Paul Simon will “reopen” Manhattan’s historic Beacon Theatre with two concerts next month.
The February 13-14th performances follow a seven-month, $15 million restoration.
The 2,800-seat landmark theater was built in 1928 in the art deco style. Then Warner Bros. purchased the venue and gave it Moroccan and Greek influences.
MSG Entertainment acquired it in November 2006.
Simon first performed at the Beacon in 1990 alongside Paul McCartney and returned for a three-night run in December 2000. He also appeared there in 2003 for Willie Nelson’s nationally televised 70th birthday celebration.
Sat. – 14 Feb.
7:30 PM: “City Lights†with Charlie Chaplin, plus live music on the “Wonder Morton†theatre organ!
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS…
Ushers needed for upcoming Loew’s-Down Blues concert on Friday, 23 Jan., 7:30-11:00 PM.
Assistance also appreciated at movie screenings. To volunteer: e-mail
Free admission and refreshments for volunteer staff at all events!
There will be no classic films in November. This is due to the unavailability of prints for what would have been a “James Bond Weekend” (most likely being “held back” due to the upcoming release of “Quantum of Solace” on November 14th). Instead the Friends have tentatively scheduled a “make-up” weekend for 5-6 December, theme not specified, featuring at least one major “blockbuster” movie, title(s) TBA.
This means back-to-back December film weekends, with a “Holiday†series featuring “The Bishop’s Wife†and “Oliver!†on the evenings of Friday the 12th and Saturday the 13th respectively. In addition, Santa will “visit” the theatre on Saturday afternoon. There will also be live entrance music playing ½ hour before each show on the “Wonder Morton†organ, with the likelihood of an audience sing-a-long as part of the program.
I am pleased to announce that the “Phantom of the Opera†silent film and organ presentation on October 25th set a new attendance record for an FOL movie screening: 817 (according to one of the ticket sellers)! This beat out other major film events, such as the “All About Eve†screening with guest Celeste Holm (earlier this year). From what I am told, it smashed the previous record held by the screening of the rare 1910 Edison Studio version of “Frankenstein†back in April 2003. A second ticket desk had to be opened to accommodate the crowd, which stretched around the corner and up to Magnolia Avenue.
Ralph Ringstad’s performance was sheer brilliance â€" he composed, as well as played, the original score himself! He never missed a beat and his cues were spot on. And talk about dedication – not only did he perform almost three hours (one hour of entrance music and almost two hours for the movie), he was at the theatre all day (since early morning) practicing and preparing for that evening’s show. Loew’s Jersey is truly privileged to have him as the house organist.
This has been a particularly trying week, with the Magnetic Fields rock concert on Thursday night (almost 1300 in attendance) plus film screenings the following two days. The FOL volunteer staff, operating on a skeleton crew, has been stretched to its limits. Considering all of this, the presentation this weekend, especially Saturday night, couldn’t have been any better. Everyone who contributed deserves credit for this tremendous success.
There is the annual Halloween family event coming up this Friday evening (Oct. 31st @ 6 p.m.), with a crowd of about 800 expected. The theatre needs many volunteers to fill specific positions at this event (as well as to decorate and set-up in advance preparation), so come and show your support!
Those were installed sometime in late spring 2008, I believe for a Verizon commercial shoot. The company was gracious enough to provide funding for the restoration, and the theatre got to keep them as a permanent fixture. They really are a beautiful enhancement.
Hopefully, some other generous party will come along to help complete the marquee’s restoration, returning it to its original pre-1949 appearance.
First, I want to mention that I enjoyed the previous weekend’s Marlene Dietrich films.
“Wonder Weekend†was fantastic. The highlight for me was the silent film screening (“Flesh and the Devil†starring Greta Garbo) with live organ accompaniment by Dennis James â€" playing to an audience of approximately 400 film-lovers and theatre organ enthusiasts! The music, scored specifically for this screening, brilliantly complimented the film. The event brought in many new patrons as well as some of the “regularsâ€.
With regards to the comments about the awkward intermission, I am going to defend the projection crew on this one. The film was spread across THREE reels (and the last reel happened to be about only 30 minutes long) â€" therefore, the intermission could not occur exactly midway, or else it would require stopping in the middle of a reel (and stopping after the first reel would have been premature). At almost two hours length, the movie, in my opinion, was long enough to justify a break at some point, if for no other reason than to give the organist a rest! Other than the organist and a couple of patrons, nobody else seemed to notice or care, judging by the overall positive response of the audience.
