Palladium Times Square
1515 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
1515 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
32 people
favorited this theater
Showing 351 - 375 of 573 comments
In regards to “Mr. Matthau,” my apologies for misspelling his name!
Mikeoaklandpark wrote: If anybody knows how to start and online petition I would be willing to help out.
Has anyone in this newsgroup started one for the Astor Plaza? I’d be willing to start one.
In regards to “Eighty Days” winning Best Picture: One of the reviewers in the Los Angeles Times gave the new “80 Days” a raving review, while scathing the 1956 film. I don’t have the article in front of me as I write this, but she essentially called it overblown.
I think if this interviewer saw it in 1956 in Todd-AO at 30fps, she would’ve been impressed and very entertained. There are certain films that seem to play well only on the big screen, and this is one of them. Imagine seeing this widescreen film with all of the world locations Mike Todd took audiences to, a lighthearted story, and the cameos, I think she’d be one of the millions who saw this film and came away with a smile on her face. It was a film of its time.
Perhaps if Warner Bros. found it somehow financially feasible to produce a restoration for 70mm projection (30fps), audiences might get a kick out of seeing it properly. Heck, even “Hello, Dolly!” was very popular during its recent run here in Los Angeles. That’s a film I couldn’t sit through on television, but on the big screen in 70mm, it’s a lot of fun. Just seeing Walter Matthew ham it up and the cameo of Louis Armstrong is worth seeing this film. Even Babs is entertaining in this film.
I think either All The President’s Men or Network should have been the Best Pic winner in 1976. Rocky is not in the same class as those films. I would agree with Giant or 10 Commandments over 80 Days but I could understand them picking 80 Days as a Best Picture winner. It’s a fun picture.
Vincent…I’m assuming that if I saw 80 Days on the big screen I might feel differently about it as entertainment, but as of now considering what else was nominated in 1956 (Giant, 10 Commandments)it was the inferior film. I’m going to have to buy the DVD to get a new perspective on this flick..DVD can do that….Now to say Rocky and Ordinary People are underserving of Best Pic?? I strongly disagree but, that’s another chat I guess, to each his own..but, I was a teen during the 70’s and Rocky had a HUGE influence on me…now if you want to start a new chat over undeserving Best Picture Winners…I’d nominate, English patient, Shakespeare in Love (It beat Pvt. Ryan?)the biggestoversite in Oscar history…but getting off track here..
Mike, it would be great if we could band and start our own group to play 70MM flicks…..anyone here got any ideas…maybe it’s time to put our money where our mouths are (although, money is kindof out)..but there seems to be alot of experts and veterans in here that know alot….suggestions??
I agree with Rhett that we should do something. Loews Cineplex has a web site and maybe we should all contact them to try and save this theater. I do find that most companies lie. United Artist lied to me a few years ago about the Sameric theater in Phila. They told me the owners didn’t renew the lease and as it turns out, United Artist pulled out.If anybody knows how to start and online petition I would be willing to help out.
With all the reviews about the new “80 Days” it is pointed out that the original is considered the most unworthy film to win a best picture Oscar. I guess they’ve never seen Rocky or Ordinary People.
Rhett I’m in total agreement of your statement from start to finish. the people who run this theatre cater to the idiotic youth market I’m trying to get there to see this cinemas last film but as much as I love this theatre and hate the fact that it will close by summers end I refuse to pay these astronomical prices to see these idoitic films today. I mean what’s the price today for a movie $10.25 or $10.50. and the films are to long and not interesting at all. Maybe the powers that be or anyone responsible for programing or booking if you will would look at this site and yes see that there is actually people who do actually care about the moviegoing experience. Idunnno, wishful thinking.
I think we can all wait till hell freezes over before the Astor Plaza plays a goodbye retrospective series. The reason…so MTV can get started on destroying it for more studios so the dunces there can get started on more idiotic programming for today’s idiotic youth market.
