I was under the assumption that the Uptown was a
1st run venue from the get go. but I read it was
actually built as a grand neighborhood theater and
only became a 1st run venue with the advent of the
modern roadshow era in the fall of 1955. so is
there a way of finding a list of all the roadshow
films that played the Uptown?
a question for my fellow fans of the late but great
Capitol. nowadays big films will open on 2 to 3
thousand screens on the same day. now in Manhattan
every so often one of these big films will stay
at a theater or two for quite some time. which brings
me to my question. in the photo section is an ad
for “Mata Hari” that states at the top “held over for
3rd and final week”. to which did films at the Capitol
during this period never play for all that long no
matter how much of a hit they were?
I am now more confused than ever. I have read on
more than one occasion that The Wizard of Oz which
opened at this theater never really ignited the box
office even after MGM tried various catchy ad
campaigns and its books only entered the black
when it was sold to t.v.. Al A.’s reply seems to
confirm this. yet Mike’s post makes it seem like
it was a big box office hit. so which is the case?
since The Wizard of Oz debuted at this theater
a question. we all assume the film was a big box
office hit when it opened Sept. of 1939 I believe.
but I have read more than once that while it
wasn’t a flop per se it never really ignited the
box office to any great extent. in fact since this
was the time when the studios still controlled the
theaters MGM tried to jump start the film with
ingenious ad campaigns but the public never really
bit. to which the film only became this beloved
classic after it started airing on t.v. in 1954?
is this true?
a bit of info fellow Capitol Theater devotees will
find interesting. the Loew’s Lincoln Square has each
of the auditoriums named after a famed Loew’s movie
palace. to the right of the entrance to each
auditorium is a plaque with info about the honored
theater. the plaque for the Capitol states the theater
was torn down at the end of 1967. I’ve mentioned it
to management several times but they don’t seem to
care about the incorrect info.
I have often asked questions about reserved seat
runs at this and nearby theaters. to which a
question- does anyone know of a first rate store
in Manhattan that sells souvenir programs? or
possibly a website? there are many original roadshow
films I saw in but at my neighborhood theater.
usually souvenir programs were only sold in the
initial exclusive 1st run theater.
thanks for the info. if I understand your reply
correctly the name Mark I-II-III was on the marquee
briefly. it must have been really brief with a
capital B since as I said I never remember that
name being on the marquee.
another question. was the tri-plexing of the
theater done by the people who wanted it has an
adult house or was it done by an independent
contractor and then the lease snatched up by the
porn people? which of course never came to
pass.
like you I miss the great old movie theaters
of the Times Square Area. fortunately the Capitol
was never twinned like the Rivoli of triplexed
like the Demille. as much as these theaters were
loved by movie buffs isn’t the primary reason
for their demolition is they were economically
unviable as a single screen movie theater. for
instance the Roxy’s huge size was great for
1927 but by the spring of 1960 said size was its
own worst enemy.
thanks for your reply. the Castro is indeed alive
and well but doesn’t qualify since like many grand
old movie theaters built 1914-1941 was built from
the get go as a 2nd/3rd run neighborhood theater.
I am specifically looking for theaters built 1914-
1941 that were built from the get go as 1st run
venues and have continued to operate as such since
the day they opened. the only one I have come
across is Grauman’s Chinese in Hollywood.
also while I’ve been to San Francisco I’ve never been in the Castro Theater. what’s inadequate about the restrooms?
thank you for your thoughts on the book “Movie
Roadshows” by Kim Rolston. would you happen to
know if “Roadshow: The Fall of Musicals in the
1960s” by Matthew Kennedy is better researched and more accurate than “Film Roadshows”?
i am writing to you on this page because i can’t
seem to find the page for the 58th St. off of
Lexington Fine Arts.what does one type in the search box?
thanks again for your reply. now I apologize for
asking this question since I asked it on this board
sometime ago. was Mark I, II and III ever actually
on the marquee? as I said I have been using the
TKTS booth since the day it opened and never remember
the marquee ever having that name.
as always thanks for your assistance. I knew my
memory wasn’t that faulty. just out of curiosity
do you know the book? its fascinating for me since
i well remember reserved seat runs. as I stated
there are many inaccuracies in the book. whether
this is a result of inadequate research or the
proof reader being drunk, who knows? for instance
in the chapter on the 60s author Rolston states
that Gypsy(which looks and sounds great on blu-ray)
opens on roadshow runs but doesn’t state where. it
certainly didn’t in Manhattan.