Organist Ralph Ringstad performing with the Silver Starlite Orchestra on Sunday was a great finish to the weekend. GSTOS is already making plans for another organ concert (Sun., 8 Mar. 2009) (mentioned in the “Wonder Weekend†print program).
Meanwhile, just in time for Halloween, there is the much-anticipated screening of the 1925 silent classic “The Phantom of the Opera†with live organ music (Sat., 25 Oct. @ 8 p.m.) â€" that should be absolutely thrilling! In addition, other horror films that weekend include a Val Lewton double feature: 1942’s “Cat People†and 1945’s “The Body Snatcher†(Fri., 24 Oct. @ 8 p.m.).
Alternative rock band The Magnetic Fields in concert (Thu., 23 Oct. @ 8 p.m.). A crowd of 1500 is expected! (MANY volunteer ushers will be needed – interested parties should contact the theatre.)
Loew’s Jersey and Jersey City present their annual Halloween “Haunted Palace†(Fri. evening, 31 Oct.) â€" “trick-or-treat†goodie bags, live family entertainment and costume contests for kids of all ages. (Volunteer help wanted.)
The 2008-2009 classic film season opens with a weekend featuring one of my personal favorites – sultry cabaret singer and glam actress Marlene Dietrich!
All of the prints for this past weekend’s “Going Ape” film series were, in my opinion, of excellent quality (especially “Planet of the Apes, which I loved seeing in w-i-d-e screen format). As usual, the technical staff were in top form – picture bright and sound clear.
Attendance was 230 for “Planet of the Apes” (considered very good for a Friday night), around 50 for “Mighty Joe Young” (Saturday matinee) and mid- to upper-200s for the “King Kong”/“Son of Kong” double feature. I expected better, considering that these were the last screenings of the 2007-08 film season. Then again, there is the lack of air-conditioning to consider (and the four-day-long heat wave several days earlier, plus hot weather again and torrential rain on Saturday, did not help matters much) – surprisingly, taking all of this into account, the temperature level was not that bad (although I didnâ€\t dare venture upstairs to check the balcony level for comfort)!
There are no plans yet in place for Septemberâ€\s movie weekend (although I do know it will be probably scheduled at the end of the month). However, I CAN tell you to mark your calendars for October 3, 4 & 5 for a MAJOR celebration…
“WONDER WEEKENDâ€: The “official†and formal rededication of the fully-restored Robert Morton “Wonder†Organ! A series of special events will be held to acknowledge the brilliant restoration achievement, as well as to benefit both the Garden State Theatre Organ Society and the Friends of the Loewâ€\s. These include…
Friday, Oct. 3rd:
Buffet Dinner featuring pianist Rio Clemente (5:30-7:30 PM)
and
Jelani Eddington in Concert (8 PM)
(dinner and concert: $60)
Saturday, Oct. 4th:
Lew Williams in Concert (3-5 PM – $30)
Dennis James accompanying a feature-length silent film! (8 PM – $10)
Sunday, Oct. 5th:
Ralph Ringstad Jr. in Concert, along with the 20-piece Silver Starlite Orchestra (2-4 PM – $30)
The above events can be attended on an individual basis. Admission to the entire series is $130 â€" the “package deal” also includes tours of the Loewâ€\s Jersey AND Stanley theatres, luncheon, pizza party and open console session, as well as a commemorative T-shirt.
For more information, and to register in advance for the complete series package, visit the GSTOS “Wonder Weekend†event site.
Volunteer event staff will likely be needed at the theatre throughout the weekend â€" contact the Friends of the Loew’s at to find out when and how to assist.
Attendance figures for some of these screenings surprised me – “A Clockwork Orange” on June 9th did about 300 (surprisingly good for this movie, more so since it was shown on a Friday night). Meanwhile, on June 10th, “Blade Runner: The Final Cut” attracted over 500 fans (no surprise there) while “The Terminator” pulled in…70 (ouch!).
Best turnout that I’ve observed for any film event in the past two years that I’ve been attending as either a patron and volunteer staff. Ticket sales were 129 for the reception/film and 621 for the film. The queue stretched about half way up Magnolia Avenue – the side exit doors to the theatre were utilized for the “movie-only” patrons so that they could be ushered directly into the auditorium without interfering with the reception already in-progress (those guests used the main entrance).
Kudos and much-deserved recognition and appreciation should go to the small army of volunteers working this event with me â€" tireless dedication and diligent teamwork made for a memorable and successful event for all in attendance (I arrived at 1:30 p.m., and the last of us departed at about 1:00 a.m.). Amid a hectic atmosphere and whirlwind of activity, enthusiasm levels remained high among staff as well as patrons. Everyone performed their assigned duties to a tee!
