I agree with the last two posters. Some of the most entertaining CT articles I’ve come across have been the anniversary celebrations of “Star Wars”, “Superman”, etc. If it calls up fond memories of going to the movies, it belongs on Cinema Treasures. And while I agree that “The Dark Knight” is not one of the best movies I’ve ever seen, to many people (especially those younger than me) it is exactly that. And it does have the distinction of being one of the biggest reasons there will be ten Best Picture Oscar nominees next year instead of five.
The Cooper was the first Cinerama theater I was aware of outside of my home area (Northern NJ and NYC), because in the 1970 book “The Making of Kubrick’s 2001” there was a photo of four ticket stubs from the Cooper that had been returned by a Denver family. They were asking for a refund because the movie was so boring. I guess they were more “Transformers” kind of people. I wonder if they’d changed their minds about “2001” in the intervening years, like so many of its original detractors did.
Thanks, Paulp, for the recollections about your dad. I’m sure he was on duty the day I saw “How the West Was Won” in Cinerama in 1963, one of my most memorable moviegoing experiences ever.
The Wellmont is now open and hopefully thriving as a performing arts center. Those dressing rooms are being used again after all!
The Chinese can be seen on news broadcasts all over the world tonight. Michael Jackson’s star on the Walk of Fame is right in front of the forecourt. Fans are leaving behind flowers, tributes, etc.
Howard: That’s probably a reissue poster because they’re talking about seeing it on their wide screen. I’d say it was a ‘50s reissue of GWTW, with the top and bottom of the image cropped off to make it appear “wide”.
41 years ago this very minute, I was watching my all-time favorite movie, “2001”, on what is still the most amazing theater screen I’ve ever encountered, the Cinerama screen at the Capitol.
James Cameron keeps plugging his upcoming “Avatar” as the ultimate 3D experience, like nothing that has ever been seen before. Fox will probably charge $10 extra to see that.
I don’t have any proof, but the $3 for 3D thing sounds like a Disney corporate directive. Last year I saw the Brendan Fraser version of “Journey to the Center of the Earth”, a New Line release, and there was no extra charge for the glasses. “Up” is the first Disney film I’ve seen in 3D, so I don’t know if this has happened before, but it does sound like something they would foist on their enormous public.
“Up” at the Ziegfeld was good last night, if not quite the work of genius I was expecting after reading some of those reviews. One small gripe: they charged an extra $3 for the 3D glasses, and you had to put them in a recycling tray after the movie was over. Also, the sign over the box office still said $12.50, and when you got to the cashier’s window you were told it was actually $15.50. False advertising …
The 3D in “Up” was used in a very subtle way, so much so that at times I didn’t even notice it.
Looks like “Harry Potter” is going to play here, judging from the huge window displays.
When “Marty” showed at the Lafayette in April, that was the first time in many years that it had shown anywhere in the New York area in 35mm. That’s one of my top 10 favorite movies, and I’d been hoping to see it on the big screen someday. So thanks, Lafayette, from a grateful patron.
Actually, Peter Finch in “Network” was killed because his ratings had been going way down. He was dragging the network down with him, and killing him was the easiest way Faye Dunaway and the other execs could come up with to get rid of him.
When I was exiting “Forrest Gump” after seeing it on opening weekend, I’d been reasonably entertained, but I said to myself that the visual effects deserved an Oscar. I never in a million years would’ve believed that it would also get Best Picture, Actor, Director, etc.
Aldo, we do not agree on “Rocky” but we do see eye-to-eye on “Forrest Gump”.
I agree with the last two posters. Some of the most entertaining CT articles I’ve come across have been the anniversary celebrations of “Star Wars”, “Superman”, etc. If it calls up fond memories of going to the movies, it belongs on Cinema Treasures. And while I agree that “The Dark Knight” is not one of the best movies I’ve ever seen, to many people (especially those younger than me) it is exactly that. And it does have the distinction of being one of the biggest reasons there will be ten Best Picture Oscar nominees next year instead of five.
Strange not to see the name of the current feature in that photo. The Chinese usually had big elaborate displays of whatever movie they were playing.
JSA: on the next page of the book is another congratulatory telegram to Stanley, from Fellini himself:
View link
And here’s the page from the book:
View link
To any Attard family members: are you out there?
