Ziegfeld Theatre

I can only speak for the first two weeks of release, but on a per-screen average, and only on two theatres nationwide, it ate up the competition by a wide margin. The way things are going, we may see this theatrical run go through December.

JSA

Perhaps I’m more pleased than happy… I just think its nice to know that audiences will respond to a classic film. A film that assumes its audience has an attention span greater than 30 seconds; that allows the audience to soak in its rich atmosphere without disorienting jump-cuts or rapid-fure editing; that is designed so that the narrative can be visually conveyed without the need for excessive expository dialogue. Surprising? Yes. But also restores my faith that there is some intellectual curiosity out there in the movie-going public. In fact, moreso than the major Hollywood studios are willing to give credit.

While “Blade Runner: The Final Cut” continues its midnight showings at the Ziegfeld, the engagement has been extended and expanded to the Sunshine Cinema, where it will day-and-date with the AMC Empire 25 (where it was moved over from the Ziegfeld back on October 19th). Is anyone else as happy as I am with the smashing success of this new-old release (I’ll pause at calling it a re-release since this is an altered version)? It is now in it’s 5th week in NYC and has expanded upon the number of screens (although, I assume that the combined number of available seats in both the Empire and Sunshine auditoriums are less than half than that number at the Ziegfeld)!

Is it still playing in LA as well? And how are things going in Seattle, I wonder?

that’s the one I was thinking of, the Ridgewood.

Warren, didn’t someone say recently that the most postings was for some theatre in one of the other boroughs ?

Well… the success story of this theatrical run continues. “Blade Runner” has been extended a second week at the AMC Empire 25 and – as of this past Friday – has resumed at the Ziegfeld for Midnight only showings! I wonder if the Ziegfeld showings are only for the weekend…

Blade Runner deserves MORE than what a friend advises me are crappily designed plex auditoriums at Landmark, which don’t have huge screens. Since there are 35mm prints, they ought to present Blade Runner at the Village or one of the other huge LA screens!

Have not seen it, but “Blade Runner” is still playing at the Landmark until this Thursday. On a per screen average basis (including NYC & LA), it’s doing pretty good.

JSA

veyoung, you described exactly why happens when the automation is not programmed properly or cues are missing. Some of the older systems are still triggered by a metallic cue tape affixed to the edge of the print. Problem with that is, because that area of the film comes in contact with metal surfaces running through the projector, they wear out or loose their conductivity. When that happens the sensing device does not read the cue and a step in the automation is missed, causing everything to go out of sequence.
Later models of automation have the sensing tape affixed directly across the frame line of the print, which does not come in contact with anything that would compromise the cue tape. But the projectionist must be sure to put all the cues on the print necessary to run a complete show. Of course other things like bad relays or other mechanical devices in the automation system can sometimes cause problems, but generally it is a misplaced,missing, or worn out metallic cue strip.
I would love to know what type of automation system is used at the Ziegfeld. I certainly hope it’s not the old relic that was originally installed.

veyoung, you are most welcome.
I should also point out that many automation systems allow
for 2 or 3 completely different set ups to be programed.
However, the projectionist would have to remember to tell the automation which set to use. That can be problematic for a guy running multible screens by himself. So generaly all the movies are programmed to run the same way on all screens.
It might be ok to use mulible programming on let’s say a twin or perhaps up to four screens, after that it gets a bit risky.
If a movie plays on the wrong automation program all kinds of things will go wrong because in effect, the automaton program will run out of sync with the placement of programming cues on the print.

Hey David… Forgot about the tweak with Zhora’s death. I can recall seeing the movie way back in ‘82 and my friends and I chuckling at how obvious it was that a stunt person was hurtling through the plate glass. The shots in the sequence now are flawless.

Again a lot depends on the capabilitty of the automation. Some are just basic systems with little capabilities. However most would be able to do a masking change very easily with just an additionl diode (peg) inserted into the program to activate the masking, along with an additional metalic strip on the print positioned in the proper place. In my days in the booth, where we had automation, I would always go the extra mile to do that. In fact before the studios made duel versions of trailers available, and we had to make masking and lens changes, it was done though the automation, which would change masking settings and operate torrets to change lens and aperture plates. The only draw back is the problem of moving prints from screen-to-screen in a Multiples operation. You would have to remember to re-program the automation to add/delete the extra masking change. Keep in mind, on any given day, moving prints from screen to screen may occur often. Kiddie movies in larger houses during the day and smaller ones at night, etc.

By the way Ed, the Digital versions play the same way, and although the trailers are downloaded with the feature, a projectionist can add additional trailers. But once again, flat versions of anamorphoic features, etc.
As for the coming attraction snipes, National Amusements still use them, I would hope most circuits do.
It is usually part of the head (opening) trailer which may include, welcome to the theatre, no talking pleae, bla, bla, bla, and then end with an announcement of coming attractions followed by the trailers. Also in use in some loctions (those not to lazy to include them) is a Feature Presentaion or Sneak Preview snipe. By the way, the ironic thing about those opening trailers is, they are called “curtain raisers”