8th Street Playhouse

I remember Rocky Horror at this theater -- midnight showings Fridays and Saturdays. It was as much a theatrical experience as a movie -- and the cult grew right here, as RobertR indicates. I remember the screen was set back in a sort of rectangular recess that had a bright zig-zag of neon tubing on either side that would be lit until the movie started. I saw every rock and roll film ever made during the many summer festivals that played here over the years... Woodstock, Monterey Pop, Grateful Dead Movie, Pink Floyd at Pompeii, Ladies and Gentlemen the Rolling Stones... and even an unexpectedly pornographic cult flick called Cafe Flesh. And afterwards, there was a wonderful little pizzeria just across the street that was slightly below street level where one could have a post-screening dissection of the film over a slice and a beer.

Located on the south side of West 8th street not quite midway between 6th and 5th Avenues.

The Eighth Street Playhouse was located at 52 W. 8th Street.

The building was designed by Frederick Kiesler and originally called "film Guild Cinema" It opened in 1929 and used some innovative features such as a screen which adjusted in size and shape to counteract angular distortion and was originally planned to have film projected onto the walls and cieling. The original facade was an homage to the DeStijl movement that Kiesler was associated with, although it is difficult to see this now.

I believe I saw Hitchcock's "Dial M for Murder" here in 3-D during the 1980s series. The cinema had a distinctive history as a mostly second-run art house, although sometimes they did some first-run presentations.

A bit of esoterica follows. As a lover of Italian films, one of the "lost" movies of the 1950s I'd most like to see is something called "Alone in the Streets" ("Soli per le strade.") It was directed by Silvio Siano and is kind of a minor-league "Shoe Shine," about orphaned youngsters runnning wild in the Naples area. It had its New York premiere at the 8th Street Playhouse in June of 1956, got a glowing review from A. H. Weiler of the New York Times, was distributed for a time in 16mm by Audio Film Center, then descended into full oblivion in the U.S. as well as in Italy.

The Eighth Street Playhouse, the Bleeker Street Cinema and Art D'Lugoff's nightclub the Village Gate were vibrant hallmarks of my Greenwich Village college days, and I sadly admit that at the time, not that long ago, I took them completely for granted. I thought they'd be around for at least another generation or two! The groovy curved facade of Electric Ladyland Studios (where Hendrix once recorded) next door to the Playhouse has also been completely altered. The main floor of the video store is what is left of the auditorium; turn around after you walk into the middle of the store and you will see the old projection booth above the entrance, complete with the tiny projection windows.

There is a really interesting tidbit of history regarding the old Film Guild Cinema in David Skal's book on the cinematic Dracula, "Hollwood Gothic." Apparently this was the venue for the American premiere of F.W. Murnau's "Nosferatu" in June 1929; according to Skal, the Film Guild was part of a "little" art cinema movement which arose in reaction to the commercial palaces like the Roxy. The screen of the Film Guild Cinema was surrounded by a CIRCULAR proscenium called a "screenoscope", with adjustable curved scrims rather than conventional drape curtains, giving the screen the appearance of a giant cat's eye!! It has to be seen to be believed; fortunately Skal reproduces a rare shot of the interior in his book. Unlike the lavish movie palaces of the 20s (which of course I also love), the original Film Guild interior suggested not the sentimental exoticism of faraway countries and epochs, but the cool mystery and futurism of the art of cinema itself: the projection and perception of black and white, light and shadow. What a place to see Nosferatu for the first time!

You can see the "cat's eye" screen and interior of Kiesler's original Film Guild Cinema here
and a sketch by Kiesler of what is presumably a concept for the ceiling and wall projections that Dan W. mentions above
and lastly an overview of Kiesler's work

What a remarkable set of photographs; thanks for posting those! After the Film Guild Cinema years, the 8th Street Playhouse was an independent for several more decades, until B.S. Moss took over. Sometime in the late 1980s/very early 90s, B.S. Moss sold the leases to their theatrical properties to two chains which would operate each of those venues until their respective bitter ends - United Artists (Movieland 8th Street Triplex and the Criterion Center) and City Cinemas, in the case of the 8th Street Playhouse. The Quad, contrary to what Robert initially wrote, was never run by City Cinemas; to my knowledge, it's been independently run at least since Golden pulled out around '88.

I rememebr seeing Rocky Horror there for the first time. This theater is also featured in the 1980 movie FAME.
Does anybody know what happened at the UA Battery Park Stadium. It was originally 16 theaters, but now is only 11?

UA had the 8th St Playhouse for a number of years, and true to their reputation let the place run down. around 1988 or 89 they were invited to vacate the premises by the landlord because they also stopped paying the rent. The landlord asked City Cinemas to run it for a while. When we went in there we found UA had taken the projection equipment and the marquee letters, all of which belonged to the landlord, and he had to threaten them with court action to make them bring it back. Since we didn't have a long-term lease, we fixed it up a little with a good cleaning, new carpet, re-upholstered the old seats and rebuilt the candy stand.

br91975 is correct about the Quad, it was always operated by its owner. Golden (a film booking agency, not a theatre operator) and City Cinemas only booked the films for him.

