One of my favorite movies and astonishingly it opened as the ‘42 Christmas show and with a change of stage show played until March!
Despite the MGM gloss and sudden happy ending a very dark and tragic film and an odd choice for a holiday film in the 40s.
Mervyn Leroy claims he was told by the Music Hall management it could play another 11 weeks but they had to get a new film in.
Astounding when it had 5 showings a day to close to 6,000 people. WW II certainly was the halcyon days of film going in NY with all those midtown movie palaces constantly filling up playing to thousand of people a show.
Afterwards went to a matinee of The Andrew Sisters in the musical Over Here at the Schubert in which I remember a very young Travolta, Ann Reinking and Treat Williams.
I believe I read that during the climactic horse race the Music Hall’s screen was expanded to its Magnascope size.
I always wondered how this worked. During a reel change was the aperture of the next projector used larger and the borders of the screen then enlarged? Then for the end of the film did the screen then shrink to its former size?
Though I believe the last time this was done was for the incredible Busby Berkeley Cypress Gardens' water show from Easy to Love and I doubt there are many people around who could tell us how it worked exactly.
When I saw Butterflies are Free the summer of ‘72 there was a very long preview of 1776. It seemed like it must have been 15 minutes.
It included some of Cool Cool Considerate Men.
So when I saw the film at Christmas I was like ‘what the hell happened to Cool Cool Considerate Men?’
Did I dream I saw it in that preview?
Little did I know what tricky Dick was up to.
Still have never seen it but it’s nice to know it exists unlike the Coffee Break from How to Succeed which was included in that film’s poster artwork but cut before the film premiered and never seen again.
Saw My Fair Lady here twice. First in the summer of ‘65. Was so young all I remember is that people were dressed up for a movie which was strange to me. The movie was boring.
Saw it again in I believe Jan of ‘71. 70mm presentation but without intermission to allow for continuous performances. Though prices were different mezz and orchestra and balc. I think orch and mezz were $3.50 and balc was $3. Still kind of a snooze.
It wasn’t until I was older and saw it in 70mm at the Warner Cinerama that the film totally floored me. One of the true greats. Though nobody will ever see it like that again. The huge curved screen had a clarity and depth which gave the film an almost 3D feel. When Hepburn makes her first appearance at Ascott the image was almost startling in its beauty.
And the 6 track analogue stereo sound was glorious with Previn’s magnificent conducting.
Met Jeremy Brett years later and told him it was one of my favorite films. He said it was one of his as well.
Even the people who treasure this film on their Blu Ray players have no idea how good it is.
Legend of the Vikings was one of the spectacles that the Music Hall was famous for which included the undersea ballet and Bolero of which the ballet company was the most important part.
When the Music Hall got rid of it that was just another nail in its coffin. Without the spectacle the only thing to see was the Rockettes. And at 10 minutes it was hardly worth sitting through a terrible movie and a tedious embarrassing stage show for.
I love this photo.
It was the end of an era.
One of my favorite movies and astonishingly it opened as the ‘42 Christmas show and with a change of stage show played until March!
Despite the MGM gloss and sudden happy ending a very dark and tragic film and an odd choice for a holiday film in the 40s.
Mervyn Leroy claims he was told by the Music Hall management it could play another 11 weeks but they had to get a new film in.
Astounding when it had 5 showings a day to close to 6,000 people. WW II certainly was the halcyon days of film going in NY with all those midtown movie palaces constantly filling up playing to thousand of people a show.
A very exciting time for movie going.
But of course there was that war…
Bill you only post this to make us jealous.
Well I saw it at the Rivoli in ‘76 and it was pretty fabulous there!
Wish they were showing this in September.
Along with the exotic Danse d'Extase rhumba rhythm ballet which must have been fun.
46 ft seems pretty small for a screen for a major London roadshow house.
Especially for films like SOM, Cleopatra and Lawrence.
A lot of people think this was a best picture Oscar fail.
I think Streetcar is a great film but I’m fine with American getting the prize.
A beautiful film.
I was simply confused because the original Blossom Time was one of my fondest theatrical memories.
Sorry!
Lost in memories…
Saw Chinatown here at a late morning show.
