Rory: based on your top two favorite movies, you have excellent taste!
You’re right – it would be great if “2001” also had a 40th anniversary showing in NYC. And if they did, the Ziegfeld would be the only place to show it.
Over the entrance these words are posted: Tours Daily Monday-Friday 8 am-5 pm. I think the building is used for religious services all through the weekend. My friend Jeff and I went on Good Friday a couple of years ago without calling ahead. There were lots of people in the offices, but someone still took the time out to give us the tour.
Having said all that, Warren’s right. Maybe it would be safer to call ahead and make sure.
Poor Gary Merrill. Not only did he not get capital letter-billing like all the others, but they spelled his character’s name wrong. It should be Bill Sampson.
On my first trip to LA in 1981, my family and I went looking for 10086 Sunset Blvd., not realizing that it never really existed. We could’ve used a good Hollywood guidebook, like the one that got me to the Alto Nido in 2008.
On a recent trip to LA, I visited Joe Gillis' apartment house from “Sunset Blvd.” I always thought he made it sound like a dump in the movie, but it looks pretty good in real life:
Rory: how far are you traveling to get to New York? I flew to LA from New Jersey to see “How the West Was Won”, “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World” and “2001”, and it’s good to know I’m not the only extreme movie fan out there who does this kind of thing :)
Justin: there was a remake of “Mr. Smith” in 1977, called “Billy Jack Goes to Washington”. Frank Capra Jr. produced it. I think it was a big flop, though. It killed the Billy Jack franchise.
Howard: I thought of that on Saturday night when I forked over $4.28 for a not-that-big bag of M&Ms before seeing “The Sound of Music”. It helped ease the pain.
They finally got “Bug” and the other old titles off that marquee, a few weeks ago. Now it tells you to check out fandango.com to find out what’s playing.
Thanks, Luis. I hope it comes to pass in 2009. The Chase Manhattan Building is a very distinctive design, but it’s still just one of a multitude of office towers. The Ziegfeld is the only structure of its kind left in all of Manhattan. If there are any movie fans on the Landmark Committee, it should pass with no trouble!
Concerning the Fishers – I posted this here back in October 2006:
“While talking to a friendly Ziegfeld employee in the lobby, somebody came up to her and asked which was the entrance to "Theater #1”. When she told him it was one big theater, I said I hoped it would never be twinned or split up in any way. She said the owners of the building, Fisher Brothers, would never allow that to happen, ever."
Does a building have to reach the 40-year point in order to be considered for landmark status?
Howard: they used both curtains before “West Side Story” on Saturday afternoon, but did not use them for “The Sound of Music” on Saturday night. Nor did they use them tonight for “West Side Story” (just got back – no matter how many times you see it, it never ceases to be amazing, especially on that big screen). I guess it depends on who’s working each particular show. I hope the curtain-using person is on duty when Rory attends “Planet of the Apes”.
Thanks, Craig – great news! Rory will be happy. It looks like he made the right decision to make the trip to New York after all. I dare say “Planet of the Apes” hasn’t been seen on a screen this big in NYC since it opened at the Loew’s Capitol 40 years ago.
The great science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke died today at the age of 90. I spent many an hour at the Ziegfeld over the years watching his brilliant collaboration with Stanley Kubrick, “2001: A Space Odyssey”.
The print of West Side Story was quite good. Some scratches here and there, especially around the reel changes, but nothing to complain about. The sound was room-shaking when it needed to be. The color was excellent. Some of the color changes during the overture were so intense they made my eyes hurt. I mean that as a compliment!
It was a 35mm print. The prevues before the movie, including Indiana Jones and Mamma Mia, were shown digitally. Goldfinger and The Spy Who Loved Me are being shown digitally in April. Hopefully they’ll be as impressive as Blade Runner was last year.
“The enthusiasm for "The Sound of Music” was clearly felt throughout the place."
What I couldn’t get over was how funny it was. When you see it alone on TV or DVD, you do notice the jokes and the witty lines in the script. But when surrounded by an appreciative audience like we were on Saturday night, I found myself laughing out loud at them. There’s nothing like seeing a classic movie with a good audience.
Gary the Ziegfeld Man told some good jokes to warm up the crowd before last night’s screening of “The Sound of Music”. Can’t get that at your local multiplex. Neither can you get to see “West Side Story” and “The Sound of Music”, on a 50 foot screen turned up impressively loud, both on the same day. I felt like I’d attended a Robert Wise master class on how to most effectively stage large groups of actors for the wide screen. Thank you Gary, thank you Robert Wise and thank you Ziegfeld.
Thanks, Love Movies, for posting a tribute to the greatest movie ever made. It’s even more appropriate following the recent death of Sir Arthur.
And to answer Smoothie’s first question: Yes, I’m interested!
Rory: based on your top two favorite movies, you have excellent taste!
You’re right – it would be great if “2001” also had a 40th anniversary showing in NYC. And if they did, the Ziegfeld would be the only place to show it.