Mikeoaklandpark - the Battery Park theatre, being across the street from the World Trade Center, may have issues remaining from 9/11. While working at the WTC site with the PD from 9/11 until December '01, the only damage to the theatre I saw was broken glass. But keep in mind that the area was closed to the public for months afterward, and the theatre sat there with broken windows and open to the elements - there may be mold or other contamination problems in some areas of the building and may be sealed off.

Five of the upstairs auditoriums at the Battery Park Stadium are being or have been converted to a DSW Shoe Warehouse outlet. United Artists had an option to surrender that space within a few years' time, an option now-UA owner Regal chose to exercise.

I just came across this flyer from the Fall 92 repertory festival at the 8th St. This was when City Cinemas was booking the theatre. They started with first run and then gave revival a shot.
8/19 La Belle Noiseuse
8/21 Duck Soup & Animal Crackers & Horsefeathers
8/23 Pinocchio & Cyrano De Bergerac
8/26 Via Appia
9/6 2001 & Full Metal Jacket
9/2 La Dolce Vita
9/4 Pink Floyd the Wall & Song Remains the Same
9/6 2001 & Full Metal Jacket
9/9 Slacker & The Graduate
9/11 Wild at Heart & 9 1/2 Weeks
9/13 Toto Le Heros & 400 Blows
9/16 Poison & Tongues Untied
9/18 Room With a View & Maurice
9/20 Children of Paradise
9/23 The Vanishing & Wages of Fear
9/25 Shadows of Fog & Kakfa
9/27 Daughters of the Dust & Mississippi Marsala
9/30 Noises Off & This is My Life
10/2 Prosperos Books & Edward 2
10/4 Citizen Kane & King Kong
10/7 Rambling Rose & Poison Ivy
10/9 Brazil
10/11 Cabaret & Something for Everyone
10/14 Last Picture Show & Texasville
10/16 Jules & Jim & Black Orpheus
10/18 Batman Returns & Pee Wee's Big Adventure
10/21 Road Warrior & Deliverance
10/23 Now Voyager & Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte
10/25 The Devils & Women In Love
10/28 Blow Up & Red Dessert
10/30 Performance & The Shining
11/1 Alien & Aliens & Alien 3
11/4 Cannes Festival of Humor
11/8 Rear Window & Vertigo
11/11 Lovers & Basic Instinct
11/13 Fearless Vampire Killers & Freaks

The 8th Street Playhouse closed its doors for good in late October/early November of '92, before the schedule of films Robert lists above ran its course.

Did UA ever run the 8th St. Playhouse? They did have a twin theatre down the road which is now run by NYU for film screenings. The 8th St. Playhouse is now a TLA Video, which is notable because the video store chain always honors its stores' histories. In Philadelphia, a TLA store is so named for the Theatre of the Living Arts, a live theatre whose space they took over. The NYC store has a writeup in store about the cinema, and has a sample film schedule from its days as a repertory house.

I saw the Talking Heads' movie, "True Stories," there in 1986 when it was a first-run theatre. The last film I saw there was "King of Hearts," when it was a repertory house again. That was probably in the early 1990s, shortly before it closed.

The cinema was supposedly the first "pure cinema," as it had no theatre-like curtains opening and closing with the feature presentations, and was built as a cinema and not a theatre. The old projection booth is still up there if you go into the video store. For what it's worth, TLA is a fantastic video store. The only one I patronize. It's between work and home, and home is 65 blocks north.

sethkino

Yes UA did indeed spread their magic on the 8th Steet Playhouse, but only for a short time. Read the posting above about them taking the projectors.

Does anyojne have any phots of the 8th Street Playhouse. I worked there for much of the 80's and am trtying to write something about the period. I would appreciate any help. JoeF

According to a Village Voice ad the 8th Street Playhouse presented an interesting "Sleaze Festival" in March of 1983. A line in the ad read: "FILMS NOT SEEN OUTSIDE OF DRIVE-INS IN THE DEEP SOUTH." The program:
March 9: Night of the Bloody Apes & The Last Survivor (imported horror)
March 10: Good Morning - and Goodbye! & Common Law Cabin (early Russ Meyer films)
March 11 & 12: I Spit on Your Grave & Axe (female revenge)
March 13: Bloodthirsty Butchers & The Man With Two Heads (Andy Milligan horror)
March 14: Africa Addio & Mondo Cane (Mondo gross-outs)
March 15: The Big Bird Cage & The Girl in Room 2A (women in chains)

Aside from the spectacular 3-D festival which featured the east coast premiere of "Dial M for Murder in 3-D", they also had a "Silent Clowns Festival" which was a tie in with the Walker Kerr
book. Live organ was played with each film.

