HARD DAY’S OPENING NIGHT – A crowd swarms outside the Pavillion Theatre in London on July 6, 1964 for the world premiere of The Beatles' first film, A HARD DAY’S NIGHT.
Per IMDB: “United Artists executives didn’t really care about the film itself, they were mainly interested in exploiting a legal loophole which would allow them to distribute the lucrative soundtrack album. In fact, they fully expected to lose money on the film. With a final cost of about $500,000 and a box office take of about $8,000,000 in the first week, "A Hard Day’s Night” is among the most profitable (percentage-wise) films of all time. "
“The whole of the original first day’s shooting (the train sequence) was lost because the clapper-loader was mistaken by fans at the station for one of The Beatles. In running away from the screaming fans, he dropped the cans of negative.”
“The Beatles record producer George Martin got an Academy Award nomination for his music score in the movie, but The Beatles themselves weren’t nominated for their music.”
“United Artists was pressuring the producers to finally come up with a title for the film. When John Lennon told producer Walter Shenson about Ringo Starr’s malapropisms, Shenson thought that Ringo’s phrase "a hard day’s night”—referring to his resting up after an exhausting day—might make a good title. John agreed. Shenson called United Artists with the proposed title, which was coolly received. Shenson suggested that they ask the secretaries and other young employees, who might be fans of The Beatles, what they thought of the proposed title. The suggestion worked and the title was accepted."
On October 16, 1951 Judy Garland began a four-week engagement at The RKO Palace in New York City. She’s such a tremendous hit that her stay is extended to 19 weeks.
BIG DEAL – Perhaps it’s hard to believe that — in the days before mass media marketing — the arrival of radio’s THE LONE RANGER on movie screen’s across the country, was such an important event. Those of us who saw serials at our local bijous remember the excitement of actually seeing Superman, Batman or Captain America on the screen, but we may have been unaware of how important these brief fifteen minutes of film were to the smaller, neighborhood theatres.
Here’s a promotional handout for Saturday, March 19, 1938 at the University Theatre in Cambridge. Massachusetts. Look at the prominence given to the announcement that chapter one of THE LONE RANGER serial will be shown on that date. The title of the feature film, SERGEANT MURPHY starring Ronald Reagan plus cartoons are listed almost as an afterthought.
3 photos added credit Judy Hulsey.
2 are of the original Ford Theatre in 1949.
The 3rd is of the rebuilt Ford Theatre after the early `50s fire.
The building that today houses Masonic Lodge No. 241.
Per Diane Haley Toney about the Franklin Theatre:
“This is the theatre that Covey Covington ran when I was a little girl.
In my book, IT WAS WHAT IT WAS, I tell a story of running away from home to go to see a movie there.
Covey called my parents to come get me.”
The Franklin Theatre was located at 157 West Main Street.
Per Judy Hulsey:
Later years it would become a Bowling Alley, Zack Daniel’s department store, and today it houses an Antique/Home Design Store. (Lavonia Antiques 2)
The Masonic Lodge is in the former Ford Theatre, located on Vickery Street.
I am creating a CT page for it now, and will add 3 photos once it is up.
1955 photo added courtesy of the Traces of Texas Facebook page. Texas Theatre marquee behind the Hotel Paisano sign above the sidewalk.
August 1975 photo added, credit Werner Lenggenhager from The Seattle Public Library via Vintage Seattle.
BobbyS, hop on over the Uptown’s page. Great news awaits…
In the meantime, here’s a current WBEZ piece on the Congress.
https://www.wbez.org/shows/morning-shift/whats-that-building-the-congress-theater/feeba15b-54de-4ee2-b3aa-15ce2765502e
Via Captain Bijou:
HARD DAY’S OPENING NIGHT – A crowd swarms outside the Pavillion Theatre in London on July 6, 1964 for the world premiere of The Beatles' first film, A HARD DAY’S NIGHT.