Over the entrance these words are posted: Tours Daily Monday-Friday 8 am-5 pm. I think the building is used for religious services all through the weekend. My friend Jeff and I went on Good Friday a couple of years ago without calling ahead. There were lots of people in the offices, but someone still took the time out to give us the tour.
Having said all that, Warren’s right. Maybe it would be safer to call ahead and make sure.
Poor Gary Merrill. Not only did he not get capital letter-billing like all the others, but they spelled his character’s name wrong. It should be Bill Sampson.
On my first trip to LA in 1981, my family and I went looking for 10086 Sunset Blvd., not realizing that it never really existed. We could’ve used a good Hollywood guidebook, like the one that got me to the Alto Nido in 2008.
On a recent trip to LA, I visited Joe Gillis' apartment house from “Sunset Blvd.” I always thought he made it sound like a dump in the movie, but it looks pretty good in real life:
View link
Wow – I might have to go out there again. Must start saving now …
Rory: how far are you traveling to get to New York? I flew to LA from New Jersey to see “How the West Was Won”, “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World” and “2001”, and it’s good to know I’m not the only extreme movie fan out there who does this kind of thing :)
Al said:
“Cineplex Odeon blamed the Fishers for not letting them twin it”
THANK YOU, FISHERS !!!!!!
Is this the same Fisher family as Avery Fisher, as in Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center?
Justin: there was a remake of “Mr. Smith” in 1977, called “Billy Jack Goes to Washington”. Frank Capra Jr. produced it. I think it was a big flop, though. It killed the Billy Jack franchise.
Howard: I thought of that on Saturday night when I forked over $4.28 for a not-that-big bag of M&Ms before seeing “The Sound of Music”. It helped ease the pain.
They finally got “Bug” and the other old titles off that marquee, a few weeks ago. Now it tells you to check out fandango.com to find out what’s playing.
Thanks, Luis. I hope it comes to pass in 2009. The Chase Manhattan Building is a very distinctive design, but it’s still just one of a multitude of office towers. The Ziegfeld is the only structure of its kind left in all of Manhattan. If there are any movie fans on the Landmark Committee, it should pass with no trouble!
Concerning the Fishers – I posted this here back in October 2006:
“While talking to a friendly Ziegfeld employee in the lobby, somebody came up to her and asked which was the entrance to "Theater #1”. When she told him it was one big theater, I said I hoped it would never be twinned or split up in any way. She said the owners of the building, Fisher Brothers, would never allow that to happen, ever."
Does a building have to reach the 40-year point in order to be considered for landmark status?
Quite a different approach from Fox’s classy “Gentleman’s Agreement” ad, but a lot more fun!
Thanks, Ken. What a classy ad (for a classy picture).
Howard: they used both curtains before “West Side Story” on Saturday afternoon, but did not use them for “The Sound of Music” on Saturday night. Nor did they use them tonight for “West Side Story” (just got back – no matter how many times you see it, it never ceases to be amazing, especially on that big screen). I guess it depends on who’s working each particular show. I hope the curtain-using person is on duty when Rory attends “Planet of the Apes”.
Thanks, Craig – great news! Rory will be happy. It looks like he made the right decision to make the trip to New York after all. I dare say “Planet of the Apes” hasn’t been seen on a screen this big in NYC since it opened at the Loew’s Capitol 40 years ago.
Jeff: 54 times in a theater, over 40 years. On TV and video, I never kept count. Must be over 100 times.
Gary: I should get a picture of that monument at the Chelsea Hotel. Thanks for mentioning it.
The great science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke died today at the age of 90. I spent many an hour at the Ziegfeld over the years watching his brilliant collaboration with Stanley Kubrick, “2001: A Space Odyssey”.
A very sad day for science fiction fans everywhere. Rest in peace, Sir Arthur, and thank you for “2001”.
Mike: I think it opens in July. It will probably be the next feature at the Ziegfeld after Indiana Jones, which opens May 22nd.
The print of West Side Story was quite good. Some scratches here and there, especially around the reel changes, but nothing to complain about. The sound was room-shaking when it needed to be. The color was excellent. Some of the color changes during the overture were so intense they made my eyes hurt. I mean that as a compliment!
It was a 35mm print. The prevues before the movie, including Indiana Jones and Mamma Mia, were shown digitally. Goldfinger and The Spy Who Loved Me are being shown digitally in April. Hopefully they’ll be as impressive as Blade Runner was last year.
Gary said:
“The enthusiasm for "The Sound of Music” was clearly felt throughout the place."
What I couldn’t get over was how funny it was. When you see it alone on TV or DVD, you do notice the jokes and the witty lines in the script. But when surrounded by an appreciative audience like we were on Saturday night, I found myself laughing out loud at them. There’s nothing like seeing a classic movie with a good audience.
Gary the Ziegfeld Man told some good jokes to warm up the crowd before last night’s screening of “The Sound of Music”. Can’t get that at your local multiplex. Neither can you get to see “West Side Story” and “The Sound of Music”, on a 50 foot screen turned up impressively loud, both on the same day. I felt like I’d attended a Robert Wise master class on how to most effectively stage large groups of actors for the wide screen. Thank you Gary, thank you Robert Wise and thank you Ziegfeld.