And between the Warner and the Victoria, “How to Marry a Millionaire” is showing in CinemaScope at the Globe. And I’ll bet those are red marquee letters too.
Thanks again, Michael. I’ve never seen a movie in Toronto, or in most of the cities in your ongoing series, yet it’s so much fun to see the long run totals and to read local moviegoers' reminiscences of Cinerama.
Was the Toronto run the longest anywhere in the world for “2001”? Seems like the “Windjammer” run of 52 weeks was a record breaker for that movie as well.
Carpenter’s version is much more faithful to the original short story, but I’ve never been able to sit through it a second time. I saw it in 70mm at the late great Rivoli on Broadway, but even that didn’t help. As for the 1951 version, I must’ve seen that about 25 times before I was 12 years old.
Carpenter also did a crummy remake of “Village of the Damned”. I hope “The Day the Earth Stood Still” doesn’t join this list of classic sci-fi movies that shouldn’t have been remade.
Thanks BobT. Wasn’t looking forward to seeing that one, but maybe I’m wrong about it.
And thanks in advance, Vito. I’m going in to “Day” with no expectations at all. I’m also going to try to forget it’s a remake of one of my all-time favorite movies.
I’m with Mitchell on this. Film Forum in NYC may have a sharp picture, but when I sit in the front row there I still feel I’m at home looking at my front projection TV. When I sit in the front row at the Loew’s, I am overwhelmed. And that’s something you can’t get at home.
I posted this ad two years ago, but here it is again in honor of the anniversary. As Mr. Sittig said, and as it says in this ad, it’s still the only one of its kind:
One of my clearest memories of Loew’s State 2, aside from the movies I saw there, were the enormous tassels they had on the show curtain. Those tassels were bigger than today’s average multiplex theater :)
Bob: I watched “Journey” every time it came on the 4:30 Movie as well. The first time I saw it was on the ABC Sunday Night Movie on October 17, 1965 (I still remember the date – I guess it meant a lot to me :) I also had to beg my parents to let me stay up till the end of the movie at 11:30 PM on a school night (I was only 10), but they let me. The next night at dinner, my dad said all the guys at work were talking about how rotten that guy was for eating the duck.
Before the show, Nelson Page announced that this print of “Journey to the Center of the Earth” was so new it had never been shown to a theater audience before. He also told us it was the first movie he and his brother had ever seen in a theater. Last night’s show was like being transported back to 1959 and seeing the film in its first run, the way Nelson and his brother saw it in Fort Lee, NJ, in all its CinemaScope glory.
The sound was turned up to just the right level to best showcase Bernard Herrmann’s one-of-a-kind score. His “Atlantis” organ/vibraphone music never sounded so good.
The audience was most likely as awestruck as I was all through it, but some of them did applaud when Count Saknussemm fell to his death and was crushed by rocks. That’s what he gets for EATING a most valuable member of the expedition (Gertrude the Duck). The fact that he did that still disturbs me, 43 years after I first saw it.
As I rushed out of the theater to catch a train, I got to hear Herrmann’s triumphant finale music which was never used in the film, but which the Lafayette played from the soundtrack CD as exit music. Bravo to Pete Apruzzese (or whoever’s idea it was) for doing that.
Even before the movie started, there was another memorable musical event. Besides Jeff Barker at the organ playing music from the film’s score, there was a man named Thad on stage performing on a theremin, that strange electronic instrument used in many a sci-fi and horror film score. It was fascinating to actually see one of them in action.
Lost Memory: Ken was right about the date on that picture of Torn Curtain. It was the second feature. The main attraction, Rough Night in Jericho, was a 1967 release.
Torn Curtain was on TCM earlier today, to pay tribute to Paul Newman.
I was born in 1954, and my first Paul Newman film in a theater was one you won’t hear too much about: “What a Way to Go” (1964). But he was so funny in that, as the ultimate egomaniacal artist. I may watch it again tonight. Heck, I’d even like to see his first film, “The Silver Chalice”, again – too bad it’s not available on DVD. That’s the performance he apologized to the public for in a newspaper ad!
