68th Street Playhouse

Growing up a block away on 68th and 2nd, this really was my local theatre for many years.

Until the early 70’s a true second run neighborhood house meaning if you waited long enough it would come here. Owned for a good chunk of that time by Walter Brecher who owned the famous Apollo on 125th Street and later by City Cinemas. As a second run house remember seeing BONNIE & CLYDE, A COUNTESS FROM HONG KONG. From then on a solid art house with the occasional commercial first run attraction, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES was here for a year, TAKE THE MONEY & RUN, MONSIEUR HIRE, LACOMBE LUCIEN, THIEVES LIKE US, TOMORROW. Run by City Cinemas until it closed in 97...A tiny single aisle house with barely more than 200 seats and a no waiting area usually with a line going a half a block between 3rd and Lexington Avenues

I was in here for "Gods Must Be Crazy" around 1984. The lobby was so small I don't think they even had room for a snack bar.

Dear sir,

Please send us the plan of cinema theater.

Thank you.

Best regards
Faghihi

The 68th Street Playhouse was located at 1164 3rd Ave. and it seated 389 people.

In August 1969 the 68th featured the NYC premiere of "Take The Money & Run"
On the DICK CAVETT SHOW Woody Allen said that there was a tree blocking the marquee. He asked viewers to chop down the tree if the reviews for the film were good or to chop down the marquee if they were bad.
The 68th also introduced MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS to America when it premiered their first movie "And Now For Something Completely Different" in 1972

I went to the 68th Street Playhouse many times over the years. The film I remember most that premiered here (in 1984) was the Danish ZAPPA, directed by Bille August, a potent story about adolescent turmoil. Despite fine reviews, ZAPPA was not a commercial success and seems to have completely disappeared from the planet.

This theatre was built by Leo Brecher with some of the profits that he made from his Plaza on East 58th Street.

The 68th Street Playhouse was a staple, one of those theaters where you always ended up from time to time. I was once told that when "La Cage Aux Folles" opened there, the theater was what they called at the time "four-walled," meaning that the distributor actually rented the theater from the owner, and then banked all the profits. It was a gamble that really paid-off. It was easy access from Hunter College and the subway, a couple of blocks away.

The 68th Street Playhouse closed on July 28, 1996; its final offering was the Ben Stiller-Patricia Arquette, David O. Russell-helmed comedy 'Flirting With Disaster'. It sat dormant for 3-4 years until it was converted into a branch of The Children's Place apparel chain.

The best place to find a photo of this theatre is on a 12-in. single by the Aussie band INXS (circa 1986). The neon "68" is visible even though it's a daytime shot. The record cover shows Third Avenue looking south from E. 69th St.

This is the first theatre where I had to yell at someone talking on a cell phone. It was during the final moments of the film "Picture Bride" (1994) and this idiot whipped out a large cell phone with a very bright green keypad and yelled, "Yeah, it's almost over," and I screamed at full volume (right behind him) "Get off the goddamned telephone!"

I remember seeing "The Gods Must Be Crazy" here too and waiting in a long line behind some guy who was just divorced who was discussing his sex life. Only in Manhattan. I think "The Gods Must Be Crazy" ran for more than a year at the 68th Street Playhouse.

The 68th Street Playhouse wasn't a great place to see a film, but it was the quintessential UES moviehouse; there isn't a time when I pass by its former site when I don't think about it.

This is the theatre that Syndey Pollack and Lysette Anthony come out of in Husbands and Wives after seeing Ran.

Smallest theatre I've ever seen a film in. Narrow auditorium with length being from back of theatre to screen. I'd liken the experience to watching a movie on a plane. Saw "Who'll Stop the Rain". Ceiling also had a large distracting and almost obtrusive air conditioning duct. Another theatre missing from 3rd Avenue.

Saw 'La Cage Aux Folles' here.

Stood on line a long time to see "Presumed Innocent".Also took friends here to see "The Goodbye People" with Judd Hirsch. frankie from Brooklyn

There's a chapter in Frank McCourt's "'Tis" describing an afternoon at the 68th Street Playhouse. Frank went to see "Hamlet" and brought in food from the outside, a no-no. A hilarious sequence involving ginger ale and lemon pie!

RobertR posted to the Loew's State [NYC] page on this site a newspaper ad dated 1/28/1943. Mixed in among the ads is a small ad for Bette Davis in "Now Voyager" at the 68th Street Playhouse.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/Movie%20Ads/MeandmyGal.jpg
I hadn't realized the place was that old - even though I worked there - I thought it had been converted to a theatre in the early 1950's.

NYC issued a C/O for a motion picture theater at 1164 Third Avenue on February 6, 1934. It doesn't state if the building was a new or existing building. Seating at that time is given as 357.