CLASSIC COMEDY WEEKEND exact days and times…
Fri. April 25th
8 p.m.: Marx Bros. in “Duck Soup†(1933) plus two Three Stooges shorts!
Sat. April 26th
4 p.m.: Laurel & Hardy in “Our Relations†(1936) plus one Three Stooges short!
8 p.m.: W.C. Fields double feature: “Never Give a Sucker an Even Break†(1941) — “The Bank Dick†(1940 – Universal’s only surviving 35 mm print of this movie will be shown).
Friday night’s “Princess Bride†had a pretty good-sized crowd for a Friday night.
Surprisingly decent turnout (about 200) for “The Red Balloon”/“White Mane” double feature (considering that it was an early afternoon screening and all foreign films) – lots of families with children.
The screenings of “Beauty and the Beast†and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame†were not as fortunate, with smaller crowds (more adult-less family audiences) â€" not what I would have expected for Saturday night screenings. Coincidentally, on the following evening, I went to a bar in the West Village where they often show classic movies in the background on video monitors â€" when I looked up at one of the screens, there was the same version of “Beauty and the Beast†playing!
I’m sure this season’s remaining film weekends will draw bigger crowds – there’s something for everybody.
April 25-26th: “Classic Comedy†series…
Including: “Duck Soup†(Marx Bros.) and “The Bank Dick†(W.C. Fields)
May 25th: “Clockwork Orangeâ€
May 26th: “Blade Runner: Final Cutâ€
June 13-14th: “Going Ape†series…
Featuring: “Planet of the Apes†-â€" “Mighty Joe Young†-â€" “King Kong†(1933)
Specific days and times to be announced soon.
Let’s not forget…more Bette Davis with the special Saturday, April 12th, 7:30 p.m. screening of “All About Eve”, featuring a live guest appearance by actress Celeste Holm.
Passed by last week and it is entirely gone, storefronts and all. What a shame.
Still, it was a shambles and in a sorry state when it closed. I suppose its demise would have been even sadder had it been in decent condition. How I wish that I had the opportunity to be able to remember it from better times, but never got the chance. From what I’ve read and heard, it had quite a colorful history.
We are slowly watching NYC’s past fade into oblivion, right before our eyes. Gentrification, my arse. The borough of Queens as of late seems to be sliding down a particularly slippery slope.
Bonus: The “Wonder Morton” organ will be put through its paces during the “Bette Davis weekend”, playing pre-show “entrance music”, as movie-goers enter the auditorium before each screening.
More upcoming classic film events…
March 28th & 29th (Fri. & Sat.): FRENCH AND FANTASY
April 12th (Sat. evening): Special Screening of “ALL ABOUT EVE†(1950)
Featuring a live guest appearance by film star Celeste Holm!
(Rescheduled from its original date of March 23rd, 2007.)
ORSON WELLES WEEKEND â€" this MORE than makes up for the absence of movies in January!
Friday, Feb. 1 â€" his first starring role in cinema…
8:00 PM: “Citizen Kane†(1941, 119 min.) – AFI’s #1 film pick on their “100 Years…100 Movies†list.
Saturday, Feb.2 â€" three fabulous features all in one day…
3:00 PM: “The Lady from Shanghai†(1948, 87 min.)
6:30 PM: “The Magnificent Ambersons†(1942, 88 min.)
8:40 PM: “Touch of Evil†(1958, 111 min.) â€"caps off the weekend with the PREMIERE 50th Anniversary screening of a pristine, NEWLY struck print!
PLUS, another classic film weekend (TBA), tentatively scheduled near the month’s end (Feb. 22-23). Monitor the newly redesigned and enhanced Friends’ Website for future updates.
On the other side of the Hudson River in Jersey City (a short trip via PATH commuter railroad) are two must-see landmark theatres…adjacent, well-preserved and easily-accessible.
Loew’s Jersey, 54 Journal Square (on Kennedy Blvd.), directly across from the Transportation Center
Telephone: (201) 798-6055
Although no public events are currently scheduled, members of this theatre’s “Friends” group are often there on weekends doing volunteer work inside â€" perhaps if you ring the doorbell, they’ll allow you in to take a peak.
Stanley Theatre, 2932 Kennedy Blvd. (at Pavonia Ave.), one block north of Loew's
Telephone: (201) 377-3100
This meeting hall for the Jehovah’s Witnesses often hosts free public tours after services and at other times. Give them a call to find out when the next one is scheduled.
