The Castro Theater in San Francisco showed ‘Mary Poppins’ last month for 6 days with on-screen lyrics so the audience could sing along. Not that I would want on-screen sing along lyrics but it would be cool to see on the big screen for sure. Speaking of The Castro they seem to have a pretty healthy revival calendar. The Ziegfeld and Lowes Jersey do a great job here in the East, but I think our friends out on the West coast have us beat in the film revival department.
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’.
Little flashback on when I saw the re-releases of ‘Poppins’ and ‘Sound of Music’. I distinctly remember seeing the trailers for ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ and ‘Mame’ when I saw both of these in the theater. I think the trailer for ‘JCS’ was before the ‘Sound of Music’ screening and the ‘Mame’ trailer before ‘Poppins’. So that would make this 1973 and ‘74 respectively. I remember being a little spooked by the 'JCS’ trailer. As a little kid the idea of hippies and Jesus was a concept to big and abstract for my little head. I also remember seeing the ‘Mame’ trailer and knowing who Lucy was. Funny to think that rock bands like Led Zeppelin and the New York Dolls were at their peak at that time and I was just a little kid being dragged by my mom to see musicals at the movie theater.
About Mary Poppins, I totally agree. I was lucky enough to see this as a kid in the theater when it was in re-release in the early 70s. Also a year or two before or after I saw ‘The Sound of Music’ and ‘Oliver’ in a theatrical re-release. Gotta thank my Mom for thinking of taking me to all of those. Experiences I’ll never forget and perhaps a contributing factor to my big screen fandom. The Ziegfeld should maybe do a ‘film for kids of all ages’ and include ‘Mary Poppins’, ‘Sound of Music’, and maybe ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ or another big screen disney classic that I can’t think of right now.
Ed-can’t argue with your comments about ‘crossing all the T’s and dotting all the I’s’ when it comes to presenting the films. However, when I see the Ziegfeld advertising “films the way they were meant to be seen” as far as I’m concerned that means ‘seeing them on the big screen and NOT seeing them on TV’, and in fact they are presenting these films the way they were meant to be seen. “Ben-Hur” is a stellar example of that. That film should only be seen on the big screen.
Yeah, it would be great if the Ziegfeld would do all the curtain and light cues, but it would also be great if we could see these films at the Rivoli, or the Capitol, or even the original Ziegfeld. It would also be great if we could go back to 1959 and see ‘Ben-Hur’ in it’s first run, but that obviously isn’t going to happen. I don’t have much to complain about with this series. I’m am more than pleased that it is happening, and ‘Ben-Hur’ for example was one of the best movie-going experiences I’ve had in a while, so I’m not gonna sweat the curtain and light cues. If they do them great, if they don’t well….they don’t.
I agree, it would be nice to have an intermission during the long films (for the bathroom) and the right cues for the overtures and things like that, but c'mon, enough of the hair splitting. As long as I can see any of these films on the screen at the Ziegfeld from beginning to end, in focus with decent audio and hopefully no frames missing, than that’s fine with me. The other details are icing on the cake! Just be happy this kind of thing is happening. Hopefully film revival in New York City will be making a comeback and we will have schedules like this one all through the year.
Just saw the 4:30 screening of ‘Ben Hur’. I have never seen this film before and I can’t imagine ever seeing it on television after seeing it on the big screen like this. This film was JAW DROPPINGLY amazing. One of the best films I have ever seen. Story, acting, cinematography, and last but not least action, were 5 star all around.It’s amazing that a film that was made nearly 50 years ago can be as powerful as this. Just in terms of action I don’t think any of these explosion films that are made today could hold a candle to this film. ‘Ben Hur’ has style AND substance, or as the say in film school ‘form and content’. It was a really profound experience. As far as print quality I would give this a 4 out of a possible 5. While there were some inconsistencies in contrast and color from reel to reel, some parts of the film were as colorful and sharp as I have ever seen. Particulary the part when Quintus Arrius announces his adoption of Judah (Charles Heston). My only other minor grievance is the way the overture was presented. Tell me if I am wrong, but should the lights in the theater not be completely lowered during that time? My impression, especially from Robert Wise’s memo for ‘West Side Story’ is that the lights should only be partially lowered for the overture, otherwise you are sitting in the dark looking at a dark screen for 10 or more minutes like we did this afternoon. Totally nitpicking here, but what the hell.
Once again great job by the theater staff. Hail Ziegfeld!! New York seems like New York again when you go to something like this. Amazing film in a really amazing theater. My mind was truly blown to pieces. This is one for the books.
Great news! So glad to hear once again that the classics series is working out for Clearview and the Ziegfeld. I am totally excited about all of the new films you have announced today. I think the largest screen I’ve ever seen ‘2001’ was at the Loews Astor Plaza a few years ago. I’m sure it will be great seeing it at the Ziegfeld. I haven’t seen ‘Close Encounters’ on the big screen since it’s first release back in 1978. I’ve never seen ‘Singin inthe Rain’, ‘Doctor Zhivago’ or ‘Alien’ at all so I’ll be at the Ziegfeld alot in the next few weeks. Thanks for responding to the board and keeping your eyes and ears open.
