Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Dan M]

TOD: CURTAINS and lack thereof in theaters

I remember the very first movie I saw in the theater was CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG and that was the old theater in Whitestone, NY.  There was a curtain and there were also short subjects prior to the main feature.

Echoing DR John G.'s comments, the first movie showing that used the curtain to great effect was the 1978 SUPERMAN.  That movie has a prologue in standard ratio showing the 1930s comic book and then when the opening titles begin and fly in, the curtain was brought back to reveal the widescreen.

In 1977, when I saw STAR WARS in its opening weekend, the theater curtain helped make the experience very special too.

My two favorite Broadway experiences with curtains were ANNIE and DEATHTRAP.  In the latter, we all knew that it was a mystery, but the curtain heightened that sense since we did not see the set design until it was time.

The ultimate curtain though had to be the one at RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL.  Every time I've been there in the past, the curtain hid all of the surprises that were to come, the short subjects, the cartoons, and of course the Rockettes.  If I'm remembering it correctly, the curtain was drawn only far enough to reveal whatever the size of the screen needed to be for the short subjects and was pulled back further for widescreen and then all the way for the stage show.

I guess we are living in the age when it's been curtains for curtains. 
Here's the pertinent clip from "Racketeer Rabbit": http://youtu.be/l9heYnC-CX0

[Jane]

DR George, cheating to sleep isn't permitted   I do take something once in awhile but it isn't as strong as a sleeping pill.  If I can't sleep again tonight I plan to cheat.

[Jrand74]

I wonder what MR BK will do with the extra Pappy Yokum?

[Dan M]

DR Dan thank you for the photos of adorable Minny the Cat.

You're welcome!  Minny is such the ham.  Here he is on his favorite chair:

[Dan M]

Here's Minny realizing that painting is best left to those with opposable thumbs:

[Dan M]

Re CURTAINS

I also remember the effective use of the curtain and the area immediately in front of it when I saw Dame Edna on (or off, don't recall which) Broadway.  As we were allowed in to find our seats, in front of the curtain was a tiny screen, reminiscent of a home movie projector screen, on which was shown a "documentary" about Dame Edna.  The effect was either that it was a home movie or that we were watching an extension of "her" TV appearances on a "small" screen.

Don't know if anyone saw Elvis Costello and his initial run of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook.  At the theater I attended, the curtain was used to hide the spinning wheel, the vintage TVs and the Go-Go cages.  When we were allowed to fill our seats, the theater's sound system played polka music, which really confused us and set us up for almost anything.  The opening act performed in front of the curtain.  The opening of the curtain was for the main show and star revealing the items on stage that didn't make sense at first.

During one of my breaks between treatments/hospitalizations last year, my friends treated me to the IMAX presentation of "The Wizard of Oz" for its 75th birthday, a bit early yes, but very magical because at the theater I went to, there was a curtain.  There was of course the usual coming attractions for 3D, etc.  However, as soon as the theater went darker that extra bit just before the main feature is shown, the curtain was pulled in to make the screen appropriately smaller for a 1939 movie.  I'm sure this was all computerized.  The curtain moved as the very first notes of the overture began as if to emphasize the specialness of what was being shown.

[Ginny]

TOD - If there IS a curtain, I think it's much more dramatic and elegant for it to rise vertically rather than open from the center.  Don't ask me why.

My high school had an asbestos - yikes! - fire curtain that hung in front of everything else.  It had a contemporary graphic depiction of the arts and the name of the school, if I remember correctly.

[George]

George, the concert and meeting Ann Hampton Callaway sound like the makings of a great evening. Glad you got to enjoy it.

Thanks, John...me, too.

[George]

Forgot to mention thanks to DR George for the description of the concert - sounds like a fantastic evening.

Thanks, Jingaling, it was!

[George]

Hmmmm......I have the original OEJ release....should I get the new one as well?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm......I know I shouldn't dawdle.

I'm wondering about that, too.  What to do...what to do??

[George]

If I have to choose a runway fashion design to wear, I choose this:

What the heck is the point of this??

[John G.]

Nice kitty, Dan.

[Dan M]

Nice kitty, Dan.

Thanks.  He's been a good friend during some tough times.  It can be difficult not to anthropomorphize, but at times I can almost believe that there's a person inside that fur coat.

