By the way, the Paris, Henry Miller (Sondheim), Broadhurst, Selwyn (American Airlines), Embassy 46th St, Times Square, Globe (Lunt-Fontanne), Winter Garden, Hollywood (Mark Hellinger), Royale (Jacobs), and Ambassador all ran roadshows at some point.
Nov. 22, 1932 “THE KID FROM SPAINâ€
MAY 1, 1941 “CITIZEN KANEâ€
DECEMBER 1957 “THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAIâ€
OCTOBER 1958 “THE ROOTS OF HEAVENâ€
MARCH 20, 1959 “THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANKâ€
NOVEMBER 1960 “SUNRISE AT CAMPOBELLOâ€
DECEMBER 1960 “CAN-CANâ€
DECEMBER 1961 “JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERGâ€
JUNE 1969 “BEN-HURâ€
JUNE 1969 “GOODBYE, MR, CHIPSâ€
Roadshows, as two a day advanced sales showings, date back to the silent era with “The Birth of a Nation” being an early hit sold this way. “Oklahoma!” was not the first by any definition.
The Mayfair was bigger than most roadshow houses and therefore not first choice. “Spartacus” was the first.
According to a January 1957 Variety article, the 1959 Rugoff & Becker remodel was a total gutting that kept only the shell of the original 34th Street theatre building.
According to William’s posts above, the Radio City 70mm CinemaScope image was 69ft X 31ft. The presentation and sound on “KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE” was not well received and the run was deemed as hastily rushed by MGM into the theatre before the similar “PRINCE VALIANT” was released by Fox that April.
In 1955 the NYT published an article that states the that the Radio City flat horizontal VistaVision projection for “WHITE CHRISTMAS” was 68ft x 28ft.
The Paramount horizontal VistaVision image was 64ft x 35ft.
The Roxy CinemaScope was 64.5ft x 26.5ft.
The Warner Cinerama was a very curved 67ft x 24.5ft.
As far as quality of presentation, the Todd-AO process was deemed superior to all, although screen dimensions for “OKLAHOMA!” and “AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS” are not mentioned.
techman,
Nearly six months of ads in the New York Times saying so.
“GIGI” ran at the Royale for almost six months before moving to the Sutton.
Walter Reade merges with Sterling;
View link
View link
Opening ad;
View link
Opening ad;
View link
Still listed in an August 1962 ad for the wide run of “El Cid” as the New Dyckman and no longer operated by Loews.
By the way, the Paris, Henry Miller (Sondheim), Broadhurst, Selwyn (American Airlines), Embassy 46th St, Times Square, Globe (Lunt-Fontanne), Winter Garden, Hollywood (Mark Hellinger), Royale (Jacobs), and Ambassador all ran roadshows at some point.
Radio City and the Roxy were too big to sustain a long run roadshow movie. The others were usually remodeled with less seats before a long run.
Architect’s cutaway rendering of the Baronet/Coronet plan.
View link
My mistake, William. That was indeed a popular price/continuous show run on “Can-Can”.
Opening ad;
View link
Correction:
June 1969 for “Ben-Hur”, November 1969 for “Chips”.
That was APRIL 1969 for the “Ben-Hur” reissue.
Some Palace Roadshows
Nov. 22, 1932 “THE KID FROM SPAINâ€
MAY 1, 1941 “CITIZEN KANEâ€
DECEMBER 1957 “THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAIâ€
OCTOBER 1958 “THE ROOTS OF HEAVENâ€
MARCH 20, 1959 “THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANKâ€
NOVEMBER 1960 “SUNRISE AT CAMPOBELLOâ€
DECEMBER 1960 “CAN-CANâ€
DECEMBER 1961 “JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERGâ€
JUNE 1969 “BEN-HURâ€
JUNE 1969 “GOODBYE, MR, CHIPSâ€
Roadshows, as two a day advanced sales showings, date back to the silent era with “The Birth of a Nation” being an early hit sold this way. “Oklahoma!” was not the first by any definition.
The Mayfair was bigger than most roadshow houses and therefore not first choice. “Spartacus” was the first.
Add “Cast A Giant Shadow” (4-1-1966), perhaps in 35mm.
October 9, 1959.
I am pretty sure it was Variety.
An ad for “COME BACK, AFRICA”;
View link
Thanks for that Dave-Bronx.
Here is a relaunch ad:
Note the claim about the birth of NYC exhibition having occurred on 34th Street.
View link
rvb, that would have been the Avenue.
/theaters/6407/
According to a January 1957 Variety article, the 1959 Rugoff & Becker remodel was a total gutting that kept only the shell of the original 34th Street theatre building.
According to William’s posts above, the Radio City 70mm CinemaScope image was 69ft X 31ft. The presentation and sound on “KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE” was not well received and the run was deemed as hastily rushed by MGM into the theatre before the similar “PRINCE VALIANT” was released by Fox that April.
In 1955 the NYT published an article that states the that the Radio City flat horizontal VistaVision projection for “WHITE CHRISTMAS” was 68ft x 28ft.
The Paramount horizontal VistaVision image was 64ft x 35ft.
The Roxy CinemaScope was 64.5ft x 26.5ft.
The Warner Cinerama was a very curved 67ft x 24.5ft.
As far as quality of presentation, the Todd-AO process was deemed superior to all, although screen dimensions for “OKLAHOMA!” and “AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS” are not mentioned.
Yes, Cineplex Odeon.
This ad claims the Embassy 46th street was “the world’s first news-reel theatre.”
View link
An ad for the December 1957 re-opening as the Odeon.
View link