P.S. just a little New York City revival house trivia: Back in the summer of ‘90 or '91 Radio City did a very limited run of 'Blade Runner’. I think it may have been one or two nights only. The screening that I went to completely SOLD OUT. Every seat in Radio City that night was filled to see that movie. Amazing! Some of the live acts at Radio City can’t even sell out the house at times! I’m predicting that at least one of the films you’re showing in this line up will do the same at the Ziegfeld. Wouldn’t be surprised if it happened with all of the ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Indiana Jones’ movies as well. A few of the last times I can remember being at the Ziegfeld when the house was full/sold out was at ‘Edward Scissorhands’ and a midnight screening on opening night of the lame Oliver Stone biopic ‘The Doors’. The crowd was alot of fun at that one and they did crank the music. Alot of drunk and stoned rock fans in there that night. Got pretty wild. It was almost like going to an actual rock show.
Film Forum is sponsored and run by individuals that come from more of a film ‘fellowship’ if you will than the Ziegfeld. Not to take anything away from the mangement of the Ziegfeld, but the people at Film Forum, because of their backgrounds might pay more attention to issues like having new prints, etc. Once again, not dissing or taking away anything from the Ziegfeld. Did you see the print of ‘The Gang’s All Here’ at Film Forum? I know that not many of those prints exist, but the one that Film Forum had last summer was not in the best of shape by any means. Scratchy, frames missing. Parts of it were a real mess. Why didn’t Film Forum decide NOT to run that film at all because of it’s condition? Did they exaust all of THEIR resources, from their illustrious board of directors or trustees, or whatever they call it to have a new print made if a good negative of that film even exists?
The point is, is that these films are OLD, and in all the years that I was going to revival houses when there were still alot of them in the city, you always ran into a bad print here and there. I remember seeing ‘Easy Rider’ at Theater 80-Saint Mark’s about 15 years ago and they screened the made for TV print! It was hilarious. Parts of the film were totally cut out including the part where Dennis Hopper flips off the truck drivers at the end. Snipped right out!
What more do you want? They just held over the classics series at the Ziegfeld and you have one of the people involved in management looking at this board, responding directly to us, and trying to accomodate our very specific film viewing needs. Cut ‘em some slack! I don’t think you need to pressure anybody about what has already happened and been addressed.
Film Forum is sponsored and run by individuals that come from more of a film ‘fellowship’ if you will than the Ziegfeld. Not to take anything away from the mangement of the Ziegfeld, but the people at Film Forum, because of their backgrounds might pay more attention to issues like having new prints, etc. Once again, not dissing or taking away anything from the Ziegfeld. Did you see the print of ‘The Gang’s All Here’ at Film Forum? I know that not many of those prints exist, but the one that Film Forum had last summer was not in the best of shape by any means. Scratchy, frames missing. Parts of it were a real mess. Why didn’t Film Forum decide NOT to run that film at all because of it’s condition? Did they exaust all of THEIR resources, from their illustrious board of directors or trustees, or whatever they call it to have a new print made if a good negative of that film even exists?
The point is, is that these films are OLD, and in all the years that I was going to revival houses when there were still alot of them in the city, you always ran into a bad print here and there. I remember seeing ‘Easy Rider’ at Theater 80-Saint Mark’s about 15 years ago and they screened the made for TV print! It was hilarious. Parts of the film were totally cut out including the part where Dennis Hopper flips off the truck drivers at the end. Snipped right out!
What more do you want? They just held over the classics series at the Ziegfeld and you have one of the people involved in management looking at this board, responding directly to us, and trying to accomodate our very specific film viewing needs. Cut ‘em some slack! I don’t think you need to pressure anybody about what has already happened addressed.
So glad to hear the great news about extending the classics festival! It’s great to know that A) there will be more classic films and more reasons for me to go to The Ziegfeld, a place I really love and B) that Clearview and the management of the Ziegfeld have found this a worthwhile endeavor. Obviously the numbers are good and people are filling the seats. Contrary to popular opinion, there IS an audience for this type of entertainment that goes beyond film geeks like us here on Cinema Treasures. It just goes to show that if you present something and you do it with class you can’t lose. I hope the classics series continues well beyond March and we see this as a regular attraction at the Ziegfeld. Film revival is something that was always one of the great aspects with living in the New York City area. It has been gone for far too long and hopefully with this classics series we will be seeing it’s long overdue renaissance.
I hate to tell you this but if you were born in 1987 you aren’t ‘part of Gen-X’. Gen-Xers are those born immediately following the baby boom generation (1960s-1970s) and grew up in th 80s. I mean who cares about labels ultimately. If you want to be Gen-X then you’re Gen-X. It’s not like it’s on my driver’s license or something. But for pop culture purists and sociologists someone like yourself would not be part of that generation. I’ve heard labels for your generation like ‘Generation-Y’ and something 60 Minutes called ‘The Echo Boomers’ which to me was totally bogus. Anyway, you were born 3 years after I graduated high school….eesh. What a thought.
Can’t wait to see ‘10 Commandments’ at the Loews Jersey!!