if I could contact Rolston I would ask why was
The Trojan Women left out? there is an appendix
which lists films that during pre-production and
production were intended for reserved seat runs
but weren’t released that way. so obviously he did
a certain amount of research which makes the
omission of The Trojan Woman bizarre.
thanks for the info about the former Columbia/Mayfair/
Demille’s almost life as an adult theater. now exactly
when was it almost an adult theater? I have been
using the TKTS both since it opened June 1973 so
when i’m online I am looking right at the theater and
never remember any signage of any kind that an adult
theater was coming. if I understand the info correctly
its almost life as an adult theater existed solely in
the negotiation stage that never came to pass. I never
remember it being anything than a mainstream movie
house.
you have been most helpful in the past so i have
another question for you.i know time does funny
things with one’s memory but i am 99% certain
that “The Trojan Women” starring Katherine Hepburn,
Vanessa Redgrave, Genvieve Bujold and Irene Papas
open at this theater on a reserved seat engagement
or at least a reserved performance engagement
Nov.of 1971. i just read the book “Movie Roadshows:
Limited Run Reserved Seats Engagements 1911-1972”.
the author Kim Rolston includes reserved
performance engagements as well. yet TTW is nowhere
to be found in the book. unfortunately its not
the only inaccuracy in the book.
you have been most helpful in the past.
so here goes. how is the late but great
Fine Arts Theater on 58th St. off of
Lexington Ave. listed on this site? if you
type in Fine Arts all you get it the Paris
opposite the Plaza Hotel.
i have greatly enjoyed browsing this site since
i came upon it the end of Jan 2012. so i set up
a little project for myself. the golden age of
building grand old movie theaters or palaces as
some were was approx. 1914-1941. so i have a very
specific question- of such theaters built in
Philadelphia from the get go as venues for 1st run exclusive engagements how many have continued to
operate as such since the day they opened? Manhattan
doesn’t have any nor does San Francisco. so i was
wondering if Philadelphia did.
i saw Thoroughly Modern Millie during
its reserved seat engagement at the Criterion
Theater on 44 St.. but i was not aware Flower
Drum Song which is one of my favorite musicals
opened on a reserved seat run.
this building was built as a movie theater for the Parkchester community 74 years ago. i don’t understand why Bow Tie closed it to begin with. was it not doing well?
one problem with lengthy trailers is that in
many cases they’re very condensed versions of
the film. so there are no surprises sometimes
when you see the film.
I live in NYC and always tried to attend a movie
at the Chinese whenever I came out to L.A.. to which
my question- has the IMAX-ing of the theater really
increased the patronage to any great extent? if I am
not mistaken I remember reading a post from someone
who attended a Sat. afternoon performance of
Catching Fire the weekend after it opened and they
stated there were only like 12 people in the
theater.
I thank Simon S. for his reply. the reason I asked
the question was simple. during the theater’s 33 year
lifespan Hollywood operated very much on the A,B or
even C movie production levels. so i’m guessing for
every Carousel or Anastasia they also played B or C
films between the bookings of A level films.
I didn’t start going into Manhattan by myself to see
movie still the fall of 1965 at which point the Roxy
had been gone 5 years. to which a question- in its
33 year life would you say the Roxy played as many
B level or even C level films as it played A level
films?
the title of the “oldest continuously operating
theater” in North America might go to the New
Victory on 42 St. in Manhattan. it opened as
the Theater Republic in 1900 five years before
this theater. the New Victory as operated as
a theater of some sort since then -live theater,
films, burlesque, adult films and after being
beautifully renovated back to live shows.
LuisV’s statement about that few if any “big” films
open in limited release is quite true. even after
the studios discontinued the roadshow policy for their
“big” films they still would open such films in
one maybe two theaters where it would play for weeks
or months before going to neighborhood theaters.
the advent of t.v. in almost every home was the death
nell for many grand old movie theaters and the
multiplex era where a film opens in 2,000-3,000
on the same day was the death nell for many of the
grand old movie theaters that remained. i love going
to the Ziegfeld and am constantly amazed its still
standing.
