Ziegfeld Theatre
141 W. 54th Street,
New York,
NY
10019
141 W. 54th Street,
New York,
NY
10019
131 people favorited this theater
Showing 1,001 - 1,025 of 4,511 comments
Peter that was the first thing I said to him. With Smoke coming out of my ears and fire out of my mouth I reduced the little twerp to rubble and walked away. As Professor Higgins once said “I am a gentle man BUT…let a women (in his case idiot in my life :)
If there was “no man in the booth”, who was threading up?
Oh yes Bill I shall never forget the day I went to that opening and confronted that fool running that control panel who said something along the lines of “We don’t need the man in the booth anymore” I went off on him like a bomb, I could not accept a 306 guy telling people that, it was a touchy subject at the time with all that automated stuff about to pounce on us. We knew it was the beginning of the end of projection as we knew and loved it but I still was not ready or willing to accept it. Little did we know that platters were just waiting in the wings to pounce on us or the inevitable replacement of film with Digital. “Won’t need the guy in the booth” indeed has sadly come to pass.
Thanks, Ed! I’ll be using that from now on.
Click here for a picture of the Ziegfeld console in 1969.
“Click here” goes in brackets [ ] followed immediately by the website address in parentheses ( ) with no spaces between the close bracket and the open parenthesis. Give it a test spin… you can always remove the comment if it doesn’t work.
Does the Ziegfeld support 7.1 Dolby Surround?
Ed, thanks for reposting the link to the picture. I need to learn how to do that “Click Here” thing!
Interesting, Al. I imagine there might have been a potential distraction issue for patrons seated in the raised loge at the back of the auditorium. I could also imagine the operator having his hands full making sure no one reached over and toyed with the console while walking by. But then, perhaps more was expected of general audiences back in 1969. I’m viewing the situation through the dark prism of contemporary behavior among moviegoers.
For the record, that 1970 screening was my first time at the Ziegfeld. It was a double feature: “West Side Story” and “Around the World in 80 Days”. 5 ½ hours. What a great introduction to a great theater.
Several years ago, Vito posted what he thought of the console on this page. At the same time, I related an incident where the console seemed to go out of control during a 1970 screening of “West Side Story”. The soundtrack was filled with ear-splitting popping noises, which only went away when the operator turned the console off and walked away from it. The audience then applauded.
The console was installed in the auditorium so that a single projectionist could run the whole operation from downstairs with closed circuit TV views of all three projectors upstairs. It gave the projectionist a patron’s- eye view of the presentation.
The Union never accepted the concept so it never ran that way.
I didn’t get an email either, moviebuff82. Sometimes, there is a lag in notification, however.
My question for Vito and Bill is why would the console be out on the auditorium floor? Just for the photo-op? Did they wire it to function out there before installing it again up in the booth? Or is the operator in the image merely pretending to fiddle with the knobs?
Hey Vito… Click here to see Bill’s photo. This image is actually uploaded in the photo tab above, so you’d be able to find it by browsing there as well.
Didn’t get an email about responding to comments about last comment by you vito.
Bill I am a bit confussed what did you mean “Here is the console” The link took me to movie ads. Ole age perhaps but I can not recall why you sent me that :)
Vito: Here it is, the console!
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/12/photos/33800
Seeing that should bring back some (bad) memories.
Thanks to DEFG for posting the picture.
Is Ziegfeld projection still 2k or upgraded yet to 4k?
By the way, speaking of 70mm, here’s a link to a fest in LA coming up in December just for 70mm.
http://www.americancinemathequecalendar.com/content/bigger-than-life-70mm
I did not get into the projection booth today, but I would guess that the standard projectors are still there (gathering cobwebs) with every presentation now digital. I don’t consider that a bad thing for two reasons relative to classics like “Apocalypse Now.”
The Museum of the Moving Image in Queens has just started a “See it Big” program with classics including 70mm-recently “Lawrence” and “Playtime.” Check it out at Movingimage.US You want to catch “Apocalypse Now” 70mm there? Send them an e-mail and let them know. They have a magnificent new theatre that can show anything and will. If you live in the NYC area, you have one of the best opportunities for catching classic films….TimeOut NY has pages of them every single week.
The other reason is the growing movement to make digital prints of classic films. The first one I saw was “Goldfinger” at the Ziegfeld a few seasons back, which I introduced. For the first time I could crisply see the inscription on the gold bar that Bond and Goldfinger play for at the golf match. How’s that for “better than new”—add to this, all of which i’ve seen, the digital “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “West Side Story,” and an absolutely astonishing “Ben Hur” showcased at the NY Film Festival. My jaw dropped.
By the way, I am someone who would rather see ANY film in a theatre than on the best home video system imaginable. To me, the Ziegfeld is the place to have a great experience.
Best,
Gary
Does the Ziegfeld still use 70mm film projection or is it all digital now? My dad saw Apocalypse Now in its engagement in 70mm 5.1 Dolby analog surround sound and loved it.
A Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving to all. The Holiday Movie Season begins today….and there’s plenty to begin cheering about. I was at the Ziegfeld today for the first screening of “Hugo” and what an enchantment. This is definitely one of those films that I wanted to see immediately again after the credits rolled, and of course, I wanted to see it at the Ziegfeld.
I haven’t been there in a while, but the special feelingis still there, and for an added touch, the manager, took a microphone and warmly welcomed everyone to the theatre and wished us a good time. A special touch that you don’t get at your local plex, and perfectly suited to the Ziegfeld. Kudos to all for that.
Gorgeous presentation( yes the 3-D is great ), fabulous sound—hey, it’s the Ziegfeld where the best seat in the house is the one you are sitting in!!
Best,
Gary
Just so Hugo and thought its the best 3d so far.
I wonder if the run the bulb at max to keep the ziegfeld so bright.
In 2001 the Ziegfeld had a festival of sorts-old movie musicals. I was planning on going to see “Funny Girl” on the big screen again but I did not have the chance to get to the theatre that day, September 11.