Congratulations! Definitely one of the most valuable web sites.
And I must echo those who say PLEASE do something about the picture library. We’re having to rely on people providing them off-site, and so many of those links become obsolete in time.
Oh man, thank you for those 1982/83 photos! I’d been trying to dredge up my own vague memories of the look of the place, and those are a life-saver. Thanks, too, for the reminder about the stills painted on the walls!
The years I most attended the Vagabond were 1975-79, and I wish I’d gone way more than I did. Like others have said, I remember it as “the” premier revival house in terms of print and projection standards. In particular, I remember a “North by Northwest” that blew my friends and me away. I also recall thinking it had the most uncomfortable seats anywhere. Sadly, I never went next door to eat in La Fonda.
I didn’t have a car in those years, so the bus was my usual transportation. I remember coming out of the Vagabond late at night and waiting for it, while enjoying what seemed a dignified old neighborhood. With the obvious exception of MacArthur Park and points east, I felt no sense of danger at all there.
While I’m happy to learn that the place was preserved and is now a live theater, at least, the shocking/sad thing about those photos is what looks like a totally empty block to the west. Hate that.
I live in Danbury, Connecticut. In spite of being well over an hour away from Suffern, I was a frequent attendee at the Saturday morning showings and the fabulous fall horror and sci-fi festivals. What a shock it was to hear that BSC was moving its operations, and what an incredible loss for the Lafayette and for all who love film AND the Lafayette. But I see I’m late to the party. What can I say that everyone else here hasn’t already covered?
I just wish I’d thought to check here a couple of months ago. At least then I would have learned that SOME classics were being shown at the Lafayette after Big Screen Classics moved. It is mindboggling to me that there was no announcement or mailing to people already on the list; and further, that there is little or no web presence or other advertising, that I can see, promoting the Lafayette as it should be promoted. This is incredibly disheartening.
So… What can we do to help change things for the better?
Would I drive such a long distance to see a first-run film? I’ll think about this and try to make it happen. Everything would have to fall into place for the occasion to be right. It would have to be something I’m really excited about seeing. Goes without saying.
As for the new venue for Big Screen Classics…others have already spoken for me with regard to the awkwardness of the location and (sorry!) the less desirable theater, and of the Wednesday nights in particular. I’m very sorry to say I didn’t make any of them this time around, but I WILL do better in the future.
Nelson and Pete, thank you so much for everything! More later.
This weekend I was going through some old papers. When I unearthed a newspaper clipping (unrelated to anything here) that I’d kept around, I just about fell off my chair when I saw what was included on it, perfectly preserved:
I was spending the summers of 1968 and 1969 in nearby Rochester. In 1968 I had just recently seen “2001” in Cleveland, and one evening I dragged some friends into Detroit for their first shot at it. I wish I could conjure up more than the vaguest memories of the theater itself! I remember we were seated in the balcony, but that’s about it.
We lived in neighboring Whitehall during the 1950s, then briefly in Bexley, so we were constantly driving past the Bexley Theater on Main Street. As moviegoers we primarily went to drive-ins in those days. The one time I was taken to the Bexley as a child was for my first “Fantasia”. According to release dates found on IMDB, that would have been the 1956 re-release.
I remember very little of that, except for a few impressions of the film and a vague mental image of the theater interior rather austere. However, it came as a complete surprise to read here that it was always a twin. All these years, I hadn’t known or remembered that.
As a side note, I’ve tried to figure out where we kids were taken to see Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty” on its first run in 1959. Can anyone say if that one played the Bexley?
A popular movie destination for my family (then later, for me and my girlfriend) during the 1960s. Personal favorites were Poe/Corman films (“House of Usher”, “Pit and the Pendulum”), other AIP titles (“Master of the World”), and plenty of mainstream family fare such as comedies of the Doris Day and Jerry Lewis variety.
Since we can’t upload pictures at this time, here are two showing the Warnor (and its almost-next door neighbor the Florida, which I will post about in the appropriate place):
The Warnor hadn’t yet closed in 1961, as suggested above. We lived near downtown Fort Lauderdale for a couple of years, and one indelible memory is walking to the Warnor to be thrilled by the
Roger Corman “Premature Burial” — which, according to IMDB, was released in March 1962. I’m almost as certain that I saw “West Side Story” at the Warnor immediately following its roadshow engagement (for us, in Miami Beach). I don’t have a date for that general release, but I believe this followed the Poe flick. (A third film I’m pretty sure I saw there was “King of Kings”, in 1961.)
Congratulations! Definitely one of the most valuable web sites.
And I must echo those who say PLEASE do something about the picture library. We’re having to rely on people providing them off-site, and so many of those links become obsolete in time.
Thanks, and keep up the incredible work!
