The booking at the DeMille for “Roman Empire” was specifically aimed at taking advantage of the Easter holidays and opening season of the World’s Fair. Unfortunately, the epic failed to live up to expectations and was switched to continuous performances at “popular prices” starting on May 29th to include that year’s Memorial Day weekend.
Hopes were high for the reserved-seat enagement, which would benefit from the Easter holidays in April and tourists flocking to NYC for the World’s Fair that opened later in that month.
Jane Birkin, the Anglo/French actress, singer, and fashion icon, has been traveling around the world with this stage presentation that honors the works of French composer Serge Gainsbourg, the great love of her life.
Why isn’t there also a QUEENS after New York, not only for this theatre, but for all theatres listed for that borough, which is one of the five that constitute New York City. Anyone not familiar with NYC geography would be stumped as to where Ozone Park was located in that very large state of New York.
After a month with “The Boatniks,” which grossed below expectations for a new Disney release, the Ziegfeld returned to revival mode for what was certainly one of the lengthiest double bills ever assembled. But Variety reported an opening week’s gross of a mere $12,000.
No efforts were made to connect the melodrama’s distribution to the Wednesday that starts the religious observance of Lent, which in 2020 occurs today (February 26th).
Booked to take advantage of federal holidays honoring Abraham Lincoln (2/12) and George Washington (2/22), the animated feature went on to a record-breaking four-week engagement, and an immediate move-over to the RKO Boston (with different stage show).
The Disney comedy was the first NEW booking for the Ziegfeld since the theatre debuted with “Marooned” in December of the previous year. After a disappointing roadshow experience with “Marooned,” the Ziegfeld had offered a series of revivals, most recently with the two-part Russian version of “War and Peace.”
Less than a year later, on January 14th, 1972, “Agee” was dropped from the names, with Cine I and Cine II now catering to Hispanic audiences. Cine I opened with “Siempre te Amare” and Cine II offered Avco-Embassy’s “Stiletto” with Spanish subtitles.
An internet database claims that the Superscope/stereophonic sound edition of “Fantasia” was first released in 1956, which might explain this 1963 booking. Dating back perhaps to “Gone With the Wind,” it was believed that major movies could reach entirely new audiences by being reissued every seven years.
The “mere $12,000” was Variety’s estimated first week gross for this lengthy double-feature revival, not for “The Boatniks.”
The cost would be equivalent to about $843,000 in 2020.
The booking at the DeMille for “Roman Empire” was specifically aimed at taking advantage of the Easter holidays and opening season of the World’s Fair. Unfortunately, the epic failed to live up to expectations and was switched to continuous performances at “popular prices” starting on May 29th to include that year’s Memorial Day weekend.
Hopes were high for the reserved-seat enagement, which would benefit from the Easter holidays in April and tourists flocking to NYC for the World’s Fair that opened later in that month.
Jane Birkin, the Anglo/French actress, singer, and fashion icon, has been traveling around the world with this stage presentation that honors the works of French composer Serge Gainsbourg, the great love of her life.
The State’s “His Girl Friday” was a move-over from Radio City Music Hall, where it had been part of the showplace’s first program change in 1940.
And with both features in CinemaScope and Color by Deluxe!
Rumors are circulating about a possible sale of the property, including one of conversion into a church. More here
The subterranean cinema listed here as Loews Paramount.
Why isn’t there also a QUEENS after New York, not only for this theatre, but for all theatres listed for that borough, which is one of the five that constitute New York City. Anyone not familiar with NYC geography would be stumped as to where Ozone Park was located in that very large state of New York.
Aerial view at right shows opening day line extending west on 51st Street from Broadway to Eighth Avenue.
The B&W drama was an Anglo-American co-production between J. Arthur Rank and RKO Radio Pictures.
After a month with “The Boatniks,” which grossed below expectations for a new Disney release, the Ziegfeld returned to revival mode for what was certainly one of the lengthiest double bills ever assembled. But Variety reported an opening week’s gross of a mere $12,000.
No efforts were made to connect the melodrama’s distribution to the Wednesday that starts the religious observance of Lent, which in 2020 occurs today (February 26th).
Technicolor trailer for the Warner Brothers release can be viewed here
Booked to take advantage of federal holidays honoring Abraham Lincoln (2/12) and George Washington (2/22), the animated feature went on to a record-breaking four-week engagement, and an immediate move-over to the RKO Boston (with different stage show).
And all for 21 cents until 6:00 PM.
The Disney comedy was the first NEW booking for the Ziegfeld since the theatre debuted with “Marooned” in December of the previous year. After a disappointing roadshow experience with “Marooned,” the Ziegfeld had offered a series of revivals, most recently with the two-part Russian version of “War and Peace.”
Glen Oaks listed in top section with “Cotton Comes to Harlem.”
Less than a year later, on January 14th, 1972, “Agee” was dropped from the names, with Cine I and Cine II now catering to Hispanic audiences. Cine I opened with “Siempre te Amare” and Cine II offered Avco-Embassy’s “Stiletto” with Spanish subtitles.
This was just before a three-day holiday weekend for the Presidents' Day of that year.
An internet database claims that the Superscope/stereophonic sound edition of “Fantasia” was first released in 1956, which might explain this 1963 booking. Dating back perhaps to “Gone With the Wind,” it was believed that major movies could reach entirely new audiences by being reissued every seven years.
Superscope was an anamorphic process similar to CinemaScope.
Usherette Susan Tobin was assigned to brewing and serving free coffee to patrons in the Trylon’s modernistic lounge.
Shown are part of the all-female ushering staff employed during the WWII period.