Theaterat…I know. This whole thing is totally off topic. Sorry to take up all the space. One final thing: I know the 80s weren’t even close to being what the 60s were, but compared to now it seems like a time of cultural fertility (is that a phrase?), it was still a good time to grow up in. And yeah CC, you aren’t the only one. iPods aren’t only making people physically deaf, they’re making them mentally deaf as well.
I don’t know about that Ron Newman. I wouldn’t just say we’re ‘too old’ to understand what they’re doing. I would love for a really great rock band, for example, to come out of the current youth generation. I know that if it was there I would be listening to it. A good example in the last few years isThe White Stripes. When they came around about 6 or so years ago, one could argue that I was ‘too old’ to understand them. At that point I was just approaching my mid-thirties. But once I found out about them I was an instant fan because they come from a REAL place. I bought their records, went to their shows just like any other ‘kid’
Another example is the 60s/Baby Boom generation. The things that that generation did in terms of popular culture effected EVERYONE. From entertainment to design, etc. the hippie and/or psychedelic ethic was everywhere because it came from a REAL place. People (even those above age 30) were either totally immersed in it (look at something like Laugh-In), or trying very hard to understand it (the WWII genration). It was the subject of documentaries and lengthy articles. It was young people DOING something. I don’t see that happening now. Youth today does nothing earth shattering and will leave behind a weak legacy when they move ahead to their 30s and 40s.
And CC you’re totally right, the 80s, as boring as they could seem sometimes, really were the last stand in terms of true cutting edge. I hate to admit it, but in some ways I wish those days were still around (cue violins).
CC I hear you on the ‘time marches on factor’, but just for the reocord I have to say that I’m not jealous of the kids today (I said it again). Usually us aging people are supposed to wish we were younger, I guess alot of people do but I would in no way shape or form want to be a young person today. They don’t know it but their world is significantly more boring than mine was as a kid. In fact I would argue that the kids that grew up when I did, in the 80s & 90s, the so-called ‘Gen-X’ people, really had a good span of time when being young really still meant something. In fact I would say that good old American post war youth culture started with rock and roll in the 50s with Elvis, etc. and from where I’m sitting probably ended somewhere in the 90s. I don’t know how to explain that further, but in a short way but I’ll use the example of living in New York City 20 years ago: coming to New York for me back then meant being as experimental and as crazy as I wanted to be because the resources for being that way in this town were unlimited. And I’m not just talking about partying, I’m talking about real life changing, educational, revelations (and partying), the things that being young are REALLY about. Not being plugged into an iPod 24/7. I see all these kids moving into town now and I just think..what are they doing here? It’s pretty much over for the city at this point. Are they here to hang out it in Williamsburg? Poseur haven of the universe?
Before I get off my soap-box, I’ll just say that youth is a state of mind, and I definitely know that in light of all the things I just said about the current generation of young people, that I am WAAAY younger than they are.
Let’s face it WSS is a LONG movie. While I really enjoyed seeing it at The Ziegefeld, I went more as a film historian/buff, whatever you want to call it than I did as a fan of musicals or of WSS. There were moments when I was briefly wishing that things would move along at a faster pace. But I also reminded myself that this film was not made for the 2006 audience. It was made for the people of the late 50s and early 60s who were more interested not only in musicals but actually going out and sitting in a movie theater for 2 ½ hours. As we all know movie-going back then was a different more significant experience than it is now. Film school taught me to expand my attention span which as a kid raised in the 70s, was probably shorter than previous generations but no doubt LONGER than kids today, that’s for sure. Overall, the length of this film didn’t take anything away from the experience of seeing it on the big screen.
I agree…cut the Ziegfeld some slack on the prints. Some of the older ones may have some problems. If they’re are not in the best of shape, what can you do, THEY’RE OLD MOVIES! Just be glad that something like this is happening. I’m not saying that it’s great to sit through a crappy print of a film, but c'mon. I’d rather go see a not so great print of an old film at a place like the Ziegfeld than see a boring stupid new film somewhere else. Quit the whining. Support the Ziegfeld and support film revival in this area. WE NEED IT!
I think all of your ideas are really great. Also speaking with all due respect here, but the Loews Jersey needs to have a more active schedule. I think if there is an issue with it’s survival, it has to show that it’s not just sitting there with a few films scheduled once a month. I also say that because I want to go there more often. Maybe they can also try using it more often as a live music venue. I know that Bright Eyes played there not that long ago, maybe they can do more like that, and it would probably bring in more revenue. Hell if there was some good bands playing there I would definitely go. Overall, if they want to avoid being shut down, they’re going to have to step up their activity a bit. They should A) fix the air conditioning so the place can stay open in the summer and B) book as many films and events as possible. Maybe that’s easier said than done, but it’s my two cents.
Great photos of the interior. I have lived in this neighborhood for about 13 years and only a few years back it after walking past and patronizing the deli that used to be the Loews Hollywood, it suddenly dawned on me that the building was an old theater. How the HELL did you get in there?? Was it as simple as asking the owners? Please do tell as I would love to get in there myself. Now if we can only unearth some photos of the exterior as it was back then, that would be REALLY cool.
