the last thing the intro at top says is that the theater
was gutted in 2000. since it says it was gutted rather than
demolished what is it being used as today?
to vindanpar. was a roadshow engagement deemed successful
based solely on how many weeks it ran or how many weeks it
ran juxtaposed with the film’s production cost. Cleopatra’s
roadshow run here was 63 weeks and The Greatest Story Ever
Told’s at the Warner was 44 weeks I would say those were
damn good roadshow runs.
now at 100 years old one wonders how this theater survived while
other neighborhood theaters didn’t. for instance the Coliseum at
Bway and 181 St.in Manhattan would have bested this theater by a
year as the oldest continually operating movie theater in all of
NYC if hadn’t been demolished last year. groups tried to save the
theater but weren’t able to.
to vindanpar- might you have meant musical roadshow? after Hello
Dolly closed at this theater there were several roadshow films in
several of the big Times Square houses. Fiddler opened here in
Nov. 1971. Patton opened at he Criterion Feb. 1970 and Tora Tora
Tora also at the Criterion Nov. 1970. plus as Al A. states
Nicholas and Alexandra opened at the Criterion Dec. 1071. plus
as stated Man of…… is the last time the studios used one of
the big Times Square houses for a roadshow run.
speaking of the old 42 St. theaters. Disney published a
beautiful book on the Mew Amsterdam across the street
following its reopening in 1997. while the book contains
photos of the interior literally right before the
renovation began it oddly contains no photos of the
interior when it was still a functioning movie theater
in the mid-late 80s.
I have often wondered what went into deciding to release
a film on a roadshow engagement as opposed to a continuous
performance one. I have always figured it was a combination
of how important a property was and its production cost.
as you stated if nothing else MOLM will be remembered as
the last time a studio used one of the 7 big houses in the
Times Square area for a roadshow engagement.
I was wondering what in God’s name was going on with this
theater since its been in a state of “renovation” for like
20 years. I don’t know why it can’t be renovated into some
sort of entertainment complex. do we really need more
retail space?
to Bill H.- thanks for your reply. of my 140 the oldest one
which I bought in a memorabilia store a few years ago is for the
1925 silent version of Ben-Hur.
to Bill H.-
as I said collecting souvenir programs are in my blood. I have
140 movie souvenir programs and brochures. how many do you have
and what is the oldest one?
to vindanpar- I am 99% certain that in the extras for the
blu-ray digibook of Dr. Zhivago someone mentions the reason it
wasn’t shot in Super Panavision 70 was the cost. I’m guessing
Ponti was the deciding vote. of course Lean’s next film
the Oscar winning Ryan’s Daughter was. so in that case the
producer made the right choice.
I thank you for your reply. I was going to ask you if the Coal
Miner’s Daughter you inherited from your folks was an actual
souvenir program or just one of those elaborate freebie handouts
that were sometimes given out during a film’s opening week. but
in your reply you said they bought it. again I saw CMD during its
opening weekend in Manhattan and I didn’t encounter a souvenir
program which is interesting.
speaking of things one inherits from your parents. my mother was
a constant moviegoers since high school. many years ago when she
realized I had become a true movie buff as well she gave me 3
items. the souvenir programs for Romeo and Juliet sold at the
Astor Theater in 1936. the souvenir program for Gone With the
Wind sold at the Astor Theater in 1939 and the souvenir program
of Fantasia sold at the Broadway Theater in 1940 and they’re
in mint condition.
to Ennis A.- I am by no means criticizing your post. considering
your comment about the problem getting the Todd-AO image perfect
on a somewhat curved screen I just assumed the projectionist at
this theater must have gotten it right if both Oklahoma and Around
the World in 80 Days played here for a year on a roadshow engagement.
thanks to fellow posters for their responses to my Todd-AO question.
I was unaware that the Criterion installed a slightly curved screen
for South Pacific
also in terms of Ennis A.’s comment about Todd-AO. now Oklahoma
and Around the World in 80 Days each played at this theater for a
year on a roadshow engagement. therefore I’m assuming the
projectionist never had a problem keeping the entire film in
focus.
to vindanpar and Bill H.- yes I purchased souvenir programs
for The Happiest Millionaire, Tom Sawyer and 1776 at RCMH during
their exclusive 1st run engagements. souvenir programs are in
my blood kind of so if if I didn’t see one when I thought a film
would have one I always asked.
as stated when i saw Nicholas and Alexandra there was a person
standing at a table selling them. its a rather well done program
and you tell they put some thought into it.
also when Coal Miner’s Daughter opened March 1980 the studios
will still using 1 maybe 2 theaters for a film’s 1st run
engagement. I saw it opening weekend but can’t remember where.
wherever I saw it I don’t remember them selling a souvenir
program. where did you see it?
a question for my fellow posters.as I understand it the whole
purpose behind the Todd-AO process was to show it on a somewhat
curved screen. to which the only Todd-AO roadshows shown on a
somewhat curved screen were the ones that opened here. Those
Magnificent Men….. at the Demille, The Agony and the Ecstasy
and Doctor Dolittle at the Loews State and South Pacific at the
Criterion were shown on flat screens. so what then was the point
of filming them in Todd-AO?
as I am sure you will agree our memory can play tricks on
us. my point being who’s to say I’d still like if I saw it
again today? but I remember rather enjoying it seeing it
on this theater’s large screen.
in addition yes the film did have a souvenir program. in fact
mine is still in virtually mint condition.
speaking of which I never remember a roadshow engagement
film not having a souvenir program. at least every roadshow
films I went to had as souvenir program.
