p7350: If you’re still in the NY/NJ area, and until the Music Hall starts showing movies again, if ever, you can still hear that great cavernous echo sound at the Loew’s Jersey in Jersey City about one weekend a month. It’s not as big as the Music Hall, but it’s pretty close – close enough to produce the echo.
After going through the various lists up above, I have to agree with Al and Vito and vote for “Auntie Mame”, especially because it has a long and very moving Christmas sequence in which Mame gives her last dime to the Salvation Army. There’s also a very funny sequence right before that in which she almost single-handedly destroys Macy’s toy department, where she works and from where she gets fired.
The trailers were all the same small size. When “Nine” started and still looked that way, I thought maybe it was intentional and the screen would expand at a certain point early on in the film. “Enchanted” started out that way: 1.85 for the opening animated sequence and 2.35 when Amy Adams goes to New York City. But no such luck.
I would’ve been able to correct the problem on my Panasonic video projector and 92" screen at home. It’s no Ziegfeld of course, but if I had the privilege of showing “Nine” I’d make sure that it filled the screen.
Oh yes, that too. But the Zhivago thing came later than the Lawrence of Arabia thing. And this new disappointment reminded me of the same feeling I had at Zhivago: that I should have gotten up and reported the problem. I wish they had an employee stationed in the actual auditorium who you could complain to.
I always try to give the Ziegfeld the benefit of the doubt when something goes wrong, just because it is the Ziegfeld. But I have to say my favorite New York theater really let me down this time. I haven’t been this disappointed in the Ziegfeld since they lowered the volume on the second half of “Doctor Zhivago” in 2006.
While I was watching it, realizing it wasn’t going to get corrected, I wondered why we weren’t getting the same professional show they got at the premiere just a few weeks ago. And we were paying customers!
I should’ve found a manager and said something, but I didn’t want to miss any part of the movie.
“Nine†was a good movie, but it didn’t even come close to the emotional impact of Fellini’s original “8 1/2â€. Best work was from Marion Cotillard and Fergie. Sophia Loren didn’t get much to do, but it was a real pleasure just to see her in a movie again.
A curious thing about the presentation. I assume it was digital projection, but it didn’t fill the screen at the Ziegfeld. It was a 2.35 image letterboxed inside a 1.85 frame. After it started I was waiting for the screen to expand to full width during the first big musical number, but it never happened. Did anyone else notice this?
Also, the curtains weren’t used, the unused spaces at the sides of the screen weren’t masked, and the lights went off abruptly as if someone pulled the plug on them. Not what I was expecting from an exclusive (till 12/25) engagement at the Ziegfeld. Have to say something positive, though: the movie and the score sounded great.
Vito: It was all up to my dad. I was only 10 and can’t remember too well, but I probably wanted to wait. I do remember being very disappointed when we left the Radio City area. In January 1970, when I was 15 and old enough to go to Radio City without parents, I did wait about 5 hours to get it to Radio City for “A Boy Named Charlie Brown”.
Thanks Vito. That was the attraction that my dad took my sister and I to see … and we couldn’t get in because the line was too long. It would’ve taken more than three hours, on a bitterly cold day. But all was not lost – we simply went to see another movie: “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World”, at the Victoria in Times Square. Not a better theater, but a better movie.
I recall a pre-release full-page ad in the New York Times that only said “There Is No Comparison”, and listed the 12/7 opening date.
Back in 1979, my job offered each employee an extra vacation day they called a Christmas Shopping Day. I used my Christmas Shopping Day to go see “Star Trek: The Motion Picture”’s first and second showings at Loew’s State 1 in Times Square, and I was not disappointed. What a great feeling to see the whole gang again after 10 years, and what a score!
I saw “2001: A Space Odyssey” here last night. It was a Blu-Ray presentation, and the screen wasn’t as big as I’d hoped, but it was slightly curved – a nice touch for a film that was originally shown in Cinerama. The sound system was excellent, and the theater staff was very friendly. I’m glad I went.
A highlight of the evening: to get to the theatre I had to walk around the Unisphere, the gigantic steel globe that was the symbol of the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair. I hadn’t been so close to it since 1965.
I recall newspaper ads from that time announcing “Airport” as the first 70mm presentation in the history of Radio City Music Hall.
posted by Bill Huelbig on Sep 2, 2008 at 11:41am
So thanks, Vito, for giving me a chance to see that ad again.
