Ziegfeld Theatre

I think the intention was that he would thread up the projectors during intervals and then come back down, the way manager/projectionists did outside New York.

Peter that was the first thing I said to him. With Smoke coming out of my ears and fire out of my mouth I reduced the little twerp to rubble and walked away. As Professor Higgins once said “I am a gentle man BUT…let a women (in his case idiot in my life :)

Oh yes Bill I shall never forget the day I went to that opening and confronted that fool running that control panel who said something along the lines of “We don’t need the man in the booth anymore” I went off on him like a bomb, I could not accept a 306 guy telling people that, it was a touchy subject at the time with all that automated stuff about to pounce on us. We knew it was the beginning of the end of projection as we knew and loved it but I still was not ready or willing to accept it. Little did we know that platters were just waiting in the wings to pounce on us or the inevitable replacement of film with Digital. “Won’t need the guy in the booth” indeed has sadly come to pass.

Click here for a picture of the Ziegfeld console in 1969.

Does the Ziegfeld support 7.1 Dolby Surround?

Interesting, Al. I imagine there might have been a potential distraction issue for patrons seated in the raised loge at the back of the auditorium. I could also imagine the operator having his hands full making sure no one reached over and toyed with the console while walking by. But then, perhaps more was expected of general audiences back in 1969. I’m viewing the situation through the dark prism of contemporary behavior among moviegoers.

Several years ago, Vito posted what he thought of the console on this page. At the same time, I related an incident where the console seemed to go out of control during a 1970 screening of “West Side Story”. The soundtrack was filled with ear-splitting popping noises, which only went away when the operator turned the console off and walked away from it. The audience then applauded.

I didn’t get an email either, moviebuff82. Sometimes, there is a lag in notification, however.

Hey Vito… Click here to see Bill’s photo. This image is actually uploaded in the photo tab above, so you’d be able to find it by browsing there as well.

Bill I am a bit confussed what did you mean “Here is the console” The link took me to movie ads. Ole age perhaps but I can not recall why you sent me that :)

Is Ziegfeld projection still 2k or upgraded yet to 4k?

I did not get into the projection booth today, but I would guess that the standard projectors are still there (gathering cobwebs) with every presentation now digital. I don’t consider that a bad thing for two reasons relative to classics like “Apocalypse Now.”

The Museum of the Moving Image in Queens has just started a “See it Big” program with classics including 70mm-recently “Lawrence” and “Playtime.” Check it out at Movingimage.US You want to catch “Apocalypse Now” 70mm there? Send them an e-mail and let them know. They have a magnificent new theatre that can show anything and will. If you live in the NYC area, you have one of the best opportunities for catching classic films….TimeOut NY has pages of them every single week.

The other reason is the growing movement to make digital prints of classic films. The first one I saw was “Goldfinger” at the Ziegfeld a few seasons back, which I introduced. For the first time I could crisply see the inscription on the gold bar that Bond and Goldfinger play for at the golf match. How’s that for “better than new”—add to this, all of which i’ve seen, the digital “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “West Side Story,” and an absolutely astonishing “Ben Hur” showcased at the NY Film Festival. My jaw dropped.

By the way, I am someone who would rather see ANY film in a theatre than on the best home video system imaginable. To me, the Ziegfeld is the place to have a great experience.

Best,

Gary