Last night I watched him in one of his real heavyweights, “Cool Hand Luke”. He is amazing in that movie. For some reason I can’t imagine any other actor, past or present, playing that particular role as well as he did.
I got Russ Tamblyn’s autograph at a sci-fi/horror convention a few years ago and he was extremely nice, talking with me about Cinerama and “The Haunting”, etc. He also posed for a picture with me.
“For Panavision 70, the aspect ratio is 2.21:1, and thus the picture which is 30' high looks less wide than scope even though it is the full 70' wide as opposed to 2.35 Scope’s 64' width.”
I remember being a little disappointed when the Hall showed “Airport” in 70mm (Todd-AO?) in 1970 because the screen didn’t look wide enough. I was only 15, and didn’t know then what I know now – sure wish I could go back and see it there again!
If anyone saw “Middle of the Night” (1959), written by Paddy Chayefsky, on TCM the other day: Lee Philips' character talks about a musician he knows “who used to work in the pit in the Roxy, before they put in CinemaScope”.
The opening scene of last week’s episode of “Mad Men” took place in Montclair. The character Paul was throwing a party at his apartment there, and he mentions the Wellmont Theatre as one of the cultural high spots in town.
And between the Warner and the Victoria, “How to Marry a Millionaire” is showing in CinemaScope at the Globe. And I’ll bet those are red marquee letters too.
Thanks again, Michael. I’ve never seen a movie in Toronto, or in most of the cities in your ongoing series, yet it’s so much fun to see the long run totals and to read local moviegoers' reminiscences of Cinerama.
Was the Toronto run the longest anywhere in the world for “2001”? Seems like the “Windjammer” run of 52 weeks was a record breaker for that movie as well.
Carpenter’s version is much more faithful to the original short story, but I’ve never been able to sit through it a second time. I saw it in 70mm at the late great Rivoli on Broadway, but even that didn’t help. As for the 1951 version, I must’ve seen that about 25 times before I was 12 years old.
Carpenter also did a crummy remake of “Village of the Damned”. I hope “The Day the Earth Stood Still” doesn’t join this list of classic sci-fi movies that shouldn’t have been remade.
Thanks BobT. Wasn’t looking forward to seeing that one, but maybe I’m wrong about it.
And thanks in advance, Vito. I’m going in to “Day” with no expectations at all. I’m also going to try to forget it’s a remake of one of my all-time favorite movies.
I hope “The Day the Earth Stood Still ” is the Christmas attraction at the Ziegfeld. Maybe I’ll find out tomorrow.
I’m with Mitchell on this. Film Forum in NYC may have a sharp picture, but when I sit in the front row there I still feel I’m at home looking at my front projection TV. When I sit in the front row at the Loew’s, I am overwhelmed. And that’s something you can’t get at home.
Can anyone report on “Quantum of Solace” at the Ziegfeld? I’m going on Thursday afternoon.
RobertR posted this “Father Goose” ad three years ago. It displays the 1964 prices at the Hall:
View link
I posted this ad two years ago, but here it is again in honor of the anniversary. As Mr. Sittig said, and as it says in this ad, it’s still the only one of its kind:
View link
One of my clearest memories of Loew’s State 2, aside from the movies I saw there, were the enormous tassels they had on the show curtain. Those tassels were bigger than today’s average multiplex theater :)
While looking at Ken’s pictures, all I could think of was that “2001” played here for more than a year. Oh how the mighty have fallen :(
Bob: I watched “Journey” every time it came on the 4:30 Movie as well. The first time I saw it was on the ABC Sunday Night Movie on October 17, 1965 (I still remember the date – I guess it meant a lot to me :) I also had to beg my parents to let me stay up till the end of the movie at 11:30 PM on a school night (I was only 10), but they let me. The next night at dinner, my dad said all the guys at work were talking about how rotten that guy was for eating the duck.
Pete: since the finale cue is so short, I was still in the building for the beginning of “Twice as Tall”.
That finale is so powerful – the producers should’ve found a way (like you did) to include it in the film itself, instead of the “ki-yi-yi-yi” song.
