i made a big OPPS! in my last post. i said
Patrick Adriatre would be the only major cast
member of TKAI still with us. so i apologize to
Rita Moreno and Rex Thompson for not including
them.
as always thank you for your reply. I just read the
Wikipedia articles on both films and its still
a bit confusing. the site states the 3 songs from
The King and I were just recorded but never actually filmed which is confusing. I remember seeing a
stills montage to go along with what Deborah Kerr
and Marni Nixon recorded for “Shall I Tell…”. so if
there are stills from “Shall I Tell….” doesn’t that
indicate it was actually shot contradicting what
Wikipedia says. i guess the definitive answer would
come from Patrick Adriarte who played the King’s
oldest son who is I believe the only major cast
member of the film still alive.
also the Wikipedia article on Carousel is likewise
confusing. it says the two songs i mentioned were
left out of the release print of the film because
Fox wanted to keep the film at 2hrs. 8mins. they
don’t actually say the songs were never filmed which
leads me to believe the two songs were in fact shot.
I suppose the definitive answer to my query could
be asked of Shirley Jones the only major cast member
of the film still alive.
one of my favorite musicals ever is
The King and I which premiered at this
theater. to which a question. on the
soundtrack album are three tracks/scenes
which never appeared in any release of
the film-a)My Lord and Master sung by
Tuptim, b)Shall I Tell You What I Think
Of You sung by Mrs. Anna and one of the two
duets between Tuptim and Long Tu. now for
devotees of this film- were those 3
tracks recorded but never filmed or were
recorded and filmed but 20th Century Fox
for whatever reason in the post-production
process decided not to use them. it must
have seemed strange at the time for them
to release a soundtrack album with songs
not in the film. you figure they’d only
put songs on the album that were in the
film.
20th Century Fox did this again with
Carousel which also premiered at this
theater in 1956. two songs on the soundtrack
album a)You’re A Queer One Julie Jordan and
b)Stonecutters Cut It In Stone were never
included in any release print of the film.
so like The King and I were these two songs
recorded but never filmed or were they
filmed as well and the footage for whatever
reason was never used.
I always wondered what the comments referred to. I
always assumed it was on the quality of the projection
and sound. so are all the comments about The Master’s
screening at this theater about the film itself or
the projection and sound?
I saw The Master its opening weekend at the
main auditorium of the Village East Cinemas
on 2nd Ave. and 12t St.. the 70MM projection
and sound were first rate. what went wrong at
the Ziegfeld since everyone seems to be
commenting on it.
I do hope Interstellar gives this theater a nice
boost. but is it really necessary to order tickets
in advance? since the studios started opening films
at 2,000-3,000 theaters on the same I don’t think
its necessary. I have found that no matter how well
received a film is critically you know you’ll get
a seat even on Sat. and Sun.. in the past few years
the only time I have seen a substantial crowd was
the day after Christmas 2012 when I saw Les Miserables.
the theater was approx. a 3rd full.
you make a most interesting suggestion in that
CT should have a page devoted just to souvenir
programs. to which i have a question for you.
the prime roadshow period as i have stated was
the October 1955 opening of “Oklahoma” to the
Dec. 1972 opening of “Man of La Mancha”. now i
didn’t go to every such film in that period but
everyone i did go to had a souvenir program. so
here’s my question- during this period the
studios still opened their continuous performance
films in 1 maybe 2 theaters in Manhattan. so
of these films how do you think the studios decided
which would have souvenir programs?
i thank you for your take on the statement made
in the doc. and the souvenir program. you have to
admit said statement could have been worded better
since it does give the impression that there
were purpose built movie theaters in Manhattan prior
to the Spring of 1913.
I am quite familiar with the costumed characters
in Times Square since I am an avid theater goer.
