There is no such thing as an “open ended engagement”. If the film is overselling, the distributor can open additional runs since they own the rights and the Ziegfeld can either pull it or play with other runs. The days of exclusive roadshow runs operated that way because the distributors wanted to create that exclusivity, not because the theatre had a contract. Oscars, financing issues, reviews and audience apathy trump any contract, and always have.
bigjoe, according to Variety “ANNE FRANK” only did well in New York and Miami Beach, which means it did not work without a significant Jewish audience. In Miami Beach it was advertised as a feel-good light comedy.
A February 1, 1998 NYT article on this theatre mentions that it opened with a feature unique to Broadway history. As a tribute to its namesake, the open-air Shakespeare Globe in London, this Globe had a sliding roof that could open up to the sky on hot weather days. They speculate that soot and litter may have limited the use as it was a problem for other nearby roof top operations.
The article also mentions that the theatre had “seats for fat men”.
Tinseltoes, the documentary states that Warner Bros. was already a partner hence the opening at the Warner Theatre. Perhaps they simply forgot the Broadway.
By the way Bobby, the excellent documentary “CINERAMA ADVENTURE” had that fact wrong. “THIS IS CINERAMA” opened at the Broadway theatre and didn’t move to the Warner/Strand until a year later.
The documentary features both theatres but erroneously identifies both as “The Warners”. I do suspect the Broadway was managed by Warner Bros. Theatres at the time.
CConnolly1, you are not wrong but it has been there for 43 years and the neighborhood has not changed. In fact it has somewhat improved with more hotels and less porn.
Well Saps, this is a disgracefully researched article.
The Village East seating is not comparable to the Ziegfeld. It has only about 370 seats in the largest house.
The Ziegfeld was in the ads when it opened the film on week two, along with two screens at the nearby Empire on 42nd street, a theatre the NY Post article fails to mention altogether. The Ziegfeld was also closed on opening Sunday for the premier of another film, so he is comparing two days at the Ziegfeld to three at the Village East on two screens, Lincoln Square on two screens and Angelika on three. If anything, he is making an argument for multiplexing the Ziegfeld.
The Lincoln Square already opened with a specially mastered 70mm print. Did he mean specially mastered IMAX print will soon follow “THE DARK KNIGHT RISES”?
I guess Victor Hugo’s brilliant allegory on man’s inability to escape his past sins is lost on you.
“The plot is preposterous and the story nonsensical”
I can see not liking a movie or a play, but ridiculing the premise of one of the greatest classic works of all time is a bit much.
By the way, the 1934 French version which recently ran on TCM is four and a half hours long and I was not bored for a minute.
“LIFE OF PI” was showing here on December 24. What exclusive reserved seat engagement are you referring to?
In Ross Melnick’s book “AMERICAN SHOWMAN” he mentions that Roxy had been using scent at the Rialto in December 1916.
Really rcdt55b? Film at RCMH in 2013, when digital looks so much better in this barn of a venue.
Talk about too much time on your hands….
Yes, Garyw, I don’t know about the speeches but all the ‘art houses’ had those foam core displays back then. It seemed to matter. To some of us.
I think he is asking the wrong question anyway.
There is no such thing as an “open ended engagement”. If the film is overselling, the distributor can open additional runs since they own the rights and the Ziegfeld can either pull it or play with other runs. The days of exclusive roadshow runs operated that way because the distributors wanted to create that exclusivity, not because the theatre had a contract. Oscars, financing issues, reviews and audience apathy trump any contract, and always have.
The mother supposedly made the donation in the eighties so apparently she was still alive. The son died in 1973.
It was named after Walter Reade Jr. after a grant from The Walter Reade Foundation in the form of a check signed by his mother.
Great find, biff33.
The Village theatres below is also a rare photo.
Shame the site won’t allow a print feature.
It’s working for me and it is the Victoria.
Yes, Bill. Not only did Miami have “negro theatres”, we also had a negro phone book back then. (sigh)
On the bright side, Miami-Dade voted overwhelmingly for Obama on both elections.
I think that is an error on IBDB. APPLAUSE closed in May.
“FRENZY” ran in 1972 after “CHIPS”.
bigjoe, according to Variety “ANNE FRANK” only did well in New York and Miami Beach, which means it did not work without a significant Jewish audience. In Miami Beach it was advertised as a feel-good light comedy.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lF1VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Nz8NAAAAIBAJ&pg=3256%2C4366891
bigjoe, “ANNE FRANK” played here for six months.
I say we hit image three from Tinseltoes.
A February 1, 1998 NYT article on this theatre mentions that it opened with a feature unique to Broadway history. As a tribute to its namesake, the open-air Shakespeare Globe in London, this Globe had a sliding roof that could open up to the sky on hot weather days. They speculate that soot and litter may have limited the use as it was a problem for other nearby roof top operations.
The article also mentions that the theatre had “seats for fat men”.
Tinseltoes, the documentary states that Warner Bros. was already a partner hence the opening at the Warner Theatre. Perhaps they simply forgot the Broadway.
Paul, “HTWWW” opened at the Capitol.
By the way Bobby, the excellent documentary “CINERAMA ADVENTURE” had that fact wrong. “THIS IS CINERAMA” opened at the Broadway theatre and didn’t move to the Warner/Strand until a year later.
The documentary features both theatres but erroneously identifies both as “The Warners”. I do suspect the Broadway was managed by Warner Bros. Theatres at the time.
In many cases, no one cleaned between shows. Audiences were also more conscientious and drink/popcorn portions were smaller, so there was less waste.
These small theatres had no concession stand in 1955, so turnaround was easy.
I have added an ad from the 1991 incarnation as the York mentioned by KingBiscuits in September 2009.
CConnolly1, you are not wrong but it has been there for 43 years and the neighborhood has not changed. In fact it has somewhat improved with more hotels and less porn.
Well Saps, this is a disgracefully researched article.
The Village East seating is not comparable to the Ziegfeld. It has only about 370 seats in the largest house.
The Ziegfeld was in the ads when it opened the film on week two, along with two screens at the nearby Empire on 42nd street, a theatre the NY Post article fails to mention altogether. The Ziegfeld was also closed on opening Sunday for the premier of another film, so he is comparing two days at the Ziegfeld to three at the Village East on two screens, Lincoln Square on two screens and Angelika on three. If anything, he is making an argument for multiplexing the Ziegfeld.
The Lincoln Square already opened with a specially mastered 70mm print. Did he mean specially mastered IMAX print will soon follow “THE DARK KNIGHT RISES”?
Lazy article from a notorious rag.