If memory serves, I believe they played original nitrate prints from
Rohauer and other collectors. I recall the opening of "Seven Chances" even had the two color Technicolor prologue. "The Rink" was tinted and toned. The Keaton movies had better contrast and sharpness than any dupe copy shown afterwards which is why I think
they showed originals. I specifically recall "The High Sign" and
"Sherlock Jr." sparkling on the screen. When they later played them at the Lincoln Plaza cinema a few years later, they were grainy washed out dupes. If they did indeed play original nitrate they were probably circumventing fire laws but the festival sure looked
great.

If anyone else can recall who played the organ and what specific year it was run (somewhere from 1975-1979) I would appreciate a follow up post.

8th Street Playhouse also played some unusual double bills while I was at NYU. I recall one of the strangest was a pairing of "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Dr. Strangelove". Spent most of the day there with that show.

It was one of the great repertory cinemas of the era. The silver screen was large and went from wall to wall without curtains. They had black strips than came down from the ceiling to mask off 1.85 films. About the only bad show was a screening of "Gone with the Wind" which they played in 1.85 instead of 1.33. Otherwise, presentation was quite good. In the 3-D festival they played an original Technicolor stereo pair of "Kiss Me Kate". The film jammed and burned during the screening the audience laughed but I cringed, realizing it was probably the only surviving Technicolor prints of this film.

There was also a film book store on the same block.

I just recalled something strange about their 3-D festival. In some showings they changed the aspect ratio of the films. I recall seeing "Dial M for Murder" and "Kiss Me Kate" in both full frame and cropped 1.85 ratios there. I'm not sure which one is considered accurate. Both movies were filmed and printed full frame but I know "Kiss Me Kate" was originally cropped in 1953 and advertised as 'widescreen' as well as 3-D to jump on the CinemaScope band wagon. I think they play better in 1.33 personally.

Looking at some newspaper ads from the 50s, the theater is listed as a Rugoff-Becker theater, along with the Gramercy, Art, Beekman & Austin. Some of the features: "Arsenic & old Lace" with "Inspector General". Rene Clair's "Gates of Paris" with "Virtous Scoundrel"; Sophia Loren "Miller's Beautiful Wife" with "Love & Jealousy"; Fellini's "White Shiek"; along with occasional mainstream single features like "To Catch A Thief", "Prince & The Showgirl".

I used to have a friend who lived at 58 West 8th, just down the block from the theatre. I remember seeing Yellow Submarine there.

Boy, does this bring back memories. I lived right around the corner from this cinemas for most of the eighties. I remember when "The Big Chill" came out and there was quite a bit of discussion about that film and the similarities between that film and Sayles' "Return of the Secaucus 7". The 8th St. Playhouse revived the Sayles film. I remember the line was around the block, snaking down Sixth Avenue when the long version of Leonne's "Once Upon a Time in America" screened there (I was in the line.)

And I remember the brief period when it was a rep house well. I remember that was my first introduction to Claude Chabrol. They did a Chabrol retro.

And I was at some of those screenings posted by Robert. I remember seeing "La Belle Noiseuse" there the "The Wall"/"Song Remains the Same" double-bill.

I also remember cutting out of work early on a Friday afternoon and seeing a "Giant"/"Rebel Without a Cause" double bill.

What was the general layout of the 8th Street Playhouse? Was the decor kept up-to-date, rundown, somewhere in between? The only physical remembrance I have of it as a moviehouse was when it was boarded-up after City Cinemas pulled out and before TLA Video moved into the space.

When you first walked in the box office was on your right and was a window in the center of the wall, and I believe the managers office was behind it. You walked past the ticket taker and the next area of the lobby was larger. There was a decent sized concession stand and some leather couches. The walls were grey, black and white and decorated with posters of coming attractions. Then there were the doors to the auditorium which when you entered had a large wide isle in the back. If you went into the theatre it had three secions and two aisles. In the rear left (if you were facing the screen) were the stairs to the second floor lounge, rest rooms and projection booth. There was no balcony. The theatre if I rember right was painted grey with black trim. On either side of the screen were two neon sculptures that were lit at intermission and blinked to the beat of the music. The sound system was top notch at least when it was an independant and a City Cinemas. I was only there 2x when UA had the place and the films I saw were mono revivals. The place was always clean, slightly a little ruff around the edges at times, but by no means run down. I believe when City Cinemas booked it they did some painting and might have put down new carpets. I don't think there was ever a platter it was always 2 projectors with 6000 foot reels.

Indeed the loss of the 8th Street Playhouse was a sad one, and only part of the beginning of the dismantling of the cool, weird, dark, fun & sometimes dangerous New York City that somehow started to vanish 10 or so years ago (give or take 2 or 3 years). When I moved to New York in the mid 1980s one of the first experiences I had was seeing The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the 8th Street Playhouse. Sal Piro and the freaky 8th St. Playhouse cast, needless to say, were amazing! This was the one and only time I have seen Rocky Horror on the big screen, and it just about embodied everything I came to New York for: to be in the midst of a total wierd freak show. At that time I would have never imagined that the 8th Street Playhouse as well as the Rocky Horror midnight show cast would vanish forever. Those guys had been at it for over ten years at that point and the theater was great in itself. How the hell could something so great be shut down forever?

