Kinejun No. 814, June 15, 1981

Posted on 19th December 2021 in "Times Square"

Kinejun / Kinema Junpo / Motion Picture Times No. 814, June 1981. Japanese movie magazine featuring article on TIMES SQUARE, and advertisement on back cover.

 

 

 

Kinema Junpo (Kinejun, Motion Picture Times) devoted three pages to a promotional Times Square article in its June 15, 1981 issue, for the film’s Japanese opening on June 21. The text would appear to be the usual brief synopsis, with a list of some of the cast and crew. The small inset on page 203 is, I think, an ad with showtimes, though it might be a brief review. Please, as I’ve said before, I don’t speak or read Japanese, and dammit neither does Google Translate, so if anyone wants to contribute a translation, I’ll be here.

The photos used are all also found in the Japanese souvenir program book.

 

The back cover is a reproduction of the first chirashi, with the announcement of one show on 6/20. I don’t know if that’s a special premiere or if I’ve had the opening date wrong this whole time.

TIMES SQUARE advertisement on back cover of Kinejun / Kinema Junpo / Motion Picture Times No. 814, June 1981.
 

 

Kinejun No. 814, June 15 1981, Japan (magazine (periodical) (AAT ID: 300215389))
26 x 18 cm. (work);
1981-06 Kinejun no 814 cover_1080p.jpg
1080 px (H) x 767 px (W), 96 dpi, 398 kb
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Kinejun_814_198106_p24_1080p.jpg
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Kinejun_814_198106_p25_1080p.jpg
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Kinejun_814_198106_p203_1080p.jpg
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1981-06 Kinejun no 814 back cover_1080p.jpg
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(images)
 
©1981 Kinema Junpo Sha Ltd
Times Square ©1980 StudioCanal/Canal+

 

Times Square chirashi, Japan, 1981 (2nd version)

Posted on 10th November 2021 in "Times Square"

A second small 2-sided promotional poster for TIMES SQUARE from Japan, 1981.
Was it the Japanese distributor being one of those who went all-in on promoting Times Square, or was it par for the course in Japan for a movie like Times Square to get not one but two of these 2-sided handbills? Either way, here is a second chirashi. The first one was a replica of the Japanese movie poster; this one’s design seems more based on the program book. A second small 2-sided promotional poster for TIMES SQUARE from Japan, 1981.As before, I have no real idea what the text says, but it seems to be a very detailed synopsis with a bit of production history and a plug for the soundtrack — exactly what you’d expect on something like this.

 

 

Would you like to know more?
Times Square promotional flyer, Japan, 1981
Times Square movie poster, Japan, June 1981
Times Square Program Book, Japan, June 1981 (post 1 of 5)
Times Square Program Book, Japan, June 1981, pages 8-11 (post 2 of 5)
Times Square Program Book, Japan, June 1981, pages 14-19 (post 3 of 5)
Times Square Program Book, Japan, June 1981, pages 20-24 (post 4 of 5)
Times Square Program Book, Japan, June 1981, pages 12-13 (post 5 of 5)

 

Times Square [2nd chirashi]
Japan : handbill : AAT ID: 300027033 : 26.9 x 19 cm. : 1981 (work);
TIMES SQUARE Chirashi variant Japan 1981 front_1080p.jpg
1080 x 767 px, 96 dpi, 533 kb
TIMES SQUARE Chirashi variant Japan 1981 back 1080p.jpg
1080 x 763 px, 96 dpi, 537 kb (images)

 

Times Square ©1980 StudioCanal/Canal+

 

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“Damn Dog” 12-inch single

Posted on 19th September 2021 in "Times Square"

"Damn Dog" 12-inch single-sided single, Belgium, 1980, RSO 2812 062. Front cover with record label visible.  Text:  LIMITED EDITION  NOT FOR SALE  RSO 2812 062  FROM THE MOVIE TIMES   SQUARE   RSO  NOT FOR SALE - PROMOTIONAL COPY  (P) 1980  45 RPM  SABAM  2812 062 A  STEREO  The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack  «T!MES SQUARE.. DAMN DOG (B. Mernit/J. Brackman) ROBIN JOHNSON Producer Bill Oakes  (P) 1980 RSO Records, Inc.  ALL RIGHTS OF THE MANUFACTURER AND OF THE OWNER OF THE RECORDED WORK RESERVED UNAUTHORISED PUBLIC PERFORMANCE BROADCASTING AND COPYING OF THIS RECORD PROHIBITED   "DAMN DOG" Robin Johnson  Motion Picture distributed by  Excelsior Films Belgium  From the Original Soundtrack on RSO Records & Tapes  Distributed by  Polygram Records nv/sa  Polydor Division
You too might have had perhaps Robin’s only solo release, if you were a DJ… in 1981… in Belgium.

