Rivoli Theatre

As far as I know, “Gigi” was the only film that played at the Royale. It opened in 1927 with an accent on comedy. Its first big hit was in 1928 with Mae West’s “Diamond Lil.” True, many films derived from plays that unfolded on its stage. But it was live theater all the way (except for “Gigi”).

The Spanish-style design of the Royale seems right for movies. It must have been (one of) Laurence Olivier’s favorite NYC theater(s), because I saw him act twice there, just before “Gigi” in “The Entertainer” and a couple of years later in “Beckett” (with Anthony Quinn as Henry II). I also saw Bette Davis act there in “Night of the Iguana.” In recent years, the Royale has staged “Art” and “Copenhagen.” “Gigi” opened at the Royale on 15 May ‘58, and in the Fall moved to continuous performances at the Sutton where I saw it. Odd, then, that VM’s and CB’s splendid visuals premiered in NYC on relatively small screens. When “Gigi” finally came to the nabes, I saw it again at the Alpine, which boasted of having the largest screen in Broooklyn. The film looked great in that cavernous expanse.

Gigi opened in the Broadway Royal, a legit house.

“Oklahoma” blows on a TV screen, I don’t care how large it is. This film and many others like them were made for a LARGE screen. Seeing these films at home on TV screen destroys whatever “magic” they might’ve had and shows up all their limitations (story, characterization, etc.) Certain other musicals such as “West Side Story”, “Gigi”, “Funny Girl” and “Oliver” work OK on TV because their basic story structures and characterizations are more pronounced. They hold up better over the years. But it would be a wonder to see those on the BIG screen for the full impact.

One of my parent’s most beloved movies was “Gigi” which premiered at a theater called The Royale. I do not see it listed here. Does it go under a different name?

CC. I was never a fan of the film Oklahoma either. But a friend forced me to go see it when in the late 70’s a Todd AO print was shown at the Penthouse(the balcony of the Warner Cinerama/Strand after twinning.)
I was, as they say, blown away. I thought it was glorious.
I saw it again at the Cinema 1(before twinning.) Again absolutely wonderful.
Had I been around when it was shown at the Rivoli I would have been there every couple of weeks. To have seen it on that curved screen!
Just so you know there are two films of Oklahoma. One filmed for Todd AO and one filmed for Cinemascope. Even Zinnemann thought the Todd AO was much better. I only wish he had done Carousel.

Broadway as a two way street? Imagine that. Oye. The traffic would’ve been horrendous.

And to anyone who is a fan of “Oklahoma” I’d like to amend my comment disparaging the film. My comment calling it a musical mediocrity pertains soley for the FILM, not the play. The play might’ve broken new ground on the stage and is a classic. But the movie doesn’t do much.

I used to love watching the Rivoli projectionist sitting in a lawn chair on the platform outside of the booth enjoying himself watching the film. 52+ week runs were not uncommon in the 1950 even in cities smaller than New York.

I would like to add a brief word of praise for the projectionists who had to show the same movie for more than a year.
In one theatre where “South Pacific” played for months, I remember watching the projectionists using the dialogue, not the cue dots, for some of the changeovers to give themselves a challenge! Other than the overture and intermission, it was likely a long shift.

If I remember correctly, it played for 65 weeks. On the inside cover of the DVD (which I don’t have available at this time)it tells you the date it opened at the Rivoli and how long it played.

Watched the end of “The Sound of Music” Christmas night (why the HELL ABC had to squeeze that movie into FOUR hours is beyond me. I think the commercial breaks were longer than the movie clips…).

Anyway, The Rivoli is where my Mom to my oldest brother to see “The Sound of Music” when it came out in ‘65. She said is was incredible.

Just wondering if anyone knows how long it played at The Rivoli? I’ve always heard that there were theaters (like some in the U.K.) that played “The Sound of Music” for upwards of five years!

My Mom and Dad told me they would never be caught dead going to Penn Station to meet people coming into town without being dressed up!

And even I remember going to movies when I was very young and being dressed up. The one time I remember clearly was my first time at the Music Hall. Christ, I felt like I was going to church. But it added to the feeling that I was seeing and doing something unique and special.

But I remember waiting on line in the late 70’s and early ‘80s for the Cinema 1 or the Baronet or the Coronet. It was great. The anticipation of seeing a hot new movie in an exclusive run and having to wait for it!

For CC I saw Fair Lady as a boy at the Criterion in the summer of ‘65(my only roadshow of the '60s. There were two more in the early '70’s.) I remember seeing people dressed up as if they were at a wedding or at church and being amazed. Also the souvenir book seller was in a tux! To this day I picture the Criterion as the ultimate in classy first run picture presention.

Vincent- In the 1980s at Cinema I, the neighboring business and residences used to complain to us about the line being in front of their store or apt. building. The customers also objected to being made to wait on line – the yupsters felt it was too hot, too cold, too windy, too rainy, too sunny, too shady, and the person they were with just had open-heart surgery 20 minutes earlier or was planning to give birth immediately after the movie and not able to wait on line. So a group of customers and theatre-neighbors (primarily from the east side) got after the the Mayor – and Ed Kotch was the mayor, not Giuliani, who liked to go to the movies – and he didn’t like to wait on line either – we let him and his security entourage wait inside.