Circle Theatre

A current exterior view of the Circle can be seen here...
http://www.forgotten-ny.com/STREET%20SCENES/theatresbronx/bronxthea.html

The Circle was built simultaneously with the Mayfair in Queens by architect Charles Sandblom and had many similarities, especially in the auditorium (please see the Mayfair's listing for comparisons):
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/138-3872_IMG.jpg
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/138-3875_IMG.jpg

Oh Boy, this site really does stir some memories! I only saw one film here and it was "Beserk!" with Joan Crawford. Not sure why I'm sharing that here, but there it is! :-)

Was this theater ever a twin. NYC shows a two auditorium motion picture theater at this address in March of 1983. The seating was Theater#1-377 and Theater#2-208.

I think this theater was split into a twin in the late 70's. I remember my father taking me to see Jaws at the Circle and I believe it was a twin at that point.

I saw E.T. here in 1982 and Firestarter in 1984. When I saw E.T. it was a single theatre and when I saw Firestarter it was a twin.

This theater was a twin when it closed in 1985. I remember that New York expected a Noreaster for the first time (I guess a new term then) and the city shut down around noon on a Friday. The storm was not as bad as they thought it would be and everyting was back to normal. The Circle though didn't reopen. I remember the last film I saw there was "The Legend of Billie Jean". remember going there in 1968 and seeing "Planet of the Apes" with "Crazy World of Laurel and Hardy". In 1969 I saw a double bill with my mother of 2 G rated epics "My Side of the Mountain" and "Hello Down There" but they tossed in a sneak preview of "Prime of Miss Jean Brodie"and Pamela Franklin was topless. The film was rated "M" today's PG. My mother was shocked this with G rated films. Other doubles I remember seeing there were Play Misty for Me with Frenzy and Girls for Rent with Blazing Stewardesses.

In the mid to late 70's the Circle was an adults only movie theater, all X rated except for Easter and Christmas weeks when they would bring in some G rated film like Mountain Family Robinson or Grizzly Adams. I don't know if those last 2 were there for a fact but they were G rated live action nature films and not Disney, sort of like Pacific International used to release back teh.

Here is an early 1940s photo of the Circle Theater.

Wow how brilliant. I love these photos, all of the old times when things were just sort of better. It looks really nice in that photo. *tear* Thanks for posting this!

This is an updated link for the photo posted on Jun 4, 2008.

Here are new links to images that I posted above nearly three years ago (9/11/05):
httP://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/138-3872_IMG.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/138-3875_IMG.jpg

My photos of this theater are at http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/22284.html