Back cover of the "Damn Dog" 12-inch single-sided single, Belgium, 1980, RSO 2812 062  Text:  PROMOTIONAL COPY  RSO 2812 062  TIMES SQUARE  A Special D.J. release  PRINTED IN BELGIUM BY DRUCO HALLEThe mind boggles at the series of meetings that must have occurred to result in the decision that this was a good idea. A 12-inch single of “Damn Dog”… but not a remix or extended version… and on the other side, absolutely nothing. In order to promote the movie Times Square and Robin Johnson, a sleeve with no pictures at all. The only single release of a song written and performed just for film, released exclusively to the Belgian market. It seems like overkill while simultaneously being half-assed.


Belgium did get its own version of the European poster, and at least one promotional magazine article. I guess this is just one more inexplicable piece of evidence of the high hopes RSO had for Times Square worldwide, when the decades since have shown that they had no real clue what they were trying to sell, or to whom.

 

 

Robin Johnson, “Damn Dog,” single-sided 12-inch 45-rpm phonograph record (AAT ID: 300028643), Belgium, 1981; 12 in. x 12 in.; RSO 2812 062 (P) 1980 RSO Records, Inc. (work)
1981_Damn_Dog_12-inch_single,_Belgium_cover_1080p.jpg, 1082 px (H) x 1080 px (W), 96 dpi, 420 kb;
1981_Damn_Dog_12-inch_single,_Belgium_cover_back_1080p.jpg, 1084 px (H) x 1080 px (W), 96 dpi, 194 kb;
1981_Damn_Dog_12-inch_single,_Belgium_side_1_1080P.jpg, 1081 px (H) x 1080 px (W), 96 dpi, 842 kb;
1981_Damn_Dog_12-inch_single,_Belgium_side_2_1080p.jpg, 1080 px (H) x 1080 px (W), 96 dpi, 553 kb (images)

 
Times Square ©1980 StudioCanal/Canal+

 

Times Square premiere ticket, 14 October 1980

Posted on 5th February 2021 in "Times Square"

TIMES SQUARE premiere ticket  Text   Robert Stigwood presents TIMES SQUARE Ziegfeld Theater, 54th St. & Avenue of the Americas Tuesday, October 14th -- 7:30 p.m. a special premiere to benefit the Police Athletic League  Orchestra Row M Seat 16The Ziegfeld Theater was a Brutalist concrete cube in the middle of 54th Street. Inside, it was New York City’s last great movie palace. Times Square played there for two weeks starting October 17, 1980. The Tuesday before that, the movie had its world premiere there, followed by a gala party at Tavern on the Green.
 

Row M was about halfway back. Seat 16 was the second-to-last, all the way on the right. There were no bad seats at the Ziegfeld, but this was far from the best. This post contains no Robin content, except for the historical fact that she was there that night.

 

 

[Times Square premiere ticket]
admission ticket, AAT ID: 300133073
USA ; 10.3 x 23 cm. (work)
TIMES SQUARE premiere ticket 1080pw.jpg
490 px (H) x 1080 px (W), 96 dpi, 267 kb (image)

 

Times Square ©1980 StudioCanal/Canal+

 

Fotogramas No. 1650, March 25, 1981

Posted on 14th January 2021 in "Times Square"

Cover of Fotogramas no. 1650; March 25, 1981; Periodical; 30.2 x 21.5 cm; a Spanish film magazine containing an article on TIMES SQUARE (1980)

 

 

Two months before Times Square opened in Spain, the film magazine Fotogramas ran the same kind of promotional article we’ve seen in Mexico, Thailand, and Germany. The article contains nothing new, but four of the six stills from the film never appeared anywhere else as far as I know, including an almost unrecognizable close-up of Robin. It’s a shame they weren’t printed better.

TIMES SQUARE

EL MUSICAL DE LAS “TEEN-AGERS”

«Times Square» es el corazón de Manhattan, la isla donde se asienta parte de la fantástica urbe neoyorkina. También es el nombre del último musical producido por Robert Stigwood, en cuyo currículum profesional hay títulos teatrales como «Hair», «Jesús Christ Superstar», «Pippin», «Oh! Calcuttal», «Evita» y «Sweeney Todd», y cinematográficos como «Jesús Christ Superstar», «Tommy», «Fiebre del sábado noche», «Grease» y «Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band». Toda una garantía a la hora de presentar este último musical «Times Square».