I wish the people who own the theater would review this site and see there are actually people who care about the movie experience and a great theater…but, I don’t think they would care anyway as the people who run the theaters these days are as idiotic as the movies they make.
What can we do here to give the Astor Plaza a proper sendoff?? Is there anyone in here with connections to get something started? or are we all working on pipe dreams??
Mike I to as well hate all these new and modern things they come up with it sure takes away from the former movie going experience. I think someone mentioned earlier that this theatre will close as the summer ends somewhere around August or so maybe they will play a good movie there or have a retrospective series there like the Baronet/Coronet did. before they closed thanking moviegoers for their many years of patronage. Retospective featureing the many high profiled films that played there such as the “Star Wars”, trilogy “Scarface”, and the “Raiders of the Lost Ark” trilogy that would be great.
I hate those digital rolling marquees. I hate all these new modern things they have come up with. It really stinks. No more 70mm films, slide, rolling marquees. I have a lot of nostalgic memories of movie theaters.I would give anything to be able to go to the Astor Plaza one more time before they close.
Good point bill, I believe Ron Howard was inspired to film “Far and Away in 65mm after screening a print of "How the west was Won”
Vito wrote: No one has made mention of the brave move Ron Howard made in filming “Far and Away” in 70mm with 6 track mag sound.
“Far And Away,” though not a great movie by any means, does have some spectacular 70mm type moments during the Oklahoma land rush scenes. And you’re correct, Vito, that it was a brave move by Ron Howard to shoot in 65mm, though, I think it was at the urging of the DP, Mikael Soloman (spelling might be off).
I’m sort of surprised this film and Sony’s “Hamlet” (1996) haven’t seen screenings here in the States. Perhaps “Far And Away” might be appreciated better today than in 1992. As for “Hamlet,” it’s a very good film and deserved a better release in 1996. It was shown in Los Angeles at the Royal on a rather small screen, then at Edwards Big Newport in Newport Beach, CA. Huge screen, but I felt the print was underserved by dim projection there.
I believe that “Hamlet” was shown at the Paris in Manhattan.
The Beekman doesn’t use slides they use curtains as does this theatre (the Astor Plaza) the Loew’s Tower East shows slides, but on occasion closes theirs and I think the Paris does but these I think are the only ones left that do it this feature is not that important to some patrons but for nostalgic reasons it’s important to me. Also A lot of moviehouses in Manhattan are switching to digital rolling marquees.like Chelsea theatres, most of the Loew’s theatres like the 84thst 34th street Kips Bay and the most recent conversion the E-walk United Artists(regal Cinemas) followed suit with thier Union Sq 14 and thier Astoria Multiplex in Queens I guess the Astor Plz. would’ve done the same thing if it weren’t closing.
Thanks Savage. The slides are ok except when you go to the movies every week, they get boring seeing hte same slides over and over. That is really stupid to close the curtains for a few seconds. That hteater had such class. I think I read in here that the Beekman still uses the curtains and no slides.
yeah but that’s doesn’t make any sense they’ve been doing that since Clearview took over showing slides on the exposed screen then closeing the curtains for 2-4 seconds what’s the use. They should go back to the old policy the way they used to do when Walter Reade then cineplex oden owned the property.
yeah but that’s doesn’t make any sense they’ve been doing that since Clearview took over showing slides on the exposed screen then closeing the curtains for 2-4 seconds what’s the use. They should go back to the old policy the way they used to do when Walter Reade then cineplex oden owned the property.
yeah but that’s doesn’t make any sense they’ve been doing that since Clearview took over showing slides on the exposed screen then closeing the curtains for 2-4 seconds what’s the use. They should go back to the old policy the way they used to do when Walter Reade then cineplex oden owned the property.
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.
No one has made mention of the brave move Ron Howard made in filming “Far and Away” in 70mm with 6 track mag sound.That may have been the last movie filmed in 70. The recent re-release of “Vertigo"
was shown in 70, transfered from the original VistaVision neg, but
The sound was DTS 6 track rather than 6 track mag.
