Loew's State Theatre

Dennis Z,

Can I get your permission to use your photos of Rivoli, Capitol, Warner/Penthouse, DeMille, and Criterion? My collaborator, Mike Coate, and I are revamping our “70mm In New York” photo gallery section, and your pictures sound like they’d be great additions. Shots from the era you mentioned would be excellent. We can give you credit on the photo gallery page in which these picture would appear.

What resolution would these pictures be in?

Thanks!

Bill

Thanks Dennis, I’d love to see ‘em too. .uk Many thanks.

I would like ‘em too.

Thanks much!

Don Rosen,
I have a “instamatic” snapshot of the State 1 and 2 with the “Chitty” and “Oliver” films on the marquee. If you would like a copy of it, let me know your email address and I will send it to you. I also have pictures of the Rivoli, Capitol, Warner/Penthouse, DeMille, and Criterion all taken in 1967=1968. Just let me know!
Dennis Zimmerman
Lancaster, PA

Took this in 1976

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Does anyone know how large the roadshow screen was at the State from Ben to Dolittle?

Last movie before the Loew’s State was twinned…“The Legend of Lylah Claire” with Kim Novak and Peter Finch. It came in after “Doctor Dolittle”.

I just read the description above. That is incorrect. The Loew’s State was twinned in the late 60s. The first two features were Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Oliver.

I think I saw Doctor Doolittle with Rex Harrison, and Around the World in 80 Days with David Niven at this theater.

Even if roadshows were not on the way out by 1972, “The Godfather” would have been a surprising choice for roadshow exhibition due to its content and rating. More often than not, a film presented as a roadshow was an historical epic or a musical aimed at general audiences, such as “Nicholas and Alexandra” (GP-rated) and “Fiddler on the Roof” (G-rated), two of the final roadshows that were in release at the time of the opening of “The Godfather.” An R-rated roadshow would have been unusual.

A roadshow presentation often required considerable advance planning (booking a theater for an extended run, selling tickets by mail order—-sometimes up to a year in advance of the opening, etc.), and my understanding of the production history of “The Godfather” is that Paramount didn’t realize the quality of the film until late in post production. After all, the film was based on a pulpy (although successful) book, from a young director with an uneven track record with critics and audiences and starring an actor who hadn’t had a hit in over a decade—-not necessarily the elements for a prestige release suitable for roadshow treatment.

Interesting to note, though, that Brando’s next film to debut in NYC was presented on a roadshow basis, albeit one of a non-traditional sort. The initial exclusive run of “Last Tango in Paris” on the Upper East Side was on a “hard ticket” basis; I believe the theater was the Trans Lux East (later The Gotham).

The film was originally going tobe Paramount’s Christmas film for 1971. But because of Post-Production problems between the Studio and the director, it was delayed to March of 1972.

Thanks for the great Godfather ad, Robert. I wonder if Brando attended the premiere? It said the entire cast was going to be there, but somehow I can’t see him being a part of that. Then again, since his career was in a slump at the time, maybe he did.

RobertR I agree with you. Even as a twin the State was a wonderful theater. In 1976, I saw “Leadbelly” the Gordon Parks film about the blues singer Huddie Ledbetter. The night I went they had a special live performance with Brownie McGee (spelling may be wrong) and others talking about and singing Leadbelly songs. Why isn’t this movie on DVD!

Here is an ad mentioning the world premiere of “The Godfather” in State 1 & 2.
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