Ascot Theatre

Yes, the building is still there, with the terra-cotta facade intact. To see a couple recent pics of this old theatre, as well as several other former theatres in the neighborhood, check out my web page:
http://kraybill.home.mindspring.com/46/46theatres.html

The Ascot had 594 seats, according to the 1945 Film Daily Year Book. For much of its life, it was an "art house," showing foreign imports or Hollywood classics. A tiny ad in the August 15, 1945 issue of the NY Daily News shows it with a double feature of British movies, "They Came To A City" and "When Thief Meets Thief."

I believe that the interior is still in tact althoug it closed before I was of legal age to enter since the arthouse became graphically artistic in the 1980's.

The theatre hasn't been divided into retail as far as I know. There were always stores sharing the taxpayer that housed the Ascot. Unfortunately the marqee has been removed recently.

I saw many arts films there as a teen in the 70's. A vibid memory of seeing the anti war movie, Johnny's Got His Gun at the Ascot

Ah, My first art house. Saw my first Fellini film there, but it was not just an art house. I took my grandfather there to see Fiddler On The Roof. After the film my grandfather, who was Russian, started telling me all these stories about his youth and other things I could never get him to talk about before.A very important memory that the Ascot was part of

I visited the Ascot during its final days as a house of porn. I remember it was quite large inside. Who knows but maybe it can be resurrected once the Grand Concourse is rehabilitated. The Paradise has just been reopened. This is a great time to buy a co-op in the area as in a few years it will become a hot neighborhood.

August of 1958 the Ascot was playing "And God Created Woman" in it's Englisg dubbed version
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/Movie%20Ads/TheFly.jpg

Back in the 1950's I recall that the Ascot was part of a small chain of theaters called "J.J. Bronx." Other theaters in the chain were the Earl and Luxor (showed same films as RKO's in the Bronx) and the Jerome, Kent, Surrey and Casino (showed second and third run double bills). These seven theaters were part of the chain for a number of years. Other theaters joined the chain for shorter amounts of time. They included the Mount Eden, Park Plaza (ex-Skouras), Burnside and Fairmount (ex-Loew's). In the late 1950's or early 1960's the Hillside and Willard (ex-Loew's)in Queens joined the group and the name was changed to "J.J. Theaters.

A photograph I took of the Ascot Theatre in June 2005:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/220964102/

In this 1950s image, the Ascot can be seen at the far end of the corner commercial block. The taller building to the right of the Ascot is the Concourse Center of Israel synagogue. Like Loew's Paradise, the Ascot had an attraction board above the entrance instead of a marquee, since such overhanging structures were prohibited on the Grand Concourse:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/bxascot.jpg

Referring back to TomG's comment of 2/19/06, the chain was called J.J. Theatres, Inc. in 1963. Address was 1501 Broadway, NYC, WIsconsin 7-9024. President was Julius Joelson. Max Fried was assistant to president and film buyer. Lou Klein was purchasing agent. Other JJ theaters in 1963 were the Casino, Earl, Kent, Luxor Surrey and 167th Theater in the Bronx and the Hillside Theater in Queens.

Here's a new link to the image described above on 9/22/06: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/bxascot.jpg

This is a new link to a nice 1960s photo of the Ascot Theater.

If you delete the word "demo" from the June 4 link, you can see the photo without it being re-posted.

Its not a problem to repost the link. Here is an updated link for the 1960s photo of the Ascot Theater.

I've seen a relatively recent photo of the Ascot with its (flat) marquee sign still intact. The photo may come from either the great "Forgotten NY" website or the fine "Welcome to Bronx Pictures" website. Block black letters on the marquee read, in two lines: "COMING SOON JESUS CHRIST". Has the Ascot ever been used as a Church, especially in recent years? That's not quite the way I remember the old theater....

The "COMING SOON JESUS CHRIST" picture I mentioned in my previous note came from the terrific "Forgotten NY" website. According to its photographer, the photo was made in Summer 1999.