By 1966 many east side houses were outgrossing Broadway and the Sutton had just come off record breaking runs of “Zorba The Greek” and “Thunderball”.
There were also few roadshow houses available since “The Sound of Music”, “Doctor Zhivago”, “Cast a Giant Shadow”, and “My Fair Lady” were already running and “Hawaii”, “Is Paris Burning?, "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum”, “Grand Prix”, “The Sand Pebbles” and “The Bible..In the Beginning” were all scrambling for hard ticket runs before the year’s end.
Judge Cooper is actually on the mark. Some popcorn kernels simply never pop.
As a dentist friend once told me, “No healthy tooth can be hurt by a raw kernel of popcorn. It is ridiculous for anyone to hold a movie theatre responsible for their existing rotten dental condition”.
Movie theatres around the world import American midwestern corn because it has a higher internal humidity level and therefore a higher popping ratio, yielding a more efficient popcorn to “old maid” (unpopped kernel) ratio.
Although there were many private screenings at Radio City, “The Blue Max” opened commercially at the Sutton and “The Seven-per-cent Solution” at the Plaza.
I think the closest current thing may be the possible Oscar qualifying runs of “Che” at year’s end. They may be presented in two parts and with a boxed lunch as was done with “War and Peace” and “Berlin Alexanderplatz”. This is more due to the length of the film than an attempt at prestige.
Where was this implied? Even the Widescreen Museum website dates them to the silent era. I believe “The Birth of a Nation” (1915) was the first roadshow.
The “East” was most likely used to avoid any confusion with the Penthouse in Times Square which changed its name in 1975 to the Cinerama-2 and had no affiliation to Guccione.
Ed, according to Variety, at the time these theatres wanted clearance from both the east and west side runs. The distributors preferred the two runs instead of one since they attracted very different crowds and two runs gave them an audience profile for their films before the national roll-out.
Indeed, in this era before marketing research, Zefferilli’s “Romeo and Juliet” easily went mainstream but the more mainstream appearing “Bonnie and Clyde” did better at specialty houses.
It barely lasted 14 years, but at the time a state-of the-art quad in Times Square sounded pretty good. I remember Richard Branson trying to get it away from Loews in order to launch his Virgin Cinemas in the states.
No Louis, the 1924 edition does not carry addresses.
In 1965 the Philharmonic Hall at this address was screening movies.
Columbia I & II was the opening name of this theatre.
saps, Rialto II would have been the basement screen here in September of 1969.
According to Variety it is still in fourth place in the UK historically. I imagine “The Full Monty” and “Shrek 2” may be in there also.
By 1966 many east side houses were outgrossing Broadway and the Sutton had just come off record breaking runs of “Zorba The Greek” and “Thunderball”.
There were also few roadshow houses available since “The Sound of Music”, “Doctor Zhivago”, “Cast a Giant Shadow”, and “My Fair Lady” were already running and “Hawaii”, “Is Paris Burning?, "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum”, “Grand Prix”, “The Sand Pebbles” and “The Bible..In the Beginning” were all scrambling for hard ticket runs before the year’s end.
Queens and Arcadia should be added as AKA names here. The site showed films under both names.
Judge Cooper is actually on the mark. Some popcorn kernels simply never pop.
As a dentist friend once told me, “No healthy tooth can be hurt by a raw kernel of popcorn. It is ridiculous for anyone to hold a movie theatre responsible for their existing rotten dental condition”.
Movie theatres around the world import American midwestern corn because it has a higher internal humidity level and therefore a higher popping ratio, yielding a more efficient popcorn to “old maid” (unpopped kernel) ratio.
The “100” number refers only to those who were vocal.
“The Blue Max” played at the Victoria in early 1967 on a continuous showing run.
Although there were many private screenings at Radio City, “The Blue Max” opened commercially at the Sutton and “The Seven-per-cent Solution” at the Plaza.
I think the closest current thing may be the possible Oscar qualifying runs of “Che” at year’s end. They may be presented in two parts and with a boxed lunch as was done with “War and Peace” and “Berlin Alexanderplatz”. This is more due to the length of the film than an attempt at prestige.
Where was this implied? Even the Widescreen Museum website dates them to the silent era. I believe “The Birth of a Nation” (1915) was the first roadshow.
This is as close as I got, amyd.
http://www.pbase.com/image/80670007
There was a Columbus Theatre at 981 West 8th Avenue and still showing films in 1938. Does anyone know if it was this same location?
Penthouse East should be an aka name here.
The “East” was most likely used to avoid any confusion with the Penthouse in Times Square which changed its name in 1975 to the Cinerama-2 and had no affiliation to Guccione.
Ed, according to Variety, at the time these theatres wanted clearance from both the east and west side runs. The distributors preferred the two runs instead of one since they attracted very different crowds and two runs gave them an audience profile for their films before the national roll-out.
Indeed, in this era before marketing research, Zefferilli’s “Romeo and Juliet” easily went mainstream but the more mainstream appearing “Bonnie and Clyde” did better at specialty houses.
Thanks, LM! I was not aware it was still showing films that far into the forties.
LM, which Harlem Theatre is that in the May 8 photo?
The map link above goes to Brooklyn.
Here are operating dates I have found.
Dec. 1951- Oct. 1964 as the Normandie
Oct. 1964- 1971 as the Cinema Rendezvous
1971- 1978 as the Playboy.
1979-1998 as the 57th Street Playhouse.
It barely lasted 14 years, but at the time a state-of the-art quad in Times Square sounded pretty good. I remember Richard Branson trying to get it away from Loews in order to launch his Virgin Cinemas in the states.
This opened in 1996.
The two Paramounts, MSG and Columbus ,overlapped in 1991-1992 until Loews changed theirs to Columbus Circle.
The Lighthouse had 75 seats.