Polk Theater

The owner of this theatre has had it since the early 60's. It used to play second run double bills. In the late eightys he attempted to play porno by day and second run at night but never cleaned up the place or gave it a chance.

The 599-seat theatre was christened as the Polk Avenue (original name of 37th Avenue) and first opened in 1938. Charles Sandblom was the architect, with Jupo Amusement Corp. the owner. The construction cost, including all the equipment but not the underlying land, was $85,000. The auditorium was semi-modern, with draped panels on the side walls, which sort of curved into the proscenium. The screen, covered by curtains that could be controlled from the projection booth, was flat against the back wall, with no room for a stage. The stepped ceiling had a central trough with cove lighting and ducts for the air-conditioning system. The theatre's most unusual feature was the neon-bordered marquee, which carried only the name "POLK AVE," also in neon, on all three sides. Mounted under the marquee but halfway back was a triangular attraction board, two sides of which had three rows for changeable letters (black against white glass)...The Polk Avenue was the last theatre built in the vicinity of Corona's Junction Boulevard shopping precinct and showed late-run mainstream movies for most of its life. Its nearest competition was the Granada Theatre, further east on Polk Avenue, and the Corona Theatre on Junction Boulevard.

I know the owner of this theatre who has had it since the early 60's. Except from years of being run down as a porno house, all of its art deco elements are still there. I saw the theatre with the porters cleaning lights on, and if it was painted and had new seats, screen and carpet wold be a mini gem almost as nice as the Loews Trylon. The marquee is so 1940's it should have landmark status.

The address is 93-09 37th Avenue. Nearly all Queens addresses are hyphenated. 37th Avenue was known as Polk Avenue at the time this theatre was built.

I stopped by to see if this theater was still running. It is still open. I went there on 11/15/04. There was this old woman selling 'tickets' in the box office. The tickets are threaded through the old ticket machine, but unlike the old days, she doesn't push a button to dispense them. The place has a musty smell. The small lobby is still intact. It is smaller than most theaters. Once inside I gave the ticket to an 'usher'. Next to the door on the left is the old ticket collection box. I don't know what it is actually called. There are still the old concession stand display cases. There are stairs that lead to the restrooms. There is no balcony. There is old paneling on the walls that no doubt hide the original walls. It would be interesting to peel them off. Upstairs is an old phone booth minus the pay phone. The bathrooms are okay. There are also to old scales that don't work but are probably worth something. The theater looks as if suspended in time. It needs a good cleaning. I once had the opportunity to see the projection room. The projectors are still in place and probably work.

Cypress, you left out some vital information. What's the policy here? What kind of movies are being shown, and how frequent are the program changes?

Hi Warren. In the main auditorium they show 'legit' movies. This Monday they were playing THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW with Dennis Quaid. In the back of the theater is where they show the gay and straight porn. They also have small booths where you can, well you get the picture. I think they change the program every Sunday and Wednesday. But that might be for the porn movies. In the main room they show a lot of old movies. The theater is well maintained and it is a relaxed atmosphere. They have the balcony but that is closed off. I would love to see the projection room. I bet the old projectors are still intact. Do you know if there was a stage?

This never had a real stage. The screen was flat against the back wall of the auditorium...Is this now sub-divided, or is the second "screen" just occupying what used to be lobby space?

There are some wicked descriptions of teen-age, um, activities at the Polk Theater in the widely praised memoir about pre-Stonewall gay life, James McCourt's "Queer Street" (Norton, 2003). The author grew up on 94 Street in the 40s-50s.

Cypress....I'm confused. In your 3:42 entry yesterday, you said that the Polk did not have a balcony and that the theater needs a good cleaning. Yet at 5:42 you claim that there is a balcony, which is closed off and that the theater is well maintained. It almost seems that you are talking about two different theaters. Please clarify.

The Polk Theater received a mention in this week's (July 18th) issue of New York magazine, as the second of 50 unique-to-Queens sites to consider checking out before the borough (inevitably) becomes gentrified.

Here are two early images:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/126-2605_IMG.jpg
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/126-2609_IMG.jpg

I must have been buzzed if/when I wrote that the Polk was in good condition. The place is okay but it isn't as well maintained as the Fair Theater on Astoria Blvd. I was able to see the old projectors and the owner offered to sell them to me. But I don't have the money for that.

I must have been buzzed if/when I wrote that the Polk was in good condition. The place is okay but it isn't as well maintained as the Fair Theater on Astoria Blvd. I was able to see the old projectors and the owner offered to sell them to me. But I don't have the money for that.

In 1968 the Polk was part of this adults only showcase
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/Movie%20Ads/56273003.jpg

The Brandts' must have had money in that picture - with a few exceptions all the theatres playing it are Brandt!

Hi

We are an English couple visiting New York in October and are looking to find an adult cinema where we can “play” and be watched. Would this be possible in this movie theater and is it clean and safe?

Can anyone recommend any adult movie theaters in Manhattan?

Our email is nytrip69@hotmail.com

Here are two exterior views that I snapped last weekend. Please compare the current marquee to the original shown in my previous post of July 15, 2005...The blonde in red tanktop and bluejeans standing next to the boxoffice reminded me of a hooker, but turned out to be the cashier (which doesn't necessarily preclude the other!):
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/137-3791_IMG.jpg
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/137-3793_IMG.jpg

I wonder when the "Polk Ave." lost that wonderful marquee and became the "Polk"? "Little Miss Roughneck" opened in '38, so we know it happened after that. In my neck of the island in B'klyn, several theaters underwent facelifts in the pre-Scope post-war years ca.'48-'52. McCourt's "Queer Street" captures the Polk of that era (the paragraphs on "Don't Bother to Knock" are exemplary) without calling the theater "Polk Ave." or mentioning its elegant marquee. That book goes into some detail about the custodian's hilarious hanky-panky at the time.

Hey Warren... were we following each other around Queens with our cameras? Here are a few shots I took:

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Queens%20Movie%20Theaters%202005/IMG_0686.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Queens%20Movie%20Theaters%202005/IMG_0687.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Queens%20Movie%20Theaters%202005/IMG_0688.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Queens%20Movie%20Theaters%202005/IMG_0689.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Queens%20Movie%20Theaters%202005/IMG_0685.jpg

That last one is the rear of the theater on the side street (93rd Street). I plan on returning one evening to get a shot of the marquee lit up.