The Cooper was the first Cinerama theater I was aware of outside of my home area (Northern NJ and NYC), because in the 1970 book “The Making of Kubrick’s 2001” there was a photo of four ticket stubs from the Cooper that had been returned by a Denver family. They were asking for a refund because the movie was so boring. I guess they were more “Transformers” kind of people. I wonder if they’d changed their minds about “2001” in the intervening years, like so many of its original detractors did.
Thanks, Paulp, for the recollections about your dad. I’m sure he was on duty the day I saw “How the West Was Won” in Cinerama in 1963, one of my most memorable moviegoing experiences ever.
The Wellmont is now open and hopefully thriving as a performing arts center. Those dressing rooms are being used again after all!
It looks like “Porgy and Bess” is playing at the Warner, which would date this photo 1959.
I miss the Automat …
Here’s another ad. I like the tagline, “A Perfect Christmas Gift for Family or Friend”:
View link
Here’s the ad for “How the West Was Won”. Notice the date of the premiere:
View link
It’s a good bet that show had to be postponed. All theaters in the nation went dark that night, if I remember right.
The Chelsea Cinemas on 23rd St. in Manhattan shows classic movies every Thursday night, always with a funny hosted pre-show:
View link
The Chinese can be seen on news broadcasts all over the world tonight. Michael Jackson’s star on the Walk of Fame is right in front of the forecourt. Fans are leaving behind flowers, tributes, etc.
Howard: That’s probably a reissue poster because they’re talking about seeing it on their wide screen. I’d say it was a ‘50s reissue of GWTW, with the top and bottom of the image cropped off to make it appear “wide”.
Howard, thanks for posting your pictures too. As sad and rundown as it is today, when I see these pictures I can also see the way it used to be.
Seeing the Montauk again got me to recalling the movies I saw there: “Mary Poppins”, “Hawaii”, “Paper Lion”, “The Way West”, “2001: A Space Odyssey”.
Mike: those pictures are fantastic. Thanks very much for posting them. They brought me right back into the 1960’s.
41 years ago this very minute, I was watching my all-time favorite movie, “2001”, on what is still the most amazing theater screen I’ve ever encountered, the Cinerama screen at the Capitol.
Interesting to see “Custer of the West” on the list. That didn’t have too many Cinerama engagements, did it?
A very enjoyable Tony show tonight, and the Hall looked great. The theater really came alive during the scene from “Hair”.
James Cameron keeps plugging his upcoming “Avatar” as the ultimate 3D experience, like nothing that has ever been seen before. Fox will probably charge $10 extra to see that.
I don’t have any proof, but the $3 for 3D thing sounds like a Disney corporate directive. Last year I saw the Brendan Fraser version of “Journey to the Center of the Earth”, a New Line release, and there was no extra charge for the glasses. “Up” is the first Disney film I’ve seen in 3D, so I don’t know if this has happened before, but it does sound like something they would foist on their enormous public.
“Up” at the Ziegfeld was good last night, if not quite the work of genius I was expecting after reading some of those reviews. One small gripe: they charged an extra $3 for the 3D glasses, and you had to put them in a recycling tray after the movie was over. Also, the sign over the box office still said $12.50, and when you got to the cashier’s window you were told it was actually $15.50. False advertising …
The 3D in “Up” was used in a very subtle way, so much so that at times I didn’t even notice it.
Looks like “Harry Potter” is going to play here, judging from the huge window displays.
And I realize I just spoiled the ending of “Network” for anyone who hasn’t seen it. Sorry!
When “Marty” showed at the Lafayette in April, that was the first time in many years that it had shown anywhere in the New York area in 35mm. That’s one of my top 10 favorite movies, and I’d been hoping to see it on the big screen someday. So thanks, Lafayette, from a grateful patron.
Actually, Peter Finch in “Network” was killed because his ratings had been going way down. He was dragging the network down with him, and killing him was the easiest way Faye Dunaway and the other execs could come up with to get rid of him.
When I was exiting “Forrest Gump” after seeing it on opening weekend, I’d been reasonably entertained, but I said to myself that the visual effects deserved an Oscar. I never in a million years would’ve believed that it would also get Best Picture, Actor, Director, etc.
Aldo, we do not agree on “Rocky” but we do see eye-to-eye on “Forrest Gump”.
Even if you ignore the order, the fact that they all made the AFI list in the first place says a lot about their quality.