Excellent pictures, David. Thanks. I was looking for myself in them since I was one of those opening day first-show patrons, but no luck. I’ll never forget the sight of those protestors advancing toward the Ziegfeld from 6th Ave. and 54th carrying all those signs, and seeing the cops stationed at either side of the screen. It was all a little scary, but the movie was great and absolutely worth it.
Just noticed something: you’re showing two of the all-time best remakes ever – both from 1956, from Paramount, in VistaVision, and both partly shot on the continent of Africa. A nice coincidence.
Terry: have you heard anything about Smilebox Blu-Ray releases for the single-strip Cinerama films like “2001”? I asked a Warner Home Video executive about that on an online chat about a year ago, and he said there was a good possibility. The Smilebox edition of “How the West Was Won” was truly spectacular.
That was the first time I was allowed to stay up till midnight to see the end of a movie. It was on the ABC Sunday Night Movie from 9 PM to midnight, in around 1966 or 1967. I was only 11 or 12 and had school the next day, but my parents couldn’t send me to bed before I saw the train wreck and its aftermath. That ending is extremely moving – to me it sums up what show business is all about, and who should know more about that than Cecil B. DeMille?
This theater’s Real3D presentation of “Avatar” was excellent, except when the picture went dark for a short time. Thankfully it was during a purely dialogue scene back at Command HQ. But even that was handled well – an employee walked to the front of the house and told us what the problem was, and that it would soon be fixed. A few years ago when I saw “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” at nearby Columbia Park 12 (when it was under different management), the picture and sound cut out and nobody did anything about it for at least 10 minutes.
GaryC’s comment reminds me that my family and I walked in on the middle of “Mad Mad World” also, at the Victoria in Times Square in late 1964. The first thing I saw was Spencer Tracy talking to his wife on the phone with his feet up on his desk, and I remember thinking how huge the feet looked up on that screen. Imagine if I’d seen it in Cinerama.
Seattle – one of only three cities left in the Cinerama world. Why do two of them have to be on the Pacific Coast and the other one be in England? (I live in New Jersey).
But remember, she didn’t die. The ledge broke her fall. And that movie did have a very effective happy ending. It’s one of my favorites and I only wish I could’ve seen it at the Music Hall.
I guess “Days of Wine and Roses” qualifies as a depressing RCMH film. The scariest horror movie to ever play there: “Wait Until Dark”.
“Auntie Mame” sure did broaden viewers' horizons. For example, I’ll bet that was the first time thousands of kids heard the word “heterosexual” (on the list of overheard words that Patrick didn’t understand).
The Christmas scene really is one of the best in all movies. Another great Christmas scene can be found in, of all the movies you wouldn’t expect to find one in, “The Curse of the Cat People” (1944).
MPol: I bet you’d make the trip for “West Side Story”! Unfortunately the Lafayette just showed it in April 2009 (and I missed it myself), but it may come back again someday.
p7350: If you’re still in the NY/NJ area, and until the Music Hall starts showing movies again, if ever, you can still hear that great cavernous echo sound at the Loew’s Jersey in Jersey City about one weekend a month. It’s not as big as the Music Hall, but it’s pretty close – close enough to produce the echo.
I wish I could see what’s at the Capitol, but it’s barely visible. Some MGM epic, no doubt.
The Loew’s State marquee says IRENE DUNNE CARY GRANT
THE AWFUL TRUTH.
Excellent pictures, David. Thanks. I was looking for myself in them since I was one of those opening day first-show patrons, but no luck. I’ll never forget the sight of those protestors advancing toward the Ziegfeld from 6th Ave. and 54th carrying all those signs, and seeing the cops stationed at either side of the screen. It was all a little scary, but the movie was great and absolutely worth it.
I’m surprised they didn’t find another word to call it besides “Television”. TV and movies were bitter enemies in 1951, right?
The Clearview website is announcing West Side Story (no shows on the 17th), but there’s nothing yet about Funny Girl.