The "Ave." was probably dropped when the street name changed from Polk Avenue to 37th Avenue. I don't know the date of that change, but I think it was after the end of WWII...Ed, was that blonde "cashier" in evidence when you visited?

There was someone there behind the counter when I was poking around, definitely a woman, but I didn't take too long of a peak (and the glass in the booth was a bit, shall we say, opaque). Nice to see the old booth was actually still in operation, however... cluttered as it appeared to be. And did you notice that (as with the Fair) there were faded posters in the display cases with the current feature attractions advertised only by a handwritten piece of looseleaf paper scotch-taped on the glass? At least the posters here at the Polk were for porn flicks. Over at the Fair, the poster is for a mid-70's Lee Marvin action flick - of the variety you'd find playing at one of the 42nd Street grind houses!

I have all these same questions, plus one more:

"Hi Warren. In the main auditorium they show 'legit' movies...In the back of the theater is where they show the gay and straight porn. They also have small booths where you can, well you get the picture. I think they change the program every Sunday and Wednesday. But that might be for the porn movies..."
[posted by cypress on Nov 18, 2004 at 5:24pm]

"Cypress....I'm confused. In your 3:42 entry yesterday, you said that the Polk did not have a balcony and that the theater needs a good cleaning. Yet at 5:42 you claim that there is a balcony, which is closed off..."
[posted by ErwinM on Nov 19, 2004 at 1:53pm]

"We are an English couple visiting New York in October and are looking to find an adult cinema where we can “play” and be watched. Would this be possible in this movie theater and is it clean and safe?
Can anyone recommend any adult movie theaters in Manhattan? Our email is nytrip69@hotmail.com"
[posted by Shirley&Mark on Aug 24, 2005 at 6:01am]]

One more question: how may one reach it by subway from Manhattan?
faberfranz@yahoo.com

Well I took the #7 Line to 74th & Broadway and caught a bus. You could also take the #7 Line to Junction Blvd, then walk back 4 blocks and across.

I did it on my own, and I am from the UK, but then I can sniff out a theatre if I am pointed in the right direction! lol

Thanks, KenRoe! That was quick!

Now, what about subway directions for Fair theater and for Cinema Kings Highway?

Please, folks! There's enough sexual disease going around without encouraging more!

According to RobertR's Jan'68 "Carmen,Baby" article,The Sunnyside Center (then called Rugoff's Center) was showing porn? Can anyone tell me what kind of porno was "Carmen,Baby"- was it softcore, hardcore, bondage, fetish...I am amazed that porn was showing up the block from the Sunnyside Jewish Center.

for cinema kings highway: the b or q to kings highway, then the 82 bus.

Was in the area the other night with my camera in hand and snapped these photos of the illuminated marquee:

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Queens%20Movie%20Theaters%202005/IMG_1087.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Queens%20Movie%20Theaters%202005/IMG_1088.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Queens%20Movie%20Theaters%202005/IMG_1089.jpg

As with so many "surviving" marquees, the light fixtures under the canopy have been concealed and placed out of commission. Sorry for that blurry last shot, but it was the only image I captured on that side of the marquee.

That cashier is still on duty, Warren. She sat behind that glass window, enjoying her smokes and completely unfazed as I snapped these shots. Also grabbed a few pics of the Fair Theater on Astoria Blvd this same night.

Comparing these two the vintage shots Warren posted back on July 15th, I wonder if the original "Polk Ave" neon is still there, concealed under the metal flashing that now bands the marquee behind the new and larger "POLK" lettering?

And my mistake, Warren... I don't think I had read your September 7th post carefully and did not realize you were talking about the blonde cashier in the red tank top you had photographed incidentally! The cashier I saw at the theater the last two times I visited was a much older woman with blonde hair who sat almost motionless in the booth stirring only to take long drags on her cigarette.

I see on the last shot, it's the "Po" theater. Would it be inappropriate to wonder if a lot of "ho's" frequent the "Po"?

It would actually be quite fitting to do so, Jeffrey...

Hi,
I've been writing a story about the Polk and I'm trying to figure out some of the place's history. Does anyone have any ideas how I could verify the year it was built and the architect? What I really wanted to find out was what was playing opening night, but when I looked in the local paper for all the years around 1938 I didn't find any mention of it. Also, is there any way to find out how many adult movie theaters are left in nyc? I'd appreciate any help anyone could give.

'LostMemory', who posts on this site somehow finds original C of O's for a lot of these NYC theatres - if you contact him he may be able to help you.

mkl... Your last question has been posed on this page as well as on the page for the Fair Theater wihtout any definitive resolution. I know of these two theaters for sure, and there is the Playpen (former Adonis/Cameo) in Manhattan. Beyond that, I'm not sure what exists anymore. I'm also not sure if there is ANY theater in NY that still exhibits adult films via projection onto the big screen.

I posted some of the history of the Polk on 2/18/04 above. After that, I also posted some pix of the original design. It was a small, late-run "nabe." If there was any opening advertising at all, it was probably in the Long Island Star-Journal, which covered Jackson Heights, Corona, Elmhurst, etcetera. You can find the newspaper on microfilm in the Long Island research center at the main Queens Public Library on Merrick Road in Jamaica.

The Long Island Press also covered those areas -- and later was combined with the Star-Journal -- but not sure if it was published as early as 1938. Ditto on the collection in the main Queensboro Public Library noted by Warren.

Thanks for all the replies. I had read the history Warren posted and the old picture was great to see. Such a contrast to the way it is now, although it's amazing to me how much is still intact. But I was hoping to find out where that information and the picture came from. It sounded, from Warren's post, like it wasn't in the Long Island Star-Journal.

I happened upon this site while doing some research about a long gone ice cream parlor on Junction Blvd. I grew up on 94th St. in the '60's/'70's and remember the Polk very well. I always thought that marquee was the original and am intrigued by the idea that the original (as EdSalero suggests) is hidden beneath the metal flashing.