Individual tickets to each movie may be available, but they also may not be. No list of all the films yet, but they are showing “2001”, “Metropolis”, “Breathless” and “A Star is Born” as special events.
Anybody know any details about this? Tickets go on sale tomorrow, but there’s no listing of what the movies will be. If I was the programmer, I’d include “West Side Story” in 70mm here at the Chinese, where it originally played for 58 weeks.
The main auditorium is beautiful, much bigger than I expected after seeing the rather small lobby. Sound system worked great too. If only the movie itself wasn’t such a dud (“2012”).
Myron, I hope you do get to post your collection of programs. I love looking at stuff like that. Thanks in advance!
Al, the lights on the backs of seats were for program reading, controlled by the moviegoer. I remember playing with them as a real little kid during a boring movie at Radio City (Disney’s “Bon Voyage”?)
From the lists posted above by Ron3853 and AAlvarez, I found three Tony Curtis movies: “Operation Petticoat”, “Captain Newman, M.D.” and “The Great Race”.
Just got back from this beautiful new theater. It even smelled new. The staff was exceptionally friendly. The only bad part: the guy who took a cell phone call after the movie began the movie, and in a normal tone of voice too. At least he and his family walked out soon after. They had a little kid with them and the movie was too scary for him or her anyway: “Paranormal Activity”. Scariest movie I’ve seen in decades.
“Carrie” was a lot of fun tonight. Judging from the screams and gasps near me during the final scene, there were some people there who’d never seen it. Probably the biggest gasp came when the teacher played by Betty Buckley slapped the student played by Nancy Allen. Back in 1976 that wasn’t yet grounds for a major lawsuit.
George Stevens Jr. is coming to the Loew’s to introduce one of his dad’s masterpieces, “The Diary of Anne Frank”, on Sunday 11/15 at 3 PM. It should look fantastic in CinemaScope on the Loew’s big screen.
p7350: If you’re still in the NY/NJ area, and until the Music Hall starts showing movies again, if ever, you can still hear that great cavernous echo sound at the Loew’s Jersey in Jersey City about one weekend a month. It’s not as big as the Music Hall, but it’s pretty close – close enough to produce the echo.
After going through the various lists up above, I have to agree with Al and Vito and vote for “Auntie Mame”, especially because it has a long and very moving Christmas sequence in which Mame gives her last dime to the Salvation Army. There’s also a very funny sequence right before that in which she almost single-handedly destroys Macy’s toy department, where she works and from where she gets fired.
The trailers were all the same small size. When “Nine” started and still looked that way, I thought maybe it was intentional and the screen would expand at a certain point early on in the film. “Enchanted” started out that way: 1.85 for the opening animated sequence and 2.35 when Amy Adams goes to New York City. But no such luck.
I would’ve been able to correct the problem on my Panasonic video projector and 92" screen at home. It’s no Ziegfeld of course, but if I had the privilege of showing “Nine” I’d make sure that it filled the screen.
OOPS – You were right, Jeff. After checking the posts up above, Zhivago was on 3/11/06, and Lawrence on 3/24/06.
Oh yes, that too. But the Zhivago thing came later than the Lawrence of Arabia thing. And this new disappointment reminded me of the same feeling I had at Zhivago: that I should have gotten up and reported the problem. I wish they had an employee stationed in the actual auditorium who you could complain to.
I always try to give the Ziegfeld the benefit of the doubt when something goes wrong, just because it is the Ziegfeld. But I have to say my favorite New York theater really let me down this time. I haven’t been this disappointed in the Ziegfeld since they lowered the volume on the second half of “Doctor Zhivago” in 2006.
While I was watching it, realizing it wasn’t going to get corrected, I wondered why we weren’t getting the same professional show they got at the premiere just a few weeks ago. And we were paying customers!
I should’ve found a manager and said something, but I didn’t want to miss any part of the movie.
“Nine†was a good movie, but it didn’t even come close to the emotional impact of Fellini’s original “8 1/2â€. Best work was from Marion Cotillard and Fergie. Sophia Loren didn’t get much to do, but it was a real pleasure just to see her in a movie again.
A curious thing about the presentation. I assume it was digital projection, but it didn’t fill the screen at the Ziegfeld. It was a 2.35 image letterboxed inside a 1.85 frame. After it started I was waiting for the screen to expand to full width during the first big musical number, but it never happened. Did anyone else notice this?
Also, the curtains weren’t used, the unused spaces at the sides of the screen weren’t masked, and the lights went off abruptly as if someone pulled the plug on them. Not what I was expecting from an exclusive (till 12/25) engagement at the Ziegfeld. Have to say something positive, though: the movie and the score sounded great.
