Did they come into Radio City in the middle of the show as they did at other movie theaters (“this is where we came in”) in the pre-Psycho days? It must have been mild chaos with all the comings and goings.
It seems as though “Champaign’s Finest Theater” is not just the name of the video posted above, but was actually a slogan the Rialto used in its advertising.
hdtv, please don’t go. I’ve enjoyed your insights and photos over the years. I’d hate to have any one person force you off this board. (What IS playing at the AMC Rockaway, anyway?)
For Whom the Bell Tolls was the next picture Ingrid Bergman made after Casablanca; she had cut her hair for the Hemingway movie, and was unable to do any retakes on Casablanca, specifically scenes featuring the 1931 song As Time Goes By, which producer Hal Wallis had wanted to replace with an original tune; but because Bergman was unavailable he had to stick with As Time Goes By, which of course became an enormous hit and an iconic symbol of a great motion picture and since 1998 used as the Warner Bros. fanfare.
That was one of the most interesting articles I have ever read on this site. Thanks so much for posting it. (I sure miss the old days even though I wasn’t even born then.)
They are demolishing this building down to the ground, it seems — it’s horrifying yet fascinating. I hope someone (hint, hint) can get some photos posted here of this debasement while it’s happening. A truly shocking sight.
Say what you will about him, but Cineplex Odeon founder and theater-builder Garth Drabinsky was an old-school showman and kept his houses (for the most part) in tip-top shape.
I seem to recall that sometimes the boxes were right on the sidewalk and not necessarily in the vestibule. I loved watching the trailer loops on each of them — often the “red band” restricted ones with the most action.
I seem to recall some really wretched bookings in the last years of its life. And the marquee usually had mere plastic letters to announce the titles, rather than the specially made displays the Broadway houses often had.
Did they come into Radio City in the middle of the show as they did at other movie theaters (“this is where we came in”) in the pre-Psycho days? It must have been mild chaos with all the comings and goings.
And how many theatrical impressarios can dance on the head of a pin? Someone must know and I demand the answer!
It seems as though “Champaign’s Finest Theater” is not just the name of the video posted above, but was actually a slogan the Rialto used in its advertising.
“The show is fine at 9th and Pine!”
hdtv, please don’t go. I’ve enjoyed your insights and photos over the years. I’d hate to have any one person force you off this board. (What IS playing at the AMC Rockaway, anyway?)
For Whom the Bell Tolls was the next picture Ingrid Bergman made after Casablanca; she had cut her hair for the Hemingway movie, and was unable to do any retakes on Casablanca, specifically scenes featuring the 1931 song As Time Goes By, which producer Hal Wallis had wanted to replace with an original tune; but because Bergman was unavailable he had to stick with As Time Goes By, which of course became an enormous hit and an iconic symbol of a great motion picture and since 1998 used as the Warner Bros. fanfare.
Thank God Ingrid cut her hair!
If only the Music Hall’s screen was that large!
That site seems to require a log-in, TT.
Isn’t that the old Rialto?
That was one of the most interesting articles I have ever read on this site. Thanks so much for posting it. (I sure miss the old days even though I wasn’t even born then.)
Here’s a direct link to hdtv’s terrific site discovery.
They are demolishing this building down to the ground, it seems — it’s horrifying yet fascinating. I hope someone (hint, hint) can get some photos posted here of this debasement while it’s happening. A truly shocking sight.
Say what you will about him, but Cineplex Odeon founder and theater-builder Garth Drabinsky was an old-school showman and kept his houses (for the most part) in tip-top shape.
I seem to recall that sometimes the boxes were right on the sidewalk and not necessarily in the vestibule. I loved watching the trailer loops on each of them — often the “red band” restricted ones with the most action.
I seem to recall some really wretched bookings in the last years of its life. And the marquee usually had mere plastic letters to announce the titles, rather than the specially made displays the Broadway houses often had.
It’s not unusual for THIS theater to close from time-to-time, I agree.
I miss the 6th Avenue el, (seen in the photo five responses above this) even thought it was torn down decades before I was born.
Ugh.
Closed until 2013 for a major restoration.
I like that you can see a little bit of Horn & Hardart there on the right.
I looked in the NY Times and saw it opened February 17, 1966. But when did it close?
With this new format I can’t look back at all past comments at once, so I appeal to a helpful CTer — when did Inside Daisy Clover play here? Thanks.
Thanks for the photo, LostMemory, wherever you are.
Al, you sly puss. (Were these hard-core?)
Usually one can find ads in old issues of the Village Voice for the porn theaters —any been found showing this house?