Roxy Theatre

I would like to add to Warrens post regarding masking.
Many of the palaces I worked in during the 50s had no masking, when scope came along we would simply use one of the travelor curtains to hide the portion of the screen not being used. In a situation where a theatre had only one curtain (rare in those days), when we showed a flat picture on the scope screen we would not open the curtain all the way, stoping it just after the edge of the image.
Warren also mentioned colored lamps which some theatres, including the Staten Island Paramount. would use lamps in the foot lights to color the edge of the screed not being used.

By chance, any pictures of Roxy’s screen during the CinemaScope era? The pre-CinemaScope picture shows a dang tiny screen for such a mammoth movie palace?

Warren
Where on earth did you find that “take home program” from the Roxy?
It makes me want so much to take a look inside to see what’s printed there there. Do you have the COMPLETE program or just the cover?
You say it gradually diminished in size and content over the years.
When I worked there in 1951 on the candy concession in the rotunda I don’t remember ever seeing printed programs, but as I was just a kid I maybe just didn’t take notice. I’m so glad you’re sharing some of this with us. Thanx.
Richard Holden

Here is a February 1931 ad from the NYT:
http://tinyurl.com/ynwcyq

Re: ALL ABOUT EVE. I’m not sure the exact date it opened at the Roxy but as I was working there at the time I remember it was quite a cold day so most likely sometime in October 1950. They had closed the theater all day for cleaning as all the celebreties were to arrive in the evening. Search lights were beaming all over the Manhattan sky when I went in to work. It was quite an occasion. Being a teenager, my job was selling candy on the concession stand in the main Rotunda so I couldn’t get a chance to see the film until much later, maybe on my day off. I just watched All About Eve on DVD and it brought back those memories. A great film, a great cast.
Richard Holden

“All About Eve” must have been a tough sell box-office wise. It has such a strong literary pedigree that not all adults(and no kids) would enjoy all the clever show biz sarcasm. But I could be wrong.

Here is an October 1950 ad from the NYT:
http://tinyurl.com/22pby6

This is addictive reading. Thanks.

From the May 10, 1946 edition of the NYC Daily Worker is this ad:

Lucille Ball Clifton Webb William Bendix Mark Stevens
“The Dark Corner"
A 20th Century-Fox Picture
PLUS ON STAGE – GEORGE JESSEL
Merry Macs – Extra! – Rosario & Antonio
ROXY 7th Ave. & 50th Ave.

No, I don’t. He said that it aired about 4 or 5 years ago.

I was just told that PBS did a terrific documentary several years ago on the Roxy which had extensive newsreel footage, including some in color.

Does anybody know where I can locate a copy of this show? Thank you!

ErwinM posted a comment three years ago that has had me on a quest to find the surviving Roxy seats with the distinctive “R” initial on the side of the chair. Well, it took a while but I was finally able to gain brief access to the private room he discussed that now holds about 100 seats from the famous theater. Sure enough, they are authentic — right down to the “R” on the side. I was even able to snap some pictures of my daughter sitting in one of the chairs for proof. If we’re ever able to post pics on this site, I will surely do so. Thanks, ErwinM for giving me the info to track down what seems to be the last remaining artifacts from, what many believe, to be the most wonderful theater that ever existed. The Roxy.

Richard Holden: Thanks for sharing those incredible memories with all of us. Posts like yours are what makes Cinema Treasures one of the best websites out there.