For all classic film series fans: some “insider information" regarding upcoming movies for January…
Although never publicly announced or discussed at this past weekend’s movie shows (because NOTHING has been finalized), the Friends are contemplating an Orson Welles film program for the last weekend of January.
The following two titles were mentioned as prime candidates: “Citizen Kane†(1941) and “Touch of Evil†(1958, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of its release).
For a third title, it would be a toss-up â€" if my spotty memory is correct, among those mentioned as possiblities are: “The Lady from Shanghai†(1947), “Journey Into Fear†(1943), “The Third Man†(1949).
Once again, the theme, titles and dates for January are all TENTATIVE – there are NO definite plans! Availability of prints is still UNKNOWN. Please check the theatre’s website regularly for updates – an “official†announcement could come at any time.
Print quality for both films, while not terrible, was indeed spotty, with dropouts, pops, scratches and blemishes, especially for “Miracle on 34th Street. I was told that 20th Century-Fox prints tend to be that way due to poor preservation and care (whereas Warner Bros. prints, for example, tend to be among the best). The technical crew worked well with what they had and the presentations went smoothly, with a bright pictures and super-clear sound.
In a surprising twist, audience size on Friday was actually higher than on Saturday (whose evening shows usually have the highest turnout). Box office tallies indicated that attendance on Friday was close to 300 (with the organ concert no doubt being a major draw) and low 200s on Saturday (perhaps due to the windy chill outside and looming threat of a winter storm later that night). There were many children in attendance (especially for “Mary Poppinsâ€). Strangely, to my eyes, the auditorium on Saturday looked fuller. Regardless, it was two nights of great family entertainment, enjoyed by all who were there!
As a volunteer staffer, I also want to personally express gratitude to those loyal and generous patrons who really got into the “holiday spirit†of giving â€" several made an extra “donation†to the Friends by purchasing tickets and telling us to “keep the changeâ€â€¦one group even remarked that they “love this place.†Thank you!
Due to the ravages of weather and time, large sections of the theatre have suffered severe water damage. Obviously, repairing and/or replacing the roof may stop it from continuing further, but what about the lingering effects?
Before sending ANYONE in there to begin repair work, the entire place would first require thorough mold and mildew abatement and clean up, a VERY expensive process usually undertaken by specially trained and equipped professionals. It is well known and documented that long-term exposure to such (especially without proper protection or ventilation) poses health risks.
Furthermore, the NYC Departments of Health and Environmental Protection, along with OSHA, would probably require air quality testing and monitoring, before and after, to determine the potential for such risks. This would cost even more time and money.
It would become a liability issue to allow volunteers, contractors and others to perform thousands of hours of extensive labor in a setting that many would consider to be “bio-hazardousâ€. The last thing the City wants (or needs) is another “Ground-Zeroâ€-type scenario on its hands.
Post-renovation grand reopening…
(news item condensed from the Beacon Theatre NYC Offical Web Site)
TWO NEW YORK ICONS — ONE HISTORIC MOMENT
Paul Simon will “reopen” Manhattan’s historic Beacon Theatre with two concerts next month.
The February 13-14th performances follow a seven-month, $15 million restoration.
The 2,800-seat landmark theater was built in 1928 in the art deco style. Then Warner Bros. purchased the venue and gave it Moroccan and Greek influences.
MSG Entertainment acquired it in November 2006.
Simon first performed at the Beacon in 1990 alongside Paul McCartney and returned for a three-night run in December 2000. He also appeared there in 2003 for Willie Nelson’s nationally televised 70th birthday celebration.
Event URL: View link
Upcoming classic movie screenings…
ROGER MOORE AS JAMES BOND
Fri. – 30 Jan.
8:00 PM: “The Man with the Golden Gunâ€
Sat. – 31 Jan.
3:30 PM: “For Your Eyes Onlyâ€
7:30 PM: “Octopussyâ€
SPECIAL VALENTINEâ€\S DAY SHOW
Sat. – 14 Feb.
7:30 PM: “City Lights†with Charlie Chaplin, plus live music on the “Wonder Morton†theatre organ!
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS…
Ushers needed for upcoming Loew’s-Down Blues concert on Friday, 23 Jan., 7:30-11:00 PM.
Assistance also appreciated at movie screenings. To volunteer: e-mail
Free admission and refreshments for volunteer staff at all events!
