I walked by the Fair Theater this weekend, on my way to visiting with some friends who were in town, and saw a vintage one-sheet in an exterior case for the 1974 Lee Marvin-O.J. Simpson flick ‘The Klansman’. It looks as if it’s been on display since that time; can anyone confirm this?
File under ‘Huh?’ – today’s ad in the Arts & Leisure section of the NY Times makes mention of this week’s upcoming engagement of ‘East of Eden’… at the Film Forum AT 57 WATTS STREET… never mind that Film Forum moved out of that address in 1989/90 and that the building was torn down shortly thereafter…
An exterior shot of the former Park & 86th Street Cinemas in its present incarnation as a Duane Reade pharmacy is featured on page 31 of the June 6, 2005 issue of New York Magazine.
After their 1998 merger the then-newly rechristened Loews Cineplex held onto the following former Manhattan Cineplex Odeon locations:
the Art Greenwich, at 12th and Greenwich, due to the landlord’s plans to convert the space into an Equinox gym (after closing briefly, the theatre operated as an indie – booked by Creative Enrtertainment – from March of ‘99 through May of '00, before shuttering its doors for good);
for reasons unknown (it certainly wasn’t due to overall profits), the Worldwide Cinemas on 50th between 8th and 9th Avenues;
the Coronet Cinemas at 3rd and 59th, because of the value to developers of the land they stood on;
and the Regency at Broadway and 67th, which was already operating on borrowed time when the terms of the merger were being hashed out and was demolished during the spring of ‘99.
The art films booked into the AMC Empire are, for the most part, a success, John, but their decision to show such films is driven by having a major competitor for and not being able to book every major studio film. If they could and they had the run of the Times Square booking zone, AMC would drop the specialty product – with maybe select exceptions – in a heartbeat.
Peter Elson has instituted a discount admission system at the Metro Twin as well, with the Metro Pass, in denominations of $60 for 10 admissions or $100 for 20 admissions. I imagine, given the high cost of moviegoing (and everything else) in this city, they’re selling at a good pace.
1999 was such a remarkable year in film – with ‘American Beauty’, ‘Fight Club’, ‘The Matrix’ (which I wasn’t a big fan of, but I respected the break it represented from traditional blockbusters), ‘Being John Malkovich’, ‘Three Kings’, and ‘The Blair Witch Project’, just to name a handful – that, to me, it seemed as if Hollywood was on the edge of a precipice much as it was in the late 1960s and the ‘film school generation’ at the time began laying waste to the stale machines the studios were becoming. Of course, history didn’t wind up repeating itself (at least not on a long-term basis; only for that one year, as it turned out) but I think there’s a chance of such a revolution, as it was, taking place again if audiences continue to send a message by refusing to waste their time and money on – and doing so in larger and larger numbers – the dreck currently filling so many multiplex screens across the country.
I took a series of photographs of the Beekman’s exterior last Saturday. Unfortunately I don’t own a scanner so I can’t post them online, but if worse comes to worse at least I’ll always have those pictures – and my memories…
I suspect the idea of providing receipts as opposed to more traditional tickets is related to Landmark FINALLY getting its in-theatre self-service ticket kiosk system in some semblance of working order.
Excellent point, John. I’d think creating an entry for the original Beacon Hill Theatre, based on the information provided on this page, would be simple enough and best for clarification’s sake, as this particular Beacon Hill Theatre and the one constructed originally on or near the same location were two separate structures with, their geographical connection notwithstanding, unique histories. A quick glance of the initial summarized history at the top of the page (alternative name for the later, original single-screen Beacon Hill Theatre demolished in ‘69 included) would be a dead giveaway as to what theatre was being discussed, as would the screen counts under the general listing on the page prior.
The photo TC provided a link to is of the original Beacon Hill Theatre, which was demolished in 1969 to make way for the One Beacon Street office tower; to the facing right of the tower’s frontage, the subterranean three-screen Beacon Hill Cinemas were built.
I sent the following e-mail yesterday to Lou Lumenick, a NY Post film critic who wrote articles on consecutive days this past winter, discussing the demolition threats looming over the Beekman and the Cinema 1-2-3; I’ll post his response as soon as it arrives in my inbox.