Jeff: I made the train with lots of time to spare, because it came in 5 minutes late. I would’ve made it anyway, though.
Before the show, Nelson Page announced that this print of “Journey to the Center of the Earth” was so new it had never been shown to a theater audience before. He also told us it was the first movie he and his brother had ever seen in a theater. Last night’s show was like being transported back to 1959 and seeing the film in its first run, the way Nelson and his brother saw it in Fort Lee, NJ, in all its CinemaScope glory.
The sound was turned up to just the right level to best showcase Bernard Herrmann’s one-of-a-kind score. His “Atlantis” organ/vibraphone music never sounded so good.
The audience was most likely as awestruck as I was all through it, but some of them did applaud when Count Saknussemm fell to his death and was crushed by rocks. That’s what he gets for EATING a most valuable member of the expedition (Gertrude the Duck). The fact that he did that still disturbs me, 43 years after I first saw it.
As I rushed out of the theater to catch a train, I got to hear Herrmann’s triumphant finale music which was never used in the film, but which the Lafayette played from the soundtrack CD as exit music. Bravo to Pete Apruzzese (or whoever’s idea it was) for doing that.
Even before the movie started, there was another memorable musical event. Besides Jeff Barker at the organ playing music from the film’s score, there was a man named Thad on stage performing on a theremin, that strange electronic instrument used in many a sci-fi and horror film score. It was fascinating to actually see one of them in action.
What a great show!
Paul: Your pictures are wonderful. Thanks!
Something’s wrong with either me or my camera. I’ve never been able to take even a halfway-decent picture inside the Loew’s auditorium.
I love the way the Stanley auditorium looks like it’s situated under an open outdoor sky when all those ceiling lights are on.
OK, sorry about that.
Lost Memory: Ken was right about the date on that picture of Torn Curtain. It was the second feature. The main attraction, Rough Night in Jericho, was a 1967 release.
Torn Curtain was on TCM earlier today, to pay tribute to Paul Newman.
I was born in 1954, and my first Paul Newman film in a theater was one you won’t hear too much about: “What a Way to Go” (1964). But he was so funny in that, as the ultimate egomaniacal artist. I may watch it again tonight. Heck, I’d even like to see his first film, “The Silver Chalice”, again – too bad it’s not available on DVD. That’s the performance he apologized to the public for in a newspaper ad!
Last night I watched him in one of his real heavyweights, “Cool Hand Luke”. He is amazing in that movie. For some reason I can’t imagine any other actor, past or present, playing that particular role as well as he did.
I got Russ Tamblyn’s autograph at a sci-fi/horror convention a few years ago and he was extremely nice, talking with me about Cinerama and “The Haunting”, etc. He also posed for a picture with me.
Thanks, Mr. Endres, for another great Music Hall story.
Here’s the “Airport” program, first posted here 3 years ago:
View link
View link
I recall newspaper ads from that time announcing “Airport” as the first 70mm presentation in the history of Radio City Music Hall.
REndres said:
“For Panavision 70, the aspect ratio is 2.21:1, and thus the picture which is 30' high looks less wide than scope even though it is the full 70' wide as opposed to 2.35 Scope’s 64' width.”
I remember being a little disappointed when the Hall showed “Airport” in 70mm (Todd-AO?) in 1970 because the screen didn’t look wide enough. I was only 15, and didn’t know then what I know now – sure wish I could go back and see it there again!
If anyone saw “Middle of the Night” (1959), written by Paddy Chayefsky, on TCM the other day: Lee Philips' character talks about a musician he knows “who used to work in the pit in the Roxy, before they put in CinemaScope”.
I saw them both there in the ‘70s. The “West Side Story” show in 2001 was invitation only, unfortunately for me.
“The Sound of Music”’s first North Jersey release after the roadshow engagements:
View link
Leon: Glad you liked the ads. You can see many more of them at my Photobucket site (hope it lets you in):
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/billhuelbig/
The opening scene of last week’s episode of “Mad Men” took place in Montclair. The character Paul was throwing a party at his apartment there, and he mentions the Wellmont Theatre as one of the cultural high spots in town.