According to trade journal research, the Manhasset Theatre opened on November 23rd, 1936, which was the Monday before Thanksgiving of that year. Although built by the Century Circuit simultaneously with the Elm and Quentin in Brooklyn, the Manhasset would be managed by Skouras Theatres, which, in 1935, had signed a “pooling” agreement with Century for all of their theatres in Queens and Long Island. George Skouras, head of that company, wanted to use the Manhasset as a test for ending double features in communities with a single theatre and no nearby competition…The overview to this listing claims that the Manhasset Theatre first opened in 1927, which could be true if it was “modernized” into the one of 1936. But nothing turned up in research to justify that possibility.
According to Variety, the screen/stage combo grossed a “rousing” $68,000 in its opening stanza, with $56,000 estimated for the first hold-over week. At that time, the Capitol was the third largest midtown cinema with stage shows, with a reported 4,820 seats. Radio City Music Hall was the largest, with 5,945 seats, closely followed by the Roxy with 5,886 seats. Also in competition were the Paramount with 3,664 seats, Loew’s State with 3,450 seats, and the Strand with 2,756 seats.
The 2019 “Christmas Spectacular” is reportedly not much different from last year’s, which introduced some new elements and special effects.
Here’s a link to a brief trailer for the 2019 edition
The original entrance extended the width of the marquee, but now consisted of these two doors, which led to a box office and staircase to theatre seating.
The three-day promotional tour started at the Coliseum on Thanksgiving Day (11/28) and ended on Saturday (11/30) with the Castle Hill, Fordham, Yonkers, Mt. Vernon, and New Rochelle. First 200 patrons at each theatre received a free copy of Sal Mineo’s latest 45rpm single for Epic Records.
Arrived on Thanksgiving Day of that year, causing panic for management, which forgot that Macy’s Holiday Parade would be passing in front of theatre’s entrance.
No longer considered “New.” If the adjective never returned, shouldn’t CT listing be changed to Grand Central, which must have been the name at final closing?
Radio City Music Hall, which had “The Wheeler Dealers” as part of its stage/screen offering, was closed for the entire day and night, re-opening on Tuesday (26) at 10:00 AM.
The invitational event for celebrities, industry leaders, and the news media was held at the RKO 58th Street on the night before the three-theatre engagement opened on November 4th.
Shirley MacLaine made a guest appearance at the St. George on November 23rd, 1962, as part of a two-day Thanksgiving holiday tour for the “Premiere Showcase” launching of “Two For the Seesaw.” Ad displayed here
Although the Loew’s circuit had been resisting participation in UA’s “Premiere Showcase” concept in NYC’s five boroughs and Westchester County, it made an exception with the Jersey, which had been marketed separately due to its out-of-state location.
By that time, the Kameo was under Brandt management, listed here with “The Lost Man” as top feature. Most, if not all, of the Brandt theatres were participating in saturation engagements including rival circuits.
The Technicolor remake of the classic B&W “Berkeley Square” (1933) proved instantly forgettable.
Arsenal listed with “Skin Deep” as main attraction.
According to trade journal research, the Manhasset Theatre opened on November 23rd, 1936, which was the Monday before Thanksgiving of that year. Although built by the Century Circuit simultaneously with the Elm and Quentin in Brooklyn, the Manhasset would be managed by Skouras Theatres, which, in 1935, had signed a “pooling” agreement with Century for all of their theatres in Queens and Long Island. George Skouras, head of that company, wanted to use the Manhasset as a test for ending double features in communities with a single theatre and no nearby competition…The overview to this listing claims that the Manhasset Theatre first opened in 1927, which could be true if it was “modernized” into the one of 1936. But nothing turned up in research to justify that possibility.
According to Variety, the screen/stage combo grossed a “rousing” $68,000 in its opening stanza, with $56,000 estimated for the first hold-over week. At that time, the Capitol was the third largest midtown cinema with stage shows, with a reported 4,820 seats. Radio City Music Hall was the largest, with 5,945 seats, closely followed by the Roxy with 5,886 seats. Also in competition were the Paramount with 3,664 seats, Loew’s State with 3,450 seats, and the Strand with 2,756 seats.
The 2019 “Christmas Spectacular” is reportedly not much different from last year’s, which introduced some new elements and special effects. Here’s a link to a brief trailer for the 2019 edition
Advance ad for reserved-seat roadshow engagement opening on December 17th.
The original entrance extended the width of the marquee, but now consisted of these two doors, which led to a box office and staircase to theatre seating.
Entrance to the Plaza Theatre was now through two doors adjacent to the dental clinic with blue canopy.
The three-day promotional tour started at the Coliseum on Thanksgiving Day (11/28) and ended on Saturday (11/30) with the Castle Hill, Fordham, Yonkers, Mt. Vernon, and New Rochelle. First 200 patrons at each theatre received a free copy of Sal Mineo’s latest 45rpm single for Epic Records.
Lena Horne topped the Chicago Theatre’s stage offering.
Arrived on Thanksgiving Day of that year, causing panic for management, which forgot that Macy’s Holiday Parade would be passing in front of theatre’s entrance.
No longer considered “New.” If the adjective never returned, shouldn’t CT listing be changed to Grand Central, which must have been the name at final closing?
The Queensboro was the first theatre in Queens in the “atmospheric” style, followed on December 25th of that year by the Keith-Albee in Flushing.
Radio City Music Hall, which had “The Wheeler Dealers” as part of its stage/screen offering, was closed for the entire day and night, re-opening on Tuesday (26) at 10:00 AM.
The invitational event for celebrities, industry leaders, and the news media was held at the RKO 58th Street on the night before the three-theatre engagement opened on November 4th.
Instead of the usual multi-listing, each participating theatre had its own section in the border surrounding the focal point of the ad.
Opened with a gala event on the night of November 24th, with continuous performances starting the next day.
MGM’s attempt to create a romantic team to rival Clark Gable & Jean Harlow provided more fizzle than sizzle.
Shirley MacLaine made a guest appearance at the St. George on November 23rd, 1962, as part of a two-day Thanksgiving holiday tour for the “Premiere Showcase” launching of “Two For the Seesaw.” Ad displayed here
Although the Loew’s circuit had been resisting participation in UA’s “Premiere Showcase” concept in NYC’s five boroughs and Westchester County, it made an exception with the Jersey, which had been marketed separately due to its out-of-state location.
By that time, the Kameo was under Brandt management, listed here with “The Lost Man” as top feature. Most, if not all, of the Brandt theatres were participating in saturation engagements including rival circuits.
The film’s only engagement in the world for that year was as a reserved-seat roadshow, with two performances daily.
With a gala invitational performance the night before (November 18th).
Full-page announcement of additional holiday performances into Easter Week of the following year (April, 1957).
Incident took place on a Saturday night (November 16th, 1957).