Re: Dennis' comment about the usherettes at “War and Peace”. I read somewhere that when the DeMille played “Spartacus” in 1960, the usherettes wore Roman-style outfits. It was all about showmanship, and boy do I miss it.
On this day 28 years ago, “Star Wars” opened at the Astor Plaza. Today I’m wearing my “May the Force Be With You” button which was given out to all patrons that night. Tonight I’ll be wearing it to the Ziegfeld where Episode III is now playing, but I’ll pass by the Astor Plaza site on my way home for old times' sake.
Another interesting item in the same column: before the part about the theaters there’s a piece about a play called “The Memorandum” by Vaclav Havel, “a Czech playwright, poet and essayist.” Many years later he was elected president of Czechoslovakia.
Yes, CConnolly, reading that news item sure does give off an eerie feeling. What’s really strange about it for me: I’ve had that old Arts and Leisure section for 37 years now and I’d never read that column before last night! It’s the only one I’ve kept, probably because of the “2001” ad and related articles. If I’d read it back then I would’ve known the Capitol would soon be closing, and I wouldn’t have worried that it was somehow “2001”’s fault. Being only 13 and not knowing about New York real estate and movie business economics, I somehow got it into my head at the time that the Capitol was closing because “2001” wasn’t a hit (which of course it was).
I think I have an old “Close Encounters” ad from the Daily News somewhere in the house with the Ziegfeld Walter Reade logo. I’ll look for it tonight and post it – after I get back from the actual Ziegfeld!
Here’s an ad from the New York Times, 4/28/68. The DeMille was about to show the Russian version of “War and Peace”, in 70mm. Those prices were awfully steep for 1968, but it WAS a 6 ½ hour movie:
Although since they recently re-installed digital projection at the Ziegfeld, does that mean the film projectors can no longer be used? (Sorry about all this Ziegfeld stuff on the Rivoli Theater page.)
Pete: I’m guessing “The New World” will be at the Ziegfeld in 70mm. I can’t think of any 70mm theaters left in New Jersey, and there used to be so many back in the good old days.
If only Donald Trump were a big fan of classic widescreen movies. He could buy the building, renovate it to what it was in its glory days and call it the Trump Theater. Sort of like what Paul Allen did in Seattle when he saved their old Cinerama Theater.
Wow – what a beautiful place. It’s everything a theater should be. I wish I could see it in person someday. Brian: how wide is the screen? From the pictures of the stage on the website it looks to be huge.
I’m not sure about best digital projection (although Episode III looked better at the Ziegfeld than Episode II did three years ago), but I will say that the Ziegfeld is the overall best theater in the city, especially now that Radio City Music Hall isn’t showing movies anymore.
Shade: I was at the midnight show too, which was everything you said it was, and I was there again on Saturday morning. I’ve been spoiled – I don’t ever want to see it anywhere else except the Ziegfeld.
Thanks, Robert. I remember that big balcony from seeing “2001” there in 1968, and according to an earlier post that wasn’t even the whole balcony like in your picture – the top of it had been curtained off.
I saw it on a screen only once … sort of. It was shown at the Lyndhurst, NJ Public Library in 16mm back in 1977 or 1978. I found out about this screening completely by accident, the same way I found out about the DVD.
You’re right – it would be amazing to see at the Loew’s, or the Lafayette, or anywhere on a big screen.
I’m glad I was able to help you find a copy. I’ll bet we’re not the only ones. There must be hundreds of now-grown kids who saw it back then on Channel 9 and would love to see it again.
Theaterat: You are exactly right! That movie was fantastic, and I watched it every time it came on Channel 9. Besides the amazing visual quality, it also has one of the most beautiful music scores ever written for a fantasy film.
I recently found out that it’s available on DVD from Nostalgia Video
“Crack in the World” is an unusual and exciting choice – it’s not on home video as far as I know, and hasn’t been shown on TV in years. It’s too good to be seen as rarely as it is. Can’t wait to see it on a theater screen for the first time.
PATH stations in midtown Manhattan: 33rd St., 23rd St., 14th St., 9th St., Christopher St. (all on or near 6th Ave.) Downtown: the World Trade Center PATH station. Take PATH to the Journal Square station, and when you come outside walk to your left and you will soon see the Loew’s.
Rhett: Too bad you didn’t stay for Patton. Actually that was one of the Loew’s shortest waits between shows, a little more than an hour. Sometimes they run up to more than two hours. You could’ve gotten something to eat at the V.I.P. Diner, a little ways further up Kennedy Blvd. (see above post). As for driving back, there’s almost no traffic at that time of night (it ended around 11:20 PM). It’s also safe – I wound up walking halfway back to Weehawken by the time my bus came along at 11:50.
Jerry: I got them from newspapers on microfilm at the Jersey City Public Library. I love looking for the old movie ads – hours and hours go by without even noticing them. And it’s only 10 cents a page.
RobertR: Isn’t it strange that, in 1960, a small town like Montclair, NJ had two 3-strip giant screen theaters at the same time, and now you have to go as far as L.A. or Seattle because they’re the only ones left in the whole country. The good old days …
Stepale2: I believe “The Song of Bernadette” (1943) was the first Fox film not to use the fanfare. It had a great Alfred Newman score, so maybe Herrmann’s “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir” was the first non-Newman-scored feature not to use it.
Re: Dennis' comment about the usherettes at “War and Peace”. I read somewhere that when the DeMille played “Spartacus” in 1960, the usherettes wore Roman-style outfits. It was all about showmanship, and boy do I miss it.
On this day 28 years ago, “Star Wars” opened at the Astor Plaza. Today I’m wearing my “May the Force Be With You” button which was given out to all patrons that night. Tonight I’ll be wearing it to the Ziegfeld where Episode III is now playing, but I’ll pass by the Astor Plaza site on my way home for old times' sake.
