Ziegfeld Theatre
141 W. 54th Street,
New York,
NY
10019
141 W. 54th Street,
New York,
NY
10019
131 people
favorited this theater
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Actually I’m looking forward to the whole thing. I’ll pretend it’s 40 years ago. I hope the movie lives up to those expectations.
The only time I had reserved seats for a movie back in the roadshow days was for “2001” in 1968 at the Capitol. They were fine seats (front row of the upper mezzanine, or what they called the “divans”), but for that movie and on that screen, front rows of the orchestra would’ve been even better. My dad and I almost moved down there at intermission but chickened out at the last minute (didn’t want to break any reserved-seat rules).
I’m just reading that the running time of Dreamgirls is only 125 minutes. That to me seems hardly long enough to warrant an intermission. I can’t believe that people can’t hold their attention span and/or bladders for at least two hours, without a break. I drank a 44 oz drink watching the final Lord of the Rings and sat through it all without a break and that movie was over 3 hours long!
The Clearview website indicates only two shows a day, at 2 and 8? If you figure 3 hours for the show, plus intermission, surely they can squeeze in more shows to make more money given the two week exclusive run in town.
I will bring this whole intermission thing up at the next screening I attend with Paramont/Dreamworks people in attendance, perhaps I can get to the truth. Meantime, does no one at Clearview know what is up with this? I would hope there will be an overture at least, which of course the guys in the booth will play with the lights out and the curtains open on a white sheet. :(
As for all this roadshow.reserved seating mess, I am done, stick a fork in me I’m done. It was bad enought dealing with all this back then, I am not going to rehash it all again in my old age.
So have fun with this discussion guys I’ll just sit back and read.
I must say it is very entertaining and informative reading all of the posts here.
Vito, you appear to be referring to an article on the “Dreamgirls” roadshow that used the Variety article as a source (“Variety reports, Variety says…”). In my previous post, I was quoting directly from that same Variety article, which specifically said—-as quoted in the last sentence of that post—-that there would be no intermission.
Speaking of “Heaven’s Gate” —– I purchased tickets for the opening night’s performance at Cinema I via mail (and what a memorable night that turned out to be…). Seating was not assigned, however.
Check Please!!
You could always buy tickets at the door for roadshows if seats were available as far back as the pre-Cinerama days. The Philly Boyd, for example, had dual boxoffices. One (inside the lobby) for pre-ordered ticket “pick up,” the other (outside) for time-of-performance sales. On the other hand, the “This Is Cinerama” (70mm version) engagement at the Ziegfeld and elsewhere was reserved performance, not reserved seating. In the early 70’s there were a number of “reserved performance” engagements including “James Joyce’s Uysses,” “Last Tango In Paris,” and “Little Dorrit” (in 2 parts, each part shown on separate days.) I actually can’t remember the last full roadshow (or “hard ticket,” as “Variety” used to call it), where seating was reserved and where ushers would escort the patrons to their correct row. It was probably back in the “Star” or “Hello Dolly” days.
Yes Peter, around that time there was a fine line drawn between roadshows and reserved seating performances (hard ticket)
There also was a 70mm re-release of “This is Cinerama” around that time which was reserved seating. I remember thinking during the engagement of “Fiddler on the Roof”, which was a roadshow, that the end of all this was just about here. Michael Coate probably has more to add on that subject.
The release of the full-length version of “Heaven’s Gate” in 1980 (at the Cinema 1 in NYC) was a roadshow with hard-ticket sales via mail-order. I guess it was probably not an “official” roadshow, since tix could also be bought at the door.
Erik, The roadshow engagement of Dreamgirls is designed to make an evening of moviegoing more like a live theatrical experience.
Variety reports that Hollywood’s Cinerama Dome, New York’s Ziegfeld Theatre and San Francisco’s Metreon will all host the “Dreamgirls” roadshow, which features reserved seating, and an intermission,
The last film to have an official roadshow, Variety says, was another film musical, 1972’s “Man of La Mancha.”
It’s always something around here.
Some of the above posts are assuming that there will be an intermission for the roadshow presentation of “Dreamgirls”: the article in Monday’s edition of Variety stated otherwise. The Variety article is quoted in part below:
“Held in a few select cities, roadshows were designed to make moviegoing an event and more like a live theater experience, complete with intermission. Part of the mystique: higher-priced tickets and reserved seating.
DreamWorks and Paramount are mounting an aggressive awards campaign for “Dreamgirls” and had always planned on a Dec. 15 limited run. Now, they’re taking it a step further.
“Everything old is new again at some point,” said DreamWorks marketing honcho Terry Press.
Par and DreamWorks will spice up the “Dreamgirls” roadshow with lobby exhibits on the making of the film and the opportunity to buy exclusive merchandise and the soundtrack. Those shelling out their $25 also will get a limited-edition program. (The roadshow for Disney’s “Fantasia” also included a program.) There will be no commercials or trailers before “Dreamgirls” rolls and no intermission."
Was it a limited edition program?
I saw in Sunday’s paper the Ziegfeld is having the premiere of Dreamgirls. They are offering $25.00 tickets which include reser ed seats and something else I can’t remember.
Veyoung: The Ziegfeld has a seating chart too, but it’s in the upper lobby (concessions and restrooms area) right before you enter the actual theater. Maybe they will move it to the street-level boxoffice area for the Dreamgirls engagement.
At some theatres I recall, particularly the NY Rivoli or the Philly Midtown, there was a seating chart visible in or next to the boxoffice, and patrons could select their seats if they wished to and, of course, if those seats were available. At the Rivoli I specifically asked for the center section, center seat, about 10 rows back from the curtain. Almost always got my choice.