[ChasSmith]

Which theater was THE WIZARD OF OZ in, DR Dan?  That's a rare privilege, having a theater that not only still has its curtain, but a projectionist who knows how to present a movie and takes the trouble to do so.

[George]

Topic of the Day:  The Washington Center for the Performing Arts has a grand drape.  It's green and beautiful.  It was not used last night, I assume, because of the symphony orchestra chairs on stage out past the proscenium.  Otherwise, it's used quite frequently for shows at WCPA.  It can be opened either by raising it up or parting it from the middle.  It's quite versatile. 

As for curtains for movies, I haven't seen one since I saw Star Wars in its re-release at the Cinerama in Seattle.

[ChasSmith]

TOD - If there IS a curtain, I think it's much more dramatic and elegant for it to rise vertically rather than open from the center.  Don't ask me why.

I agree that the more "professional" (or is it just a choice?) vertically rising/descending curtain is impressive and dramatic.

[elmore3003]

This has been a rather bad day. My eyes hurt, I am very sleepy, and I feel like garbage.

I am waiting on the postal carrier.  As soon as they've come and gone, I am taking a hot bath and going to bed.

[Jane]

Good morning, all! I slept rather well, but my muscles ache, my nose won't stop running, and I can't stop sneezing. I believe I will cancel my physical therapy and leave the house only for an emergency.  I also believe that I am over the Daylight Savings Time hump.

Good idea to stay home and I'm sure your PT guy doesn't mind either

Congrats on getting over the Daylight Savings Time hump. 

[Jane]

Good morning. Spending another day with visiting in-laws.

Have an enjoyable visit.

[bk]

I had a wonderful work session with Lloyd Cooper, then spent an hour entering all the final Red Gold fixes, which were done on Grant's final design copy, into the original Word document because my publisher doesn't seem to be able to do normal things.  So, they do all the eBook stuff from the Word doc, which means, of course, it will look nothing like the book, which seems weird but that's how they've done all my books.  I'm going to check on Kindle/Amazon and see what would happen if I submitted a PDF to them personally.

[Jane]

TOD:

The demise of the front curtain does not bother me.

One probably has to be over 50...or older to even remember there was once a front curtain.

While I found it strange at first I quickly stopped missing the curtain.  I would bring it back just to cover the commercials we are now forced to watch, unless we arrive late.

Wait, we are talking about the theater, not movies.  That's what I get for posting before reading the notes.

[Jane]

Around 3:00 this morning, I heard a crack that I thought was a mousetrap killing a mouse. Nope. It was more of my bathroom ceiling falling to the floor. It's swept up and thrown out.

[Jane]

This is most unseemly.  DR Elmore should be leaving the tidying up to the servants.

I agree!!!

[Jane]

TOD: I grew up in Louisville where we had curtains at the movie theater, but not at the live theater. Whoever designed the two stages at Actors Theatre of Louisville did not include space for a curtain or shape the theaters to accommodate them.

I love curtains in both.

My favorite curtain moment was when I went to Road Warrior for the first time. The beginning of the movie is a snippet from Mad Max, shot in black and white and on a small scale. The curtain opened up to only that point. When the apocalypse happens and the movie blows up to full widescreen glory, the curtain shot back at that moment. Whoever choreographed that curtain created an effect that has remained with me for 30+ years.

How very creative and fun

[Jane]

Home from errands. I ache all over.

Thankfully, you can now take a hot bath and soak in it for a while.

With plaster still falling from the ceiling, I'm leery about relaxing too much in my bathroom.

I had a feeling you were going to say this.

[Jane]

DR John G. - that guy in the background doesn't look like any bookseller or librarian that I have known.     

You've been hanging out at the wrong bookmobiles, Plump Jack.

I agree since I married a hunky librarian/book seller.

[Jane]

~ ~ ~ SLEEP, HEALTH, AND WORRY-BE-GONE VIBES ~ ~ ~ for DR Ginny.

Ditto!

[Jane]

DR Singdaw that mirror fence looks great, at least in the photo.  Walking in front of it would likely ruin the look.

[Jane]

Nice kitty, Dan.

Thanks.  He's been a good friend during some tough times.  It can be difficult not to anthropomorphize, but at times I can almost believe that there's a person inside that fur coat.

I've had cats that always knew when I needed comfort without my calling them. 

[MBarnum]

TOD:

I have never given any thought to it one way or the other. As long as what is on stage is good, is all that matters to me.

However, I do like the look of the curtains that some theatre here still have.