La historia de la película puede reducirse a unas líneas: Nicky Marotta (Robín Johnson) y Pamela Pearl (Trini Alvarado) son dos adolescentes rebeldes, la primera un producto de la calle y la segunda de una familia influyente. Juntas escapan de sus habitaciones en un hospital psiquiátrico, se hacen con una ambulancia y comienzan una serie de aventuras salvajes en el corazón de Nueva York. Estas tienen su eco en la información que a través de toda una noche va dando el disc jockey Johnny Laguardia (Tim Curry), quien a través de las ondas las va animando convirtiéndolas en pequeñas celebridades de la noche a la mañana. Su escapada tiene una conclusión dramática en la fachada de un cine de Times Square, mientras desde la calle cientos de sus seguidores les rinden, identificados, su tributo.

En estos tiempos en que los «soundtracks» de películas se encuentran entre los discos más populares del mercado, el doble álbum de «Times Square» destaca como una antología de canciones interpretadas por algunos de los mejores artistas del «rock» de nuestros días: Suzi Quatro, The Pretenders, Roxy Music, Gary Numan, The Talkin Heads, Joe Jackson, Patti Smith, Lou Reed, The Ramones, Robín Gibb, etcétera.

A destacar también la presencia en el reparto del film de Trini Alvarado y Tim Curry. La primera, uno de los talentos juveniles a tener en cuenta del cine americano, debutó en «Rich Kids», un film producido por Robert Altman que dirigió Robert M. Young, el autor de «Short Eyes» y «Alambrista». Desgraciadamente y pese a lo interesante de su trabajo, nadie se ha acordado aún de distribuir este largo-metraje de Young en nuestro país. Volviendo a Trini, la chica es de origen portorriqueño, aunque de padre español. Profesionalmente se inició junto a sus padres, él guitarrista y ella bailarina, en una troupe flamenca antes de rebelarse como actriz en la obra «Runaways».

Tim Curry es más conocido entre nosotros. De su breve filmografía nos ha llegado al menos «The Rocky Horror Picture Show», donde interpretaba al protagonista, el loco y travestido «doctor».

Robín Johnson, 16 años, la coprotagonista femenina junto a Trini Alvarado, es una cara totalmente nueva que debuta en este film de Alan Moyle. Fue descubierta por un cazatalentos de la productora de Stigwood en las escalinatas de la Brooklyn Technological High School. Hasta entonces nunca había pasado por su cabeza la idea de dedicarse al cine.

TIMES SQUARE

THE MUSICAL OF THE “TEENAGERS”

“Times Square” is the heart of Manhattan, the island where part of the fantastic New York City sits. It is also the name of the latest musical produced by Robert Stigwood, in whose professional curriculum are theatrical titles such as “Hair”, “Jesus Christ Superstar”, “Pippin”, “Oh! Calcutta!”, “Evita” and “Sweeney Todd”, and movies such as “Jesus Christ Superstar”, “Tommy”, “Saturday Night Fever”, “Grease” and “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band”. A guarantee when presenting this latest musical “Times Square”.

The story of the film can be reduced to a few lines: Nicky Marotta (Robín Johnson) and Pamela Pearl (Trini Alvarado) are two rebellious teenagers, the first a product of the street and the second from an influential family. Together they escape from their rooms in a psychiatric hospital, steal an ambulance and begin a series of wild adventures in the heart of New York. These are echoed in the information that through the entire night is given by the disc jockey Johnny Laguardia (Tim Curry), who through the airwaves is cheering them on, turning them into little celebrities overnight. Their escape has a dramatic conclusion on the marquee of a cinema in Times Square, while from the street hundreds of their followers pay them, now identified, their tribute.

In these times when the “soundtracks” of movies are among the most popular albums on the market, the double album of “Times Square” stands out as an anthology of songs interpreted by some of the best artists of current rock: Suzi Quatro, The Pretenders, Roxy Music, Gary Numan, The Talking Heads, Joe Jackson, Patti Smith, Lou Reed, The Ramones, Robin Gibb, and so on.

