Production costs and star salaries have increased more dramatically at the movies. Distributors and theatre owners have simply managed their business better in an effort to appeal to the masses without resorting to government subsidies, private donations and added ‘theatre remodeling’ taxes.
A night time view of the Le Jeune Auto Theatre can be seen in the opening sequence of the first segment of TCM’s new series “MOGULS AND MOVIE STARS: A HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD”
“Jackass 3-D had 2,452 locations presenting the picture in the 3D illusion, and the 3D showings accounted for close to 90 percent of business. That means the initial attendance gains over the previous Jackass movies were not commensurate with the gross gains, and that Jackass 3D did not break the Fall single-day attendance record.”
A September 7, 1943 article in the New York Times explains how this location became an outlet for Russian films in 1943-1944.
Maurice Maurer, owner of the lease for several Times Square theatres including the Victoria, sold his lease to the Stanley, which had been an established outlet for Russian films since 1941. He then competed with the sucessful Stanley by programming first-run films from Russia (or about Russia) at the Victoria for almost a year.
Just prior to this it had been the Laffmovie and the often raided Gaiety Burlesque.
The female lead is accosted by a masher while looking at Brigitte Bardot displays at the entrance to the Apollo in the John Cassavetes film “SHADOWS”. The scene is a magical snapshot of 42nd street, circa 1959.
A shot of the Arcadia marquee can be seen in the 1950 film “YOUNG MAN WITH A HORN” during the final ten minute montage of Kirk Douglas wandering around Manhattan under the third avenue El.
It it simply a bad product year motivated, as always, by huge previous grosses for bad movies like THE DARK KNIGHT Batman killer and those LORD OF THE RINGS literature abortions.
Edward, summer movies have always included junk but never as bad this past summer.
“What other great movies were released in the summer of 1975, along with Jaws?”
THE RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER, LOVE AND DEATH, NASHVILLE, THE MAN IN THE GLASS BOOTH plus numerous Disney re-releases even during a product shortage year.
“What other perennials were released the same timeframe in 1977, the summer of Star Wars?”
NEW YORK NEW YORK, CRIA!, THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, AGUIRRE- THE WRATH OF GOD, SUSPIRIA, THE HILLS HAVE EYES, plus Disney re-releases
Or 1981, the summer of Raiders?
OUTLAND, FOR YOUE EYES ONLY, THE GREAT MUPPET CAPER, THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, LILI MARLEEN, ARTHUR, EYE OF THE NEEDLE, AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, PRINCE OF THE CITY.
Or 1984, the summer of Ghostbusters?
STAR TREK III, ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA, THE KARATE KID, GREMLINS, ANOTHER COUNTRY, THE POPE OF GREENWICH VILLAGE, THE 4TH MAN, THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY, THE NEVERENDING STORY, PURPLE RAIN, TIGHTROPE, CHOOSE ME.
“Let’s go back 25 years, to 1985. Back to the Future was a smash, but what else came out that summer?”
You name a lot of fun films and classics including:
Cocoon, The Emerald Forest, The Goonies, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, National Lampoon’s European Vacation, Pale Rider, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, Prizzi’s Honor, Rambo: First Blood Part 2, St. Elmo’s Fire, A View to a Kill.
You left out THE HOME AND THE WORLD, A FLASH OF GREEN, THE COCA-COLA KID, THE HOLY INNOCENTS.
Can you name that many fun films or classics in the summer of 2010? I can only name three passable titles all summer. That’s possibly the worst record since theatre air conditioning was invented. That the drop was only 6% is a great testament to the power of opening weekend marketing.
Production costs and star salaries have increased more dramatically at the movies. Distributors and theatre owners have simply managed their business better in an effort to appeal to the masses without resorting to government subsidies, private donations and added ‘theatre remodeling’ taxes.
Thanksgiving 1960
Top price New York Philharmonic $4.00
Thanksgiving 2010
Top price New York Philharmonic $128.00
Thanksgiving 1960
Top price New York City Ballet $3.95
Thanksgiving 2010
Top price New York City Ballet $175.00
Thanksgiving 1960
Top price for “MY FAIR LADY” live on Broadway $8.75
Thanksgiving 2010
Top Price for “MARY POPPINS” live on Broadway $157.00
Thanksgiving 1960
Top price for “SPARTACUS” $3.50
Thanksgiving 2010
Top price for IMAX “HARRY POTTER” $19.00
…and you all think movie prices are too high?
Hmmm.
It also appears to have managed to open the 1929 film “Pandora’s Box” in 1913.
The Davis Marcus name change came from a 1950 Skouras fund raising effort to benefit the United Jewish Appeal in aiding Israel’s development.
