Loew's Commodore Theater

In 1980 the Commodore/Village/Fillmore East was converted into The Saint, a large discotheque. A dance floor was placed in the middle of the auditorium with a planetarium dome over it. The original theatre had been in a semi-Adamesque style and certain elements had been retained like the proscenium arch, the ceiling dome and plaster reliefs on the side walls. The lobby was left pretty much in tact, but painted black with the relief elements silver-leafed. The disco closed in 86 or 87, sat vacant for years until the auditorium was demolished for yet another unremarkable apartment building.

Just a note to correct the theater history: Rock impresario Bill Graham took control of the Village Theater and dubbed it the Fillmore East in 1968, not '66. The opening night headlined Big Brother and the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin. Graham closed the Fillmore East (and it's sister Fillmore West in San Francisco) in the 1971. I'm not sure what the history of the building was between that time and it's reopening as The Saint in 1980. The theater was located on 2nd Avenue between East 6th and East 7th. I believe the narrow 2nd Avenue facade remains more or less the unaltered.

Just to correct... the venue was still called The Village Theater as late as 1967. Bill Graham did not re-open it as the Fillmore East until March of 1968 (with Janis Joplin and Big Brother on the bill).

A current photo of the facade, as well as a brief history of the theatre, can be found here:
http://www.theatre-scrapbook.com/

Some nice images of the theatre as the Fillmore, including a nice color photo of the marquee (featuring The Kinks & The Who among others), can be found at the site below:
http://www.timbuckleyandfriends.com/NYCityandManhattan.html

When it opened in 1926, the Commodore was the largest of the 10 movie theatres in operation on Second Avenue between Houston and 9th Street.

Here is a pic of the Fillmore East, what a great vertical it had

http://www.nytimes.com/nytstore/photos/newyork/buildings/NSAP65.html

Just another correction to add to the original description here. The apartment building that went up and now stands in the theater space is called the Hudson East, not the Fillmore Apartments. If I recall correctly, the developers were going to try to work the Fillmore name into the new property but couldn't due to legalities with the name, but don't quote me on that. Some other vague info somebody else here might be able to add to: after the venue closed as The Fillmore East, there were failed attempts to keep it going as a live music venue with a few concerts being held there in the early 70s but that didn't work out. And once again, if I'm not mistaken the Saint may have doubled as a concert venue even though the interior had been dramatically changed by that time. The orchestra seats were removed and a second level was attached the length of the theater from the balcony to the proscenium which remained, but the original stage wasn't there anymore. The Grateful Dead/Jam Band/Hippie magazine Relix held a few shows there, one that I think featured Bob Weir from The Grateful Dead around this time in the late 80s.

If you walk past the apartment building on East 6th Street now they have a plaque near the entrance that notes the history of the building as the Commodore, the Fillmore East, and The Saint. A noble attempt at recognizing the history, but once again a reminder of the shame of Manhattan real estate development.

In February 1995 I was granted permission from the realtors to go inside the buiding, which at that time was shuttered and dormant. To make a long story short, it was a very eerie experience and one I haven't and never will forget. Later that winter, I watched the building gradually come down to pieces. I walked past it just about every morning peeking inside during the demoliton. Needless to say...sad! It still had potential, and there was in fact one lone businessman from the area that was trying to get backing to re-open it as The Fillmore, with plans to use it as a concert venue and media space. Without being too biased, I think that if things had worked out the theater probably could have been a sucessful live venue again. Since that time new places that didn't exist at the time of the Fillmore's demolition like the Bowery Ballroom (which never was a theater to begin with, but an old department store) and the resurected Webster Hall have flourished as live venues, and they are approximately in the same area.

The asking price for the Commodore/Fillmore/Saint building before it was razed was $6 million, but we all know how that story ended. But hey...look on the bright side, we have a wonderful BANK and yet another generic looking luxury apartment building there instead. Can't ever have too many of them in New York now, can we?.....NOT!!!!!

A couple of years ago I went into the bank (former lobby of the Commodore Theatre) and they had a small history display on the theatre.

I am lucky to have a set of audio cassette tapes that were recorded on the last night of the Saint Disco. The Saint was famous even here in London,UK as one of the worlds best disco's. Sadly, I never went into the building on my visits to New York.

The vertical sign and marquee of the Fillmore East were merely "modernizations" of those inherited from the Commodore.

KenRoe-

You are correct sir. In tribute, the Emmigrant Savings Bank still does have some great art which includes collages by an artist that I forgot the name of, and photos from the Fillmore East era by the official/unofficial house photographer Amalie Rothschild. If you are a fan of the theater (which you probably are) and a fan of the Fillmore era music Amalie Rothschild released a book of her photos a few years ago called 'Live at the Fillmore East' which not only documents many of the bands that played their but the general environment when it was still a live music venue. Great photos of the interior, the people, and of course Bill Graham at work. If you don't buy it, it is at least definitely worth a look.

Thanks Irv, I will keep a look out for that book.

