With that said, I think Paramus could support an art theater.
The Mall Theater in the Bergen Mall was a top quality art house for many years. I remember seeing “To Sir, With Love” there in 1967 and having to sit separately from the rest of my family because the place was so crowded.
Ron Carlson: I believe the “big” Fox film that summer was supposed to be “The Other Side of Midnight”. I also read somewhere that Fox had much higher hopes for their sci-fi bomb “Damnation Alley” than they ever had for “Star Wars”.
One other thing about “Star Wars” that announced how great it was going to be right off, even before the overhead shot of the Star Destroyer: the Fox Fanfare played complete with the CinemaScope extension music, which hadn’t been heard at the beginning of a Fox film for something like 10 years.
On May 25, 1977 I was 22 years old. My brother Tom was 14. We often went to the movies together, and I was planning to go into New York City from New Jersey to see “Star Wars” because it looked like a good sci-fi movie, and I’d enjoyed George Lucas' “American Graffiti” very much. For some reason Tom did not want to make the trip to New York on that Wednesday afternoon. We argued about it for a while, then I just gave up and went by myself. I was convinced he was going to miss out on a good thing. Little did either of us know just how good …
There was no big line outside the Loew’s Astor Plaza in Times Square, but once I got inside the lobby was filling up fast. All patrons were given a “May the Force Be With You” button at the box office. We had to wait in the lobby till the previous show’s audience got out. When they started coming out, someone in the waiting group shouted out “IS IT A WAR, MAN?” Everyone laughed. When I got inside the actual theater the end credits were still scrolling up, but I noticed an unusual thing: most of the audience were still in their seats, watching the credits and APPLAUDING things like the special photographic effects artists and the Dolby System logo. I said to myself, “Hey, this must be good.” The floor was littered with discarded “May the Force Be With You” buttons, an inconsistency I still haven’t figured out.
Then the movie began. Two hours of sheer entertainment that I would return to again and again, almost every weekend in that summer of ‘77. The jump to hyperspace got the biggest reaction that first night. The audience went crazy. I stayed to see the beginning a second time up to the scene in Ben Kenobi’s house – that was as long as I could stay without missing the last train home. You could still do that then – there weren’t 45-minute breaks between shows. I got home and put the souvenir program on the kitchen table for my brother to see when he woke up on the 26th. I think I also said something to him on the order of “You JERK!” when I saw him that morning. And I still have my button. I should’ve worn it to work today.
Our final screenings for this film season will include Alfred Hitchcock’s “Strangers On A Train” on Friday evening with live appearance by film star Farley Granger.
Al’s right – what a crummy lineup. With a few exceptions, of course, such as “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) and “The Godfather” (1972). A sad state of affairs.
Thanks, Al. Before I saw your lists, I’d forgotten just how many movies I’d seen at the Astor Plaza. Everyone remembers the Star Wars movies, but I’m talking about things like “Serial” and “Psycho III”. Thanks again!
A few more toilet stalls in the restroom (they only have three in the men’s room) would’ve put the Ziegfeld over the top and made it #1. The fact that it’s the only one in the survey that isn’t a mutiplex should’ve been good for lots of extra credit points. Surveys like this come and go, but the Ziegfeld will always be the best unless Radio City starts showing movies again.
Wow, Bob. Jerry must’ve been exhausted. Sometimes they only gave him 30 minutes between theaters. If New York City traffic then was anything like it is now, that schedule must’ve been worthless by the middle of the day – unless Paramount gave him a helicopter or something :)
Bette was 54. Here’s a picture of her grave at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills Cemetery in LA, within sight of her old studio, Warner Bros. Here you’ll see not only how old she was, but an epitaph that may help explain something like the “Baby Jane” theater tour:
Justin: I’d say “The Empire Strikes Back” was the best presentation at the Stanley Warner Route 4. During the 1977 original “Star Wars”‘ time there, the screen had big dirty blotches on it. I used to try to look away from the stains while watching the movie. By 1980 and “Empire”, the screen had been repaired.
I wish I or someone else in the audience had the guts to do that at a special pre-release screening of “Rocky” I had won tickets to (from Musicradio WABC 77AM) in 1976 at Loew’s State 2. The entire movie was projected out of focus.
“Truth be told, we should not be taking up space on the Ziegfeld page to discuss this”
But at least it’s a discussion about theaters, and a very interesting one too. And it does pertain to the Ziegfeld. You should see what’s happened to the Ridgewood (Queens) Theater page, which now has the highest number of posts of any theater on Cinema Treasures – 2008 (The Ziegfeld is second with 1894, and Radio City Music Hall is third). About half the posts are just some local guys talking back and forth about their old schools, old TV shows, sci-fi and horror DVDs, Jesse Jackson and Imus, etc. Everything except the Ridgewood Theater.
So please keep it going, Vito. Everything you have to say is extremely relevant and entertaining.
