Any exhibitor should play any movie, regardless of his or own personal taste. After all, show business is just that…a “business"
If a film is making money and some kind of noteriety, it should surley be booked. I hate the grizzly, slasher gore movies, but I’d book these films as they are money makers, especially in their first weeks. Again, this ia a "business”. Also, as a non gay person I’d rather my friends and grown children see BROKEBACK than those horrid horror and slasher films. Neither kind of film, however, is going to make people stalkers, murderers, and in the case of BROKEBACK, homosexuals. You are what you are…period. So book the damn films and get on with the “business” end of it !!!
Hey, JN
Would you like BROKEBACK to flop, or are you open minded to good biz and people who want to see an adult film that’s a little…shall we say…different??
I have never been to the Roxy, but what a thrill it must have been to have seen a movie and stage show and an extra thrill to have been involved in the stage show itself. What were the movies that played there when you (Mr. Ralph) were in the show?
Great comment on the booking of PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL and stage show. Oh, for those good ole' days again. How lucky some people were to have experienced all them golden years at the Hall.. Pity the poor kids of today who only no multiplexes with their video games, coffee cafes' and neon glitz…
The Hall primarily played MGM films, I believe, at least in their heyday. Until movies began losing their luster, the Hall played quality films. Abbott and Costello just didn’t cut it, although they would have been better than those bombs that played there in the late 50’s-60’s. Even Abbott and Costello and Martin and Lewis would have been better bookings, that is if A&B were still making movies. I do believe that both teams had better represntation playing in their proper venues.
Well, didn’t mean to be inappropriate, but the Hall ususally played prestiages A movies…DOUBLE might be considered one, but not the other two. They were more or less B films, wonderful as they were, especially BUCK PRIVATES. I know of many A flicks that have played the Hall that shouldn’t have, however.
I agree with most of these titles….but BUCK PRIVATES and ARTISTS AND MODELS? Don’t think so. I’m a big fan of Abbott and Costello and Martin and Lewis, but their flicks at the RCMH would not be a good choice. Even have doubts on DOUBLE INDEMNITY.
Yes, sounds like a great book. I hope it’s the definitive one. So many stars bios are just parts of their lives, either their work or private life. Nice to read a book that explores everything, warts and all.
Speaking of PEYTON PLACE, one of my all-time favorite films, I would like more details of the engagement. How long it played and what the grosses were. What I wouldn’t have given to have seen that film at the ROXY.
I second the motion. Too bad people in the business are not as caring. Heck, they don’t even have projectionists any more. Just kids or managers (who are kids sometimes themselves) do all the so- called projection!! How many times has the picture been out of focus or projected on the masking!! It was so bad onetime at a Lowe’s I asked for a refund. The apature was so out of sync that in closeups the actors lips were barely seen. Guess that’s why I haven’t been to a cinema for almost a year now. Good old DVD on my wide screen home theatre system is the best way to see films today.
Amazing, isn’t it? When these ads first appeared it didn’t mean much. Just ads. Now it’s HISTORY. It will never be the same because of the loss of the Palaces. Even years from now if someone posts ads from the 60’s thru today, it wouldn’t mean anything because of the multiples. More, more, more ads from the 40’s-50’s…
Wanted to comment again on Warrens terrific Roxy bookings. Keep up the good work, if you can, till the Roxy met it’s demise. Will be waiting for more if at all possible. Incredible information for the dozens, hundreds or more with real interest.
Wow, that was something. REeners could write a book on this. Incredible information. This puts a whole new light on the days of yore at the Hall. No one probably even gave this quick change a second thought. I dind’t at the time myself. Just took everything for granted. Again, thanks for sharing some fantastic information from the inside.
Would like to hear stories from some of the backstage crew who did all that work to ready for the next days morning show. Also, where did the people who were in the shows rehearse? Was there a replica of the RCMH stage downstairs?
Long live the curtain traveler…but like everything else in the industry, it to came to its demise. Sad. I remember a few theatres using the “waterfall” curtain, which was also nice. Also liked the appatures better then. Now it’s all projected on the same screen with the masking just going up and down rather than in and out to fit the format. I guess it must be due to the filming techiques. There was nothing more exciting sitting in a theatre seeing the cartoon or news etc. on a standard screen, the curtain closing..a small moment, then the masking, behind the curtain, would open and that terrific Fox logo appeared as the curtain opened revealing a nice wide CinemaScope (or whatever wide screen process was used) and the curtain would stop in time for the main title. Oh, yes, that was showmanship at its height.
Hey, great stufff Warren. Living in San Francisco I think I remember these films playing at our Fox which I believe also featured stage shows with some of the above mentioned talent. My parents would take me to the Fox on occasion and see the stage show and movie. I don’t think, however, that the Fox had a stage show with every attraction. Down the street at the Golden Gate they had a stage show with most attractions. Lots of big bands if I remember correctly. Would like to know about more of the Roxys bookings, especially after they started doing stage shows again after RAINS OF RANCHIPUR, which I had asked about in an earlier comment. Keep up the GREAT work.
Great information on those good ole days. Wish I had a time machine to go back just for a few hours. Wasn’t the Lowe’s State considered another big movie house in Times Square as well as the Astor? That would make seven first run movie houses in the area? Just curious.
Any exhibitor should play any movie, regardless of his or own personal taste. After all, show business is just that…a “business"
If a film is making money and some kind of noteriety, it should surley be booked. I hate the grizzly, slasher gore movies, but I’d book these films as they are money makers, especially in their first weeks. Again, this ia a "business”. Also, as a non gay person I’d rather my friends and grown children see BROKEBACK than those horrid horror and slasher films. Neither kind of film, however, is going to make people stalkers, murderers, and in the case of BROKEBACK, homosexuals. You are what you are…period. So book the damn films and get on with the “business” end of it !!!