A few other movies I remember seeing there were 'Earth Girls Are Easy', Ken Russel's 'Lair of the White Worm', and a revival screening of 'The Graduate'. In fact during either 'White Worm' or 'Earth Girls' (can't remember which) they ran the original trailer for the upcoming screening of 'The Gradute'. So Cool.

As somebody else mentioned here, I also took this stuff for granted. I thought great theaters and film revival were here to stay. After all this was New York City and there is always cool stuff to do that you can't do anywhere else. There still is, but you REALLY have to look for it. Back then it was literally all around you and never, ever hard to find. Now it's the reverse. "Normal" things like Starbucks & Bed, Bath, & Beyond are easy to find and always all around.

The alteration of the facade of Electric Ladyland, next door was also total blasphemy. It looks so lame and Hard Rock Cafe-esque now. And this is somewhat unrelated, but I'm sure alot of people on this thread remember the Postermat across the street from 8th Street Playhouse. That place was so cool and one day vanished into thin air only to be replaced by an Army/Navy store. Why?????

I was just reminiscing with a friend about first seeing Rocky Horror Picture show at the 8th Street Playhouse in 1978. What a shock to find this website and learn that it closed and the marquee torn down. So sad.

I came in from little backwater-Connecticut at the invitation of a NY friend and what madness ensued that Saturday night at the Playhouse. It seemed as though hundreds of people were dressed up in Rocky garb. One guy had wore his enormous (real) boa constrictor and it was the snake's 15th viewing of the stage show/film.

When they asked who was a virgin that evening, anyone who raised their arms got grabbed and kissed by various strangers around them.

Once in a while they used to have all night music film festivals, staring around midnight and running straight through till 8 am, with films like The Song Remains The Same and The Grateful Dead Movie.

Thanks for those details, Robert, and for the memories you, Irv, and everyone else has offered. My New York is, by default and by my age, the contemporary New York of Sunday brunch, weekend lines at the Angelika and the Sunshine, and a Starbucks Vanilla Creme Frappucino (when the mood strikes), but I value the remnants of the 'Old New York' we still have (St. Marks Place, for being an ALMOST corporate-free zone; the Waverly Restaurant; John's of Bleecker Street; and several many others - but far too few as well - to list). Oh, to be 10 years older and to have lived in the New York all you guys had a chance to enjoy...

In an ad from April of 1959 the 8th Street playhouse appears in a block ad as a Rugoff Theatre, this is the first time I ever heard it was part of that chain. They were playing Bernard Shaws "Doctors Dilema" released to cash in on her Gigi fame.

As late as Decmber 1973 this was still part of Cinema 5 (re-named Rugoff Theatres). They were playing "What's Up Doc" and "Get to Know Your Rabbit".

Ah, the 8th St. Playhouse. Made famous for showing Rocky Horror, and is seen in the movie "Fame" when a Doris, and Ralph attend Rocky
Sal Piro - president of The RHPS Fan Club played himself - The best Rocky Horror MC there ever will be. - All the regulars got their face on film too. - Somehow the fact that it's been replaced by luxurious condos doesn't seem right. I bet no one in unit 3B is doing The Time Warp. Perhaps the only rice, cards, or tp that gets thrown is by the couple in 12A who are always bitchin' in the kitchen, and cryin' in the bedroom all night. BUT I digress. :)
To me, it's another classic theatre lost to the almighty green-back.

"Perhaps the only rice, cards, or tp that gets thrown is by the couple in 12A who are always bitchin' in the kitchen, and cryin' in the bedroom all night."

Wow Charles, that could possibly be the most obscure movie quote ever! I would agree but only if that couple has a micro digital awaker. Ahh,the 8th Street Playhouse. Where else could you see "Street Trash", an over the top horror comedy about bums drinking cheap hootch that makes them melt and then on another vist, see "Slaves Of New York"? Slaves of course is a cutting edge flick about a Bohemian New York artist and hat designer. Oh, did I mention it was a Merchant Ivory film starring Bernadette Peters. A definite WTF? But that's why we love the 8th Street.

Truth be told, Charles, the 8th Street Playhouse wasn't replaced by condos. The building that housed the theatre is now the NYC outpost of TLA Video, a video rental company specializes in obscure, cult and offbeat titles. It's probably the best video rental in NY, next to Kim's Underground. This dosn't excuse the loss of a great theatre (the first theatre I made a beeline for when I moved here), but it least something movie related took it's place.

BobT: Congrats! You are a true Rocky/Shocky fan.