I lived in New York from 1982 to 1991 and visited "The Saint" several times while it was in opperation. I was never a big fan of disco clubs, however The Saint was the best club I ever attended. I was always curious about the buildings history and am sad that another theatre treasure has been demolished. Small minds and big bucks seem to have that effect. Too many buildings with rich histories seem to meet the same fate. I just learned today that the building that housed the infamous McGurk's on Bowery is, or has been signed to the same fate. You would think developers could use some imagination to include history in their projects.

Correction. Bill Graham opened the Fillmore East in 1968 and it closed in 1971 when he also closed Fillmore West. There is a Fillmore East dedication page at www.fillmore-east.com and there are links to pics and a book on the history of the place. I cannot for the life of me find any pics of the inside. I have Bill Graham's autobiography and there's one pic of the stage and the ionic columns on either side of the stage, but that's it. I'm trying to find the history of the place but it's tough.

On March 22nd, 1950, Loew's Commodore and Loew's Bedford (in Brooklyn) were presenting a "live" stage production of "The Respectful Prostitute," together with MGM's Robert Taylor western, "Ambush." Advertising described the drama as "An exact version of the Broadway play." Performances were "continuous all day." I suspect that the performances were staggered so that the same actors worked at both theatres. The Lower East Side is not that far from Bedford-Stuyvesant via the Williamsburg Bridge.

More info about the Fillmore and its incarnations from the book "Bill Graham Presents". Chapter 11 details his decision to close the Fillmore East but gives a good history of the place. Of note is after he sold his rights to the theater, he also sold the building. He regretted it in the book but if he had it until 1991 when he died, who knows what would have happened.
The Loew's Commodore East held 2,400.

When Bill acquired the theater in 1968, it was just dirty and seats needed repainting and wires fixed but it was in good condition. There were major stage repairs, though. There was soft red velvet on the walls, carpeted floors, mirrored walls and a chandelier above the double balcony, concessions upstairs and a big lobby. It had dressing rooms because in the 20s and 30s it housed the Yiddish Theater. The dressing rooms were on 5 levels which were accessed from up stage left. It was also used as a meeting hall in the 30s and 40s by Bolshevik groups on the Lower East Side. It stood on the corner and was three quarters of a block long. The building looks small from the outside but opened up behind the stores and above was NYU, the theater and technical wing. He bought it for $400,000.
When they fixed it up, they tore down some brick walls and changed the whole back of the theater to get the wiring through. They made alot of changes in the stage area to make it effective to do a variety of production. There was a proscenium and a rococo frieze which they cleaned up and that had been made at the Motoma Amusement Company of Chicago which went broke during the Depression.

Of note about the Saint. It was the largest gay disco in New York at the height of gay liberation, pre-AIDS. It closed when AIDS hit hard but they did keep the place open 24 hours one night a week. The Saint was gutted and turned into an 8-theater complex, known as the Loew's Octoplex.

Apparently there was a theater across the street called the Anderson Yiddishe Theater (but it didn't show movies). When the book was written in 1992, someone in the book said it was across the street and closed down and it was located at 4th Street and 2nd Avenue.

Graham allowed a film crew to come in before he closed and there was video documentary of the Fillmore East!!! A documentary called "Last Days of the Fillmore" was released in 1972 along with a boxed, three-record set of the performers, all the hot acts of the late 60s. There was a 32-page booklet with photos, a Fillmore poster and ticket, etc.

To the best of my knowledge, this was never known as Loew's Commodore East. It was just Loew's Commodore. The theatre was originally "indie" owned. Loew's acquired it by swapping it for Loew's Canal. Loew's later re-gained the Canal in a public auction when the new owner went bankrupt early in the Depression.

Of note about the Saint. It was the largest gay disco in New York at the height of gay liberation, pre-AIDS. It closed when AIDS hit hard but they did keep the place open 24 hours one night a week. The Saint was gutted and turned into an 8-theater complex, known as the Loew's Octoplex
shoeshoe14 on Jun 28, 2005 at 1:35am


I don't remember Loews ever re-opening as a plex? I thought the first plex in the East Village was the City Cinemas Village East?

Well, all this information came from the book i mentioned in that long post. He seemed to know a lot about it before he bought it. I suggest buying the book and reading it for yourself. The index is quite thorough and you can buy it used on amazon for $5 or so.

The 1950 booking of a stage production of "The Respectful Prostitute" with "Ambush" on screen was for six days. I guessed wrongly in the deployment of actors. There were actually three companies, one for each theatre and the third as a back-up required by Equity. This production of "Prostie" (as Variety abbreviated it) originated on West 42nd Street at Brandt's Selwyn Theatre. When I find time, I will try to post more details at the Selwyn's listing here.

At the time that the Village East up the street was undergoing conversion to a 7-plex, around 1990, Cineplex had taken a lease on the Commodore/Village/Fillmore/Saint, with the intention of gutting it out and making a plex inside of the shell. The schizophrenic Landmarks Commission would not let them do it, and they got out of the lease. As far as I know, nothing was ever done with it after that, it just sat vacant for years. I never understood how Landmarks allowed it to be demolished completely after they wouldn't allow Cineplex to gut the interior.

