Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: IRISHMAN Booked into Broadway Theater

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Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 10-08-2019, 02:53 PM:

Netflix has booked THE IRISHMAN into Broadway's Belasco Theatre. The movie will open for at least a month on November 1.

Screenings will be on a Broadway-style 8 shows a week schedule, keeping Monday as a dark day. Tickets will be $15.

The Belasco seats approximately 1,000. This will be the first movie shown in this theatre.

Posted by Mark Ogden (Member # 43) on 10-08-2019, 04:21 PM:

That's a very interesting development. I wonder if they will do the same in Los Angeles. There are still live event theaters in downtown L.A. that are motion picture capable - the Los Angeles, The Orpheum, and the Million Dollar to name three. The AMPAS rules for Best Picture call for "paid admission in a commercial motion picture theater in Los Angeles County". I wonder if that would qualify.

I had some sympathy for the exhibition industry position on Netflix titles up until about a month ago. But during this year's Toronto Film Festival, Cineplex, Canada's largest circuit, refused to allow Netflix films to play at their Scotiabank Theatre even in the context of a not-for-profit film festival. That's a level of corporate ball-breaking that frankly drops even the pretense of the "specialness" of big-screen moviegoing.

I saw The Irishman last week. I didn't really care for it overall, it's nearly four hours long and there is some digital fakery going on that was pretty distracting. Even so, I thought it was definitely a picture best experienced on a big screen, and I think that there must be some commercial potential to it for theaters, even if you can only do three shows a day. Too bad Regal, AMC and the others won't even consider it. It's all about the commerce, not the art.

Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 10-08-2019, 09:40 PM:

How old is the theatre that it has never played a movie?

Posted by Terry Monohan (Member # 8285) on 10-09-2019, 11:15 AM:

Looks like the good old roadshow days may be coming back to a large cinema near you? I wonder how large and wide the screen will be in this theatre and what type of stereo sound system they will use? Will the screen be curved or flat for this NYC showing? They need to have a intermission like they did in the past roadshow years.

In Hollywood CA It's time to re open the long closed Warner Hollywood Cinerama Theatre and run 'Irishman' on a large screen! Is this new movie in 1.85 flat or scope?

Posted by Mark Ogden (Member # 43) on 10-09-2019, 11:58 AM:

Flat.

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 10-09-2019, 03:07 PM:

The Belasco theatre is 112 years old.

From the Schubert Organization site:

David Belasco opened the Stuyvesant in October 1907, having already bequeathed his name on his 42nd St playhouse, now the New Victory. When he relinquished the 42nd St theatre in 1910, he immediately renamed the Stuyvesant as the Belasco.

Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 10-09-2019, 06:34 PM:

112 years old. I'm willing to bet (but too tired to research) that it has played movies at sometime in its life.

Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 10-10-2019, 09:07 PM:

Nope -- film was never run at the Belasco until this engagement of The Irishman...or so sez Wikipedia.

Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 10-16-2019, 07:32 AM:

Wikipedia's source for that is Netflix's press release, so I'll stick with my suspicion. The history on Wikipedia is scarce and some pretty big gaps.

I can't claim encyclopedic knowledge of every theatre in the US, but every theatre I've looked into from the early cinema period at least showed some films, if only as part or filler for vaudeville shows. They may not have run "feature" films (under whatever definition was used at the time) but they did screen them. And as projection equipment was portable in the early years, they didn't have to have equipment installed.

Posted by Terry Monohan (Member # 8285) on 11-05-2019, 01:48 PM:

Seems the Shubert people at the NYC Belasco Theatre think they are showing a Broadway show and not a DCP movie. I don't see all the $15 tickets for sale they claimed? Most reserved seats are bought through ticket companies for the 'Irishman' and they are not cheap most are $63, $77, $89 and even some for $121+ for a movie that will be on TV in a few weeks.

Maybe this is the new thing in big cities for Netflik. They book a popular new film for a few weeks before It can be a download and show in a big fancy stage theatre and let It go to all the ticket scalpers for way over the top prices!

Yes the days of roadshows may have come back in 2019 but not at the prices you paid in the 1950's & 60's and not in 70mm film either with a intermission,program,curtains and a overture.

The shocking thing is at the Shubert Belasco Theatre NYC many of the 'Irishman' shows are sold out! Every one is getting in on the advanced admission cash to see this new movie. The Shuberts probably kept all the union ushers and stage staff for this special movie event and they love the extra $.

I wonder If they even open and close the curtains or give out programs? If you are from NY let us know how the portable fly up screen, picture and stereo sound was at this theatre, and how much you had to pay to be Irish for the day.

When the 'Irishman' opens at the San Francisco Castro Theatre on Nov 11 for a exclusive one week window run I hope they don't see what is going on with the Shuberts in NY at the Belasco Theatre.

Posted by Mitchell Dvoskin (Member # 751) on 11-05-2019, 01:56 PM:

A friend of mine just last night bought his tickets online for the Belasco Theatre at telecharge.com, after all the fees the tickets came to $18.50 each.

Does anyone know if there is an intermission? I am debating between seeing this in a theatre or waiting for Netflix. I am not going to sit in a 3½ hour movie with no intermission.

Also, how is the presentation at the Belasco Theatre? Does the screen have masking? Is there surround sound? As the Belasco is a live stage theatre, anything movie related will have to be brought in and set up special with this show.

Posted by Jim Cassedy (Member # 4115) on 11-05-2019, 02:11 PM:

quote: Mitchell Dvoskin
Does anyone know if there is an intermission?