I am one of those true New Yorkers who never let
Times Square’s decadent “colorful” period phase them.
likewise today I ignore the costumed characters.
so L.A. residents who are turned off by the costumed
characters and crowds etc……….. in front of the
Chinese must have the backbone of a jellyfish. even
in its decadent “colorful period” the big movie
theaters in Times Square still had sell out crowds.
so since the IMAX-ing of the Chinese has gotten
A+ reviews all around for L.A. residents to avoid,
can’t be bothered with the theater because of
the crowds etc….. in front of it well
they’re probably afraid of their own shadow.
I don’t know how many of you subscribe to the page
for the Astor but I have come upon a contradictory
bit of info about the theater that I would like you
thoughts on.
I recently watched the Blu-ray disc of Quo Vadis
from 1951 and own the souvenir program. now both
contain a bit of info that doesn’t make sense
hence my question.
both the doc. on the Blu-ray disc and the souvenir
program state something about the 1912 Italian
version of Quo Vadis that doesn’t make sense. both
state that the 1912 Italian version which opened
in New York in 1913 was the 1st feature film to
charge a $1 and the first to open at a legitimate
theater. this would imply whatever feature films
opened in Manhattan previous to the Spring of 1913
opened in actual purpose built “movie theaters”.
so what purpose built movie theaters existed in
Manhattan previous to the Spring of 1913?
I find all the tech talk fascinating, especially
screen aspect ratios. but is my assessment correct
that the IMAX-ing of the Chinese though given an A+
hasn’t really brought in the crowds to the extant
they thought it would?
many many thanks for your reply. I figure if
anyone could answer the question you could. I
didn’t see Circus World in its “in Cinerama”
roadshow run at the Warner Cinerama on 47th St.
I owned the soundtrack album plus I go the
vhs when it came out. admittedly its a corny
hokey film and while not Oscar material I still
found it an enjoyable corny hokey film.
a good film is a good film. an uneven film is
an uneven film and a bad film is a bad film
no matter what city its playing in.
I am sure NYC, San Francisco and Los Angeles
have discriminating moviegoers so if they kept
their city’s roadshow engagements running for
respectively 19,13 and 16 weeks what gives with
D.C.’s 3 weeks? the advance sale being that it
was a John Wayne film , that is was “in Cinerama”
and Samuel Bronston’s talent at over the top
spectacle should have been enough sustain a run
of longer than 3 weeks. so the only guess I can
make is the same as yours- they waited to long
to open its D.C. roadshow run.
from what I have read on this page the IMAX-ing
of the Chinese gets an A+ which prompts an
interesting question. three films opening between
today and Dec. 31 that can really shine in this
theater are Interstellar, MockingJay Pt.1 and
The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies. my question
being simple- it will be interesting to see what
the crowds are like on Sun. afternoon three days
after each film open assuming they play here. I
found quite fascinating a post on this site made
last Nov. 2013. a poster and friends went to a
Sun. afternoon showing of Catching Fire only three
days after the film opened and were shocked that
the theater at the most maybe 20% filled.
thanks for your reply. it certainly says it all.
people how decry the demolishing of grand movie
palaces react as if some big orge is specifically
targeting grand old movie palaces. the same thing
happened with San Francisco’s The Fox which was
as large as beloved as the Roxy. it was torn
down in 1963 since it had become a huge financial
liability which could simply not make it as a
single screen movie theater because it was to
frigging big.
you have always been most kind to help me with
my inquiries so I have a good one.I hope you don’t
mind me posting it on this page since I have
no idea what page would be best. do you know of
a site that would convert 1916 dollars to 2014
dollars? the reason i ask is simple. as you know
at least 50% of feature films from the silent era
are lost. one HUGE film from that era I have always
wished would be found is A Daughter of the Gods
from 1916 starring Annette Kellerman. it cost
a cool $1,000,000 the 1st American film to do
so. so I always wondered what that $1,000,000
of 1916 would be in 2014 dollars.
while its sad that a gorgeous movie palace like
the Roxy was demolished people forget one very
simple fact. at the time it was decided to raze
the theater it was a HUGE financial liability for
the owners. once t.v. became commonplace in the
American home HUGE theaters like the Roxy were
doomed. i’m sure in 1960 when it was torn down
the weekly operating costs were astronomical.
you have always been most helpful in the past
so I have a good one for you this time. a theater
of one sort or another has occupied this location
for over a hundred years. now prior to the 86 St.
