It was a giant bunker getting the best films while great Times Square theaters like the Rivoli and Criterion were rotting. I didn’t understand it at all.
Thoroughly Modern Millie had its world premiere as a roadshow engagement at this theater in March of ‘67.
Kino has put out what they consider the roadshow bluray of this movie.
What better way to celebrate a deluxe first run Times Square theater than to celebrate the films that opened there and how we can recreate those experiences though the theaters are long gone.
I thought the 2013 full 4 hour cut for the anniversary(the current version?) which played in theaters was the film as premiered in ‘63 at the Rivoli. As far as I know it’s the longest Hollywood studio released film.
This was my boyhood theater starting with movies like PT 109 and Lady and the Tramp. Beautiful theater and nice size screen. Was never in it since it was turned into shoe boxes. Why bother? My TV is probably as large as the screens.
And to have gotten rid of that organ! Vandalism.
How lucky!
I’ve seen them both perform but never had the pleasure of meeting them.
That happened with me when I had Rex Harrison and Jeremy Brett sign my MFL souvenir book. It’s like they hadn’t seen it in forever and were delighted.
Oh bigjoe59 say it ain’t so! Bye Bye Birdie. Which Columbia will finally be releasing at the end of this month. I missed the Twilight Time which now goes for crazy amounts of money.
Well Kino also put out Sweet Charity. Let’s hope they manage to not make the same mistake they made with that one with TMM. Remember these people who are doing the work probably weren’t even alive during the roadshow era so they don’t know what the experience was like.
Columbia gave two huge hits like BBB and Oliver! to Twilight Time. Who can figure out why these decisions are made?
Did you go to the Astor Plaza Aids benefit of TMM where Andrews was supposed to appear but canceled due to ill health? Channing did appear of course. Letters were read from the other cast members including Moore, Fox and Gavin. Joel Siegel introduced the film and for some idiotic reason went on to trash it. Channing then in the most charming way imaginable as the experienced pro she was went on to trash him.
Who knows what the hell he was thinking when he was speaking to an audience of TMM fans.
Yes the 4 hour Cleopatra after its restoration had a couple of theatrical showings on its 50th anniversary. I went twice and thought it was wonderful. The 4 hours flew by. What I would give to see the Mankiewicz 6 hour original cut.
I have the bluray of SOM but haven’t watched it. A number of people are saying the shades of the colors are wrong. I’m surprised the 4k version hasn’t come out. It’s a prime candidate. Who knows? I thought the American in Paris bluray was terrific and I saw beautiful Technicolor prints of it back at the Regency in the 70s yet people complain about it.
I understand that The King and I’s bluray is very disappointing and projectionists who ran SOM in roadshow say the bluray got the colors wrong. Sometimes I think the people doing these blurays are too young to know or don’t know where to look for elements.
None of them were around to see original presentations or at this point even going to revival houses during their heyday.
Do you have the MFL 4k? Except for the flower images(sadly) during the titles it is spectacular.
But it was a Todd AO print. So it was not a general release print. How could it be? They would have had to have cut down the roadshow prints which makes little sense.
I’m think that by the time Fox video prepared the bluray no roadshow prints survived including the one I saw. Strange that Oklahoma survived beautifully and that two monster hits like 80 Days and South Pacific did not. Or did you or someone else say you actually saw an 80 Days 70mm print? If so why hasn’t it been released on bluray?
When I saw South Pacific in Todd AO at the Warner Cinerama in ‘78 I doubt that was cut. I’m sure it was an original 70mm print from the late 50s. It looked it. But it was still utterly magnificent and I never liked the film on TV. And I still don’t like the color filters. Still Todd AO and 6 track stereo is there anything better?
Unless that print was tossed these people did not do their job. But then people today don’t know.
I believe the decline of midtown and Times Square began with the destruction of all the great buildings that were its anchor. Starting with the Roxy but really accelerating in the mid 60s.You had Penn Station, the old Met, the Paramount, the Astor, the Claridge, and the Capitol. People were avoiding the area because there was bleak construction going on seemingly on every other block, the streets were getting darker because of the skyscrapers going up and the middle class had no reason to go to midtown any more for entertainment bringing in the criminals and sleaze that the 70s an 80s were famous for. Of course the Disneyfication of the area that was to follow was even far worse than that. I was stunned that anything could be worse, but it was.
It was a giant bunker getting the best films while great Times Square theaters like the Rivoli and Criterion were rotting. I didn’t understand it at all.
One of those films that looked like a made for TV movie blown up on the Music Hall screen.
Thoroughly Modern Millie had its world premiere as a roadshow engagement at this theater in March of ‘67. Kino has put out what they consider the roadshow bluray of this movie. What better way to celebrate a deluxe first run Times Square theater than to celebrate the films that opened there and how we can recreate those experiences though the theaters are long gone.
Are they hoping that vast very old space collapses or is considered structurally unsound after the raising so they can build condos or offices?