The Saint was a "members only" hi-tech club, requiring a $250 fee for annual membership, and unlike Studio 54, was virtually unknown to the general public. To the members, though, and those taken there by members, it was the best dance club in the world. There were periodic live performances by The Pointer Sisters, Sylvester and other disco performers of the time. It lasted from 1980 to about 1987. From Labor Day to Memorial Day it was only open Saturday and Sunday nights, opening at about 11:00 pm (but didn't really get rolling til about 2) and usually closed about 11:00 am, and closed completely for the summer. The end came when the membership was seriously depleted by the AIDS situation, and rather than let it go "bridge & tunnel" the owners just shut it down.

Shoeshoe14-

A few corrections on your history: The Commodore/Fillmore/Saint in fact was never multiplexed after the Saint closed. After The Saint's closing the building stood empty for at least seven years or so. I know this for a fact because I was in the building in early 1995 not to long before demolition and the interior was still constructed as The Saint. I can tell you that there were definitley no multiplex theaters in there. If I recall correctly, theater multiplexing was an idea for the building post-Saint that never happened.

Also, "The Last Days of the Fillmore" documentary and LP you mentioned was made at, and only about the Fillmore West in San Francisco during the last concerts NOT the Fillmore East. One of the only times, if not the ONLY time camera crews came into the Fillmore East for a program or documentary of any kind was on September 23, 1970 to shoot a special for public television called 'Welcome to the Fillmore'. It was videotaped and included performances from Van Morrison, The Byrds, Albert King, Sha Na Na, The Elvin Bishop Group and others. It also included some documentary footage of a regular day around the theater. This show was broadcast the day The Fillmore East closed on Sunday June 27, 1971 (the 34th anniversary just passed a few days ago).

Just another comment re: filming inside the Fillmore East. Concert footage for the 1971 Joe Cocker documentary, 'Mad Dogs & Englishmen" were also filmed at the Fillmore East.

Well, all that I wrote was from the book. Maybe they were making hunches as to what would happen.

As to this comment: "I never understood how Landmarks allowed it to be demolished completely after they wouldn't allow Cineplex to gut the interior."

That's NYC for you. Sleeping with the zoning commission. Say you'll bring this many (low-wage) jobs to the community and the "promise" of affordable housing (but for whom?) and zoning relaxes to the almighty dollar.

A few queries for anyone who might know:

Was the Commodore purpose-built as a legit theater, movie house, or both? Approximately when did Loew's take it over? And when did it become the Village Theater?

The theatre first opened on 9/2/1926. It was a movie theatre.
It was said to have been built at a cost of $2 million and to have contained seating for 4000. It was part of the Mayer & Schneider circuit.

Architect of this theatre was Harrison G. Wiseman.

As a former Loew's theater you should be able search for this theater when you click on the previos names button, however it does not show up in the listing of Loew's and former Loew's theaters. I knew this theater as the Loew's Commodore. Remember seeing the Three Stooges live on stage as they toured promoting their new movie which I believe was Have Rocket, Will Travel.

The theatre was Loew's Commodore for almost all of its long life as a cinema. IMHO, that should be the main entry name, but it doesn't even appear in the akas. However, the Commodore was originally an "indie" and was already operating when Loew's acquired it in a "swap" deal for the Canal Theatre circa 1927-28. To the best of my knowledge, the Commodore never seated 4,000 people or even 3,000. Early FDYBs claim 2,830. Publicity and advertising claims for new theatres tended to be very exaggerated. Some owners would add the "standing room," and in large theatres that could sometimes accommodate 500 to 1,000 people, or even more.

Great! Glad to see the name change!

The status needs to be changed to "closed/demolished." The Commodore was not "turned into" apartments. About 98% of it was totally demolished. The only remaining portion is the Second Avenue entrance currently used as a bank. This was once a short lobby that connected to the auditorium behind it. I saw the demolition taking place, so I know what I'm talking about. It was a huge undertaking, and the entire auditorium had a protective covering over it to present dust and debris from polluting the neighborhood. The entire land plot on which the auditorium once stood is now occupied by a six-story apartment building with the address of 225 East 6th Street and currently known as "Hudson East."

...and it's a pretty ugly apartment building at that! I don't see much improvement to the neighborhood, aesthetically speaking - it looks like something Robert Moses would have built, a short 'project'. The people on 6th St. went from looking at an old ugly wall to looking at a new ugly wall with windows. Soon, all the real eastate in Manhattan will be occupied either by apartment buildings, Starbucks, hospitals or the Gap - and everything else will have to move to the outer boroughs.

A Kimball organ Size 3/12 was installed in the Loew's Commodore Theater in 1926.

Does the name Loew's appear on the original paperwork, or does this information come from a much later list compiled by some theatre organ society? I was under the impression that Loew's didn't take over the Commodore until 1927 or 1928. Its first listing as a Loew's theatre in Film Daily Year Books was in the 1928 volume. Prior to that, the Commodore was listed under the M&S circuit (which stands for either Mayer & Schneider or Meyer & Schneider. I've seen both spellings).

The name on the list is Loew's Commodore Theater. Most of the theaters on the list show the name of the theater at the time that the organ was installed. The Adonis theater is listed as Rivoli Theater at the time of installation and the list notes that the theater name was later changed to Adonis. The Stoddard is listed as the Standard Theater when the organ was installed and noted that the name was later changed to the Stoddard. Only one name is given for this theater. You could be right, maybe it wasn't Loew's Commodore until a later date. All I am posting is the date and type of the organ that was installed according to the list.

