I was disappointed that I didn’t get to see “Ice Station Zebra” in Cinerama, so when it came to the Central I sat in the very front row. It was definitely the next best thing. I also remember the Central as the place where I got to “go ape” – 5 Planet of the Apes movies in one day in 1973. A great place to see a movie. I loved their marquee, too – they used really big letters.
I have good memories of the Montauk. I saw “Mary Poppins” and “Hawaii” there, and also my first 35mm viewing of “2001: A Space Odyssey” after seeing it in Cinerama at the Capitol the year before. Like with so many other theaters on this website, it’s sad to consider its ultimate fate. It’s sad to see what’s become of the whole downtown Passaic area – the Central, only a block or two away, was another fine theater, and the Capitol was one of the greatest ‘60’s and '70’s rock concert venues in the whole country.
36 years ago today at this very minute (1:30 PM show) I was about to experience the ultimate trip, “2001: A Space Odyssey” on the Capitol’s incredible Cinerama screen. Just wanted to commemmorate the life-changing event.
Mikeoaklandpark asked about the two curtains at the Ziegfeld. The last time I was there (“The Day After Tomorrow”), the advertising slides were up on the exposed screen. But just before the movie began, they closed the two curtains, then opened them right up again. If you got ‘em, might as well use 'em.
We’re outnumbered and doomed to lose…but we’ll fight to the end.
I appreciate that you used a 70mm movie (“The Alamo”) to make your point.
I saw the new Harry Potter at the Astor Plaza on Friday night. It was a packed house, the screen was huge, the audience was enjoying themselves … if this was to be the last time I’d ever see a movie there, I’m glad it was a fine example of all that a big single-screen theater can be.
To Bill Kallay and Mike Coate: I’m sure all of us on this thread can’t wait to see your upcoming lists. We really appreciate the hard work you put into it and we’re grateful to you for even attempting it. Seeing a list like that will be the next best thing to seeing a beloved movie classic in 70mm.
William: I never thought of it that way. I just assumed that if they’re showing the movie at reserved seat prices, and exclusive to the area outside New York City, then they’d be showing it in 70mm just like the NYC theaters. I should never assume …
Also, the ‘60’s roadshows in Montclair were 70mm, based on newspaper ads from the time. I recall an ad for Exodus at the Millburn Theater which said Panavision 70. And the only one I actually saw myself, The Shoes of the Fisherman at the Bellevue, was 70mm for sure.
Thanks, William, for that brilliant vision back to the glory days of movies in Times Square. I was only 13 at the time and got to attend only one of those engagements, “2001”. If only I was the age I am now back in 1968 – I would’ve went to see ‘em all.
I’d say Theater #1 was on the left and Theater #2 was on the right. I saw Diamonds Are Forever on the right side. I remember thinking that the screen was smaller than I’d expected. This was the first time I’d been inside a twinned theater – little did I know that this was soon to be the wave of the future, sadly.
I never saw this theater when it was single-screen, but I think it was split right down the middle to make it a twin. There was half a balcony and half an orchestra in both theaters on either side. I’m basing this on seeing Diamonds Are Forever there in 1971. I know in later years the full balcony was converted into a third theater.
It never drew the crowds that the Tenplex did over on Route 4, but this theater was packed when they showed Aliens in 1986. It also had anti-movie demonstrators on the sidewalk outside for The Last Temptation of Christ in 1988.
Rhett: I also watched Star Wars on its anniversary last night and made believe I was back in the Astor Plaza. I remember every detail of that screening: the wild audience reaction to the jump to hyperspace, where the laughs came in, even the row I sat in. I also remember feeling that I had to see this movie again as soon as I could, and to tell everybody I knew how good it was. My second time was at the Stanley Warner in Paramus. I wound up seeing it in a theater 32 times, most of them at the Astor Plaza.
Rhett: It’s funny to think about people 40 years from now looking back fondly to Van Helsing. In 40 years they’ll probably still be talking about Gone With the Wind and Around the World in 80 Days. The really good stuff never gets forgotten.