Here are the “bonus” films for December:
5 Dec. (Fri.) – “Island Weirdness” double-feature…
8:00PM: Island of Lost Souls (1932, 1:15) â€"– The Most Dangerous Game (1932, 1:03)
6 Dec. (Sat.) – Transitioning from Halloween to Christmas means thrills and chills in-between…
3:00PM: Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993, 1:16)
7:30PM: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, 1:55)
There will be no classic films in November. This is due to the unavailability of prints for what would have been a “James Bond Weekend” (most likely being “held back” due to the upcoming release of “Quantum of Solace” on November 14th). Instead the Friends have tentatively scheduled a “make-up” weekend for 5-6 December, theme not specified, featuring at least one major “blockbuster” movie, title(s) TBA.
This means back-to-back December film weekends, with a “Holiday†series featuring “The Bishop’s Wife†and “Oliver!†on the evenings of Friday the 12th and Saturday the 13th respectively. In addition, Santa will “visit” the theatre on Saturday afternoon. There will also be live entrance music playing ½ hour before each show on the “Wonder Morton†organ, with the likelihood of an audience sing-a-long as part of the program.
I stand corrected – it was 870 for “Phantom of the Opera” (I heard wrong) – even better!
I knew it was going to be a big draw, but this was truly beyond my highest expectations.
A special “thank you” to patrons is posted on the Friends of the Loew’s Web site.
I am pleased to announce that the “Phantom of the Opera†silent film and organ presentation on October 25th set a new attendance record for an FOL movie screening: 817 (according to one of the ticket sellers)! This beat out other major film events, such as the “All About Eve†screening with guest Celeste Holm (earlier this year). From what I am told, it smashed the previous record held by the screening of the rare 1910 Edison Studio version of “Frankenstein†back in April 2003. A second ticket desk had to be opened to accommodate the crowd, which stretched around the corner and up to Magnolia Avenue.
Ralph Ringstad’s performance was sheer brilliance â€" he composed, as well as played, the original score himself! He never missed a beat and his cues were spot on. And talk about dedication – not only did he perform almost three hours (one hour of entrance music and almost two hours for the movie), he was at the theatre all day (since early morning) practicing and preparing for that evening’s show. Loew’s Jersey is truly privileged to have him as the house organist.
This has been a particularly trying week, with the Magnetic Fields rock concert on Thursday night (almost 1300 in attendance) plus film screenings the following two days. The FOL volunteer staff, operating on a skeleton crew, has been stretched to its limits. Considering all of this, the presentation this weekend, especially Saturday night, couldn’t have been any better. Everyone who contributed deserves credit for this tremendous success.
There is the annual Halloween family event coming up this Friday evening (Oct. 31st @ 6 p.m.), with a crowd of about 800 expected. The theatre needs many volunteers to fill specific positions at this event (as well as to decorate and set-up in advance preparation), so come and show your support!
Re: Marquee underlighting
Those were installed sometime in late spring 2008, I believe for a Verizon commercial shoot. The company was gracious enough to provide funding for the restoration, and the theatre got to keep them as a permanent fixture. They really are a beautiful enhancement.
Hopefully, some other generous party will come along to help complete the marquee’s restoration, returning it to its original pre-1949 appearance.
First, I want to mention that I enjoyed the previous weekend’s Marlene Dietrich films.
“Wonder Weekend†was fantastic. The highlight for me was the silent film screening (“Flesh and the Devil†starring Greta Garbo) with live organ accompaniment by Dennis James â€" playing to an audience of approximately 400 film-lovers and theatre organ enthusiasts! The music, scored specifically for this screening, brilliantly complimented the film. The event brought in many new patrons as well as some of the “regularsâ€.
With regards to the comments about the awkward intermission, I am going to defend the projection crew on this one. The film was spread across THREE reels (and the last reel happened to be about only 30 minutes long) â€" therefore, the intermission could not occur exactly midway, or else it would require stopping in the middle of a reel (and stopping after the first reel would have been premature). At almost two hours length, the movie, in my opinion, was long enough to justify a break at some point, if for no other reason than to give the organist a rest! Other than the organist and a couple of patrons, nobody else seemed to notice or care, judging by the overall positive response of the audience.
Organist Ralph Ringstad performing with the Silver Starlite Orchestra on Sunday was a great finish to the weekend. GSTOS is already making plans for another organ concert (Sun., 8 Mar. 2009) (mentioned in the “Wonder Weekend†print program).
Meanwhile, just in time for Halloween, there is the much-anticipated screening of the 1925 silent classic “The Phantom of the Opera†with live organ music (Sat., 25 Oct. @ 8 p.m.) â€" that should be absolutely thrilling! In addition, other horror films that weekend include a Val Lewton double feature: 1942’s “Cat People†and 1945’s “The Body Snatcher†(Fri., 24 Oct. @ 8 p.m.).