I saw the Henry Jaglom film "Can She Bake a Cherry Pie?" starring Karen Black here back around 1983. Also came here to see Paul Bartel's dark comedy "Eating Raoul" which played the 68th Street Playhouse for quite a long run the previous year.

This film had played here for an amazing 82 weeks by the time this ad was published in the Daily News on 12/12/80, and it continued on at the theater even while it expanded to a select few other theaters in Manhattan, Queens and Nassauc County:

La Cage expanded release

Now a film don't last 8 weeks

I only went to this theater once in 1995 to see Woody Allen's MIGHTY APHRODITE. Three years later, I was walking down Third Avenue and was shocked (and pissed!) to see it had closed.

Speaking of Woody Allen, the exterior of this theater can be seen in HUSBANDS AND WIVES, when Sydney Pollack and his girlfriend are walking out of the theater, having just seen RAN.

Today, with DVD releases coming so soon after a movie's initial release, it's a wonder a movie is in the theaters for 3 weeks! I can remember, when I was a kid in the '70's and 80's, a movie sticking around for several months.

I fondly remember the Summer of 1978, when it seemed that every movie I was loving at the time, was still playing in theaters:

- STAR WARS (re-release)
- CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND
- SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER
- GREASE
- JAWS 2

Oops! Sorry, jbel. I see now that you already covered the HUSBANDS AND WIVES trivia.

Working as a projectionist at this theater in the 1980's, I mistakenly answered a phone call that came into the theater.
The woman said "This is Claudette Colbert. It is very cold tonight and I wanted to know if I could see the movie without waiting on line". I transferred the call to the manager and I never found out if she showed up, but it is a night I will never forget. (Although I did forget what movie was showing at the time).

Enjoyed visiting this tiny theater. From the first time I visited there, for the great "Take the Money and Run," to the last, I think the only dog I ever saw there was the picture with which the theater closed, "The Designated Mourner." It was also one of the few times I was practically alone in there.

Saw Krzysztof Kieslowski's "Red" here, in 1995.

This theatre ran that crappy Gregory Peck/Jamie Lee Curtis film Amazing Grace and Chuck in 1987. Apparently it did alright but it's not surprising that the studio didn't expand it wider.

I am eager to access the showings for the period 1940 to 1960. I have just returned from a visit to the Lincoln Centre which holds programmes up until 1940 only. I wondered if anyone knows where the archives from 1940 onwards are held.

Thank you,

Margaret Eaton, The Univesity of Nottingham, UK

Ms. Eaton, could you please explain your comment about "programmes up until 1940 only" at the Lincoln Center library? Do you mean paper programmes that were distributed at the theatre, or film programs that played there? If paper programmes, does the library have all from opening of the theatre until 1940, or just a scattering? If you are trying to compile a listing of all films that played there after 1940, I don't know of any archive that has paper programmes. Your best source would probably be advertising in The New York Times, which would be a very arduous task. Programs changed at least twice a week prior to the theatre becoming a first-run "art" cinema.

Dear Warren,
Thank you for your reply. I have seen paper programmes that advertise the films that were shown at the Lincoln Centre. The period I am interested in is 1949-1960. Unfortunately, the library archives om the 68th Street Playouse end in 1940 and the Librarian was unable to tell me who holds later archives or indeed, if there are any.

I am now back in England and am desperately searching every avenue for help. I know just how arduous a task it is to look at the New York Times and ran out of time trying to do just that! As I am particularly intereted in this cinema I am hoping there are specific archives that will allow me to search.

Best wishes,

Margaret Eaton

Ms. Eaton,

Let me know if this is what you are looking for and I will complete the rest. The bookings are for weekends and, as Warren noted, split weeks were common on the early years so some films are missing. If you need specific dates I can try to look them up.