Hello From NYC-
I was under the assumption that the Uptown was a 1st run venue from the get go. but I read it was actually built as a grand neighborhood theater and
only became a 1st run venue with the advent of the modern roadshow era in the fall of 1955. so is there a way of finding a list of all the roadshow films that played the Uptown?
Hello-
a question for my fellow fans of the late but great Capitol. nowadays big films will open on 2 to 3 thousand screens on the same day. now in Manhattan every so often one of these big films will stay at a theater or two for quite some time. which brings me to my question. in the photo section is an ad for “Mata Hari” that states at the top “held over for 3rd and final week”. to which did films at the Capitol during this period never play for all that long no matter how much of a hit they were?
Hello Again-
I am now more confused than ever. I have read on more than one occasion that The Wizard of Oz which opened at this theater never really ignited the box office even after MGM tried various catchy ad campaigns and its books only entered the black when it was sold to t.v.. Al A.’s reply seems to confirm this. yet Mike’s post makes it seem like it was a big box office hit. so which is the case?
Hello to AL A.–
as always I thank you for your font of knowledge. so if I understand your reply correctly the story I related in my question is more or less true?
Hello-
since The Wizard of Oz debuted at this theater a question. we all assume the film was a big box office hit when it opened Sept. of 1939 I believe. but I have read more than once that while it wasn’t a flop per se it never really ignited the box office to any great extent. in fact since this was the time when the studios still controlled the theaters MGM tried to jump start the film with ingenious ad campaigns but the public never really bit. to which the film only became this beloved classic after it started airing on t.v. in 1954? is this true?
Hello-
a bit of info fellow Capitol Theater devotees will find interesting. the Loew’s Lincoln Square has each of the auditoriums named after a famed Loew’s movie palace. to the right of the entrance to each auditorium is a plaque with info about the honored theater. the plaque for the Capitol states the theater was torn down at the end of 1967. I’ve mentioned it to management several times but they don’t seem to care about the incorrect info.
Hello-
I have often asked questions about reserved seat runs at this and nearby theaters. to which a question- does anyone know of a first rate store in Manhattan that sells souvenir programs? or possibly a website? there are many original roadshow films I saw in but at my neighborhood theater. usually souvenir programs were only sold in the initial exclusive 1st run theater.
to Robert E.–
thanks for the info. if I understand your reply correctly the name Mark I-II-III was on the marquee briefly. it must have been really brief with a capital B since as I said I never remember that name being on the marquee.
another question. was the tri-plexing of the theater done by the people who wanted it has an adult house or was it done by an independent contractor and then the lease snatched up by the
porn people? which of course never came to pass.
to texhman707-
like you I miss the great old movie theaters of the Times Square Area. fortunately the Capitol was never twinned like the Rivoli of triplexed like the Demille. as much as these theaters were loved by movie buffs isn’t the primary reason for their demolition is they were economically unviable as a single screen movie theater. for instance the Roxy’s huge size was great for 1927 but by the spring of 1960 said size was its own worst enemy.
Hello-
thanks for your reply. the Castro is indeed alive and well but doesn’t qualify since like many grand old movie theaters built 1914-1941 was built from the get go as a 2nd/3rd run neighborhood theater. I am specifically looking for theaters built 1914- 1941 that were built from the get go as 1st run venues and have continued to operate as such since the day they opened. the only one I have come across is Grauman’s Chinese in Hollywood.
also while I’ve been to San Francisco I’ve never
been in the Castro Theater. what’s inadequate about
the restrooms?
to Al A.–
thank you for your thoughts on the book “Movie Roadshows” by Kim Rolston. would you happen to know if “Roadshow: The Fall of Musicals in the 1960s” by Matthew Kennedy is better researched and more accurate than “Film Roadshows”?
i am writing to you on this page because i can’t seem to find the page for the 58th St. off of Lexington Fine Arts.what does one type in the search box?
hello to Robert E.–
thanks again for your reply. now I apologize for asking this question since I asked it on this board sometime ago. was Mark I, II and III ever actually on the marquee? as I said I have been using the TKTS booth since the day it opened and never remember the marquee ever having that name.