Other coming attractions…
The UFO-themed “Culture of Contact†festival, featuring an 35mm print screening of the 1953 sci-fi classic “War of the Worlds†(Fri., 17 Oct. @ 9 p.m.).
Alternative rock band The Magnetic Fields in concert (Thu., 23 Oct. @ 8 p.m.). A crowd of 1500 is expected! (MANY volunteer ushers will be needed – interested parties should contact the theatre.)
Loew’s Jersey and Jersey City present their annual Halloween “Haunted Palace†(Fri. evening, 31 Oct.) â€" “trick-or-treat†goodie bags, live family entertainment and costume contests for kids of all ages. (Volunteer help wanted.)
…a VERY busy autumn at Loew’s Jersey!
The 2008-2009 classic film season opens with a weekend featuring one of my personal favorites – sultry cabaret singer and glam actress Marlene Dietrich!
26 Sept. (Friday)
8 p.m.: “Der Blaue Engel†(“The Blue Angelâ€) (1930, 1:46)
27 Sept. (Saturday)
7 p.m.: “Shanghai Express†(1932, 1:20)
9 p.m.: “Destry Rides Again†(1939, 1:34)
Still going strong as a concert venue, with alternative rock shows…
17-18 Sept. 2008, 8 PM: Sigur Ros, Parachutes (SOLD OUT)
9-10 Oct. 2008, 8 PM: Beck (Modern Guilt Tour), MGMT (SOLD OUT)
For more information, see: The Bowery Presents and Beck: Modern Guilt.
As noted in a prior post, this venue is now known as “John W. Engeman Theater [at Northport]”.
Its official URL is: http://www.johnwengemantheater.com
All of the prints for this past weekend’s “Going Ape” film series were, in my opinion, of excellent quality (especially “Planet of the Apes, which I loved seeing in w-i-d-e screen format). As usual, the technical staff were in top form – picture bright and sound clear.
Attendance was 230 for “Planet of the Apes” (considered very good for a Friday night), around 50 for “Mighty Joe Young” (Saturday matinee) and mid- to upper-200s for the “King Kong”/“Son of Kong” double feature. I expected better, considering that these were the last screenings of the 2007-08 film season. Then again, there is the lack of air-conditioning to consider (and the four-day-long heat wave several days earlier, plus hot weather again and torrential rain on Saturday, did not help matters much) – surprisingly, taking all of this into account, the temperature level was not that bad (although I didnâ€\t dare venture upstairs to check the balcony level for comfort)!
There are no plans yet in place for Septemberâ€\s movie weekend (although I do know it will be probably scheduled at the end of the month). However, I CAN tell you to mark your calendars for October 3, 4 & 5 for a MAJOR celebration…
“WONDER WEEKENDâ€: The “official†and formal rededication of the fully-restored Robert Morton “Wonder†Organ! A series of special events will be held to acknowledge the brilliant restoration achievement, as well as to benefit both the Garden State Theatre Organ Society and the Friends of the Loewâ€\s. These include…
Friday, Oct. 3rd:
Buffet Dinner featuring pianist Rio Clemente (5:30-7:30 PM)
and
Jelani Eddington in Concert (8 PM)
(dinner and concert: $60)
Saturday, Oct. 4th:
Lew Williams in Concert (3-5 PM – $30)
Dennis James accompanying a feature-length silent film! (8 PM – $10)
Sunday, Oct. 5th:
Ralph Ringstad Jr. in Concert, along with the 20-piece Silver Starlite Orchestra (2-4 PM – $30)
The above events can be attended on an individual basis. Admission to the entire series is $130 â€" the “package deal” also includes tours of the Loewâ€\s Jersey AND Stanley theatres, luncheon, pizza party and open console session, as well as a commemorative T-shirt.
For more information, and to register in advance for the complete series package, visit the GSTOS “Wonder Weekend†event site.
Volunteer event staff will likely be needed at the theatre throughout the weekend â€" contact the Friends of the Loew’s at to find out when and how to assist.
For the final classic film weekend of the 2007-08 season, Loew’s Jersey “Goes Ape"…
Friday, June 13th
8:00 PM: “Planet of the Apes†(1968, 1:52)
Saturday, June 14th
3:30 PM: “Mighty Joe Young†(1949, 1:24)
7:00 PM – double feature: “King Kong†(1933, 1:40) — “Son of Kong†(1933, 1:10 – starts Alex Theatre:55 PM)
Attendance figures for some of these screenings surprised me – “A Clockwork Orange” on June 9th did about 300 (surprisingly good for this movie, more so since it was shown on a Friday night). Meanwhile, on June 10th, “Blade Runner: The Final Cut” attracted over 500 fans (no surprise there) while “The Terminator” pulled in…70 (ouch!).
