The white Packard Motor Cars showroom and adjoining buildings were demolished to make way for the State Theatre and Loew’s office tower. In the background, note the immensity of the block-wide Olympia Complex, which included the New York Theatre & Roof Garden. The New York’s vertical sign displayed admission prices ranging downwards from $1 to 25 cents.
NYPD removing a bomb planted in the Paramount by “Mad Bomber” George Metesky. Shown is the Paramount’s 43rd Street side, which had a marquee over the exit doors.
The current film was Alfred Hitchcock’s B&W “The Wrong Man,” a Warner Bros. release that had been filmed mainly on locations in Manhattan and Queens.
Entrance at lower left. 45th Street corner had a store which provided rental income for Century Circuit. A large roof sign faced south towards Brooklyn.
Seventy-five years ago today, WB’s “The Adventures of Robin Hood,” a Technicolor epic starring Errol Flynn, Olivia De Havilland, Basil Rathbone, and Claude Rains, opened its NYC premiere engagement at RCMH. The five-scene stage spectacle, a musical fantasy entitled “Stars at Midnight,” used Respighi’s “Pines of Rome” for the overture.
Like most “legit” playhouses, the Ziegfeld had a compact, low-ceilinged entrance lobby, with ticket sales and treasurer’s office on one wall. After passing through, patrons were at the rear of the orchestra section, which had small staircases at both sides connecting to the mezzanine/balcony seating.
Due to its unique design, the Ziegfeld’s interior was extremely difficult to photograph successfully. The auditorium was egg-shaped, with the stage at the narrow end. The walls and ceiling were covered by a gigantic mural depicting the joys of life, with fanciful figures of humans, animals, birds, fish, flowers, and foliage. The predominant color was gold, and the rest were in pastel shades.
“Darcydt,” it’s good that you weren’t around in the days before saturation distribution began. You would have needed to travel into Manhattan to see the newest movies, where they usually played exclusively at one theatre before moving to the neighborhoods. And in Queens, Bayside was not one of the first neighborhoods in Queens to get them.
$300 in 1938 would have the buying power of about $4,947.47 in 2013.
Seventy-five years later, “Checkers” star Jane Withers is still with us!
I’ve raised some questions about the auditorium in the Photos Section. If anyone can answer them, please do. Thanks!
The white Packard Motor Cars showroom and adjoining buildings were demolished to make way for the State Theatre and Loew’s office tower. In the background, note the immensity of the block-wide Olympia Complex, which included the New York Theatre & Roof Garden. The New York’s vertical sign displayed admission prices ranging downwards from $1 to 25 cents.
Criterion showing “You’re Never Too Young,” with “Phenix City Story” at Loew’s State…Seventh Avenue had two-way traffic in those days.
NYPD removing a bomb planted in the Paramount by “Mad Bomber” George Metesky. Shown is the Paramount’s 43rd Street side, which had a marquee over the exit doors. The current film was Alfred Hitchcock’s B&W “The Wrong Man,” a Warner Bros. release that had been filmed mainly on locations in Manhattan and Queens.
Renovation update: upnorthlive
This must have been one of John Eberson’s last large theatres in the atmospheric style, perhaps even the very last.
During World War II, the City’s programming tended to be “Left-Wing Radical” and aimed at Union Square protestors who attended after their rallies.
Columbia’s “Trapped By Television” offered a sneak preview of things-to-come for the Jefferson Theatre.
Entrance at lower left. 45th Street corner had a store which provided rental income for Century Circuit. A large roof sign faced south towards Brooklyn.
All vaudeville acts, except for a Pathe newsreel.
Seventy-five years ago today, WB’s “The Adventures of Robin Hood,” a Technicolor epic starring Errol Flynn, Olivia De Havilland, Basil Rathbone, and Claude Rains, opened its NYC premiere engagement at RCMH. The five-scene stage spectacle, a musical fantasy entitled “Stars at Midnight,” used Respighi’s “Pines of Rome” for the overture.
Once again, rumors are circulating: qchron
Joyless!
Mr. Ziegfeld had a suite of business offices at the top of the building, which was reached by an elevator from the street.
Seeking funds for digital conversion: kickstarter
The ceiling had a shallow elliptical dome with a chandelier at the center. Surrounding the chandelier was a transparent veil of gold mesh.
Like most “legit” playhouses, the Ziegfeld had a compact, low-ceilinged entrance lobby, with ticket sales and treasurer’s office on one wall. After passing through, patrons were at the rear of the orchestra section, which had small staircases at both sides connecting to the mezzanine/balcony seating.
Shown from the 54th Street side, with Sixth Avenue at right.
Due to its unique design, the Ziegfeld’s interior was extremely difficult to photograph successfully. The auditorium was egg-shaped, with the stage at the narrow end. The walls and ceiling were covered by a gigantic mural depicting the joys of life, with fanciful figures of humans, animals, birds, fish, flowers, and foliage. The predominant color was gold, and the rest were in pastel shades.
Except that “My Fair Lady” never played at the Roxy.
The prices cited on the marquee are in cents, not dollars. Loin lamb chops today in Whole Foods are about $25 per pound.
“Darcydt,” it’s good that you weren’t around in the days before saturation distribution began. You would have needed to travel into Manhattan to see the newest movies, where they usually played exclusively at one theatre before moving to the neighborhoods. And in Queens, Bayside was not one of the first neighborhoods in Queens to get them.
Latest renovation proposal: al