The cast also includes Trini Alvarado and Tim Curry. The first, one of the young talents to take into account of American cinema, debuted in “Rich Kids, a film produced by Robert Altman, directed by Robert M. Young, the author of “Short Eyes” and “Alambrista”. Unfortunately and despite the interest of his work, no one has yet agreed to distribute this full-length film of youth in our country. Returning to Trini, the girl is of Puerto Rican origin, although with a Spanish father. Professionally she started with her parents, he a guitarist and she a dancer, in a flamenco troupe before breaking out as an actress in the play “Runaways”.

Tim Curry is better known to us. From his brief filmography we have at least “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”, where he played the protagonist, the crazy transvestite “doctor”.

Robín Johnson, 16, the female co-star with Trini Alvarado, is a totally new face who debuts in this film by Alan Moyle. She was discovered by a scout from the Stigwood production company on the steps of Brooklyn Technological High School. Until then, the idea of working in films had never crossed her mind.

 

 

Times Square : el musical de las “teen-agers” (article (AAT ID: 300048715));
Fotogramas No. 1650, March 25, 1981, Spain (monthly (publication) (AAT ID: 300311879))
30 x 21.5 cm; 64 p. (work);
Fotogramas no 1650 1981-03-25 cover 1080px.jpg
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Fotogramas no 1650 1981-03-25 p56_photo_4_of_6_800px.jpg
414 px (H) x 800 px (W), 96 dpi, 302 kb
Fotogramas no 1650 1981-03-25 p56_photo_5_of_6_800px.jpg
661 px (H) x 800 px (W), 96 dpi, 483 kb
Fotogramas no 1650 1981-03-25 p56-57_800px.jpg
528 px (H) x 800 px (W), 96 dpi, 310 kb
(images)
 

 

©1981 FOTOGRAMAS
Times Square ©1980 StudioCanal/Canal+

 

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Times Square promotional t-shirt, c. October 1980

Posted on 5th December 2020 in "Times Square"

TIMES SQUARE promotional t-shirtTIMES SQUARE promotional t-shirt, back

 

 

 

Never sold at retail, as far as I can determine, this t-shirt would have been distributed to radio stations and theater owners to be given away as prizes along with free tickets and passes like the buttons were, or perhaps just as gifts for the DJs to make them a bit more inclined to play songs from the soundtrack and maybe mention there was a movie involved, like the mirror had been.

 

 

 

Either way, this was the extent of the Times Square clothing line. I used to have two more of these, both size “small” (and thus impossible for me to even consider wearing), one without the “I’m a damn dog!” on the back. One I gave to a friend, I think, and the other just disappeared over the years. Another friend once told me that she’d found a sweatshirt with these same decorations, but I never saw it for myself.

 

This one is a “large”, and I don’t know if it’s shrunk over the years, or if t-shirt sizes are just more generous than they used to be, but I generally wear a “medium” nowadays and this “large” shirt fits me like a spandex superhero costume. Not completely unflattering, as long as I don’t breathe in or sit down, but bloody difficult to take off without stretching it out of shape.

 

The eagle-eyed among you may have noticed there’s no Robin content in this post. I am 100% certain she never owned one of these, and would never have been caught dead wearing one.

 

 

[TIMES SQUARE promotional t-shirt] (T-shirt AAT ID: 300209903)
black ; cotton ; size Large ; 65 cm long x 42 cm wide
text on front: TIMES SQUARE™ | AFD | ©1980 Associated Film Distribution
text on back: “I’M A DAMN DOg!”
934 px (W) x 1080 px (H), 96 dpi, 235 KB (image of front)
960 px (W) x 1080 px (H), 96 dpi, 268 KB (image of back)

 

Times Square ©1980 StudioCanal/Canal+

 

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Times Square trailer, U.S. version

Posted on 17th October 2020 in "Times Square"
“Words cannot express the sheer unbelievability of this …”

 

I’m nowhere near ready to post this. I wanted to have the best possible picture, and a post that had something a little more weighty to say about it… but it’s the 40th anniversary of Times Square’s general release today, and the 4K Blu-ray we were told was coming hasn’t appeared… so, happy anniversary.

As far as I know, with the exception of a select few people (myself not among them), this hasn’t been seen since Times Square’s initial run on cable TV. Starting about a minute in, it’s a very different edit from the later UK trailer that appeared on the Anchor Bay DVD in 2000. The most important difference is, this one contains the only surviving bit of the legendary lost footage, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it second of Nicky and Pammy splashing in the Hudson River on the Jersey side, with the George Washington Bridge in the background. I vividly remember watching every showing of Times Square on HBO, wondering how I kept missing that scene… it took years to figure out.