East 4-Plex opening this location was home to
the 86 St. East a single house for decades. now
was the single screen 86 St. East which was a
decent sized building completely demolished or
was it simply gutted and the current 4-plex
built within said gutted skeletal structure?
has anyone remembered what the last new studio
film to play this theater on an exclusive run was?
obviously such films as the restored Vertigo and
the special 2 week runs of The Princess and the Frog
and Dreamgirls before they opened wide don’t
count. I can’t remember so thanks for the
assistance.
as I said I was 98% accurate in my memory so I don’t mind you adding new info. to which two new question-
*the souvenir program I bought at The Lion In
Winter was the traditional one with staples in
the spine. I bought it at the film’s premiere
roadshow run at the Lincoln Art Theater on
57th Street. I never knew it had a hardcover
edition as well.at what theater did you by yours?
*also while its not perfect I find Kim Holston’s
book “Movie Roadshows” fascinating since its the
only book I have ever come across on the subject.
now during the silent era the author lists 85
feature films as having opened on roadshow runs
in Manhattan. now whether I own them or have read
about them i know of only five souvenir programs-
The Birth of A Nation, The Big Parade, Ben-Hur,
Don Juan and The King of Kings. i can’t believe
of the 85 films Holston lists only 5 had souvenir
programs. what’s your best guess at finding out
which of the other 80 films had souvenir programs?
i recently got the Blu-ray disc of The Great
Race which has always been my favorite of the
large scale action comedies released in the
60s. if I am not mistaken TGR played at this
theater in a traditional roadshow engagement
which lased I think between 5 and 6 months.
in reference to Al A.’s comment about the 3 big
AMC multiplexes being cash cows. you have to remember
these three big complexes have a policy of discount
prices before 12:00p.m. on Fri., Sat. and Sun. for any
film regular, 3D or IMAX. I’m surprised this theater
doesn’t offer the discount.
oddly enough eventhough this policy is the reason
for these three multiplexes raking in the bucks for
early shows Fri., Sat. & Sun. which they’ve been doing
for years the Regal 42 St. multiplex and the Regal
Union Square 14 multiplex still don’t offer the discount. I think the only other chain to offer the
before 12:00p.m. discount on Fri., Sat and Sun. is
City Cinemas.
we are having a lively discussion aren’t we?
Al A. makes some valid points but it is still
my belief that the one main reason the Ziegfeld
rarely has a full house is because whatever big
film plays there is also playing at 12 other
theaters in Manhattan. its NOT because of the
location. after all if the theater was hard
to find why was the 1st show of the day of Les
Miserables the day after Christmas 2012 rather
well attended? not only that but when I left
the theater there was a line half down 54th St.
for the next show.
I guess no matter how well reviewed or not a
roadshow film was its theatrical shelf life still
varied from city to city. now I don’t remember
how long Circus World’s roadshow run was at the
Warner Cinerama at Bway & 47 St. but it was
most certainly longer than 3 weeks. so I’m guessing
whatever merits the film may have had were more
inviting to NYC moviegoers than D.C. moviegoers.
still a roadshow run of only 3 weeks especially
for a big well publicized film regardless of whether
is was Oscar material still seems inordinately
short. hey the biggest roadshow disappointment in
the prime Oct. 1955 thru Dec. 1972 period in Manhattan was Half a Sixpence which ran 6 weeks.
I have an interesting question pertaining
to roadshow films. some studios seemed more
adept at keeping complete roadshow prints
in good condition than others. for instance
all of MGM’s roadshow epics released by
Warner Home Video first on dvd and now
blu-ray are the original roadshow prints.
yet on the available dvd and blu-ray of South
Pacific and The Sand Pebbles only the
general release prints are in good condition.
the accompanying roadshow prints are quite
uneven. any thoughts?
