What made the experience of this film so moving was its deeply stirring and memorable, symphonic-like music score for a large orchestra and chorus. I was overwhelmed by the drama about a Roman tribune, played by a young Richard Burton, who finds redemption after commanding a military unit that executed Jesus Christ. The experience of "The Robe" exceeded my expectations. My imagination about what this Biblical spectacle might look like on an amazingly wide and curved screen had been peaked. I had read about "The Robe" making its New York City premiere at the Roxy Theater in Manhattan where it played to record crowds for several months. There was so much excitement leading up to the opening of this film because the theater had been closed for days as workers installed the new CinemaScope screen and stereophonic sound speakers. The defining moment I allude to occurred during Christmas week in1953 when I saw "The Robe" at the Spooner. For kids, on Saturday mornings at the Spooner, the festivities would begin with 10 cartoons (a whopping 25 during the holidays) followed by the same generous offering of the double feature and more! I fondly remember many a winter day when my friends and I would walk home in the gathering darkness after a day-long silver screen marathon that included popcorn, candy, ice cream, soda galore and the grudging tolerance of a middle aged woman who had the thankless task as usher to control the behavior of us kids who were confined to the "kiddy section." A typical outing, lasting as much as three or four hours, included a double feature, coming attractions, News of the Day, and in the case of the Boulevard, an even longer stretch of time on those evenings when a live, vaudeville performance was added to the mix. The Star, meanwhile, presented an eclectic mix of B movies and an occasional ‘art' film, i.e., the films of Charlie Chaplin's later period such as "Limelight."Ī day or evening at the movies was a serious but often entertaining investment of time. The Boulevard was a showcase for MGM, Paramount and Columbia productions while the Spooner featured mostly Twentieth Century-Fox, Warner Bros. Weekly, the three cinema houses presented varied first-run offerings, something for everyone. Fortunately, within walking distance of our neighborhood, there were three movie theatres along Southern Boulevard, a bustling hub of shops, restaurants, delis, candy stores and newspaper stands. In 1953, though television was posing a serious challenge to the motion picture industry, going to the movies still seemed to me, my friends and family in the South Bronx a one-of-a-kind special occasion that we always looked forward to with keen anticipation. ![]() ![]() It turned out to be an event that unquestionably set me on the path to what would become a thrilling, life-long musical odyssey. It is also the 60th anniversary of when I first experienced Newman's motion picture soundtrack genius at the age of 10. How Alfred Newman Inspired My Passion for Music in All Its FormsĢ013 marks the 80th anniversary of noted Hollywood composer, arranger and conductor Alfred Newman creating the iconic fanfare theme for Twentieth Century Films which was renamed Twentieth Century-Fox in 1935. Film Score Daily: How Alfred Newman Inspired My Passion for Music in All Its FormsĢ50 Golden and Silver Age Classics on CD from 1996-2013! Exclusive distribution by SCREEN ARCHIVES ENTERTAINMENT.
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