1/2/1949 JOHNNY BELINDA
1/9/1949 ROPE
1/16/1949 APARTMENT FOR PEGGY
1/23/1949 SORRRY, WRONG NUMBER
1/30/1949 THE SEARCH
2/6/1949 JULIA MISBEHAVES
2/13/1949 JUNE BRIDE
2/20/1949 THE THREE MUSKETEERS
2/27/1949 THE SAXON CHARM
3/6/1949 AN IDEAL HUSBAND
3/13/1949 EVERY GIRL SHOULD BE MARRIED
3/20/1949 SITTING PRETTY
3/27/1949 EASTER PARADE
4/3/1949 A LETTER TO THREE WIVES
4/10/1949 A LETTER TO THREE WIVES
4/17/1949 THE SNAKE PIT
4/24/1949 ENCHANTMENT
5/1/1949 APARTMENT FOR PEGGY
5/8/1949 JOHNNY BELINDA
5/15/1949 TREASURE OF SIERRA MADRE
5/22/1949 CASABLANCA
5/29/1949 THE GREAT WALTZ
6/5/1949 LIVE TODAY FOR TOMORROW
6/12/1949 ANNA KARENINA
6/19/1949 MOTHER IS A FRESHMAN
6/26/1949 PYGMALION
7/3/1949 SLEEPING CAR TO TRIESTE
7/10/1949 FLAMINGO ROAD
7/17/1949 TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME
7/24/1949 DON'T TAKE IT TO HEART/ THE OCTOBER MAN
7/31/1949 MR. BELVEDERE GOES TO COLLEGE
8/7/1949 A CANTERBURY TALE/ EASY MONEY
8/14/1949 MR. PERRIN AND MR. TRAILL/ MIRANDA
8/21/1949 IT HAPPENS EVERY SPRING
8/28/1949 THE FAN
9/4/1949 HOUSE OF STRANGERS
9/11/1949 JOHNNY BELINDA
9/18/1949 THE SEARCH
9/25/1949 TREASURE OF SIERRA MADRE
10/2/1949 THIS HAPPY BREED
10/9/1949 HOME OF THE BRAVE
10/16/1949 CASABLANCA
10/23/1949 I WAS A MALE WAR BRIDE
10/30/1949 THE WINDOW
11/6/1949 MONSIEUR VINCENT
11/13/1949 MONSIEUR VINCENT
11/20/1949 COME TO THE STABLE
11/27/1949 ONE WOMAN'S STORY
12/4/1949 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
12/11/1949 THE BANK DICK/ MY LITTLE CHIKADEE
12/18/1949 LOST BOUNDARIES
12/25/1949 THE BANK DICK/ MY LITTLE CHIKADEE
1/1/1950 EVERYBODY DOES IT
1/8/1950 THE WOMAN OF DOLWYN
1/15/1950 THE WOMAN OF DOLWYN
1/22/1950 SAINTS AND SINNER
1/29/1950 HAMLET
2/5/1950 THAT FORSYTE WOMAN
2/12/1950 GREEN DOLPHIN STREET
2/19/1950 NEVER GIVE A SUCKER AN EVEN BREAK/ YOU CAN'T CHEAT AN HONEST MAN
2/26/1950 ADAM'S RIB
3/5/1950 THE HASTY HEART
3/12/1950 PINKY
3/19/1950 12 O'CLOCK HIGH
3/26/1950 BATTLEGROUND
4/2/1950 ALL THE KING'S MEN
4/9/1950 ALL THE KING'S MEN
4/16/1950 THE HEIRESS
4/23/1950 THE MAN ON THE EIFFEL TOWER
4/30/1950 GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT
5/7/1950 CINDERELLA
5/14/1950 WHEN WILLIE COMES MARCHING HOME
5/21/1950 IL TROVATORE
5/28/1950 THE ASTONISHED HEART
6/4/1950 MAJOR BARBARA
6/11/1950 STAGE FRIGHT
6/18/1950 ADAM'S RIB
6/25/1950 FRANCIS
7/2/1950 CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN
7/9/1950 TIGHT LITTLE ISLAND
7/16/1950 THE HIDDEN ROOM
7/23/1950 THREE CAME HOME
7/30/1950 A RUN FOR YOUR MONEY
8/6/1950 CHAMPAGNE FOR CAESAR
8/13/1950 THE ASPHALT JUNGLE
8/20/1950 FATHER OF THE BRIDE
8/27/1950 THE FALLEN IDOL
9/3/1950 LOVE THAT BRUTE
9/10/1950 SOUTH RIDING/ STORM IN A TEACUP
9/17/1950 CONGOLAISE/ BIRTH OF BALLET
9/24/1950 SHOESHINE/ BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
10/1/1950 WINGS OF THE MORNING/ THE BANK DICK
10/8/1950 THE WHITE TOWER
10/15/1950 WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS
10/22/1950 SYMPHONIE PASTORAL
10/29/1950 HENRY V
11/5/1950 ADAM'S RIB
11/12/1950 SUMMER STOCK
11/19/1950 FATHER OF THE BRIDE
11/26/1950 THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
12/3/1950 SUNSET BLVD.
12/10/1950 SUNSET BLVD.