The Adonis listing must be for its original name of Tivoli Theatre, not Rivoli. It seems an easy mistake to make.

In the introduction, the "function" seems ludicrous. While a bank does occupy what was a bit of the Second Avenue entrance, the rest of the theatre, including the entire auditorium, was demolished, and then brand new apartments were built on the underlying ground. Compare this to the listing for the Roxy, which is a similar situation. The space used for the entrance and first lobby is still there, but converted to restaurants. The rest of the Roxy, including the entire auditorium, was demolished to make way for a new office building. I don't recall what "function" is specified for the Roxy, but I don't think it says restaurants and offices.

I guess that my understanding of "function" may be different from what is intended. I've just looked at the listing for the NYC Roxy and the function is listed as "unknown." I thought that "function" was supposed to refer to what an ex-theatre is now used for if the building still exists. However, if it was demolished and no longer exists, it can have no function, though the ground that it once stood on is probably now occupied by something else.

The organ list does state that the Tivoli became the Adonis Theater. Rivoli was my error, not theirs.

Warren,
You're correct, the "Function" refers to what the theater is currently used for, assuming the building is still standing. If it's demolished, for lack of a "None" function (for now) we leave the function "Unknown". (It was my oversight that the two functions were still listed on this page, but I've now removed them). Thanks,

Bryan

Going back to the organ list, there are theaters on that list that I can't find on here. Some of them probably weren't movie theaters and some might be listed on here under other names that I can't find. Here is one example. There was a Wurlitzer organ installed in a Fox 14th Street Theater in 1926. Is that theater on here under another name?

The Fox 14th Street theatre might be a reference to William Fox's new Academy of Music, which first opened in 1926. It might also mean the City Theatre, which was also operated by William Fox. Both are listed here. I don't know of any theatre specifically named the Fox 14th Street.

On the organ list it states that a Wurlitzer organ was installed on 7/30/1926 in the Fox 14th Street Theater. There is no aka name given. Seems kind of odd that they would give a theater name that didn't exist. Oh well, back to the organ list. Thanks for your help.

The Academy of Music first opened in October, 1926, and had a Wurlitzer opus 1406 (style 260 special) 3m/15rk, according to notes published for the 1980 New York City conclave of Theatre Historical Society of America. I would be willing to bet that this is the Wurlitzer installed on 7/30/1926 at "the Fox 14th Street Theater." The organ was removed from the Academy of Music in 1976, according to the notes, which don't specify where it went.

Congratulations. You are our sweepstakes winner. That is the organ listed for the Fox 14th Street Theater. I wonder where they came up with that theater name?

Perhaps the name hadn't been confirmed at the time the organ was installed. William Fox might have been considering other names to avoid confusion with the old Academy of Music, which had not yet been demolished. If I'd been in his position, I would have picked something snappier and more modern. I don't think that "Academy of Music" suited a luxurious movie palace, which may be one of the reasons why it never enjoyed the success or even celebrity that Fox had hoped for.

The "Foxy Theater" would have been a catchy name. Okay, here are a few other theaters on the organ list that I don't see listed here. Maybe they have other names or maybe they weren't movie theaters.

Tremont Theater
Park West Theater
Proctor's 5th Avenue Theater

Proctor's Fifth Avenue was a famous vaudeville theatre, and didn't have much of a history as a cinema. I think it might have closed by the time that the Proctor's theatres were taken over by RKO. The Tremont was in the Bronx at 1942 Webster Avenue and had 987 seats. The 525-seat Park West was at 103 West 99th Street, Manhattan.

Thanks Warren. Would you like to add the Tremont and the Park West? I don't have any further info on either one of them at the moment but I'm sure that I can come up with some kind of a description if I have to.

Can you help? One of my partners relatives was Adah Jessie Irwin, then famous New York model. She was daughter of Ada Irwin, who we believe worked in the Loew's Commodore sometime in the early years. Does anyone have any programme with this name in it or know any details of what she did? Anything you have would be most appreciated

I've never heard of either Adah Jessie Irwin or Ada Irwin. If either or both worked in show business, I suggest that you start your search by checking the press clippings files at the Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts in New York City.

In his new book, 700 Sundays, which is based on his Broadway show Billy Crystal mentions the Loew's Commordore. Billy's family owned the Commordore record label which recorded some of the great jazz artists of our time including Billie Holliday. One day Billie took young Billy to the Commordore where they saw the great George Stevens western "Shane" with Alan Ladd and Jack Palance. As everyone knows Palance would memorably come back into Billy's life years later. The only quibble I had with the book is Billy referring to the Commodore as a "little theater". With close to 3000 seats I would not call the Commordore little. A minor point. The book is a good read and Billy's family is one of the most interesting I have ever read about. I live in Florida and unfortunately did not have the opportunity to see the show on Broadway. Has anyone seen it?

