…and, pardon me for writing this, but f*** NYU. Growing up in Boston, I thought Harvard was as tyrannical and land-hungry as a large academic institution could possibly be, but NYU has the vaunted halls of crimson beat by a country mile…
Peeked through the tarp covering part of the former exterior and saw nothing much remaining, save for some of the (now) non-descript interior walls and an ‘Exit’ sign partially dangling above a doorway. A perfectly viable theatre, reduced to rubble for absolutely no reason whatsoever. This is one of the darkest period for the preservation of NYC movie theatres, both recent and long past; too bad more people just don’t seem to care as this city I’m still somehow proud to call home is quickly having its character sucked away…
Does anyone know of a newsstand or bookstore in NYC which stocks Film Journal International? I spent the better part of Saturday afternoon, trying to find a place which does, to no avail. I’d love to have a copy of the June print edition.
I presume, hardbop, that any of the more obscure titles AMC books into the Empire, hardbop, are just gravy; that is, any money they gross is welcome and the business they don’t draw is negated to some degree (whether or not to an overall profit for all 25 screens in total) by the Hollywood product they show in the other auditoriums. Some of the indie-type/specialty films do fairly well (I remember ‘A Mighty Wind’ selling out several shows during its opening weekend a couple of years ago and seeing ‘Better Luck Tomorrow’ around that time with a near-capacity, very enthusiastic group of fellow moviegoers) but the more obvious niche films are likely just there to fill space (and screens).
Fantastic article, Andreas. It answers every question I had about the Waverly/IFC Center and has me even more excited for its opening! Thank you!!! (For the record, if the image on the IFC Center web site – http://www.ifccenter.com – is accurate, the opening attractions will be ‘Me and You and Everyone We Know’, ‘The Ballad of Jack and Rose’, and an Errol Morris retrospective… can’t wait… :–)
One quirk (or, of course, more accurately, one of SEVERAL quirks) of the Harris and the other 42nd Street grindhouses: the to-the-minute starting times given for their films at each theatre’s box office. While their movie clock listings featured showtimes were, by and large, standard and typical of most other cinemas (i.e. – 10:15, 2:15, 6:10, and 10:10), the times given at the box office gave, what I presume, were the EXACT starting times (10:15, 2:13, 6:11, and 10:09). Does anyone know how far back this ‘tradition’ dated, why this was done, and whether it was due to some type of contractual obligations with the distributors and/or the ‘legitimate’ Times Square moviehouses?
Some remembrances of the Astor Plaza – and some movie theatres of Times Square past and present, along with a few inaccuracies (the Crowne Plaza, which is one block north, being noted as having replaced the Warner Twin/Strand; the current Roxy Delicatessen is actually located a couple of doors down on Broadway between 46th/47th from the one located in the former lobby of the since-demolished Movieland): http://www.awfulagent.com/misc/astor.html The flaws in the piece notwithstanding, it’s a nice overall tribute.
An image of how the re-christened Cinerama auditorium of the former Warner Twin appeared (and, I’d guess, as well, in similar design the upstairs Penthouse and backstage Orleans), post-retrofitting, in 1968, accompanied by a brief article from the August 5, 1968 issue of Boxoffice magazine, can be found at the bottom of this page: http://cinerama.topcities.com/ctwarner.htm At the top, one can catch a small glimpse of how a portion of the lobby looked at the time, followed by a series of exterior shots and images of some of the projection equipment used in the presentation of Cinerama-based productions at the Warner.
An image of how the re-christened Cinerama auditorium of the former Warner Twin appeared (and, I’d guess, as well, in similar design the upstairs Penthouse and backstage Orleans), post-retrofitting, in 1968, accompanied by a brief article from the August 5, 1968 issue of Boxoffice magazine, can be found at the bottom of this page: http://cinerama.topcities.com/ctwarner.htm At the top, one can catch a small glimpse of how a portion of the lobby looked at the time, followed by a series of exterior shots and images of some of the projection equipment used in the presentation of Cinerama-based productions at the Warner. (I’m also posting this message, appropriately enough, on the Strand Theatre – /theaters/2975/ – page.)
I hate to say it, but why didn’t the owner just tear down the entire building in one shot and get it over with? What the hell is he trying to prove, anyway?
It’s official – as Dave-Bronx indicated within his first post from this past April 21st, effective today the New York Twin is now officially a Clearview Cinema property. (This also represents Clearview’s first assumption of a movie theatre property in Manhattan since they took over the sites Loews was forced to divest itself of in 1998 as per the clearance of its merger with Cineplex Odeon.)
