“Wings and the Woman” opened at Loew’s Criterion in the first week of October, 1942, so the photo had to be taken during that engagement. The program on the marquee may give the impression that the Criterion had a double-feature policy, but “Letter from Bataan” was only a short subject related to war events of the time. “Wings and the Woman” was a rare RKO Radio Pictures booking at the Criterion, and played the RKO circuit in its neghborhood release.
During the last weekend in January, 1967, the Fox presented a three-day stage engagement of James Brown and his entire crew of entertainers, including the Famous Flames, the Jewels, Butterbeans & Dixie, the Go-Go Dancing Girls, James Crawford, Bobby Byrd, and an 18-piece band. During that Friday through Sunday, performances were continuous. Advertising made no mention of any movies being on the bill.
I wonder if this could have survived beyond 1965 under a different name? The January 21, 1967 issue of the Amsterdam News carries an ad for the Latino Theatre, described as “Harlem’s Newest,” with an address of 125th Street between Third & Lexington Avenues and a phone number of 722-9362. The current booking was a double bill of “The Disorderly Orderly” and “The Buccaneer,” but due to arrive on January 25th for a full week was a “live” presentation, The Great Pan-American Circus, featuring trapeze artists, clowns, lions, and chimpanzees. Such a show would have required a large stage, and this probably still had one. The only other candidate in the area would have been Proctor’s 125th, but I believe it was between Park and Lexington, not Third and Lexington.
Here’s a view of the 50th Street elevated station, looking east towards Fifth Avenue. A portion of a RCMH vertical sign can be seen at left behind the station: View link
Ella Fitzgerald always claimed Martha Raye as a major influence on her singing style. Here, in 1938, both are sharing a bill at the Paramount Theatre, Fitzgerald on stage and Raye on screen: http://www.howardfrank.com/Street_01.html
Hare’s a marquee view from September, 1935, with the Embassy presenting some of the first newsreel coverage of the assassination of Louisiana politician Huey Long: View link
The address is currently used for a Gristedes supermarket. This photo suggests that the Uptown theatre building is now long gone with the proverbial wind: View link
The Apollo’s marquee and vertical sign can be seen in the left photo, which looks east towards Loew’s Victoria and the Harlem Opera House in the same block: View link
Loew’s Victoria was the middle of three theatres that shared the north side of 125th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. Here are individual photos displayed on a single page, starting with the Apollo (#253) at left, the Victoria (#233) in center, and the Harlem Opera House (#211) at right: View link
Here’s another view of Loew’s 42nd Street, with the marquee and entrance to the left of the corner building with the white sign. The overall view looks south down Lexington Avenue: View link
No, the Boricua (original Star) was around 107th Street, well below the Latino Theatre on 125th Street.
“Wings and the Woman” opened at Loew’s Criterion in the first week of October, 1942, so the photo had to be taken during that engagement. The program on the marquee may give the impression that the Criterion had a double-feature policy, but “Letter from Bataan” was only a short subject related to war events of the time. “Wings and the Woman” was a rare RKO Radio Pictures booking at the Criterion, and played the RKO circuit in its neghborhood release.
During the last weekend in January, 1967, the Fox presented a three-day stage engagement of James Brown and his entire crew of entertainers, including the Famous Flames, the Jewels, Butterbeans & Dixie, the Go-Go Dancing Girls, James Crawford, Bobby Byrd, and an 18-piece band. During that Friday through Sunday, performances were continuous. Advertising made no mention of any movies being on the bill.
I wonder if this could have survived beyond 1965 under a different name? The January 21, 1967 issue of the Amsterdam News carries an ad for the Latino Theatre, described as “Harlem’s Newest,” with an address of 125th Street between Third & Lexington Avenues and a phone number of 722-9362. The current booking was a double bill of “The Disorderly Orderly” and “The Buccaneer,” but due to arrive on January 25th for a full week was a “live” presentation, The Great Pan-American Circus, featuring trapeze artists, clowns, lions, and chimpanzees. Such a show would have required a large stage, and this probably still had one. The only other candidate in the area would have been Proctor’s 125th, but I believe it was between Park and Lexington, not Third and Lexington.
The Major’s marquee and vertical sign can be seen in the center of this vintage photograph: View link
Here’s a view of the 50th Street elevated station, looking east towards Fifth Avenue. A portion of a RCMH vertical sign can be seen at left behind the station: View link
Not since the 1930s during the Loew’s reign has the Paradise presented a stage show this immense: http://www.blacktopcircus.net/Welcome.html
The Ridgewood, Madison, and several other theatre sites in the area are depicted in the third part of this article about Myrtle Avenue: View link
The Madison, Ridgewood, and other theatre buildings in the area are pictured in part three of this article about Myrtle Avenue: View link
Pardon my English, but “There isn’t any playing movie currently”:
http://www.fairtheatre.com/
Still operating as the Bombay: http://www.phoenixtheatres.com/locbombay.asp
The Smithsonian honors the Apollo: View link
Here’s the 1938 spectacular for a 20th-Fox blockbuster: http://www.howardfrank.com/Street_02.html
Ella Fitzgerald always claimed Martha Raye as a major influence on her singing style. Here, in 1938, both are sharing a bill at the Paramount Theatre, Fitzgerald on stage and Raye on screen: http://www.howardfrank.com/Street_01.html
Here’s a wonderful view of bumper-to-bumper traffic on 42nd Street:
View link
Here’s the 1941 premiere of an all-time classic: View link
Hare’s a marquee view from September, 1935, with the Embassy presenting some of the first newsreel coverage of the assassination of Louisiana politician Huey Long: View link
The address is currently used for a Gristedes supermarket. This photo suggests that the Uptown theatre building is now long gone with the proverbial wind: View link
Here’s a 1933 view: View link
The Apollo’s marquee and vertical sign can be seen in the left photo, which looks east towards Loew’s Victoria and the Harlem Opera House in the same block: View link
Loew’s Victoria was the middle of three theatres that shared the north side of 125th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. Here are individual photos displayed on a single page, starting with the Apollo (#253) at left, the Victoria (#233) in center, and the Harlem Opera House (#211) at right: View link
Here’s another view of Loew’s 42nd Street, with the marquee and entrance to the left of the corner building with the white sign. The overall view looks south down Lexington Avenue: View link
Here’s a 1939 view of the Hippodrome in the first stages of demolition:
View link
Three views circa 1928-34 of the New Delancey Theatre, including the marquee and vertical sign, can be seen here: View link
Here’s another exterior view, but probably on 66th Street, since no entrance is shown, only exits: View link