Per IMDB: “United Artists executives didn’t really care about the film itself, they were mainly interested in exploiting a legal loophole which would allow them to distribute the lucrative soundtrack album. In fact, they fully expected to lose money on the film. With a final cost of about $500,000 and a box office take of about $8,000,000 in the first week, "A Hard Day’s Night” is among the most profitable (percentage-wise) films of all time. "
“The whole of the original first day’s shooting (the train sequence) was lost because the clapper-loader was mistaken by fans at the station for one of The Beatles. In running away from the screaming fans, he dropped the cans of negative.”
“The Beatles record producer George Martin got an Academy Award nomination for his music score in the movie, but The Beatles themselves weren’t nominated for their music.”
“United Artists was pressuring the producers to finally come up with a title for the film. When John Lennon told producer Walter Shenson about Ringo Starr’s malapropisms, Shenson thought that Ringo’s phrase "a hard day’s night”—referring to his resting up after an exhausting day—might make a good title. John agreed. Shenson called United Artists with the proposed title, which was coolly received. Shenson suggested that they ask the secretaries and other young employees, who might be fans of The Beatles, what they thought of the proposed title. The suggestion worked and the title was accepted."
1940s post card added via Denise Armstrong. Rio marquee beneath Sears signage.
April 1, 1933 print ad via George W. Albrecht. Advertised at the time as A Publix Theatre. So Publix should be added as Previous Operators.
Via Captain Bijou:
On October 16, 1951 Judy Garland began a four-week engagement at The RKO Palace in New York City. She’s such a tremendous hit that her stay is extended to 19 weeks.
July 4th, 1942 Parade photo added via Victor Brunswick.
1974 photo added via Duglass Duquette.
2 post card images added via Bob Culpepper. Coliseum on the left in both, late
50s and mid60s.1934 photo as the Stanley Theatre added.
“Thunder Road” premiere 1958, image added via Steve Wilson.
1941 Captain Marvel serial handout, front and back added. Via Larry Zdeb.
Christmas Eve 1971 print ad added for Grand Playhouse, via ProQuest. Advertising: “Two 16mm FILMS”–“On Our Full Screen & Color!”
3/19/38 promotional handout & copy added courtesy of Captain Bijou Facebook Page.
BIG DEAL – Perhaps it’s hard to believe that — in the days before mass media marketing — the arrival of radio’s THE LONE RANGER on movie screen’s across the country, was such an important event. Those of us who saw serials at our local bijous remember the excitement of actually seeing Superman, Batman or Captain America on the screen, but we may have been unaware of how important these brief fifteen minutes of film were to the smaller, neighborhood theatres.
Here’s a promotional handout for Saturday, March 19, 1938 at the University Theatre in Cambridge. Massachusetts. Look at the prominence given to the announcement that chapter one of THE LONE RANGER serial will be shown on that date. The title of the feature film, SERGEANT MURPHY starring Ronald Reagan plus cartoons are listed almost as an afterthought.
Short piece about the re-opening with one photo.
https://deadline.com/2018/06/quentin-tarantino-new-beverly-cinema-reopen-december-2018-1202416992/
Sold and to be restored.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/realestate/St-Petersburg-s-State-Theatre-saved-in-2-1-million-deal-_169492067
Here is the CT page for the Ford Theatre, which today houses the Masonic Lodge.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/58034
3 photos added credit Judy Hulsey. 2 are of the original Ford Theatre in 1949. The 3rd is of the rebuilt Ford Theatre after the early `50s fire. The building that today houses Masonic Lodge No. 241.
5 images added.
2 photos added.
Per Diane Haley Toney about the Franklin Theatre: “This is the theatre that Covey Covington ran when I was a little girl. In my book, IT WAS WHAT IT WAS, I tell a story of running away from home to go to see a movie there. Covey called my parents to come get me.”
The Franklin Theatre was located at 157 West Main Street. Per Judy Hulsey: Later years it would become a Bowling Alley, Zack Daniel’s department store, and today it houses an Antique/Home Design Store. (Lavonia Antiques 2)
The Masonic Lodge is in the former Ford Theatre, located on Vickery Street. I am creating a CT page for it now, and will add 3 photos once it is up.
Update: Screen grab from the 1964 film “Goldstein”.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0144947/?ref_=ttls_li_tt
1950 marquee photo added via Jerrytt Mon.