I'm surprised the comments on this theater don't talk more about its days as The Saint. It was the best disco in New York from 1981 until about 1991 or so. I've been to a lot of discos in New York and The Saint has to rank in the top ranks of anyone's list. Not only was it fabulous to walk around the old theater between dances, but the owners of the club installed a planetarium dome where the orchestra section was. You entered this dome and the stars projected all around in addition to fabulous laser displays. What I also remember was the fact that no one was allowed on the dance floor while they had a drink in their hand. Since the dance floor was inside a dome there were only four entrances. Management had employees posted at each entrance. The result was an incredible dance space with no spilled drinks on the floor. And yes, there were times the club stayed open for more than 24 hours in a row. We loved it. There will never be another one like it! I feel very fortunate to have experienced it.

A photo showing Dr. Timothy Leary in front of the Commodore marquee in 1966. Leary was apparently giving a lecture there proclaiming himself the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. Curiously, a sign hanging under the marquee mentions a theatre policy of Yiddish-American Vaudeville & Films. Though the Loew's name was still part of the marquee, it appears to have been painted over, with the neon tubing removed:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/oct1966.jpg

Warren... Great photo! The theater was probably about to start operating under the name Village Theater when this photo was taken. It was still two years off from coming under Bill Graham's stewardship as the Fillmore East. Does anyone know when the last film booking at the Loew's Commodore was? If the policy in these last years was Yiddish-American Vaudeville & Films, one probably wouldn't have found its schedule listed in the major dailies of the time.

www.fillmore-east.com appears to have been abandoned. Does anyone know of a definitive website dedicated to the Fillmore. Especially a complete listing of the concerts. jerry the k

Here's a 1973 photo showing the venue still in use for concerts as the Village East two years after Bill Graham pulled up stakes.

It was incorrectly stated that Luchow's was located directly next to what had been The Academy of Music. Actually, another restaurant, The Italian Kitchen (throughout the '50's, in my experience), was located directly to the north of the theater, while Luchow's was located one or two buildings further north of that on the south side of 14th St., and not adjacent to the theater.

I think Luchow's was located where the PC Richard's appliance store is now.

I think Luchow's was located where the PC Richard's appliance store is now.

Here are a couple of old headlines from the NY Times about this theater.

"October 10, 1963 By SAM ZOLOTOW

LOEW'S ON 6TH ST. TURNS LEGITIMATE; Commodore Theater Sold-- Musical Due Next Month Mystery-Comedy Planned Investors Delay Dissolution 'Student Gypsy' to Close 'Hello, Dolly' to Open Jan 16.

Loew's Commodore Theater at Second Avenue and Sixth Street will join the expanding chain of Off Broadway houses presenting stage attractions".


"December 24, 1965 By WILLIAM ROBBINS

NEWS OF REALTY: THEATER IS SOLD; Village, 2d Ave. and 6th St., Bought by an Investor

The Village Theater at Second Avenue and Sixth Street, formerly known as the Commodore Theater, has been sold by Loew's Theaters, Inc., to Roger Euster, an investor, for cash above a first mortgage of $400,000".

Luchow's was situated at 110 East 14th Street, just west of the City Theatre. I can't find an address for P.C. Richard, which is just listed as "Union Square" in newspaper advertising.

P C Richard & Son
120 E 14th St
New York, NY 10003

The ground site of Luchow's Restaurant is now occupied by a multi-story NYU Residence Hall, which uses the same address of 110 East 14th Street.

Shortly after Bill Graham closed it, someone else reopened it as the NFE Theater. (New Fillmore East) I remember Bachman-Turner Overdrive opened it the same night I went to a concert at the Academy of Music on 14th St. This didn't last very long.

Al, you are correct. I am a collector of concert tickets circa 1964-1971. In one of my acquisitions, included in the lot were a pair of ticket stubs to that Bachman Turner Overdrive show at the NFE. I sold them on Ebay as they fell outside of the range of dates I colllect. The stubs included the concert promotors' names but I can't seem to recall them now. Ironically I was a patron of the Fillmore East, yet only recently learned of the New Fillmore East (NFE) when I came upon ths stubs.

As I remember it Luchows was several doors down from the Academy. There were a few stores, then a parking lot that went thru the block to 13th street then Luchows.

"Decades of success"??? Like everything to do with Rock and Roll the myth of the Filmore is over-bloated, over-hyped, and childishly over-senitmentalized.

Having grown up on Fifth street and Second Avenue in the late 50's and early 60's I attended the Commodore many, many times. It was a beautiful little movie "palace." The last film I remember seeing there was "Papa's Delicate Condition," with Jackie Gleason and Glynnis Johns. It was originally built for films and vaudeville. See a program in the lobby of the bank there.

It SHOULD have been torn down before Graham got his hands on it, as the Filmore was largely responsible for the ruination of what was a really great neighborhood.

The Academy of Music on 14th street was a huge movie palace. I remember a large marble fireplace in the lobby of the balcony. In front of the stage was an orchestra pit that still had several pianos in it. My dad remembered seeing Jimmy Durante there when he was with the team, Clayton, Jackson, and Durante. It was named, obviously, for the old opera house across the street.

Thanks, of course, to the complete sell out by NYC to the real estate industry, NYU, etc. and the tacit compliance of the media, places like this don't have a chance to survive. This glorious building was shamelessly torn down without a word about it, in any newspaper. Like it never existed. Let's not forget that the building also housed the famous, and infamous, "Julian's Billiard Academy." ! ! What a place.