Best turnout that I’ve observed for any film event in the past two years that I’ve been attending as either a patron and volunteer staff. Ticket sales were 129 for the reception/film and 621 for the film. The queue stretched about half way up Magnolia Avenue – the side exit doors to the theatre were utilized for the “movie-only” patrons so that they could be ushered directly into the auditorium without interfering with the reception already in-progress (those guests used the main entrance).
Kudos and much-deserved recognition and appreciation should go to the small army of volunteers working this event with me â€" tireless dedication and diligent teamwork made for a memorable and successful event for all in attendance (I arrived at 1:30 p.m., and the last of us departed at about 1:00 a.m.). Amid a hectic atmosphere and whirlwind of activity, enthusiasm levels remained high among staff as well as patrons. Everyone performed their assigned duties to a tee!
Correction regarding above post (show times TBA):
May 9th: “A Clockwork Orange†(1971)
May 10th: “Blade Runner: The Final Cut†(2007 [1982])
CLASSIC COMEDY WEEKEND exact days and times…
Fri. April 25th
8 p.m.: Marx Bros. in “Duck Soup†(1933) plus two Three Stooges shorts!
Sat. April 26th
4 p.m.: Laurel & Hardy in “Our Relations†(1936) plus one Three Stooges short!
8 p.m.: W.C. Fields double feature: “Never Give a Sucker an Even Break†(1941) —
“The Bank Dick†(1940 – Universal’s only surviving 35 mm print of this movie will be shown).
Friday night’s “Princess Bride†had a pretty good-sized crowd for a Friday night.
Surprisingly decent turnout (about 200) for “The Red Balloon”/“White Mane” double feature (considering that it was an early afternoon screening and all foreign films) – lots of families with children.
The screenings of “Beauty and the Beast†and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame†were not as fortunate, with smaller crowds (more adult-less family audiences) â€" not what I would have expected for Saturday night screenings. Coincidentally, on the following evening, I went to a bar in the West Village where they often show classic movies in the background on video monitors â€" when I looked up at one of the screens, there was the same version of “Beauty and the Beast†playing!
I’m sure this season’s remaining film weekends will draw bigger crowds – there’s something for everybody.
April 25-26th: “Classic Comedy†series…
Including: “Duck Soup†(Marx Bros.) and “The Bank Dick†(W.C. Fields)
May 25th: “Clockwork Orangeâ€
May 26th: “Blade Runner: Final Cutâ€
June 13-14th: “Going Ape†series…
Featuring: “Planet of the Apes†-â€" “Mighty Joe Young†-â€" “King Kong†(1933)
Specific days and times to be announced soon.
Let’s not forget…more Bette Davis with the special Saturday, April 12th, 7:30 p.m. screening of “All About Eve”, featuring a live guest appearance by actress Celeste Holm.
Passed by last week and it is entirely gone, storefronts and all. What a shame.
Still, it was a shambles and in a sorry state when it closed. I suppose its demise would have been even sadder had it been in decent condition. How I wish that I had the opportunity to be able to remember it from better times, but never got the chance. From what I’ve read and heard, it had quite a colorful history.
We are slowly watching NYC’s past fade into oblivion, right before our eyes. Gentrification, my arse. The borough of Queens as of late seems to be sliding down a particularly slippery slope.
Bonus: The “Wonder Morton” organ will be put through its paces during the “Bette Davis weekend”, playing pre-show “entrance music”, as movie-goers enter the auditorium before each screening.
More upcoming classic film events…
March 28th & 29th (Fri. & Sat.): FRENCH AND FANTASY
“La Belle et la bête†(“Beauty and the Beast†– French, 1946)
“Le Ballon Rouge†(“The Red Balloon†– French, 1956) & “Crin Blanc†(“White Mane†– French, 1953)
“The Princess Bride†(USA, 1987)
April 12th (Sat. evening): Special Screening of “ALL ABOUT EVE†(1950)
Featuring a live guest appearance by film star Celeste Holm!
(Rescheduled from its original date of March 23rd, 2007.)
Coming soon!
CENTENNIAL TRIBUTE TO BETTE DAVIS – the diva at her best…
Fri. Feb. 29th and Sat. Mar. 1st:
“Jezebel” — “Now, Voyager” — “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?”
SPECIAL FILM EVENT – by popular demand, on the HUGE Loew’s screen where it belongs…
The evening of Sat. May 10th:
“Blade Runner: Final Cut” (a 25th Anniversary special edition)
The ulitmate version of this cult sci-fi classic is FINALLY here!