12/17/1950 YOU CAN'T FOOL AN IRISHMAN/A TOUCH OF SHAMROCK
12/24/1950 YOU CAN'T FOOL AN IRISHMAN/A TOUCH OF SHAMROCK
12/31/1950 ALL ABOUT EVE
1/7/1951 ALL ABOUT EVE
1/14/1951 ALL ABOUT EVE
1/21/1951 ALL ABOUT EVE
1/28/1951 ALL ABOUT EVE
2/4/1951 ALL ABOUT EVE
2/11/1951 ALL ABOUT EVE
2/18/1951 ALL ABOUT EVE
2/25/1951 ALL ABOUT EVE
3/4/1951 ALL ABOUT EVE
3/11/1951 ALL ABOUT EVE
3/18/1951 ALL ABOUT EVE
3/25/1951 ALL ABOUT EVE
4/1/1951 ALL ABOUT EVE
4/8/1951 ALL ABOUT EVE
4/15/1951 ALL ABOUT EVE
4/22/1951 MR. 880
4/29/1951 PAYMENT ON DEMAND
5/6/1951 THE MUDLARK
5/13/1951 KING SOLOMON'S MINES
5/20/1951 THE RED SHOES
5/27/1951 YOU'RE IN THE NAVY NOW
6/3/1951 (Newspaper Strike)
6/10/1951 (Newspaper Strike)
6/17/1951 KING SOLOMON'S MINES
6/24/1951 THE MATING SEASON
7/1/1951 BORN YESTERDAY
7/8/1951 BORN YESTERDAY
7/15/1951 BORN YESTERDAY
7/22/1951 KING SOLOMON'S MINES
7/29/1951 ON THE RIVIERA
8/5/1951 THE MAN ON THE EIFFEL TOWER
8/12/1951 THE MUDLARK
8/19/1951 CYRANO DE BERGERAC
8/26/1951 MAJOR BARBARA
9/2/1951 STRANGERS ON A TRAIN
9/9/1951 THE JACKPOT
9/16/1951 ALL ABOUT EVE
9/23/1951 KING SOLOMON'S MINES
9/30/1951 THE GREAT CARUSO
10/7/1951 MR. BELVEDERE RINGS THE BELL
10/14/1951 THE 13TH LETTER
10/21/1951 THE LOVERS OF VERONA
10/28/1951 THE BLUE ANGEL/ THE TITAN
11/4/1951 NIGHT TRAIN
11/11/1951 MANON/ AS YOUNG AS YOU FEEL
11/18/1951 PEOPLE WILL TALK
11/25/1951 THE HISTORY OF MR. POLLY
12/2/1951 NO HIGHWAY IN THE SKY
12/9/1951 A APLCE IN THE SUN
12/16/1951 RHUBARB
12/23/1951 THE ANGEL WITH THE TRUMPET
12/30/1951 THE ANGEL WITH THE TRUMPET
1/6/1952 THE ANGEL WITH THE TRUMPET
1/13/1952 THE BLUE VEIL
1/20/1952 PEOPLE WILL TALK
1/27/1952 A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
2/3/1952 A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
2/10/1952 AN AMERICAN IN PARIS
2/17/1952 AN AMERICAN IN PARIS
2/24/1952 AN AMERICAN IN PARIS
3/2/1952 KING SOLOMON'S MINES
3/9/1952 ON THE RIVIERA
3/16/1952 DETECTIVE STORY
3/23/1952 THE MODEL AND THE MARRIAGE BROKER
3/30/1952 COVER GIRL/ ESCAPE
4/6/1952 PHONE CALL FROM A STRANGER
4/13/1952 PHONE CALL FROM A STRANGER
4/20/1952 ROOM FOR ONE MORE
4/27/1952 5 FINGERS
5/4/1952 5 FINGERS
5/11/1952 5 FINGERS
5/18/1952 THE AFRICAN QUEEN
5/25/1952 THE AFRICAN QUEEN
6/1/1952 THE AFRICAN QUEEN
6/8/1952 A RUN FOR YOUR MONEY/AMERICAN HARVEST
6/15/1952 THE MUDLARK
6/22/1952 WITH A SONG IN MY HEART
6/29/1952 THE GREEN GLOVE
7/6/1952 ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN
7/13/1952 VALLEY OF THE EAGLES
7/20/1952 A PLACE IN THE SUN
7/27/1952 DETECTIVE STORY
8/3/1952 LYDIA BAILEY
8/10/1952 DIPLOMATIC COURIER
8/17/1952 CAESAR AND CLEOPATRA
8/24/1952 AN AMERICAN IN PARIS
8/31/1952 WE'ER NOT MARRIED
9/7/1952 PAT AND MIKE
9/14/1952 CLASH BY NIGHT/ NARROW MARGIN
9/21/1952 SHADOW OF A DOUBT/ TEMBO
9/28/1952 NEVER GIVE A SUCKER AN EVEN BREAK/ YOU CAN'T CHEAT AN HONEST MAN
10/5/1952 DREAMBOAT
10/12/1952 DREAMBOAT
10/19/1952 THE RIVER/ THE TALES OF HOFFMANN
10/26/1952 WHERE'S CHARLEY
11/2/1952 THE AFRICAN QUEEN
11/9/1952 ANNIE GET YOUR GUN
11/16/1952 HIGH NOON
11/23/1952 THE QUIET MAN
11/30/1952 THE QUIET MAN
12/7/1952 THE QUIET MAN
12/14/1952 BRANDY FOR THE PARSON/ BRIGHTON ROCK
12/21/1952 DAVID AND BATHSHEBA
12/28/1952 IVORY HUNTER/ WILLIE AND JOE