This also doesn’t quite match up to my memory of the trailer as I saw it on HBO, so it’s possible there was a special cable edit too… but it’s more likely that my memory of 39 years ago isn’t entirely trustworthy, especially since I’ve established that Times Square wasn’t shown on HBO in 1981. It was on The Movie Channel.

I may upload an improved version of this at some point, with some actual discussion about it. But for now, I give you the American trailer for Times Square:

 

 

Times Square ©1980 StudioCanal/Canal+

 

comments: 1 » tags: , , ,

Robin Johnson, signing autographs, late 1980

Posted on 17th October 2019 in "Times Square"

Robin Johnson signing autographs, approximately late 1980

 

 

“I’m convinced that if I do this long enough, I’ll have to start laying low in public, to endure the intrusion of strangers asking for autographs. I deeply admire Bette Midler, but I would never dare to ask her for an autograph; I wouldn’t bother her with nonsense like that.”
     — Robin Johnson, August 1981

 

 

 

Okay, this is the last item I’ve yet found dating from Times Square’s theatrical run, which started 39 years ago today.

I’ve been unable to find out anything about the photographer David Loar.

 

 

 

 


[Robin Johnson signing autographs], [approximately October-December 1980] : color slide, AAT ID: 300128366 : 35mm
inscription: [on mount] [printed on screen side:] COLOR TRANSPARENCY
[stamped on view side:] © DAVID LOAR
HOLLYWOOD PHOTO
[handwritten in pen:] Robin Johnson
[3?] (work)
1980_35mm_slide_David_Loar_01_1080px_a.jpg
1080 px (H) x 749 px (W), 96 dpi, 216 kb (image)
 
© David Loar
Times Square ©1980 StudioCanal/Canal+

 

Times Square newspaper movie ad negatives, 1980

Posted on 22nd January 2019 in "Times Square"

Exactly what it says on the label – four pieces of black-and-white film apparently used to print newspaper ads with, dating from October 1980 or shortly before.

The seller of these items thought they were for printing posters, but the images are of such low quality, and black-and-white, that even though they don’t quite match up to any of the ads offered in the American campaign pressbook, they’re obviously made for newspaper use. They look pretty good here, though:

The first is just the film’s title; the second adds Trini and Robin’s faces from the poster, side-by-side; the third uses the image from the poster including Tim Curry on Nicky’s badge; and the fourth reproduces almost the entire poster. You can tell they’re American ads, produced fairly early on, since on the second-largest, Tim Curry is given top billing (as he has in the movie) and Robin, although pictured, isn’t mentioned. As we’ve seen, by the time the film had passed through Europe towards the Pacific, Robin had become the first name associated with it.

 

Negative of newspaper ad for TIMES SQUARE (1980).  Text:  In the heart of Times Square a poor girl be- comes famous, a rich girl beomes courageous and both become friends.  TIMES SQUARE  ROBERT STIGWOOD Presents "TIMES SQUARE" Starring TIM CURRY · TRINI ALVARADO Also Starring PETER COFFIELD · HERBERT BERGHOF · DAVID MARGULIES And Introducing ROBIN JOHNSON AFD™ RSO® Associated Film Distribution R

 

 

[ Four Times Square newspaper advertisement negatives
USA : black-and-white negatives : AAT ID: 300128343 : 1.9 x 9.6 cm.; 4.4 x 9.9 cm.; 8.4 x 9.8 cm.; 13 x 9.8 cm. : 1980 (works);

Times_Square_newspaper_ad_negatives_unreversed.jpg
946 x 1080 px, 96 dpi, 425 kb
Times_Square_newspaper_ad_negatives.jpg
929 x 1080 px, 96 dpi, 408 kb
Times_Square_newspaper_ad_negative_1_of_4.jpg
167 x 800 px, 96 dpi, 60 kb
Times_Square_newspaper_ad_negative_2_of_4.jpg
352 x 800 px, 96 dpi, 156 kb
Times_Square_newspaper_ad_negative_3_of_4.jpg
682 x 800 px, 96 dpi, 226 kb
Times_Square_newspaper_ad_negative_4_of_4.jpg
1080 x 778 px, 96 dpi, 374 kb
Times_Square_newspaper_ad_negative_4_of_4_negative.jpg
1080 x 769 px, 96 dpi, 380 kb

 
photos ©2019 Sean Rockoff
 
Times Square ©1980 StudioCanal/Canal+

 

