Someone else, I don’t know who, Al, ran the Bleecker as a move-over house for foreign and indie flicks (and the occasional, low-budget first-run film) for a brief time in 1991, before the space’s days as a movie theatre officially came to an end.
The former theatre space was completely gutted; nothing of it remains. I passed by one afternoon during the summer of 2002 and, peering in through an open door on 30th Avenue, could see the trace of the removed balcony on the right interior wall.
The Cinematographe lasted for a very short time, from February of 1992 until early 1993. The Vandam (and currently the Soho) Playhouse has been in existence since about 1996 or 1997.
The SoNo Cinema received some coverage in a June 1987 Newsweek article, discussing the struggles of revival cinemas across the U.S. in the face of the then-VCR boom.
Thanks for the information, Ron; interesting about the security situation. I am tempted to stop by and see if I can maybe explore the inside of the building at some point when I’m home during Christmas week, but I’d probably walk up to the unlocked front door, pull on it, open it, and then, after a moment’s hesitation walk away, afraid of being caught by the police; if I was with someone, I’d feel bold, but, on my own, in that kind of situation, not so much. All that being said, I do hope the building is secured before an act of vandalism, or worse, is committed.
Does anyone know if the Assembly Square Mall cinemas are still standing or if any definitive redevelopment plans have been announced? The last time I passed by, in late July, the theatre was in the same state Ron described in his posting on March 3rd, except the right glass entry doors were boarded up, due to a likely attempted break-in. (The left glass entry doors, as well as the box office, were untouched.)
The Film Forum was initially located in a loft space on West 88th Street, followed by moves to 80 Wooster Street (which also housed Anthology Film Archives, prior to their move to the Second Avenue Courthouse building; I’m pretty sure 80 Wooster has since been converted to residential space) and 15 Vandam Street, which currently houses the Soho Playhouse (and formerly the Thalia Soho and Le Cinematheque). The programming at 57 Watts Street was one screen of limited-run premieres and one screen of revivals; without the third screen, few of the premiere engagements moved to other theatres in town when their runs at the Film Forum ended.
(On a bit of a side note, does anyone know whether the 57 Watts Street space was built specifically for the Film Forum or, if not, what it previously housed?)
According to an article in the November 2007 issue of New York Construction, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Breast Imaging Center being built on the block where the Beekman once stood will house “imaging and radiology, diagnostic and testing, medical and surgical oncology, infusion and chemotherapy, psycho-social programs, mechanical and environmental services and ground-floor retail.” Somehow I think it’s safe to presume that the “ground-floor retail” won’t include a movie theatre of any type to replace a certain beloved and now-lost neighborhood cinema…
I walked by the Beekman and there hasn’t been any visible progress since my post from this past October 16th (and before then as well, I’d imagine). I have no idea what’s behind the hold-up, although the owner of the building isn’t known for being the easiest person to work with; perhaps some problems have cropped up as a result with the contractor(s) he hired to carry out the renovations.
I can’t confirm this – being in NYC – but it looks as if the Vine has ’re-opened', double-running ‘Enchanted’ with the El Capitan. It’s showing today at the El Capitan at 10 am, 1 pm, 4 pm, and 7 pm, and at the Vine at 4:30, 7 pm, and 9:20.
The Brandt Organization was one, I think, of the chains operating the 42nd Street theatres just before they closed; what were the others and which theatres were under their control?
I translated “Hoy Gran Estreno – Es Tu Momento”; literally, in English, it means “Today Great Premiere – Is Your Moment” – what this signifies, if anything at all, about what’s moving into the Metro Twin space, I have no clue…
Unless someone had the foresight to remove at least some of those elements, Howard, I fear to report they are all gone, but at least we have your photos to remember them by.
By the way, I walked past the Metro earlier this afternoon and the phrasing on the marquee reads “Hoy Gran Estreno – Es Tu Momento”. As I mentioned yesterday, my knowledge of Spanish is pretty poor; can anyone provide a translation?
I passed by the Metro last night and there was something in Spanish on all three sides of the marquee, with no mentioning of space still being available for lease, leading me to think a Latino restaurant or grocery or clothing store is moving in. When I’m in the neighborhood again this weekend, I’ll write down and later post on this site the words on the marquee, hoping someone can translate them. (Upon first look, from what limited knowledge I have of the Spanish language, there wasn’t any definite indication on what’s moving in, but I might be wrong.) Also, the tarp covering the view from the box office window and the doors were removed; there’s now a sheet of lumber obscuring the view from the box office, but the doors now offer a clear look at the interior of the theatre – it’s been all but gutted to the bare four walls, with a false stage at the front of the former downstairs auditorium, and construction lights throughout.