Hey, Christopher -- I grew up on Junction Blvd in the 60s-70s, went to P.S. 13, I.S. 61 and Newtown HS. What ice cream parlor are you talking about?

Edebohls. I was able to find a little information about the one in Sunnyside (apparently the original, which I didn't even know existed) and the Edebohls family but nothing about the Junction Blvd. location.

Always wanted to visit this theater.

Believe me, you don’t want to visit, especially if you have respiratory or other health issues. The films aren’t the only things “filthy” here – this place is downright unhygienic (you’ll want to scrub yourself down after leaving). This place is a biology experiment gone bad.

The lobby ceilings leak (from the lavatory plumbing upstairs) and the roof is no match for a heavy rain shower. The moment you enter, you are met with the stale, lingering musty odor of mildew, mold and even possibly urine. The dampness and heat get worse in warmer weather due to weak, almost non-existent air-conditioning. The carpets are old and dusty. The lavatories look as if they haven’t seen a janitor’s touch in years, plus the fixtures and tile work all look original. There are signs of decay and neglect throughout, and the owner has no intention of doing anything with this place. It will crumble to the ground before he puts another dime into it.

The manager, a little 80+ year-old man who lives on Long Island, has owned a share in this theater for longer than I have been alive, and he is absolutely clueless about what to do with it or how to operate it. His business partners are probably waiting for him to sell out (or croak) so they can unload it to some developer for demolition or conversion to retail space. With virtually no customers left (except a few drunk Mexicans, some tired old men and the occasional curious young man), I can’t imagine how it stays in business (perhaps there is rental income generated from box stores surrounding the theatre that covers its operating costs).

I don’t think the owners are in any financial position to renovate, and the changes required to modernize and bring it up to code would be unfeasible from a cost and investment standpoint. This theatre’s days are numbered.

Judging from your comments on this and the Fair Theater, Alto, you have sacrificed a considerable amount of time, money, and personal safety to investigate these dens of iniquity -- presumably so we don't have to. I applaud your initiative. (Next time, take pictures!)

Which pictures would you prefer: the theatre or the "iniquity"? ;-)

My interest is purely historical, so the theater, definitely. Unless the iniquity is of historic proportions. !-))

Alto... Are you a building inspector? Or just one of those "curious" young men? As dilapidated as the Polk and Fair may well be, they may also be two of the very few neighborhood theaters in NYC to remain more or less intact from their days of legitimate operation. The former Mayfair and Earle Theaters (both having survived their XXX porno days and now showing Bollywood fare) are the only others that come to mind.

How are the interior configurations of the Polk and Fair, beyond their advanced states of disrepair? Does the Polk operate like the Fair with video projected action films on the main screen and adult fare in private viewing booths? Where are the booths located?

The Fair’s original single-screen main auditorium is basically intact, including its balcony (which, by all appearances, has been declared “off-limits” for quite some time), with only minor aesthetic modifications. Expansion of the facilities to include additional smaller XXX theatres and private viewing booths was achieved by acquiring space from adjoining box stores on the west side of the building (if you look carefully, you can figure out where the walls used to exist).

The two Greek brothers who manage the theatre also run the adjacent Stella D’Argento Italian Restaurant located on the east side of the theatre (a convenient “walk-through” entry provides direct access to its “bar lounge” by theatre customers). The lounge menu offering “specials for theatre customers only” has proven popular and provides additional income for the restaurant.

The owners have provided amenities and reasonable levels of comfort and cleanliness that are unexpected in an establishment of this type. The décor, although somewhat tacky, sets a pleasant and inviting tone. The fish tanks bubbling away in the lobby are particularly unique. The relaxed, non-intimidating (even social) atmosphere will surprise adult theatre “veterans” and “novices” alike.

Ironically, the same block-long building housing the theatre and restaurant also provides storefront space to a black “church” (I use the term loosely) on its northwest corner! These are same wonderful people who have repeatedly tried (thankfully without success) to curtail or close down the theatre’s operations.

The Polk is a straightforward, single-screen operation showing "straight" porn. Its configuration has not been changed. The only significant alteration is a panelled privacy wall built on top of the original half-wall in the rear of the auditorium.

Thanks for that information, Alto.

In response to Jeff:

"Initiative"? Yes...right...that's it..."initiative".

In response to Ed:

As for "curious": can't answer that (I'd be telling if I did).
As for "young": why...absolutely! :-)

In response to Jeff:

"Initiative"? Yes...right...that's it..."initiative".

In response to Ed:

As for "curious": can't answer that (I'd be telling if I did).
As for "young": why...absolutely! :-)

Well, I'd like to applaud the initiative and curiosity of all here for sparking my curiosity in this theater. As mentioned in my earlier post, I came upon this site in a roundabout way, but it sparked my interest and I made a pilgrimage there this past weekend. I wasn't sure if I'd go in, but that was decided for me. The Polk hadn't yet opened for the day when I got there. I grew up just around the corner but hadn't been out there (on foot) in 20-25 years. The posts on this site most definitely piqued my curiosity. I'm especially fascinated by the references to the McCourt book (had no idea he grew up on 94th St), which I haven't read, but just bought, thanks BoxOfficeBill.
Alto, you mention the owner being in his 80s. I'll bet it's the same guy I remember owning the place when I was a kid. I think he first started running the "XXX" flicks around 1969 or so

Intuition is a funny thing, but this is downright creepy…

I was informed that as of Monday, February 20th (Presidents’ Day), this theater was closed. I passed by on Friday the 24th at 6 p.m. to investigate further, and by all appearances, it is true. All entry doors were locked, and the entire place was dark (except for a small lamp left on in the lobby, visible through an open inside door). All display cases, inside and out, were emptied of their ancient faded movie posters and hand-written notices. The box office booth was “de-cluttered” of items, and the hours of operation were no longer posted.

The only “official proof” of closure that I saw was a small, hand-made “sign”: an 8.5”x11” sheet of plain paper with a message scrawled in marker ink “CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS – OPENING SOON”. However, it was casually placed on the counter, out of general view and difficult to see through the dirty glass (I had to squint to read it).

