Wednesday, October 14, 2020

NEW AMSTERDAM #4


 

7 comments:

Chic Silber said...


When the curtain went up in June of 1913

it was the start of a brilliant new chapter

in the "New Amsterdam Theater’s" history

For the next 14 years The Ziegfeld Follies

was synonymous with “The House Beautiful”

featuring spectacular sets lavish costumes

and the biggest stage stars of the day

The main attraction was the long line of

beautiful chorus girls handpicked by

Florenz Ziegfeld for his musical extravaganzas

Chic Silber said...


Sight lines from the house front boxes

are extremely limiting for seeing only

the apron & extreme far side of stage

Very limited view but mostly full price

Mr.Lee said...

I never understood those side "boxes " Chic..Would they be just so you would be noticed more than the performance ? As you stated and what's obvious is the really limited view.

Chic Silber said...


Historically they were for Royalty

& other very high profile (rich) folks

It was a house right box where Lincoln

was unfortunately seated

Over the years they became additional

overpriced seating in what was otherwise

some unused spaces often last sold

In a very few cases they aren't sold

Roger Smith said...

@ R in this shot, we see 2 other boxes--were sight lines any better for these further back?

Flo Ziegfeld turned down hopefuls who went on to major stardom. Rejects Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford later won Oscars. Lucille Ball towered as a TV star. Gypsy Rose Lee we know about. Eleanor Powell became among the most honored film dancers. Alice Faye hit it big at 20th Century-Fox, and Hedda Hopper wrote her vicious gossip columns.

Those winning spots on Mr. Ziegfeld's Follies included Marion Davies, Paulette Goddard, Joan Blondell, Barbara Stanwyck, and importantly for readers of this Blog, Anna May Wong.

Roger Smith said...

Right and left can confuse newcomers. House right and left is the audience's as they look at the stage. Stage right and left are the actors' as they face the seats. But first-timers on film sets are often set up to be laughed at. When the director says, "Cheat a step to camera left", the actor steps to his left--when in movie work, it is to the camera's POV. The crew chortles at his error, when camera-left means step to his right.

Veteran showgirls laugh at First-of-Mays looking for their other left foot.

Chic Silber said...


Almost none of the boxes had

descent viewing but some were

much worse than others

Would be perfect for the blind

By the way Roger did you ever

find the left handed crescent

According to a choreographer

I know very well many of the

dancing chorus have 2 lefts