I agree with longislandmovies. Cineplex Odeon helped theatres that were falling apart stay open for years by spending big money remodelling and keeping them up. The Kingsway had a rough going in it’s last few years because it was always being groomed for demolition and replacement by a purpose built multiplex, a event that never occured.
Although I have no particular love for Garth Drabinsky. He gave a new lease on life to the Metropolitan, Kenmore, Fortway, Alpine, Metro Twin, Regency, Olympia, Carnegie Hall, Waverly, Art Greenwich, Manhattan Twin, and Warner (Rialto) just when they were past their sell-by date and when no other chains were investing in non-multiplex buildings.
This was not the way Drive-Ins in Florida were air conditioned. Next to your speaker there was a an air tube (similar to what you use to put air into your tires)which you brought into your car and then closed all the windows. Closed windows are important at Florida Drive-Ins due to mosquitos and flying palmetto bugs (large winged cockroaches).
George, those addresses seem fine but Miami Dade Downtown Campus was open in 1973 and I took courses in annex buildings around the still open Rio Theatre in 75-76, so they did concur. The Capitol was closed sometime in the fifties.
I have a couple of photos on my cell phone of the construction site with some signs of the semi-covered facade peaking out. If you want me to text these please send me your phone number at
I don’t doubt the Rio may have been the Dixie but the Capitol (WTVJ) was closed way before the Rio which operated well into the 70’s and was closer to Flagler Street near and Miami Dade Junior College.
The Paramount ended it’s life as the Pussycat. Linda Lovelace performed “live” here before deciding porn was a mistake. What she did on stage remains a mystery to me.
The Sutton was already open in 1934. It became a major first run “sure seater” art house in 1947 with Powell & Pressburger’s I KNOW WHERE I’M GOING and for several years specialised in British imports.
By my records of continuous runs in Manhattan, I agree DEEP THROAT/DEVIL IN MISS JONES is probably the record holder but due to the nature of the films and the way they were advertised, this is difficult to prove. There is also THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at midnight at the 8th Avenue Playhouse to contend with if that counts.
Here are other lonest runs saw I show them:
THE RED SHOES (1948) 2 years, 4 weeks â€"BIJOU
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (1956) 1 year, 51 weeks â€" RIVOLI
OPEN CITY (1946) 1 year, 49 weeks – WORLD 49
THE BIG PARADE (1926) 1 year, 43 weeks â€" ASTOR
THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965) 1 year, 41 weeks â€" RIVOLI
LILI (1953) 1 year, 40 weeks â€" 52nd ON LEXINGTON
THIS IS CINERAMA (1952) 1 year 36 weeks â€" WARNER
(Moved over after 35 weeks at the BROADWAY)
MY FAIR LADY (1964) 1 year, 34 weeks â€" CRITERION
SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD (1956) 1 year 25 weeks â€" WARNER
WEST SIDE STORY (1961) 1 year 25 weeks – RIVOLI
This was a Wometco house which was twinned in the seventies. It often played with the ABC Florida State run so it could include the Disney product that did so well in Hialeah. When ABC took over the Chris McGuire Village down the street, a battle for the Disney and James Bond films began culminating in both theatres opening THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN day and date.
I have been to this location three times in the past week and the presentation and audiences were all good experiences. The concession stand and other staff members were excellent although I saw no sign of a manager.
That blinking red light must must be night vision CCTV and it is truly distracting. The bathrooms just need a good thorough cleaning. Daily staff appear to be doing a good job.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but there is no sign of this theatre anymore and it is now a construction site. Am I naive in thinking the facade was removed and will be returned reburbished?
During my years with Cineplex Odeon there were always outrageously high offers for this property. The only reason the theatres lasted as long as they did was a combination of the First & 62nd multiplex not opening well and filmmakers still insisting on opening on this block even after the Upper West Side replaced the Upper East Side as the primary Manhattan run. This, like the Cinema 1, II & III are casualties of highly coveted real estate and really nothing more sinister than that.
Those of you who in the industry during the 60’s and 70’s may remember that national releases were delayed just waiting for an opening on this block.
George, I think you are correct and the Capitol at 322 NW 14th street was the early seventies incarnation of the Harlem, reopened by Wometco as the Capitol. Both of these locations are in what is now known as Overtown but WTVJ and the original Capitol were indeed at 310 North Miami Avenue. A separate entry will be needed for the Harlem.
Ed, according to the Hudson entries (/theaters/2971/) the Henry Miller was left with just the facade. I suspect some confusion with these two as both are reported as having been called Avon-at-the-Hudson and I suspect the interiors were altered between them at some stage.
The Boulevard was operated as a soft-core porn location by Wometco in its later years. Admission included a handiwipe.(!!!)
Hardbop, they are all there but on the dates they opened.
Wally, I think you are describing the Eastside Cinema 3rd Avenue and 55th Street.
Louis, it was always porno, gay on one screen, straight on the other.
I agree with longislandmovies. Cineplex Odeon helped theatres that were falling apart stay open for years by spending big money remodelling and keeping them up. The Kingsway had a rough going in it’s last few years because it was always being groomed for demolition and replacement by a purpose built multiplex, a event that never occured.