Damn the price and the cost!!!! If they can pay to make crummy films they can fork over the cash to restore and show the classics…As you can see, I understand the cost of things and such…but while I can accept it (kicking and screaming of course) I don’t have to like it…I guess it’s time to move to LA..
Rhett wrote: Well then America needs a 70MM ambassador to import these prints from Norway or Denmark or England or wherever all these 70mm prints are shown and bring them here. Geeze, they’re all shown overseas!!
I think one of the reasons that we don’t see more 70mm here in the States is that it can cost a pretty penny to ship those prints—plus you have to pay for insurance.
In England, they show a few films that we don’t get to see, like “Earthquake” and “The Longest Day.” But I guess I shouldn’t complain—LA has been lucky to get what we’ve gotten! Considering commecial 5-perf 70mm is virtually done for, we’ve been spoiled to get all of those prints listed above. And there are more that were shown in Hollywood since 1999. Heck, even the recent “Godzilla” ran in 70mm-DTS.
As a gentleman mentioned before, the AFI in Silver Springs looks to be the best bet for East Coast film fans to see films like these I listed above. If I recall, the AFI in Silver Springs even ran “Day Of Thunder” in 70mm. He also mentioned that “War And Peace” ran there. It ran at the American Cinematheque. Unfortunately, and I regret this, I decided not to see it—too long. Well that was a dumb decision! My collaborator, Mike Coate, saw it and said it was awesome.
It’s a shame that Ny and NJ won’t see these prints…thanks Bill
Here’s a list of 35mm/70mm prints that have been restored and shown in Los Angeles and in some other cities, as well. This is from the top of my head, so I might be missing a few titles. This list also includes some titles restored in the 1990s and re-struck prints.
Columbia/Sony:
Lord Jim (70mm)
Lawrence Of Arabia (70mm)
Funny Girl (35mm)
In Cold Blood (35mm)
Becket (35mm, to be shown or was recently shown at the Academy in Beverly Hills)
Bridge On The River Kwai (35mm)
Bye, Bye Birdie (35mm)
20th Century Fox
Patton (70mm)
The Sound Of Music (70mm)
Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines… (70mm)
Hello, Dolly! (70mm)
Disney
TRON (70mm)
Sleeping Beauty (70mm)
Swiss Family Robinson (35mm)
20000 Leagues Under The Sea (35mm)
Independent
Play Time (70mm)
Baraka (70mm)
This Is Cinerama (3-Strip Cinerama)
Universal
Spartacus (70mm)
Vertigo (70mm)
Warner Bros. and MGM
My Fair Lady (70mm)
Ryan’s Daughter (70mm; special print straight from the 65mm negative)
2001: A Space Odyssey (70mm)
It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (70mm)
How The West Was Won (3-Strip Cinerama)
I agree the screen at the Film Forum is too small but I’ll give them this…they do care about the presentation. I guess (for me at least) it’s just good to see the old classics on the big screen (even if the screen isn’t that big) but they do score good prints.
But the panavision/cinemascope films there are on the small side and you have to sit closer to the screen. It never bothered me though.
Pete, is there a site for Columbia that has their available 70MM prints . I’d be curious to see what films are available??
I saw Lawrence 3 times at the Ziegfeld in ‘92 and it looked magnificent(the print that is.The screen is still too small.) But then Lean, O'Toole and Sharif were there opening night and the theater gave it during the run the full deluxe road show treatment(without the reserved seats)including curtains and no commercials or coming attractions. The only thing better would have been to see it in the Criterion(which still existed pre Toys.)
Regarding the Loews Jersey the screen is too small for 70mm (at 50ft). Considering the size of the theater the relatively narrow procenium cannot give widescreen its full splendor(its got a somewhat letterbox look) though it is okay for cinemascope and far preferable to seeing scope at the Film Forum which is a joke though they boast about presenting films in widescreen all the time(Bruce G. please find a theater worthy of your terrific programming skills.)