Just an FYI to all the Cinema Treasure people in the New York/New Jersey area: The Forum Theater will be screening ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ as part of their Silver Screen Series on Feb. 25 at 8pm. For all of you New York City people, Metuchen is very easy to get to by NJ Transit rail. The Forum is about a 5-10 minute walk from the train station. I haven’t seen a film there since I was a child so I don’t know how good or bad they are at doing it, but I’m sure it will be cool. Whatever the case may be, get out to The Forum and support the theater AND film revival in this area! There have been some great film revival events happening in this area in the last year. Let’s keep it going!!!!
I was also at the screening of WSS at The Ziegfeld tonight and everything that Bill has just written above is true. Great night. It’s great to see films on that big Ziegfeld screen that were shot by cinematographers that really made use of the wide screen format. Some of the shots compositionally were just beautiful. I was hoping that the Ziegfeld was going to follow Robert Wise’s instructions at the beginning of the film, but they didn’t. No big deal it was still a great experience. Thank god this kind of thing still happens in New York City. It’s sad that it doesn’t happen as often as it did 20 or 30 years ago, but at least it’s happening. I hope the box office receipts for this festival are showing good numbers. There was a good crowd there tonight, way more people than the last time I was there to see the god-awful Cameron Crowe disaster ‘Elizabethtown’. Can’t wait to see Ben Hur and hopefully this kind of thing will continue to happen at the Ziegfeld, the last great movie palace in New York City.
Great shots of the Anderson Theater and the Palladium guys!!! The rock photographer Elliot Landy also has some great shots of The Who and Janis Joplin performing there back in the 60s. Somehwere in the early 90s when i started to get really interested in East Village history, I discovered that the building at 66 2nd Ave. was the Anderson Theater. I never did get to go in before they demolished it and turned it into an apartment building, but I used to walk by constantly. I can see the catwalks on the side of the theater in my head right now. A friend of mine snuck in their during demolition and told me it was incredible. That’s OK, I got to go into the Fillmore East/Saint about a year before they took that down, so I don’t feel so bad about missing the Anderson. Going in the former Fillmore was amazing and heartbreaking all at the same time. The shots of The Palladium bring back some cool memories. I wish it still looked like that around here. I hate to say it, but I never actually went to a show there and hence never went inside. From the time I started living in New York City in 1986 until about 10 years later I never thought for a moment that they would be doing what they’ve done and continue to do to this town. It’s not just theaters and old buildings either. Businesses that have been in my neighborhood in the E. Village for years are all getting priced out. There was a great family run Mexican restaurant on Ave A and 11th that I just discovered has close along with a Chinese place up the street on Ave. A and 13th that has also just closed. I don’t get it. This town is getting frightfully generic by the minute. It’s sad.
I also got the email with the above information. I have to say, not surprised in the least. Judging by the rate that the landscape of New York City is being bulldozed for a more generic future, it’s not news to me that there is now an issue with the Loews Jersey’s future. I’m sure there is some fat-cat developer out there salivating at the prospect of tearing it down and putting a more ‘modern-in demand retail outlet’ of some sort under the guise of furthering the economy and well being of Jersey City. Let’s face it, when you get off the PATH train the Loews Jersey is right there in front of you. Can you imagine what goes through the minds of developers when they look at that location? Target, Whole Foods, Virgin Megastore, you name it. They probably would love to install one or all of those stores in that space. To developers and corporations ‘history’ is for the history books, consumption is NOW. Nevermind production, something that is also becoming scarce in this country, it’s all about feeding your face and liking it. Not to go off on a tangent here, but this concept of malls in urban areas is relatively new, and for my money totally wierd. Malls don’t belong in cities. Has anybody seen the Atlantic Avenue Mall in Brooklyn with the Target and Chuck E. Cheese? In a word….DEPRESSING! Anyway, before I further become the forecaster of gloom and doom, I for one hope that the Loews Jersey is left alone! Just let it be! Now, if the worst case scenario does happen, I will be glad that I got to spend some time in there and appreciate it that space the way it was meant to be.
I sympathize with you garth. I never actually had a problem with the sound at the Angelika and I thought that the subway rumbling/vibration was one of those cool characteristic New York City things you just have to deal with. Now that I think of it, I have noticed that the sound can be very low in there at times. My biggest problem with the Angelika is the design of the theaters themselves. The main ones to the front of the escalator are particularly sucky. The sight lines are weird and the auditorium seating is too flat. They should be on an angle like normal theaters, but I don’t think the designers of this theater put alot of thought into it. I remember back around 1990 or whenever it was, right before they turned the space into the Angelika it was a fitness club, or at least the cafe part was. I haven’t been there in ages. I think the last film I saw there was The Ramones documentary ‘End of the Century’. Makes you scratch your head doesn’t it? Well crafted theaters like the Beekman meet the wrecking ball and a poorly designed rumbly hipster theater like Angelika gets to stay around.