The Commodore wasn't "little." It had about 2,800 seats, maybe 700 less than the rival Academy of Music on 14th Street.

Profjoe... the Filmore East was in existence for all of about 3 yrs ('68 - '71)... Could it have really had such a hand in bringing down an entire neighborhood? The Beacon has been operating as a concert hall for over 20 yrs and that stretch of the Upper West Side seems none the worse for the wear. I suppose it's all relative. I have a family friend who lived on St. Marks Place off 2nd Ave for some 35 years before finally moving out of the neighborhood within the last 5 years. In his view, the neighborhood took a turn for the worse with modern gentrification.

As Halloween looms, I have Filmore stroy. In 1971, I attended a Halloween show at the Fillmore which featured the band, "Elephant's Memory" (several members were friends of mine) with Zacherly as host, and on the screen was "Frankenstein" (1931) At the end of the film when the villagers were chasing the monster, the soundtrack was lowered as the band played one of their current hits "Band of Love." It was a riot with the audience singing along and led into the musical part of the program.
bobmarshall

Let's also not forget that this grand theater served as the home for one of New York's greatest, grandest and storied disco's "The Saint" for over 10 years starting in 1981. Along with Studio 54, Club USA (the old Forum at 47th & Bway), and yes, the Academy of Music (known in it's last years as The Palladium) these old theaters were kept alive as dance palaces that could still be enjoyed by throngs of revelers. Not like the old Jefferson on 14th Street that sat empty and decaying for decades before finally being demolished a few years back. Alas, only Studio 54 was truly saved for a period long enough to to be returned to work as a functioning theater. I'm not old enough to have been able to have attended these theaters when they were showing movies, but I'm very grateful to have had the opportunity to have seen and enjoyed them as dance clubs. Sadly, we will never see movie venues like these built again.

LuisV-too true. As Norma Desmond said in "Sunset Blvd.", "they took the idols & destroyed them" and palaces they inhabited. I toured the Commodore & Palladium after they showed films, but before they became clubs and I revere these old temples. As you state, Studio 54 is one of the few remaining; surviving even a stint as The Ritz (Rock Club) briefly. I saw Cabaret there a nuber of times and it looks more like its original Gallo Opera House, with tables on the orchestra floor.
bobmarshall

Thanks Bob. I just saw the Rosie Perez perform last week at Studio 54's production of "The Ritz". She was suprisingly excellent, but I got just as great a thrill walking around the old theater and remembering all of the fun nights I spent dancing the night away. Though an attractive theater, Studio 54 does not compare (in my opinion) to The Commodore, The Forum or The Acadamy of Music. Those were true palaces in every definition of the term and I miss them terribly. I do take solace in still having Radio City, The Hollywood, The Ziegfeld and 4 out of the five Loew's Wonder theaters (with the 5th - The Kings still a good possiblity for restoration). There are others. But with every palace that we lose, it makes those remaining ever more valuable.

LouisV- have you checked out the Loew's Jersey City web site? One of the greats! It's full of pix & info. They're having a halloween program that weekend and they do show classics usually on weekends. It's worth a trip--across the boulevard from the PATH train. I agree Studio 54 was never in a league of the others. But, 54 is around the corner from where CBS does the Letterman Show-that was orginally Hammerstein's Theatre which featured stain glass windows. ("Lost Broadway Theatres" Nicholas Van Hoogstraten - a wonderful photo book).,
bobmarshall

Hey Bob... I remember when the Ritz moved out of its East 11th Street digs and came uptown, but I never went to a show there after the move and didn't realize it was actually in the old Gallo/Studio 54! I did enjoy many great times at the old Ritz (now Webster Hall) in the '80's, however. That place has its own architectural charms, though never a movie theatre, let alone a palace.

Hi Ed - I did see a show at the Ritz on 54th. 9 Inch Nails and another louder, better-known medtal band, whose name I can't remember at the moment. All the seats were taken out of the orchestra floor, making it easier to throw missles (beer cans, audience members) at each other. It was not a show of choice, I accompanied someone (just to see what they did to the place). i think I saw the $64,000 Question there with Hal March, when it was a CBS TV studio. I often see Webster Hall on classical recordings and really wonder if that's where they record (I live nearby).
bobmarshall

I'll always remember the Ritz (on E. 11th) for the long narrow flight of stairs up to the ballroom and the big video screen hung over the stage where they'd roll obscure clips randomly edited to accompany the music that would play over the house PA before the show or between sets. It was the first place I ever saw the complete John Landis video for Michael Jackson's "Thriller" - living in Queens at the time, we had no cable or MTV! And I'll never forget there were always a number of Hell's Angels' motorcycles parked on the sidewalk to the left of the Ritz' entrance near Fourth Avenue. At least that's always how I'll remember the joint! Even though the Angels had there camps a few blocks downtown on... East 3rd was it?

