Drove into Hackensack and couldn’t remember where this theater was it’s so “gone”. What a sad, sad place Main Street is now. What’s weird about it is that, unlike Paterson or Passaic, it’s all in pretty great shape. There’s just not a soul around. I was on Main Street one Saturday night about six months ago and the whole strip was deserted.
One can only imagine how a movie theater would’ve helped bring people into the town. Hell, there are so many vacant storefronts and so much parking there that you’d think someone would try it.
I’m at my wits end! I keep getting e-mail notifications when someone replies despite the fact that I don’t have the box at the bottom checked off. I’ve written to Cinemtreasures but it’s not stopping. I’m betting tons of these.
“Youth today does nothing earth shattering and will leave behind a weak legacy when they move ahead to their 30s and 40s.”
Thus Bush reigns supreme. I feel sometimes like I’m a lone voice screaming about him. Everyone else is like “hey, I got my ipod. What the hell do I care what he does.”
Oh, boy age and experience….yes, I’d argue that Gen X was the last to experience things that could truly be called cutting edge. I saw this movie with my daughter called “Sky High”. And what was the soundtrack made up of? I couldn’t believe it but it was ALL remakes of 80’s music. Rather than make me feel old, it made me feel proud. I think now that the 80s music (I’m not going to name groups…if you agree with what I’m saying you know who I mean) was the last great stand. Grunge could’ve been something but it got old fast and Nirvana’s demise ended it. Then there was a lull in the mid 90s, a vacuum rather in music that got filled in with (UGH) this popcorn crap (Spears, Lohan, forget it…I don’t even want to talk about that).
But it’s the same with film. I grew up with all the stuff my folks watched and learned from them. I knew all of Jack Benny’s schtick, Crosby, Astaire (with Rogers and without), Gene Kelly. I saw war movies with my Dad and musicals with my Mom (and sometimes Dad). They had no problem taking me to see cutting edge stuff in the 70s. Movie going then was still an experience. Some people say that “Jaws” was the beginning of the end of real movie going but I say WRONG. It was just another in a long line of splendid, wonderful movie experiences for me starting around 1972 and going pretty strong up until around 1995 or 96 or so when things started to really die.
Now? Well it’s all so sad. What do “kids” have now that’s really, really inspiring? During the 60s and 70s we had it all: music, movies, cheap and readily available and maybe 4 or 5 tv stations to watch. It’s easier now to GET information but isn’t it odd that since it’s so easy to get it, it’s just not that good anymore?
Where are the Kubricks, the Lennon-McCartneys, The Eagles, The Fleetwood Macs the _______________ (fill in whatever)…you get the idea.
When a low budget kids movie has to reach back to the 80s for inspiration, you know that things today are a wasteland.
IRV: Not sure how long the “kids” today’s attention span is. You sound like you’re close to my age and it’s frightening to hear me and others of my time using phrases like Kids today. Oye.
But sadly it’s true and I believe you were the one who pointed how “kids” today lack the guts (not the word you used) to live in the city as it was in the early 80s: gritty, wonderful and alive.
Regarding “Gee, Office Krupke”, IMDB makes note of that switch:
In the original Broadway production, the placement of “Gee, Officer Krupke” had more to do with the scene-changing requirements of a live performance than with dramatic logic – and many theatergoers felt the sassy, light-hearted tone of the song seemed particularly out of place following a scene in which two prominent characters have been killed. The movie rectified that complaint by placing the song before the plot-wrenching rumble – switching it with “Cool”, which originally related to pre-rumble behavior but even more meaningfully relates in the film to post-rumble behavior.
I was 12 when I saw an excellent off Broadway version of WSS. And I distinctly remembering thinking that the “Gee Office Krupke” seemed weird in light of what just happened. So when I read this, I realized I wasn’t the only one.
Whoa boy…Kael bashing. So funny because I remember reading her rather scathing review of WSS about ten years ago in one of her collections. And Bill Huelbig, I too distinctly remember her comment about her daughter. What got me about that remark was/is: exactly what does she mean? Either it’s her opinion that the music is simply retreads of other music or the WSS soundtrack was played to death at that point. I’m a HUGE fan of Kael’s BTW. There are many occasions wher I feel she was off the mark (she liked “Mommie Dearest” but gave a scathing review of Costa Gravas' “Missing”???!!!) All in all, she hit the mark extremely well.
The bad thing about WSS at The Ziegfeld is that it’s now making the rounds on Cable TV. I just saw it last Saturday.