The Castro Theater in San Francisco showed ‘Mary Poppins’ last month for 6 days with on-screen lyrics so the audience could sing along. Not that I would want on-screen sing along lyrics but it would be cool to see on the big screen for sure. Speaking of The Castro they seem to have a pretty healthy revival calendar. The Ziegfeld and Lowes Jersey do a great job here in the East, but I think our friends out on the West coast have us beat in the film revival department.
http://www.thecastrotheatre.com
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’.
Little flashback on when I saw the re-releases of ‘Poppins’ and ‘Sound of Music’. I distinctly remember seeing the trailers for ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ and ‘Mame’ when I saw both of these in the theater. I think the trailer for ‘JCS’ was before the ‘Sound of Music’ screening and the ‘Mame’ trailer before ‘Poppins’. So that would make this 1973 and ‘74 respectively. I remember being a little spooked by the 'JCS’ trailer. As a little kid the idea of hippies and Jesus was a concept to big and abstract for my little head. I also remember seeing the ‘Mame’ trailer and knowing who Lucy was. Funny to think that rock bands like Led Zeppelin and the New York Dolls were at their peak at that time and I was just a little kid being dragged by my mom to see musicals at the movie theater.
About Mary Poppins, I totally agree. I was lucky enough to see this as a kid in the theater when it was in re-release in the early 70s. Also a year or two before or after I saw ‘The Sound of Music’ and ‘Oliver’ in a theatrical re-release. Gotta thank my Mom for thinking of taking me to all of those. Experiences I’ll never forget and perhaps a contributing factor to my big screen fandom. The Ziegfeld should maybe do a ‘film for kids of all ages’ and include ‘Mary Poppins’, ‘Sound of Music’, and maybe ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ or another big screen disney classic that I can’t think of right now.
Anybody make it to the ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ screening at the Forum tonight? Unfortunately I had to work and couldn’t go.
Ed-can’t argue with your comments about ‘crossing all the T’s and dotting all the I’s’ when it comes to presenting the films. However, when I see the Ziegfeld advertising “films the way they were meant to be seen” as far as I’m concerned that means ‘seeing them on the big screen and NOT seeing them on TV’, and in fact they are presenting these films the way they were meant to be seen. “Ben-Hur” is a stellar example of that. That film should only be seen on the big screen.
Yeah, it would be great if the Ziegfeld would do all the curtain and light cues, but it would also be great if we could see these films at the Rivoli, or the Capitol, or even the original Ziegfeld. It would also be great if we could go back to 1959 and see ‘Ben-Hur’ in it’s first run, but that obviously isn’t going to happen. I don’t have much to complain about with this series. I’m am more than pleased that it is happening, and ‘Ben-Hur’ for example was one of the best movie-going experiences I’ve had in a while, so I’m not gonna sweat the curtain and light cues. If they do them great, if they don’t well….they don’t.
I agree, it would be nice to have an intermission during the long films (for the bathroom) and the right cues for the overtures and things like that, but c'mon, enough of the hair splitting. As long as I can see any of these films on the screen at the Ziegfeld from beginning to end, in focus with decent audio and hopefully no frames missing, than that’s fine with me. The other details are icing on the cake! Just be happy this kind of thing is happening. Hopefully film revival in New York City will be making a comeback and we will have schedules like this one all through the year.
Just saw the 4:30 screening of ‘Ben Hur’. I have never seen this film before and I can’t imagine ever seeing it on television after seeing it on the big screen like this. This film was JAW DROPPINGLY amazing. One of the best films I have ever seen. Story, acting, cinematography, and last but not least action, were 5 star all around.It’s amazing that a film that was made nearly 50 years ago can be as powerful as this. Just in terms of action I don’t think any of these explosion films that are made today could hold a candle to this film. ‘Ben Hur’ has style AND substance, or as the say in film school ‘form and content’. It was a really profound experience. As far as print quality I would give this a 4 out of a possible 5. While there were some inconsistencies in contrast and color from reel to reel, some parts of the film were as colorful and sharp as I have ever seen. Particulary the part when Quintus Arrius announces his adoption of Judah (Charles Heston). My only other minor grievance is the way the overture was presented. Tell me if I am wrong, but should the lights in the theater not be completely lowered during that time? My impression, especially from Robert Wise’s memo for ‘West Side Story’ is that the lights should only be partially lowered for the overture, otherwise you are sitting in the dark looking at a dark screen for 10 or more minutes like we did this afternoon. Totally nitpicking here, but what the hell.
Once again great job by the theater staff. Hail Ziegfeld!! New York seems like New York again when you go to something like this. Amazing film in a really amazing theater. My mind was truly blown to pieces. This is one for the books.
Craig-
Great news! So glad to hear once again that the classics series is working out for Clearview and the Ziegfeld. I am totally excited about all of the new films you have announced today. I think the largest screen I’ve ever seen ‘2001’ was at the Loews Astor Plaza a few years ago. I’m sure it will be great seeing it at the Ziegfeld. I haven’t seen ‘Close Encounters’ on the big screen since it’s first release back in 1978. I’ve never seen ‘Singin inthe Rain’, ‘Doctor Zhivago’ or ‘Alien’ at all so I’ll be at the Ziegfeld alot in the next few weeks. Thanks for responding to the board and keeping your eyes and ears open.
