No date has been set, and it is not exactly going to be demolished, but, within a few weeks, the doors will close on the Ziegfeld Theatre.
To think it first opened in 1969. Depending on what time of year it opened, I was either finishing eighth grade, or starting high school. And you know how long ago that was, dolls!!!!!
The first movie I remembering seeing there was Liza Minnelli in "Cabaret." An auspicious start for a burgeoning gay youth destined to end up in New York.
Though I never dreamed this day would come. My God, it is right out of "Follies."
Because, darlings, in time, the theater will be demolished, This idea of turning it into a ballroom, or whatever--I wouldn't put it pass them to make it some trashy buffet place!!!!!!--is not going to fly forever, and with that a choice land spot, the building will come down.
So, look to me to recreate this moment when it does.
Alas, no musical will come of it! Lightning does not strike twice!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sad to see it go, but it was a "white elephant" right out of Fantasia from the day it opened: stumbling around, gracelessly trying to find its footing for over 40 years. The biggest problem should have been obvious to even the dimmest developer, and scuttled the whole thing before it was ever built: the location is from hunger. 54th Street off Sixth Ave is about the last place in Manhattan anyone in their right mind would look for a premiere luxury movie theater. Completely hidden and overshadowed by the Hilton Hotel its embedded in, most people couldn't find the Zeigfeld with a flashlight at high noon. At night, esp in the 1970s-1980s, the area is a complete dead zone of closed office buildings. Unless passed en route to Radio City Music Hall or the Ed Sullivan, no one would be anywhere near the Zeigfeld at night.
ReplyDeleteA shame, because for decades it was the best possible venue for viewing epic films. Before it began slowly decaying and falling behind in the 1990s, the Zeigfeld had the most sophisticated projection and sound system in NYC. It was THE place to premiere the 70mm roadshow versions of big-budget spectaculars. I was too young when the doors first opened with "Cabaret" but in 1977-78 I saw "Close Encounters" there at least 20 times. As the years passed, it was still the best way to experience films like "Yentl", "Edward Scissorhands", "Jurassic Park", etc. And it was the ONLY theater to ever properly show Natalie Woods's sci-fi swan song "Brainstorm" (moving and brilliant via the Zeigfelds specially-modified equipment, trite and boring at any other theater, unwatchable on television).
Along with atrocious location, the Zeigfeld fell victim to the nefarious "blind block booking" scheme practiced by all the studios thru the '70s and '80s (they required each theater contract weeks or months for a given slate of movies, sight unseen). This meant for every profitable blockbuster like "Close Encounters" the Zeigfeld was also obligated to screen colossal duds like the Farrah Fawcett-Michael Douglas clunker "Saturn 5", sometimes for two or three months to an empty house. (To anyone wondering how the greatest movie theater in New York could lose money: thats how.)
No sooner had that practice been outlawed, than the Zeigfeld was buffeted by changes in consumer movie consumption. Home video commodified movies as "product" and diminished respect and awe for the full theater experience. "Neighborhood" single-screen theaters closed by the thousands, shopping mall multiplexes popped up everywhere with screens no bigger than a basement wall. "Event" movies that could fill a palace like the Zeigfeld dwindled in number, until by 2008 it was just another shabby-genteel movie theater in search of a paying audience. I think the last flicks I saw there were the 25 Anniversary screening of "Blade Runner" in 2007 and "Mama Mia" in 2008. I'll try to hit the new "Star Wars" movie there next week: at least the Zeigfeld is going out with the biggest moneymaker in movie history- a fitting end.
ReplyDeleteThis is sad. The era of epic, roadshow films is over, because now cable tries to make up for it, though those of us in the know realize it can't. Nor do we have filmmakers the like of David Lean, William Wyler or Robert Wise to realize these visions. And forget the likes of Julie Christie--that glamour has faded in the wake of today's actresses. Jennifer Lawrence?
Bitch! She will age out fast! And the film world will be better for it!