Dear Mr. Lumenick,
During the winter, you wrote two excellent articles, bringing to the public’s attention the threat of demolition looming over the Beekman and Cinema 1-2-3. While that threat seems to have temporarily subsided in the case of the Cinema 1-2-3 (the deal for a high-rise to be built on the property having temporaily fallen through, giving the Cinema 1-2-3 an apparent reprieve of a few years, at least), the Beekman is still in imminent danger (word has it that the Beekman is scheduled to close sometime in June). Meanwhile, little or no news has come about efforts to preserve either of these theatres and to spare them from the wrecking ball. As you well know, we’ve lost too many valuable cinemas and/or past or present filmgoing venues over the last few years (the Sutton, the Art Greenwich, the Murray Hill, the Gotham, and, as I type these words, the Variety, downtown on 3rd Avenue near 14th) and too few people seem to care or are aware of the character this city is losing when one of these theatres closes its doors for good.
Anything further you can do (i.e., perhaps in writing another article, somehow spreading the word otherwise, or maybe contacting Harvey Weinstein again as a follow-up; his passion and his influence can truly go a long way towards saving the Beekman and Cinema 1-2-3) would be much appreciated.
Keep up the great work and thank you for your time.
I sent the following e-mail yesterday to Lou Lumenick, a NY Post film critic who wrote articles on consecutive days this past winter, discussing the demolition threats looming over the Cinema 1-2-3 and the Beekman; I’ll post his response as soon as it arrives in my inbox.
Dear Mr. Lumenick,
During the winter, you wrote two excellent articles, bringing to the public’s attention the threat of demolition looming over the Beekman and Cinema 1-2-3. While that threat seems to have temporarily subsided in the case of the Cinema 1-2-3 (the deal for a high-rise to be built on the property having temporaily fallen through, giving the Cinema 1-2-3 an apparent reprieve of a few years, at least), the Beekman is still in imminent danger (word has it that the Beekman is scheduled to close sometime in June). Meanwhile, little or no news has come about efforts to preserve either of these theatres and to spare them from the wrecking ball. As you well know, we’ve lost too many valuable cinemas and/or past or present filmgoing venues over the last few years (the Sutton, the Art Greenwich, the Murray Hill, the Gotham, and, as I type these words, the Variety, downtown on 3rd Avenue near 14th) and too few people seem to care or are aware of the character this city is losing when one of these theatres closes its doors for good.
Anything further you can do (i.e., perhaps in writing another article, somehow spreading the word otherwise, or maybe contacting Harvey Weinstein again as a follow-up; his passion and his influence can truly go a long way towards saving the Beekman and Cinema 1-2-3) would be much appreciated.
Keep up the great work and thank you for your time.
Prior to its Landmark Theatres days, the Cecchi Gori was operated by AMC; does anyone know how it became part of that chain? In the present time, at least, that seems like an obvious odd fit…
Apparently, the parking lot which the Indian Hills was demolished to make way for is barely used. So much for the sense of ‘urgency’ on Methodist Health Systems' behalf…
On occasion, when the Ziegfeld opens with an exclusive, the old Walter Reade logo (the Ziegfeld belonged to that chain until the Cineplex Odeon buyout in ‘87) is still used, albeit with a 'Clearview Cinemas’ banner posted above. Also, up until the time when it was triplexed in ‘88 (and perhaps for a short time after – I can’t quite recall), when the Cinemas 1-2-3 had a solo run, the Cinema 5/Rugoff logo was utilized.
More than a bit ironic that posted on the front of the building was a sign reading ‘This is not a theater’ when anyone walking around the corner onto LaGrange Street could clearly see that it was a theater which was being demolished.
The Cecchi Gori family has been looking to unload the Fine Arts Theatre for well over a year; perhaps they or the realtor representing the attempted sale of the property felt they’d be able to move it easier if it was unoccupied. If that’s the case, I’d have to think its prospects of ever again operating as a film venue are tenuous at best.
‘The Fantasticks’ had its run at the nearby Sullivan Street Playhouse, at 181 Sullivan Street.
