Ziegfeld Theatre

141 W. 54th Street,
New York, NY 10019

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CSWalczak
CSWalczak on November 4, 2012 at 9:15 pm

Only time will tell of course, but if the current naming system being used by Digiplex holds in the event of an acquisition, the Ziegfield would probably become the Digiplex Ziegfeld on its website, in directories (online and elsewhere), and in advertising, but not with regard to the theater’s external signage.

moviebuff82
moviebuff82 on November 4, 2012 at 6:13 pm

Probably yes. Currently Argo is playing at the Z. Great movie. What’s the next film to play? BTW, if Digiplex indeed buys Clearview, expect shares of Cablevision to fall like stuttering picture and sound and that of Digiplex to rise….if they buy Clearview will the name change?

Mike (saps)
Mike (saps) on November 4, 2012 at 6:07 pm

70mm is the size of the film, not the size of the screen, which should make for aharper image. I wonder if the distributor is charging the exhibitor extra for the special print.

John Fink
John Fink on November 4, 2012 at 9:58 am

I don’t know if DigPlex improves theaters apart from digital projection – Clearview is such a mixed bag of good and awful locations. Maybe they could partner up with Bow Tie, who I also think has a likely candidate to take over Clearview and split up the chain accordingly. Alternative content probably would be a benefit for the Ziegfeld which is a premiere house managed by one the worst theatre chains. I do like Bud Mayo’s ideas including his proactive approach to indie films (I’m not sure what the audiences are like for them, but they’re doing it in a low risk way).

curmudgeon
curmudgeon on November 4, 2012 at 9:53 am

Interested to know if the Ziegfeld, or indeed, any other venue screening a 70mm print is ripping off audiences like here in Australia. both Astor theatre in Melbourne and Hayden Orpheum in Sydney charging increased prices for 70mm screenings of The Master. Considering the 70mm is only a 1.85 ratio, no younger audience will even notice a difference. Yes, we used to pay a slight (note: “slight”) increase for 70mm in the past, but at least we got “Roadshow” programming with reserved seating, and all the bells and whistles of true showmanship.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on November 3, 2012 at 11:10 pm

Bloomberg.com is reporting that Digital Cinema Destinations, headed by Bud Mayo, is considering making a bid for the Clearview theaters, especially if a partner can be found. Mayo founded Clearview in 1994, selling it to Cablevision five years later. This article seems to suggest that some locations would be sold off while others would be given digital and other upgrades and that more diversified programming would be offered.

John Fink
John Fink on October 8, 2012 at 7:20 pm

Markp – they did call to apologize today after I submitted a feedback form that appeared in my email this morning. A GM or DM offered free passes (something the manager did not do for those 6 folks that hung around to complain about the light on last night).

I refused to take them up on the offer, telling him that Clearview should be ashamed at their presentation standards circuit-wide – – especially at Kin-Mall and Montclair. I really do hope they are sold to a good exhibitor (in a perfect world they’d be split amongst several good exhibitors whose business models fit each property). Digital in some respects may fix these issues, if they mount a projector and go “boothless” in a few auditoriums that have issues, they can fix the awful keystoning.

markp
markp on October 8, 2012 at 8:37 am

Yup. Thats the Clearview I know, (and use to work for).

John Fink
John Fink on October 7, 2012 at 10:10 pm

I saw The Master tonight in 70MM and wish I could say it was an excellent screening – – leave it to Clearview to screw up the premiere movie house in NYC.

They have an anti-piracy system that had malfunctioned, it essentially is a blue searchlight that sits atop the screen, stage right that scans theatre for anyone cam-cordering the film EVERY 2 MINUTES. So every two minutes I was taken out of the immersive experience of 70MM with a blue light in my face for a few seconds. According the manager it was a malfunctioning system, but still – WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS. How often does it shine a blue light in the audience (and it projected it up to the top levels of back of the theatre, like a search light) when it functions correctly. Once is even too often.