Overall, WSS has aged Ok. The music is simply beautiful. Melodic and catchy without the snobishness that Sondheim has now adopted. But Wood and Beymer are hopelessly miscast. Only Moreno and the GREEK(!!!!) Chakiris ring true as do the supporting cast.
But all objections MUST be laid aside for the absolute BEST scene in the movie: COOL. The scene is placed in a much better place than in the play as it comes AFTER the fatal rumble so it’s line: “turn down the juice boy” makes scary, unnerving sense. It’s phenomenol. I’ve loved that scene since I was a kid. And there’s not one single lead character in it.
Regarding the intermission for “The Towering Inferno”, I saw this at The Fantasy in Rockville Centre and the intermission was inserted at the most ridiculous time. It was the scene where Richard Chamberlin is running down the stairs. The intermission was so abrupt it looked like the film broke. My Mom was pissed because I made her get popcorn earlier and she missed the whole scene with Jennifer Jones getting spilled out of the elevator.
With the exception of the “Lord of the Rings” films which practically begged for an intermission, I agree that an inappropriately placed intermission can be a killer.
I remember seeing Apocolypse Now at a third run house in Massapequa (even then with curtains!) and the intermission seemed to pop out of nowehere.
Correct me if I’m wrong but weren’t there these different kinds of intermission “logos”? I remember the one they had for “The Sound of Music” seemed to write the word Intermission in script across the screen. There must’ve been others.
One movie that didn’t seem to have an obvious intermission part is “My Fair Lady”. The plays' first act ended after the ball with Act II beginning upon their return home. Where was it in the roadshow version? And how about “Doctor Zhivago”? Again, I can never quite tell where an intermission should be. I saw it at a couple of revival houses in NYC and like my experience with “Apocolypse Now” the intermission seemed to pop out of no where.
I’m sorry if my above comment upsets and Lloyd Webber fans out there. I just consider him such a hack compared to the old greats. I’m somewhat glad to see his last few offerings being quickly dispatched here in NY.
But to the discussion regarding intermissions: weren’t some films shot with an intermission clearly in mind? For example, “The Sound of Music” seems to have a hand made intermission at the scene where Maria leaves the children’s house after The Countess has “talked” to her. And “Gone With The Wind” seems to have the intermission built into the scene with Scarlett declaring she’ll never go hungry again. Right? Or does it just seem that way?
I would say the developers are anxious to get some kind of mixed retail and housing on the spot where the Jersey is. Jersey City is HOT, HOT, HOT right now. That location is GOLDEN. You’re situatied between Newark (believe it or not, a luke warm/cool area getting warmer every friggin' year) and NYC which, as everyone knows is sizzling. For commuters, that site would be fantastic.
Someone IS trying to put a 16 screen multiplex at the Plaza. Paramus is divided over whether to grant the required approvals. From what I remember, the town granted it but another entity within the town has sued over it. The mall developers have said that they have to keep improving the mall by adding new things to it or it will fail especially with the Xanadu project coming along and the fact that everything is closed on Sunday in Paramus and most of Bergen county. The movie theater would be allowed to be open.
A comment states that it’s the multiplexes that are killing off these older theaters in NYC. But I think it’s more than that. It’s the multiplexes yes but it’s the way we can get entertainment that is simply changing so rapidly.
The thinking is that eventually movies will be launched in one of three ways at the same time: on DVD, in theaters and through some kind of pay-per-view venue (like DVD On Demand).
The new Steven Soderbergh film “Bubble” is the first to be released this way.
This is going to greatly effect how movies are distributed. Some feel that even though the films will be available on DVD and through on demand, there will be enough of an audience who will want to see a movie on a movie screen. Of course, only certain movie venues will remain to handle what is certain to be a small movie going audience.
I agree with others who said that the reason why the Metro failed was because of poor bookings. But it’s also the nature of movie going these days.
Oh BOY! They’re showing “The Godfather”. Man, that’s a hard one to catch. It’s NEVER on cable.
But I would like to see “Chinatown” on a big screen.
Sorry for the sarcasm but I agree that they’re using their heads now with programming like that. I work just a couple of blocks away and I’m wondering if there’s someway I could sneak one in. I could say I’ve got a long meeting to attend…
This was (and hopefully still is) one of LI’s best theaters. Great parking, nice theaters, etc. I saw too many movies to mention from the early 80’s through the early 90s. Always had a great experience.
If the Ziegfeld ever closes, that’s it for movie going in NY. It will be the theatrical apocolypse (did I spell that right?). I mean it. We’ll be left with shoebox theaters and dwindling audiences.
