My mistake on “FORUM”. Did not Road Show, at least not in NY. There in an issue between not recouping costs and “disappointing” runs. Some films like “CLEOPATRA” were labeled flops although they eventually showed a profit.
“The Lion In Winter”, “A Funny Thing Happened…”, “Can-Can”, “How the West Was Won”, and “Mutiny on the Bounty” all ran under 44 weeks first run on Road Show. Define “successes”.
It sounds like they didn’t have a house nut guarantee and simply broke the contract and waited to be sued. Under Walter Reade, when the Ziegfeld couldn’t get an extended house nut deal or a new film, they also closed. Most first run film contracts included a minimum number of showings per week.
bigjoe, there was usually an advance payment made by the theatre with a promise for a minimum run of x weeks. If the box office dropped below a certain point, the distributor guaranteed to keep paying the pre-agreed overhead costs (“house nut”) to stay on screen or the theatre could pull the film if the distributor did not want to keep paying. In Manhattan, even non-roadshow films were often handled this way. Many long runs at the Ziegfeld were subsidized by the distributor just to stay on screen long after they were profitable.
I think in the case of Manhattan, it’s just based on actual distance. Three street blocks here are almost as far as one block of avenues. Those other five theatres are simply closer.
According to Variety, the German branch of 20th Century-Fox deleted all the songs. They felt that nuns singing non-religious songs would be badly received and that the film was too long anyway. When Hollywood found out, they were restored, but it was too late to revive the flop. The shortened film also ended after the wedding even after the songs were restored.
Usually due to bad reviews, bigjoe. “THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD” and “CLEOPATRA” were cases where almost all critics and test audiences said the films were unnecessarily over long.
There were dramatic cases like “SCENT OF MYSTERY” and “STAR!” where the roadshow run was so badly received, the edited versions even had a name change. “HOLIDAY IN SPAIN” and “THOSE WERE THE HAPPY TIMES”, in the case of these two.
Saw “VICE” there today. I was on the top floor and the masking was wrong for the whole movie. If I wanted to complain I would have missed half the movie because there was no staff for four floors.
If you try to complain online it does not allow it unless you bought the ticket online. Ridiculously stupid!
Sadly, If you have “very little on “blacks only”, yiddish and spaces by the indigenous tribes” you have very little that is not already in public domain.
It started showing movies in May 1949 and was operated by E. Bramscombe, who owned the Coral Way Auto Drive-In. The opening night was sponsored by the Optimists Club. Was it a live theatre before then? The awkward location of the projection booth suggests that it was.
“HALF A SIXPENCE” ran for 11 weeks as a Road Show at the Criterion.
My mistake on “FORUM”. Did not Road Show, at least not in NY. There in an issue between not recouping costs and “disappointing” runs. Some films like “CLEOPATRA” were labeled flops although they eventually showed a profit.
“The Lion In Winter”, “A Funny Thing Happened…”, “Can-Can”, “How the West Was Won”, and “Mutiny on the Bounty” all ran under 44 weeks first run on Road Show. Define “successes”.
And this series.
http://cinematreasures.org/blog/2008/9/9/remembering-cinerama
bigjoe, I think the Broadway run was supported by church groups traveling to town from all over the country.
I think the site you are looking for is based on Michael Coate’s excellent research.
https://www.in70mm.com/news/2018/story/index.htm
It sounds like they didn’t have a house nut guarantee and simply broke the contract and waited to be sued. Under Walter Reade, when the Ziegfeld couldn’t get an extended house nut deal or a new film, they also closed. Most first run film contracts included a minimum number of showings per week.
bigjoe, there was usually an advance payment made by the theatre with a promise for a minimum run of x weeks. If the box office dropped below a certain point, the distributor guaranteed to keep paying the pre-agreed overhead costs (“house nut”) to stay on screen or the theatre could pull the film if the distributor did not want to keep paying. In Manhattan, even non-roadshow films were often handled this way. Many long runs at the Ziegfeld were subsidized by the distributor just to stay on screen long after they were profitable.
Another lift and switch project.
https://rew-online.com/2019/04/developer-ready-to-lift-and-tuck-old-theater-in-bold-move-to-create-times-square-star/?fbclid=IwAR3OHLde0xy6i3zsD6-N-nk2CO9Rqa2m_hTUAOIdZh4IrDL6vOhTY9Hsu_Y
Manager/Projectionist Patrick Church wrote a book with details on his days at this theatre. It is called THE SMALLEST SHOW ON EARTH.
bigjoe, the ads you’re seeing are for the New Plaza.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/7894
I am not sure what you are upset about. We seem to agree that documentation on these cinemas is possibly gone forever. I think that is sad.
And my DVD blu ray of “SOLO” seemed to be filmed through Clam Chowder.
“Cinderella” opened at the Mayfair.
I think in the case of Manhattan, it’s just based on actual distance. Three street blocks here are almost as far as one block of avenues. Those other five theatres are simply closer.
According to Variety, the German branch of 20th Century-Fox deleted all the songs. They felt that nuns singing non-religious songs would be badly received and that the film was too long anyway. When Hollywood found out, they were restored, but it was too late to revive the flop. The shortened film also ended after the wedding even after the songs were restored.
In Germany, all the songs were cut. The film, of course, failed.
Usually due to bad reviews, bigjoe. “THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD” and “CLEOPATRA” were cases where almost all critics and test audiences said the films were unnecessarily over long.
There were dramatic cases like “SCENT OF MYSTERY” and “STAR!” where the roadshow run was so badly received, the edited versions even had a name change. “HOLIDAY IN SPAIN” and “THOSE WERE THE HAPPY TIMES”, in the case of these two.
Saw “VICE” there today. I was on the top floor and the masking was wrong for the whole movie. If I wanted to complain I would have missed half the movie because there was no staff for four floors.
If you try to complain online it does not allow it unless you bought the ticket online. Ridiculously stupid!
Now advertising as the New Plaza Cinema.
Sadly, If you have “very little on “blacks only”, yiddish and spaces by the indigenous tribes” you have very little that is not already in public domain.
It started showing movies in May 1949 and was operated by E. Bramscombe, who owned the Coral Way Auto Drive-In. The opening night was sponsored by the Optimists Club. Was it a live theatre before then? The awkward location of the projection booth suggests that it was.
Interesting find, IATSE311! The titles on the marquee (“Con Las Alas Rotas” and “Tango Bar”) are from Argentina.
Mike, love this! Ken Roe how about a “like” button on CT?
When “LADY ICE” opened in South Florida it was advertised as ‘Filmed in Miami’.