MarkNYLA: Thanks for the correction. The condos are in the same area as where the theatre stood. My coordinates were just a little off. You have to remember that at that time my brain was spaced out on sensation (among other things) :)

saw 'The Lacemaker' and 'Outrageous' here.

the 8th St. Playhouse, my first job as a projectionist: spring, 1974.
double bill: Paper Moon & A Touch of Class.

my friends and i spent every friday and saturday at the rocky horror picture show. all my friends were in the cast and we had a ball.i wish we call organize a reunuion it would be amazing.

MarkNYLA: update your profile! ie: LA/NY theatre-related stuff
-MerylNYLA

NYC issued a C/O to a building at 52-54 West 8th St on February 1, 1929 for a 490 seat motion picture theater. I'm not sure who "Frederick Kiesler" the arcitect listed at the top of this page is, but he architects name on the C/O is Eugene DeRosa.

In 1950 I was an usher(ette) at the Playhouse for a short time. I was issued a scratchy beige uniform with maroon trim, and a flashlight. There I was introduced to "Tweety", having to listen to his song all too many times. In the evenings there would be a break, when the manager turned up in black tie, and coffee would be served to the moviegoers (in real cups and saucers) -- little old ladies in shoulder capes and hats were particularly happy for this ritual. I don't remember if this was every evening, or only on weekends, or maybe at a film opening, but it gave a feeling of being at a live theater.

I was shocked to find, upon returning to NY a few years back, that it has become a video shop. Some old posters were there, but even so, it had to be put on our list of gone-forever-should-have-lived-on places.

In 1979 the 8th St. Playhouse was the New York home of John Carpenter's "Halloween" for a long exclusive run. My parents actually made the trip in from New Jersey to see it, and they hadn't done that since the old days of a movie & stage show for 99 cents at Radio City.

I started to keep track of the movies I saw in '93 and '92 was the year where I became a serious cineaste. I've been going back to the library to try to see some of the stuff I caught that year. I looked up the Chabrol films and they actually screened in Dec. '91. I do remember that the first two retros the theatre ran when it switched to a rep/revival house were Kurosawa and Bergman, which took place before Chabrol, which must have been the third series. It probably switched to retros, then, in late November/Dec. 1991 and didn't last a year.

Although I passed by the 8th St. Playhouse many times in my Greenwich Village days of the 1960s, I had occasion to enjoy a novel event there only once, and that story deserves a bit of background.

Brooklyn's Peerless Theater under the old el on Myrtle Ave. was really good at booking those old Columbia and Republic serials for us kids and our Saturday matinees. In 1953, an entire decade after it had made its wartime debut, was the very first "Batman" serial with Robert Lowery (the Batman), Lewis Croft (Robin) and J. Carroll Naish (the evil but campy Prince Tito Daka of the empire of Japan - *Boo! Hiss!*) I'd caught most of the 15 chapters, so when Batman got slugged and placed in a wooden box in Chapter 14, I knew I couldn't wait to find out how he got out before being eaten by MoJo MoJo and Sako Sako (Daka's pet alligators) in the concluding episode.

At high noon the following Saturday, I was headed out the door with my 20 cents admission in hand when I was collared by my mom. Where was I going? To see the conclusion of the Batman serial. "You're not going anywhere. Go look in the bathroom mirror." OK, so I had some spots on my face. Big deal. Mom said, "I'm not going to be responsible for infecting 400 neighborhood kids because of your chicken pox."

And not one of my pals would ever reveal the ending to me!

Flash forward 13 years. The TV Batman show is all the rage in '66, so the wizard programmers at 8th St. Playhouse decide to do their version of a tie-in and booked the original 1943 print for one weekend only, all 420 minutes of it, complete with recaps and coming attractions. I was dizzy. I took a date who endured my revelry in finding out how it finally ended after all that time. I knew! I was more than pleased! But I only got a handshake instead of a kiss from my date, never to go beyond this one-and-only trip to a great Greenwich Village icon.

Correction: Lewis Wilson was the Batman and Douglas Croft was Robin in the 1943 chapter serial. (Robert Lowery starred in the '49 Columbia serial, along with nimble Johnny Duncan.) Shirley Patterson portrayed Bruce Wayne's love interest Linda Page, and Charles (Flash Gordon's Ming the Merciless) Middleton played Colton, a uranium miner. The DVD is currently available, but some wartime racial slurs against the Japanese may have been edited, as Columbia is now owned by Sony.

I'm posting nice movie material that are also mostly for sale.
http://s110.photobucket.com/albums/n94/irajoel/

you can also view my entire inventory at
www.cinemagebooks.com
I have over 5,000 items including many books in non-film such as
gay and lesbian, African American, posters, graphic design, fiction, poetry and much more.

You shouldn't be selling your product by posting to every theater you can think of. I reported this to the site owners and I hope they do something about it.

A photograph I took of the 8th Street Playhouse in May 2006:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/216865155/

The auditorium remains pretty well intact within the building in its current use as a TLA video store and orininal film posters and calendars from its movie theatre days adorn the walls of the former foyer lobby area.