Update on the relocated Laserium:
View link
(That last comment refers to a much more recent picture posted above, not the 1982/83 ones.)
Oh man, thank you for those 1982/83 photos! I’d been trying to dredge up my own vague memories of the look of the place, and those are a life-saver. Thanks, too, for the reminder about the stills painted on the walls!
The years I most attended the Vagabond were 1975-79, and I wish I’d gone way more than I did. Like others have said, I remember it as “the” premier revival house in terms of print and projection standards. In particular, I remember a “North by Northwest” that blew my friends and me away. I also recall thinking it had the most uncomfortable seats anywhere. Sadly, I never went next door to eat in La Fonda.
I didn’t have a car in those years, so the bus was my usual transportation. I remember coming out of the Vagabond late at night and waiting for it, while enjoying what seemed a dignified old neighborhood. With the obvious exception of MacArthur Park and points east, I felt no sense of danger at all there.
While I’m happy to learn that the place was preserved and is now a live theater, at least, the shocking/sad thing about those photos is what looks like a totally empty block to the west. Hate that.
I live in Danbury, Connecticut. In spite of being well over an hour away from Suffern, I was a frequent attendee at the Saturday morning showings and the fabulous fall horror and sci-fi festivals. What a shock it was to hear that BSC was moving its operations, and what an incredible loss for the Lafayette and for all who love film AND the Lafayette. But I see I’m late to the party. What can I say that everyone else here hasn’t already covered?
I just wish I’d thought to check here a couple of months ago. At least then I would have learned that SOME classics were being shown at the Lafayette after Big Screen Classics moved. It is mindboggling to me that there was no announcement or mailing to people already on the list; and further, that there is little or no web presence or other advertising, that I can see, promoting the Lafayette as it should be promoted. This is incredibly disheartening.
So… What can we do to help change things for the better?
Would I drive such a long distance to see a first-run film? I’ll think about this and try to make it happen. Everything would have to fall into place for the occasion to be right. It would have to be something I’m really excited about seeing. Goes without saying.
As for the new venue for Big Screen Classics…others have already spoken for me with regard to the awkwardness of the location and (sorry!) the less desirable theater, and of the Wednesday nights in particular. I’m very sorry to say I didn’t make any of them this time around, but I WILL do better in the future.
Nelson and Pete, thank you so much for everything! More later.
My apologies if that url isn’t working.
Try it this way:
http://tinyurl.com/pgaank
This weekend I was going through some old papers. When I unearthed a newspaper clipping (unrelated to anything here) that I’d kept around, I just about fell off my chair when I saw what was included on it, perfectly preserved:
http://home.comcast.net/~chasmith7/theaters/2001 at Summit.pdf
I was spending the summers of 1968 and 1969 in nearby Rochester. In 1968 I had just recently seen “2001” in Cleveland, and one evening I dragged some friends into Detroit for their first shot at it. I wish I could conjure up more than the vaguest memories of the theater itself! I remember we were seated in the balcony, but that’s about it.
When were you at the Warner in Beverly Hills? Stories, please! Thanks!
We lived in neighboring Whitehall during the 1950s, then briefly in Bexley, so we were constantly driving past the Bexley Theater on Main Street. As moviegoers we primarily went to drive-ins in those days. The one time I was taken to the Bexley as a child was for my first “Fantasia”. According to release dates found on IMDB, that would have been the 1956 re-release.
I remember very little of that, except for a few impressions of the film and a vague mental image of the theater interior rather austere. However, it came as a complete surprise to read here that it was always a twin. All these years, I hadn’t known or remembered that.
As a side note, I’ve tried to figure out where we kids were taken to see Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty” on its first run in 1959. Can anyone say if that one played the Bexley?
A popular movie destination for my family (then later, for me and my girlfriend) during the 1960s. Personal favorites were Poe/Corman films (“House of Usher”, “Pit and the Pendulum”), other AIP titles (“Master of the World”), and plenty of mainstream family fare such as comedies of the Doris Day and Jerry Lewis variety.
Since we can’t upload pictures at this time, here are two showing the Warnor (and its almost-next door neighbor the Florida, which I will post about in the appropriate place):
View link
-or-
http://tinyurl.com/aqz7t8
The Warnor hadn’t yet closed in 1961, as suggested above. We lived near downtown Fort Lauderdale for a couple of years, and one indelible memory is walking to the Warnor to be thrilled by the
Roger Corman “Premature Burial” — which, according to IMDB, was released in March 1962. I’m almost as certain that I saw “West Side Story” at the Warnor immediately following its roadshow engagement (for us, in Miami Beach). I don’t have a date for that general release, but I believe this followed the Poe flick. (A third film I’m pretty sure I saw there was “King of Kings”, in 1961.)