I do not believe there is any validity to this claim. If the owners were sincere in their attempt to publicize genuine changes or improvements, they would have conspicuously posted larger, more informative signs on the doors and the box office window, clearly visible from the sidewalk and street.

Renovating this facility (in its current condition) into a presentable, legitimate theatre operation would require MILLIONS of dollars and MONTHS of planning, inspections, permit approvals, and reconstruction. I just don’t see it happening. This neighborhood’s demographics simply do not support the need for any cinema, let alone a 599-seat movie theatre. Consider the following:
(1) Area residents are predominantly low-income or working class immigrants (mostly Mexican and other Spanish-speaking) who do not have the disposable income necessary for today’s ridiculous movie ticket prices.
(2) There is a huge Hollywood Video store located two blocks east on Junction Blvd, not to mention numerous small “mom & pop” convenience stores and even bodegas that rent or sell movies dirt cheap. And let’s not forget Queens Library’s Jackson Heights branch and its extensive DVD collection on loan for free. An affordable night at the movies for an economically disadvantaged family is a TV set and an inexpensive DVD player.
(3) The nearby Plaza Twin in Corona tried to make a go of it, showing first-run films with Spanish subtitles (this after converting half the space to a Walgreen’s drug store, then investing in downsizing and reconfiguring). Attendance was poor, the owners took a financial bath, and it closed. Having worked in areas where Spanish is the primary household language, I can tell you that most Hispanic customers do not want to read subtitles – they want their movie soundtracks IN Spanish, even if it’s dubbed (DVD-video has both capabilities, another reason for this medium’s immense popularity with this audience).
(4) The only [modestly] successful old-time movie house left in Jackson Heights is the Eagle (a former XXX theatre) that now plays Indian movies (a tremendously loyal fan base for “Bollywood” fare exists in the shopping area around 74th St. known as “Little India”)
(5) The Polk is located in an area that has an intimidating reputation, especially after dark. The Corona-Jackson Heights area is known for its Mexican and Columbian gang turf wars and drug peddling (especially along nearby Roosevelt Ave, where I’ve actually witnessed drug pushers, fights, police busts and a crime scene investigation that included yellow “do not cross” tape and a body bag).

It looks like this place is finished. Polk Theatre…1938-2006…R.I.P.

Well... I'm glad a few of us got to post some photos here - and thanks Warren for the vintage shots of the marquee and auditorium. I just wish we had some photos of the place as it currently exists.

RobertR posted that he knew the owner of this theater. Perhaps he could settle whether or not that obscured "Renovations" sign is legit or not.

Alto, you neglected to mention that the venerable Jackson Theatre, probably the most successful cinema that Jackson Heights ever had, is still operating as a triplex with the latest Hollywood movies (some, if not all, with Spanish sub-titles).

If the Polk really is to disappear, I wish there were some way to at the very least save that marquee -- even uncover the original Polk Avenue sign, if it's still hiding underneath -- as it appears to be a true treasure of Art Deco design.

I passed by the theatre again yesterday afternoon - nothing has really changed – it is still closed. There was no signage of any kind indicating what its status is. I looked inside and the double-doors were open, but the lobby was so dark that I could not make out any details. By all appearances, everything looked intact – no signs of major demolition going on (I even checked around back for dumpsters or debris – nothing).

The only things I saw (in the entry hallway, against a wall) were some open buckets filled with garbage, a big old round air-conditioning vent, and a very large, tall white metal “box” (with small vents on the bottom and an electrical cord) that resembled a refrigeration unit (?) of some kind. I could not make out the labels on the buckets, but they looked like they contained some type of black liquid, perhaps tar or asphalt sealant (which makes sense, since the roof leaked) – if this is the case, then they could be making repairs to the building (as opposed to demolishing it), but for what ultimate reason is anybody’s guess

Someone asked in one of the above messages about the year that this theater was built. I found a C/O for a New building at this address (actually, it was called Polk Ave which is most likely where the theater got it's name from) dated July 26, 1938 for a 599 seat theater. I would assume that this theater opened in 1938.

The second post from the top -- posted by Warren on Feb 18, 2004 at 11:05am -- has all these details and more.

I'm aware of what Warren posted. I was posting what the NYC records show for this building. They happen to agree with his information. I was also replying to a message posted on Jan 3, 2006.

A photo by our own Ed Solero is among several of theatres shown in a new feature article about Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst at www.forgotten-ny.com

I'm happy one of the photos found some good use on that wonderful site! They also snagged one of my night-time shots of the Fair Theater (via a link to my photobucket page). Surprisingly, there is no mention of the Jackson Theater (now a triplex) on 82nd Street nor its old competitor, the now converted-to-retail Colony Theater just across the way. And what about the former Boulevard Theater on Northern? The forgotten-ny website is usually more thorough in its neighborhood coverage.

Aw, don't be too hard on Kevin. He tries hard.

Warren -- I am looking for historical photos of the Polk Theater and the ones you posted would be perfect. I know you posted them a long time ago, so it would be great if you could get back to me as soon as possible. My email address is pics@villagevoice.com Please email me!!

Thanks!!!

Here's my new Polk Theater album where I've reorganized the photos I previously posted in September and December. I also have a couple of vintage shots I stole from Warren, which he already posted above.

I passed by on Wednesday and the theater is still closed. I guess the Polk has reached the end of the line.

It seems suspended in time. It has been closed since mid-February. In all probability, it will never reopen. Eventually, a buyer will come along and either make new use of tne space or demolish it.

The "status" in the profile is incorrect - it needs to be changed to "closed".

With the Jackson having only three screens this could book first run.

A long and fascinating article about the closing of the Polk can be found in the May 17-23 issue of The Village Voice. The bottom line is that the theatre has been sold and will probably be demolished to make way for an apartment building:
www.villagevoice.com/nyclife/0620,langmuir,73224,15.html

Among other things, the VV article reveals that the boxoffice cashier that I described in my 9/7/2005 post as a "blonde in red tanktop and bluejeans" is actually a trans-gendered male!

