CC Connolly is right, the Taft Hotel was not demolished but re-named as the Michelangelo. I passed by this week and it does look the same. It’s very depressing to remember all the good times we spent at the Roxy. By the way, the Roxy didn’t always offer a live show with the film. They were in competition with the RCMH, so had no choice. We often strolled over to the Roxy if the Music Hall’s line was too long. I preferred the Roxy because I preferred films from 20th Century-Fox and loved the Alfred Newman Cinemascope fanfare. Also, I felt the Roxy had a more attractive marquee, while the RCMH had an art-decor marquee. Which theatre had better popcorn, I don’t remember.
Yes, I remember the “Ave Maria” at the beginning of the Easter pageant.It was amazing! Performers, each holding a lit candle would appear all around the audience with the organ music playing. It was awesome! We saw “The Singing Nun” with Debbie Reynolds. Anyone remember that each seat had an individual light, so the program could be read? The lights were later turned-off; I guess people complained it was annoying! On a different note, I think my deceased mother saw “Butterflies Are Free” with Goldie Hawn at the Music Hall, but I’m unsure.Is there a complete list anywhere of ALL films shown at the Music Hall?
I did research and found that the Hotel Taft, the neighbor of the Roxy was demolished,too, if that’s any consolation. It has been replaced by a new hotel, “The Michelangelo”!
My family went to the Rogers Theatre every weekend in the 50’s and 60’s. I never took any photos of the marquis. Admission was about $1. I am glad that the theater was not demolished. They always showed double-features and did good business; it was my home away from home as I lived near the Botanic Garden. I never kept any ticket stubs. It was a nice theatre but not big enough for a large screen. Often, the film jammed and the film stopped and we would clap until the projectionist woke-up. We still mention all the great films we saw there. When crime got bad and my father got shot, we had to move out of the area in 1971, but the area was great once. Botanic Garden and Prospect Park and a movie house minutes away. Once, a single woman could walk alone down Empire Building in the middle of the night without fear. I attended Lefferts JHS and had a great time!
I was a constant visitor during the 50’s and 60’s. The screen was not very big. I recall that the Cinemascope films used to be shown on the sides of the curtain as the screen was too small. They showed mostly MGM films. I remember seeing “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”,“Kismet” and other MGM films there. Later, they showed films from other studios. The last film I saw there was “Hawaii” with Julie Andrews. I have nice memories of this theatre. I am pleased it was not demolished.
I often visited the Savoy. They had a large Cinemascope screen. I saw “The Robe”, “The Egyptian”, “Desiree”, “There’s No Business Like Show Business”, “Bus Stop ” and most other 20th Century-Fox films there. They also showed “Godzilla” with Raymond Burr and “House On Haunted Hill” with Vincent Price. I’m glad the building was not demolished as I had great times there.
When the marquee of the Radio City Music Hall was renovated several years ago, the letters, which originally were lit in bright red, were changed to hot pink. To this day, it bothers me to see the sign in pink letters ,when the original letters were red. Was this an oversight when they restored the theater?
As a kid I saw “2001: A Space Odyssey” and “How the West Was Won” at the Loews Cinerama (Capitol). The effect was good but the 3 projectors weren’t properly aligned and the color shifted so I often got eye-strain, but the the river raft scene and buffalo stampede in “How The West Was Won” was fantastic. Somebody posted that “Ben-Hur” was shown at the Loew’s Capitol, but I remember seeing it at the Loew’s State.
I don’t know where else to post this, in the 60’s we saw Cinerama films “How The West Was Won” and “2001: A Space Odyssey”. They were both at a Cinerama Theatre but I can’t remember the name, can you help ?
What was the dimensions of the Roxy’s Cinemascope screen? I always felt their screen was longer in length than the Radio City Music Halls'. Also the Roxy’s had a curvature for Cinemascope; while the Music Halls’s screen screened almost flat. Maybe it was just an illusion. However, the RCMH’s screen looked higher than the Roxy’s. I can’t find the dimensions of the Roxy’s screen for Cinemascope; yet the Music Hall screen’s dimensions are given on this website. Does anybody know?
Thanks to Ron for bringing back memories by putting a list a films shown at Radio City. I often visited as a boy and fondly remember many of those films with my family. Somebody posted that Greer Garson had more films than any actress at the Music Hall, but it would seem that either Doris Day or Audrey Hepburn had the most films. Also, I remember seeing “The Bridges at Toko-Ri”, “The Teahouse of the August Moon”, “Friendly Persuasion”, and “Sayonnara” there. The films shown as revivals I don’t count as we are interested in films that premiered at the RCMH. I haven’t visited RCMH for 20 years now that movies are not shown anymore and the prices are outlandish. Also, I dislike reserved seats because if you get noisy families next to you, you cannot change seats and I don’t have a good time. In the 50’s and 60’s, you could change seats at will. Also, there were once lights at every seat so you could read the program.