Dear Al Alvarez,
Thank you so much for this! I am amazed at your knowledge. I have spent the last week contacting all the Libraries in the area plus the New York Public Library and the Lincoln Centre plus Princeton University Library, none of which have any records. Could you please let me have your source in case I need to cite in any essay. I am particularly interested in films that helped Irish emigrants assimilate in New York during the period 1949-60. Frank McCourt specifically mentions the 68th Street Playhouse and I can already see that 'The Quiet Man' would have been interesting to Irish-Americans. Since I could go on forever I have chosen 1960 as a cut off point. Films featuring James Cagney and other Irish-Americans would also have been of interest. If you could supply any further films up to 1960 I would be most grateful. Meanwhile, rest assured that my gratitude is already deep.

Have a good weekend.

Best wishes,

Margaret Eaton

Ms Eaton,

The lists are based on New York Times ads and I am afraid you are the beneficiary of a strange boyhood hobby. I am glad if I could help... :)

In reading McCourt, I assumed the immigrant appeal of the 68th St Playhouse was the low prices for a single recent feature where other theatres would often feature stage shows and two films. Nevertheless, I am sure a double features such as YOU CAN'T FOOL AN IRISHMAN and A TOUCH OF SHAMROCK would have proven irresistible.

Here are some more...

1/4/1953 BECAUSE YOU'RE MINE
1/11/1953 THIS HAPPY BREED/ BRIEF ENCOUNTER
1/18/1953 THE LADY VANISHES/ MR. PEEKABOO
1/25/1953 THE SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO
2/1/1953 BLITHE SPIRIT/ THE PRIVATE LIFE OF HENRY VIII
2/8/1953 CATHERINE THE GREAT/ BLANCHE FURY
2/15/1953 THE HAPPY TIME
2/22/1953 BREAKING THE SOUND BARRIER
3/1/1953 LIMELIGHT (2 weeks)
3/15/1953 BREAKING THE SOUND BARRIER
3/22/1953 THE MEDIUM/ GIGI
3/29/1953 STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER/ MY PAL GUS
4/5/1953 MY COUSIN RACHEL
4/12/1953 HIGH NOON/ THE AFRICAN QUEEN
4/19/1953 THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
4/26/1953 THE MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT/ TIGHT LITTLE ISLAND
5/3/1953 PETER PAN/ BEAR COUNTRY
5/10/1953 STORY OF 3 LOVES
5/17/1953 PETER PAN/ BEAR COUNTRY
5/24/1953 I CONFESS
5/31/1953 PETER PAN/ BEAR COUNTRY
6/7/1953 COME BACK, LITTLE SHEBA
6/14/1953 LIMELIGHT
6/21/1953 CALL ME MADAM
6/28/1953 HIGH NOON/ THE AFRICAN QUEEN
7/5/1953 LIMELIGHT
7/12/1953 MOULIN ROUGE (2 weeks)
7/26/1953 THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
8/2/1953 LAST HOLIDAY/ FRANCHISE AFFAIR
8/9/1953 SHANE (2 weeks)
8/23/1953 STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN/ GREEN FOR DANGER
8/30/1953 ODD MAN OUT/ THE SEVENTH VEIL
9/6/1953 CAPTAIN BOYCOTT/ SMUGGLERS
9/13/1953 PYGAMALION/ MAJOR BARBARA
9/20/1953 BRIEF ENCOUNTER/ I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING
9/27/1953 FACE TO FACE/ UNDER THE RED SEA
10/4/1953 GENTLE GUNMAN/ SOMETHING MONEY CAN'T BUY
10/11/1953 MOULIN ROUGE
10/18/1953 THE LAVENDER HILL MOB
10/25/1953 THE QUEEN IS CROWNED/ DESPERATE MOMENT
11/1/1953 IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT/ THE BRAVE BULLS
11/8/1953 THE LONG MEMORY/ IT STARTED IN PARADISE
11/15/1953 ROMAN HOLIDAY
11/22/1953 RETURN TO PARADISE
11/29/1953 MURDER WILL OUT
12/6/1953 ROMAN HOLIDAY (2 weeks)
12/20/1953 AN AMERICAN IN PARIS
12/27/1953 HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON
1/3/1954 DREAM WIFE
1/10/1954 ROMAN HOLIDAY (10 weeks)
3/21/1954 MOGAMBO (2 weeks)
4/4/1954 MAN AGAINST A SAVAGE WORLD
4/11/1954 THE 39 STEPS/ AS YOUNG AS YOU FEEL
4/18/1954 ROMAN HOLIDAY
4/25/1954 BEAT THE DEVIL (4 weeks)
5/23/1954 RHAPSODY (3 weeks)
