I was there for Clockwork Orange and still have the thin newspaper-style handout, called “Orange Times,” Vol.2, No. 001, Spring/Summer 1972.
It does say “Sack’s Cinema 57,” but again, we referred to it differently.
BTW: I always called it a “World Premiere.” My sister has the embossed cake box and invitation that I kept. When she gets back to town I will ask her what it says on the top of the box. We never called it an “American Premiere.”
It wasn’t until I Googled the film recently that I found out it had shown in England first. I still don’t understand that!
-Kat
Far be it for me to contradict someone’s diary notation. I’m thinking more about this now, considering your statement.
I know that I took no money that night. It’s possible that while I accepted the invitations for admission that night, that another cashier sold high-priced tickets, earlier. So maybe my hitchhiker/hippie cinema buff not only didn’t have an invitation but no $10. I recall I opened my booth door and held his backpack for him until he left, so he could mingle.
Since we had a 900 seat theatre and a 1500 seat theatre, I can’t now really imagine filling one theatre at those capacities, with just big-wigs. :–) Also, I did not take in minimum 900 invitations as free passes. I might have taken maybe 250 letters.
I recall I tossed them on the floor of my booth, after the box on the floor filled up. I was giving entrance as fast as possible- to keep things moving out front.
We were all dressed up in our best clothes.
Also, I did not see the film that night, and can’t exactly place the timing as to when I was introduced personally to Hitchcock. My assistant manager (Frank, I think his name was) pulled me off the front box office to be presented to the director. Also, what events transpired in the theatre itself prior to, during, or right after the showing, I have no knowledge of. I was still at work- at work until closing- that means walking the theatres, restrooms, and lobby, checking for cleanliness or anything unusual, or helping a patron in some way.
I would have to say that you are very probably correct.
Sorry if this caused confusion. I can say you are jogging my memory and that is always good. :–) This is over 35 years ago!
It’s funny- I thought people might be more interested in the Cocoanut Grove fire and the odd occurrences while I worked at Sack57. I did also wish to back up the person who gave that as the name we called it: Sack57.
At other times I also worked at the Garden Cinema and the Symphony Cinema. [That’s not a place I usually talk about! :–) ] But The Garden Cinema was really nice- my favorite!
-Kat
Someone just directed me to this site, as I was about to recount my experiences in the haunted portions of the Cinema on my LizzieAndrewBorden Discussion Forum.
I started to read the rules here and admit my eyes crossed! I will try to read the rest of “Terms of Use” in a bit.
I was head cashier at Sack57 Cinema, which is what it was called, at the time Frenzy premiered. Met Alfred Hitchcock. Reddest human being I ever saw still walking upright. I guess high blood pressure? It was called a “World Premier” although later I found it had opened in Great Britain first. We had the edited version- the Boston Blue Laws saw to that! So maybe they considered this the World Premier of the edited edition, which removed the “skin” shots.
We had a cake with a doll on top with a man’s necktie around it’s neck. We were given clear plastic boxes with our piece of cake inside, embossed on the top with the info on the movie. It was by invitation only. Guests had to bring their invitation to get in. It had Hitchcock’s profile DRAWN as his signature on a printed invitation. Luckily I saved my box and one attendees invitation.They relinquished them at the box office, to me. I believe it’s possible the director signed these himself, because all the Boston Big Wigs were the invitees. I mean Senators, Congressmen, people like that. There were no civilians.
Actually, I did let in one young man who did not know it was by invitation only, as he had hitched from, I think New Hampshire, to be there.
The haunting stories are something else again!
I personally encountered several instances of what might be paranormal activity, with my projectionist as witness to 2 incidents with me.
I’m glad to have found this site- thanks Doug-Oh!– it brings back memories!
-Kat
I was there for Clockwork Orange and still have the thin newspaper-style handout, called “Orange Times,” Vol.2, No. 001, Spring/Summer 1972.
It does say “Sack’s Cinema 57,” but again, we referred to it differently.
BTW: I always called it a “World Premiere.” My sister has the embossed cake box and invitation that I kept. When she gets back to town I will ask her what it says on the top of the box. We never called it an “American Premiere.”
It wasn’t until I Googled the film recently that I found out it had shown in England first. I still don’t understand that!
-Kat
Far be it for me to contradict someone’s diary notation. I’m thinking more about this now, considering your statement.
I know that I took no money that night. It’s possible that while I accepted the invitations for admission that night, that another cashier sold high-priced tickets, earlier. So maybe my hitchhiker/hippie cinema buff not only didn’t have an invitation but no $10. I recall I opened my booth door and held his backpack for him until he left, so he could mingle.
Since we had a 900 seat theatre and a 1500 seat theatre, I can’t now really imagine filling one theatre at those capacities, with just big-wigs. :–) Also, I did not take in minimum 900 invitations as free passes. I might have taken maybe 250 letters.
I recall I tossed them on the floor of my booth, after the box on the floor filled up. I was giving entrance as fast as possible- to keep things moving out front.
We were all dressed up in our best clothes.
Also, I did not see the film that night, and can’t exactly place the timing as to when I was introduced personally to Hitchcock. My assistant manager (Frank, I think his name was) pulled me off the front box office to be presented to the director. Also, what events transpired in the theatre itself prior to, during, or right after the showing, I have no knowledge of. I was still at work- at work until closing- that means walking the theatres, restrooms, and lobby, checking for cleanliness or anything unusual, or helping a patron in some way.
I would have to say that you are very probably correct.
Sorry if this caused confusion. I can say you are jogging my memory and that is always good. :–) This is over 35 years ago!
It’s funny- I thought people might be more interested in the Cocoanut Grove fire and the odd occurrences while I worked at Sack57. I did also wish to back up the person who gave that as the name we called it: Sack57.
At other times I also worked at the Garden Cinema and the Symphony Cinema. [That’s not a place I usually talk about! :–) ] But The Garden Cinema was really nice- my favorite!
-Kat
Someone just directed me to this site, as I was about to recount my experiences in the haunted portions of the Cinema on my LizzieAndrewBorden Discussion Forum.
I started to read the rules here and admit my eyes crossed! I will try to read the rest of “Terms of Use” in a bit.
I was head cashier at Sack57 Cinema, which is what it was called, at the time Frenzy premiered. Met Alfred Hitchcock. Reddest human being I ever saw still walking upright. I guess high blood pressure? It was called a “World Premier” although later I found it had opened in Great Britain first. We had the edited version- the Boston Blue Laws saw to that! So maybe they considered this the World Premier of the edited edition, which removed the “skin” shots.
We had a cake with a doll on top with a man’s necktie around it’s neck. We were given clear plastic boxes with our piece of cake inside, embossed on the top with the info on the movie. It was by invitation only. Guests had to bring their invitation to get in. It had Hitchcock’s profile DRAWN as his signature on a printed invitation. Luckily I saved my box and one attendees invitation.They relinquished them at the box office, to me. I believe it’s possible the director signed these himself, because all the Boston Big Wigs were the invitees. I mean Senators, Congressmen, people like that. There were no civilians.
Actually, I did let in one young man who did not know it was by invitation only, as he had hitched from, I think New Hampshire, to be there.
The haunting stories are something else again!
I personally encountered several instances of what might be paranormal activity, with my projectionist as witness to 2 incidents with me.
I’m glad to have found this site- thanks Doug-Oh!– it brings back memories!
-Kat