It’s an admitted longshot, but does anyone know how to get in touch with Harvey Weinstein? After all, he was the most vocal and best-known proponent of saving the Beekman and Cinema 1-2-3 when their demolition threats were announced this past winter, stating he’d do everything in his power to save them. Neighborhood groups are helpful but, at times, can only do so much. Where is Harvey Weinstein right about now and the other New Yorkers – the ones with clout where it matters, the ones with NAMES – who can make the most influence and save these theatres? In the meantime, I’m going to leave a voice message with Lou Lumenick at the Post this weekend – the paper’s lead film critic who brought the news of what these theatres were facing to the public at-large – and see if he can run a follow-up or get involved to a further degree.
As far as I know, there hasn’t been any work done to the Embassy/Mayfair since it closed. The lobby – as difficult as it is to peer in through all the bills plastered across the boarded-up entranceway – appears to still be intact and in decent condition.
I never noticed this before in other images or recalled it in my own memories, but in the 1986 photo Thomas linked to in his post this past Sunday, there appears to be a dash after the ‘4’ in the signage. If there’s to be any credence taken in that, seemingly Peter Elson considered carving at least one additional screen out of either the orchestra or the former balcony.
Of course, contrary to what they may believe, it IS Regal’s responsibility to maintain and consistently secure the Marboro, even though they’re selling the property. Totally clueless, totally helpless…
There’s a partial illustration/photograph of a portion of the exterior of the Guild 45th Theatre under the month of May in the 2005 Landmark Theatres calendar. Even at this incredibly late time of the year, I’d think it’s worth a shot, Mark, to see if your neighborhood Landmark Theatre has an extra copy kicking around or to perhaps contact the corporate office of Landmark and find out if they have one to spare.
Thanks for your posting and the info you provided, Jimmy. For you or anyone else who is in the know – to what end is work being done in the former Eric’s Place Theater space? For reuse as a cinema? For other perfoming arts use? For retail or other purposes?
Not that it’s extraordinarily relevant to this page in general, but to clarify Bway’s post from this past February 17th, the New Amsterdam has hosted in its post-renovation years a stage production of ‘King David’ and its long-running ‘Lion King’; ‘Aida’’s run was exclusively held at the Palace Theater.
This drive-in actually closed and was demolished sometime in the early ‘80s. I clearly remember standing on the Wellington MBTA bus platform, waiting with my parents for a bus and watching the Michael Keaton comedy 'Night Shift’ from across the parking lots and highway. A local office for Mellon Bank currently occupies the property.
The seats from the former 34th Street Showplace in Manhattan are currently in use at the Wayne Preakness Cinemas.
…and, pardon me for writing this, but f*** NYU. Growing up in Boston, I thought Harvard was as tyrannical and land-hungry as a large academic institution could possibly be, but NYU has the vaunted halls of crimson beat by a country mile…
Peeked through the tarp covering part of the former exterior and saw nothing much remaining, save for some of the (now) non-descript interior walls and an ‘Exit’ sign partially dangling above a doorway. A perfectly viable theatre, reduced to rubble for absolutely no reason whatsoever. This is one of the darkest period for the preservation of NYC movie theatres, both recent and long past; too bad more people just don’t seem to care as this city I’m still somehow proud to call home is quickly having its character sucked away…
Does anyone know of a newsstand or bookstore in NYC which stocks Film Journal International? I spent the better part of Saturday afternoon, trying to find a place which does, to no avail. I’d love to have a copy of the June print edition.
I presume, hardbop, that any of the more obscure titles AMC books into the Empire, hardbop, are just gravy; that is, any money they gross is welcome and the business they don’t draw is negated to some degree (whether or not to an overall profit for all 25 screens in total) by the Hollywood product they show in the other auditoriums. Some of the indie-type/specialty films do fairly well (I remember ‘A Mighty Wind’ selling out several shows during its opening weekend a couple of years ago and seeing ‘Better Luck Tomorrow’ around that time with a near-capacity, very enthusiastic group of fellow moviegoers) but the more obvious niche films are likely just there to fill space (and screens).
The Warner Twin/Strand closed on February 8, 1987, hardbop.
Fantastic article, Andreas. It answers every question I had about the Waverly/IFC Center and has me even more excited for its opening! Thank you!!! (For the record, if the image on the IFC Center web site – http://www.ifccenter.com – is accurate, the opening attractions will be ‘Me and You and Everyone We Know’, ‘The Ballad of Jack and Rose’, and an Errol Morris retrospective… can’t wait… :–)
One quirk (or, of course, more accurately, one of SEVERAL quirks) of the Harris and the other 42nd Street grindhouses: the to-the-minute starting times given for their films at each theatre’s box office. While their movie clock listings featured showtimes were, by and large, standard and typical of most other cinemas (i.e. – 10:15, 2:15, 6:10, and 10:10), the times given at the box office gave, what I presume, were the EXACT starting times (10:15, 2:13, 6:11, and 10:09). Does anyone know how far back this ‘tradition’ dated, why this was done, and whether it was due to some type of contractual obligations with the distributors and/or the ‘legitimate’ Times Square moviehouses?