JodarMovieFan, I am sorry to hear of your negative visit to
Fairfax Cinema Deluxe, perhaps there was some sort of glitch in the ticketing system, which happens during the first week or so of a new theatres opening. Perhaps the screen function which allows you to pick your seat was not working properly, I hope you will visit again where I am sure you will find things have improved. By the way you really need to inform management of problems with staff, the sort of tratment you recieved is simply not tolorated.
As for the Dreamgirls hard ticket presentation, I umderstand the movie will be played in a digital format, the media is accompaned by a script which controls things like lights,curtains etc, it will be interesting to see how the new generation of folks running movies these days will handle this. Somehow I doubt it will be the same as it was in the good ole days.
JodarMovieFan
That sounds more like the old style of ticketing system for reserved seat shows. You bought the date and show time and the theatre box office, placed you in the best seating available.
Vito:
I went to the NA Fairfax Cinema Deluxe 14 within a week of its opening a few years ago. The advertisement of the ‘Director’s Hall’ was interesting and different, so my friends and I made the drive into VA for the ‘experience.’ They didn’t follow policy if we were allowed to choose our seats. We were assigned and seated way up in the back of the theater. I didn’t like being so high up so I decided we’d move down, as did some of our neighbors. The same Usher, who led us to our seats recognized some of us and proceeded to ask for our stubs and returned as back to our original seats. I felt like I was in 1st grade with the assigned seating and later being returned to my seat. Needless to say, I don’t plan on going back there or recommending that venue anytime soon…unless they have a 70mm festival (grin).
Anyway, my question/comment was directed primarily towards the Ziegfeld’s roadshow engagement reserved seating system and my single moviegoing experience with a ‘reserved seating’ arrangement and was curious as to how they had previously worked at this particular venue. After digging around the Clearview site, it seems that for the Dreamgirls engagement your ticket purchase gets you a seat, but once you get your ticket at the theater, the “system will select the best seating available in the auditorium.” That doesn’t sound like a choice to me.
I am a bit miffed by the comment made by JodarMovieFan regarding National Amusements Directors Hall seating policy.
Having been involved in the operation and set up of this policy, during my time with National Amusements, I can tell we did not dictate where a patron may sit. When purchasing Directors Hall tickets, patrons pick exactly which seats they want to sit in.
Ushers will not disturb you if you sit in the wrong seat unless that particular seat was choosen by another patron, at which time you are politly informed of the error and asked, as a courtesy to the other patron, and as delicatly as possible, to kindly move to the seat you originally chose when you purchased your ticket. That is the way the policy is written and I would be very surprised to find it had been violated. When it comes to customer service, their may be others who do it as well but none does it better than National Amusements.
a company I was proud to work for for over 20 years.
At the Arclight the patron can choose his seat based on areas they tell the cashier. (aisle, center etc.) Isn’t Sony the only maker of a 4K projector? If so the Ziegfeld does not have one in their booth. There are only a few of them in the Manhattan area.
The concept of reserved seating for the Dreamgirls engagement means that a computer will assign me a seat at random? Or, can a patron choose his seat and be guaranteed THAT seat for a particular showing? If its like National Amusement’s Director Hall reserved seating system, it sucks. You are told where to sit and an usher will come back and move you if you’ve moved even one seat over.
My memory of watching the last Star Wars movie in DP here was the best (either film or at the DC area DP theaters). If the Dreamgirls engagement is truly a special roadshow presentation, perhaps even with one of the newer 4K projection projectors (wishful), I’ll make the drive up :) Looking at the technical specs of the film’s shooting format (Super 35) perhaps it may not be as pristine when projected as opposed having it shot in HD, but I’m sure it will look very good.
They tried that limited before release, last year with “The Producers”.
The problem with that HYPE is that anything can be called a Roadshow Engagement. At only 10 Days thats a limited platform engagement, before it opens Everywhere at somewhat popular prices. Even the worst Roadshow engagements lasted 8 weeks or longer.
I guess the Dreamwork/Paramount marketing department has been hard at work on this one. At least the El Capitan gives it’s special engagements with ticket prices at $25. Special enter before the regular line goes in seats in the sweet spot of the theatre and popcorn & a soda for that price and admission to the building next door that shows special show related items. The Arclight charges $14.00 for reserved seats.
“Dreamgirls”: the Movie ($10.75), a limited edition program ($14.25) and an intermission (Priceless). ($25.00)
Hey all – great site and I was moved to post to let everyone know…“Dreamgirls” is coming to the Ziegfeld this December as a “Roadshow Engagement!” How exciting is that?
Check Clearview cinemas website – for 10 days this December, the Ziegfeld will show “Dreamgirls” in typical old roadshow fashion. $25 guarantees a reserved seat, a limited edition souvenir program and an intermission!
This could be the first time that I re-enter an actual movie theater since Decemer of 2003 – The last movie I saw in a theater since getting digital projection in my home was “The Return Of The King” at the Loew’s on 42nd street. The last movie I saw at the Ziegfeld was “Chicago” and it was on a cold Sunday matinee and with a packed house, the audience went wild for it!
Vito, I get overwhelmed by the regular IMAX screen, no matter the seat!
I was aware of “Star Wars†3D, but not of “Lord of the Rings†and “Titanicâ€. Incidentally, the Castro in San Francisco recently screened a 70 MM-DTS print of “Titanicâ€.
Unquestionably, IMAX images are beautifully shot. But I get a bigger sense of awe from 70 mm widescreen formats. Guess I’m spoiled, because during the 70’s and early 80’s I used to frequent a now-defunct D-150 theatre. That curved screen was something else…
JSA