I’ve never seen the Norma Shearer ‘The Red Shoes.’
Thank you. It was an excellent print. People are bemoaning the quality of the bluray so I’m wondering why a better bluray is not possible.
I’d like to know what happened to that print.
Where and when was the showing of the Rivoli print in Asbury Park?
Does anyone know when the restored El Cid played here in 70mm?
I thought the 2013 full 4 hour cut for the anniversary(the current version?) which played in theaters was the film as premiered in ‘63 at the Rivoli. As far as I know it’s the longest Hollywood studio released film.
This was my boyhood theater starting with movies like PT 109 and Lady and the Tramp. Beautiful theater and nice size screen. Was never in it since it was turned into shoe boxes. Why bother? My TV is probably as large as the screens. And to have gotten rid of that organ! Vandalism.
For those who went to the Capitol during its reserved seat days what exactly were the divans? Were they the firsts rows of the mezzanine or loge?
Anybody see Funny Girl at the Criterion? Alas I was too young. How was the presentation? To me it seems like the last great successful roadshow film.
How lucky! I’ve seen them both perform but never had the pleasure of meeting them. That happened with me when I had Rex Harrison and Jeremy Brett sign my MFL souvenir book. It’s like they hadn’t seen it in forever and were delighted.
Was this at a showing of the film?
I’m crazy jealous.
Oh bigjoe59 say it ain’t so!
Bye Bye Birdie.
Which Columbia will finally be releasing at the end of this month. I missed the Twilight Time which now goes for crazy amounts of money.
And I think it’s on the regular DVD.
I don’t have it but I read about it. They messed up something concerning the intermission like leaving out the entr'acte before the second half.
Well Kino also put out Sweet Charity. Let’s hope they manage to not make the same mistake they made with that one with TMM. Remember these people who are doing the work probably weren’t even alive during the roadshow era so they don’t know what the experience was like. Columbia gave two huge hits like BBB and Oliver! to Twilight Time. Who can figure out why these decisions are made?
Did you go to the Astor Plaza Aids benefit of TMM where Andrews was supposed to appear but canceled due to ill health? Channing did appear of course. Letters were read from the other cast members including Moore, Fox and Gavin. Joel Siegel introduced the film and for some idiotic reason went on to trash it. Channing then in the most charming way imaginable as the experienced pro she was went on to trash him. Who knows what the hell he was thinking when he was speaking to an audience of TMM fans.
Concerning SOM people say the colors on the laserdisc are correct and that had Wise’s blessing.
Yes the 4 hour Cleopatra after its restoration had a couple of theatrical showings on its 50th anniversary. I went twice and thought it was wonderful. The 4 hours flew by. What I would give to see the Mankiewicz 6 hour original cut.
I have the bluray of SOM but haven’t watched it. A number of people are saying the shades of the colors are wrong. I’m surprised the 4k version hasn’t come out. It’s a prime candidate. Who knows? I thought the American in Paris bluray was terrific and I saw beautiful Technicolor prints of it back at the Regency in the 70s yet people complain about it.
I understand that The King and I’s bluray is very disappointing and projectionists who ran SOM in roadshow say the bluray got the colors wrong. Sometimes I think the people doing these blurays are too young to know or don’t know where to look for elements. None of them were around to see original presentations or at this point even going to revival houses during their heyday. Do you have the MFL 4k? Except for the flower images(sadly) during the titles it is spectacular.
But it was a Todd AO print. So it was not a general release print. How could it be? They would have had to have cut down the roadshow prints which makes little sense.
I’m think that by the time Fox video prepared the bluray no roadshow prints survived including the one I saw. Strange that Oklahoma survived beautifully and that two monster hits like 80 Days and South Pacific did not. Or did you or someone else say you actually saw an 80 Days 70mm print? If so why hasn’t it been released on bluray?
When I saw South Pacific in Todd AO at the Warner Cinerama in ‘78 I doubt that was cut. I’m sure it was an original 70mm print from the late 50s. It looked it. But it was still utterly magnificent and I never liked the film on TV. And I still don’t like the color filters. Still Todd AO and 6 track stereo is there anything better?
Unless that print was tossed these people did not do their job. But then people today don’t know.
Thoroughly Modern Millie (Special Roadshow Edition) [Blu-ray] To be released August 24th.
I believe the decline of midtown and Times Square began with the destruction of all the great buildings that were its anchor. Starting with the Roxy but really accelerating in the mid 60s.You had Penn Station, the old Met, the Paramount, the Astor, the Claridge, and the Capitol. People were avoiding the area because there was bleak construction going on seemingly on every other block, the streets were getting darker because of the skyscrapers going up and the middle class had no reason to go to midtown any more for entertainment bringing in the criminals and sleaze that the 70s an 80s were famous for. Of course the Disneyfication of the area that was to follow was even far worse than that. I was stunned that anything could be worse, but it was.