Ziegfeld Theatre

The comments regarding re-releases prompted me to recall the days before video tape when it was quite common for studios to re-release the older movies, quite often in the form of a double feature.
We would receive reburbished prints, which meant the film exchange would consolidate several prints together to replace missing footage, the prints with surface scracthes (non emulsion) would be sent to a lab to have the scratches removed or covered up, consoladated industries in New York did most of that work in NY. Prints would then have new thread up leaders attached and shipped off to the theatres. The exception to that was Disney, who always supplied new prints for re-issues.

When “Lady & the Tramp” was recently restored for DVD, I was thinking what a shame they did not re-release it to theatres. It was a Cinemascope cartoon and looked AWESOME on the big screen. I remember the last theatrical re-issue I was running the Cinemart and we were getting full houses even at night.

You have a good memory, Irv. I had to check the Reader’s Digest connection on imdb.com. Apparently, the magazine shared production expenses with Arthur P. Jacobs' Apjac International (I always associate Apjac with the “Planet of the Apes” series). I always thought this was a Disney production, but I am wrong. The score was written by the brotherly partnership of Robert and Richard Sherman, who had worked for Disney since the 1950’s and scored many of their films, including “Mary Poppins”, “The Aristocats”, “Bedknobs & Broomsticks”, “The Jungle Book” and the Winnie the Pooh series. They also took on non-Disney assignments such as “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”, “Charlotte’s Web” and this film. They blessed the human race with Disney Theme Park’s signature song “It’s a Small World” – for better or for worse.

So anyway… I had previously asked about the Ziegfeld’s screen dimensions and was wondering if anyone had an answer for me? I know it’s not the 80 foot curved screen both Vincent and I pine for, but I’m still curious as to just how big it is.

Hey Ed-

I saw the animated Disney’s ‘Robin Hood’ at Radio City as well at the 1973 Christmas Show. They played the film before the live show. How’s that for a full day of entertainment. I gotta give myself credit for actually staying in my seat for that long back then. I recently went to the RCMH Christmas Show this past year with the in-laws and their kids. Those brats couldn’t sit still and keep quiet long enough before their dad had to yank them out of the theater and the show wasn’t even half way over yet. Too much TV!!!

Now that you mention it I do remember seeing ‘Tom Sawyer’ back then starring Johnny Whitaker, Jodie Foster, and Celeste Holm. That’s a blast from the past! Wasn’t it something like “Reader’s Digest Presents”. Probably saw that in the same theater as ‘Mary Poppins’ and ‘Sound of Music’.

My Mom used to take me religiously to see Disney theatrical re-releases. What ever happened to them? Disney continued this practice (albeit with decreasing frequency) right through the early to mid 90’s. I think I remember “Sleeping Beauty” having a re-release not all that long ago. Seems to me that’s why certain classic titles of theirs were offered “for a limited time only” when they came to home video – so that Disney might still have an audience for theatrical re-release of those titles. I always wanted to take my kids to the movies to see my favorite old Disney film “Pinnochio”… but now, I fear, they are growing too old for it to have the same impact as it did when I saw it as a child.

I remember seeing the “Mame” coming attraction at Radio City Music Hall when I saw Disney’s “Robin Hood” (or was it the musical “Tom Sawyer”?) there. I recall thinking at the time what a very long trailer it was – and joking that we didn’t need to come back and see the film as the trailer showed so much of it, even though we did go back to RCMH to see it.

I love that Clearview played the “2001” trailer the other night! I can’t wait to see it once again on the big screen. I hope the print is in good shape and that the entrance music and entr'acte are presented properly.

In my post the fortunate should read unfortunate.

Excellent idea Irv. These films would be perfect for the big screen and families.
if only they could get SOM and Chitty in 70mm.

Good MGM program this week. So why did they choose this Sunday to be closed?!

I saw Mary Poppins a few years ago at the Walter Reade and while a good print the words of the songs were subtitled. This was fortunate.
For the release of the DVD the film should have been rereleased by Disney.
How the kids sit through it today on video I’ll never know.(Do they?) The Ziegfeld should get Disney to get them an archive print. People should be introducing their kids to this movie in a theater. It’s one of the best.

THAT IS:

CLEARVIEWCINEMAS.COM

Bill, since retirement I am busy as ever and rarley get into Manhattan. I am sure it will be a kick seeing some of those wonderfull pictures on the big screen again, and plan on making more of an effort to attend soon.

OK – if that wasn’t a new print of “Temple of Doom”, it was a perfectly preserved old one. Not one scratch or splice in the entire two hours.

I find it interesting to note that the Ziegfeld series appears to be doing decent business despite minimal advertising—-I haven’t seen a single ad in the Times for the series—-an impressive demonstration that there is an audience in the NYC area eager to see classics on the big screen. Kudos to Clearview for taking this chance.

Ya know Bill, I think Clearview has read and acted on the many pro and con comments on this page, many of our complants seem to have been taken seriously. Take a bow everyone, and thanks Clearview!

Hi guys, I’m the new kid here. I was also at the screening of “Raiders” on Saturday. It was great to see not only baby boomers, like me, there but also younger people who couldn’t possibly have seen it 25 years ago and only know it from video. Moreover. I saw plenty of people with their kids—the whole point of the Classics program, bringing these great big screen films to succeeding generations. Be sure to go to Clearviewcinemas.com, click on customer comments, and tell them that you like the concept and want more! They really listen. Suggest titles. Tell them to continue the program during the next slow season. Please be positive and constructive, since this is one of the greatest things to happen in NY cinema in a long time. I’m not knocking Film Forum, MOMA, Moving Image, Walter Reade, etc—all great venues. But the Ziegfeld is the Ziegfeld. Sure, Radio City would be more impressive, but it ain’t happening there. It would be a tragedy to see the Ziegfeld go the way of the Astor Plaza.

Thank you all!!