Ed - Yup E. 3rd! There were a number of theaters between Canal & 14th street at the beginning thru middle of the last century. Most are gone. One revitalized is the Sundshine - although a multiplex, it is still better than the refrigerator storage place it was before this incarnation. It was a legit off-bway house thru the 50s. There were so many great & glorious theaters throughout the city that are gone. The Loew's & RKO (Radio-Keith-Orphem cicuits) chains alone built most of them during and after Vaudeville. Even as far out as Coney Island. There were 4 legit theaters there - now one, which they're holding on to in case gambling is legalized.
bobmarshall

Hey LuisV - you mentioned the Jefferson Theater as one that sat idle until destroyed. There was a short period of time that "The Jefferson" was opened as a dance club. I remember the year to be 1982 or 1983. The club opened at 1AM (we used to party at my apartment till about 2AM, then we'd cab there). The club stayed open till about 8AM, and the DJs played an incredible mix of rock and roll, and r&b dance music. Because the theater was small, and it "flew under the radar", we'd always run into Belush and Akroyd after the broadcast of SNL. The Jefferson was the antidote to it's over-the-top all disco glam clubs of that time. Like every bright light, it burned out quickly.
Somoman

Hey kc2dhj - you are correct. Up the block from the Academy was a row of brownstones - Luchow's was in one of them, with their Christmas Tree thru the roof. Another, at one time housed he main office of the NY Schools of Music - which once boasted lessons for $.35 (20 mins)with free practice. They had branches all over NYC.
I used to travel there via 3rd Ave. El for regular test with "Director," Arthur Crimmins.
bobmarshall

Sometime around 1976 or even 1975 I found a backdoor to this theater unlocked or it had been pryed open with a crowbar and left slightly ajar. If I remember right and don't have it confused with the Riviera/Riverside on 96th and Broadway- the basement was totally flooded from the theft of water pipes and vandalism to the flush toilets and sinks in the restrooms.

I removed one of the large brass lanterns that was attached to the wall on the left side near the stage, it was about 5 feet tall made of solid brass supported to a cast iron scrolled bracket that was bolted to the wall. It had frosted glass sides as well. Here's a photo that shows it a little on the very left;

http://flickr.com/photos/91263176@N00/1662346344/

Note to Randall, that certainly looks like one of the old wall lanterns. And yes, as incredible as it may seem, the Fillmore sat open and unlocked in 1976. One day in 1976, with flashlight in hand, I went inside through a side door that was ajar (actually a number of them were; that's where some amount of light came from). I got to stand on the stage (a spooky thrill) and walk up the stairs to the multi-level dressing rooms where all my idols had once hung out. Talk about ghosts. I remember some water damage, a few seats burned, probably by some bum, and some of the marble walls behind the last rows smashed, but at that point it was still way salvageable. The disco came later. And the bank/condos way later.

Note to Somoman....I never realized that the Jefferson was a dance club that far back. My clubbing days didn't start in earnest until 1983 at Palladium and Limelight. I'm sorry I never got the see the interior of The Jefferson. At The Palladium, the architect incorporated the old Academy of Music's decay into the club to amazing effect. It truly was, along with the Saint (Commodore), one of the greatest discos New York ever had.

Commenters above have mentioned The Ritz on E. 11th Street. The NY Landmarks Preservation Society is holding a hearing today on granting landmark status to this Romanesque Dance Hall wich dates to the mid 1880's. While this structure was never a theater, it does incorporate many of the intricate architectural theatrical details that we celebrate on this site. I hope they approve it.

When I commented previously on theaters whoes lives were extended by becoming discos I omitted a very important one: The Henry Miller theater on W. 43rd Street, though I am not sure if this one ever showed movies. This theater had lain empty for a few years before it became "Xenon's", a contemporary of Studio 54. Later on, it became the Rock dance club "Shout". As Times Square's fortunes changed, live theater returned with a highly successful run of Urinetown, followed by an ever more successful run of Caberet. Ironically, Caberet moved to Studio 54 which fully returned old movie palace back to permanent legit theater.

The Henry Miller theater was razed a few years back (though the facade was saved) to be replaced by the new Bank of America tower. I am told, however, that significant architectural elements from the theater were saved and stored to be used when a new theater is constructed within the new tower, so in a sense, we'll at least have some of the old theater back along with the original facade. I believe the same technique was used in the construction of the Hilton Theater on 42nd St. and the results there are spectacular.

I have confirmed that, yes, the Henry Miller did show movies.

Salvage. Aah. I just picked up a copy of a nice publication from my friend's storefront in NYC called "Architectural Salvage News" out of Virginia. They talk about this kind of preservation in all buildings.

Hey Luis... Actually, the run of "Cabaret" at the Henry Miller preceded that of "Urinetown." The excellent revival of "Cabaret" opened at the Miller (which had been re-dubbed the Kit Kat Klub for the engagement) in 1998. It moved over to Studio 54 (which I don't think was a movie palace - was it?) in 2001 to make way for "Urinetown" - which had to vacate and close up shop when the Miller was shuttered for redevelopment.

I'd also have to beg to differ with your classification of the Hilton Theatre (which opened as Ford Center for the Performing Arts) as spectacular. While I think the exterior renovations to the former Lyric Theatre facades on both 42nd and 43rd Street are indeed spectacular, I find the interior quite cold and cavernous - far too big and uninviting for a Broadway house. I'm kind of disappointed that "Young Frankenstien" will be opening there rather than the more intimate St. James where "The Producers" enjoyed its successful run. The actors will have to play it so big to land the jokes to those in the far reaches of the balcony, that I wonder how it'll play to those in the better seats.