Bravo, No. 21, Germany, May 19, 1982

Posted on 9th January 2019 in "Times Square"
Bravo No. 21, May 19, 1982, German pop culture magazine
Article promoting TIMES SQUARE in Bravo No. 21, May 19, 1982, a German pop culture magazine. Text: Jetzt im Kino: TIMES SQUARE IHR KONNT UNS ALLE MAL Ein irrer Film mit heißer Musik über die ausgeflipptesten Teenager von New York Die 16jährige Nicky Marotta (Robin Johnson) und die 13jährige Pamela Pearl (Trini Alvarado) liegen zusammen im Zimmer eines New Yorker Krankenhauses. Beide sollen auf ihren Geisteszustand untersucht werden. Nicky, weil sie eine notorische Streunerin ist; Pamela, weil ihr Vater, ein ehrgeiziger Politiker, mit ihr nicht mehr klarkommt. Eines Tages überredet Nicky Pamela zur Flucht. Im Nachthemd entwischen sie aus dem Krankenhaus, schnappen sich einen Krankenwagen und brausen los. In einem alten Schuppen am Times Square, einem der berühmtesten und berüchtigtsten Plätze New Yorks, finden sie Unterschlupf. So beginnt der Film „Times Square“ (in Deutschland hat er noch den Untertitel „Ihr könnt uns alle mal“). Die beiden Mädchen finden ihr „freies“ Leben herrlich. Sie tragen die ausgefallensten Klamotten, hören pausenlos heiße Musik und jobben abends in einer Kneipe. Nicky, die gut Gitarre spielt, singt mit einer Band,| Pamela arbeitet als Go-go-Girl. Natürlich hat Pamelas Vater alle Hebel in Bewegung gesetzt, um seine Tochter zu finden. In den Fall hat sich auch der beliebte Discjockey Johnny LaGuardian (Tim Curry, der Dr. Frank N. Furter aus der „Rocky Horror Picture Show“) eingeschaltet. Er ist so eine Art Thomas Gottschalk. Ihm vertrauen die Teens, wenn er täglich am Mikrofon zu ihnen spricht. Johnny findet die beiden und verspricht, ihnen zu helfen. So dürfen die Mädchen ein von Nicky komponiertes Lied über den Sender singen. Die jugendlichen Hörer sind begeistert. Johnny erzählt ihnen die Geschichte der beiden Ausreißerinnen. Nicky und Pamela werden auf ihre Art zu „Heldinnen“. Einer der Höhepunkte des Films ist die Aufforderung von Nicky und Pamela, dem Götzen „Fernsehen“ abzuschwören. Und Hunderte machen mit: Zum Entsetzen der Eltern werfen die Teenager die Fernseh-Apparate einfach auf die Straße. Doch die beiden Mädchen sehen bald ein, daß ihr Leben so nicht mehr weiterlaufen kann. Und wieder erweist sich der Discjockey Johnny als Retter. Er organisiert für Nicky ein Konzert auf dem Dach eines Kinos. Aus allen Richtungen New Yorks strömen die Kids in gleicher Aufmachung wie Nicky und Pamela zum Times Square. Das Konzert, obwohl von der Polizei nicht genehmigt, wird ein Riesenerfolg. Nicky ist ihrem Traum, ein Rock- Star zu werden, nähergekommen. Pamela kehrt zu ihrem Vater, der eingesehen hat, daß auch er viele Fehler gemacht hat, zurück. Die beiden Hauptdarstellerinnen sind Neulinge. Nicky (Robin Johnson) wurde von der Schule weg engagiert, Pamela (Trini Alvarado) drehte bereits einen Film. Toll natürlich Tim Curry. Die Musik stammt unter anderem von Suzi Quatro, Pretenders, Roxy Music, Gary Numan, XTC, Ramones und Robin Gibb von den Bee Gees. Text: Peter Raschner Auf dem Dach eines Kinos gibt Nicky ihr erstes, umjubeltes Rock-Konzert Wutenbrannt stürzt sich Pamelas Vater auf Disc-jockey Johnny Die 13jährige Pamela Pearl jobbt als Go-go-Girl, nachdem sie zu Hause ausgerissen ist Nicky (rechts) und Pamela träumen von einer Rock-Karriere -- Disc-Jockey Johnny (rechts) hilft ihnen dabei Nicky und Pamela auf dem Times Square. Sie sind in dieser Gegend bekannt wie bunte Hunde

May 1982, and Times Square was about to have its final premiere, in West Germany. Why did it take this long, over a year and a half after its initial premiere, and a year after the rest of Europe had seen it? I have no idea. But someone still had hope for the movie, as shown by the two-page spread in Bravo, featuring the same sort of excited plot synopsis published in Filmstar No. 3, Sonido No. 56 and Film Review Vol. 31 No. 2.