P.S. just a little New York City revival house trivia: Back in the summer of ‘90 or '91 Radio City did a very limited run of 'Blade Runner’. I think it may have been one or two nights only. The screening that I went to completely SOLD OUT. Every seat in Radio City that night was filled to see that movie. Amazing! Some of the live acts at Radio City can’t even sell out the house at times! I’m predicting that at least one of the films you’re showing in this line up will do the same at the Ziegfeld. Wouldn’t be surprised if it happened with all of the ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Indiana Jones’ movies as well. A few of the last times I can remember being at the Ziegfeld when the house was full/sold out was at ‘Edward Scissorhands’ and a midnight screening on opening night of the lame Oliver Stone biopic ‘The Doors’. The crowd was alot of fun at that one and they did crank the music. Alot of drunk and stoned rock fans in there that night. Got pretty wild. It was almost like going to an actual rock show.
andreco-
Film Forum is sponsored and run by individuals that come from more of a film ‘fellowship’ if you will than the Ziegfeld. Not to take anything away from the mangement of the Ziegfeld, but the people at Film Forum, because of their backgrounds might pay more attention to issues like having new prints, etc. Once again, not dissing or taking away anything from the Ziegfeld. Did you see the print of ‘The Gang’s All Here’ at Film Forum? I know that not many of those prints exist, but the one that Film Forum had last summer was not in the best of shape by any means. Scratchy, frames missing. Parts of it were a real mess. Why didn’t Film Forum decide NOT to run that film at all because of it’s condition? Did they exaust all of THEIR resources, from their illustrious board of directors or trustees, or whatever they call it to have a new print made if a good negative of that film even exists?
The point is, is that these films are OLD, and in all the years that I was going to revival houses when there were still alot of them in the city, you always ran into a bad print here and there. I remember seeing ‘Easy Rider’ at Theater 80-Saint Mark’s about 15 years ago and they screened the made for TV print! It was hilarious. Parts of the film were totally cut out including the part where Dennis Hopper flips off the truck drivers at the end. Snipped right out!
What more do you want? They just held over the classics series at the Ziegfeld and you have one of the people involved in management looking at this board, responding directly to us, and trying to accomodate our very specific film viewing needs. Cut ‘em some slack! I don’t think you need to pressure anybody about what has already happened and been addressed.
andreco-
Film Forum is sponsored and run by individuals that come from more of a film ‘fellowship’ if you will than the Ziegfeld. Not to take anything away from the mangement of the Ziegfeld, but the people at Film Forum, because of their backgrounds might pay more attention to issues like having new prints, etc. Once again, not dissing or taking away anything from the Ziegfeld. Did you see the print of ‘The Gang’s All Here’ at Film Forum? I know that not many of those prints exist, but the one that Film Forum had last summer was not in the best of shape by any means. Scratchy, frames missing. Parts of it were a real mess. Why didn’t Film Forum decide NOT to run that film at all because of it’s condition? Did they exaust all of THEIR resources, from their illustrious board of directors or trustees, or whatever they call it to have a new print made if a good negative of that film even exists?
The point is, is that these films are OLD, and in all the years that I was going to revival houses when there were still alot of them in the city, you always ran into a bad print here and there. I remember seeing ‘Easy Rider’ at Theater 80-Saint Mark’s about 15 years ago and they screened the made for TV print! It was hilarious. Parts of the film were totally cut out including the part where Dennis Hopper flips off the truck drivers at the end. Snipped right out!
What more do you want? They just held over the classics series at the Ziegfeld and you have one of the people involved in management looking at this board, responding directly to us, and trying to accomodate our very specific film viewing needs. Cut ‘em some slack! I don’t think you need to pressure anybody about what has already happened addressed.
TO CRAIG O'CONNOR/CLEARVIEW CINEMAS:
So glad to hear the great news about extending the classics festival! It’s great to know that A) there will be more classic films and more reasons for me to go to The Ziegfeld, a place I really love and B) that Clearview and the management of the Ziegfeld have found this a worthwhile endeavor. Obviously the numbers are good and people are filling the seats. Contrary to popular opinion, there IS an audience for this type of entertainment that goes beyond film geeks like us here on Cinema Treasures. It just goes to show that if you present something and you do it with class you can’t lose. I hope the classics series continues well beyond March and we see this as a regular attraction at the Ziegfeld. Film revival is something that was always one of the great aspects with living in the New York City area. It has been gone for far too long and hopefully with this classics series we will be seeing it’s long overdue renaissance.
Tim-
I hate to tell you this but if you were born in 1987 you aren’t ‘part of Gen-X’. Gen-Xers are those born immediately following the baby boom generation (1960s-1970s) and grew up in th 80s. I mean who cares about labels ultimately. If you want to be Gen-X then you’re Gen-X. It’s not like it’s on my driver’s license or something. But for pop culture purists and sociologists someone like yourself would not be part of that generation. I’ve heard labels for your generation like ‘Generation-Y’ and something 60 Minutes called ‘The Echo Boomers’ which to me was totally bogus. Anyway, you were born 3 years after I graduated high school….eesh. What a thought.
