KISS ME KATE opened wide in 3D on the NY Loews circuit in the deadly mid-January slot. It is not true that it had the Christmas slot as that was given to the far more successful FROM HERE TO ETERNITY.
KATE was pulled from Radio city after four weeks and replaced by EASY TO LOVE in time for Christmas. It was showing only in Brooklyn with a second feature by Christmas.
For the sake of comparison, the musical HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE ran for 15 weeks during the same period and did about three times the business. Regardless of whether you like the film, it was not considered a box office success by anyone and is considered one of the nails in the coffin of 3D.
I realize it is a subjective thing but, having seen all of the 50’s films mentioned above in 2D, (except perhaps the Martin-Lewis title), I can thinks they are among the 50’s worst films with KISS ME KATE and CEASE FIRE! rating in the unbearable category.
HOUSE OF WAX and BLACK LAGOON are in the “so bad they are funny” category, and MISS SADIE THOMPSON being one of the worst remakes of all time. The best of the lot, DIAL M FOR MURDER, was mediocre for Hitchcock.
The press of today have not maligned 50’s 3D films. The press at the time, including Variety, stated that bad films killed the gimmick. By the end of the cycle the films were not even advertising when they were in 3D for fear of the stigma and in many cases opened nationwide in 2D after failing in 3D in some major markets. The distributors for KISS ME KATE didn’t even open it 3D in New York City.
When they showed their adaptation of the Gene Kelly song scene from SINGIN' IN THE RAIN I was impressed. When I saw scenes from the new films, I was underwhelmed. That should tell you what the problem is.
I found a 1922 NY Times article on the opening of the Childrens Theatre and not only did the playhouse not play movies, its aim was to keep children away from them.
“Hordes of children frequent the movie houses and the pictures they see give them a distorted, and many times unhealthy idea of ‘grown up’ life”.
The last I heard it cost Universal over 10 million dollars to do ten minutes of JAWS before they abandoned the project.
“Gimick or not, Digital 3D is the future.”
How many times have we heard that one before! Here’s COMIN' AT YA,
WINGS OF COURAGE, CHICKEN LITTLE.
“In 1953 and 1954, 3-D was used for some very good films- including House of Wax, Kiss Me Kate, Inferno, Dial M for Murder, The Glass Web, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Hondo, Miss Sadie Thompson, etc.”
Which one of those films are you accusing of being good?
No matter how good the 3D process, it is still a gimmick when it is attached only to bad films that stand no chance otherwise.
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH, BOLT, MY BLOODY VALENTINE, CORALINE, THE JONAS BROTHERS, ICE AGE 3, FINAL DESTINATION IV, CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS.
From the NY Times, this odd explanation of why Marble Hill is really, sort of, Manhattan;
“The City of New York, as it was before 1899, became the borough of Manhattan. Its island boundaries have been changed many times by landfill as well as legislation. For example, when the bed of Spuyten Duyvil Creek was cut through a rocky bit of northern Manhattan to simplify navigation between the Hudson and East Rivers, the lost territory, known as Marble Hill, was joined physically by landfill to the Bronx. But legally, Marble Hill residents remain Manhattanites and vote in Manhattan, even though they have to cross Spuyten Duyvil Creek on the Broadway bridge to do so.”
Does anyone have any knowledge of a HUDSON theatre in north Manhattan?
It appears in the 1934 Film Daily Year Book as located at 1268 Amsterdam Avenue but newspaper ads in 1921-22 place it close to Audubon Avenue and 167th street.
This website has a photo identifying the Sunset as the current La Gree Baptist Church. This would place the Sunset closer to St. Nicholas than the address above.
KISS ME KATE opened wide in 3D on the NY Loews circuit in the deadly mid-January slot. It is not true that it had the Christmas slot as that was given to the far more successful FROM HERE TO ETERNITY.
KATE was pulled from Radio city after four weeks and replaced by EASY TO LOVE in time for Christmas. It was showing only in Brooklyn with a second feature by Christmas.
For the sake of comparison, the musical HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE ran for 15 weeks during the same period and did about three times the business. Regardless of whether you like the film, it was not considered a box office success by anyone and is considered one of the nails in the coffin of 3D.
I realize it is a subjective thing but, having seen all of the 50’s films mentioned above in 2D, (except perhaps the Martin-Lewis title), I can thinks they are among the 50’s worst films with KISS ME KATE and CEASE FIRE! rating in the unbearable category.
