The Kent sat 625 and had a neon clock at the front left of the screen which I remember finding annoying. Sponsored by a local merchant (bank, I think).
I was there in the 70s and it was a double feature sub-run house. Some nice programming like On Her Majesty’s Secret Service & Francois Truffaut’s Stolen Kisses. j
Anyone know when it opened. My 1956 filmbook does not have it listed.
I recall seeing Victor Mature in Hannibal, A Dog of Flanders, 13 Fighting Men around 1960.
Looking at a Cue Magazine from 1970, this was the only DI in NY-NJ that week to program AL CAPONE-KING OF THE ROARING 20s-YOUNG DILLINGER. Great DI fare. The other DIs were cashing in on the early days of soft core sexploitation flics; and other DI fodder…..the weekly biker films. j
Here’s two great William Castle ads from films that I saw at the RKO. EMERGO had the packed theater screaming as a skeleton (on wire) came from a curtained booth at the top right corner of the screen, over the audience to the front of the balcony and back (as the skeleton was menacing on screen). Castle was a marketing genius. j
Here’s a 1959 ad showing the Whitestone, Sunrise & Newark Drive-Ins.
That’s Steve Reeves GOLIATH & THE BARBARIANS at the Newark. Hard to read. Check out the FREE IN-CAR ELECTRIC HEATERS!
My time at the Whitestone was in the late 60s-early 70s. Some of the double features that I saw then were:
Beneath the Valley of the Dolls/Chamber of Horrors
Bloody Mama/Wild in the Streets (AIP)
3 in the Attic/Chastity (AIP)
Cherry Harry & Requel/Good Morning and Goodbye (Russ Meyer)
Count Yorga Vampire/Crimson Cult (AIP)
El Condor/The Grasshopper
Fearless Vampire Killers/House of Dark Shadows
The AMbushers (Matt Helm)/Liberation of LB Jones
Night of Bloody Horror/Black Cat
Rosemary’s Baby/Sterile Cuckoo
True Grit/The Lawyer
Last time that I recall being there was 1974 for Golden Voyage of Sinbad. This time with my kids. j
My only visit to the Fortway was in 1959. My folks shipped me out to my aunt in Brooklyn for a few days. After she had me pick horses and numbers that afternoon, she took me to the Fortway because I loved movies. The film was IMITATION OF LIFE, which the Legency of Decency had claimed unsuitable (if not Condemned) and I feared this 9 year was going to burn in eternal damnation. Never forget it. I asked to go home on the 2nd day.
What was the name of the great Italian restaurant across the street? ELAINE’S comes to mind. j
Here’s that picture that I mentioned earlier and a classic from 1958….with EMERGO! Hey, it seemed at times, that all of the theaters on the Deuce had some kind of audience interaction. j
This shot of the Times Square sandwiched between the Apollo & Lyric in 1967 will give you some idea of the programming for the Times Square which boasted ALWAYS TWO ACTION HITS.
In November 1969, the bookings for the week went like this:
SAT…..Prehistoric Women & War Wagon
SUN…..Goliath and the Vampire & California
Mon & Tues…Sons of Katie Elder & King’s Pirate
Wed & Thurs…Cyborg 2087 & Tall Women
Fri & Sat….Hellfighters & Bandolero
My investigation skills indicate that the shot was taken not too long after the image that appears in Marc Eliot’s book….Down 42nd Street. The features at the Harris in Marc’s book are shown here at the Anco. And the Empire has the same double bill…The Professionals & Attempt to Kill. j
Joe,
I just posted a 50s shot of the Empire.
