I saw Amadeus here around 1984, on a school assignment from my music class at Brooklyn College. It was a discount theatre, and it hadn’t been twinned or anything. I enjoyed the size and airiness of the house, and I’m sorry I didn’t go more often, but the next thing I knew it was closed. I always look for it when I’m on Avenue J.
I have been here, and it had that dark, old-fashioned movie house smell, and not the good kind. More like a classic itch. I went by again on Saturday night, 11:00pm, 6/5/04. The marquee was lighted, but the place was closed. On the Marquee was “Lord of the Rings” “Cheaper by the Dozen” “Baby Daddy” and “Torque.” And a sign that matinees were $3.50, evenings $5.50. Anyone know why it closed or what the plans are? I guess they left the lights on by accident!
In the new Elaine Stritch show on HBO, there is a nice color clip of Times Square in the 50’s, with a good clear shot of this theatre, marquee blazing, showing “Cinerama Holiday.” It comes about 20 to 30 minutes into the show.
These are the most heartbreaking photos I have yet seen on this site. I’ve never been to Dayton but I feel like crying anyway. Thanks for the eye-opener.
I remember passing this theater several times in a car during the late 1960s. I was a boy but I clearly remember that they had a burlesque show running at the time. The word “Follies” is so burned in my brain that a few years later when I saw a friend with a “Mad Follies” magazine, I thought it had to do with strippers! I see the walls of the building all the time when I’m in Jamaica on business, and I’m glad this little mystery has been solved for me.
The aspect ratio was correct during Casablanca, but the image was small in relation to the proscenium. When the Music Hall showed films on a regular basis, did they really use so little of the available space?
As to the sound, I did see several movies there during the movie/stage show era, and don’t recall any sound problems.
I think that when theaters aren’t regularly showing films, but do show the occasional movie, when they do play a movie the equipment and the projectionists aren’t always up to speed. If a projectionist comes in and find that the bulb isn’t bright enough, or the speakers aren’t working right, there is very little he or she can do about it.
I saw Casablanca here during a film festival a few years ago, and the image seemed small to me, considering the space available, and the sound was terrible. It was all echoes and tinny, and if I didn’t already know the movie so well, I wouldn’t have known what all the Casablanca fuss was about.
I also went to that Broadway on Broadway festival, and saw Oklahoma! for the first time, but the print had faded to that terrible pink color and needless to say it was a major disappointment. What were the dates of that festival?
There are five distinct areas now in this theatre. The ground floor has a small straight porno screening room on the right side, a small gay porno screening room on the left, and a small Hollywood and made-for-TV video screening room in the center. These are located in what was the rear of the orchestra. In the front section of the orchestra, taking up most of the auditorium, is a large peepshow/cruising area, with really terrible video screens in the booths, very much out of focus and nearly unwatchable. (But who’s watching anyway?) In the intact balcony, they screen the same type of Hollywood and made for TV videos as downstairs, leaving the
lights on! There is some architural detail left in the auditorium and in the balcony, so it might be worth a look for our more adventurous brothers. When I was there last, Night of the Living Dead was playing, not on the screen but in the audience. A more decrepit bunch of customers would be hard to find.
I saw “Pirates of the Carribbean” in July 2003 at the Harvest Moon, and it was worth the trip up from Champaign. I got a tour of the booth from the projectionist (big projectors!)and I rode on a little merry-go-round they have. And they stop every movie at some point for an intermission. A nice blast from the past on a warm summer evening.
I saw Amadeus here around 1984, on a school assignment from my music class at Brooklyn College. It was a discount theatre, and it hadn’t been twinned or anything. I enjoyed the size and airiness of the house, and I’m sorry I didn’t go more often, but the next thing I knew it was closed. I always look for it when I’m on Avenue J.
I have been here, and it had that dark, old-fashioned movie house smell, and not the good kind. More like a classic itch. I went by again on Saturday night, 11:00pm, 6/5/04. The marquee was lighted, but the place was closed. On the Marquee was “Lord of the Rings” “Cheaper by the Dozen” “Baby Daddy” and “Torque.” And a sign that matinees were $3.50, evenings $5.50. Anyone know why it closed or what the plans are? I guess they left the lights on by accident!
Nice Brooklyn link above. Thanks.
Yes, for a true Broadway classic this listing and message board is a little sparse.
In the new Elaine Stritch show on HBO, there is a nice color clip of Times Square in the 50’s, with a good clear shot of this theatre, marquee blazing, showing “Cinerama Holiday.” It comes about 20 to 30 minutes into the show.
These are the most heartbreaking photos I have yet seen on this site. I’ve never been to Dayton but I feel like crying anyway. Thanks for the eye-opener.
What year did this open?
I remember passing this theater several times in a car during the late 1960s. I was a boy but I clearly remember that they had a burlesque show running at the time. The word “Follies” is so burned in my brain that a few years later when I saw a friend with a “Mad Follies” magazine, I thought it had to do with strippers! I see the walls of the building all the time when I’m in Jamaica on business, and I’m glad this little mystery has been solved for me.
The aspect ratio was correct during Casablanca, but the image was small in relation to the proscenium. When the Music Hall showed films on a regular basis, did they really use so little of the available space?
As to the sound, I did see several movies there during the movie/stage show era, and don’t recall any sound problems.
I think that when theaters aren’t regularly showing films, but do show the occasional movie, when they do play a movie the equipment and the projectionists aren’t always up to speed. If a projectionist comes in and find that the bulb isn’t bright enough, or the speakers aren’t working right, there is very little he or she can do about it.
I saw Casablanca here during a film festival a few years ago, and the image seemed small to me, considering the space available, and the sound was terrible. It was all echoes and tinny, and if I didn’t already know the movie so well, I wouldn’t have known what all the Casablanca fuss was about.
This listing needs an update.
I saw “Malcolm X” there, and you could smoke in the balcony, which many did!
I heard that it played Spenish language movies before it closed.
“Troy” premiere was here tonight (5/10/04.
I also went to that Broadway on Broadway festival, and saw Oklahoma! for the first time, but the print had faded to that terrible pink color and needless to say it was a major disappointment. What were the dates of that festival?
There are five distinct areas now in this theatre. The ground floor has a small straight porno screening room on the right side, a small gay porno screening room on the left, and a small Hollywood and made-for-TV video screening room in the center. These are located in what was the rear of the orchestra. In the front section of the orchestra, taking up most of the auditorium, is a large peepshow/cruising area, with really terrible video screens in the booths, very much out of focus and nearly unwatchable. (But who’s watching anyway?) In the intact balcony, they screen the same type of Hollywood and made for TV videos as downstairs, leaving the
lights on! There is some architural detail left in the auditorium and in the balcony, so it might be worth a look for our more adventurous brothers. When I was there last, Night of the Living Dead was playing, not on the screen but in the audience. A more decrepit bunch of customers would be hard to find.
I saw “Pirates of the Carribbean” in July 2003 at the Harvest Moon, and it was worth the trip up from Champaign. I got a tour of the booth from the projectionist (big projectors!)and I rode on a little merry-go-round they have. And they stop every movie at some point for an intermission. A nice blast from the past on a warm summer evening.
They really mismanaged and mispromoted this site.
Please spell this correctly because it didn’t turn up on a search.