I saw Marooned at this theater during its roadshow
engagement. I rather enjoyed it. also films that were
released on roadshow engagements i think it had more
to do with the production expense of film than how
“good” or not it was.
the marquee of this theater is featured prominently
in a scene in the newest Best Picture winner Nomadland.
it gives a clue as to where much of the film was shot.
the film never really states where events are taking
place.
I have a question I have yet ti find answer to so hopefully
historians of this theater might be able to answer it. in
the Spring of 1966 of all the Cinerama theaters in the U.S.
why was the McVickers the only one to show Cinerama’s
Russian Adventure in the original 3-panel process?
I find it interesting that in the above intro no mention is made of the fact this was of Chicago’s leading houses that the studios used for roadshow engagements.
see you are a endless fond of knowledge. I have question
not about theaters but home video that I don’t know where
to ask it but I bet you can. I bought a 4K played and tv.
you can tell the vast majority of the 4K discs I bought
online are brand new factory sealed never opened discs.
but a few I bought online are clearly opened returned discs
re-shrink wrapped and sold as new. yet when I contacted
the online sites they swore they were NEW copies though
a blind person could tell they weren’t. do you know of
an online site where if I ordered a 4K disc I would
be guaranteed to get a brand new factory sealed never opened
copy?
to Al A.- as always thanks for your reply. if by floating you
mean they just put the screen right in front of the proscenium
arch did they remove the first few rows of seats. if they
didn’t even a 1.33.1 aspect ration screen would be right in
your face if sitting in the first row. how would that possibly
be enjoyable?
to Al A.- you are a font of knowledge so here goes-
other than the current Booth Theater which is a legit
house and the 1871 theater built by Edwin Booth on
6th Ave. and 23rd St. do you know of any other theater
in Manhattan ever called The Booth? the reason I ask is
simple. the 1953 Oscar winning film version of Julius
Caesar opened at the Booth. the theater Booth built
had been razed by 1953 and the current legit house is
too small for even a 1.33.1 aspect ratio screen.
Hello from NYC-
the last thing the intro at top says is that the theater was gutted in 2000. since it says it was gutted rather than demolished what is it being used as today?
Hello-
to vindanpar. was a roadshow engagement deemed successful based solely on how many weeks it ran or how many weeks it ran juxtaposed with the film’s production cost. Cleopatra’s roadshow run here was 63 weeks and The Greatest Story Ever Told’s at the Warner was 44 weeks I would say those were damn good roadshow runs.
Hello-
now at 100 years old one wonders how this theater survived while other neighborhood theaters didn’t. for instance the Coliseum at Bway and 181 St.in Manhattan would have bested this theater by a year as the oldest continually operating movie theater in all of NYC if hadn’t been demolished last year. groups tried to save the theater but weren’t able to.
Hello-
to vindanpar- might you have meant musical roadshow? after Hello Dolly closed at this theater there were several roadshow films in several of the big Times Square houses. Fiddler opened here in Nov. 1971. Patton opened at he Criterion Feb. 1970 and Tora Tora Tora also at the Criterion Nov. 1970. plus as Al A. states Nicholas and Alexandra opened at the Criterion Dec. 1071. plus as stated Man of…… is the last time the studios used one of the big Times Square houses for a roadshow run.
Hello-
speaking of the old 42 St. theaters. Disney published a beautiful book on the Mew Amsterdam across the street following its reopening in 1997. while the book contains photos of the interior literally right before the renovation began it oddly contains no photos of the interior when it was still a functioning movie theater in the mid-late 80s.
Hello-
to markp- thanks for the info. speaking of which what happened to the loading dock it had when it was a legitimate theater?
Hello-
I have often wondered what went into deciding to release a film on a roadshow engagement as opposed to a continuous performance one. I have always figured it was a combination of how important a property was and its production cost. as you stated if nothing else MOLM will be remembered as the last time a studio used one of the 7 big houses in the Times Square area for a roadshow engagement.
Hello-
I was wondering what in God’s name was going on with this theater since its been in a state of “renovation” for like 20 years. I don’t know why it can’t be renovated into some sort of entertainment complex. do we really need more retail space?
Hello-
to Bill H.- thanks for your reply. of my 140 the oldest one which I bought in a memorabilia store a few years ago is for the 1925 silent version of Ben-Hur.
Hello-
to vindanpar- I second Peter A.’s assessment of the Ten Commandments 4K disc. recently I bought a 43" 4K t.v. the film looks beyond spectacular.
Hello-
to Bill H.- as I said collecting souvenir programs are in my blood. I have 140 movie souvenir programs and brochures. how many do you have and what is the oldest one?