The movie palaces we enjoyed are mostly gone but so are the films, as well as most celebrities. I just saw “Finding Neverland” and almost fell asleep. This film is supposed to be nominated for best picture. What happened to all the great classic films we used to enjoy? I haven’t seen a great film since “Titanic” and whatever I do see on small multiplex screens do not offer the experience we used to have watching “Star Wars” in Dolby Stereo in 70mm, as an example. Many will disagree of course and say that today’s films are as good as past films. I don’t think so. The glamorous and talented actors are no longer around; except for a few exceptions. Where are the Brandos, Burtons,etc? Where are the great musicals? It seems the disappearance of great movie palaces is coinciding with mediocre films that can be viewed at home. It’s a sad situation.
YankeeMike mentions that he saw “How The West Was Won” in Cinerama. I also saw it in Manhattan in Cinerama but I can’t remember the name of the theater. I thought it was named the “Loews Cinerama” but there is no listing for such a theater. It’s true that 3 projectors were used and often the images did not exactly match and the colors of each were slightly different; making it annoying to watch. I also saw “2001, A Space Odyssey” at the same theater in Cinerama. Can anybody remember which Manhattan theater showed the 3-projector Cinerama?
I have fond memories of the Roxy. I remember seeing “The King & I”, “Carousel”, “A Man Called Peter” and several others. They started at one point to give programs out, imitating the Radio City Music Hall. The programs, I believe were printed in green ink. I have several in my collection, if I could find them. I was unaware that the Roxy was unable to screen these films in Cinemacope 55. I recall how magnificent the theater was inside and it didn’t have long lines like the Music Hall to buy tickets. It’s true that “Oklahoma” never played at the Roxy; it was at the Rivoli, because it was in Todd AO. Most films at the Roxy were from 2oth Century Fox. The marquis was more attractive than the Music Halls'. I regret to this day that I never saw “The Robe” at the Roxy. I cried when it was demolished; I pass the spot almost every day where it once stood and get sad.
I remember waiting on long lines for the Radio City Music Hall in the 50’s. And yes, it was under a dollar before noon for a ticket plus you got a program with the cast of the film as well as the name of the live presentation. I believe on the cover it said “Showplace of the Nation”; I saved most of the programs, but I collect so many things, I’d have to really look hard to find. We saw “Charade”,“The Singing Nun”, “Two For the Road”, “The Band Wagon”, “Funny Face”, “Sayonnara”, “The Teahouse of the August Moon”,“How To Steal A Million”, “Love Me Or Leave Me”, “Jumbo”, “Arabesque”, and several others. They seemed to favor Doris Day and Audrey Hepburn films.
CC Connolly is right, the Taft Hotel was not demolished but re-named as the Michelangelo. I passed by this week and it does look the same. It’s very depressing to remember all the good times we spent at the Roxy. By the way, the Roxy didn’t always offer a live show with the film. They were in competition with the RCMH, so had no choice. We often strolled over to the Roxy if the Music Hall’s line was too long. I preferred the Roxy because I preferred films from 20th Century-Fox and loved the Alfred Newman Cinemascope fanfare. Also, I felt the Roxy had a more attractive marquee, while the RCMH had an art-decor marquee. Which theatre had better popcorn, I don’t remember.
Yes, I remember the “Ave Maria” at the beginning of the Easter pageant.It was amazing! Performers, each holding a lit candle would appear all around the audience with the organ music playing. It was awesome! We saw “The Singing Nun” with Debbie Reynolds. Anyone remember that each seat had an individual light, so the program could be read? The lights were later turned-off; I guess people complained it was annoying! On a different note, I think my deceased mother saw “Butterflies Are Free” with Goldie Hawn at the Music Hall, but I’m unsure.Is there a complete list anywhere of ALL films shown at the Music Hall?
I did research and found that the Hotel Taft, the neighbor of the Roxy was demolished,too, if that’s any consolation. It has been replaced by a new hotel, “The Michelangelo”!
My family went to the Rogers Theatre every weekend in the 50’s and 60’s. I never took any photos of the marquis. Admission was about $1. I am glad that the theater was not demolished. They always showed double-features and did good business; it was my home away from home as I lived near the Botanic Garden. I never kept any ticket stubs. It was a nice theatre but not big enough for a large screen. Often, the film jammed and the film stopped and we would clap until the projectionist woke-up. We still mention all the great films we saw there. When crime got bad and my father got shot, we had to move out of the area in 1971, but the area was great once. Botanic Garden and Prospect Park and a movie house minutes away. Once, a single woman could walk alone down Empire Building in the middle of the night without fear. I attended Lefferts JHS and had a great time!
I was a constant visitor during the 50’s and 60’s. The screen was not very big. I recall that the Cinemascope films used to be shown on the sides of the curtain as the screen was too small. They showed mostly MGM films. I remember seeing “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”,“Kismet” and other MGM films there. Later, they showed films from other studios. The last film I saw there was “Hawaii” with Julie Andrews. I have nice memories of this theatre. I am pleased it was not demolished.