The Manhattan 1 & 2 was showing Bollywood films in 1998; Cineplex Odeon’s run ended in October of 1997 with the Tupac Shakur-Jim Belushi flick ‘Gang Related’ running on both screens. The theatre, I seem to remember, sat empty for about two years before being demolished sometime around 2000 or 2001; for the longest while before then, while the property owner was either trying to lease the cinemas or gather interest in their planned redevelopment, the marquee (at least on the side facing 3rd Avenue) gave a phone number prospective leasees/tenants could call for information.
There are a couple of photo tours posted at http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=7236 AMC assumed control of the Beverly Connection after the Pacific Theatres at The Grove had opened – the titles in the marquee shot consisting of move-overs or films Pacific Theatres took a pass on. It’s unclear when the General Cinemas photos were taken – both those and the AMC shots were most likely snapped on weekday afternoons – but, and absolutely no offense intended towards Scott Neff who snapped the GC-era images and for which we’d otherwise have no photographic images online from those years (and who has done tireless work taking pictures of cinemas across the US), they don’t capture the electric atmosphere of the Beverly Connection during its best times.
The idea of one of those sleazy electronic stores possibly moving into the DeMille/Embassy space makes my stomach churn, Warren. Gutting a classic, 98-plus year old cinema for something so useless is truly regrettable.
I know it’s happened to hundreds of multiplexes since the stadium-seating trend took hold, but I really felt sad when this particular theatre closed. I had only been there twice – on consecutive nights in March of 1996 to see ‘Flirting with Disaster’ and ‘Girl 6’ – but there was a vibe of excitement surrounding the theatre and the near-capacity crowds I saw those films with were really into them; I especially remember people roaring with laughter at ‘Flirting’ – a great comedy and the kind of audience that made the experience all that much more memorable.
It seems like a distinctive possibility an electronics store might be moving into the former DeMille/Embassy, as well as the gutted retail space located next door to the left. According to an item in Steve Cuozzo’s Realty Check column in yesterday’s NY Post, sources in the Times Square area have identified Hersel Torkian, who has operated electronics stores and currently owns several properties in the area, as the leasee. (The Post piece does misidentify the DeMille/Embassy space as having been vacant for seven years; the theatre actually closed in late 1998.) Torkian did not return a call to the Post to confirm his status as the leasee – or, presumably as well, his plans for the space(s).
Someone else, I don’t know who, Al, ran the Bleecker as a move-over house for foreign and indie flicks (and the occasional, low-budget first-run film) for a brief time in 1991, before the space’s days as a movie theatre officially came to an end.
The former theatre space was completely gutted; nothing of it remains. I passed by one afternoon during the summer of 2002 and, peering in through an open door on 30th Avenue, could see the trace of the removed balcony on the right interior wall.
Any word on how this theatre is doing in the early running?
The Cinematographe lasted for a very short time, from February of 1992 until early 1993. The Vandam (and currently the Soho) Playhouse has been in existence since about 1996 or 1997.
Does anyone have any recent photos of the interior and/or exterior they could post?
Thanks for taking – and posting – those photos, Jim; devastating but representative of a necessary document…
Tourists visiting Times Square flock to Red Lobster and The Olive Garden, so an IMAX screen at the Empire is probably a safe bet on AMC’s behalf.
The building which housed the Flick Cinema 1 & 2 has been gutted for office space.
The SoNo Cinema received some coverage in a June 1987 Newsweek article, discussing the struggles of revival cinemas across the U.S. in the face of the then-VCR boom.
Thanks for the information, Ron; interesting about the security situation. I am tempted to stop by and see if I can maybe explore the inside of the building at some point when I’m home during Christmas week, but I’d probably walk up to the unlocked front door, pull on it, open it, and then, after a moment’s hesitation walk away, afraid of being caught by the police; if I was with someone, I’d feel bold, but, on my own, in that kind of situation, not so much. All that being said, I do hope the building is secured before an act of vandalism, or worse, is committed.
Does anyone know if the Assembly Square Mall cinemas are still standing or if any definitive redevelopment plans have been announced? The last time I passed by, in late July, the theatre was in the same state Ron described in his posting on March 3rd, except the right glass entry doors were boarded up, due to a likely attempted break-in. (The left glass entry doors, as well as the box office, were untouched.)
The Film Forum was initially located in a loft space on West 88th Street, followed by moves to 80 Wooster Street (which also housed Anthology Film Archives, prior to their move to the Second Avenue Courthouse building; I’m pretty sure 80 Wooster has since been converted to residential space) and 15 Vandam Street, which currently houses the Soho Playhouse (and formerly the Thalia Soho and Le Cinematheque). The programming at 57 Watts Street was one screen of limited-run premieres and one screen of revivals; without the third screen, few of the premiere engagements moved to other theatres in town when their runs at the Film Forum ended.
(On a bit of a side note, does anyone know whether the 57 Watts Street space was built specifically for the Film Forum or, if not, what it previously housed?)