Yankee Mike: I don’t know if it was 12 years ago but sometime in the 1990’s, there was a Warner Bros. Classic Film Festival, followed a year later by a Universal Classic Film Festival. I attended the showings of Bonnie and Clyde, The Exorcist, My Fair Lady, Psycho, Jaws, Animal House and The Blues Brothers. Bonnie and Clyde was a Wednesday night show and attracted a fairly good crowd, but all the other shows looked like sellouts to me.
“80 Days” played at the McClurg Court Theater in Chicago in 1983 (not sure if it was 70mm, though). I’m pretty sure it didn’t play New York in 1983 at all. The only time I saw it in a theater was at the Ziegfeld in 1972, when I was 17. It was on a special double bill with “West Side Story” – 5 and a half hours of Oscar winning Best Pictures from United Artists. I don’t know if they were 70mm prints, but I like to think they were.
The Astor Plaza, if it does close and nothing is done to save it, should run a swan song of classic films that played there. The Original “Star Wars” Trilogy. “Raiders Of The Lost Ark.” Even “Logan’s Run.” The place would be packed.
What a great idea. The theater could go out in a blaze of glory.
I have similar fond memories of the opening night of “Star Wars” at the Astor Plaza. While waiting in the downstairs lobby for the earlier show to let out, someone yelled out to the people leaving the theater, “Is it a war, man?” They let us in before the earlier show had cleared out, and there were lots of people still in their seats watching the credits roll by, and giving individual rounds of applause to special effects people and the Dolby System logo. I knew right then I was in for a rare moviegoing experience, and indeed it was, just as the Astor Plaza has become a rare big-screen single screen theater. It’s going to be a sad day when it finally closes.
Rhett’s comment about the Cinema 23 reminds me of the first movie shown at Loew’s Meadows 6 in Secaucus, NJ: “Blade Runner”. I’d thought it was a widescreen film but the screen was masked at 1:85, until about an hour into the movie when somebody realized the mistake and the screen opened up to full Panavision width. Opening night problems, I guess.
I can remember Kate Cameron being the first string critic in the ‘60’s. She always gave four stars to all the big roadshow pictures. I believe Wanda Hale was second string, followed by Kathleen Carroll who did become head critic at the paper in the '70’s. Maybe she was assigned to “2001” because she was the youngest? Most of its audience turned out to be younger people (my dad was 39 at the time and he hated it).
Vincent: It was Kathleen Carroll who panned “2001” in the Daily News. But even she felt, maybe subsconsciously, that it was something special. Her review began like this: “"2001” is not a movie. It’s an experience.“ Wanda Hale actually liked it. She called it a "grand spectacle” in her yearly wrap-up column in the World Almanac.
Brucec makes an excellent point here. In 1989, the first New York showing of “The Abyss” was at the Music Hall, for one night only, and it looked like every seat was taken.
Warren, sorry for going off-topic and off-theater so much, but I think the Music Hall was used for a roadshow attraction at least once, and recently too: “The Lion King” in 1994. I remember having to order tickets in advance. Not technically a real roadshow, I guess, but close.
To add to William’s excellent list, here are a few more Times Square roadshows from the final years of the roadshow era:
“Funny Girl” at the Criterion
“Oliver!” at Loew’s State 1
“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” at Loew’s State 2
“Star!” at the Rivoli
“Tora! Tora! Tora!” at the Criterion
“Nicholas and Alexandra” at the Criterion
“Fiddler on the Roof” at the Rivoli
Rhett is right about the current state of the Bellevue, especially considering what it used to be. This theater had 70mm projection and state-of-the-art sound reproduction. It was the first theater in the area outside NYC to show “West Side Story” and many other roadshow attractions. It was where I experienced the most amazing, brain-busting soundtrack I’ve ever heard before or since: “Altered States” in 1981. I would also love to see any pictures of the Bellevue the way it was back then.
Rhett said it all. This theater is the pride of the New York metro area. They always put on the best possible presentation. Showmanship is not dead yet!
I was disappointed that I didn’t get to see “Ice Station Zebra” in Cinerama, so when it came to the Central I sat in the very front row. It was definitely the next best thing. I also remember the Central as the place where I got to “go ape” – 5 Planet of the Apes movies in one day in 1973. A great place to see a movie. I loved their marquee, too – they used really big letters.