 

 

 

The big picture across the two pages was last seen in the February 1981 Movie 81 and on the Japanese movie poster. The picture on the top left of page 34 was the top middle image on the Mexican movie poster. The center photo on page 34, of Mr. Pearl attacking Johnny, is I think making its first appearance here. We last saw the bottom photo in the Japanese souvenir program book and flyer, and on a British lobby card. On page 35, the shot of Johnny at the mic was also a British lobby card, and appeared in Movie 81. And the bottom photo was also a British lobby card, last seen in Joepie No. 365 in March 1981, and first seen in the “Robert Stigwood Presents Times Square” folder from sometime in 1980 well before the movie’s release.

Here’s the text by Peter Rauscher in German, followed by my attempt at a translation.

Jetzt im Kino: TIMES SQUARE
IHR KONNT UNS ALLE MAL

Ein irrer Film mit heißer
Musik über die ausgeflipptesten
Teenager von New York

Die 16jährige Nicky Marotta (Robin Johnson) und die 13jährige Pamela Pearl (Trini Alvarado) liegen zusammen im Zimmer eines New Yorker Krankenhauses. Beide sollen auf ihren Geisteszustand untersucht werden. Nicky, weil sie eine notorische Streunerin ist; Pamela, weil ihr Vater, ein ehrgeiziger Politiker, mit ihr nicht mehr klarkommt.

Eines Tages überredet Nicky Pamela zur Flucht. Im Nachthemd entwischen sie aus dem Krankenhaus, schnappen sich einen Krankenwagen und brausen los. In einem alten Schuppen am Times Square, einem der berühmtesten und berüchtigtsten Plätze New Yorks, finden sie Unterschlupf.

So beginnt der Film „Times Square“ (in Deutschland hat er noch den Untertitel „Ihr könnt uns alle mal“). Die beiden Mädchen finden ihr „freies“ Leben herrlich. Sie tragen die ausgefallensten Klamotten, hören pausenlos heiße Musik und jobben abends in einer Kneipe. Nicky, die gut Gitarre spielt, singt mit einer Band,| Pamela arbeitet als Go-go-Girl.

Natürlich hat Pamelas Vater alle Hebel in Bewegung gesetzt, um seine Tochter zu finden. In den Fall hat sich auch der beliebte Discjockey Johnny LaGuardian (Tim Curry, der Dr. Frank N. Furter aus der „Rocky Horror Picture Show“) eingeschaltet. Er ist so eine Art Thomas Gottschalk. Ihm vertrauen die Teens, wenn er täglich am Mikrofon zu ihnen spricht.

Johnny findet die beiden und verspricht, ihnen zu helfen. So dürfen die Mädchen ein von Nicky komponiertes Lied über den Sender singen. Die jugendlichen Hörer sind begeistert. Johnny erzählt ihnen die Geschichte der beiden Ausreißerinnen.

Nicky und Pamela werden auf ihre Art zu „Heldinnen“. Einer der Höhepunkte des Films ist die Aufforderung von Nicky und Pamela, dem Götzen „Fernsehen“ abzuschwören. Und Hunderte machen mit: Zum Entsetzen der Eltern werfen die Teenager die Fernseh-Apparate einfach auf die Straße.

Doch die beiden Mädchen sehen bald ein, daß ihr Leben so nicht mehr weiterlaufen kann. Und wieder erweist sich der Discjockey Johnny als Retter. Er organisiert für Nicky ein Konzert auf dem Dach eines Kinos.

Aus allen Richtungen New Yorks strömen die Kids in gleicher Aufmachung wie Nicky und Pamela zum Times Square. Das Konzert, obwohl von der Polizei nicht genehmigt, wird ein Riesenerfolg. Nicky ist ihrem Traum, ein Rock- Star zu werden, nähergekommen.

Pamela kehrt zu ihrem Vater, der eingesehen hat, daß auch er viele Fehler gemacht hat, zurück.