View link
Thanks Craig! There’s nothing like “West Side Story” at the Ziegfeld.
If you’re out there, MPol, this is your dream come true.
Just noticed something: you’re showing two of the all-time best remakes ever – both from 1956, from Paramount, in VistaVision, and both partly shot on the continent of Africa. A nice coincidence.
“The Ten Commandments” – wow! That will break all running time records for Big Screen Classics, right? Will that have a special early start time?
Feelarama was probably an attempt to copy Universal’s Sensurround gimmick, which audiences first heard (and felt) in “Earthquake” the year before.
Terry: have you heard anything about Smilebox Blu-Ray releases for the single-strip Cinerama films like “2001”? I asked a Warner Home Video executive about that on an online chat about a year ago, and he said there was a good possibility. The Smilebox edition of “How the West Was Won” was truly spectacular.
That’s right! It looked like an arm that had all the life drained out of it.
That was the first time I was allowed to stay up till midnight to see the end of a movie. It was on the ABC Sunday Night Movie from 9 PM to midnight, in around 1966 or 1967. I was only 11 or 12 and had school the next day, but my parents couldn’t send me to bed before I saw the train wreck and its aftermath. That ending is extremely moving – to me it sums up what show business is all about, and who should know more about that than Cecil B. DeMille?
Thanks, Vito. I love that movie, and I defend it against people who say it didn’t deserve to win the Best Picture Oscar every chance I get.
This theater’s Real3D presentation of “Avatar” was excellent, except when the picture went dark for a short time. Thankfully it was during a purely dialogue scene back at Command HQ. But even that was handled well – an employee walked to the front of the house and told us what the problem was, and that it would soon be fixed. A few years ago when I saw “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” at nearby Columbia Park 12 (when it was under different management), the picture and sound cut out and nobody did anything about it for at least 10 minutes.
GaryC’s comment reminds me that my family and I walked in on the middle of “Mad Mad World” also, at the Victoria in Times Square in late 1964. The first thing I saw was Spencer Tracy talking to his wife on the phone with his feet up on his desk, and I remember thinking how huge the feet looked up on that screen. Imagine if I’d seen it in Cinerama.
Thanks Mike & Mark. Wow – San Francisco and San Jose are only 42 miles apart. They sure did like their “2001” in that area.
Thanks again, Michael. Is 77 weeks the third-longest run of “2001” in North America, after Toronto and Los Angeles?
Seattle – one of only three cities left in the Cinerama world. Why do two of them have to be on the Pacific Coast and the other one be in England? (I live in New Jersey).
I’ve said it before and this is a good place to say it again: this is the best site on the Internet.
Thanks Ross, Patrick, Ken and Michael, and congratulations on 10 years and many, many more.
But remember, she didn’t die. The ledge broke her fall. And that movie did have a very effective happy ending. It’s one of my favorites and I only wish I could’ve seen it at the Music Hall.
I guess “Days of Wine and Roses” qualifies as a depressing RCMH film. The scariest horror movie to ever play there: “Wait Until Dark”.
I’d also vote for “Mulholland Drive”.
“Auntie Mame” sure did broaden viewers' horizons. For example, I’ll bet that was the first time thousands of kids heard the word “heterosexual” (on the list of overheard words that Patrick didn’t understand).
The Christmas scene really is one of the best in all movies. Another great Christmas scene can be found in, of all the movies you wouldn’t expect to find one in, “The Curse of the Cat People” (1944).
Thanks, Gary, for your reminiscence. You made me realize that the Ziegfeld is 40 years old this month. I’d forgotten all about that.
MPol: I bet you’d make the trip for “West Side Story”! Unfortunately the Lafayette just showed it in April 2009 (and I missed it myself), but it may come back again someday.
p7350: If you’re still in the NY/NJ area, and until the Music Hall starts showing movies again, if ever, you can still hear that great cavernous echo sound at the Loew’s Jersey in Jersey City about one weekend a month. It’s not as big as the Music Hall, but it’s pretty close – close enough to produce the echo.