I guess the Electric Lady recording studios (where Hendrix recorded) is gone - when I worked here the entrance was next door to the theatre, but the facility itself was in the basement under the theatre...

Electric Lady Studios is still there, dave-bronx. They completely remodeled the entrance to the studios in the late '90's - to much derision from local preservationists. If you look at Ken's photo, the two gated window fronts just to the right of the No Standing sign are for Electric Lady Studios. The old facade had a tall rectangular recess to the right of the 8th Street Playhouse marquee from which a curved brick wall protruded slightly onto the sidewalk. The curved wall was designed to look like the shoulder of a guitar, as if a giant guitar were embedded in the facade of the building and half buried in the sidewalk. As you walked into the small vestibule the wall created, there was even a round window on the inside of the wall designed to approximate the sound hole on an acoustic guitar. Now, the entrance looks like any old plain and boring storefront. I'm sure if you dug around the internet, you'd find an article about the whole remodeling - and perhaps even a before/after photo. This would have been several years after the Playhouse closed... maybe '96 or '97.

Not to stray too far off topic (after all I seem to be a member of the Off Topic Bilge Brigade), but here is a link to a site that has photos of the Electric Lady Studios entrance prior to the renovations and then after. It looks like the destruction of the old entrance took place some time in 1997.
http://www.univibes.com/OutANDAbout/el_studio.html

TLA should use the auditorium as a theater if it is still intact. For many years they had a theater in Phila on Chestnut street along with the video store.

I miss those old Playhouse days! If you know any former 8th St Staff, or NY Rocky Horror performers or regulars, please have them them stop by our website and share some memories. (www.rockyhorror.cc) aka The NYC RHPS Survivors/Supporters Society. We are also seeking members of former casts like the New Yorker theatre, Midway (Queens), Marboro Theatre (Brooklyn), Amboy Twin (Staten Island) We are also seeking cast members and crew from the diffrent theaters our cast went to after the Playhouse Closed. The latest Rocky Horror cast can be found at www.nycrhps.org (yup there's still some Playhouse faces in the cast. What do you expect from time warpers?)

NY Times Feb 2, 1929 Saturday

"FILM ARTS GUILD OPENS NEW YORK THEATRE; 'Two Days' Proves Worth While Story, at Tiny Cinema--Wall Screens Not Utilized.

The Film Arts Guild moved into its own theatre, the Film Guild Cinema at 52-54 West Eighth Street, last night with "Two Days," a picture from the Soviet Ukraine, as the major attraction".

This ultra low-budget NY indie had its premiere at the 8th Street on January 31st, 1986. Despite the prominent placement of then-current punk stars The Ramones and Scandal in the ad, the film's soundtrack and some of its sub-plot actually had more to do with Doo-Wop music than punk rock.

I like that logo, which I think was developed when they had their 3-D festival.

Didn't the 8th Street Playhouse become the Art Cinema, or were they two separate theaters ?

The art was further east on 8th St. near University Place. It was later renamed Movieland 8th St. when operated by B.S.Moss/UA - it is now serving some function for NYU, I believe.

Does anyone know what happened to the Owner/Managers ... I believe their names were Mark & Steve ?

All the co owners of the Playhouse sold it to Steve Hirsch and he reigned until his passing (AIDS) in the early 90's.

I saw "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" here.

I worked for the 8th Street Playhouse, part of the Cinema 5 chain, while I was at NYU, 1976-78. My friend used to call me the mayor of 8th Street because after working there so long I knew every shoe salesman and pizza chef on the block. There were some great movies there at the time, including “Network” and “Carrie.” After my ticket-selling shift ended I would go in and catch the last hour. I even remember John Waters making a personal appearance with “Desperate Living” in 1977. Ah the good old days!

And what a cast of characters I worked with! There was the theater manager, Miss King, a chain-smoking astrologist who did my chart for free. She hung out in the lobby during the busy periods, then dragged herself upstairs after the movie began. (She had to move slowly because she was old and her lungs were shot.) There was Guy, another NYU student who wrote a wistful poem about her, imagining her solitary life on Charles Street; he went on to work in theater. There was Anthony, a Little Italy throwback who filled in as ticket-taker and generally cleaned up. Jerome worked the concession stand, and was always sneaking into the theater to grab popcorn and soda cups off the floor--he only had to account for missing cups, so if he could refill them, he could pocket the second (or third…) sale. Try not to think about that as you reminisce about your time there! I especially liked the ticket-taker, whose name I think was James. When he and Jerome weren’t in the closet getting high, we had great conversations.

There was an attempt to unionize Cinema 5 while I worked there and Rugoff, who owned the chain, called meetings and told us how much he cared about all of us--as long as we voted against the union. There was tons of politicking but in the end the union was rejected. By the way, RKO Century Warner acquired Cinema 5 from Pacific Theatres in 1985, and in 1986 RKO Century Warner was bought out by Cineplex Odeon. I guess it’s all moot now since the theater is sadly deceased.