I have good memories of the Montauk. I saw “Mary Poppins” and “Hawaii” there, and also my first 35mm viewing of “2001: A Space Odyssey” after seeing it in Cinerama at the Capitol the year before. Like with so many other theaters on this website, it’s sad to consider its ultimate fate. It’s sad to see what’s become of the whole downtown Passaic area – the Central, only a block or two away, was another fine theater, and the Capitol was one of the greatest ‘60’s and '70’s rock concert venues in the whole country.
36 years ago today at this very minute (1:30 PM show) I was about to experience the ultimate trip, “2001: A Space Odyssey” on the Capitol’s incredible Cinerama screen. Just wanted to commemmorate the life-changing event.
Mikeoaklandpark asked about the two curtains at the Ziegfeld. The last time I was there (“The Day After Tomorrow”), the advertising slides were up on the exposed screen. But just before the movie began, they closed the two curtains, then opened them right up again. If you got ‘em, might as well use 'em.
Rhett: When you said:
We’re outnumbered and doomed to lose…but we’ll fight to the end.
I appreciate that you used a 70mm movie (“The Alamo”) to make your point.
I saw the new Harry Potter at the Astor Plaza on Friday night. It was a packed house, the screen was huge, the audience was enjoying themselves … if this was to be the last time I’d ever see a movie there, I’m glad it was a fine example of all that a big single-screen theater can be.
To Bill Kallay and Mike Coate: I’m sure all of us on this thread can’t wait to see your upcoming lists. We really appreciate the hard work you put into it and we’re grateful to you for even attempting it. Seeing a list like that will be the next best thing to seeing a beloved movie classic in 70mm.
William: I never thought of it that way. I just assumed that if they’re showing the movie at reserved seat prices, and exclusive to the area outside New York City, then they’d be showing it in 70mm just like the NYC theaters. I should never assume …
Vincent: Star Wars definitely played in 70mm in Paramus, NJ. This article has a link to a list of all the theaters that played the 70mm version:
View link
Also, the ‘60’s roadshows in Montclair were 70mm, based on newspaper ads from the time. I recall an ad for Exodus at the Millburn Theater which said Panavision 70. And the only one I actually saw myself, The Shoes of the Fisherman at the Bellevue, was 70mm for sure.
Thanks, William, for that brilliant vision back to the glory days of movies in Times Square. I was only 13 at the time and got to attend only one of those engagements, “2001”. If only I was the age I am now back in 1968 – I would’ve went to see ‘em all.
Rhett: you may be aware of it already, but here is a website that you will definitely enjoy:
in70mm.com
and you’ll like this article for sure:
View link
I’d say Theater #1 was on the left and Theater #2 was on the right. I saw Diamonds Are Forever on the right side. I remember thinking that the screen was smaller than I’d expected. This was the first time I’d been inside a twinned theater – little did I know that this was soon to be the wave of the future, sadly.
I never saw this theater when it was single-screen, but I think it was split right down the middle to make it a twin. There was half a balcony and half an orchestra in both theaters on either side. I’m basing this on seeing Diamonds Are Forever there in 1971. I know in later years the full balcony was converted into a third theater.
It never drew the crowds that the Tenplex did over on Route 4, but this theater was packed when they showed Aliens in 1986. It also had anti-movie demonstrators on the sidewalk outside for The Last Temptation of Christ in 1988.
Rhett: I also watched Star Wars on its anniversary last night and made believe I was back in the Astor Plaza. I remember every detail of that screening: the wild audience reaction to the jump to hyperspace, where the laughs came in, even the row I sat in. I also remember feeling that I had to see this movie again as soon as I could, and to tell everybody I knew how good it was. My second time was at the Stanley Warner in Paramus. I wound up seeing it in a theater 32 times, most of them at the Astor Plaza.
Rhett: It’s funny to think about people 40 years from now looking back fondly to Van Helsing. In 40 years they’ll probably still be talking about Gone With the Wind and Around the World in 80 Days. The really good stuff never gets forgotten.