Hey, JN
Would you like BROKEBACK to flop, or are you open minded to good biz and people who want to see an adult film that’s a little…shall we say…different??
I have to agree. Those who protest the most——-those are the ones!!
Enough already. Every theatre should play ALL films and let the individual decide if he or she wants to see it. PERIOD.
Another wonderous job on those Roxy bookings. Looking forward to each year until its laast day. Espcially interested in 1958-1959 bookings.
Mr. Ralph…As I’ve seen almost all of the Ed Sullivan shows and quite a few of Mickey Mouse Clubs, I must have seen you. A real treat indeed.
I have never been to the Roxy, but what a thrill it must have been to have seen a movie and stage show and an extra thrill to have been involved in the stage show itself. What were the movies that played there when you (Mr. Ralph) were in the show?
Maybe this was why RCMH stopped showing films..All pretty lousy. The begining of the demise..
Great comment on the booking of PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL and stage show. Oh, for those good ole' days again. How lucky some people were to have experienced all them golden years at the Hall.. Pity the poor kids of today who only no multiplexes with their video games, coffee cafes' and neon glitz…
I agree with that last comment. Yes, even ANY of the A&C or Martin and Lewis pics would have been signifigent better than those two dismal movies.
The Hall primarily played MGM films, I believe, at least in their heyday. Until movies began losing their luster, the Hall played quality films. Abbott and Costello just didn’t cut it, although they would have been better than those bombs that played there in the late 50’s-60’s. Even Abbott and Costello and Martin and Lewis would have been better bookings, that is if A&B were still making movies. I do believe that both teams had better represntation playing in their proper venues.
Well, didn’t mean to be inappropriate, but the Hall ususally played prestiages A movies…DOUBLE might be considered one, but not the other two. They were more or less B films, wonderful as they were, especially BUCK PRIVATES. I know of many A flicks that have played the Hall that shouldn’t have, however.
I agree with most of these titles….but BUCK PRIVATES and ARTISTS AND MODELS? Don’t think so. I’m a big fan of Abbott and Costello and Martin and Lewis, but their flicks at the RCMH would not be a good choice. Even have doubts on DOUBLE INDEMNITY.
Yes, sounds like a great book. I hope it’s the definitive one. So many stars bios are just parts of their lives, either their work or private life. Nice to read a book that explores everything, warts and all.
Speaking of PEYTON PLACE, one of my all-time favorite films, I would like more details of the engagement. How long it played and what the grosses were. What I wouldn’t have given to have seen that film at the ROXY.
I second the motion. Too bad people in the business are not as caring. Heck, they don’t even have projectionists any more. Just kids or managers (who are kids sometimes themselves) do all the so- called projection!! How many times has the picture been out of focus or projected on the masking!! It was so bad onetime at a Lowe’s I asked for a refund. The apature was so out of sync that in closeups the actors lips were barely seen. Guess that’s why I haven’t been to a cinema for almost a year now. Good old DVD on my wide screen home theatre system is the best way to see films today.
Amazing, isn’t it? When these ads first appeared it didn’t mean much. Just ads. Now it’s HISTORY. It will never be the same because of the loss of the Palaces. Even years from now if someone posts ads from the 60’s thru today, it wouldn’t mean anything because of the multiples. More, more, more ads from the 40’s-50’s…
yet ANOTHER great job Warren. Thanks for the memories and keep em' comin'.
Wanted to comment again on Warrens terrific Roxy bookings. Keep up the good work, if you can, till the Roxy met it’s demise. Will be waiting for more if at all possible. Incredible information for the dozens, hundreds or more with real interest.
Wow, that was something. REeners could write a book on this. Incredible information. This puts a whole new light on the days of yore at the Hall. No one probably even gave this quick change a second thought. I dind’t at the time myself. Just took everything for granted. Again, thanks for sharing some fantastic information from the inside.
Would like to hear stories from some of the backstage crew who did all that work to ready for the next days morning show. Also, where did the people who were in the shows rehearse? Was there a replica of the RCMH stage downstairs?
Long live the curtain traveler…but like everything else in the industry, it to came to its demise. Sad. I remember a few theatres using the “waterfall” curtain, which was also nice. Also liked the appatures better then. Now it’s all projected on the same screen with the masking just going up and down rather than in and out to fit the format. I guess it must be due to the filming techiques. There was nothing more exciting sitting in a theatre seeing the cartoon or news etc. on a standard screen, the curtain closing..a small moment, then the masking, behind the curtain, would open and that terrific Fox logo appeared as the curtain opened revealing a nice wide CinemaScope (or whatever wide screen process was used) and the curtain would stop in time for the main title. Oh, yes, that was showmanship at its height.
Wow. Robert R should had some great NY Times movie pages. I especially liked anything in the 40’s-50’s. My favorite era of motion pictures
Hey, great stufff Warren. Living in San Francisco I think I remember these films playing at our Fox which I believe also featured stage shows with some of the above mentioned talent. My parents would take me to the Fox on occasion and see the stage show and movie. I don’t think, however, that the Fox had a stage show with every attraction. Down the street at the Golden Gate they had a stage show with most attractions. Lots of big bands if I remember correctly. Would like to know about more of the Roxys bookings, especially after they started doing stage shows again after RAINS OF RANCHIPUR, which I had asked about in an earlier comment. Keep up the GREAT work.
Great information on those good ole days. Wish I had a time machine to go back just for a few hours. Wasn’t the Lowe’s State considered another big movie house in Times Square as well as the Astor? That would make seven first run movie houses in the area? Just curious.