There's nothing moot about sharing good stories about a long lost theater, Laura of 8th St.... Welcome and thanks for the unique perspective! Do you remember the name of the pizzeria that was across the street and down at cellar level a few steps below 8th Street?

Sorry, I don't remember that pizzeria.

Oh well. I used to love attending the summer rock and roll film festivals here. Man, they really cranked the sound up at those - and usually obtained awesome prints. I remember a screening of the "Grateful Dead Movie" here that blew my socks off. I thought Phil Lesh's bass notes would lift me right out of my seat. Many memorable screenings of "Rocky Horror Picture Show" are also fondly remembered - I recall they used to screen Tim Curry's music "video" for his minor hit "I Do the Rock" before "Rocky Horror" in the early '80's.

Most memorable feature of the theater itself had to be those neon zig-zags on the side walls near the screen recess. They'd be lit up until showtime. Was there a small stage in front of the screen - perhaps a foot (or less) up from the auditorium floor? Sometimed the memory plays tricks!

That Stage! Oh yes! I banged my knee many times on it running up to do Time Warp! Tim Curry Shorts: In addition to "I do the Rock " The also showed "Paradise Garage" which has a cameo of Dori Hartley as Frank N. Furter. (It's up on youtube for those who need to see it this second) As for the aformentioned Neon lights, There's a photo of them on the NYC RHPS Supporters/Survivors Society website http://www.rockyhorror.cc/viewtopic.php?t=204 I also reccomend you register and share some of your memories there too! You may even see pics or run into folks you might remember fom back then. (Plus I notice you cant see the pics if you don't sign in, oh drama!)

This theater was classic; in it's history, it's small intimate marquee & interior setting and it's fantastic double-bills! I remember seeing A CLOCKWORK ORANGE & BLADE RUNNER and KING KONG & CITIZEN KANE, just as examples . In 1990, I suggested a double feature of 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY and STAR WARS. Several months later, there they were and I was one of the first ones on line!
Why, oh why, doesn't somebody bring back the double features??? It would be a mild step in justifying movie ticket prices as high as $11.00!

While too young to have ever attended, I recently moved within the neighborhood to a building directly across from the theater without ever realizing the history of the site. To update some of the above posts, the TLA Video store closed about 10 months ago. It is unclear who the owners of the space are, whether they have put it up for rent again, or what their intentions are - perhaps one-last revival of Rocky Horror? Apparently the additional theater space behind it (The Independent) is also no longer operating. Lastly, for those who commented on the studio below - check out their website at http://www.electricladystudios.com/index.html - includes a number of great pictures of the recording space below.

Love movies, Tarantino tried doing just that with GRINDHOUSE. It didn't work. Established titles have no subrun life either with DVDs two months later. Most multiplexes have no staffing control for those who have time for a double feature and they are well aware it happens.

AIAlvarez, I hear you. But as much as I love owning DVD's, in a way, I think the ease and the speed at which one can own their favorite movies has killed the movie-going experience. When I was a kid, my favorite movies like KING KONG, STAR WARS, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (remember the 1979 re-released PG version?) and GREASE somehow took on a more special meaning when they were periodically re-released in movie theaters over a period of several years before eventually ending up on HBO and then broadcast television.

It was only a few years ago that what seemed like one last attempt at a theatrical double feature was made, when I saw an add for HOSTAGE and SIN CITY on the same bill.

As for GRINDHOUSE, I'll give it a look when it becomes available through Netflix.

I, too, saw Rocky Horror at 8th St. It was only 2 or 3 times in the mid-80s, but, being part of the Staten Island-UA/Island Rocky crowd, it was like going to nirvana.
I remember that you had to get there during the day to buy tickets because they sold out. We then had time to wander around. I spent most of my time at "It's Only Rock & Roll" across the street. It was an upstairs store that sold records (mostly imports), cassettes (mostly bootleg concerts) and memorabilia.
I also remember the pizzeria across the street. My wife thinks the name was Ray's, but she's not sure. I just can't remember.

Hello,
I have just published a historical article on the Guild (with a lot of photos!) if anyone is interested...

here is the reference info and abstract:
McGuire, L. M. A Movie House in Space and Time: Frederick Kiesler's Film Arts Guild Cinema, New York, 1929. Studies in the Decorative Arts v. 14 no. 2 (Spring/Summer 2007) p. 45-78

Abstract: Part of a special issue on the study of American Modernist design. In 1929, Viennese artist and architect Frederick Kiesler constructed the most innovative cinema in the U.S. Lacking perceptible walls, curtains, and a stage, Kiesler's design for the International Film Arts Guild's Guild Cinema on West 8th Street in New York City, completed in 1929, was meant to transport the audience from total darkness into a drama of light unfolding not only in front of but all around them. As going to the movies was a regular experience for most people, Kiesler hoped that his new concept for the cinema would popularize Modernism, and in this way, he intended to mobilize mainstream capitalism in order to permeate an everyday entertainment with avant-garde ideals. This was a building in which Kiesler attempted to create a vessel for the movement and perception of waves and particles in time and space--the perfect environment, he felt, for an experience with the fourth dimension. The writer describes the building in detail.