I've mentioned this before, but James McCourt's "Queer Street" has a terrific account of the Polk as a teenage hangout in the 1950s. McCourt does a few spots as a confidante and former interviewer of Bette Davis in Turner Classic Movie's tribute to the star, "Stardust," airing this evening at 6:30 pm.

Great article, Warren. Thanks for posting it. The couple of times I went there to take photos, it was the cat-lady Sharon, and not the transsexual Paola, who was manning (no pun intended) the booth. I guess there must have been a platter system on those ancient projectors, eh? I didn't get the feeling that there was a projectionist on duty from the discussion in the article.

Something not made clear was if the Polk had still been projecting FILM up to the end. I know it is extremely doubtful, and info that is in the above postings indicates otherwise. But I would like to have this confirmed. The Village Voice article implies the place was still showing film -- I'm sure this was just to make the article more interesting. Please forward any info on this or any adult cinema showing FILM to insert@realboogienights.com -- thanks!
BTW -- the Polk's phone number is OOS.

I'll bet Alto can answer that question.

But I see no reason to doubt the Voice's accounting of the condition of the theater's facilities. (should have finished the thought before hitting the "Submit" button)

honestly, I would confidently bet good money they were showing video ----- think of it, paying a projectionist ALL day, preparing 3 or 4 different movies a week, and last but not least LOCATING the movie prints!? I'd love to be proved wrong.
What it comes down to V. Voice-wise is the writer mislead the reader a little so the article would have that retro-film cache value. Similarly innaccurate articles were done on the Metro Theatre in Toronto in the last few years.

Many of the remaining adult theatres around the country have been running videos for over the last 10-15 years. All the former Pussycat Theatres stopped running film 15 years ago. And at one time they were union projectionists running them. The theatres installed Sony or Barco type projection systems and VHS & later DVD players for the material. You could cut the amount of people on the payroll each shift by having a box office/snackbar person and a manager/video button pusher. Remember it's cheaper to run video and no one strikes new 35mm prints for adult theatres anymore, because of the video age.

"Many"? I'm betting ALL.

The Flagship Pussycat Theatre in West Hollywood was once equipped with a full Dolby Stereo system (a CP-50). During the 70's & 80's when they were paying union projectionists to run the adult houses. During that time if you were just starting out in the local, you got your start with a shift or two at an adult theatre. Those adult theatres were just worn out, the equipment and the theatre.

I have a friend who was a projectionist in those days -- he told me the real 'starter' shifts were at the gay porn theaters.

All films were shown using tired old VHS equipment and a CRT projector. The manager did not have the resources (or know-how) to upgrade to a DVD player and movies. To him, VHS was probably state-of-the-art technology!

I recall one VHS deck being located up in the projection room, which was used mostly for storage, filled wall-to-wall with VHS tapes, piled everywhere.

Every time a movie ended, one of the theatre employees (i.e. "security" monitors) would be sent upstairs to put in the next tape. If the manager was working alone, there would be a empty screen and a wait of several minutes, as the old man needed time to hobble upstairs to change tapes!

As for the box office cashier “Paola” (formerly “Paolo”, no doubt), I honestly thought that she was a drag queen! That was one ugly broad, with a snippy attitude to match.

That whole place was a nightmare – facilities, management, staffing, customers…

Thanks for clearing that up, Alto. DimitriosOtis, I guess I shouldn't be so assuming as to a major publication's journalistic integrity. If you ask me, it would have been even more interesting had the article played up the fact that the theater had stopped projecting film long ago and was using "tired old VHS equiment" as Alto refers to it. I find the implication that there was a projector (and that the projectors were over 50 years old) to be the result of journalistic laziness.

I hear ya' -- I already wrote a "letter to ed" of V Voice to this effect, politely of course. don't know if they print those rec'd online....

The Voice article said the Polk was one of three theaters left showing porn on the big screen. What are the other two; I'd like to check them out before they close.

The Fair in Jackson Heights and Cinema Kings Highway in Brooklyn

non-film, I presume..?

we still have 2 here in vancouver (Fox and Venus) -- 3rd one (Kitten) had building demolished or would still be going. all video/dvd by now

The Fair in Jackson Heights is NOT a "porno" theatre. It shows action-adventure double bills.

OK, so the main screen shows action double bills while people have sex in the seats and balcony and the smaller screeing rooms and private booths show XXX, your right that's not a PORNO theatre. Sounds like just the place to take the family for a nice show.

Speaking of porn theaters, I was looking for the Court Street Stadium 12 located at 108 Court St on here and I don't see it listed on C.T. I know that isn't a porn theater but I read that there was previously a porn theater located where the Court Street Stadium 12 now stands. Anyone know the name of that theater?

It was called the Cinart

Thanks Robert. I couldn't figure out what theater it was. You could probably use the 106 Court St address for the Cinart. This article mentions the Court Street Stadium 12 and the X-rated theater that once stood there.

"Lost Memory," have you lost your memory? You were discussing this last July at the listing for the Cinart Theatre.

Last July, I can't remember what I discussed last week. I just couldn't remember the name of the Cinart. At least the address for the Cinart is confirmed so something good came from my faulty memory. :)

What about the Playpen (former Cameo Theater) on 8th Avenue in Manhattan? Are they not doing the porn-video projection thing on thier main screen?

While the Fair is still a porn theater - since the adult fare in their private viewing booths and the small converted-from-retail-space screening rooms is what drives their business - Warren is accurate to point out that there is no longer any porn being projected on the theater's "big screen". Another bit of journalistic laziness on the part of the Voice writer.

Charles Sandblom was also the architect of the treasured Harbor Theater in Brooklyn. A bit larger than the Polk, but wonderfully comfortable and attractive, the Harbor had been part of the Interboro hand-me-down-late-run circuit before turning independent and joining Premiere Showcase in the early '60s.
In Jackson Heights on 83 Street between Roosevelt and 37 Avenues, the Colony was another likewise comfortable and attractive late-run art deco theater. These theaters were great places to catch major-studio productions just before reaching their last sunsets.

Since we're getting hung up on semantics here...