Another interesting item in the same column: before the part about the theaters there’s a piece about a play called “The Memorandum” by Vaclav Havel, “a Czech playwright, poet and essayist.” Many years later he was elected president of Czechoslovakia.
Yes, CConnolly, reading that news item sure does give off an eerie feeling. What’s really strange about it for me: I’ve had that old Arts and Leisure section for 37 years now and I’d never read that column before last night! It’s the only one I’ve kept, probably because of the “2001” ad and related articles. If I’d read it back then I would’ve known the Capitol would soon be closing, and I wouldn’t have worried that it was somehow “2001”’s fault. Being only 13 and not knowing about New York real estate and movie business economics, I somehow got it into my head at the time that the Capitol was closing because “2001” wasn’t a hit (which of course it was).
I think I have an old “Close Encounters” ad from the Daily News somewhere in the house with the Ziegfeld Walter Reade logo. I’ll look for it tonight and post it – after I get back from the actual Ziegfeld!
Here’s an ad from the New York Times, 4/28/68. The DeMille was about to show the Russian version of “War and Peace”, in 70mm. Those prices were awfully steep for 1968, but it WAS a 6 ½ hour movie:
View link
Although since they recently re-installed digital projection at the Ziegfeld, does that mean the film projectors can no longer be used? (Sorry about all this Ziegfeld stuff on the Rivoli Theater page.)
Pete: I’m guessing “The New World” will be at the Ziegfeld in 70mm. I can’t think of any 70mm theaters left in New Jersey, and there used to be so many back in the good old days.
If only Donald Trump were a big fan of classic widescreen movies. He could buy the building, renovate it to what it was in its glory days and call it the Trump Theater. Sort of like what Paul Allen did in Seattle when he saved their old Cinerama Theater.
Wow – what a beautiful place. It’s everything a theater should be. I wish I could see it in person someday. Brian: how wide is the screen? From the pictures of the stage on the website it looks to be huge.
I’m not sure about best digital projection (although Episode III looked better at the Ziegfeld than Episode II did three years ago), but I will say that the Ziegfeld is the overall best theater in the city, especially now that Radio City Music Hall isn’t showing movies anymore.
Shade: I was at the midnight show too, which was everything you said it was, and I was there again on Saturday morning. I’ve been spoiled – I don’t ever want to see it anywhere else except the Ziegfeld.
Thanks, Robert. I remember that big balcony from seeing “2001” there in 1968, and according to an earlier post that wasn’t even the whole balcony like in your picture – the top of it had been curtained off.
I saw it on a screen only once … sort of. It was shown at the Lyndhurst, NJ Public Library in 16mm back in 1977 or 1978. I found out about this screening completely by accident, the same way I found out about the DVD.
You’re right – it would be amazing to see at the Loew’s, or the Lafayette, or anywhere on a big screen.
Theaterat: This review of the Jules Verne DVD says the transfer is not perfect, but good enough:
View link
I’m glad I was able to help you find a copy. I’ll bet we’re not the only ones. There must be hundreds of now-grown kids who saw it back then on Channel 9 and would love to see it again.
Here are two more Bergen Record ads. In the first, from July 1968, “2001” was about to begin its exclusive North Jersey run at the Clairidge:
View link
It was still there in March 1969:
View link
This is an ad from the Bergen Record in March 1969, when my all-time favorite movie played at the Lee:
View link
Here’s an ad from the Bergen Record dated March 1969, from the Montauk’s good old days:
View link
Theaterat: You are exactly right! That movie was fantastic, and I watched it every time it came on Channel 9. Besides the amazing visual quality, it also has one of the most beautiful music scores ever written for a fantasy film.
I recently found out that it’s available on DVD from Nostalgia Video
http://nostalgiafamilyvideo.com/index.asp
I should be getting my copy any day now.
By the way, the actual (American) title is “The Fabulous World of Jules Verne”.
“Crack in the World” is an unusual and exciting choice – it’s not on home video as far as I know, and hasn’t been shown on TV in years. It’s too good to be seen as rarely as it is. Can’t wait to see it on a theater screen for the first time.
PATH stations in midtown Manhattan: 33rd St., 23rd St., 14th St., 9th St., Christopher St. (all on or near 6th Ave.) Downtown: the World Trade Center PATH station. Take PATH to the Journal Square station, and when you come outside walk to your left and you will soon see the Loew’s.
Rhett: Too bad you didn’t stay for Patton. Actually that was one of the Loew’s shortest waits between shows, a little more than an hour. Sometimes they run up to more than two hours. You could’ve gotten something to eat at the V.I.P. Diner, a little ways further up Kennedy Blvd. (see above post). As for driving back, there’s almost no traffic at that time of night (it ended around 11:20 PM). It’s also safe – I wound up walking halfway back to Weehawken by the time my bus came along at 11:50.
Jerry: I got them from newspapers on microfilm at the Jersey City Public Library. I love looking for the old movie ads – hours and hours go by without even noticing them. And it’s only 10 cents a page.
RobertR: Isn’t it strange that, in 1960, a small town like Montclair, NJ had two 3-strip giant screen theaters at the same time, and now you have to go as far as L.A. or Seattle because they’re the only ones left in the whole country. The good old days …
Stepale2: I believe “The Song of Bernadette” (1943) was the first Fox film not to use the fanfare. It had a great Alfred Newman score, so maybe Herrmann’s “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir” was the first non-Newman-scored feature not to use it.
Here’s a picture of the Capitol’s Cinerama screen, taken right before the opening of “The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm” in 1962:
View link
This ad is from August 1960, when they were showing another all-time movie classic:
View link