According to an article in the November 2007 issue of New York Construction, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Breast Imaging Center being built on the block where the Beekman once stood will house “imaging and radiology, diagnostic and testing, medical and surgical oncology, infusion and chemotherapy, psycho-social programs, mechanical and environmental services and ground-floor retail.” Somehow I think it’s safe to presume that the “ground-floor retail” won’t include a movie theatre of any type to replace a certain beloved and now-lost neighborhood cinema…
I walked by the Beekman and there hasn’t been any visible progress since my post from this past October 16th (and before then as well, I’d imagine). I have no idea what’s behind the hold-up, although the owner of the building isn’t known for being the easiest person to work with; perhaps some problems have cropped up as a result with the contractor(s) he hired to carry out the renovations.
I can’t confirm this – being in NYC – but it looks as if the Vine has ’re-opened', double-running ‘Enchanted’ with the El Capitan. It’s showing today at the El Capitan at 10 am, 1 pm, 4 pm, and 7 pm, and at the Vine at 4:30, 7 pm, and 9:20.
The Brandt Organization was one, I think, of the chains operating the 42nd Street theatres just before they closed; what were the others and which theatres were under their control?
I believe the Scott 1-2-3 can be glimpsed briefly in the film version of ‘Friday Night Lights’.
I translated “Hoy Gran Estreno – Es Tu Momento”; literally, in English, it means “Today Great Premiere – Is Your Moment” – what this signifies, if anything at all, about what’s moving into the Metro Twin space, I have no clue…
Unless someone had the foresight to remove at least some of those elements, Howard, I fear to report they are all gone, but at least we have your photos to remember them by.
By the way, I walked past the Metro earlier this afternoon and the phrasing on the marquee reads “Hoy Gran Estreno – Es Tu Momento”. As I mentioned yesterday, my knowledge of Spanish is pretty poor; can anyone provide a translation?
I passed by the Metro last night and there was something in Spanish on all three sides of the marquee, with no mentioning of space still being available for lease, leading me to think a Latino restaurant or grocery or clothing store is moving in. When I’m in the neighborhood again this weekend, I’ll write down and later post on this site the words on the marquee, hoping someone can translate them. (Upon first look, from what limited knowledge I have of the Spanish language, there wasn’t any definite indication on what’s moving in, but I might be wrong.) Also, the tarp covering the view from the box office window and the doors were removed; there’s now a sheet of lumber obscuring the view from the box office, but the doors now offer a clear look at the interior of the theatre – it’s been all but gutted to the bare four walls, with a false stage at the front of the former downstairs auditorium, and construction lights throughout.
The Manhattan 1 & 2 was showing Bollywood films in 1998; Cineplex Odeon’s run ended in October of 1997 with the Tupac Shakur-Jim Belushi flick ‘Gang Related’ running on both screens. The theatre, I seem to remember, sat empty for about two years before being demolished sometime around 2000 or 2001; for the longest while before then, while the property owner was either trying to lease the cinemas or gather interest in their planned redevelopment, the marquee (at least on the side facing 3rd Avenue) gave a phone number prospective leasees/tenants could call for information.
There are a couple of photo tours posted at http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=7236 AMC assumed control of the Beverly Connection after the Pacific Theatres at The Grove had opened – the titles in the marquee shot consisting of move-overs or films Pacific Theatres took a pass on. It’s unclear when the General Cinemas photos were taken – both those and the AMC shots were most likely snapped on weekday afternoons – but, and absolutely no offense intended towards Scott Neff who snapped the GC-era images and for which we’d otherwise have no photographic images online from those years (and who has done tireless work taking pictures of cinemas across the US), they don’t capture the electric atmosphere of the Beverly Connection during its best times.
The idea of one of those sleazy electronic stores possibly moving into the DeMille/Embassy space makes my stomach churn, Warren. Gutting a classic, 98-plus year old cinema for something so useless is truly regrettable.
I know it’s happened to hundreds of multiplexes since the stadium-seating trend took hold, but I really felt sad when this particular theatre closed. I had only been there twice – on consecutive nights in March of 1996 to see ‘Flirting with Disaster’ and ‘Girl 6’ – but there was a vibe of excitement surrounding the theatre and the near-capacity crowds I saw those films with were really into them; I especially remember people roaring with laughter at ‘Flirting’ – a great comedy and the kind of audience that made the experience all that much more memorable.
It seems like a distinctive possibility an electronics store might be moving into the former DeMille/Embassy, as well as the gutted retail space located next door to the left. According to an item in Steve Cuozzo’s Realty Check column in yesterday’s NY Post, sources in the Times Square area have identified Hersel Torkian, who has operated electronics stores and currently owns several properties in the area, as the leasee. (The Post piece does misidentify the DeMille/Embassy space as having been vacant for seven years; the theatre actually closed in late 1998.) Torkian did not return a call to the Post to confirm his status as the leasee – or, presumably as well, his plans for the space(s).