Hello Again-
i made a big OPPS! in my last post. i said Patrick Adriatre would be the only major cast member of TKAI still with us. so i apologize to Rita Moreno and Rex Thompson for not including them.
to Escott N.–
as always thank you for your reply. I just read the Wikipedia articles on both films and its still a bit confusing. the site states the 3 songs from The King and I were just recorded but never actually filmed which is confusing. I remember seeing a stills montage to go along with what Deborah Kerr and Marni Nixon recorded for “Shall I Tell…”. so if there are stills from “Shall I Tell….” doesn’t that indicate it was actually shot contradicting what Wikipedia says. i guess the definitive answer would come from Patrick Adriarte who played the King’s oldest son who is I believe the only major cast member of the film still alive.
also the Wikipedia article on Carousel is likewise confusing. it says the two songs i mentioned were left out of the release print of the film because Fox wanted to keep the film at 2hrs. 8mins. they don’t actually say the songs were never filmed which leads me to believe the two songs were in fact shot. I suppose the definitive answer to my query could be asked of Shirley Jones the only major cast member
of the film still alive.
Hello to All-
one of my favorite musicals ever is The King and I which premiered at this theater. to which a question. on the soundtrack album are three tracks/scenes which never appeared in any release of
the film-a)My Lord and Master sung by Tuptim, b)Shall I Tell You What I Think Of You sung by Mrs. Anna and one of the two duets between Tuptim and Long Tu. now for devotees of this film- were those 3 tracks recorded but never filmed or were recorded and filmed but 20th Century Fox for whatever reason in the post-production process decided not to use them. it must have seemed strange at the time for them to release a soundtrack album with songs not in the film. you figure they’d only put songs on the album that were in the film.
20th Century Fox did this again with Carousel which also premiered at this theater in 1956. two songs on the soundtrack album a)You’re A Queer One Julie Jordan and b)Stonecutters Cut It In Stone were never included in any release print of the film. so like The King and I were these two songs recorded but never filmed or were they filmed as well and the footage for whatever reason was never used.
Hello Again-
I always wondered what the comments referred to. I always assumed it was on the quality of the projection and sound. so are all the comments about The Master’s screening at this theater about the film itself or the projection and sound?
Hello-
I saw The Master its opening weekend at the main auditorium of the Village East Cinemas on 2nd Ave. and 12t St.. the 70MM projection and sound were first rate. what went wrong at the Ziegfeld since everyone seems to be commenting on it.
Hello-
I do hope Interstellar gives this theater a nice boost. but is it really necessary to order tickets in advance? since the studios started opening films at 2,000-3,000 theaters on the same I don’t think its necessary. I have found that no matter how well received a film is critically you know you’ll get a seat even on Sat. and Sun.. in the past few years the only time I have seen a substantial crowd was the day after Christmas 2012 when I saw Les Miserables. the theater was approx. a 3rd full.
to techman707-
you make a most interesting suggestion in that CT should have a page devoted just to souvenir programs. to which i have a question for you.
the prime roadshow period as i have stated was the October 1955 opening of “Oklahoma” to the Dec. 1972 opening of “Man of La Mancha”. now i didn’t go to every such film in that period but everyone i did go to had a souvenir program. so here’s my question- during this period the studios still opened their continuous performance films in 1 maybe 2 theaters in Manhattan. so of these films how do you think the studios decided which would have souvenir programs?
to Howard B. –
i thank you for your take on the statement made in the doc. and the souvenir program. you have to admit said statement could have been worded better since it does give the impression that there were purpose built movie theaters in Manhattan prior to the Spring of 1913.