Here it is: View link
42nd had all of the Warner Bros re-releases in the mid-late 50s. I know that I too saw The Roaring 20s there, maybe the same day as you. Also remember seeing: Black Legion, Capt Blood, Sea Hawk, Oklahoma Kid, Desperate Journey. I’ve been trying to recreate the double/triple features that I saw on 42nd in the 50s-60s. Got a long way to go. j
I found some that will interest you (while I was searching for 1950s-1960s 42nd Street images -in case anyone knows of any) at www.corbis.com Search on “42nd Street”, “Times Square”, “marquee”
Warren mentions above that the theater closed with a showing of The Viscount which imdb lists as a May ‘67 release date. I have an RKO ad from after the R&R show, on April 12,1967 with showings at the 58 St of ALFIE & CARRY ON CABBY & TIJUANA BRASS short. j
Included in the ‘Blues Project Anthology’ CD is a copy of the advertisement for the show. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles are listed for Sat & Sun only. Then, Mitch Ryder took over. Others, I didn’t mention earlier….Jim & Jean, The Chicago Loop, Mandala, Hardly-Worthit Players.
The Who had the instrument destruction thing going at the time. Keith Moon walking around with a bass drum around his waist.
Continuous performances “morning ‘til night”. Must have gotten expensive for Keith over 9 days.
The Kent sat 625 and had a neon clock at the front left of the screen which I remember finding annoying. Sponsored by a local merchant (bank, I think).
I was there in the 70s and it was a double feature sub-run house. Some nice programming like On Her Majesty’s Secret Service & Francois Truffaut’s Stolen Kisses. j
Anyone know when it opened. My 1956 filmbook does not have it listed.
I recall seeing Victor Mature in Hannibal, A Dog of Flanders, 13 Fighting Men around 1960.
Looking at a Cue Magazine from 1970, this was the only DI in NY-NJ that week to program AL CAPONE-KING OF THE ROARING 20s-YOUNG DILLINGER. Great DI fare. The other DIs were cashing in on the early days of soft core sexploitation flics; and other DI fodder…..the weekly biker films. j
Here’s two great William Castle ads from films that I saw at the RKO. EMERGO had the packed theater screaming as a skeleton (on wire) came from a curtained booth at the top right corner of the screen, over the audience to the front of the balcony and back (as the skeleton was menacing on screen). Castle was a marketing genius. j
View link
View link
Here’s a 1959 ad showing the Whitestone, Sunrise & Newark Drive-Ins.
That’s Steve Reeves GOLIATH & THE BARBARIANS at the Newark. Hard to read. Check out the FREE IN-CAR ELECTRIC HEATERS!
View link
My time at the Whitestone was in the late 60s-early 70s. Some of the double features that I saw then were:
Beneath the Valley of the Dolls/Chamber of Horrors
Bloody Mama/Wild in the Streets (AIP)
3 in the Attic/Chastity (AIP)
Cherry Harry & Requel/Good Morning and Goodbye (Russ Meyer)
Count Yorga Vampire/Crimson Cult (AIP)
El Condor/The Grasshopper
Fearless Vampire Killers/House of Dark Shadows
The AMbushers (Matt Helm)/Liberation of LB Jones
Night of Bloody Horror/Black Cat
Rosemary’s Baby/Sterile Cuckoo
True Grit/The Lawyer
Last time that I recall being there was 1974 for Golden Voyage of Sinbad. This time with my kids. j
My only visit to the Fortway was in 1959. My folks shipped me out to my aunt in Brooklyn for a few days. After she had me pick horses and numbers that afternoon, she took me to the Fortway because I loved movies. The film was IMITATION OF LIFE, which the Legency of Decency had claimed unsuitable (if not Condemned) and I feared this 9 year was going to burn in eternal damnation. Never forget it. I asked to go home on the 2nd day.
