The black-tie gala raised funds for The New York Medical College, but did not include the ice-skating revue that was now part of Roxy policy and would support “Carousel” starting the next day. The Todd-AO version of R&H’s “Oklahoma!” was still in its roadshow engagement at the nearby Rivoli Theatre.
This was the third film to occupy the Music Hall’s screen that year, which started with a brief hold-over of the Christmas holiday show with “Kismet,” followed by “I’ll Cry Tomorrow.”
“The Young In Heart” had previously played at Radio City Music Hall (with stage revue)…Some Loew’s that had later-run programs for their areas are not listed in this ad.
Enhanced copy of a much darker photo by Hiroshi Sugimoto published by the NYT’s Sunday Magazine on 12/27/20 as part of a memorial issue to victims of Covid-19, in this case honoring film critic and historian James Harvey (1929-2020).
On the day that Loew’s opened the American, the circuit’s newest theatre in the Bronx, the Paradise offered “The Thief of Bagdad” & Dulcy,“ first-run and exclusive for the borough. That combo would reach the American two weeks later.
Excerpted from a complete Loew’s circuit ad that was the entire length of a New York Times page…Until Showcase distribution began in the NYC area in 1962, bookings at Loew’s American were usually two weeks behind Loew’s Paradise, which was exclusive first-run for the Bronx.
The cartoon feature was the inaugural attraction on both screens…The Disney Organization never missed an opportunity to plug other ventures, in this case the opening of Walt Disney World in Florida in October of the coming year.
To combat the pre-Christmas doldrums, RKO brought back 56 popular features on a Monday-Tuesday, always the least attended days of the week. Keith’s Flushing paired “Indiscreet” with “Marjorie Morningstar,”
both of which had originally debuted in NYC at Radio City Music Hall.
Yul Brynner was an unexpected replacement for Tyrone Power, who suffered a fatal heart attack after filming a strenuous dueling scene with George Sanders.
Opened on December 6th, 1945, during the first Christmas season since the end of WWII…The above ad, published in The New York Times, was much smaller than one in the rival Herald-Tribune, which can be viewed here
Not included in the group is the RKO Palace, which was experimenting with a revival of traditional vaudeville (8 acts) and a first-run “B” feature. Loew’s State, by that time, had dropped vaudeville for single first-run features.
“The Maltese Falcon” was returning to Broadway at the Palace after its premiere engagement in October at the Strand Theatre (with stage show)…Many New Yorkers were attending these RKO programs four days later, on December 7th, when screenings were interrupted for the announcement of a Japanese bombing attack on Pearl Harbor.
Designed to hype the national release of RKO Radio’s “The Animal Kingdom,” the full-page ad neglected to mention that the B&W feature was being supported by a lavish stage revue at the new showcase, a policy that was planned to continue with future bookings.
The black-tie gala raised funds for The New York Medical College, but did not include the ice-skating revue that was now part of Roxy policy and would support “Carousel” starting the next day. The Todd-AO version of R&H’s “Oklahoma!” was still in its roadshow engagement at the nearby Rivoli Theatre.
Filming took place in the early morning hours of September 15th, 1954, after the Trans-Lux 52nd Street had closed down for the night.
This was the third film to occupy the Music Hall’s screen that year, which started with a brief hold-over of the Christmas holiday show with “Kismet,” followed by “I’ll Cry Tomorrow.”
How can an event be considered “unique” if it has been repeated many times over the years? Just asking.
Exterior photo taken just before Christmas of 2020 can be viewed here at the Forgotten New York website
Sister Mae’s smash hit, “I’m No Angel,” had recently played at the Uptown, and was current at other cinemas around Chicagoland.
“The Young In Heart” had previously played at Radio City Music Hall (with stage revue)…Some Loew’s that had later-run programs for their areas are not listed in this ad.
Enhanced copy of a much darker photo by Hiroshi Sugimoto published by the NYT’s Sunday Magazine on 12/27/20 as part of a memorial issue to victims of Covid-19, in this case honoring film critic and historian James Harvey (1929-2020).
Complete ad for the Loew’s circuit in the NYC area on that day can be viewed at the CT listing for the Paradise Theatre. Click here
On the day that Loew’s opened the American, the circuit’s newest theatre in the Bronx, the Paradise offered “The Thief of Bagdad” & Dulcy,“ first-run and exclusive for the borough. That combo would reach the American two weeks later.
Excerpted from a complete Loew’s circuit ad that was the entire length of a New York Times page…Until Showcase distribution began in the NYC area in 1962, bookings at Loew’s American were usually two weeks behind Loew’s Paradise, which was exclusive first-run for the Bronx.
The cartoon feature was the inaugural attraction on both screens…The Disney Organization never missed an opportunity to plug other ventures, in this case the opening of Walt Disney World in Florida in October of the coming year.
Mike, what does “(saps)” after the name mean or signify?
This was the first Christmas holiday season since the Music Hall switched to a screen/stage policy in January of that year.
Two exterior photos at the start of a “Forgotten New York” article on crosstown Third Street can be viewed here
Town & Country Magazine article and color photo of the stars in 2020 can be viewed here
To combat the pre-Christmas doldrums, RKO brought back 56 popular features on a Monday-Tuesday, always the least attended days of the week. Keith’s Flushing paired “Indiscreet” with “Marjorie Morningstar,” both of which had originally debuted in NYC at Radio City Music Hall.
Yul Brynner was an unexpected replacement for Tyrone Power, who suffered a fatal heart attack after filming a strenuous dueling scene with George Sanders.
Opened on December 6th, 1945, during the first Christmas season since the end of WWII…The above ad, published in The New York Times, was much smaller than one in the rival Herald-Tribune, which can be viewed here
Also the world premiere for the B&W classical romance, which earned Jose Ferrer an Academy Award as “Best Actor” of 1950.
A slide show of many Camden cinemas, including the Stanley, can be viewed here
Listed in top left corner with “1776,” the Music Hall was New York’s last remaining theatre with a screen/stage policy.
Not included in the group is the RKO Palace, which was experimenting with a revival of traditional vaudeville (8 acts) and a first-run “B” feature. Loew’s State, by that time, had dropped vaudeville for single first-run features.
“The Maltese Falcon” was returning to Broadway at the Palace after its premiere engagement in October at the Strand Theatre (with stage show)…Many New Yorkers were attending these RKO programs four days later, on December 7th, when screenings were interrupted for the announcement of a Japanese bombing attack on Pearl Harbor.
Designed to hype the national release of RKO Radio’s “The Animal Kingdom,” the full-page ad neglected to mention that the B&W feature was being supported by a lavish stage revue at the new showcase, a policy that was planned to continue with future bookings.