And I love all this analysis and handwringing over why audience attendence is dwindling. The movies, by and large, are garbage. Even “King Kong” failed to ignite audiences. A large scale passionate remake of what was/is a B rate movie is not what audiences want right now.
Again, this is way OT and I’m just waiting for someone to object but I have to say that the “Source Mall” is one of the worst most depressing malls I’ve ever been in. There’s no central feeling to the place. It’s just kind of like a bunch of stores haphazardly stuck together with a tiny common space. I remember when the original plans were put forth for the mall, it was supposed to be HUGE. But the neighborhood objected and it got reduced in scale. Because of the poor layout, people don’t spill over to the Virgin Megastore while waiting for the overpriced food at Cheesecake Factory or PF Changs.
I know this is way off topic EdSolero but the Virgin Megastore on LI that closed…was that in that awful mall on Old Country Road where the Fortunoff’s is?
I agree that with the re-development of Times Square “they” definately threw the baby out with the bathwater. But that happens with wide scale redevelopments like this. I’m appalled at what I look at what replaced The Rivoli as I work right across the street from “it”. It has to be one of the most unremarkable and bland looking office buildings in the world.
But if you still want something honky tonk, 8th and 9th Avenues (FOR NOW) still has that. I don’t know how long it will last though. I see more and more of these beautifully off beat stores on 9th being closed up and redone by these stupid oh-so-trendy looking restaurants.
But last week I was shocked and actually pleasantly surprised to see something on 10th & 48th that I haven’t seen in years: a hooker in broad daylight! So yes, the seediness may have been pushed away but it’s never that far from the old Times Square. And I agree with you that during the mid 80s when I used to go into “the city” often, the funkiness and ruff-and-tumble atmosphere is what appealed to me the most. There was a mix of the refined and the low that could only be found in deal old Manhattan.
Does anyone know if they are going to do another tour? I may try to sneak out of work to go to one…
Drove into Hackensack and couldn’t remember where this theater was it’s so “gone”. What a sad, sad place Main Street is now. What’s weird about it is that, unlike Paterson or Passaic, it’s all in pretty great shape. There’s just not a soul around. I was on Main Street one Saturday night about six months ago and the whole strip was deserted.
One can only imagine how a movie theater would’ve helped bring people into the town. Hell, there are so many vacant storefronts and so much parking there that you’d think someone would try it.
I’m at my wits end! I keep getting e-mail notifications when someone replies despite the fact that I don’t have the box at the bottom checked off. I’ve written to Cinemtreasures but it’s not stopping. I’m betting tons of these.
Anyone know what to do?
“Youth today does nothing earth shattering and will leave behind a weak legacy when they move ahead to their 30s and 40s.”
Thus Bush reigns supreme. I feel sometimes like I’m a lone voice screaming about him. Everyone else is like “hey, I got my ipod. What the hell do I care what he does.”
And yes, I too wish the 80s were here again.
Oh, boy age and experience….yes, I’d argue that Gen X was the last to experience things that could truly be called cutting edge. I saw this movie with my daughter called “Sky High”. And what was the soundtrack made up of? I couldn’t believe it but it was ALL remakes of 80’s music. Rather than make me feel old, it made me feel proud. I think now that the 80s music (I’m not going to name groups…if you agree with what I’m saying you know who I mean) was the last great stand. Grunge could’ve been something but it got old fast and Nirvana’s demise ended it. Then there was a lull in the mid 90s, a vacuum rather in music that got filled in with (UGH) this popcorn crap (Spears, Lohan, forget it…I don’t even want to talk about that).
But it’s the same with film. I grew up with all the stuff my folks watched and learned from them. I knew all of Jack Benny’s schtick, Crosby, Astaire (with Rogers and without), Gene Kelly. I saw war movies with my Dad and musicals with my Mom (and sometimes Dad). They had no problem taking me to see cutting edge stuff in the 70s. Movie going then was still an experience. Some people say that “Jaws” was the beginning of the end of real movie going but I say WRONG. It was just another in a long line of splendid, wonderful movie experiences for me starting around 1972 and going pretty strong up until around 1995 or 96 or so when things started to really die.
Now? Well it’s all so sad. What do “kids” have now that’s really, really inspiring? During the 60s and 70s we had it all: music, movies, cheap and readily available and maybe 4 or 5 tv stations to watch. It’s easier now to GET information but isn’t it odd that since it’s so easy to get it, it’s just not that good anymore?