HOUSE OF WAX and BLACK LAGOON are in the “so bad they are funny” category, and MISS SADIE THOMPSON being one of the worst remakes of all time. The best of the lot, DIAL M FOR MURDER, was mediocre for Hitchcock.
The press of today have not maligned 50’s 3D films. The press at the time, including Variety, stated that bad films killed the gimmick. By the end of the cycle the films were not even advertising when they were in 3D for fear of the stigma and in many cases opened nationwide in 2D after failing in 3D in some major markets. The distributors for KISS ME KATE didn’t even open it 3D in New York City.
When they showed their adaptation of the Gene Kelly song scene from SINGIN' IN THE RAIN I was impressed. When I saw scenes from the new films, I was underwhelmed. That should tell you what the problem is.
I found a 1922 NY Times article on the opening of the Childrens Theatre and not only did the playhouse not play movies, its aim was to keep children away from them.
“Hordes of children frequent the movie houses and the pictures they see give them a distorted, and many times unhealthy idea of ‘grown up’ life”.
Here is one I never heard before:
From the New York Times 1928 regarding the New Proctor 58th St.
“The new playhouse will have…an "animal room” where, it is announced, patrons may check their pets while attending performances."
BILL & TED and HOUSE OF CARDS both opened at the Plaza.
If AVATAR fails look for 3D to end up where it did last time. Porn.
The last I heard it cost Universal over 10 million dollars to do ten minutes of JAWS before they abandoned the project.
“Gimick or not, Digital 3D is the future.”
How many times have we heard that one before! Here’s COMIN' AT YA,
WINGS OF COURAGE, CHICKEN LITTLE.
“In 1953 and 1954, 3-D was used for some very good films- including House of Wax, Kiss Me Kate, Inferno, Dial M for Murder, The Glass Web, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Hondo, Miss Sadie Thompson, etc.”
Which one of those films are you accusing of being good?
No matter how good the 3D process, it is still a gimmick when it is attached only to bad films that stand no chance otherwise.
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH, BOLT, MY BLOODY VALENTINE, CORALINE, THE JONAS BROTHERS, ICE AGE 3, FINAL DESTINATION IV, CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS.
Audiences can already smell the desperation
This still advertised as Naturemax, not LeFrak???
There are two theatres with the same name at the same location. One operated from 1919 to 1932. The other from 1933 to 1963.
Just because an organ was delivered does not mean this was ever a cinema.
From the NY Times, this odd explanation of why Marble Hill is really, sort of, Manhattan;
“The City of New York, as it was before 1899, became the borough of Manhattan. Its island boundaries have been changed many times by landfill as well as legislation. For example, when the bed of Spuyten Duyvil Creek was cut through a rocky bit of northern Manhattan to simplify navigation between the Hudson and East Rivers, the lost territory, known as Marble Hill, was joined physically by landfill to the Bronx. But legally, Marble Hill residents remain Manhattanites and vote in Manhattan, even though they have to cross Spuyten Duyvil Creek on the Broadway bridge to do so.”
Is the Dyckman theatre (552 West 207th Street) listed on CT? I can’t seem to find it.
My mistake, LM, it is 1968, but that still maps near Lincoln Center.
This was already advertised as the Gem in 1922.
Does anyone have any knowledge of a HUDSON theatre in north Manhattan?
It appears in the 1934 Film Daily Year Book as located at 1268 Amsterdam Avenue but newspaper ads in 1921-22 place it close to Audubon Avenue and 167th street.
This short video on the music history of Overtown features a rare, albeit fuzzy, nightime view of the Ritz.
View link
Thanks LM! That makes more sense.
This website has a photo identifying the Sunset as the current La Gree Baptist Church. This would place the Sunset closer to St. Nicholas than the address above.
View link
I suspect the La Gree Church building might actually be the Palace St. Nicholas theatre and annex instead, which is not yet listed.
Any ideas?
The Regent stopped showing movies in 1963.
The Regun appears in a December 1922 ad for TESS OF THE STORM COUNTRY so it was no longer the Imperial by then.
A paramount Week ad for 1920 lists the Grant Theatre at 116th Street. By the following year’s ad it it listed as the Jewel at 11 West 116th Street.
My 1934 Film Daily Year book lists a Rex Theatre at 217 E. 67th Street which would place it near Second Avenue. It does not appear to be listed here.
Perhaps someone has more info on either Rex location.
The Apollo shows up in Paramount Week ads as showing movies at least as early as 1919.