Thanks Denpiano, That is disturbing news, musicians are artists who deserve proper compensation for their contribution to the music halls success, I wish them well. I am also very disturbed by the lack of respect Cablevision showed towards the Rockettes by having security people escort them out of the theatre on Friday. A bit much wouldn’t you say? Of course there is always two sides to every story, but I would like to know what prompted Cablevision to take such dramatic and drastic measures.
It is great to see that marquee again, it was taken apart and replaced with a plan overhang sign. Any idea what year that photo was taken?. Would you have any of the Paramount marquee before 1970?
As I posted on other 42nd st theatre sites,I would always marvel at the beauty of all those magnificent marquees, the people who changed them week after week were true artists,the lettering was always perfectly spaced and centered.
Truly a lost art form
I would always marvel at the beauty of all those magnificent marquees, the people who changed them week after week were true artists,the lettering was always perfectly spaced and centered.
Truly a lost art form.
Bill do you remember the fact hat the newsreels were made up of bits and pieces of all the different studio news reels for each week. There would be a clip from “News of the Day”, “Warner Pathe” and perhaps one from “Universal News”, usually ending with a sports clip from the one and only “Movietone News”. All of this proceded by RCMH’s own news intro simply called Radio City Music Hall News. In addition, RCMH never ran conventional movie trailers but instead substituted a more dignified rolling narrative produced I think by National Sreeen Service. No loud obnoxious previews, It was after all a very classy joint.
Thanks for the post edroogie, it is a shame the film festival folks are so ignorant to what it means to show classic films. I don’t blame Mrs Rosemary since I don’t belive it was the St George theatre people who set up this program, my understanding is that it was an outside agency. Unfortunatly these showings will, through word of mouth, send a very negitive message regarding the theatres film presentations, and could hurt future 35mm film presentations.
The sad truth is it was totally unecessary, all of the films shown are available in crisp, and many times pristine, 35mm prints which could have been shown on a larger screen in the proper aspect ratio.
Sounds like it was a disaster, we can only hope any future film showings will be handled by people who know how classic movies should be shown.
Thank you MTota, So all the projection equipment is gone. Sad, I cut my teeth as a projectionist in that booth. Pigeons seem to like old movie theatres, the Paramount was full of them as well, they had made a home in the projection booth. As to the stage, no the Lane never had wing space, or a stage for that matter. It was a very limited space, When we installed a slightly wider screen for CinemaScope the exits prohibited us from doing any reconstruction of the proscenium, we removed the traveler curtain and went as wide as we could. Just so I may visualise the old booth, when you reached the top of the stairs was there a small bathroom just to the left, with a large generator next to it? As you turn left at the stairs you reached a small room which was the rewind room, followed by the main booth and then a door at the end which lead to the air conditioning storage room.
Thanks Warren, that was my feeling as well, good point about the half empty house. The same applied to the Roxy, although many 20th Century Fox pictures played there, the roadshows went into smaller houses like the Rivoli.
Veyoung, I believe because the “Ten Commandments was a hard ticket roadshow event it went to the criterion which was a roadshow house, I don’t ever recall the Paramount being used for roadshow
engagements(Warren?) I was very surprised that the Criterion,which was renovated for the movie, did not install VistaVision projectors, but again it was all about the photography, not the projection.
As for CinemaScope 55 at the Roxy, what you are talking about does ring a bell, thanks for pointing that out.
I believe the feeling was that the movie was photographed in CinemaScope 55 which made the reduction prints look better than had it been shot in 35mm, so the advertising of CinemaScope 55 refered to the photography rather than the projection. It was Zanack’s little joke. The same thing happened with VistaVision which was in all the movie ads and even on some marquees, but again except for the Paramount and one film at Radio City, reduction prints were used.
I will pass on seeing on Casablanca or any other movie not shown in a film format. It’s nice to see classic movies returning to the theatre but if it’s not film I am just not interested. Before Mrs Rosemary and her family took over, there was a horrible women running things, at the time I did not realise she was not be be trusted and believed her story of doing a restoration, so I refurbished the 35mm projectors and sound equipment, some at my own cost. I don’t know what has happened there since or if it’s just the festival folks who have decided to present the movies in a non-film format. I hope the movies are a huge success and perhaps some day we can see them in 35mm as they were intended. We owe Mrs Rosemary a great deal of gratitude for what she has accomplished, it was not easy but she fought the good fight.
The St.George had it’s first movie showing since the restoration.
I was unable to attend, did anyone go to see “Casablanca"
Doreen, can you tell us about it?
Bill, you must be as happy as we all are about the restoration by Mrs Rosemary and her daughters. Thank God for people like them who saved the theatre from a fate simimlar to so many other magnificent theatres, two of the other Fabian theatres, Paramount and Ritz were not as fortunate.
Last time I was there, which was just as the new owners came in, the talk was of converting much of the space into apartments,which were to be called Paramount. Perhaps some of the tenants in the retail space, formally Steckmans, have more information.
Jean are you out there?
Thanks Denpiano, That is disturbing news, musicians are artists who deserve proper compensation for their contribution to the music halls success, I wish them well. I am also very disturbed by the lack of respect Cablevision showed towards the Rockettes by having security people escort them out of the theatre on Friday. A bit much wouldn’t you say? Of course there is always two sides to every story, but I would like to know what prompted Cablevision to take such dramatic and drastic measures.
