Comments from StephenJohansen

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StephenJohansen
StephenJohansen commented about Palace Theatre on Jun 13, 2005 at 10:52 am

P.S. I just saw “ All Shook Up” at the Palace.. It was a wonderful no brainer old fashioned rock & roll musical… A great treat especially for out of town tourists.

StephenJohansen
StephenJohansen commented about Palace Theatre on Jun 13, 2005 at 10:50 am

Believe it or not, “Pillow Talk” with Doris Day and Rock Hudson played the Palace ( day dating with the new Murray Hill) in the fall of 1959.. I think the management of Radio City Music Hall must have been out of their minds, booking “ A Summer Place” instead.. Yikes! Subsequently, all of the other Doris Day romantic comedies played the Music Hall.

StephenJohansen
StephenJohansen commented about Radio City Music Hall on Apr 4, 2005 at 9:02 am

I didn’t get it at the time, but I was an innocent 16 year…so innocent that I could sit on the second balcony and smoke cigarettes… Needles to say I am no longer an innocent and I haven’t had a cigarette in years. I don’t remember any tittering rippling through the great hall during phallic and sensual finale. I think the patrons didn’t get it.

StephenJohansen
StephenJohansen commented about Radio City Music Hall on Mar 29, 2005 at 9:33 am

We could smell it in the outer foyer by the box offices when we were entering… Audrey Hepburn was on screen and waiting in the wings for “The Nun’s Story”, 3 shows down the road… and along with it, “The Burning of Nome” spectacle which was a first and last at the Music Hall.

StephenJohansen
StephenJohansen commented about Radio City Music Hall on Mar 28, 2005 at 4:00 pm

I wish I knew more about Magic Mirrors… It was advertised as part of the Masquerade stage show with “Mr. Roberts”. I think it was franchised like “Dancing Waters”. If anyone here knows about Magic Mirrors please let us know.. By the way there were other variations of “Serenade to the Stars” such as “Court of Jewels” and “Old Fashioned Garden”. I have programs with both of them listed. Yes, I saw “Serenade” with both North by Northwest and The Chalk Garden.. It also appeared with Under Capricorn, Lovely to Look At, and Jupiter’s Darling… As you can see, I am an expert on the Music Hall.

StephenJohansen
StephenJohansen commented about Radio City Music Hall on Mar 28, 2005 at 2:45 pm

Probably fine for anyone over 60/70…would have to be enhanced versions Las Vegas style. I never saw Magic Mirrors, but Serenade to the Stars was a spectacular finale.

StephenJohansen
StephenJohansen commented about Radio City Music Hall on Mar 28, 2005 at 2:01 pm

Probably Ravel’s Bolero or Rhapsody in Blue were the most repeated spectacles on stage over the years… Dancing Waters which was franchised appeared several times from 1953 to 1958 and then that was it… Does anyone know about “Magic Mirrors” spectacle which appeared on stage in the summer of 1955 with Mr.Roberts. A similar title appeared in the stage show in the summer of 1965 along with the showing of “The Sandpiper”.. Of course the good old standby of “Serenade to the Stars” appeared often in the ‘50s. That was always with a Russell Market production.

StephenJohansen
StephenJohansen commented about Radio City Music Hall on Mar 28, 2005 at 9:11 am

Sayonara was originally scheduled as a fall show to be followed by Don’t Go Near the Water for Christmas. For some reason they were switched.. My programs show that Cinderella’s Coach was the highlight of the Christmas stage show, and the underseas ballet was the following year with Auntie Mame, which also included a wonderful Rocket to the Moon spectacle. Cheers!

StephenJohansen
StephenJohansen commented about Minnesota Theater on Feb 27, 2005 at 2:31 pm

I saw “The Bridge on the River Kwai” there in April 1958 shortly before it’s October demise with “Damn Yankees”.. Coming from NYC, it reminded me more of the Roxy than RCMH, even though my cousins from Mpls. said it was designed after Radio City in NY.. Wrong.. Radio City in NY was built three years later… And God Bless, it is still standing.. Any comments?? It appears that Minneapolis currently has a paucity of movie theaters.
P.S. “Bridge” played the Palace in New York which is still running and showing “All Shook Up” , the new Elvis musical.

StephenJohansen
StephenJohansen commented about Cinema 1, 2 & 3 by Angelika on Jan 17, 2005 at 1:45 pm

What great theaters in the 1960s. Great competition for the fading movie palaces… But neither of the venues lasted… The hoi polloi today are only happy with those horrible multiplexes… I guess TV and the plasma screens have taken over…. They have, as far as I am concerned.

StephenJohansen
StephenJohansen commented about Palladium Times Square on Aug 5, 2004 at 9:11 am

The screen at Radio City Music Hall which still is tucked above the procenium in front of the gridiron is the record at 70'

StephenJohansen
StephenJohansen commented about Palladium Times Square on Jul 31, 2004 at 12:32 pm

A fine farewell and parting to the Astor Plaza. It is a shame.
But, the greatest movie theater of all times anywhere in the world was the Radio City Music Hall and it is still standing. It shows a premiere movie every now and then, but at least it is still here, and now the New York Liberty is currently taking over for the Rockettes. I think all movie palace fans should plan a big party and rent out the Music Hall! And the contour curtain still remains.

StephenJohansen
StephenJohansen commented about Palladium Times Square on May 12, 2004 at 1:40 pm

no one ever mentions the Paris Theatre. The terrific single screen wonder across from the Plaza Hotel. I saw “Hans Christian Andersen” there in 1953 when it was day dating with the Criterion. The Paris shows fine foreign and independent films sometimes sharing with the downtown Sunshine Cinemas… I am sure the Paris will live on forever!

StephenJohansen
StephenJohansen commented about Palladium Times Square on Apr 29, 2004 at 11:10 am

Until Radio City Music Hall resurrects itself as a showcase for motion pictures(which it never will), I will delight in watching DVDs at home without all the chatter and other annoyances. The only civilized motion picture theater left in NYC is the Paris.. Has anyone ever been there? The Beekman is okay, and is landmarked so I guess will be there for ever. I give the Ziegfeld another few years and then gonzo!! Thank God for cable T.V., TCM, AMC and more for ever the wonderful new DVDs that are coming out. Perhaps in my next life the great motion picture palaces will return.. FINIS!

StephenJohansen
StephenJohansen commented about Palladium Times Square on Apr 28, 2004 at 1:48 pm

How come all the great movie theaters in L.A. seem to remain and thrive, yet the great palaces in N.Y.C are gone and are dying a fast death.. Hopefully, the Ziegfeld will remain at least as a showcase for premieres… At last the marquee of the Paramount has been revived… The Empire 25 and 42nd St. E-walk are very, very pale comparisons to the great Time Square theaters of 50 years ago and before.. And, guess what… they should revive Radio City Music Hall… the greatest movie theater of all times!!!! Finis.

StephenJohansen
StephenJohansen commented about Criterion Theatre on Jul 15, 2002 at 2:53 pm

My first visit to the theater was to see “Hans Christian Andersen” in early 1953…and then again in 1964 to see the roadshow of “My Fair Lady”, followed by my final visit in 1966 to see “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf”… I hate to see these old movie palaces turn into toy stores, but the public today just doesn’t “get it” about the real way to see a motion picture.