Hello to Escott N.–
I am quite familiar with the costumed characters in Times Square since I am an avid theater goer. I am one of those true New Yorkers who never let Times Square’s decadent “colorful” period phase them. likewise today I ignore the costumed characters.
so L.A. residents who are turned off by the costumed characters and crowds etc……….. in front of the Chinese must have the backbone of a jellyfish. even in its decadent “colorful period” the big movie theaters in Times Square still had sell out crowds.
so since the IMAX-ing of the Chinese has gotten A+ reviews all around for L.A. residents to avoid, can’t be bothered with the theater because of the crowds etc….. in front of it well they’re probably afraid of their own shadow.
Hello to All-
I don’t know how many of you subscribe to the page for the Astor but I have come upon a contradictory bit of info about the theater that I would like you thoughts on.
Hello-
I recently watched the Blu-ray disc of Quo Vadis from 1951 and own the souvenir program. now both contain a bit of info that doesn’t make sense hence my question.
both the doc. on the Blu-ray disc and the souvenir program state something about the 1912 Italian version of Quo Vadis that doesn’t make sense. both state that the 1912 Italian version which opened in New York in 1913 was the 1st feature film to charge a $1 and the first to open at a legitimate theater. this would imply whatever feature films opened in Manhattan previous to the Spring of 1913 opened in actual purpose built “movie theaters”.
so what purpose built movie theaters existed in Manhattan previous to the Spring of 1913?
Hello from NYC-
I find all the tech talk fascinating, especially screen aspect ratios. but is my assessment correct that the IMAX-ing of the Chinese though given an A+ hasn’t really brought in the crowds to the extant they thought it would?
to Coate-
many many thanks for your reply. I figure if anyone could answer the question you could. I didn’t see Circus World in its “in Cinerama” roadshow run at the Warner Cinerama on 47th St. I owned the soundtrack album plus I go the vhs when it came out. admittedly its a corny hokey film and while not Oscar material I still found it an enjoyable corny hokey film.
a good film is a good film. an uneven film is an uneven film and a bad film is a bad film no matter what city its playing in. I am sure NYC, San Francisco and Los Angeles have discriminating moviegoers so if they kept their city’s roadshow engagements running for respectively 19,13 and 16 weeks what gives with D.C.’s 3 weeks? the advance sale being that it was a John Wayne film , that is was “in Cinerama” and Samuel Bronston’s talent at over the top spectacle should have been enough sustain a run of longer than 3 weeks. so the only guess I can make is the same as yours- they waited to long to open its D.C. roadshow run.
Hello from NYC-
from what I have read on this page the IMAX-ing of the Chinese gets an A+ which prompts an interesting question. three films opening between today and Dec. 31 that can really shine in this theater are Interstellar, MockingJay Pt.1 and The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies. my question being simple- it will be interesting to see what the crowds are like on Sun. afternoon three days after each film open assuming they play here. I found quite fascinating a post on this site made last Nov. 2013. a poster and friends went to a Sun. afternoon showing of Catching Fire only three days after the film opened and were shocked that the theater at the most maybe 20% filled.
to Mark D.–
thanks for your reply. it certainly says it all. people how decry the demolishing of grand movie palaces react as if some big orge is specifically targeting grand old movie palaces. the same thing happened with San Francisco’s The Fox which was as large as beloved as the Roxy. it was torn down in 1963 since it had become a huge financial liability which could simply not make it as a single screen movie theater because it was to frigging big.
to Al A.–
you have always been most kind to help me with my inquiries so I have a good one.I hope you don’t mind me posting it on this page since I have no idea what page would be best. do you know of a site that would convert 1916 dollars to 2014 dollars? the reason i ask is simple. as you know at least 50% of feature films from the silent era are lost. one HUGE film from that era I have always wished would be found is A Daughter of the Gods from 1916 starring Annette Kellerman. it cost a cool $1,000,000 the 1st American film to do so. so I always wondered what that $1,000,000 of 1916 would be in 2014 dollars.
to LorinW.–
while its sad that a gorgeous movie palace like the Roxy was demolished people forget one very simple fact. at the time it was decided to raze the theater it was a HUGE financial liability for the owners. once t.v. became commonplace in the American home HUGE theaters like the Roxy were doomed. i’m sure in 1960 when it was torn down the weekly operating costs were astronomical.
to Ed S.–
you have always been most helpful in the past so I have a good one for you this time. a theater of one sort or another has occupied this location for over a hundred years. now prior to the 86 St. East 4-Plex opening this location was home to the 86 St. East a single house for decades. now was the single screen 86 St. East which was a decent sized building completely demolished or was it simply gutted and the current 4-plex built within said gutted skeletal structure?