Hello-
to vindanpar- I am 99% certain that in the extras for the blu-ray digibook of Dr. Zhivago someone mentions the reason it wasn’t shot in Super Panavision 70 was the cost. I’m guessing Ponti was the deciding vote. of course Lean’s next film the Oscar winning Ryan’s Daughter was. so in that case the producer made the right choice.
Hello-
I thank you for your reply. I was going to ask you if the Coal Miner’s Daughter you inherited from your folks was an actual souvenir program or just one of those elaborate freebie handouts that were sometimes given out during a film’s opening week. but in your reply you said they bought it. again I saw CMD during its opening weekend in Manhattan and I didn’t encounter a souvenir program which is interesting.
speaking of things one inherits from your parents. my mother was a constant moviegoers since high school. many years ago when she realized I had become a true movie buff as well she gave me 3 items. the souvenir programs for Romeo and Juliet sold at the Astor Theater in 1936. the souvenir program for Gone With the Wind sold at the Astor Theater in 1939 and the souvenir program of Fantasia sold at the Broadway Theater in 1940 and they’re in mint condition.
Hello-
to Ennis A.- I am by no means criticizing your post. considering your comment about the problem getting the Todd-AO image perfect on a somewhat curved screen I just assumed the projectionist at this theater must have gotten it right if both Oklahoma and Around the World in 80 Days played here for a year on a roadshow engagement.
Hello-
thanks to fellow posters for their responses to my Todd-AO question. I was unaware that the Criterion installed a slightly curved screen for South Pacific
also in terms of Ennis A.’s comment about Todd-AO. now Oklahoma and Around the World in 80 Days each played at this theater for a year on a roadshow engagement. therefore I’m assuming the projectionist never had a problem keeping the entire film in focus.
Hello-
to vindanpar and Bill H.- yes I purchased souvenir programs for The Happiest Millionaire, Tom Sawyer and 1776 at RCMH during their exclusive 1st run engagements. souvenir programs are in my blood kind of so if if I didn’t see one when I thought a film would have one I always asked.
as stated when i saw Nicholas and Alexandra there was a person standing at a table selling them. its a rather well done program and you tell they put some thought into it.
also when Coal Miner’s Daughter opened March 1980 the studios will still using 1 maybe 2 theaters for a film’s 1st run engagement. I saw it opening weekend but can’t remember where. wherever I saw it I don’t remember them selling a souvenir program. where did you see it?
Hello-
a question for my fellow posters.as I understand it the whole purpose behind the Todd-AO process was to show it on a somewhat curved screen. to which the only Todd-AO roadshows shown on a somewhat curved screen were the ones that opened here. Those Magnificent Men….. at the Demille, The Agony and the Ecstasy and Doctor Dolittle at the Loews State and South Pacific at the Criterion were shown on flat screens. so what then was the point of filming them in Todd-AO?
Hello-
as I am sure you will agree our memory can play tricks on us. my point being who’s to say I’d still like if I saw it again today? but I remember rather enjoying it seeing it on this theater’s large screen.
in addition yes the film did have a souvenir program. in fact mine is still in virtually mint condition.
speaking of which I never remember a roadshow engagement film not having a souvenir program. at least every roadshow films I went to had as souvenir program.
Hello-
I saw Marooned at this theater during its roadshow engagement. I rather enjoyed it. also films that were released on roadshow engagements i think it had more to do with the production expense of film than how “good” or not it was.
Hello from NYC-
the marquee of this theater is featured prominently in a scene in the newest Best Picture winner Nomadland. it gives a clue as to where much of the film was shot. the film never really states where events are taking place.
Hello Again-
I have a question I have yet ti find answer to so hopefully historians of this theater might be able to answer it. in the Spring of 1966 of all the Cinerama theaters in the U.S. why was the McVickers the only one to show Cinerama’s Russian Adventure in the original 3-panel process?
Hello-
I find it interesting that in the above intro no mention
is made of the fact this was of Chicago’s leading houses
that the studios used for roadshow engagements.
Hello-
see you are a endless fond of knowledge. I have question not about theaters but home video that I don’t know where to ask it but I bet you can. I bought a 4K played and tv. you can tell the vast majority of the 4K discs I bought online are brand new factory sealed never opened discs. but a few I bought online are clearly opened returned discs re-shrink wrapped and sold as new. yet when I contacted the online sites they swore they were NEW copies though a blind person could tell they weren’t. do you know of an online site where if I ordered a 4K disc I would be guaranteed to get a brand new factory sealed never opened copy?
Hell0-
to Al A.- as always thanks for your reply. if by floating you mean they just put the screen right in front of the proscenium arch did they remove the first few rows of seats. if they didn’t even a 1.33.1 aspect ration screen would be right in your face if sitting in the first row. how would that possibly be enjoyable?
Hello-
to Al A.- you are a font of knowledge so here goes- other than the current Booth Theater which is a legit house and the 1871 theater built by Edwin Booth on 6th Ave. and 23rd St. do you know of any other theater in Manhattan ever called The Booth? the reason I ask is simple. the 1953 Oscar winning film version of Julius Caesar opened at the Booth. the theater Booth built had been razed by 1953 and the current legit house is too small for even a 1.33.1 aspect ratio screen.