Glad to have you back also, Ed. Although the Frisco/Tomcat entrance is further east, my suspicion is that the Roxy used both the Frisco and the two bookstores at ground level and then upper floors as well, since it had three screens. I think they are two different buildings, but odder things have happened on this block.
If they can avoid playing the same films as Lincoln Plaza, Lincoln Center and Lincoln Square, they can succeed. Don’t forget that Landmark’s owner, Mark Cuban, also owns Magnolia Film and can provide himself area exclusives the same way IFC and Cohen do in Greenwich Village.
Ed, I don’t know understand why photos from the area after the theatres started closing are so rare. At least we know that the Roxy near the Empire was already there in 1971 and still there after the Anco closed in 1988. I suspect the Roxy next to the New Amsterdam became the Tomcat/Rick Nelson in 1985, in which case it is already listed on CT.
bigjoe59, it is a growing neighborhood full of bars and restaurants with several new condos going up. The area is already so popular that that the community board gets constant late night noise complaints from local residents.
Featured prominently in recreation in the new HBO series “THE DEUCE”. The Apollo and others are also featured in the series pilot episode with meticulous detail, circa 1971.
I think it was a double feature of “UPTIGHT” and “RIOT”, August 11, 1971. The problem is that the Roxy Burlesk advertised as being at 212 West 42nd street putting on the others side of the New Amsterdam. If you look at the featured photo above on this page you will see a sign for “4 features” on the east side of the New Amsterdam. Could there have been two locations for the Roxy Burlesk at different times, one on the east and another on the west at Cine 42?
It was not really overnight. If you look at the transition of European cinema from the fifties to cheap American exploitation films sold as ‘art house’ during the same period, the two markets became very mixed. Skin flicks have always been around. They just got more graphic after the courts labeled films as protected free speech. “WAYS OF LOVE: THE MIRACLE”(1950) and “I AM CURIOUS (YELLOW)” (1969) were two landmark cases. The X rating backfired when it became a selling point, further muddying the market between ‘art house’ and ‘sexploitation’.
bigjoe59, Andy Warhol’s “LONESOME COWBOYS” was considered an art film and changed the theatre’s profile forever when it discovered a lucrative gay porn audience. The World 49th St. had a similar trajectory, going from more wholesome classics like “THE BICYCLE THIEF”, to then racy fare like “BITTER RICE”, and ending up with “DEEP THROAT”.
It looks like it did not do well anywhere. War pictures have no legs. Even “SAVING PRIVATE RYAN” dropped badly after the first few weeks while adding more screens.
“CHITTY” played on both, but Aquamarine (Twin 2) was on the left and Driftwood (Twin 1) was on the right. Driftwood had more seats.
Aeterna, thanks for the “HOTEL” shots!
Yes, it closed in 1984.
With eight screens I imagine they will play anything they can get.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfTVQp4CeRg
And this; http://timessquareblue.tumblr.com/image/119030752029
Ed, check out this wide entrance; http://timessquareblue.tumblr.com/image/155180126589
Glad to have you back also, Ed. Although the Frisco/Tomcat entrance is further east, my suspicion is that the Roxy used both the Frisco and the two bookstores at ground level and then upper floors as well, since it had three screens. I think they are two different buildings, but odder things have happened on this block.
If they can avoid playing the same films as Lincoln Plaza, Lincoln Center and Lincoln Square, they can succeed. Don’t forget that Landmark’s owner, Mark Cuban, also owns Magnolia Film and can provide himself area exclusives the same way IFC and Cohen do in Greenwich Village.
Ed, I don’t know understand why photos from the area after the theatres started closing are so rare. At least we know that the Roxy near the Empire was already there in 1971 and still there after the Anco closed in 1988. I suspect the Roxy next to the New Amsterdam became the Tomcat/Rick Nelson in 1985, in which case it is already listed on CT.
Ripshin, if it’s not the Globe, you might be thinking of the restaurant once inside the Hotel Place St. Michel.
bigjoe59, it is a growing neighborhood full of bars and restaurants with several new condos going up. The area is already so popular that that the community board gets constant late night noise complaints from local residents.
Folks, check out this Roxy, EAST of the New Amsterdam. http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/30/photos/6838
Featured prominently in recreation in the new HBO series “THE DEUCE”. The Apollo and others are also featured in the series pilot episode with meticulous detail, circa 1971.
The new HBO series “THE DEUCE” recreates the sleaziest era starting with 1971.
I think it was a double feature of “UPTIGHT” and “RIOT”, August 11, 1971. The problem is that the Roxy Burlesk advertised as being at 212 West 42nd street putting on the others side of the New Amsterdam. If you look at the featured photo above on this page you will see a sign for “4 features” on the east side of the New Amsterdam. Could there have been two locations for the Roxy Burlesk at different times, one on the east and another on the west at Cine 42?
Why would you ask that question here, bigjoe59? Union Square is the only 4DX house in NYC and it IS a stupid rip-off.
It was not really overnight. If you look at the transition of European cinema from the fifties to cheap American exploitation films sold as ‘art house’ during the same period, the two markets became very mixed. Skin flicks have always been around. They just got more graphic after the courts labeled films as protected free speech. “WAYS OF LOVE: THE MIRACLE”(1950) and “I AM CURIOUS (YELLOW)” (1969) were two landmark cases. The X rating backfired when it became a selling point, further muddying the market between ‘art house’ and ‘sexploitation’.
It was called Cinema de Paris alternatively from 1935 to 1942 depending on the product being run.
bigjoe59, Andy Warhol’s “LONESOME COWBOYS” was considered an art film and changed the theatre’s profile forever when it discovered a lucrative gay porn audience. The World 49th St. had a similar trajectory, going from more wholesome classics like “THE BICYCLE THIEF”, to then racy fare like “BITTER RICE”, and ending up with “DEEP THROAT”.
It was Cinema de Paris for at least eight years.
Nope. You will still need some vomit smell repellent. It is Leicester Square after all.
Diluted day-old Coca-Cola. The cologne of theatre managers.
Does it really matter if the projection does not fill the screen anyway?
“BACK TO THE FUTURE” played the AMC Lakes Mall. This theatre had not opened yet nor would AMC agree to date the same film at a theatre so close.
It looks like it did not do well anywhere. War pictures have no legs. Even “SAVING PRIVATE RYAN” dropped badly after the first few weeks while adding more screens.