Although I have no particular love for Garth Drabinsky. He gave a new lease on life to the Metropolitan, Kenmore, Fortway, Alpine, Metro Twin, Regency, Olympia, Carnegie Hall, Waverly, Art Greenwich, Manhattan Twin, and Warner (Rialto) just when they were past their sell-by date and when no other chains were investing in non-multiplex buildings.
This was not the way Drive-Ins in Florida were air conditioned. Next to your speaker there was a an air tube (similar to what you use to put air into your tires)which you brought into your car and then closed all the windows. Closed windows are important at Florida Drive-Ins due to mosquitos and flying palmetto bugs (large winged cockroaches).
Thank you Lost Memory. Looks like we have another mystery theatre if the ebay shot is really a Manhattan location.
Is this the old Houston Hippodrome?
View link
Louis, perhaps if I jog your memory you may be able to make entries for the VILLAGE, APOLLO (North & South), MIAMI LAKES, and HIALEAH MALL.
George, those addresses seem fine but Miami Dade Downtown Campus was open in 1973 and I took courses in annex buildings around the still open Rio Theatre in 75-76, so they did concur. The Capitol was closed sometime in the fifties.
I have a couple of photos on my cell phone of the construction site with some signs of the semi-covered facade peaking out. If you want me to text these please send me your phone number at
I don’t doubt the Rio may have been the Dixie but the Capitol (WTVJ) was closed way before the Rio which operated well into the 70’s and was closer to Flagler Street near and Miami Dade Junior College.
The Cinema was playing live Yiddish Vaudeville well after the concept had died elsewhere. As a nightclub it is a grand venue, well worth a visit.
I believe the Plaza Art was indeed a bank and returned to being a bank after it closed. Woody, your photo above looks like the Plaza Art.
The Paramount ended it’s life as the Pussycat. Linda Lovelace performed “live” here before deciding porn was a mistake. What she did on stage remains a mystery to me.
The Sutton was already open in 1934. It became a major first run “sure seater” art house in 1947 with Powell & Pressburger’s I KNOW WHERE I’M GOING and for several years specialised in British imports.
By my records of continuous runs in Manhattan, I agree DEEP THROAT/DEVIL IN MISS JONES is probably the record holder but due to the nature of the films and the way they were advertised, this is difficult to prove. There is also THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at midnight at the 8th Avenue Playhouse to contend with if that counts.
Here are other lonest runs saw I show them:
THE RED SHOES (1948) 2 years, 4 weeks â€"BIJOU
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (1956) 1 year, 51 weeks â€" RIVOLI
OPEN CITY (1946) 1 year, 49 weeks – WORLD 49
THE BIG PARADE (1926) 1 year, 43 weeks â€" ASTOR
THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965) 1 year, 41 weeks â€" RIVOLI
LILI (1953) 1 year, 40 weeks â€" 52nd ON LEXINGTON
THIS IS CINERAMA (1952) 1 year 36 weeks â€" WARNER
(Moved over after 35 weeks at the BROADWAY)
MY FAIR LADY (1964) 1 year, 34 weeks â€" CRITERION
SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD (1956) 1 year 25 weeks â€" WARNER
WEST SIDE STORY (1961) 1 year 25 weeks – RIVOLI
This was a Wometco house which was twinned in the seventies. It often played with the ABC Florida State run so it could include the Disney product that did so well in Hialeah. When ABC took over the Chris McGuire Village down the street, a battle for the Disney and James Bond films began culminating in both theatres opening THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN day and date.
This was a Wometco house in the sixties and seventies.
I believe this was once the Wometco Rosetta.
I have been to this location three times in the past week and the presentation and audiences were all good experiences. The concession stand and other staff members were excellent although I saw no sign of a manager.
That blinking red light must must be night vision CCTV and it is truly distracting. The bathrooms just need a good thorough cleaning. Daily staff appear to be doing a good job.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but there is no sign of this theatre anymore and it is now a construction site. Am I naive in thinking the facade was removed and will be returned reburbished?
During my years with Cineplex Odeon there were always outrageously high offers for this property. The only reason the theatres lasted as long as they did was a combination of the First & 62nd multiplex not opening well and filmmakers still insisting on opening on this block even after the Upper West Side replaced the Upper East Side as the primary Manhattan run. This, like the Cinema 1, II & III are casualties of highly coveted real estate and really nothing more sinister than that.
Those of you who in the industry during the 60’s and 70’s may remember that national releases were delayed just waiting for an opening on this block.
George, I think you are correct and the Capitol at 322 NW 14th street was the early seventies incarnation of the Harlem, reopened by Wometco as the Capitol. Both of these locations are in what is now known as Overtown but WTVJ and the original Capitol were indeed at 310 North Miami Avenue. A separate entry will be needed for the Harlem.
Ed, according to the Hudson entries (/theaters/2971/) the Henry Miller was left with just the facade. I suspect some confusion with these two as both are reported as having been called Avon-at-the-Hudson and I suspect the interiors were altered between them at some stage.