At least the Ziegfeld kept the idea of the exclusive run alive with “Dreamgirls” last December. I know it was only 10 days as opposed to 10 months, but it still managed to create undeniable excitement both inside and outside the Ziegfeld during that short time – anyone who attended one of those shows will agree.
Thanks, Craig, for the fall Classics Series. Whatever the titles might be, I will be there. My friend at work loves “Dirty Dancing” -I have to tell her about your upcoming event.
I said bad things about the Bellevue as it is today a few posts above, and now I feel I should defend it. The downstairs auditorium #2 is actually quite nice, with a good sized screen and excellent sound. The seating was comfortable too – I saw “Grindhouse” there last night and considering that movie was about an hour and a half too long, at least I couldn’t complain about my seat. If it was cramped or too small in any way, believe me that movie would’ve made it even more aggravating.
JSA: I always thought the screen size was 50' wide, but I can’t prove it. I think I heard that back in the early ‘70s, but a memory that old can’t be trusted. Maybe someone else can give an exact figure.
Luis, you’re right about the blockbusters getting a chance to do well at the Ziegfeld. Out of the ones you mentioned, I hope it’s Spider-Man 3. That looks like the best of them. The early fall downtime would also be a great excuse to bring the Classics back.
And if they do, Vincent, you should try to attend one of the shows. The Ziegfeld is almost 40 years old. It’s been standing longer than the Roxy stood, and it’s part of New York history now, like it or not. If you sit in about the 8th row center and the screen is open to its full expanse, you’ll feel like you’re back in the days of the great old Times Square theaters you miss so much. The Ziegfeld is the only theater in the city that even comes close to re-creating that experience – you have to concede that.
And after the summer blockbusters die down in 6 weeks or so, I hope they go back to a fall edition of the Classics. I’m sure they’d be filling more seats with the Classics right now than they are with “Zodiac”.
I hadn’t heard about Betty until the day after it was announced. My cousin told me, and we watched “The Greatest Show on Earth” (a Music Hall attraction) that night to honor her.
Thanks, Bob, for the great ad … “And Introducing Geraldine Page”. I’d never been to the Fabian but I’ve been to the Montauk several times. That’s still standing too, right?
John J. Fink said:
With that said, I think Paramus could support an art theater.
The Mall Theater in the Bergen Mall was a top quality art house for many years. I remember seeing “To Sir, With Love” there in 1967 and having to sit separately from the rest of my family because the place was so crowded.
Ron Carlson: I believe the “big” Fox film that summer was supposed to be “The Other Side of Midnight”. I also read somewhere that Fox had much higher hopes for their sci-fi bomb “Damnation Alley” than they ever had for “Star Wars”.
One other thing about “Star Wars” that announced how great it was going to be right off, even before the overhead shot of the Star Destroyer: the Fox Fanfare played complete with the CinemaScope extension music, which hadn’t been heard at the beginning of a Fox film for something like 10 years.
On May 25, 1977 I was 22 years old. My brother Tom was 14. We often went to the movies together, and I was planning to go into New York City from New Jersey to see “Star Wars” because it looked like a good sci-fi movie, and I’d enjoyed George Lucas' “American Graffiti” very much. For some reason Tom did not want to make the trip to New York on that Wednesday afternoon. We argued about it for a while, then I just gave up and went by myself. I was convinced he was going to miss out on a good thing. Little did either of us know just how good …
There was no big line outside the Loew’s Astor Plaza in Times Square, but once I got inside the lobby was filling up fast. All patrons were given a “May the Force Be With You” button at the box office. We had to wait in the lobby till the previous show’s audience got out. When they started coming out, someone in the waiting group shouted out “IS IT A WAR, MAN?” Everyone laughed. When I got inside the actual theater the end credits were still scrolling up, but I noticed an unusual thing: most of the audience were still in their seats, watching the credits and APPLAUDING things like the special photographic effects artists and the Dolby System logo. I said to myself, “Hey, this must be good.” The floor was littered with discarded “May the Force Be With You” buttons, an inconsistency I still haven’t figured out.
Then the movie began. Two hours of sheer entertainment that I would return to again and again, almost every weekend in that summer of ‘77. The jump to hyperspace got the biggest reaction that first night. The audience went crazy. I stayed to see the beginning a second time up to the scene in Ben Kenobi’s house – that was as long as I could stay without missing the last train home. You could still do that then – there weren’t 45-minute breaks between shows. I got home and put the souvenir program on the kitchen table for my brother to see when he woke up on the 26th. I think I also said something to him on the order of “You JERK!” when I saw him that morning. And I still have my button. I should’ve worn it to work today.
From the Loew’s Jersey’s website:
Fri., June 8 & Sat., June 9
Our final screenings for this film season will include Alfred Hitchcock’s “Strangers On A Train” on Friday evening with live appearance by film star Farley Granger.
Al’s right – what a crummy lineup. With a few exceptions, of course, such as “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) and “The Godfather” (1972). A sad state of affairs.
