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The sense of "event" attatched to the picture.
The anticipation of said "event."
The programs.
The slow dimming of the lights.
The curtain pulling back to reveal the screen.
The sense that this was an important or special film that required your attention.
The overture.
The intermission & intermission music.
The exit music.
Probably, mostly this: Being in a theater full of people who had taken the time to preorder tickets, had chosen a specific date and show time and, perhaps because of this and all of the above combined, actually sat and watched the movie.
I came in at the end of the Roadshow Era, but vividly remember the excitement attatched to them.
And no -- this is not a "things were so much better then" thread -- just that things were different in how a film was sold and perceived by the intended audience.
Nice memories.
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Also, people usually dressed up to attend roadshows. Not usually any shorts, let alone tanktops, noted.
Roadshows were meant to be presented similar to a live theatre performance. So a certain amount of decorum was expected of an audience. By and large, for instance, audiences stopped talking when the overture began, in preparation for what they were about to experience.
The last overture I actually remember accompanied STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE, though I seem to remember someone mentioning an overture for something since then.
I was pleased when Ridley Scott added an overture to his Director's Cut of KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. I even saw that in a theatre up in L.A., though I don't remember it having either overture or intermission; I think those were added for the DVD release.
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Posted: |
Jul 28, 2007 - 8:59 PM
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By: |
manderley
(Member)
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.....The sense of "event" attatched to the picture.
The anticipation of said "event."
The programs.
The slow dimming of the lights.
The curtain pulling back to reveal the screen.
The sense that this was an important or special film that required your attention.
The overture.
The intermission & intermission music.
The exit music.
Probably, mostly this: Being in a theater full of people who had taken the time to preorder tickets, had chosen a specific date and show time and, perhaps because of this and all of the above combined, actually sat and watched the movie.
I came in at the end of the Roadshow Era, but vividly remember the excitement attatched to them.
And no -- this is not a "things were so much better then" thread -- just that things were different in how a film was sold and perceived by the intended audience.
Nice memories.....
Nice thread, Castile.
But you missed several things:
The 70mm projection and Six-Track Stereo!
The subtle and nearly silent, but exciting, sound of the soundheads picking up the blank magnetic soundtrack and broadcasting it over the speakers in the seconds just before the overture started, as the projector came up to speed!
The $2.40 ticket price for the best seats!
The theatre that actually HAD a front curtain to open during the trademark!
.....On the other hand, I LOVE the 25 minutes of clear, bright, digitally-projected, local, product commercials before each showing today! We didn't get those extras years ago, but, of course, we pay a lot more for our seats today so we deserve more. 
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The 70mm projection and Six-Track Stereo!
That's absolutely true. The spectacular sound and image were what made these pictures truly special.
I recently watched the new DVD version of "The Sand Pebbles," and, although I did not see this one in its initial release, I was struck by just how beautiful the film is to look at. It must have been breathtaking to view on a big screen. (I haven't watched the actual "Roadshow" version yet, but plan to, soon.)
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Posted: |
Jul 28, 2007 - 9:21 PM
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By: |
manderley
(Member)
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.....I recently watched the new DVD version of "The Sand Pebbles," and, although I did not see this one in its initial release, I was struck by just how beautiful the film is to look at. It must have been breathtaking to view on a big screen. (I haven't watched the actual "Roadshow" version yet, but plan to, soon.).....
THE SAND PEBBLES looked fine on the big 70mm screen, but, like so many roadshows that came in this period (Darling Lili, Paint Your Wagon, Becket, etc.), was actually shot in 35mm Panavision and blown-up to 70mm.
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Could someone explain to me (in LAYMEN TERMS) what Roadshow really was? Was it a particular format a la Cinemascope, Cinerama etc.? I've always been curious about this, but found it a little embarassing to ask (since I'm a film scholar and probably should know these things).
No, not a format but a method of exhibition. I cribbed this definition from wikipedia, it's a good description:
The roadshow theatrical release (also commonly known as reserved seat engagement) is a practice whereas a film opens in a special limited number of theaters in large cities like Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco for a specific period of time before it spreads to nationwide release (also known as general release and wide release).
Unlike the common modern-day limited release, roadshow films were run only once or twice a day, and were shown to audiences who had had to reserve their seats and were given or able to purchase program books, as they did with live theater productions. Road show films were nearly always shown with an intermission either halfway or two-thirds of the way into the film. Most films shown in this format were movies that were two-and-a-half hours or longer in length, and admission prices were more expensive than those films shown as regular attractions. Many of the films given roadshow releases were subsequently distributed to regular theater houses, akin to the modern standard of the limited release.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadshow
As others posted above Roadshow theatres also employed correct use of curtains (the audience should *never* ever see a white screen), overtures, entr'acte, exit music (where applicable).
Roadshows made moviegoing seem special, unlike today where going to most theatres is the same as watching TV.
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Also, people usually dressed up to attend roadshows. Not usually any shorts, let alone tanktops, noted.
I recall my parents had roadshow tickets to CLEOPATRA one summer Sunday in 1963. I was 7, my sister about 5 and they took us to my dad's parent's that afternoon while they went to the show. I distinctly remember dad wore a suit, mom as well, probably with white gloves!
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But when people in this forum talk about the Roadshow version being released on DVD, does that mean that the Roadshow version of the film differed radically from the film that was shown in regular theatres?
Yes, a lot of films were cut between their roadshow release and the general theatrical release. And even in cases where there weren't cuts, we want to make sure the DVD release contains the overture, etc., which were sometimes eliminated during the general release.
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I miss them, too. From the late 50s until the the early 70s, there wasn't a single road show presentation I didn't see. Nothing compares, today.
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The subtle and nearly silent, but exciting, sound of the soundheads picking up the blank magnetic soundtrack and broadcasting it over the speakers in the seconds just before the overture started, as the projector came up to speed!
The intriguing Silence That's Not Quite Silence that adds a level of subliminal energy to a film presentation, something utterly missing from modern digital soundtracks. I quite agree!
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