Hello to All-
has anyone remembered what the last new studio film to play this theater on an exclusive run was? obviously such films as the restored Vertigo and the special 2 week runs of The Princess and the Frog and Dreamgirls before they opened wide don’t count. I can’t remember so thanks for the assistance.
Hello to patryan6019-
as I said I was 98% accurate in my memory so I
don’t mind you adding new info. to which two new
question-
*the souvenir program I bought at The Lion In Winter was the traditional one with staples in the spine. I bought it at the film’s premiere roadshow run at the Lincoln Art Theater on 57th Street. I never knew it had a hardcover edition as well.at what theater did you by yours?
*also while its not perfect I find Kim Holston’s book “Movie Roadshows” fascinating since its the only book I have ever come across on the subject. now during the silent era the author lists 85 feature films as having opened on roadshow runs
in Manhattan. now whether I own them or have read about them i know of only five souvenir programs- The Birth of A Nation, The Big Parade, Ben-Hur, Don Juan and The King of Kings. i can’t believe of the 85 films Holston lists only 5 had souvenir programs. what’s your best guess at finding out which of the other 80 films had souvenir programs?
Hello From NYC-
i recently got the Blu-ray disc of The Great Race which has always been my favorite of the large scale action comedies released in the 60s. if I am not mistaken TGR played at this theater in a traditional roadshow engagement which lased I think between 5 and 6 months.
did anyone happen to see it during said run?
Hello to All-
in reference to Al A.’s comment about the 3 big AMC multiplexes being cash cows. you have to remember these three big complexes have a policy of discount prices before 12:00p.m. on Fri., Sat. and Sun. for any film regular, 3D or IMAX. I’m surprised this theater doesn’t offer the discount.
oddly enough eventhough this policy is the reason for these three multiplexes raking in the bucks for early shows Fri., Sat. & Sun. which they’ve been doing for years the Regal 42 St. multiplex and the Regal Union Square 14 multiplex still don’t offer the discount. I think the only other chain to offer the before 12:00p.m. discount on Fri., Sat and Sun. is City Cinemas.
Hello to All-
we are having a lively discussion aren’t we? Al A. makes some valid points but it is still my belief that the one main reason the Ziegfeld rarely has a full house is because whatever big film plays there is also playing at 12 other theaters in Manhattan. its NOT because of the location. after all if the theater was hard to find why was the 1st show of the day of Les Miserables the day after Christmas 2012 rather well attended? not only that but when I left the theater there was a line half down 54th St. for the next show.
to richmurphy-
I guess no matter how well reviewed or not a roadshow film was its theatrical shelf life still varied from city to city. now I don’t remember how long Circus World’s roadshow run was at the Warner Cinerama at Bway & 47 St. but it was most certainly longer than 3 weeks. so I’m guessing whatever merits the film may have had were more inviting to NYC moviegoers than D.C. moviegoers. still a roadshow run of only 3 weeks especially for a big well publicized film regardless of whether is was Oscar material still seems inordinately short. hey the biggest roadshow disappointment in the prime Oct. 1955 thru Dec. 1972 period in Manhattan was Half a Sixpence which ran 6 weeks.
Hello to All-
I have an interesting question pertaining to roadshow films. some studios seemed more adept at keeping complete roadshow prints in good condition than others. for instance all of MGM’s roadshow epics released by Warner Home Video first on dvd and now blu-ray are the original roadshow prints. yet on the available dvd and blu-ray of South Pacific and The Sand Pebbles only the general release prints are in good condition. the accompanying roadshow prints are quite uneven. any thoughts?