6/13/1954 FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (2 weeks)
6/27/1954 STALAG 17
7/4/1954 MOGAMBO
7/11/1954 WHERE'S CHARLEY
7/18/1954 IT SHOULD HAPPEN TO YOU
7/25/1954 FLAME AND THE FLESH
8/1/1954 DIAL M FOR MURDER (4 weeks)
8/29/1954 EXECUTIVE SUITE
9/5/1954 ROMAN HOLIDAY
9/12/1954 KNOCK ON WOOD (2 weeks)
9/26/1954 ANGELIKA (3 weeks)
10/17/1954 EXECUTIVE SUITE
10/24/1954 GENEVIEVE
10/31/1954 HIGH NOON/ THE AFRICAN QUEEN
11/7/1954 PAT AND MIKE
11/14/1954 RHAPSODY
11/21/1954 CAPTAIN'S PARADISE/ BEAUTIES OF THE NIGHT (2 weeks)
12/5/1954 MR. HULOT'S HOLIDAY
12/12/1954 (No ad)
12/19/1954 (No ad)
12/26/1954 FUSS OVER FEATHERS
1/7/1955 REAR WINDOW ( 2 weeks)
1/21/1955 SABRINA (3 weeks)
2/11/1955 CARMEN JONES
2/18/1955 THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN (3 weeks)
3/11/1955 SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (4 weeks)
4/8/1955 THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA (2 weeks)
4/22/1955 THE BRIDGES OF TOKO-RI
4/29/1955 THE COUNTRY GIRL (2 weeks)
5/13/1955 8 O'CLOCK WALK
5/20/1955 ON THE WATERFRONT
5/27/1955 BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK (4 weeks)
6/24/1955 THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN (2 weeks)
7/8/1955 A STAR IS BORN (2 weeks)
7/22/1955 EAST OF EDEN (2 weeks)
8/5/1955 INTERRUPTED MELODY
8/12/1955 A MAN CALLED PETER ( 2 weeks)
8/26/1955 ROMEO AND JULIET
9/2/1955 LOVE OR LEAVE ME
9/9/1955 BLACKBOARD JUNGLE
9/16/1955 DADDY LONG LEGS
9/23/1955 THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH
9/30/1955 WE'RE NO ANGELS
10/7/1955 DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE
10/14/1955 CARMEN JONES
10/21/1955 SABRINA
10/28/1955 SUMMERTIME (3 weeks)
11/18/1955 LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING (3 weeks)
12/9/1955 MISTER ROBERTS
12/16/1955 TO CATCH A THIEF (2 weeks)
12/30/1955 THE TALES OF HOFFMANN
1/6/1956 LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING
1/13/1956 THE SHEEP HAS FIVE LEGS
1/20/1956 I AM A CAMERA
1/27/1956 THE TENDER TRAP (4 weeks)
2/24/1956 TO CATCH A THIEF (3 weeks)
3/16/1956 EAST OF EDEN (3 weeks)
4/6/1956 THE SHEEP HAS FIVE LEGS/ MR. HULOT'S HOLIDAY
4/13/1956 I'LL CRY TOMORROW
4/20/1956 SUMMERTIME
4/27/1956 THE ROSE TATTOO
5/4/1956 DIAL M FOR MURDER
5/11/1956 THE COURT JESTER (2 weeks)
5/25/1956 PICNIC (4 weeks)
6/22/1956 CAROUSEL
6/29/1956 THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM
7/6/1956 THE SWAN
7/13/1956 MEET ME IN LAS VEGAS
7/20/1956 THE MAN IN THE GREY FLANNEL SUIT
7/27/1956 SERENADE
8/3/1956 THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH (2 weeks)
8/17/1956 THE SWAN (2 weeks)
8/31/1956 EAST OF EDEN
9/7/1956 THE FOUR-POSTER/ A MEMBER OF THE WEDDING (2 weeks)
9/21/1956 DIABOLIQUE/ THE SHEEP HAS 5 LEGS
9/28/1956 THE MAN IN THE GREY FLANNEL SUIT
10/5/1956 THE LADYKILLERS
10/12/1956 THE KING AND I (3 weeks)
11/2/1956 THE EDDY DUCHIN STORY
11/9/1956 AUTUMN LEAVES
11/16/1956 HIGH SOCIETY (2 weeks)
11/30/1956 BUS STOP (2 weeks)
12/14/1956 RIFIFI
12/21/1956 THE KING AND I (2 weeks)
1/4/1957 TEA AND SYMPATHY
1/11/1957 THE BAD SEED
1/18/1957 BEAT THE DEVIL (3 weeks)
2/8/1957 THE SOLID GOLD CADILLAC (2 weeks)
2/22/1957 FRIENDLY PERSUASION (4 weeks)
3/22/1957 WAR AND PEACE
3/29/1957 ANASTASIA (4 weeks)
4/26/1957 THE RAINMAKER (2 weeks)
5/10/1957 WRITTEN ON THE WIND
5/17/1957 FULL OF LIFE ( 2weeks)
5/31/1957 HEAVEN KNOWS, MR. ALLISON ( 2 weeks)
6/14/1957 12 ANGRY MEN (3 weeks)
7/5/1957 FUNNY FACE ( 2 weeks)
7/19/1957 THIS COULD BE THE NIGHT
7/26/1957 THE BACHELOR PARTY
8/2/1957 LUST FOR LIFE
8/9/1957 DESK SET
8/16/1957 DESIGNING WOMAN
8/23/1957 OH, MEN! OH, WOMEN!
8/30/1957 THE LOST CONTINENT/ THE RED BALLOON
9/6/1957 A FACE IN THE CROWD (2 weeks)