Where are the Kubricks, the Lennon-McCartneys, The Eagles, The Fleetwood Macs the _______________ (fill in whatever)…you get the idea.
When a low budget kids movie has to reach back to the 80s for inspiration, you know that things today are a wasteland.
IRV: Not sure how long the “kids” today’s attention span is. You sound like you’re close to my age and it’s frightening to hear me and others of my time using phrases like Kids today. Oye.
But sadly it’s true and I believe you were the one who pointed how “kids” today lack the guts (not the word you used) to live in the city as it was in the early 80s: gritty, wonderful and alive.
Regarding “Gee, Office Krupke”, IMDB makes note of that switch:
In the original Broadway production, the placement of “Gee, Officer Krupke” had more to do with the scene-changing requirements of a live performance than with dramatic logic – and many theatergoers felt the sassy, light-hearted tone of the song seemed particularly out of place following a scene in which two prominent characters have been killed. The movie rectified that complaint by placing the song before the plot-wrenching rumble – switching it with “Cool”, which originally related to pre-rumble behavior but even more meaningfully relates in the film to post-rumble behavior.
I was 12 when I saw an excellent off Broadway version of WSS. And I distinctly remembering thinking that the “Gee Office Krupke” seemed weird in light of what just happened. So when I read this, I realized I wasn’t the only one.
Whoa boy…Kael bashing. So funny because I remember reading her rather scathing review of WSS about ten years ago in one of her collections. And Bill Huelbig, I too distinctly remember her comment about her daughter. What got me about that remark was/is: exactly what does she mean? Either it’s her opinion that the music is simply retreads of other music or the WSS soundtrack was played to death at that point. I’m a HUGE fan of Kael’s BTW. There are many occasions wher I feel she was off the mark (she liked “Mommie Dearest” but gave a scathing review of Costa Gravas' “Missing”???!!!) All in all, she hit the mark extremely well.
The bad thing about WSS at The Ziegfeld is that it’s now making the rounds on Cable TV. I just saw it last Saturday.
Overall, WSS has aged Ok. The music is simply beautiful. Melodic and catchy without the snobishness that Sondheim has now adopted. But Wood and Beymer are hopelessly miscast. Only Moreno and the GREEK(!!!!) Chakiris ring true as do the supporting cast.
But all objections MUST be laid aside for the absolute BEST scene in the movie: COOL. The scene is placed in a much better place than in the play as it comes AFTER the fatal rumble so it’s line: “turn down the juice boy” makes scary, unnerving sense. It’s phenomenol. I’ve loved that scene since I was a kid. And there’s not one single lead character in it.
Regarding the intermission for “The Towering Inferno”, I saw this at The Fantasy in Rockville Centre and the intermission was inserted at the most ridiculous time. It was the scene where Richard Chamberlin is running down the stairs. The intermission was so abrupt it looked like the film broke. My Mom was pissed because I made her get popcorn earlier and she missed the whole scene with Jennifer Jones getting spilled out of the elevator.
With the exception of the “Lord of the Rings” films which practically begged for an intermission, I agree that an inappropriately placed intermission can be a killer.
I remember seeing Apocolypse Now at a third run house in Massapequa (even then with curtains!) and the intermission seemed to pop out of nowehere.
Correct me if I’m wrong but weren’t there these different kinds of intermission “logos”? I remember the one they had for “The Sound of Music” seemed to write the word Intermission in script across the screen. There must’ve been others.
One movie that didn’t seem to have an obvious intermission part is “My Fair Lady”. The plays' first act ended after the ball with Act II beginning upon their return home. Where was it in the roadshow version? And how about “Doctor Zhivago”? Again, I can never quite tell where an intermission should be. I saw it at a couple of revival houses in NYC and like my experience with “Apocolypse Now” the intermission seemed to pop out of no where.
I’m sorry if my above comment upsets and Lloyd Webber fans out there. I just consider him such a hack compared to the old greats. I’m somewhat glad to see his last few offerings being quickly dispatched here in NY.
But to the discussion regarding intermissions: weren’t some films shot with an intermission clearly in mind? For example, “The Sound of Music” seems to have a hand made intermission at the scene where Maria leaves the children’s house after The Countess has “talked” to her. And “Gone With The Wind” seems to have the intermission built into the scene with Scarlett declaring she’ll never go hungry again. Right? Or does it just seem that way?
I’d probably run from the theater regardless of the sound quality if I had to sit through the movie OR stage versions of either “Evita” or “Phantom”.