Some remembrances of the Astor Plaza – and some movie theatres of Times Square past and present, along with a few inaccuracies (the Crowne Plaza, which is one block north, being noted as having replaced the Warner Twin/Strand; the current Roxy Delicatessen is actually located a couple of doors down on Broadway between 46th/47th from the one located in the former lobby of the since-demolished Movieland): http://www.awfulagent.com/misc/astor.html The flaws in the piece notwithstanding, it’s a nice overall tribute.
An image of how the re-christened Cinerama auditorium of the former Warner Twin appeared (and, I’d guess, as well, in similar design the upstairs Penthouse and backstage Orleans), post-retrofitting, in 1968, accompanied by a brief article from the August 5, 1968 issue of Boxoffice magazine, can be found at the bottom of this page: http://cinerama.topcities.com/ctwarner.htm At the top, one can catch a small glimpse of how a portion of the lobby looked at the time, followed by a series of exterior shots and images of some of the projection equipment used in the presentation of Cinerama-based productions at the Warner.
An image of how the re-christened Cinerama auditorium of the former Warner Twin appeared (and, I’d guess, as well, in similar design the upstairs Penthouse and backstage Orleans), post-retrofitting, in 1968, accompanied by a brief article from the August 5, 1968 issue of Boxoffice magazine, can be found at the bottom of this page: http://cinerama.topcities.com/ctwarner.htm At the top, one can catch a small glimpse of how a portion of the lobby looked at the time, followed by a series of exterior shots and images of some of the projection equipment used in the presentation of Cinerama-based productions at the Warner. (I’m also posting this message, appropriately enough, on the Strand Theatre – /theaters/2975/ – page.)
What was the physical appearance of the lobby and auditoriums of the Warner Twin after all those renovations over the years had been brought forth?
The RKO Warner Twin, saps, was the former Strand Theatre – /theaters/2975/
I hate to say it, but why didn’t the owner just tear down the entire building in one shot and get it over with? What the hell is he trying to prove, anyway?
It’s official – as Dave-Bronx indicated within his first post from this past April 21st, effective today the New York Twin is now officially a Clearview Cinema property. (This also represents Clearview’s first assumption of a movie theatre property in Manhattan since they took over the sites Loews was forced to divest itself of in 1998 as per the clearance of its merger with Cineplex Odeon.)
It’s an admitted longshot, but does anyone know how to get in touch with Harvey Weinstein? After all, he was the most vocal and best-known proponent of saving the Beekman and Cinema 1-2-3 when their demolition threats were announced this past winter, stating he’d do everything in his power to save them. Neighborhood groups are helpful but, at times, can only do so much. Where is Harvey Weinstein right about now and the other New Yorkers – the ones with clout where it matters, the ones with NAMES – who can make the most influence and save these theatres? In the meantime, I’m going to leave a voice message with Lou Lumenick at the Post this weekend – the paper’s lead film critic who brought the news of what these theatres were facing to the public at-large – and see if he can run a follow-up or get involved to a further degree.
As far as I know, there hasn’t been any work done to the Embassy/Mayfair since it closed. The lobby – as difficult as it is to peer in through all the bills plastered across the boarded-up entranceway – appears to still be intact and in decent condition.
I never noticed this before in other images or recalled it in my own memories, but in the 1986 photo Thomas linked to in his post this past Sunday, there appears to be a dash after the ‘4’ in the signage. If there’s to be any credence taken in that, seemingly Peter Elson considered carving at least one additional screen out of either the orchestra or the former balcony.
Of course, contrary to what they may believe, it IS Regal’s responsibility to maintain and consistently secure the Marboro, even though they’re selling the property. Totally clueless, totally helpless…
There’s a partial illustration/photograph of a portion of the exterior of the Guild 45th Theatre under the month of May in the 2005 Landmark Theatres calendar. Even at this incredibly late time of the year, I’d think it’s worth a shot, Mark, to see if your neighborhood Landmark Theatre has an extra copy kicking around or to perhaps contact the corporate office of Landmark and find out if they have one to spare.
Any news to report on the present state of and how the future of the Alexandria stands?
Thanks for your posting and the info you provided, Jimmy. For you or anyone else who is in the know – to what end is work being done in the former Eric’s Place Theater space? For reuse as a cinema? For other perfoming arts use? For retail or other purposes?
Not that it’s extraordinarily relevant to this page in general, but to clarify Bway’s post from this past February 17th, the New Amsterdam has hosted in its post-renovation years a stage production of ‘King David’ and its long-running ‘Lion King’; ‘Aida’’s run was exclusively held at the Palace Theater.
The former GC sixplex at Shoppers World closed, I think, sometime around ‘94 or '95.
This drive-in actually closed and was demolished sometime in the early ‘80s. I clearly remember standing on the Wellington MBTA bus platform, waiting with my parents for a bus and watching the Michael Keaton comedy 'Night Shift’ from across the parking lots and highway. A local office for Mellon Bank currently occupies the property.