9/20/1957 THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL (2 weeks)
10/4/1957 AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER (2 weeks)
10/18/1957 FRIENDLY PERSUASION
10/25/1957 SILK STOCKINGS
11/1/1957 A HATFUL OF RAIN
11/8/1957 WILL SUCCESS SPOIL ROCK HUNTER?
11/15/1957 THE TEAHOUSE OF THE AUGUST MOON
11/22/1957 THE SUN ALSO RISES (2 weeks)
12/6/1957 THE LOST CONTINENT/ THE RED BALLOON
12/13/1957 THE PAJAMA GAME
12/20/1957 THE RISING OF THE MOON
12/27/1957 LES GIRLS (4 weeks)
1/24/1958 GATE OF HELL/ GOYA
1/31/1958 LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON
2/7/1958 ORDET
2/14/1958 PAL JOEY
2/21/1958 DON'T GO NEAR THE WATER
2/28/1958 LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON
3/7/1958 OPERATION MAD BALL
3/14/1958 THE TENDER TRAP
3/21/1958 DESIGNING WOMAN
3/28/1958 PEYTON PLACE
4/4/1958 SAYONARA
4/11/1958 WILD IS THE WIND
4/18/1958 THE BALLET OF ROMEO AND JULIET
4/25/1958 ALL AT SEA
5/2/1958 THE THREE FACES OF EVE (4 weeks)
5/30/1958 THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV
6/6/1958 SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS
6/13/1958 KING SOLOMON'S MINES (3 weeks)
7/4/1958 MERRY ANDREW
7/11/1958 TEACHER'S PET ( 2 weeks)
7/25/1958 HIGH SOCIETY
8/1/1958 LAST HOLIDAY/ THE RED BALLOON
8/8/1958 THE CONSTANT HUSBAND (2 weeks)
8/22/1958 10 NORTH FREDERICK
8/29/1958 NO TIME FOR SERGEANTS (3 weeks)
9/19/1958 THE LONG HOT SUMMER
9/26/1958 COCKTAILS IN THE KITCHEN
10/3/1958 INDISCREET (2 weeks)
10/17/1958 GOD'S LITTLE ACRE
10/24/1958 THE KEY
10/31/1958 SUMMERTIME/ THE RED BALLOON
11/7/1958 THE GODDESS
11/14/1958 THE RELUCTANT DEBUTANTE
11/21/1958 THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAII
11/28/1958 THE RELUCTANT DEBUTANTE
12/5/1958 THE BARBARIAN AND THE GEISHA
12/12/1958 (Newspaper Strike)
12/19/1958 (Newspaper Strike)
12/26/1958 THE MATCHMAKER
1/2/1959 THE DEFIANT ONES ( 3 weeks)
1/23/1959 LA PARISIENNE
1/30/1959 CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF (3 weeks)
2/20/1959 HOUSEBOAT (2 weeks)
3/6/1959 AUNTIE MAME (4 weeks)
4/3/1959 THE INN OF THE SIXTH HAPPINESS
4/10/1959 THE TUNNEL OF LOVE
4/17/1959 RALLY 'ROUND THE FLAG, BOYS!
4/24/1959 AUNTIE MAME
5/1/1959 THE DOCTOR'S DILEMMA (2 weeks)
5/15/1959 SOME CAME RUNNING
5/22/1959 I WANT TO LIVE! (2 weeks)
6/5/1959 THE SOUND AND THE FURY
6/12/1959 MY UNCLE
6/19/1959 THE SHAGGY DOG
6/26/1959 THE JOURNEY
7/3/1959 THE MATING GAME
7/10/1959 SEPARATE TABLES (2 weeks)
7/24/1959 COMPULSION
7/31/1959 THREE MEN IN A BOAT (2 weeks)
8/14/1959 IMITATION OF LIFE
8/21/1959 ASK ANY GIRL (3 weeks)
9/11/1959 SOME LIKE IT HOT
9/18/1959 THE FIVE PENNIES
9/25/1959 THE YOUNG PHILADELPHIANS
10/2/1959 MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
10/9/1959 THE NUN'S STORY (2 weekS)
10/23/1959 FOR THE FIRST TIME
10/30/1959 THE DEVIL'S DISCIPLE
11/6/1959 IT STARTED WITH A KISS
11/13/1959 NORTH BY NORTHWEST (2 weeks)
11/27/1959 A HOLE IN THE HEAD
12/4/1959 BUT NOT FOR ME
12/11/1959 ANATOMY OF A MURDER
12/18/1959 THE GOLD RUSH/ THE RED BALLOON
12/25/1959 THE HORSE'S MOUTH
1/1/1960 THE MAN WHO UNDERSTOOD WOMEN
1/8/1960 PILLOW TALK (4 weeks)
2/5/1960 GIGI
2/12/1960 LOOK BACK IN ANGER
2/19/1960 THE LAST ANGRY MAN
2/26/1960 WILD STRAWBERRIES
3/4/1960 OPERATION PETTICOAT (3 weeks)
3/25/1960 THE GAZEBO
4/1/1960 WHEN COMEDY WAS KING (8 weeks) First Run
5/27/1960 WILD RIVER ( 4 weeks) First Run
6/24/1960 OSCAR WILDE (14 weeks) First Run
9/30/1960 THE CAPTAIN'S TABLE (2 weeks) First Run
10/14/1960 THE 39 STEPS (3 weeks) First Run
11/4/1960 A DOG, A MOUSE AND A SPUTNIK- First Run
11/11/1960 THE LOVE GAME (4 weeks) First Run
12/9/1960 UPSTAIRS AND DOWNSTAIRS - First Run
12/16/1960 THE MOUSE THAT ROARED
12/23/1960 RUE DE PARIS (2 weeks) First Run

