MGM never attempted to launch the Technicolor musical during the Easter holiday season, with world premiere run starting June 30th, 1948 at Loew’s State in NYC’s Times Square. Ad displayed here
First neighborhood showings of “It’s a Wonderful Life” followed a Christmas 1946 premiere engagement in midtown at the Globe Theatre, which ended on February 21st, 1947.
Robert Weede, a featured vocalist in the stage presentation, would later portray the title role in the original Broadway production of Frank Loesser’s “The Most Happy Fella.”
The B&W adaptation of the beloved novel was the first production by David O. Selznick’s independent company, which used United Artists for distribution. Freddie Bartholomew and Mickey Rooney were “borrowed”
from MGM, Selznick’s previous employer.
81st Street and other RKO theatres designated with the number 9 were testing a new policy with the last complete show starting with the main feature around 9:00 PM (except Saturdays).
72nd Street and other Loew’s designated with the number 9 were testing a new policy with last complete show starting with the main feature around 9PM (except Saturdays).
The Main Street was the first stop on a three-day promotional tour of Queens, Long Island, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. A full list of theatres visited is included in the dark spread of the batcape.
Street address differs from the one displayed on the Overview.
The ceremony was held just prior to the Chinese’s reserved-seat engagement of “West Side Story,” which started on December 14th, 1961.
“Theater” doesn’t necessarily indicate a “cinema.” If the site was a cigar store by 1900, film connection may never have existed.
Marilyn Monroe’s first appearance on the Roxy’s screen was in an uncredited “bit” in the Technicolor romance. A scene clip can be viewed here
The top-billed “Brooklyn I Love You” was a B&W short subject in Paramount’s “Pacemakers” series.
MGM never attempted to launch the Technicolor musical during the Easter holiday season, with world premiere run starting June 30th, 1948 at Loew’s State in NYC’s Times Square. Ad displayed here
Opened one week before the actual Good Friday of that year (4/09/82).
The Patio’s marquee also had to compete with an adjacent signpost for the Flatbush Avenue trolley line.
First neighborhood showings of “It’s a Wonderful Life” followed a Christmas 1946 premiere engagement in midtown at the Globe Theatre, which ended on February 21st, 1947.
Robert Weede, a featured vocalist in the stage presentation, would later portray the title role in the original Broadway production of Frank Loesser’s “The Most Happy Fella.”
A video with a step-by-step demonstration of the Kinemacolor process can be viewed here
Roxy, at top left, was the first theatre in the world to present a CinemaScope feature with “The Robe.”
The B&W adaptation of the beloved novel was the first production by David O. Selznick’s independent company, which used United Artists for distribution. Freddie Bartholomew and Mickey Rooney were “borrowed” from MGM, Selznick’s previous employer.
The Easter holiday presentation opened on March 30th, with ad displayed here
81st Street and other RKO theatres designated with the number 9 were testing a new policy with the last complete show starting with the main feature around 9:00 PM (except Saturdays).
72nd Street and other Loew’s designated with the number 9 were testing a new policy with last complete show starting with the main feature around 9PM (except Saturdays).
This is an architect’s color illustration, not a photograph.
Ad for the world premiere at the Trans-Lux East on March 26th can be viewed here
Easter Sunday arrived on April 1st that year.
The Roxy’s Easter Holiday Presentation for that year.
The roadshow engagement coincided with the Easter holiday season of that year, which had Easter Sunday on April 10th.
The three-day tour started in Queens on Thursday morning and finished in the Bronx at the Melba on Saturday night.
The Main Street was the first stop on a three-day promotional tour of Queens, Long Island, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. A full list of theatres visited is included in the dark spread of the batcape.
The Lyric Theatre was the gathering point for a “Wartime Scrap Drive” conducted by local children and teenagers.
CDs didn’t exist in 1952, nor did Time/Warner as a corporate entity. Perhaps there was an LP album in 1952, with much later reissue in other formats.