A night time view of the Le Jeune Auto Theatre can be seen in the opening sequence of the first segment of TCM’s new series “MOGULS AND MOVIE STARS: A HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD”
HDTV267, he most probably subscribed to the Variety archives.
There was a theatre next to the Odeon sometimes called the Avenue, Odeon Annex, and possibly Franklin. That could have also been the Grant once.
What a great recap of the Canal history and the movie industry in NYC.
Thanks, John!
Woody, I think that photo may have been just after the opening as the Warner. By the time it closed the 42nd Street marquee was long gone.
This from Boxoffice Mojo:
“Jackass 3-D had 2,452 locations presenting the picture in the 3D illusion, and the 3D showings accounted for close to 90 percent of business. That means the initial attendance gains over the previous Jackass movies were not commensurate with the gross gains, and that Jackass 3D did not break the Fall single-day attendance record.”
There is an awful movie based on her/his life, “The Christine Jorgensen Story”.
A September 7, 1943 article in the New York Times explains how this location became an outlet for Russian films in 1943-1944.
Maurice Maurer, owner of the lease for several Times Square theatres including the Victoria, sold his lease to the Stanley, which had been an established outlet for Russian films since 1941. He then competed with the sucessful Stanley by programming first-run films from Russia (or about Russia) at the Victoria for almost a year.
Just prior to this it had been the Laffmovie and the often raided Gaiety Burlesque.
The original Miami run was such a disappointment for Wometco that they refused to show Road Show films for many year at any of their theatres.
“SPARTACUS” was eventually moved to touristy South Beach for a few weeks, but the film was badly handled in that market.
The 163rd Street theatre was a ‘neighborhood run’ mall location that should never have been expected to succeed with a long run Road Show release.
1956 Miami Beach was the best place to catch the wealthy elite New Yorkers on summer vacation. It was not about Florida, it was about Miami tourism.
That’s the Art Greenwich in DAISY KENYON.
It sure was. Maybe they were aiming at the movie crowd.
That’s the Paramount Cafeteria, John.
The female lead is accosted by a masher while looking at Brigitte Bardot displays at the entrance to the Apollo in the John Cassavetes film “SHADOWS”. The scene is a magical snapshot of 42nd street, circa 1959.
Are you forgetting that the Cinematheque in Miami had been doing a similar program since the seventies and showed those same film films first?
Here it is Markie:
/theaters/4665/
The Village theatre on Eighth Avenue I referred to on February 2 must have been this one.
/theaters/31654/
Brad, see my post from May 30 above.
A shot of the Arcadia marquee can be seen in the 1950 film “YOUNG MAN WITH A HORN” during the final ten minute montage of Kirk Douglas wandering around Manhattan under the third avenue El.
It’s not the theatres. It never has been.
It it simply a bad product year motivated, as always, by huge previous grosses for bad movies like THE DARK KNIGHT Batman killer and those LORD OF THE RINGS literature abortions.
Edward, summer movies have always included junk but never as bad this past summer.
“What other great movies were released in the summer of 1975, along with Jaws?”
THE RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER, LOVE AND DEATH, NASHVILLE, THE MAN IN THE GLASS BOOTH plus numerous Disney re-releases even during a product shortage year.
“What other perennials were released the same timeframe in 1977, the summer of Star Wars?”
NEW YORK NEW YORK, CRIA!, THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, AGUIRRE- THE WRATH OF GOD, SUSPIRIA, THE HILLS HAVE EYES, plus Disney re-releases
Or 1981, the summer of Raiders?
OUTLAND, FOR YOUE EYES ONLY, THE GREAT MUPPET CAPER, THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, LILI MARLEEN, ARTHUR, EYE OF THE NEEDLE, AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, PRINCE OF THE CITY.
Or 1984, the summer of Ghostbusters?
STAR TREK III, ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA, THE KARATE KID, GREMLINS, ANOTHER COUNTRY, THE POPE OF GREENWICH VILLAGE, THE 4TH MAN, THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY, THE NEVERENDING STORY, PURPLE RAIN, TIGHTROPE, CHOOSE ME.
“Let’s go back 25 years, to 1985. Back to the Future was a smash, but what else came out that summer?”
You name a lot of fun films and classics including:
Cocoon, The Emerald Forest, The Goonies, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, National Lampoon’s European Vacation, Pale Rider, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, Prizzi’s Honor, Rambo: First Blood Part 2, St. Elmo’s Fire, A View to a Kill.
You left out THE HOME AND THE WORLD, A FLASH OF GREEN, THE COCA-COLA KID, THE HOLY INNOCENTS.
Can you name that many fun films or classics in the summer of 2010? I can only name three passable titles all summer. That’s possibly the worst record since theatre air conditioning was invented. That the drop was only 6% is a great testament to the power of opening weekend marketing.