I walked by the Fair Theater this weekend, on my way to visiting with some friends who were in town, and saw a vintage one-sheet in an exterior case for the 1974 Lee Marvin-O.J. Simpson flick ‘The Klansman’. It looks as if it’s been on display since that time; can anyone confirm this?
File under ‘Huh?’ – today’s ad in the Arts & Leisure section of the NY Times makes mention of this week’s upcoming engagement of ‘East of Eden’… at the Film Forum AT 57 WATTS STREET… never mind that Film Forum moved out of that address in 1989/90 and that the building was torn down shortly thereafter…
Thanks for filling in those blanks for me, Ken and Michael, and in such expedient fashion…
An exterior shot of the former Park & 86th Street Cinemas in its present incarnation as a Duane Reade pharmacy is featured on page 31 of the June 6, 2005 issue of New York Magazine.
Hi, Robert – to belatedly answer your question (if it’s long-since been answered, apologies), yes, all of those theatres are on this site.
After their 1998 merger the then-newly rechristened Loews Cineplex held onto the following former Manhattan Cineplex Odeon locations:
What a beautiful exterior. When did the Loma close for business as a cinema? Did it operate mostly as a part of chains or as an indie?
The art films booked into the AMC Empire are, for the most part, a success, John, but their decision to show such films is driven by having a major competitor for and not being able to book every major studio film. If they could and they had the run of the Times Square booking zone, AMC would drop the specialty product – with maybe select exceptions – in a heartbeat.
The Cinema Studio is on this site, Erik, but not under the name you’d expect; it’s listed as Studio Cinemas – see /theaters/6498/
Peter Elson has instituted a discount admission system at the Metro Twin as well, with the Metro Pass, in denominations of $60 for 10 admissions or $100 for 20 admissions. I imagine, given the high cost of moviegoing (and everything else) in this city, they’re selling at a good pace.
1999 was such a remarkable year in film – with ‘American Beauty’, ‘Fight Club’, ‘The Matrix’ (which I wasn’t a big fan of, but I respected the break it represented from traditional blockbusters), ‘Being John Malkovich’, ‘Three Kings’, and ‘The Blair Witch Project’, just to name a handful – that, to me, it seemed as if Hollywood was on the edge of a precipice much as it was in the late 1960s and the ‘film school generation’ at the time began laying waste to the stale machines the studios were becoming. Of course, history didn’t wind up repeating itself (at least not on a long-term basis; only for that one year, as it turned out) but I think there’s a chance of such a revolution, as it was, taking place again if audiences continue to send a message by refusing to waste their time and money on – and doing so in larger and larger numbers – the dreck currently filling so many multiplex screens across the country.
I took a series of photographs of the Beekman’s exterior last Saturday. Unfortunately I don’t own a scanner so I can’t post them online, but if worse comes to worse at least I’ll always have those pictures – and my memories…
Typical Loews State, Don. There was one week about six months ago where all four screens were booked with Bollywood films.
I suspect the idea of providing receipts as opposed to more traditional tickets is related to Landmark FINALLY getting its in-theatre self-service ticket kiosk system in some semblance of working order.
Excellent point, John. I’d think creating an entry for the original Beacon Hill Theatre, based on the information provided on this page, would be simple enough and best for clarification’s sake, as this particular Beacon Hill Theatre and the one constructed originally on or near the same location were two separate structures with, their geographical connection notwithstanding, unique histories. A quick glance of the initial summarized history at the top of the page (alternative name for the later, original single-screen Beacon Hill Theatre demolished in ‘69 included) would be a dead giveaway as to what theatre was being discussed, as would the screen counts under the general listing on the page prior.
The photo TC provided a link to is of the original Beacon Hill Theatre, which was demolished in 1969 to make way for the One Beacon Street office tower; to the facing right of the tower’s frontage, the subterranean three-screen Beacon Hill Cinemas were built.
I sent the following e-mail yesterday to Lou Lumenick, a NY Post film critic who wrote articles on consecutive days this past winter, discussing the demolition threats looming over the Beekman and the Cinema 1-2-3; I’ll post his response as soon as it arrives in my inbox.