What was the name of the great Italian restaurant across the street? ELAINE’S comes to mind. j
Here’s that picture that I mentioned earlier and a classic from 1958….with EMERGO! Hey, it seemed at times, that all of the theaters on the Deuce had some kind of audience interaction. j
View link
View link
OK, Joe & Gerry….by request. The Apollo in 1950 & 1961. j
View link
View link
BoxOfficeBill & Co,
Regarding your earlier mention of a 1960s Variety. Are 1950s-1960s Variety’s available on-line or at any library system. j
Ken,
If you look at the last image above, you get a partial view of Bickford’s. j
Sorry, something amiss with my earlier post. Here is the 3rd link. 3D on the Deuce: j
View link
Here are some Selwyn images from 1953 & 1954 including 3D on the Deuce: j
View link
View link
View link
Here’s a nice shot from 1955 of the Astor & Victoria. j
View link
Man, I didn’t know the theater but what great programming in January 1970:
SAT….Eye of the Cat, Frankenstein Created Woman, Tickle Me (Elvis)
SUN & MON…..Daddy’s Gone A-Hunting, Tarzan Goes to India, Guns of the Magnificent7
TUES-THURS Films for Adults
FRI & SAT….The Ambushers (Dino/Matt Helm), Clambake (Elvis), Once Upon in the West……(tell mom you’ll be home late for this program)
Great stuff. It seems that the Banco also listed for Park Slope. Graham & Marcy in Williamsburg/Bushwick had the same type of programming. j
Here’s a shot from 1967 with the Liberty in the background. j
View link
Some shots from 1966:
View link
View link
View link
This shot of the Times Square sandwiched between the Apollo & Lyric in 1967 will give you some idea of the programming for the Times Square which boasted ALWAYS TWO ACTION HITS.
In November 1969, the bookings for the week went like this:
SAT…..Prehistoric Women & War Wagon
SUN…..Goliath and the Vampire & California
Mon & Tues…Sons of Katie Elder & King’s Pirate
Wed & Thurs…Cyborg 2087 & Tall Women
Fri & Sat….Hellfighters & Bandolero
3 different John Wayne bookings in one week.
View link
Another image…..old but not as old. January 1967.
My investigation skills indicate that the shot was taken not too long after the image that appears in Marc Eliot’s book….Down 42nd Street. The features at the Harris in Marc’s book are shown here at the Anco. And the Empire has the same double bill…The Professionals & Attempt to Kill. j
View link
Joe,
I just posted a 50s shot of the Empire.
Here it is:
View link
42nd had all of the Warner Bros re-releases in the mid-late 50s. I know that I too saw The Roaring 20s there, maybe the same day as you. Also remember seeing: Black Legion, Capt Blood, Sea Hawk, Oklahoma Kid, Desperate Journey. I’ve been trying to recreate the double/triple features that I saw on 42nd in the 50s-60s. Got a long way to go. j
42nd has always had some fun, creative programming. Here’s an Empire double bill when Liz Taylor broke up Debbie Reynolds' marriage to Eddie Fisher:
View link
Here is the Apollo during better times….1967 j
View link
I found some that will interest you (while I was searching for 1950s-1960s 42nd Street images -in case anyone knows of any) at www.corbis.com Search on “42nd Street”, “Times Square”, “marquee”
RobertR,
That’s the best shot of the ANCO that I’ve seen. Where did you find it?
I too went through all of your photo album, great stuff. j
LM,
Warren mentions above that the theater closed with a showing of The Viscount which imdb lists as a May ‘67 release date. I have an RKO ad from after the R&R show, on April 12,1967 with showings at the 58 St of ALFIE & CARRY ON CABBY & TIJUANA BRASS short. j
LM,
Check out my post from March 16. Great shows.
Included in the ‘Blues Project Anthology’ CD is a copy of the advertisement for the show. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles are listed for Sat & Sun only. Then, Mitch Ryder took over. Others, I didn’t mention earlier….Jim & Jean, The Chicago Loop, Mandala, Hardly-Worthit Players.
The Who had the instrument destruction thing going at the time. Keith Moon walking around with a bass drum around his waist.
Continuous performances “morning ‘til night”. Must have gotten expensive for Keith over 9 days.
jerry the k
Great stuff, as always, Warren. You’re hitting all my favorite neighborhod theaters from the 50s.
Did the Sheridan actually book a new show for Tuesday only back then? During my time (mid 50s+), the programming changed every Wednesday.
I recall that they had posters for the upcoming movies down the sides of the theater, past the bus in the image.
Keep it up, Warren. And don’t forget my Terrace on 23rd St. lol. j