Can’t wait to see ‘10 Commandments’ at the Loews Jersey!!
Theaterat…I know. This whole thing is totally off topic. Sorry to take up all the space. One final thing: I know the 80s weren’t even close to being what the 60s were, but compared to now it seems like a time of cultural fertility (is that a phrase?), it was still a good time to grow up in. And yeah CC, you aren’t the only one. iPods aren’t only making people physically deaf, they’re making them mentally deaf as well.
NOW…back to discussing the Loews Jersey.
I don’t know about that Ron Newman. I wouldn’t just say we’re ‘too old’ to understand what they’re doing. I would love for a really great rock band, for example, to come out of the current youth generation. I know that if it was there I would be listening to it. A good example in the last few years isThe White Stripes. When they came around about 6 or so years ago, one could argue that I was ‘too old’ to understand them. At that point I was just approaching my mid-thirties. But once I found out about them I was an instant fan because they come from a REAL place. I bought their records, went to their shows just like any other ‘kid’
Another example is the 60s/Baby Boom generation. The things that that generation did in terms of popular culture effected EVERYONE. From entertainment to design, etc. the hippie and/or psychedelic ethic was everywhere because it came from a REAL place. People (even those above age 30) were either totally immersed in it (look at something like Laugh-In), or trying very hard to understand it (the WWII genration). It was the subject of documentaries and lengthy articles. It was young people DOING something. I don’t see that happening now. Youth today does nothing earth shattering and will leave behind a weak legacy when they move ahead to their 30s and 40s.
And CC you’re totally right, the 80s, as boring as they could seem sometimes, really were the last stand in terms of true cutting edge. I hate to admit it, but in some ways I wish those days were still around (cue violins).
CC I hear you on the ‘time marches on factor’, but just for the reocord I have to say that I’m not jealous of the kids today (I said it again). Usually us aging people are supposed to wish we were younger, I guess alot of people do but I would in no way shape or form want to be a young person today. They don’t know it but their world is significantly more boring than mine was as a kid. In fact I would argue that the kids that grew up when I did, in the 80s & 90s, the so-called ‘Gen-X’ people, really had a good span of time when being young really still meant something. In fact I would say that good old American post war youth culture started with rock and roll in the 50s with Elvis, etc. and from where I’m sitting probably ended somewhere in the 90s. I don’t know how to explain that further, but in a short way but I’ll use the example of living in New York City 20 years ago: coming to New York for me back then meant being as experimental and as crazy as I wanted to be because the resources for being that way in this town were unlimited. And I’m not just talking about partying, I’m talking about real life changing, educational, revelations (and partying), the things that being young are REALLY about. Not being plugged into an iPod 24/7. I see all these kids moving into town now and I just think..what are they doing here? It’s pretty much over for the city at this point. Are they here to hang out it in Williamsburg? Poseur haven of the universe?
Before I get off my soap-box, I’ll just say that youth is a state of mind, and I definitely know that in light of all the things I just said about the current generation of young people, that I am WAAAY younger than they are.
Let’s face it WSS is a LONG movie. While I really enjoyed seeing it at The Ziegefeld, I went more as a film historian/buff, whatever you want to call it than I did as a fan of musicals or of WSS. There were moments when I was briefly wishing that things would move along at a faster pace. But I also reminded myself that this film was not made for the 2006 audience. It was made for the people of the late 50s and early 60s who were more interested not only in musicals but actually going out and sitting in a movie theater for 2 ½ hours. As we all know movie-going back then was a different more significant experience than it is now. Film school taught me to expand my attention span which as a kid raised in the 70s, was probably shorter than previous generations but no doubt LONGER than kids today, that’s for sure. Overall, the length of this film didn’t take anything away from the experience of seeing it on the big screen.
I agree…cut the Ziegfeld some slack on the prints. Some of the older ones may have some problems. If they’re are not in the best of shape, what can you do, THEY’RE OLD MOVIES! Just be glad that something like this is happening. I’m not saying that it’s great to sit through a crappy print of a film, but c'mon. I’d rather go see a not so great print of an old film at a place like the Ziegfeld than see a boring stupid new film somewhere else. Quit the whining. Support the Ziegfeld and support film revival in this area. WE NEED IT!
Rhett-
I think all of your ideas are really great. Also speaking with all due respect here, but the Loews Jersey needs to have a more active schedule. I think if there is an issue with it’s survival, it has to show that it’s not just sitting there with a few films scheduled once a month. I also say that because I want to go there more often. Maybe they can also try using it more often as a live music venue. I know that Bright Eyes played there not that long ago, maybe they can do more like that, and it would probably bring in more revenue. Hell if there was some good bands playing there I would definitely go. Overall, if they want to avoid being shut down, they’re going to have to step up their activity a bit. They should A) fix the air conditioning so the place can stay open in the summer and B) book as many films and events as possible. Maybe that’s easier said than done, but it’s my two cents.
Hey Rollinrck!!
Great photos of the interior. I have lived in this neighborhood for about 13 years and only a few years back it after walking past and patronizing the deli that used to be the Loews Hollywood, it suddenly dawned on me that the building was an old theater. How the HELL did you get in there?? Was it as simple as asking the owners? Please do tell as I would love to get in there myself. Now if we can only unearth some photos of the exterior as it was back then, that would be REALLY cool.