I've run a couple of pre-release screenings in the past month, and there
is no intermission. I sat & watched it a private screening last Sunday,
and it didn't "feel" like a 3.5hr movie to me, although the general
consensus among everyone there that day was that they thought it
could have been "a little shorter", & I can't say I disagree with that.
- - but I made it through the whole 3.5hrs OK, although I made sure
I did a major bladder purge before the movie started.

Posted by Mark Ogden (Member # 43) on 11-05-2019, 02:58 PM:

It's also playing at the IFC Center on Sixth Avenue in the Village. Excellent projection and sound.

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 11-05-2019, 06:32 PM:

NY Times article today confirmed no intermission. There were some published pictures of surround speakers. No other technical details.

Posted by Terry Monohan (Member # 8285) on 11-05-2019, 08:07 PM:

Thanks Mitchell for the price information. You do have to look around for the best deal. When you do a search for 'Irishman' Belasco Theatre NYC all these expensive ticket broker places show up. I wonder how many movie goers pay the high price?

I have been told the 'Irishman' movie sound is kinda of soft, many cinemas have turned up the sound, same with the surrounds.

Posted by Martin Brooks (Member # 1269) on 11-05-2019, 10:28 PM:

Here's the article from the NYTimes:
NYTimes: Irishman

Key points:
- Netflix couldn't come to terms with the chains because they generally get at least 72 days of exclusivity. It's only going to be at the Belasco for 25 days before premiering on Netflix.

- It's playing at the Belasco between two other shows. It's unlikely that other Broadway theatres would have such an opening for other movies.

- The Belasco has never played movies before, according to the article.

- They installed a 32' x 18' screen and surround sound. The article doesn't state whether it's 5.1 or 7.1. They installed two projectors (I assume one is backup, unless they're showing this on film -- is that possible?)

Posted by Jim Cassedy (Member # 4115) on 11-05-2019, 10:49 PM:

quote: Terry Wade
many cinemas have turned up the sound, same with the surrounds.

I don't know about "many theaters" but at the two screening rooms I've run
this at, we did have to turn the volume up a few points higher than the
"normal" setting used at those venues, because during testing we found
the sound level to be a bit softer than what we are used to hearing at
those locations. But just to be clear, we DON'T separately muck around
with the surround levels. Changing the master volume control fader
raises or lowers all of the audio channels proportionally, so as not to
change the intent of the sound mixer/editor or director. It's "all or nothing"

Posted by Terry Monohan (Member # 8285) on 11-05-2019, 11:47 PM:

I was just thinking today how this special NYC Belasco Theatre 'Irishman' showing would look with some showmanship added for It's one month one time only run in this classic large Broadway theatre.

Start out playing late 1950 early 1960's stereo music from the stage speakers (not the soundtrack from the movie) low with the curtains closed and blue or Irish green stage lights on the bottom stage light rim when people enter the theatre.

Open the curtains to a small 1.33 screen and show a old B&W Fox Newsreel with Jimmy Hoffa and J Kennedy in the news, then show a color mafia type cartoon from the late 1950's. Next up run a 'previews of coming attraction trailer' and show 3 old movie trailers from that time period, no scope all 1.33 color and b&w.

After that close the curtains and give some work to all the Belasco Theatre old stage hands just sitting behind the stage, have them adjust the portable pull masking to go from a small 1.33 to a full flat 1.85 screen. Sit on the curtains for 2 minutes with blue or green lights, open drapes to the Dolby Digital® logo shown on the curtain with surrounds on for the first time and show the first part of the movie, about 90 minutes worth.

Cut to a intermission logo then run a old candy counter trailer and close the curtains. With blue lights on for about a good 20 minutes with 1950's early 1960's music playing from the stage stereo speakers only. The Shubert refreshment drink workers will enjoy the extra money at the bar stands and the customers will like the extra restroom break. I hope they will have popcorn also for this limited 'Irishman' run.

Re open the curtains after the 20 minute intermission and finish the long 'Irishman' movie. Play 1950's /60's type exit music after the credits and close the curtains when the movie crowd leaves the theatre.

Bring back some showmanship. NYC movie people will love this added touch, the young people will be in shock seeing these added treats they won't see at their local boring multiplex!

All these added features are now available on DCP and some have all the film splices and lines to make them look like true old 35mm film.

I must write Netflik, the Shuberts and Martin to tell them about my ideas along with the Castro Theatre in SF that will be showing It soon.

Seems the portable 1.85 screen they have put up on the big Belasco stage is very small at 18x32 foot for a flat 1.85 image. The stage must be wider then that, I wonder why they did not put in a larger screen for this special engagement? Maybe the balcony was to low and the DCP projector beam in the back section may have not had enough room to fill a bigger screen?

Posted by Mitchell Dvoskin (Member # 751) on 11-11-2019, 10:00 AM:

Saw The Irishman yesterday here in New Jersey. I really liked the film.

As too Terry's post above, while showmanship with curtains and music would be great, I am not sure that adding shorts before a 3½ hour feature with no intermission would be appreciated by most of the audience.

Way back in the late 1980's, a friend of mine who owned an independent theatre would run a cartoon and maybe a Three Stooges short before any appropriate feature. People actually took the time to complain about it. They were there to see the feature, and did not want their time wasted with anything else. Most of today's movie going audience is not old enough to remember when this was the norm, so it holds no nostalgic value for them.