to Al A.–
as always thanks for your assistance. I knew my memory wasn’t that faulty. just out of curiosity do you know the book? its fascinating for me since i well remember reserved seat runs. as I stated there are many inaccuracies in the book. whether this is a result of inadequate research or the proof reader being drunk, who knows? for instance in the chapter on the 60s author Rolston states that Gypsy(which looks and sounds great on blu-ray) opens on roadshow runs but doesn’t state where. it certainly didn’t in Manhattan.
if I could contact Rolston I would ask why was The Trojan Women left out? there is an appendix which lists films that during pre-production and production were intended for reserved seat runs but weren’t released that way. so obviously he did a certain amount of research which makes the omission of The Trojan Woman bizarre.
to Robert E.–
thanks for the info about the former Columbia/Mayfair/ Demille’s almost life as an adult theater. now exactly when was it almost an adult theater? I have been using the TKTS both since it opened June 1973 so when i’m online I am looking right at the theater and never remember any signage of any kind that an adult theater was coming. if I understand the info correctly its almost life as an adult theater existed solely in the negotiation stage that never came to pass. I never remember it being anything than a mainstream movie house.
to Al A.–
you have been most helpful in the past so i have another question for you.i know time does funny things with one’s memory but i am 99% certain that “The Trojan Women” starring Katherine Hepburn, Vanessa Redgrave, Genvieve Bujold and Irene Papas open at this theater on a reserved seat engagement or at least a reserved performance engagement Nov.of 1971. i just read the book “Movie Roadshows: Limited Run Reserved Seats Engagements 1911-1972”. the author Kim Rolston includes reserved performance engagements as well. yet TTW is nowhere to be found in the book. unfortunately its not the only inaccuracy in the book.
to Ed S.–
you have been most helpful in the past. so here goes. how is the late but great Fine Arts Theater on 58th St. off of Lexington Ave. listed on this site? if you type in Fine Arts all you get it the Paris opposite the Plaza Hotel.
Hello from NYC-
i have greatly enjoyed browsing this site since i came upon it the end of Jan 2012. so i set up a little project for myself. the golden age of building grand old movie theaters or palaces as some were was approx. 1914-1941. so i have a very specific question- of such theaters built in Philadelphia from the get go as venues for 1st run exclusive engagements how many have continued to operate as such since the day they opened? Manhattan doesn’t have any nor does San Francisco. so i was wondering if Philadelphia did.
Hello-
i saw Thoroughly Modern Millie during its reserved seat engagement at the Criterion Theater on 44 St.. but i was not aware Flower Drum Song which is one of my favorite musicals opened on a reserved seat run.
this building was built as a movie theater
for the Parkchester community 74 years ago.
i don’t understand why Bow Tie closed it
to begin with. was it not doing well?
one problem with lengthy trailers is that in many cases they’re very condensed versions of the film. so there are no surprises sometimes when you see the film.
Hello-
I live in NYC and always tried to attend a movie at the Chinese whenever I came out to L.A.. to which my question- has the IMAX-ing of the theater really increased the patronage to any great extent? if I am not mistaken I remember reading a post from someone who attended a Sat. afternoon performance of Catching Fire the weekend after it opened and they stated there were only like 12 people in the theater.
Hello-
I thank Simon S. for his reply. the reason I asked the question was simple. during the theater’s 33 year lifespan Hollywood operated very much on the A,B or even C movie production levels. so i’m guessing for every Carousel or Anastasia they also played B or C films between the bookings of A level films.
Hello-
I didn’t start going into Manhattan by myself to see movie still the fall of 1965 at which point the Roxy had been gone 5 years. to which a question- in its 33 year life would you say the Roxy played as many B level or even C level films as it played A level films?
Hello-
the title of the “oldest continuously operating theater” in North America might go to the New Victory on 42 St. in Manhattan. it opened as the Theater Republic in 1900 five years before this theater. the New Victory as operated as a theater of some sort since then -live theater, films, burlesque, adult films and after being beautifully renovated back to live shows.
Hello-
LuisV’s statement about that few if any “big” films open in limited release is quite true. even after the studios discontinued the roadshow policy for their “big” films they still would open such films in one maybe two theaters where it would play for weeks or months before going to neighborhood theaters.
the advent of t.v. in almost every home was the death nell for many grand old movie theaters and the multiplex era where a film opens in 2,000-3,000 on the same day was the death nell for many of the grand old movie theaters that remained. i love going to the Ziegfeld and am constantly amazed its still standing.