Die beiden Hauptdarstellerinnen sind Neulinge. Nicky (Robin Johnson) wurde von der Schule weg engagiert, Pamela (Trini Alvarado) drehte bereits einen Film. Toll natürlich Tim Curry. Die Musik stammt unter anderem von Suzi Quatro, Pretenders, Roxy Music, Gary Numan, XTC, Ramones und Robin Gibb von den Bee Gees.

Text: Peter Raschner

Auf dem Dach eines Kinos gibt Nicky ihr erstes, umjubeltes Rock-Konzert

Wutenbrannt stürzt sich Pamelas Vater auf Disc-jockey Johnny

Die 13jährige Pamela Pearl jobbt als Go-go-Girl, nachdem sie zu Hause ausgerissen ist

Nicky (rechts) und Pamela träumen von einer Rock-Karriere — Disc-Jockey Johnny (rechts) hilft ihnen dabei

Nicky und Pamela auf dem Times Square. Sie sind in dieser Gegend bekannt wie bunte Hunde

In theaters now: TIMES SQUARE
YOU CAN ALL (KISS OUR ASSES)

A crazy film with hot
music about the freaky
teenagers of New York

16-year-old Nicky Marotta (Robin Johnson) and 13-year-old Pamela Pearl (Trini Alvarado) lie together in the room of a New York hospital. Both to have their mental health examined. Nicky because she is a notorious stray; Pamela because her father, an ambitious politician, can’t handle her any more.

One day Nicky persuades Pamela to escape. In their nightgowns they escape from the hospital, steal themselves an ambulance and zoom off. In an old shack in Times Square, one of the most famous and most notorious places in New York, they find shelter.

So begins the film “Times Square” (in Germany it also has the subtitle “You can all […] our […]”). Both girls find their “free” life wonderful. They wear outrageous clothes, listen to hot music nonstop and in the evening work in a bar. Nicky, who plays guitar well, sings with a band; Pamela works as a go-go girl.

Naturally Pamela’s father has pulled out all the stops to find his daughter. On this case the popular disc jockey Johnny LaGuardian (Tim Curry, Dr. Frank N. Furter from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”) is also involved. He is a Thomas Gottschalk type. The teens trust him when he speaks daily through the microphone to them.

Johnny finds them both and promises to help them. So the girls sing a song composed by Nicky over the radio. The young listeners are inspired. Johnny tells them the story of the runaways.

Nicky and Pamela become in their own way “heroines.” One of the highlights of the film is the call of Nicky and Pamela to renounce the idol “television.” And hundreds join in: to the horror of their parents the teenagers simply throw their television sets to the street. But both girls soon see that their life cannot continue this way. And again Johnny the disc jockey comes to the rescue. He organizes a concert on the roof of a cinema for Nicky.

The Kids stream from all areas of New York to Times Square in outfits identical to Nicky and Pamela. The concert, although not authorized by the police, becomes a huge success. Nicky has come closer to her dream to become a rock star.

Pamela returns to her father who has realized that he also has made many mistakes.

Both leading actresses are newcomers. Nicky (Robin Johnson) was hired away from her school, Pamela (Trini Alvarado) previously made a film. Of course Tim Curry is terrific. The music is by, among others, Suzi Quatro, Pretenders, Roxy Music, Gary Numan, XTC, Ramones and Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees.

Text: Peter Raschner

On the roof of a cinema Nicky gives her first rock concert performance

Pamela’s father falls furiously on disc jockey Johnny

13-year-old Pamela Pearl works as a go-go girl, after she has run away from home

Nicky (right) and Pamela dream of a rock career – disc jockey Johnny helps (right) them at it

Nicky and Pamela in Times Square. They are known in this neighborhood as colorful dogs

I think that last caption might be better translated as “they are well known to the locals,” but I had a hard enough time rendering the German subtitle into colloquial and printable English.  

Would you like to know more?

Movie 81 No. 2, February 1981
Times Square movie poster, Japan, June 1981
Guerreras de Nueva York (Times Square movie poster, Mexico, 1981)
Times Square Program Book, Japan, June 1981, pages 14-19 (post 3 of 5)
U.K. Lobby Cards (post 2 of 3)
U.K. Lobby Cards (post 1 of 3)
Joepie, No. 365, March 15, 1981
Times Square Press Folder

 
 
Bravo No. 21, May 19, 1982, Germany (monthly (publication) (AAT ID: 300311879))
28 x 21.1 cm. (work);
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Times Square ©1980 StudioCanal/Canal+