I would say the developers are anxious to get some kind of mixed retail and housing on the spot where the Jersey is. Jersey City is HOT, HOT, HOT right now. That location is GOLDEN. You’re situatied between Newark (believe it or not, a luke warm/cool area getting warmer every friggin' year) and NYC which, as everyone knows is sizzling. For commuters, that site would be fantastic.
No landmark preservation in NJ, huh?
It’s listed on Cinematreasures as the Embassy 2,3,4 which is what the DeMille/Mayfair was last known as.
As much as I bashed the Oceanside Twin, seeing this theater go is a REAL heartbreaker for me. My GOD I saw so many movies here. How sad!
Someone IS trying to put a 16 screen multiplex at the Plaza. Paramus is divided over whether to grant the required approvals. From what I remember, the town granted it but another entity within the town has sued over it. The mall developers have said that they have to keep improving the mall by adding new things to it or it will fail especially with the Xanadu project coming along and the fact that everything is closed on Sunday in Paramus and most of Bergen county. The movie theater would be allowed to be open.
A comment states that it’s the multiplexes that are killing off these older theaters in NYC. But I think it’s more than that. It’s the multiplexes yes but it’s the way we can get entertainment that is simply changing so rapidly.
The thinking is that eventually movies will be launched in one of three ways at the same time: on DVD, in theaters and through some kind of pay-per-view venue (like DVD On Demand).
The new Steven Soderbergh film “Bubble” is the first to be released this way.
This is going to greatly effect how movies are distributed. Some feel that even though the films will be available on DVD and through on demand, there will be enough of an audience who will want to see a movie on a movie screen. Of course, only certain movie venues will remain to handle what is certain to be a small movie going audience.
I agree with others who said that the reason why the Metro failed was because of poor bookings. But it’s also the nature of movie going these days.
Just a quick question of screen sizes. What theater (worldwide) has the record for the largest screen ever? Anyone know?
Oh BOY! They’re showing “The Godfather”. Man, that’s a hard one to catch. It’s NEVER on cable.
But I would like to see “Chinatown” on a big screen.
Sorry for the sarcasm but I agree that they’re using their heads now with programming like that. I work just a couple of blocks away and I’m wondering if there’s someway I could sneak one in. I could say I’ve got a long meeting to attend…
This was (and hopefully still is) one of LI’s best theaters. Great parking, nice theaters, etc. I saw too many movies to mention from the early 80’s through the early 90s. Always had a great experience.
If the Ziegfeld ever closes, that’s it for movie going in NY. It will be the theatrical apocolypse (did I spell that right?). I mean it. We’ll be left with shoebox theaters and dwindling audiences.
And I love all this analysis and handwringing over why audience attendence is dwindling. The movies, by and large, are garbage. Even “King Kong” failed to ignite audiences. A large scale passionate remake of what was/is a B rate movie is not what audiences want right now.
Again, this is way OT and I’m just waiting for someone to object but I have to say that the “Source Mall” is one of the worst most depressing malls I’ve ever been in. There’s no central feeling to the place. It’s just kind of like a bunch of stores haphazardly stuck together with a tiny common space. I remember when the original plans were put forth for the mall, it was supposed to be HUGE. But the neighborhood objected and it got reduced in scale. Because of the poor layout, people don’t spill over to the Virgin Megastore while waiting for the overpriced food at Cheesecake Factory or PF Changs.
I know this is way off topic EdSolero but the Virgin Megastore on LI that closed…was that in that awful mall on Old Country Road where the Fortunoff’s is?
The toys r us closed?
And if it did, does anyone really believe that with that expensive property someone’s going to open up (of all things) a movie theater?
I agree that with the re-development of Times Square “they” definately threw the baby out with the bathwater. But that happens with wide scale redevelopments like this. I’m appalled at what I look at what replaced The Rivoli as I work right across the street from “it”. It has to be one of the most unremarkable and bland looking office buildings in the world.
But if you still want something honky tonk, 8th and 9th Avenues (FOR NOW) still has that. I don’t know how long it will last though. I see more and more of these beautifully off beat stores on 9th being closed up and redone by these stupid oh-so-trendy looking restaurants.
But last week I was shocked and actually pleasantly surprised to see something on 10th & 48th that I haven’t seen in years: a hooker in broad daylight! So yes, the seediness may have been pushed away but it’s never that far from the old Times Square. And I agree with you that during the mid 80s when I used to go into “the city” often, the funkiness and ruff-and-tumble atmosphere is what appealed to me the most. There was a mix of the refined and the low that could only be found in deal old Manhattan.