Just an FYI to all the Cinema Treasure people in the New York/New Jersey area: The Forum Theater will be screening ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ as part of their Silver Screen Series on Feb. 25 at 8pm. For all of you New York City people, Metuchen is very easy to get to by NJ Transit rail. The Forum is about a 5-10 minute walk from the train station. I haven’t seen a film there since I was a child so I don’t know how good or bad they are at doing it, but I’m sure it will be cool. Whatever the case may be, get out to The Forum and support the theater AND film revival in this area! There have been some great film revival events happening in this area in the last year. Let’s keep it going!!!!
http://www.forumtheatrecompany.com/silver.html
I was also at the screening of WSS at The Ziegfeld tonight and everything that Bill has just written above is true. Great night. It’s great to see films on that big Ziegfeld screen that were shot by cinematographers that really made use of the wide screen format. Some of the shots compositionally were just beautiful. I was hoping that the Ziegfeld was going to follow Robert Wise’s instructions at the beginning of the film, but they didn’t. No big deal it was still a great experience. Thank god this kind of thing still happens in New York City. It’s sad that it doesn’t happen as often as it did 20 or 30 years ago, but at least it’s happening. I hope the box office receipts for this festival are showing good numbers. There was a good crowd there tonight, way more people than the last time I was there to see the god-awful Cameron Crowe disaster ‘Elizabethtown’. Can’t wait to see Ben Hur and hopefully this kind of thing will continue to happen at the Ziegfeld, the last great movie palace in New York City.
Great shots of the Anderson Theater and the Palladium guys!!! The rock photographer Elliot Landy also has some great shots of The Who and Janis Joplin performing there back in the 60s. Somehwere in the early 90s when i started to get really interested in East Village history, I discovered that the building at 66 2nd Ave. was the Anderson Theater. I never did get to go in before they demolished it and turned it into an apartment building, but I used to walk by constantly. I can see the catwalks on the side of the theater in my head right now. A friend of mine snuck in their during demolition and told me it was incredible. That’s OK, I got to go into the Fillmore East/Saint about a year before they took that down, so I don’t feel so bad about missing the Anderson. Going in the former Fillmore was amazing and heartbreaking all at the same time. The shots of The Palladium bring back some cool memories. I wish it still looked like that around here. I hate to say it, but I never actually went to a show there and hence never went inside. From the time I started living in New York City in 1986 until about 10 years later I never thought for a moment that they would be doing what they’ve done and continue to do to this town. It’s not just theaters and old buildings either. Businesses that have been in my neighborhood in the E. Village for years are all getting priced out. There was a great family run Mexican restaurant on Ave A and 11th that I just discovered has close along with a Chinese place up the street on Ave. A and 13th that has also just closed. I don’t get it. This town is getting frightfully generic by the minute. It’s sad.
I also got the email with the above information. I have to say, not surprised in the least. Judging by the rate that the landscape of New York City is being bulldozed for a more generic future, it’s not news to me that there is now an issue with the Loews Jersey’s future. I’m sure there is some fat-cat developer out there salivating at the prospect of tearing it down and putting a more ‘modern-in demand retail outlet’ of some sort under the guise of furthering the economy and well being of Jersey City. Let’s face it, when you get off the PATH train the Loews Jersey is right there in front of you. Can you imagine what goes through the minds of developers when they look at that location? Target, Whole Foods, Virgin Megastore, you name it. They probably would love to install one or all of those stores in that space. To developers and corporations ‘history’ is for the history books, consumption is NOW. Nevermind production, something that is also becoming scarce in this country, it’s all about feeding your face and liking it. Not to go off on a tangent here, but this concept of malls in urban areas is relatively new, and for my money totally wierd. Malls don’t belong in cities. Has anybody seen the Atlantic Avenue Mall in Brooklyn with the Target and Chuck E. Cheese? In a word….DEPRESSING! Anyway, before I further become the forecaster of gloom and doom, I for one hope that the Loews Jersey is left alone! Just let it be! Now, if the worst case scenario does happen, I will be glad that I got to spend some time in there and appreciate it that space the way it was meant to be.
I sympathize with you garth. I never actually had a problem with the sound at the Angelika and I thought that the subway rumbling/vibration was one of those cool characteristic New York City things you just have to deal with. Now that I think of it, I have noticed that the sound can be very low in there at times. My biggest problem with the Angelika is the design of the theaters themselves. The main ones to the front of the escalator are particularly sucky. The sight lines are weird and the auditorium seating is too flat. They should be on an angle like normal theaters, but I don’t think the designers of this theater put alot of thought into it. I remember back around 1990 or whenever it was, right before they turned the space into the Angelika it was a fitness club, or at least the cafe part was. I haven’t been there in ages. I think the last film I saw there was The Ramones documentary ‘End of the Century’. Makes you scratch your head doesn’t it? Well crafted theaters like the Beekman meet the wrecking ball and a poorly designed rumbly hipster theater like Angelika gets to stay around.