BIG Cinemas, which is part of the huge Indian conglomerate Reliance MediaWorks and had leased the cinema at 239 E. 59th Street in Manhattan to showcase its Bollywood films, walked out of Manhattan last week with less than 48 hours notice to Emerging Pictures/Ballet in Cinema thereby jeopardizing all of the presentations of the Bolshoi Ballet which it had agreed to carry.
Emails furnished to H.H. show that EP was informed last Wednesday afternoon (1/22) by BIG Cinemas that their tech equipment and satellite had to be off the roof and out of the E. 59th St. building before Friday (1/24) because building access would then be restricted.
How small of BIG.
Within a few days, EP and Pathé Live located the alternative venue, Village East Cinema, and inked the deal that will insure our continued enjoyment of the Bolshoi's broadcasts. For that, we are all most grateful.
And voilà, tickets are now available to purchase on Village East Cinema's website. Choose March 1st or March 6th.
4 responses to “Details on the closing of BIG Cinemas on E. 59th”
All credit goes to the good folks at Reading International, the Village East’s owner, and to PatheLIVE, the global producer & distributor of The Bolshoi in Cinema series. Please continue to support them as you previously did at BIG59. If you’ve not been to VE you’re in for a treat. It’s a lovely large room with a truly big screen in an historic Landmark building. Truly a city treasure that deserves to be supported, for not only their ballet in cinema commitment but their ongoing creative film fare.
Also, because it was noted obliquely on other HH posts, at the end of 2013 Emerging Pictures ceased their Opera & Ballet in Cinema distribution efforts to refocus on film related activities. It was a business decision we took and as such not really relevant to the general audience.
During this transition we have assisted all our venue partners (over 300 in North America) and previous content partners, such as Pathe, with ongoing technical services, hence our desire to assist, if at all possible, in helping the shows continue being presented in Manhattan, also our hometown. And, as per above, they will be.
But to be clear, ALL future correspondences about the Bolshoi series should be addressed to the other parties involved. And, thank you all for your gracious support over the years.
All credit goes to the good folks at Reading International, the Village East’s owner, and to PatheLIVE, the global producer & distributor of The Bolshoi in Cinema series. Please continue to support them as you previously did at BIG59. If you’ve not been to VE you’re in for a treat. It’s a lovely large room with a truly big screen in an historic Landmark building. Truly a city treasure that deserves to be supported, for not only their ballet in cinema commitment but their ongoing creative film fare.
Also, because it was noted obliquely on other HH posts, at the end of 2013 Emerging Pictures ceased their Opera & Ballet in Cinema distribution efforts to refocus on film related activities. It was a business decision we took and as such not really relevant to the general audience.
During this transition we have assisted all our venue partners (over 300 in North America) and previous content partners, such as Pathe, with ongoing technical services, hence our desire to assist, if at all possible, in helping the shows continue being presented in Manhattan, also our hometown. And, as per above, they will be.
But to be clear, ALL future correspondences about the Bolshoi series should be addressed to the other parties involved. And, thank you all for your gracious support over the years.
Thanks much for the clarification and all of your efforts over the past several years to bring us the wonderful Ballet in Cinema presentations. My ticket to Lost Illusions at the Village East Cinema is purchased.
Thanks much for the clarification and all of your efforts over the past several years to bring us the wonderful Ballet in Cinema presentations. My ticket to Lost Illusions at the Village East Cinema is purchased.