To give a precise picture of the types of theatres these are, I would call the Polk a "porn" theatre (in the strictest sense of the word) and the Fair an "adult" theatre because:

The Polk was single-screen and showed nothing but XXX.
The Fair's main screen shows R-rated movies, and XXX is shown in a separate section of the building.

I would also describe the Fair as "adult" just based on the fact that minors are not allowed in.

One more thing: as far as I know, no XXX movies were ever shown on the Fair's main screen, and ANY type of physical contact or sexual activity is closely monitored and STRICTLY forbidden in the main auditorium (or XXX screening rooms for that matter) - all "monkey business" is privately kept in the back booths, behind CLOSED doors (unlike the Polk, where it was "all going" in one big auditorium). As for the balcony, it has been closed to customers for quite some time.

The Kings Highway Cinema is similar to the Fair in its mixed-use configuration.

I went to the Polk having discovered it here at this website about February, 2005. I went with a friend and I am so glad, because it was a true time warp and very interesting second floor antique ruins, but the theatre floor was pure suicide in feeling. I can vouch for the terrible quality VHS, and that was very tacky of the Voice not to report it properly (but they're going down the drain anyway, firing all their best people in the last 2 years, some veterans of 40 years, really disgraceful that Goldstein, Ridgeway were fired, and Ward Harkavy reduced to a little clerkism, it sounds like, as for an 'exciting merger' scenario). I mainly decided to just add that the screen even looked filthy and the video was all pink-purple. This was one total slum of a place, fascinating but completely horrible. I have rarely seen any place so depressing.

One more thing: as far as I know, no XXX movies were ever shown on the Fair's main screen, and ANY type of physical contact or sexual activity is closely monitored and STRICTLY forbidden in the main auditorium (or XXX screening rooms for that matter) - all "monkey business" is privately kept in the back booths, behind CLOSED doors (unlike the Polk, where it was "all going" in one big auditorium). As for the balcony, it has been closed to customers for quite some time.

The Kings Highway Cinema is similar to the Fair in its mixed-use configuration.
posted by Alto on May 23, 2006 at 8:48am


The main auditorium of the Fair always showerd XXX until the city started cracking down, the balcony was mobbed with customers cruising and having sex. Changing over the main auditorium was complying with the rule about only a portion of an establishment being sex related. The balcony was open at one point still with monitors but they were unable to stop the goings on so it was closed down totally.

RobertR... I think you contradicted yourself... Your opening statement says "no XXX movies were ever shown on the Fair's main screen" and later the last paragraph opens with "The main auditorium of teh Fair always showed XXX until the city started cracking down..." I'm sure it's a simple typo. Do you want to clarify?

I cut and pasted that paragraph from a post by Alto on May 23, I was responding to his comment

Ahh... Got it. Thanks.

Can someone please post a 1 line comment on the current status of the XXX movie houses in NYC.

It sucks?

LOL. Thanks. I really meant a 1 line comment abount each theatre that is open in the city.

This website has eight photos of the Polk theater.

I wonder... are they carting away stuff from the theater in that red truck?

This is a recent photo of the Polk Theater.

In 1968 the Polk was playing childrens matinees. They had already been playing soft core on and off at this time but had not yet gone all adult.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/Movie%20Ads/JackFrost.jpg

There was a fascinating artilce in the Village Voice this summer on the Polk, the owner, his employee, and his regretful decison to sell it. I stumbled upon the Polk around 1996 while apartment-hunting. I was curious, so I checked it out. The outside area was filled with movie posters for mainstream movies, and curiously, they all were from 1983. Inside, they were showing porn. The theatre was very dirty, and I was afraid of what my pants were gonna look like or smell like after sitting down. There were very few patrons inside. Some of them were sleeping. I got the impression it might have really been a beautiful theatre back in its day, but there were hardly any hints of that remaining. As I left, I scratched my head wondering how such a place could stay in business.

single screen... it last 10 years after you went .......strange how some theaters hold on......

Do I understand you correctly that they are still showing XXX rated films at the Polk today

This theater is closed. Polk theater closes.

A couple of interesting recent images of the Polk Theater box office may be found on flickr here and here.

I should add that that those images were taken prior to the Polk's closing. As far as I know, the theater has not re-opened.

I passed the Polk last weekend and the place is still closed up tight. Curiously, the neon on the marquee is still illuminated, though some of the letters are burned out. Perhaps someone forgot to turn off the electric, and the sign will remain that way until the rest of the letters burn out. Since there are still stores operating in the block, it's probable that demolition will not begin until their leases expire or are bought out.

Holy Christmas Attraction, First Run in Queens (1938):
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/littleflower.jpg

Warren, do you simply have the world's largest private collection of old newspapers? I certainly hope you're not actually cutting them up!

More kiddie shows by day and porn at night in 1970
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/Movie%20Ads/AladdinHisMagicLamp.jpg

By day, it's Aladdin and his Magic Lamp!
By night, he rubs and rubs and rubs the lamp...

Thanks for that, RobertR... Per imdb, this was a 1966 Russian production that Childhood Productions started distributing in the U.S. in the fall of '68 - so that "never before shown anywhere" notice in the ad is a bit misleading. I also wonder whose brainchild it was to re-dub the 2.35:1 process Sovscope as "Storybook Scope?"

More than six months have passed since the last posting here. Has demolition started yet? Or is the Polk already GWTW?

The theater still stands, vacant - no activity of any kind.
The storefronts surrounding it are all still occupied.

Here it is 2008...is the Polk still just sitting there, closed?

This was a wonderful, clean, safe, neighborhood family movie theater in the 1950s. As a pre-teen girl, I went alone to see a Double Feature, Newsreels, Coming attractions and Cartoons. I wish I had photos, but I was just a kid with an Argus who took pictures of dogs and cats. So sad to hear what has become of it.

The theater and the surrounding stores are being demolished. Scaffolding has been put up along with a plywood fence. They tore down the POLK sign and overhang a couple days back. There's also a construction dumpster outside and it looks like they've gutted the place.

