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’ve heard similar attacks on “Rocky” before, that it doesn’t hold up as well as the other movies it was nominated with and won against for the Best Picture Oscar 1976. Many people believed that even when the movies were new. But more than 30 years later, here’s how the big three from 1976 ranked in the AFI’s latest top 100 movie list (2007):
52 Taxi Driver
57 Rocky
64 Network
I love all three films, so I’m very happy with those numbers.
The seniors did come out for “Marty”, the one show I’ve attended in this series. That was a 1955 release, so I guess the older the film, the better the attendance.
But I’d take that look in a heartbeat if it meant having a movie theater in Times Square once more. It’s still hard to believe there isn’t one left in the entire Square.
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.
I’ve heard similar attacks on “Rocky” before, that it doesn’t hold up as well as the other movies it was nominated with and won against for the Best Picture Oscar 1976. Many people believed that even when the movies were new. But more than 30 years later, here’s how the big three from 1976 ranked in the AFI’s latest top 100 movie list (2007):
52 Taxi Driver
57 Rocky
64 Network
I love all three films, so I’m very happy with those numbers.
Here’s a funny 1968 ad for “Planet of the Apes”, which moved over to the Guild from the Capitol when “2001” opened in April:
View link
Thanks for the “Auntie Mame” ad, Ken. I’d read a description of it in one of the Oscar reference books, but had never actually seen it.
Sorry you had a bad audience, Jeff. But did you like the movie? I want to see it again, myself. I haven’t done that with a new movie in years.
The seniors did come out for “Marty”, the one show I’ve attended in this series. That was a 1955 release, so I guess the older the film, the better the attendance.
But I’d take that look in a heartbeat if it meant having a movie theater in Times Square once more. It’s still hard to believe there isn’t one left in the entire Square.