I often visited the Savoy. They had a large Cinemascope screen. I saw “The Robe”, “The Egyptian”, “Desiree”, “There’s No Business Like Show Business”, “Bus Stop ” and most other 20th Century-Fox films there. They also showed “Godzilla” with Raymond Burr and “House On Haunted Hill” with Vincent Price. I’m glad the building was not demolished as I had great times there.
When the marquee of the Radio City Music Hall was renovated several years ago, the letters, which originally were lit in bright red, were changed to hot pink. To this day, it bothers me to see the sign in pink letters ,when the original letters were red. Was this an oversight when they restored the theater?
As a kid I saw “2001: A Space Odyssey” and “How the West Was Won” at the Loews Cinerama (Capitol). The effect was good but the 3 projectors weren’t properly aligned and the color shifted so I often got eye-strain, but the the river raft scene and buffalo stampede in “How The West Was Won” was fantastic. Somebody posted that “Ben-Hur” was shown at the Loew’s Capitol, but I remember seeing it at the Loew’s State.
I don’t know where else to post this, in the 60’s we saw Cinerama films “How The West Was Won” and “2001: A Space Odyssey”. They were both at a Cinerama Theatre but I can’t remember the name, can you help ?
What was the dimensions of the Roxy’s Cinemascope screen? I always felt their screen was longer in length than the Radio City Music Halls'. Also the Roxy’s had a curvature for Cinemascope; while the Music Halls’s screen screened almost flat. Maybe it was just an illusion. However, the RCMH’s screen looked higher than the Roxy’s. I can’t find the dimensions of the Roxy’s screen for Cinemascope; yet the Music Hall screen’s dimensions are given on this website. Does anybody know?
Thanks to Ron for bringing back memories by putting a list a films shown at Radio City. I often visited as a boy and fondly remember many of those films with my family. Somebody posted that Greer Garson had more films than any actress at the Music Hall, but it would seem that either Doris Day or Audrey Hepburn had the most films. Also, I remember seeing “The Bridges at Toko-Ri”, “The Teahouse of the August Moon”, “Friendly Persuasion”, and “Sayonnara” there. The films shown as revivals I don’t count as we are interested in films that premiered at the RCMH. I haven’t visited RCMH for 20 years now that movies are not shown anymore and the prices are outlandish. Also, I dislike reserved seats because if you get noisy families next to you, you cannot change seats and I don’t have a good time. In the 50’s and 60’s, you could change seats at will. Also, there were once lights at every seat so you could read the program.
The movie palaces we enjoyed are mostly gone but so are the films, as well as most celebrities. I just saw “Finding Neverland” and almost fell asleep. This film is supposed to be nominated for best picture. What happened to all the great classic films we used to enjoy? I haven’t seen a great film since “Titanic” and whatever I do see on small multiplex screens do not offer the experience we used to have watching “Star Wars” in Dolby Stereo in 70mm, as an example. Many will disagree of course and say that today’s films are as good as past films. I don’t think so. The glamorous and talented actors are no longer around; except for a few exceptions. Where are the Brandos, Burtons,etc? Where are the great musicals? It seems the disappearance of great movie palaces is coinciding with mediocre films that can be viewed at home. It’s a sad situation.
YankeeMike mentions that he saw “How The West Was Won” in Cinerama. I also saw it in Manhattan in Cinerama but I can’t remember the name of the theater. I thought it was named the “Loews Cinerama” but there is no listing for such a theater. It’s true that 3 projectors were used and often the images did not exactly match and the colors of each were slightly different; making it annoying to watch. I also saw “2001, A Space Odyssey” at the same theater in Cinerama. Can anybody remember which Manhattan theater showed the 3-projector Cinerama?
I visited the Ziegefeld many times and never had problems with the film being out-of-focus. “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” was very clear.
I have fond memories of the Roxy. I remember seeing “The King & I”, “Carousel”, “A Man Called Peter” and several others. They started at one point to give programs out, imitating the Radio City Music Hall. The programs, I believe were printed in green ink. I have several in my collection, if I could find them. I was unaware that the Roxy was unable to screen these films in Cinemacope 55. I recall how magnificent the theater was inside and it didn’t have long lines like the Music Hall to buy tickets. It’s true that “Oklahoma” never played at the Roxy; it was at the Rivoli, because it was in Todd AO. Most films at the Roxy were from 2oth Century Fox. The marquis was more attractive than the Music Halls'. I regret to this day that I never saw “The Robe” at the Roxy. I cried when it was demolished; I pass the spot almost every day where it once stood and get sad.
I remember waiting on long lines for the Radio City Music Hall in the 50’s. And yes, it was under a dollar before noon for a ticket plus you got a program with the cast of the film as well as the name of the live presentation. I believe on the cover it said “Showplace of the Nation”; I saved most of the programs, but I collect so many things, I’d have to really look hard to find. We saw “Charade”,“The Singing Nun”, “Two For the Road”, “The Band Wagon”, “Funny Face”, “Sayonnara”, “The Teahouse of the August Moon”,“How To Steal A Million”, “Love Me Or Leave Me”, “Jumbo”, “Arabesque”, and several others. They seemed to favor Doris Day and Audrey Hepburn films.