The opening-night crowd might have come from SoHo: young, hip and outfitted in multicolored hair, earrings and attitude.

A fair-sized opening-night crowd began arriving at sunset, and Flint estimated that better than three thousand Procyonians would pass through the Midway that night.

And to judge from the tepid response of the festive opening-night crowd, it may not be back anytime soon.

When he was asked to assess the makeup of the opening-night crowd, Elia said, "This is one of the nights when the other 15 percent come out."

"Because of its large size, the Plaza still draws large opening-night crowds - crowds who really know how to enjoy a movie."

The opening-night crowd was mostly the couple's gray-haired (and ponytailed) friends, and it had the air of a leftist reunion.

A week and a half ago, the opening-night crowd was decked out in Members Only jackets, mod dresses and blouses with foofy neck bows - just like the crowd at every other neighborhood club.

It was an eventful day all around for the Islanders (0-2-1), who unveiled their home whites to a good opening-night crowd of 15,222.

Asked what he thought about the opening-night crowd of 33,306, a record for Canadian basketball, Thomas took a deep breath and flashed his 100-watt smile.

WITH a smile and a bow, Leon Ichaso handed out leaflets to the opening-night crowd at the New York Film Festival Friday night.