Dear Al Alvarez,

Thank you so much. I will let you know how my chapter proceeds but this will not be some time as I am working on another chapter at present - the influence of O'Casey and Dion Boucicault on McCourt's writings. Whilst in New York I was also researching if any 'Irish' plays were show. There were some O'Casey plays shown very inflequently off Broadway but of course this was the era of the big musical! I have been doing the same sort of research in Limerick as well. Thank you so much for your contribution to my research.

All best,

Margaret

You are very welcome.

You may be aware of this but, if the university has a Proquest subscription to the historic New York Times you can do an online search for the plays or playwrights within limited date parameters, directly from the UK. It will save you a lot of time since the NY Times reviewed almost every play.

I will investigate this. Thank you once again for your help!
Margaret

I have a quick related question. According to a 1979 NY Times listing, the telephone number for the playhouse was RE4-0302, or 734-0302. Does anyone know what word or name the RE is an abbreviation for? Thanks!

This is from Boxoffice magazine, April 1960:

NEW YORK-The 68th Street Playhouse, one of Manhattan's oldest film theaters dating back to the nickelodeon days, became a first-run art theater March 30 with the opening of "When Comedy was King", 20th Century Fox omnibus feature starring famous silent days comedians.

The theater, which has been operated as a neighborhood subsequent run house since Brecher Theaters took it over in 1937, was refurbished before the opening, according to Walter Brecher. The theater was at one time operated by the late Charles O'Reilly, former vice-president of ABC Vending Corp.

What I remember most about this theater, besides the shoddy, exposed air conditioner ducts, was that during the movie, every time someone went in or out of the theater, the light from the lobby would shine on the screen when the door opened. Drove me crazy.

Dear Warren and anyone else who is able to help,

Thank you for your previous assistance.
I wondered if any cinema experts would know the approximate dates and venues of the John Wayne films 'Rio Bravo', 'The Searchers' and 'Stagecoach', in addition to Joel McCrae and Randolph Scott in 'Ride The Big Country'?
Thank you.
This is for academic research.
Best wishes,

Margaret Eaton

Thank you to the very knowledgeable Al as well!
Margaret Eaton

Renewing link.

The Playhouse.

http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=new+york&catpageindex=30&catpagesize=25&ProductID=31178

Margaret, those films would have played all over town. Are you looking for the first run locations or the 68th St. Playhouse dates?

Very much miss the eclctic programming of the 68th St. When it closed, the Eastside Playhouse was supposed to pick up its mantle with similar scheduling, but never lived up to the challenge. If I recall, the RE telephone exchange stood for Rector.