Criterion Theatre
1514 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
1514 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
27 people
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I also saw Superman I here which may have been ‘78 after it moved over from the Astor Plaza and the screen was flat.
Had the theater been twinned before Divine Madness?
Well that sure is curious. Are you sure you’re not thinking of the Rivoli or Warner?
Throughout the 60s and 70s it was flat. Definitely flat in the 70s. First film I saw there in that decade was the 71 revival of MFL and the last was Alien.
When did they put the curved screen in? The very first film I saw here was Divine Madness with Bette Midler and it was in 70MM and the screen was very curved and large.
That makes sense because I saw it that summer at the Fox in Hackensack(beautiful art deco house.)
Four months seems short for a hit roadshow film.
It opened on February 4 and played until June 23, 1970. 16 or 17 weeks.
The Criterion had a flat screen with curtains but seems to have had a curved screen once for South Pacific which is what I can glean from reviews of the world premiere.
Patton was a hit film and I remember walking as a boy in front of the theater when it was playing there and there was a large sign saying ‘This performance sold out.’
But for some reason I don’t think the roadshow engagement lasted very long. Either it died shortly thereafter or Fox wanted to get it into wide release right away.
I guess the answer would be in Variety which documented everything that was happening every week in all the Times Square theaters. It was my bad luck to have all this die just when I was old enough to go into the city on my own.
In fact when Dolly closed at the Rivoli that summer Variety mentioned that it would be Broadway’s first summer without a roadshow film in a very long time(maybe since ‘52?) And in fact there would only one more summer that would have a roadshow film on Broadway: Fiddler in '72.
Already by December of ‘68 all the buildings I mentioned had been torn down and the Astor Hotel was a giant excavation hole(as a boy I looked into it having no idea there was ever such a thing as The Astor.) Of course I know what I’m saying is conjecture. Many downtowns of major cities were experiencing terrible downturns. I just lament the loss of such great NY landmarks and think what if?
Yes, that was the Claridge Hotel. But by 1969 when “PAINT YOUR WAGON” opened on a Roadshow basis at the State Two, “MIDNIGHT COWBOY” was already showing the world what Times square had become and by January 1970 Loews State would be showing Swedish porn “WITHOUT A STITCH” on Twin One while these hotels were still operating.
I should have made myself more specific. I meant the Astor Hotel. Remember you had a lot of great NY landmarks torn down in just a few years as I mentioned above and I think it was catastrophic. These were among the most magnificent and legendary buildings in the 20th century in NY and I believe they were anchors. Wasn’t the building with the PYW sign the Claridge hotel?
I don’t think the tearing down of these theatres lead to the descent of Times Square into vice, but rather the other way around.
That’s a nice evening ‘69 photo including the Paint Your Wagon billboard when Times Square still had a bit of its old time glamour. The tearing down of the Astor and the building that PYW billboard is on(only a couple of years after the tearing down of the old Met, Penn Station, the Paramount…) was catastrophic for the area hastening its 70s descent into the muck and mire.
The Criterion was among just eleven theaters in the United States that installed the then-new Dolby Digital sound system for their engagement of “Batman Returns” which opened twenty-five years ago today. And here’s the link to a retrospective article that commemorates the occasion.
1969 photo added via The Man In The Grey Flannel Suit Facebook page.
1940 & 1955 photos added courtesy of Al Ponte’s Time Machine – New York Facebook page.
According to the NY Times review dated July 25, 1986, Maximum Overdrive opened in Manhattan at the Criterion, Broadway and 45th Street; Movieland Eighth Street, at University Place; 86th Street Twin, at Lexington Avenue; and Olympia Quad, Broadway at 107th Street.
It took about 90 seconds to find this information. Now my question: why did you need to know?
Can anyone verify if “Maximum Overdrive” screened here in July of ‘85. I believe this is where I saw it.
I worked as an usher in the Criterion in the mid 60’s. My brother & sister-in-law also worked there. “Lawrence of Arabia” and “My Fair Lady” were the big box office hits. Both movies were shown with reserved seats. Mr. Schwartz was the General Manager, Mr. Potell [not sure of the spelling] was the Head Treasure, Frank was the Head Usher and Marge the Head Usherette. I remember having to stand out front and “bark” – “seats available for today’s performance.” Actually barking wasn’t that bad. I met a lot of tourists, gave restaurant recommendations & lots of directions. Back then Bonds was open, there was a tie shop on the downtown side of the theater and the Woolworth 5 & 10 was still in operation.
Sorry ‘Ascot.’
Saw My Fair Lady here twice. First in the summer of ‘65. Was so young all I remember is that people were dressed up for a movie which was strange to me. The movie was boring.
Saw it again in I believe Jan of ‘71. 70mm presentation but without intermission to allow for continuous performances. Though prices were different mezz and orchestra and balc. I think orch and mezz were $3.50 and balc was $3. Still kind of a snooze.
It wasn’t until I was older and saw it in 70mm at the Warner Cinerama that the film totally floored me. One of the true greats. Though nobody will ever see it like that again. The huge curved screen had a clarity and depth which gave the film an almost 3D feel. When Hepburn makes her first appearance at Ascott the image was almost startling in its beauty.
And the 6 track analogue stereo sound was glorious with Previn’s magnificent conducting.
Met Jeremy Brett years later and told him it was one of my favorite films. He said it was one of his as well.
Even the people who treasure this film on their Blu Ray players have no idea how good it is.
I got to see “South Pacific” at the Criterion in 70mm Todd-AO. Unlike Todd-AO screenings at the Rivoli up the street, the Criterion projected this film on their standard, lightly curved CinemaScope screen. Nevertheless, the image was extremely sharp and sound quality excellent. There was controversy at the time for the director using color filters for the musical numbers. If anything, it was distracting.
Nice pic’s! South Pacific .. Great Movie!
Two 1958 photos added. “South Pacific” on the marquee.
Great article, Michael. Love seeing that slow rollout and long runs these films had.
Given all of the recent chatter here about “My Fair Lady,” I suppose I ought to pass along the link to a recently-published historical article on “My Fair Lady,” which includes an overview of its roadshow release, headed, of course, by the lengthy run at the Criterion. Do give the article a peek if you’re a fan of the film and/or of the roadshow era.
Still Loverly: Remembering “My Fair Lady” On Its 50th Anniversary
The new DCP is supposed to be stunning wjphen played in 4K based on reports from people who’ve seen it projected properly and the restoration team. They were also able to use the original tracks for the first time since 1964. The track on the 1994 restoration was from dupes.