Thanks, Al. Before I saw your lists, I’d forgotten just how many movies I’d seen at the Astor Plaza. Everyone remembers the Star Wars movies, but I’m talking about things like “Serial” and “Psycho III”. Thanks again!
Jeff: It’s not a Clearview survey. It was published in New York magazine.
A few more toilet stalls in the restroom (they only have three in the men’s room) would’ve put the Ziegfeld over the top and made it #1. The fact that it’s the only one in the survey that isn’t a mutiplex should’ve been good for lots of extra credit points. Surveys like this come and go, but the Ziegfeld will always be the best unless Radio City starts showing movies again.
Wow, Bob. Jerry must’ve been exhausted. Sometimes they only gave him 30 minutes between theaters. If New York City traffic then was anything like it is now, that schedule must’ve been worthless by the middle of the day – unless Paramount gave him a helicopter or something :)
Bette was 54. Here’s a picture of her grave at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills Cemetery in LA, within sight of her old studio, Warner Bros. Here you’ll see not only how old she was, but an epitaph that may help explain something like the “Baby Jane” theater tour:
View link
RKO11: I’m sure we’d all love to hear your “Baby Jane” stories!
I only saw Jedi and Phantom Menace there. Both were fine presentations, but Empire was the best, maybe because it was the best movie in the series.
Justin: I’d say “The Empire Strikes Back” was the best presentation at the Stanley Warner Route 4. During the 1977 original “Star Wars”‘ time there, the screen had big dirty blotches on it. I used to try to look away from the stains while watching the movie. By 1980 and “Empire”, the screen had been repaired.
I wish I or someone else in the audience had the guts to do that at a special pre-release screening of “Rocky” I had won tickets to (from Musicradio WABC 77AM) in 1976 at Loew’s State 2. The entire movie was projected out of focus.
Vito said:
“Truth be told, we should not be taking up space on the Ziegfeld page to discuss this”
But at least it’s a discussion about theaters, and a very interesting one too. And it does pertain to the Ziegfeld. You should see what’s happened to the Ridgewood (Queens) Theater page, which now has the highest number of posts of any theater on Cinema Treasures – 2008 (The Ziegfeld is second with 1894, and Radio City Music Hall is third). About half the posts are just some local guys talking back and forth about their old schools, old TV shows, sci-fi and horror DVDs, Jesse Jackson and Imus, etc. Everything except the Ridgewood Theater.
So please keep it going, Vito. Everything you have to say is extremely relevant and entertaining.
At least the Ziegfeld kept the idea of the exclusive run alive with “Dreamgirls” last December. I know it was only 10 days as opposed to 10 months, but it still managed to create undeniable excitement both inside and outside the Ziegfeld during that short time – anyone who attended one of those shows will agree.
Michael: Another stellar job. Thanks so much – and thanks for the new picture of “2001” at the Capitol, which I hadn’t seen before.
I think 12 years is way too long a gap between “2001” screenings at the Cinerama Dome.
Thanks, Craig, for the fall Classics Series. Whatever the titles might be, I will be there. My friend at work loves “Dirty Dancing” -I have to tell her about your upcoming event.
I said bad things about the Bellevue as it is today a few posts above, and now I feel I should defend it. The downstairs auditorium #2 is actually quite nice, with a good sized screen and excellent sound. The seating was comfortable too – I saw “Grindhouse” there last night and considering that movie was about an hour and a half too long, at least I couldn’t complain about my seat. If it was cramped or too small in any way, believe me that movie would’ve made it even more aggravating.
Pete:
From Martin Hart’s Widescreen Museum page – how the Rivoli was converted to Todd-AO in 1955 for “Oklahoma!”:
View link
JSA: I always thought the screen size was 50' wide, but I can’t prove it. I think I heard that back in the early ‘70s, but a memory that old can’t be trusted. Maybe someone else can give an exact figure.
Luis, you’re right about the blockbusters getting a chance to do well at the Ziegfeld. Out of the ones you mentioned, I hope it’s Spider-Man 3. That looks like the best of them. The early fall downtime would also be a great excuse to bring the Classics back.
And if they do, Vincent, you should try to attend one of the shows. The Ziegfeld is almost 40 years old. It’s been standing longer than the Roxy stood, and it’s part of New York history now, like it or not. If you sit in about the 8th row center and the screen is open to its full expanse, you’ll feel like you’re back in the days of the great old Times Square theaters you miss so much. The Ziegfeld is the only theater in the city that even comes close to re-creating that experience – you have to concede that.
And after the summer blockbusters die down in 6 weeks or so, I hope they go back to a fall edition of the Classics. I’m sure they’d be filling more seats with the Classics right now than they are with “Zodiac”.
I hadn’t heard about Betty until the day after it was announced. My cousin told me, and we watched “The Greatest Show on Earth” (a Music Hall attraction) that night to honor her.
Thanks, Bob, for the great ad … “And Introducing Geraldine Page”. I’d never been to the Fabian but I’ve been to the Montauk several times. That’s still standing too, right?