The exclusive L.A. engagement of “Guys and Dolls” began with a star-studded charity gala on the night of November 22nd, with public performances starting the next day.
With two major films opening on a national holiday, WB decided to pair them in one ad. “Casablanca” proved such a hit at the Hollywood that it was later moved to the Strand (with a stage show in support).
The screen program included the world premiere of Walt Disney’s Technicolor cartoon, “Ferdinand the Bull,” which went on to earn a fortune in royalties from merchandise tie-ins.
The ad doesn’t mention what film was shown at the charity benefit on opening night. I somehow doubt that it was “Judgment at Nuremberg,” which many people would have already seen by that time.
This ad was a stretch of WB’s imagination. The real draw wasn’t the silent feature but the stage show, reported to be the most spectacular that “Roxy” had ever produced in his career so far.
Advance ad for the second CinemaScope feature, which opened to the public on November 10th, 1953 at Brandt’s Globe and across Broadway at Loew’s State. This was before the “modernization” of Loew’s State, which still had around 3,300 seats.
The Roosevelt Field joined a “Premiere Showcase” already in progress of “Judgment at Nuremberg.” Century was one of the staunchest supporters of the new distribution concept started by United Artists earlier that year, which threatened to end the longtime dominance of the Loew’s and RKO circuits in the Greater New York area.
Century’s Roosevelt Field first opened to the public on August 29h, 1962, with a gala charity event the night before. An ad has been posted in the Photos Section. Seating capacity for the single screen cinema was reported as 1,700.
This was the Roxy’s Thanksgiving holiday presentation for 1948. On the night of the November 22nd opening day, 78 people were killed and many more seriously injured in the crash of an LIRR commuter train in the vicinity of Kew Gardens, Queens.
Grable’s “Coney Island,” which played at the Roxy in 1943, was the basis for “Wabash Avenue,” with background switched to Chicago’s honky tonks at the turn of the century.
By this time, the New Roxy had dropped stage shows and was showing second-run features, including “I’m No Angel” simultaneously with some RKO neighborhood sites.
Opened as a reserved-seat roadshow on December 20th, 1966.
Thanks to advance promotion on radio and recordings, the Technicolor musical already had a #1 song on popularity charts.
The exclusive L.A. engagement of “Guys and Dolls” began with a star-studded charity gala on the night of November 22nd, with public performances starting the next day.
“Hills of Home” was the Thanksgiving holiday movie for that year.
“Madison Square Garden” was a B&W actioner with Jack Oakie as a boxer aiming for a championship bout at guess where?
The beloved composer and bandleader stole the spotlight from the silent feature.
The period musical revived “Aba Daba Honeymoon,” which became a hit single for Jane Powell and Carleton Carpenter on MGM’s own record label.
With two major films opening on a national holiday, WB decided to pair them in one ad. “Casablanca” proved such a hit at the Hollywood that it was later moved to the Strand (with a stage show in support).
The Hamlin re-opened as the modernized Alex on the night of May 22nd, 1938. An ad has been uploaded to the photos section.
This was the first Thanksgiving for the Ziegfeld, which had opened during the Christmas season of 1969 with “Marooned” on screen.
By this date of November 24th, 1966, the Albee, which had always played exclusively ahead of Brooklyn theatres, was reduced to day-and-date status.
Opened on November 19th, 1927, with Thanksgiving Day celebrated on November 24th.
The screen program included the world premiere of Walt Disney’s Technicolor cartoon, “Ferdinand the Bull,” which went on to earn a fortune in royalties from merchandise tie-ins.
The ad doesn’t mention what film was shown at the charity benefit on opening night. I somehow doubt that it was “Judgment at Nuremberg,” which many people would have already seen by that time.
This ad was a stretch of WB’s imagination. The real draw wasn’t the silent feature but the stage show, reported to be the most spectacular that “Roxy” had ever produced in his career so far.
This was the Thanksgiving holiday offering for that year, with a spectacular stage show honoring the American Indian.
Advance ad for the second CinemaScope feature, which opened to the public on November 10th, 1953 at Brandt’s Globe and across Broadway at Loew’s State. This was before the “modernization” of Loew’s State, which still had around 3,300 seats.
The Roosevelt Field joined a “Premiere Showcase” already in progress of “Judgment at Nuremberg.” Century was one of the staunchest supporters of the new distribution concept started by United Artists earlier that year, which threatened to end the longtime dominance of the Loew’s and RKO circuits in the Greater New York area.
Century’s Roosevelt Field first opened to the public on August 29h, 1962, with a gala charity event the night before. An ad has been posted in the Photos Section. Seating capacity for the single screen cinema was reported as 1,700.
This was the Roxy’s Thanksgiving holiday presentation for 1948. On the night of the November 22nd opening day, 78 people were killed and many more seriously injured in the crash of an LIRR commuter train in the vicinity of Kew Gardens, Queens.
Grable’s “Coney Island,” which played at the Roxy in 1943, was the basis for “Wabash Avenue,” with background switched to Chicago’s honky tonks at the turn of the century.
Looking west from Fifth Avenue, the RCA Building is at top center, with the Music Hall to the right (north), and the New Roxy to the left (south).
A photo taken of Richie Andrusco in 2013 can be viewed here: https://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/NY-CD643_FUGITI_P_20130131210623.jpg
Balaban & Katz management also promised first-run movies for the area, plus a stage show on Saturday and Sunday.
By this time, the New Roxy had dropped stage shows and was showing second-run features, including “I’m No Angel” simultaneously with some RKO neighborhood sites.