Afterwards went to a matinee of The Andrew Sisters in the musical Over Here at the Schubert in which I remember a very young Travolta, Ann Reinking and Treat Williams.
Boy I liked NY back then.
I believe I read that during the climactic horse race the Music Hall’s screen was expanded to its Magnascope size.
I always wondered how this worked. During a reel change was the aperture of the next projector used larger and the borders of the screen then enlarged? Then for the end of the film did the screen then shrink to its former size?
Though I believe the last time this was done was for the incredible Busby Berkeley Cypress Gardens' water show from Easy to Love and I doubt there are many people around who could tell us how it worked exactly.
Darling Lily opened in Nov of ‘69 in Canada?
When I saw Butterflies are Free the summer of ‘72 there was a very long preview of 1776. It seemed like it must have been 15 minutes.
It included some of Cool Cool Considerate Men.
So when I saw the film at Christmas I was like ‘what the hell happened to Cool Cool Considerate Men?’
Did I dream I saw it in that preview?
Little did I know what tricky Dick was up to.
Still have never seen it but it’s nice to know it exists unlike the Coffee Break from How to Succeed which was included in that film’s poster artwork but cut before the film premiered and never seen again.
The last Music Hall movie that was so successful(at the Hall) it sometimes sold out the last stage show.
‘This line is for the movie only!’
The Hall played the film again in 1976.
I believe it replaced the dire Bluebird which was unwatchable and had audience members leaving and waiting in the foyer for the stage show.
I waited hours in line to see LUCY MAME at the Music Hall.
That was quite the doozy.
The above stage show looks quite the doozy as well.
A Christmas show with Santa at the bottom of the sea, a dog act, and the Rockettes ending up on the moon.
Only Leonidoff could pull it off.
All that money to renovate the Hall then they throw in a cardboard arch like some kid playing Radio City in a shoe box.
Incredibly cheap tacky and amateurish.
I’ve always been curious why until the 50s the screen at the Music Hall was so small.
Anybody have an explanation?
It seems it could easily have been 1 and a half times as big.
Interesting that the great Jessica Tandy who gives such a superb performance in an important role in this received no credit.
The film looked wonderful at the Music Hall.
‘Where anything can happen… and everything does!’
I wish one could edit one’s own posts.
Anyway it’s a delirious fun movie that’s not to be missed. And surprisingly contemporary in its animal rights message.
One of the most bizarre films ever made. Had no idea it opened at Radio city.
‘Where every can happen…and everything does!’ is in this case pretty accurate.
Imagine Cecil B De Mille, Spielberg and PETA making a film together.
Sorry ‘Ascot.’
Saw My Fair Lady here twice. First in the summer of ‘65. Was so young all I remember is that people were dressed up for a movie which was strange to me. The movie was boring.
Saw it again in I believe Jan of ‘71. 70mm presentation but without intermission to allow for continuous performances. Though prices were different mezz and orchestra and balc. I think orch and mezz were $3.50 and balc was $3. Still kind of a snooze.
It wasn’t until I was older and saw it in 70mm at the Warner Cinerama that the film totally floored me. One of the true greats. Though nobody will ever see it like that again. The huge curved screen had a clarity and depth which gave the film an almost 3D feel. When Hepburn makes her first appearance at Ascott the image was almost startling in its beauty.
And the 6 track analogue stereo sound was glorious with Previn’s magnificent conducting.
Met Jeremy Brett years later and told him it was one of my favorite films. He said it was one of his as well.
Even the people who treasure this film on their Blu Ray players have no idea how good it is.
Legend of the Vikings was one of the spectacles that the Music Hall was famous for which included the undersea ballet and Bolero of which the ballet company was the most important part.
When the Music Hall got rid of it that was just another nail in its coffin. Without the spectacle the only thing to see was the Rockettes. And at 10 minutes it was hardly worth sitting through a terrible movie and a tedious embarrassing stage show for.
The Music Hall’s last Thanksgiving film which did not make it to Thanksgiving.
Love these ads. Remember looking at the photos of the stage show outside the front entrance. Wish I had gone in to see it.
From the photo it looks like a great place to see 70mm.