Vito: It was all up to my dad. I was only 10 and can’t remember too well, but I probably wanted to wait. I do remember being very disappointed when we left the Radio City area. In January 1970, when I was 15 and old enough to go to Radio City without parents, I did wait about 5 hours to get it to Radio City for “A Boy Named Charlie Brown”.
Thanks Vito. That was the attraction that my dad took my sister and I to see … and we couldn’t get in because the line was too long. It would’ve taken more than three hours, on a bitterly cold day. But all was not lost – we simply went to see another movie: “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World”, at the Victoria in Times Square. Not a better theater, but a better movie.
I recall a pre-release full-page ad in the New York Times that only said “There Is No Comparison”, and listed the 12/7 opening date.
Back in 1979, my job offered each employee an extra vacation day they called a Christmas Shopping Day. I used my Christmas Shopping Day to go see “Star Trek: The Motion Picture”’s first and second showings at Loew’s State 1 in Times Square, and I was not disappointed. What a great feeling to see the whole gang again after 10 years, and what a score!
Saw “Precious” here – perfect presentation of an excellent film. So far this place is 2 for 2 with me. Long may that continue!
Jack Wild died of natural causes a few years ago. Mark Lester quit show biz and became a doctor in England. An osteopath, I believe.
And the Ziegfeld is about the same distance to 42nd St. as the Chinese is to Arclight.
I saw “2001: A Space Odyssey” here last night. It was a Blu-Ray presentation, and the screen wasn’t as big as I’d hoped, but it was slightly curved – a nice touch for a film that was originally shown in Cinerama. The sound system was excellent, and the theater staff was very friendly. I’m glad I went.
A highlight of the evening: to get to the theatre I had to walk around the Unisphere, the gigantic steel globe that was the symbol of the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair. I hadn’t been so close to it since 1965.
This is something I posted last year:
Here’s the “Airport” program, first posted here 3 years ago:
View link
View link
I recall newspaper ads from that time announcing “Airport” as the first 70mm presentation in the history of Radio City Music Hall.
posted by Bill Huelbig on Sep 2, 2008 at 11:41am
So thanks, Vito, for giving me a chance to see that ad again.
Get a load of these prices for the TCM Festival:
View link
Individual tickets to each movie may be available, but they also may not be. No list of all the films yet, but they are showing “2001”, “Metropolis”, “Breathless” and “A Star is Born” as special events.
http://www.tcm.com/festival/
Anybody know any details about this? Tickets go on sale tomorrow, but there’s no listing of what the movies will be. If I was the programmer, I’d include “West Side Story” in 70mm here at the Chinese, where it originally played for 58 weeks.
The main auditorium is beautiful, much bigger than I expected after seeing the rather small lobby. Sound system worked great too. If only the movie itself wasn’t such a dud (“2012”).
A big scene in Robert Altman’s first feature “The Delinquents” was filmed at this drive-in in 1956.
Myron, I hope you do get to post your collection of programs. I love looking at stuff like that. Thanks in advance!
Al, the lights on the backs of seats were for program reading, controlled by the moviegoer. I remember playing with them as a real little kid during a boring movie at Radio City (Disney’s “Bon Voyage”?)
From the lists posted above by Ron3853 and AAlvarez, I found three Tony Curtis movies: “Operation Petticoat”, “Captain Newman, M.D.” and “The Great Race”.
MikeT is right about the new 1.37 prints. The Ziegfeld in New York City showed one in September 2006. It was quite beautiful.
Just got back from this beautiful new theater. It even smelled new. The staff was exceptionally friendly. The only bad part: the guy who took a cell phone call after the movie began the movie, and in a normal tone of voice too. At least he and his family walked out soon after. They had a little kid with them and the movie was too scary for him or her anyway: “Paranormal Activity”. Scariest movie I’ve seen in decades.
“Carrie” was a lot of fun tonight. Judging from the screams and gasps near me during the final scene, there were some people there who’d never seen it. Probably the biggest gasp came when the teacher played by Betty Buckley slapped the student played by Nancy Allen. Back in 1976 that wasn’t yet grounds for a major lawsuit.
George Stevens Jr. is coming to the Loew’s to introduce one of his dad’s masterpieces, “The Diary of Anne Frank”, on Sunday 11/15 at 3 PM. It should look fantastic in CinemaScope on the Loew’s big screen.