Yankee Mike: I don’t know if it was 12 years ago but sometime in the 1990’s, there was a Warner Bros. Classic Film Festival, followed a year later by a Universal Classic Film Festival. I attended the showings of Bonnie and Clyde, The Exorcist, My Fair Lady, Psycho, Jaws, Animal House and The Blues Brothers. Bonnie and Clyde was a Wednesday night show and attracted a fairly good crowd, but all the other shows looked like sellouts to me.
“80 Days” played at the McClurg Court Theater in Chicago in 1983 (not sure if it was 70mm, though). I’m pretty sure it didn’t play New York in 1983 at all. The only time I saw it in a theater was at the Ziegfeld in 1972, when I was 17. It was on a special double bill with “West Side Story” – 5 and a half hours of Oscar winning Best Pictures from United Artists. I don’t know if they were 70mm prints, but I like to think they were.
Bill Kallay wrote:
The Astor Plaza, if it does close and nothing is done to save it, should run a swan song of classic films that played there. The Original “Star Wars” Trilogy. “Raiders Of The Lost Ark.” Even “Logan’s Run.” The place would be packed.
What a great idea. The theater could go out in a blaze of glory.
I have similar fond memories of the opening night of “Star Wars” at the Astor Plaza. While waiting in the downstairs lobby for the earlier show to let out, someone yelled out to the people leaving the theater, “Is it a war, man?” They let us in before the earlier show had cleared out, and there were lots of people still in their seats watching the credits roll by, and giving individual rounds of applause to special effects people and the Dolby System logo. I knew right then I was in for a rare moviegoing experience, and indeed it was, just as the Astor Plaza has become a rare big-screen single screen theater. It’s going to be a sad day when it finally closes.
Rhett’s comment about the Cinema 23 reminds me of the first movie shown at Loew’s Meadows 6 in Secaucus, NJ: “Blade Runner”. I’d thought it was a widescreen film but the screen was masked at 1:85, until about an hour into the movie when somebody realized the mistake and the screen opened up to full Panavision width. Opening night problems, I guess.
I can remember Kate Cameron being the first string critic in the ‘60’s. She always gave four stars to all the big roadshow pictures. I believe Wanda Hale was second string, followed by Kathleen Carroll who did become head critic at the paper in the '70’s. Maybe she was assigned to “2001” because she was the youngest? Most of its audience turned out to be younger people (my dad was 39 at the time and he hated it).
Vincent: It was Kathleen Carroll who panned “2001” in the Daily News. But even she felt, maybe subsconsciously, that it was something special. Her review began like this: “"2001” is not a movie. It’s an experience.“ Wanda Hale actually liked it. She called it a "grand spectacle” in her yearly wrap-up column in the World Almanac.
Brucec makes an excellent point here. In 1989, the first New York showing of “The Abyss” was at the Music Hall, for one night only, and it looked like every seat was taken.
Warren, sorry for going off-topic and off-theater so much, but I think the Music Hall was used for a roadshow attraction at least once, and recently too: “The Lion King” in 1994. I remember having to order tickets in advance. Not technically a real roadshow, I guess, but close.
To add to William’s excellent list, here are a few more Times Square roadshows from the final years of the roadshow era:
“Funny Girl” at the Criterion
“Oliver!” at Loew’s State 1
“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” at Loew’s State 2
“Star!” at the Rivoli
“Tora! Tora! Tora!” at the Criterion
“Nicholas and Alexandra” at the Criterion
“Fiddler on the Roof” at the Rivoli
Rhett is right about the current state of the Bellevue, especially considering what it used to be. This theater had 70mm projection and state-of-the-art sound reproduction. It was the first theater in the area outside NYC to show “West Side Story” and many other roadshow attractions. It was where I experienced the most amazing, brain-busting soundtrack I’ve ever heard before or since: “Altered States” in 1981. I would also love to see any pictures of the Bellevue the way it was back then.
Rhett said it all. This theater is the pride of the New York metro area. They always put on the best possible presentation. Showmanship is not dead yet!