archive would not allow it to be run on a platter.
In addition, the print has 4 channel magnetic stereo tracks as well as the standard mono optical. However, I was told the technicians weren’t sure they could get the magnetic equipment working again. It hasn’t been used in MANY years.
We’ll know for sure on Wednesday, and let’s hope the Overture doesn’t play on a blank screen…
Blockbuster or not, there are still countless low quality DVD’s of these movies on the market.
Most of those titles are in the Public Domain, and are for sale from countless DVD companies in poor quality, washed out 16mm transfers.
I would not want to see one of those DVD’s projected on a big screen!
Unfortunately, like my experience with the Royal in Bloomfield NJ, you won’t get to see what survives of the original ornamentation until they tear it down. At that point, there’s no hope to save it!
I stopped by the theater during demolition. The drop ceiling had fallen and the original proscenium and organ chambers were once again visible. They were in pretty good condition and quite ornate. It’s a shame the town let this one go.
The above article from 2000 has an ironic quote from a city council member. He claimed that demolishing the theater would help to “re-invent” downtown Bloomfield. You know what’s there now? An empty parking lot.
So much for progress.
Back in June when demolition had just started, I walked through the entire building up to the projection booth. It had been triplexed with the balcony converted into 2 small theaters. The original booth still projected onto the main screen through a tunnel between the 2 balcony theaters.
There is still a lot of original ornamentation, but everything on the ceiling and proscenium is painted black. Quite surprisingly, there was one intact and un-touched column on the right side of the orchestra level with the original colors, and it was quite ornate. They appear to be gutting the building to the bare walls, so I don’t know if that still survives.
The projection booth is quite high, about 5 levels up from the lobby. The theater originally had a lounge on the balcony level, and a smaller one on the upper balcony. The booth is one level up from there. There is no equipment, but the room was fairly large running the entire width of the building. There is a large bathroom with two windows looking out onto 7th Avenue, and the booth has more windows with that similar view.
There were quite a few small rooms near the lounge areas that I couldn’t see because the lights weren’t working. In the main areas where the workers are cleaning debris, they have strung work lights so it’s pretty bright in there.
There was an interesting space that had been closed off directly above the lobby. You could walk around the top and see the people below as they entered the lobby. This space still had 3 or 4 very cool 30’s-era light fixtures hanging from the ceiling, and there were working bulbs in it.
I’m sorry to say that I didn’t have a camera. But while nobody bothered me as I walked around, they might have said something if I was taking pictures.
It is a rather sad end to what had once been a very grand theater.
They will tear down one of the last surviving landmarks of the towns fabled past, all in the sake of “cleaning up” downtown.
The sad truth is that more people know it as a porno theater (nearly 40 years) than would ever remember it as a great theater in the Warner Bros. chain.
“Like the cardboard red-green 3D glasses”
Roadshow: You’re discussing 1950’s technology, yet refer to the anaglyph 3-D presentation system, which was widely used in the 1930’s and partially in the 1970’s.
Surely you know that of the 50 features done in 3-D in 1953/1954, all of them were shown in dual-strip Polaroid.
While a few were converted to the inferior red/green process for 70’s re-issues, all were originally seen in Polaroid.
According to a piece in a local Clifton paper, the Fabian is being gutted for retail purposes, and the Alexander Hamilton is being renovated for condos.
The Lafayette Theater in Suffern, New York does fantastic presentations of classic films, complete with curtains, footlights, overtures, and all the bells/whistles which make for the total Classic Movie Experience. Plus they have a great sound system and a truly big screen.
It’s not in New York City – but Ms. Verlotsky would truly showcase this important film in a grand movie palace if she secured a booking at this showplace!
/theaters/2897/
You mean they’re showing it in standard 35mm on a small screen?
Oh boy oh boy, that is a BIG disappointment.
Will this print be in color?
No curtains at the Film Forum? That’s too bad.
Well, at least it will be a visual treat to see the film in 70mm on the big screen. That format doesn’t get revived often enough these days.
“Enjoy and be overwhelmned.”
Amen to that!
Thank goodness they didn’t book this Roadshow presentation into the Ziegfeld. They’d probably get the curtain cues all wrong!
I certainly hope so, then it will be just like seeing it when it was first released!
Do you know if they are selling advance tickets on a reserved seat basis? I want to be sure to get the “sweet spot” for this one.
IFA; please thank Ms. Verlotsky and Seagull Films for bringing this Roadshow Epic back to New York.
Wow – that will look really spectacular on their screen!
Thank you for the clarification. Are there plans to restore the theater?
What is happening with this once grand showplace? Doesn’t ANYBODY within the city recognize the history and significance of this theater?
To let it sit and rot away (and get stripped of artifacts) is a real shame.
Plus the Adams theater (formerly the Shubert) sits vacant just around the block. Lots of history at that place, going back to the 20’s. There’s also the Paramount just up Market Street.
Unfortunately, the City sinks all of their arts money into the new Performing Arts Center and neglects the decaying palaces.
I’m sorry to report that they appear to be demolishing the interior to the brick walls. There were workers on scaffolds attacking the decorative plaster with hammers the other day.
There is no hope for this once grand theater.
Oops, that was 34 theaters in 4 days. Still, a pretty crazy schedule!
If you think that was tiring, check this out:
View link
Adam West and Burt Ward (in costume) appeared at 34 theaters in 3 days – in late August, no less! I hope their tour bus had air conditioning!
The Jerry Lewis 7/61 tour was even more grueling! Check out this ad:
View link
Then again, Jerry was only 36 at the time. How old was Bette Davis on the Baby Jane tour?
Those new 70mm prints will not be sent to a theater that can not run reel to reel.
Sad photos – but fascinating nonetheless.
Thank you so much for documenting this loss, and for sharing those images with us.
Bob
You’re most welcome Bill, glad you enjoyed it!
The Montauk is still standing and doesn’t look too bad from the exterior. It looks like they simply pulled down the gate and walked away. Check out this discussion thread: /theaters/4308/
In the meantime, here’s a non-PC ad from Bud and Lou’s latest, which opened locally in the summer of 1949:
View link