Palladium Times Square
1515 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
1515 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
32 people
favorited this theater
Showing 551 - 573 of 573 comments
It is stupefying when you see how arrogant these architects are and how much money they make and they come up with buildings without an ounce of imagination or style(see what they’re doing to Paris.)
I agree with you about the splitting up of the theaters but I always hoped they would restore the Criterion and the Rivoli. And the original theaters of the Strand and the Loew’s State were probalby there intact underneath all the modernizations waiting to be discovered. I’d like to know about all the payoffs that go from the real estate developers to the Landmarks Comission to keep them from landmarking these priceless architectural jewels. The history of this in NY must be staggering.
Oh and Vincent I’m definatley in agreement of razing that monstosity of a building next door that definatley has no historical/architectual value. yes they can get rid of that too the replace a lot of grand old theatres with hotels, and condos these days as if New York needs that much more residential space.
Vincent. I’ve been to all of those theatres you’ve mentioned with the exception of the above mentioned Astor HOtel. and yes granted it is a modern building with no historical and definely no architectual value but in an age of the impersonal and unattractive multiplexes that are springing up all over the city it’s a treasure to have at least one or two singled screened cinemas that are kept up nice to see event films without another films sound leaking into your auditorium.So yes one less singled screen is a tradgedy for me even if they twin or multiplex this theatre like they did the Rivoli,Strand,Criterion even the State as early as 1968 is as good as a theatre being razed because sometimes you desroy the intregrity of a theatre building.
I can’t believe these comments about this oversized bunker. This only opened in the 70’s and replaced one of the truly great buildings of New York, The Astor Hotel. This theater has absolutely no historical or architectural value. I guess these people were never in the Strand, Criterion or Rivoli. May the entire monstrosity of a building be razed along with the Mariott(5 theaters lost) next door(whose only contribution to New York is an atrium sadly convenient for suicides.)
Savage, I found it. Thanks so much. The pictures on the site are great. I’ve taken my own pictures of the Ziefeld, Film Forum but haven’t got any of Astor, and in the event I don’t get there before it closes. I still can’t believe it. Wouldn’t it be great if The Astor had a farewell film festival, featuring Big Screen Classics like Star Wars, Ben-Hur, River Kwai, etc. When that theater goes, so does a piece of classic cinema culture. I feel as if the multiplexes are the enemy. Thanks again.
Rhet, when you go on that site again and see the menu, click the french version at the top above the american flag and then click New York it’s definatley there try it and let me know if it doesn’t work i’ll walk you through it you just gotta see these pictures.
Savage, where are the pictures of the Astor located. I went on the site but could not find anything? BTW…I think the Astor closing is a blight on NY. It is one of the best theaters I ever went to. I saw Apocalypse Now, 2001, The Godfather there. I hate the feeling of multiplexes.
That should make Michael happy.
In response to above comment. The Worldwide Cinemas as reported by Variety is to become legitimate stages.brucec
What I’m not clear on – besides MTV being cold and corporate – is why their management doesn’t instead target the former Worldwide Cinemas on 50th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. Granted, it’s not in the heart of Times Square, but the space within that structure – 6 medium- to large-sized auditoriums – would seem to immediately lend itself better to studio space. (Besides, there was word a couple of years ago – the theater itself ceased operations in February of 2001 when Loews Cineplex immediately divested itself of several properties throughout North America when its bankruptcy at the time became official – that another company was interested in doing the same within that space; on a common-sense basis, if it was good for those individuals or that company, why wouldn’t it be good enough for MTV?)
Could someone who knows the closing date of this theater please post it here? I’d like to go back one more time. Thanks.
One more reason to dislike MTV.
I’ll never forget going to the Astor Plaza almost every weekend in the summer of 1977 and finding a seat as close to the screen as I could get to see “Star Wars”.
I forgot to mention because I was so excited at what I found that site is called “Silver Screens.com” and that they also have interior photos of the new 34th street cinemas on the west side. check it out if you are a true fan of cinemas like my self.
Hey I’ve got great news. well not that this theatre’s got a reprieve but that there is a site that has extrordinary photos of this cinema about six or seven of them maybe ten a couple of exterior shots and a load of interior shots of those enormous red curtains and that huge screen behind it. they have some shots with the curtains closed and some with them open at different angles I don’t know which ones to post. They also have some photos of the interiors and exteriors of the Zigfield including shots of the projection room, the Beekman interior and exterior they also have shots of the interiors of the Loew’s Kings and Jersey and the Stanley. the site was at silver screens. those pictures of the Astor Plaza important seeing as how it’s about to meet it’s doom.
I wonder if — shudder to think — the Ziegfeld isn’t too far off. :(
Another one bites the dust but I am not suprised, Loews is getting like UA taking viable theatres running them into the ground and selling them for other uses. The Elmwood, The Trylon, Oriental, Smithhaven Mall, The Walt Whitman and now The Astor Plaza and The State.
The information came from the company that has a contract for servicing of Projection equipment for the Loew’s company in the city. And most of the tenants on the ground floor at the 1515 Viacom building closed and moved out as of last week. Also the Loew’s State Theatre (4plex) in the Virgin Megastore is going tobe dropped too. My office is just down the street and in the last week a lot of things have changed in that building. Because Viacom has MTV and Comedy Central, they want some more high profile studio space in Times Square.
William — can you tell us where you heard this news?
Times Square will be lossing another theatre later this year, when Loew’s Astor Plaza Theatre closes. Plans call for the theatre to be turned into MTV studio space.
I saw one of the opening movies at this theatre “For Petes Sake” in 1974.Times Square at this time still had Loews State Twin, Cinerama and Penthouse,Criterion,Rivoli,Embassy,National, and the DeMille theatres. Its a shame that NYC did not save one of there Motion Picture Palaces in Times Sqaure. I know there are few theatres in the area that showed movies but they have been legitimate theatres for most of there lives. I think the studios should preserve both the Astor Plaza and Ziegfeld for premieres and other industry events.brucec
If the big exclusive celebrity-studded premier of the latest blockbuster doesn’t happen at the Ziegfield on West 54th street, it happens here at the Astor Plaza. A great huge house, with a rising mezzanine area at the reat of the auditorium (rather than a true balcony vaulted over the orchestra — similar to the Ziegfield in this respect). Not as lush as the Ziegfield, with a very modern and spare unadorned space, but top notch sound and projection and a real movie-theater feel due to the vastness inside.
Located just off Broadway on West 44th Street in the heart of the legitimate Theater District. Not counting the 40 screens on 42nd Street (between the AMC Empire and Loews EWalk theaters), the Astor Plaza and the new (and also subterranean Sony State 4 plex) are the only movie screens left in Times Square proper.
I believe when theatre was built,they also had noise and vibration problems from the Broadway IRT subway line in the theatre rear. The projection booth is located very close to the tracks.
With the Ziegfeld, Manhattan’s last true single screen movie palace. Long escalators down to a basement lobby and concession area, 1500+ seats, 70mm screen, Manhattan’s first Dolby sound system. Also the first Manhattan theater with a video game area perfect for the PacMan years. Built as the Reade theatre in 1971, it did not open due to union problems and was sold to Loews who opened it in 1973 with Death Wish or For Pete’s Sake as the opening attraction. Due to its location it never did the exclusive attractions the Ziegfeld did but nevertheless is still a great place to see a movie STAR WARS, COLORS, AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN.
A frightening concept is that studios are daring to open a picture like Gladiator at the Ziegfeld and the Astor Plaza at the same time. Broadway must retain a theater like this!