Thanks for the update. Does anyone remember the Dragon Seed Chinese restaurant that was not far from the Polk, towards Junction Blvd.?
Fabulous, beautiful, wide building and delicious food. The owner always had lovely music playing (not usual in those days)
We ate there very often and I attended a Sweet Sixteen party there in 1956!!

This was another case of "r" before "e" in the last two letters of the "t" word-- Polk Theatre (not Polk Theater). I grew up in Queens, and I don't recall any cinemas that used the "er" ending. "Theatre" was always used, not "Theater."

R before E, E before R... doesn't much matter now that it's G O N E, does it? It's just a shame nobody was able to salvage the marquee -- especially if the original art moderne lettering was still underneath. That was a gem, and should have gone to that museum of vintage neon signs.

I always thought it was "i" before "e" except after "c".

Passed by last week and it is entirely gone, storefronts and all. What a shame.

Still, it was a shambles and in a sorry state when it closed. I suppose its demise would have been even sadder had it been in decent condition. How I wish that I had the opportunity to be able to remember it from better times, but never got the chance. From what I've read and heard, it had quite a colorful history.

We are slowly watching NYC's past fade into oblivion, right before our eyes. Gentrification, my arse. The borough of Queens as of late seems to be sliding down a particularly slippery slope.

Thanks for the update.
What is most painful is the fact that what was once a beautiful and SAFE area is now so dangerous. There is really a lot to be said for "The Good Old Days"

There was a brief article about the razing of the Polk in this week's TimesLedger. The entire site will be replaced by a hulking 6-story mixed-use building with almost three dozen apartments and storefronts along with a bunch of parking spaces. Seems like another one of those gigantic tan brick monstrosities popping up all over Queens.

Here's the link to the article

http://www.timesledger.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19429698&BRD=2676&PAG=461&dept_id=551069&rfi=6

The author of that Times Ledger article contacted me for permission to use one of my photos of the Polk that I had originally posted above in December of 2005. I wonder if the photo made the print edition of the paper.

Here's a link to the Polk Theatre album I have in my photobucket account. I think the original links I posted above may no longer be functional. There are a few photos in the album that I have to credit to others. The images from 2005 are the only ones I snapped personally.

These are new direct links to vintage images displayed above on 7/14/05. Needless to say, I did not find them at IMDB or any other website. I went to a library and copied them from original sources:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/126-2605_IMG.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/126-2609_IMG.jpg

Alto, the other day I was walking around Manhattan and I started realizing how many of the restaurants, theaters, clubs, stores, etc. from my youth are totally gone (I'm turning 50 next year). It saddened me. But I also remember that large parts of New York City back in the 70's, 80's and early 90's were dangerous, filthy neighborhoods that were out of control. Stores, restaurants and, yes, theaters turn over or close. Yes, there was an "edge" to the city back then, but I was always happy to get back home to "bucolic and suburban" South Ozone Park in Queens!

The gentrification and renewal of the city has meant that a lot of change has occurred; mostly for the good. I'm sure most of the people who grew up in the 20' and 30's lamented all the changes in the 60's. This will always be the case. For me, I believe New York is much, much better to live in today overall than back then.

Unfortunately, movie palaces from the 20's and 30's are not (by and large) economically feasible to operate in today's world. Lord knows, none would be built today as theaters. Thankfully, many have been preserved for future generations to see how people "went to the movies" in the past.

While a lot has been lost, much remains and I also find some of the new stuff being built in our city incredibly exciting, especially downtown at the WTC and Financial District, Atlantic Yards, Hudson Yards, The High Line, Queens West, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Hudson River Park, East River Esplanade, etc. It's Progress!

LuisV, your rose-colored glasses need a cleaning. The fact that large parts of NYC in the 70s and 80s were dangerous and filthy doesn't mean that architecturally significant buildings had to be demolished to change things. Yes, there's a lot of exciting stuff being built. But there's no reason why existing stuff can't be preserved and made clean and vital. "Economic feasibility" in the city has come to mean driving the middle class completely out of Manhattan, and turning Queens into a wasteland of architecturally dreadful Fedders specials (see ForgottenNY.com for details) without so much as a blade of grass around the paved-over front lawns. You're confusing expediency with feasibility, and squeezing every last bit of profit out of property with responsible, sustainable development.

No Jeffrey, I'm not. I am a preservationist. I believe in historic districts and I believe in the preservation of historic theaters and other significant buidlings of our collective past.

I am not using rose colored glasses. The fact is during the 70's and 80's the middle class was fleeing the city by the hundreds of thousands and being replaced by the poor. Today the situation is quite different.

I agree that the middle class is being driven from Manhattan, but that is exactly the reason the Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx are now thriving as the middle class is forced to go to other areas to be close to Manhattan. No one is entitled to live anywhere unless you actually own. I grew up in Queens and moved to Chelsea in the early 90's when it was a borderline slum. The area changed and I had a rent stabilized apartment. By the time I was ready to buy a home, I was priced out of Chelsea. That's where I wanted to live, but I couldn't afford it so instead I bought a home in the Financial District where a new residential neighborhood is rising that incorporates many of the old office buildings as luxury condos. I also looked at Brooklyn, Long Island City and Harlem. That's a good thing for the city.

I also agree that the city's landmarks preservation commssion has been derelict in their reivew of potential Queens landmarks. Latest case in point, the Ridgewood Theater.

But I stick to my opinion, that the city of today is a vast improvement over the city of the 70's through early 90's when it was decaying, losing population and the subway cars wer dark, covered in graffiti and had no air conditioning. Not to mention that you thought twice before riding after 7 PM!

The city is expected to add 1MM people by the year 2025. Unless, new housing is built to keep up, it will mean that the remaining housing units will become even more expensive. It always boils down to supply and demand. I agree that it doesn't mean it has to be built ugly. That's another issue. But in a city of limited land resources, to build, you also have to tear down. The key is to keep the best examples of the old for future genrations and encourage the best architecture for the new; something that has been a failure in Queens in particular.