Dear Mr. Lumenick,
During the winter, you wrote two excellent articles, bringing to the public’s attention the threat of demolition looming over the Beekman and Cinema 1-2-3. While that threat seems to have temporarily subsided in the case of the Cinema 1-2-3 (the deal for a high-rise to be built on the property having temporaily fallen through, giving the Cinema 1-2-3 an apparent reprieve of a few years, at least), the Beekman is still in imminent danger (word has it that the Beekman is scheduled to close sometime in June). Meanwhile, little or no news has come about efforts to preserve either of these theatres and to spare them from the wrecking ball. As you well know, we’ve lost too many valuable cinemas and/or past or present filmgoing venues over the last few years (the Sutton, the Art Greenwich, the Murray Hill, the Gotham, and, as I type these words, the Variety, downtown on 3rd Avenue near 14th) and too few people seem to care or are aware of the character this city is losing when one of these theatres closes its doors for good.
Anything further you can do (i.e., perhaps in writing another article, somehow spreading the word otherwise, or maybe contacting Harvey Weinstein again as a follow-up; his passion and his influence can truly go a long way towards saving the Beekman and Cinema 1-2-3) would be much appreciated.
Keep up the great work and thank you for your time.
I sent the following e-mail yesterday to Lou Lumenick, a NY Post film critic who wrote articles on consecutive days this past winter, discussing the demolition threats looming over the Cinema 1-2-3 and the Beekman; I’ll post his response as soon as it arrives in my inbox.
Dear Mr. Lumenick,
During the winter, you wrote two excellent articles, bringing to the public’s attention the threat of demolition looming over the Beekman and Cinema 1-2-3. While that threat seems to have temporarily subsided in the case of the Cinema 1-2-3 (the deal for a high-rise to be built on the property having temporaily fallen through, giving the Cinema 1-2-3 an apparent reprieve of a few years, at least), the Beekman is still in imminent danger (word has it that the Beekman is scheduled to close sometime in June). Meanwhile, little or no news has come about efforts to preserve either of these theatres and to spare them from the wrecking ball. As you well know, we’ve lost too many valuable cinemas and/or past or present filmgoing venues over the last few years (the Sutton, the Art Greenwich, the Murray Hill, the Gotham, and, as I type these words, the Variety, downtown on 3rd Avenue near 14th) and too few people seem to care or are aware of the character this city is losing when one of these theatres closes its doors for good.
Anything further you can do (i.e., perhaps in writing another article, somehow spreading the word otherwise, or maybe contacting Harvey Weinstein again as a follow-up; his passion and his influence can truly go a long way towards saving the Beekman and Cinema 1-2-3) would be much appreciated.
Keep up the great work and thank you for your time.
Prior to its Landmark Theatres days, the Cecchi Gori was operated by AMC; does anyone know how it became part of that chain? In the present time, at least, that seems like an obvious odd fit…
Apparently, the parking lot which the Indian Hills was demolished to make way for is barely used. So much for the sense of ‘urgency’ on Methodist Health Systems' behalf…
Apologies for the redundancy between my posting and yours, Warren. I was typing away as you wrote and posted your message.
On occasion, when the Ziegfeld opens with an exclusive, the old Walter Reade logo (the Ziegfeld belonged to that chain until the Cineplex Odeon buyout in ‘87) is still used, albeit with a 'Clearview Cinemas’ banner posted above. Also, up until the time when it was triplexed in ‘88 (and perhaps for a short time after – I can’t quite recall), when the Cinemas 1-2-3 had a solo run, the Cinema 5/Rugoff logo was utilized.
More than a bit ironic that posted on the front of the building was a sign reading ‘This is not a theater’ when anyone walking around the corner onto LaGrange Street could clearly see that it was a theater which was being demolished.
The Cecchi Gori family has been looking to unload the Fine Arts Theatre for well over a year; perhaps they or the realtor representing the attempted sale of the property felt they’d be able to move it easier if it was unoccupied. If that’s the case, I’d have to think its prospects of ever again operating as a film venue are tenuous at best.