It is great to see that marquee again, it was taken apart and replaced with a plan overhang sign. Any idea what year that photo was taken?. Would you have any of the Paramount marquee before 1970?
Do we know why the musicians are unhappy?
Warren, the ad reads: “Be afraid, be very afraid”, where they refering to what they did to that theatre?
Warren,that is disturbing news. Rob,any news/comments?
As I posted on other 42nd st theatre sites,I would always marvel at the beauty of all those magnificent marquees, the people who changed them week after week were true artists,the lettering was always perfectly spaced and centered.
Truly a lost art form
I would always marvel at the beauty of all those magnificent marquees, the people who changed them week after week were true artists,the lettering was always perfectly spaced and centered.
Truly a lost art form.
Bill do you remember the fact hat the newsreels were made up of bits and pieces of all the different studio news reels for each week. There would be a clip from “News of the Day”, “Warner Pathe” and perhaps one from “Universal News”, usually ending with a sports clip from the one and only “Movietone News”. All of this proceded by RCMH’s own news intro simply called Radio City Music Hall News. In addition, RCMH never ran conventional movie trailers but instead substituted a more dignified rolling narrative produced I think by National Sreeen Service. No loud obnoxious previews, It was after all a very classy joint.
Thanks for the post edroogie, it is a shame the film festival folks are so ignorant to what it means to show classic films. I don’t blame Mrs Rosemary since I don’t belive it was the St George theatre people who set up this program, my understanding is that it was an outside agency. Unfortunatly these showings will, through word of mouth, send a very negitive message regarding the theatres film presentations, and could hurt future 35mm film presentations.
The sad truth is it was totally unecessary, all of the films shown are available in crisp, and many times pristine, 35mm prints which could have been shown on a larger screen in the proper aspect ratio.
Sounds like it was a disaster, we can only hope any future film showings will be handled by people who know how classic movies should be shown.
Thanks Tom! What a gem, sure wish we had more like that in NY
Are there any interior photos to be found?
Very nice John, Like they say, “ya hadda be there"
Oh, you forgot the smell of the film cement. :)
Did you have reel end alarms?
Thank you MTota, So all the projection equipment is gone. Sad, I cut my teeth as a projectionist in that booth. Pigeons seem to like old movie theatres, the Paramount was full of them as well, they had made a home in the projection booth. As to the stage, no the Lane never had wing space, or a stage for that matter. It was a very limited space, When we installed a slightly wider screen for CinemaScope the exits prohibited us from doing any reconstruction of the proscenium, we removed the traveler curtain and went as wide as we could. Just so I may visualise the old booth, when you reached the top of the stairs was there a small bathroom just to the left, with a large generator next to it? As you turn left at the stairs you reached a small room which was the rewind room, followed by the main booth and then a door at the end which lead to the air conditioning storage room.
Thanks Warren, that was my feeling as well, good point about the half empty house. The same applied to the Roxy, although many 20th Century Fox pictures played there, the roadshows went into smaller houses like the Rivoli.
STOP THAT! The people who love and respect Rosemary have choosen to call her Mrs Rosemary.
Veyoung, I believe because the “Ten Commandments was a hard ticket roadshow event it went to the criterion which was a roadshow house, I don’t ever recall the Paramount being used for roadshow
engagements(Warren?) I was very surprised that the Criterion,which was renovated for the movie, did not install VistaVision projectors, but again it was all about the photography, not the projection.
As for CinemaScope 55 at the Roxy, what you are talking about does ring a bell, thanks for pointing that out.
I believe the feeling was that the movie was photographed in CinemaScope 55 which made the reduction prints look better than had it been shot in 35mm, so the advertising of CinemaScope 55 refered to the photography rather than the projection. It was Zanack’s little joke. The same thing happened with VistaVision which was in all the movie ads and even on some marquees, but again except for the Paramount and one film at Radio City, reduction prints were used.
I will pass on seeing on Casablanca or any other movie not shown in a film format. It’s nice to see classic movies returning to the theatre but if it’s not film I am just not interested. Before Mrs Rosemary and her family took over, there was a horrible women running things, at the time I did not realise she was not be be trusted and believed her story of doing a restoration, so I refurbished the 35mm projectors and sound equipment, some at my own cost. I don’t know what has happened there since or if it’s just the festival folks who have decided to present the movies in a non-film format. I hope the movies are a huge success and perhaps some day we can see them in 35mm as they were intended. We owe Mrs Rosemary a great deal of gratitude for what she has accomplished, it was not easy but she fought the good fight.
Jean, if you attended the movie last night, give us your review.
The St.George had it’s first movie showing since the restoration.
I was unable to attend, did anyone go to see “Casablanca"
Doreen, can you tell us about it?
Warren, I have had problems with several sites since yesterday,
a lot of servers seem to be down. Thankfully not CT.
Warren, I have had problems with several sites since yesterday.
A lot of servers seem to be down. Thankfully not CT.
Oh yes, I worked for John, (Mr.D) a wonderful gentlemen indeed.
I forgot about the Drive-in, I believe Fabian ran the Liberty as well.
Bill, you must be as happy as we all are about the restoration by Mrs Rosemary and her daughters. Thank God for people like them who saved the theatre from a fate simimlar to so many other magnificent theatres, two of the other Fabian theatres, Paramount and Ritz were not as fortunate.
Last time I was there, which was just as the new owners came in, the talk was of converting much of the space into apartments,which were to be called Paramount. Perhaps some of the tenants in the retail space, formally Steckmans, have more information.
Jean are you out there?