Well, you certainly make some very reasonable, intelligent arguments. I agree completely that the city has improved in many ways since that 70s - 90s period. But whether you "have to" tear down in order to build is open to question. Was it really necessary to tear down Penn Station in order to build a new MSG? Was it really necessary to tear down the Singer Building in order to build whatever that glass box is that stands in its place? Most decisions are based on the economic conditions at the time and speculation, not on real necessity. Look at all the additional "land" being created over the West Side rail yards, or the Atlantic rail yards. How much of that is going to be utilized for middle class housing -- REAL middle class housing that families can actually afford? And how many housing units would be available if real estate interests weren't warehousing buildings and controlling the market to ENSURE that prices are driven up? And what does any of this have to do with the Polk Theatre? Not a blessed thing, as usual, but thanks for the opportunity to vent!

We now return you to Hot Nurses in today's XXX Polk double feature.

Hey Jeffrey...one more thing before we return to hot porn!

I still feel the pain about the loss of Pennsylvannia Station. I never got to see it while it was standing and the photos of it just make me want to cry. But, I do believe that losing Penn Station is the reason we still have Grand Central today. People were so shocked by the loss that the city created the Landmarks Preservation Commission which went on to designate all of the Landmarks and Historic Districts that we have today. The fight for Grand Central and the Supreme Court upholding the laws were a direct result of the loss of Penn Station.

Sadly, it was too late for The Singer Bldg (Congrats for knowing about it, not many do) and too late for so many other illustrious bldgs from New York's past like The old Metroploitan Opera House (39th & Bway) and the Old Post Office downtown (where City Hall Park is today). Since this is a theater site we should mention the biggest crime of all, the loss of The Roxy!

Regarding housing, it is the city's responsibility to create low and middle income housing or to provide incentives to developers to provide them. This is a capitalist economy and with the cost of new construction or renovations, no landlord can make money by renting to the poor/middle class without help. If they could, believe me people would be building them.

The city/state is working on creating 5,000 units at Queens West. That's a start, but what most people don't know is that the city does create tens of thousands of units annually though low interest loans and grants to create units throughout the boroughs. They also create many units through the 80/20 rule where most luxury rentals in the city set aside 20% of their units for low/moderate income people. It will never be enough because so many people want to live here, but people are working on it.

Now, back to "Lesbian Prison Guards on Holiday"!

Hey LuisV, if you ever get a chance, try to check out an old PBS series they run called "New York, A documentary film" You will want Episode 7. About an hour into it they really show the true destruction of the once beautiful Penn Station, a treasure in and upon itself. It makes me think of all the theatres we lost the same way. (Roxy, Capitol etc.) In the episode it mentions how "no one seems to care", which in fact is why we have lost so many great movie palaces, and even some not so great ones, all in the name of what they call progress.

I bought the whole series, but I lent it to someone who moved away and I don't think I'll ever get it back. I think I need to rebuy it! It was an incredible history of the city and something that anyone who loves this city should see!

Was that that Ken Burns-PBS series? If so, there is a portion of it devoted to Robert Moses, and how he bulldozed his warped vision of the future through neighborhoods in all 5 boroughs, with little regard to what the occupants of those neighborhoods wanted or needed. And nobody would stand up to him. He is responsible for the wanton destruction of many previously cohesive neighborhoods of the Bronx, Brooklyn and upper Manhattan.

Yes Dave, it was Ken Burns New York.

I remember the section on Robert Moses and it is increduble how much power this one man had. With it, he did things that could never be done in today's New York. Some were great things. He built the George Washington, Triboro, Whitestone, Throgs Neck and Verrazano Bridges and the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. He built Flushing Meadows Corona Park (the largest in Queens) out of an ash dump and brought the World's Fair to Queens. He built hundreds of playgrounds throughout the city and built many of the municipal pools we have today. He is also responsible for the Brooklyn Heights Promenade (although that is a result of his Brooklyn/Queens Expy cutting the people of Brooklyn from the shorefront.

His terrible things were legion. The destruction of a wide swath of the Central Bronx for the creation of the Cross Bronx Expressway, the same destruction for the construction of the Brooklyn Queens Expy and his total antipathy for mass transit which resulted in all available funds going to the auto instead of trains. Thank goodness, he never got to carry out his biggest potential travesty; the bulldozing of large parts of what would become the SoHo Cast Iron Historic District and the West Village for a planned highway system which also included a highway down 34th Street from river to river. The scene where he Moses gets his comeuppence is one of the best in the 7 part series!

I know I saw that series, but I can't remember how long ago it was. I do have Robert Caro's Moses biography, The Power Broker, which is of course the authoritative work and the basis for much of what was said about him in the film. Fascinating, and deeply flawed, personality -- and the ultimate irony is that, though he built all those roads, detested mass transit and was determined to pave over just about everything, he never learned to drive!

Anyway, now back to the Polk's Red Hot XXX Double Feature, "I Can't Drive A Stick" and "Rear-Ended Thanks to Robert Moses." Sorry, all out of popcorn.

Good One Jeffrey!

I'm glad to see others loved that documentary as well. A quick question. Do any of you think that we lost a lot of those old grand palaces because of Robert Moses?

Not unless they were directly in the path of one of his highways.

Good point.

...or the projects... considering how many blocks and blocks were leveled for all the projects in all boroughs, I'm sure some theatres went down, not necessarily huge places like the Strand or Capitol, but regular neighborhood theatres.

Robert Moses was a vindictive bastard, answering to no one and out of control: if people made enough of a fuss about an expressway coming through their neighborhood he might be persuaded to relocate it. Later on, though, he blessed that neighborhood with a large project.

He just wanted to emulate the Moses who parted the Red Sea, to part all that mess in the way of New Jersey automobiles seeking the promise of Long Island.

The demolition of the "Deco delight" is the subject of an article by Nicholas Hirshon in the Queens section of today's NY Daily News:
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2008/04/15/2008-04-15_the_polk_theatre_is_part_of_film_history-1.html

Nice job supplying him with the photos, Warren! (And, I suspect, giving him the idea for the article...?)

Nicholas Hirshon was already working on the article when he contacted me for information. It's part of an ongoing series entitled "Queens History in Peril."

Here is a photo of the Polk Theater site today, May 5, 2009. Gone.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaeldj/3498753462/

Sorry that last post is wrong, the photo is from May 3rd.