ORSON WELLES WEEKEND â€" this MORE than makes up for the absence of movies in January!
Friday, Feb. 1 â€" his first starring role in cinema…
8:00 PM: “Citizen Kane†(1941, 119 min.) – AFI’s #1 film pick on their “100 Years…100 Movies†list.
Saturday, Feb.2 â€" three fabulous features all in one day…
3:00 PM: “The Lady from Shanghai†(1948, 87 min.)
6:30 PM: “The Magnificent Ambersons†(1942, 88 min.)
8:40 PM: “Touch of Evil†(1958, 111 min.) â€"caps off the weekend with the PREMIERE 50th Anniversary screening of a pristine, NEWLY struck print!
PLUS, another classic film weekend (TBA), tentatively scheduled near the month’s end (Feb. 22-23). Monitor the newly redesigned and enhanced Friends’ Website for future updates.
On the other side of the Hudson River in Jersey City (a short trip via PATH commuter railroad) are two must-see landmark theatres…adjacent, well-preserved and easily-accessible.
Loew’s Jersey, 54 Journal Square (on Kennedy Blvd.), directly across from the Transportation Center
Telephone: (201) 798-6055
Although no public events are currently scheduled, members of this theatre’s “Friends” group are often there on weekends doing volunteer work inside â€" perhaps if you ring the doorbell, they’ll allow you in to take a peak.
Stanley Theatre, 2932 Kennedy Blvd. (at Pavonia Ave.), one block north of Loew's
Telephone: (201) 377-3100
This meeting hall for the Jehovah’s Witnesses often hosts free public tours after services and at other times. Give them a call to find out when the next one is scheduled.
For all classic film series fans: some “insider information" regarding upcoming movies for January…
Although never publicly announced or discussed at this past weekend’s movie shows (because NOTHING has been finalized), the Friends are contemplating an Orson Welles film program for the last weekend of January.
The following two titles were mentioned as prime candidates: “Citizen Kane†(1941) and “Touch of Evil†(1958, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of its release).
For a third title, it would be a toss-up â€" if my spotty memory is correct, among those mentioned as possiblities are: “The Lady from Shanghai†(1947), “Journey Into Fear†(1943), “The Third Man†(1949).
Once again, the theme, titles and dates for January are all TENTATIVE – there are NO definite plans! Availability of prints is still UNKNOWN. Please check the theatre’s website regularly for updates – an “official†announcement could come at any time.
Print quality for both films, while not terrible, was indeed spotty, with dropouts, pops, scratches and blemishes, especially for “Miracle on 34th Street. I was told that 20th Century-Fox prints tend to be that way due to poor preservation and care (whereas Warner Bros. prints, for example, tend to be among the best). The technical crew worked well with what they had and the presentations went smoothly, with a bright pictures and super-clear sound.
In a surprising twist, audience size on Friday was actually higher than on Saturday (whose evening shows usually have the highest turnout). Box office tallies indicated that attendance on Friday was close to 300 (with the organ concert no doubt being a major draw) and low 200s on Saturday (perhaps due to the windy chill outside and looming threat of a winter storm later that night). There were many children in attendance (especially for “Mary Poppinsâ€). Strangely, to my eyes, the auditorium on Saturday looked fuller. Regardless, it was two nights of great family entertainment, enjoyed by all who were there!
As a volunteer staffer, I also want to personally express gratitude to those loyal and generous patrons who really got into the “holiday spirit†of giving â€" several made an extra “donation†to the Friends by purchasing tickets and telling us to “keep the changeâ€â€¦one group even remarked that they “love this place.†Thank you!
Yet another fix-up cost to consider:
Due to the ravages of weather and time, large sections of the theatre have suffered severe water damage. Obviously, repairing and/or replacing the roof may stop it from continuing further, but what about the lingering effects?
Before sending ANYONE in there to begin repair work, the entire place would first require thorough mold and mildew abatement and clean up, a VERY expensive process usually undertaken by specially trained and equipped professionals. It is well known and documented that long-term exposure to such (especially without proper protection or ventilation) poses health risks.
Furthermore, the NYC Departments of Health and Environmental Protection, along with OSHA, would probably require air quality testing and monitoring, before and after, to determine the potential for such risks. This would cost even more time and money.
It would become a liability issue to allow volunteers, contractors and others to perform thousands of hours of extensive labor in a setting that many would consider to be “bio-hazardousâ€. The last thing the City wants (or needs) is another “Ground-Zeroâ€-type scenario on its hands.