Way to prevent piracy – by making the full price experience unwatchable. I will be writing a letter to Clearview’s corporate office and sending a copy to the MPAA.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on September 27, 2012 at 3:00 pm

I just received (from the AFI Silver in DC) an email invite for the US premiere for The Hobbit at the Ziegfeld, to benefit the AFI, at 7 PM on December 6 for only $500 a ticket! (not for me).As to “The Master” surround, I had seen Bourne Legacy a few weeks before, here, and that movie had booming surround whereas not for The Master.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on September 27, 2012 at 6:40 am

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.

atb
atb on September 27, 2012 at 5:54 am

Anyone else see “The Master” at the Ziegfeld and notice the “no surround sound” issue (see Howard Haas post)? I would be nothing short of stunned to here that the surrounds were off and the presentation was anything less than perfect.

CConnolly1
CConnolly1 on September 27, 2012 at 4:50 am

I hope the articles in the NY papers don’t spell the end for the Ziegfeld. It might’ve been mentioned before but its location doesn’t help it. It’s considerably far north of the Times Square area, smack in the middle of what is now (and has been) mostly a neighborhood populated by large office buildings and is situated right in the middle of 54th Street. Stroll up and down 6th or 7th Avenues and you’d really never know it was there. Am I wrong?

cmbussmann
cmbussmann on September 25, 2012 at 7:56 am

Saw The Master here on Friday in 70mm and the presentation was absolutely stunning! I am so grateful to The Ziegfeld for truly paying attention to the details: a staff member welcomed us to the theater and stated this was a special presentation. They also handed out comment cards after the show.

Having never seen 70mm before, I was blown-away by how crisp and beautiful it was. The movie itself was pretty good too.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on September 24, 2012 at 6:18 pm

Nothing odd. Just another premiere:

here

MarkieS
MarkieS on September 24, 2012 at 6:09 pm

I saw it there this past Friday 9/31. Odd no showings on Sunday.

mhvbear
mhvbear on September 24, 2012 at 5:18 pm

There were no showings of ‘The Master’ this past Sunday at the Ziegfeld.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on September 24, 2012 at 1:45 pm

In that case, I am a bit surprised that the ad (I presume it was it was this one or one like it) did not include with in the copy a note such as “Opens [date] at the Ziegfeld”.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on September 24, 2012 at 12:01 pm

The film opened here with the second week wide break. It did not play here opening week. Distributors pay for all display ads in NYC.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on September 24, 2012 at 11:20 am

The Clearview website shows that it is currently playing at the Ziegfeld; perhaps with so many theater chains dropping print advertising these days, perhaps Clearview does not think it worth the expense. Also, given the somewhat mixed nature of the reviews nationwide, I wonder how long a theatrical run the film will now have.

Mikeoaklandpark
Mikeoaklandpark on September 24, 2012 at 11:03 am

The big ad in the Sunday times the last two weeks doesn’t show the Ziegfeld as showing this movie. I was wondering why because they were supposed to get it. Someone needs to have to corrected because they will be loosing business.

KingBiscuits
KingBiscuits on September 22, 2012 at 10:04 pm

No matter the aspect ratio, The Master looks stunning.

I am nowhere near a location running it in 70mm but in standard digital (also in 1.85) has surround sound (this was a Dolby Digital house I saw it in) and the mix is excellent. I find it weird that a 70mm print with DTS would not have surrounds. I’m guessing that the theatre made a mistake that aspect of the presentation.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on September 22, 2012 at 7:55 pm

There were at least a few hundred people here today at the 3:30 PM show. “The Master” looked stunning in 70mm “flat” No curtain was used. No surround sound. I wish more movies were made in 70mm!

Mikeoaklandpark
Mikeoaklandpark on September 5, 2012 at 6:25 am

What a waste to have a 70mm print shown in 1.85. I guess I am glad we don’t have any theaters in Asheville that have 70MM capability.