LostMemory posted:
"NYC issued a C/O to a building at 52-54 West 8th St on February 1, 1929 for a 490 seat motion picture theater. I'm not sure who "Frederick Kiesler" the arcitect listed at the top of this page is, but he architects name on the C/O is Eugene DeRosa."

Frederick Kiesler was the architect, but was not licensed in NYC at the time the building was done; DeRosa's name was likely put on the building permit to fulfill legal requirements. Kiesler was the only designer.

Thanks. I just found similar information with this photo.

It ran as the Film Guild for a little over a year, changing to the 8th Street Playhouse in May 1930.

How long exactly did Rocky Horror run at midnight and was it consecutive or was the run interrupted?

KB: If my memory serves me correctly Early mid 1980s to Early mid 1990s. It was constant in the 80s and slightly interrupted in the 90s I believe it bounced back and forth to The Waverly. HEH :)
I can't remember - I was usually spaced out on sensation - among other exotic things. :)

I own some of the seats from the playhouse. I was looking for pictures from the inside of the playhouse. I also was wondering if anyone knows what happend to the rest of the memorbilia from the playhouse.

Looks like "METROPOLIS" and "PEE WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE" on the marquee.

http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=new+york&catpageindex=24&catpagesize=25&ProductID=30981

Daytime view.

http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=new+york&catpageindex=25&catpagesize=25&ProductID=30985

http://www.rockymusic.org/tags/8th+Street+Playhouse.php

Tom Snyder's "Tomorrow" Show (1979) - 7 minutes 29 seconds (540x418, 30 fps, 50.1 MB). Tom Snyder presents a segment on the Rocky Horror Picture Show phenomenon. Includes interviews with fan club president Sal Piro, Dori Hartley, Mark Hopper and Steve Hirsch of the 8th Street Playhouse in New York City, and Ashley Boone Jr. of 20th Century Fox.

Metropolis and Pee Wee look about right. The poster for the latter even appears.

A strange double bill.

Brazil in Dolby Stereo
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c32%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=120&ProductID=30983

Belated reply to KingBiscuits and M. Kuecker: "Rocky Horror" ran at the 8th St. Playhouse from July 1978 to late summer 1989. It then moved to the Eastside Cinema (3rd Ave. & 55th St.) from 1989 to spring 1991, and next to UA Movieland 8th St. (formerly the Art) from 1991 to November 1996. The Waverly run was from April 1976 to early 1978.

Checkerphil: Steve Hirsch died in July 1986. The subsequent order of operation was BS Moss (1986-88), UA (1988-89), then City Cinemas (1989-closing).

Mikeoaklandpark: Theatre of the Living Arts is at 334 South Street. Now a concert venue, it's also been known as the Fillmore. TLA Video was a subsidiary of the theatre. "Rocky Horror" (movie) played at TLA in the early-mid 1980s, and the play also ran there several times in the late-80s/early-90s.

Everyone else: 8th Street Playhouse was equipped with a Sensurround system - two massive subwoofers were placed in the back row. Sensurround was turned on for EVERYTHING, including "Rocky Horror"!!

I first saw "The Song Remains The Same" as a midnight movie there in 1982. We were driven in by a friend's parents, who went with us. I was 12 and this was my first-ever "concert" experience. I clearly remember someone coming over the PA before the show and saying "we've cleared it with the fire marshals and you're all allowed to smoke- WHATEVER YOU WANT!!!" you can imagine the applause. It was a monstrous sound system and my ears were ringing for days.
Fifteen years later I ended up working at Electric Lady (I was there when the wall went down), and there was a trap-door that opened from our third-floor storage that went down to the second floor of the theater. I was afraid to go down there but one day the studio cat got loose and ended up in the theater so I wandered through and it was a very surreal experience. I grabbed some ticket stubs, and found a blue plastic bong with a Jerry Garcia sticker on it that I still have. Anyone can shed light on where that came from? Also was there one Sunday morning when they pulled the marquees down. The plastic side marquee was laying on the ground and I grabbed all ten feet of it and still have it as well! Very interested in the history of the building going back to 1929- anyone doing a serious project on it please email me at bagdrag@earthlink.net I have a huge pile of papers on the history from the beginning to the present.

Ok,exactly how big was this theatre? From the pictures of the outside of the building,it looks no bigger than one of your average multiplex shoebox theatres.

It had a small entrance but the auditorium seated at least 490.

dr. brown, it was also SOP (standard operational procedure) for fans to smoke "whatever" during "Rocky Horror," and on at least one occasion I got a contact high from "whatever"! Smoking was allowed in the last ten rows and the rear aisle; the seats in those rows had ashtrays.

The first time I saw "Rocky" there (06/29/1984) it was in a double feature with "Repo Man." The latter would play there in first run for at least six months.