Anyway... I think I'd have preferred sacrificing the old Apollo so that the Lyric might have survived in all its intact glory.

Yeah Al, that's the wall lantern, one of several, I'm guessing there were 3 or 4 on each side. Wonder what happened to the rest of them being from what I read the place was gutted.
I also seem to remember a small room maybe in the basement that had a small pile of cast iron seat sides that were maybe a dark red color with a small face profile medallion in the center as part of the design, and I seem to remember some marquee letters, I took home one of the seat sides.

I would like to put forth the opinion that the Fillmore had much better acoustics than the Academy of Music or the Beacon. Perhaps the best of any theater that I've been in that featured rock music. My theory is that the Fillmore was long and skinny (when you sat in the last row, you were pretty far from the stage). This enabled the low end, acoustically speaking, to properly "sound out."
In contrast, the Academy was more wide than long, and the acoustics for amplified music suffered. This is even more true of the Beacon, which seems even shorter, front to back, than the Academy was. When someone tells me that the Beacon has good acoustics, I just laugh.

Al, a few thoughts...the Fillmore had great acoustics, probably for the reasons you described, and largely because Bill Graham was deeply commited to providing the highest quality of sound possible, and at a time when live rock and roll sound was a new science.. Most promoters did everyting they could to AVOID reaching into their pockets to make any kind of improvements to their venues. Bill was no philanthropist, but when it came to improving the concert going experience, he hardly withheld. Read any of his biographies and you'll see just how dedicated he was to solving the sound problem..

Th sound at the Academy sucked. Plain and simple.

The Beacon is also aweful BUT, if you can get the 1st balcony, center section about 5 rows back, the audio in that group of 9 seats is absolutely perfect. And so is the view of the stage. But don't tell anyone.

I've never experienced a show at the Fillmore, but when I saw the Garcia Band at the Palladium or Phil Lesh at the Beacon, the sound was pretty damn good down on orchestra level or in the 1st balcony. Perhaps that's because the Dead family cared so much about providing good sound. There was definitely a fall off in the upper reaches of the Beacon balcony (and I never sat far back at the Palladium), but it is certainly preferable to MSG or other arenas. The Capitol in Passaic might have had the best sound of any venue that size that I can recall... perhaps because it was deeper than it was wide, which definitely supports your acoustical theories.

I guess it's all relative. The Beacon sounds great to me because I'm used to MSG and the like. Somoman - I love sitting in that 1st mezzanine - and sound in the building is definitely at its best up there. My ears aren't trained enough to pinpoint it to the center 9 seats in the 5th row, however... Anything towards the center in any of the 10 or so rows that exist up there works fine for me!

To somoman…you are very correct. Bill Graham endeavored to provide the best sound possible. He didn’t have a lot to work with. Young people will find it hard to believe that in the 60’s professional sound reinforcement equipment barely existed. Take it from someone who heard(?) the Beatles play at Shea in 1966. But Bill’s efforts notwithstanding, I still believe the building takes a lot of the credit. Acoustics is a very hit or miss science. Ask any sound engineers or architects who have ever worked on Avery Fisher Hall. A sound disaster from day one.
Meanwhile, thanks for the heads up on the sweet spot at the Beacon. I sat in those seats in 1988 for GTR. Your secret is safe with me. LOL.

Those of you who use this Fillmore East sight have probably dropped in on the Academy of Music listing here at the Cinema Treasures sight. If you have, than you may know that I'm trying to create the only comprehensive list of performnces at the Academy of Music ever assembled. Input welcome.

Despite all my harsh works about the Academy, its attrocious conditions and aweful sound, Howard Stein DID succeed at attracting the best of the best in the industry, while fighting the same financial battles that persuaded Bill Graham to get out of the business. In the end, we should all be appreciative of any promoter who had the balls to get into the music promotion business, taking the kind of financial risks they took, while suffering the intolerable behavior of those self-important prima donna rock stars, who lived to bite the hand that fed them. And in spite of the often huge profits that motivated the promoters, most of them (intentionally or otherwise) helped add structure and integrity to an otherwise lawless industry, getting the bands out of the college gymnasiums and into theaters and halls designed to enhance the concert experience.

i went down to the old fillmore in the 90's before it was torn down..the steel doors that led behind the stage area were open so i wandered in.....through the tunnel and around the back side...all the doors were open. i went in at ground level and saw that the floor for the saint was raised up even with the first balcony...i climbed up the rickety old fire escape and checked it out...it was full of debris...you could see the artwork around where the stage was..the dance floor for the saint was still there. a set of spiral stairs led to the upper balcony. where the entrance was in the front was a pile of debris...the whole interior was painted black..it was what was left of the saint, not the fillmore....those saint guys gutted that building before they moved in....i took a lot of exterior shots, it was too dark inside....i bought some tickets and a program on ebay for bachman turner overdrive in january 74 at the new fillmore east...does anybody know the history of that incarnation of the fillmore ? i heard it burned at some point...i think kiss played there too.

saw a lot of shows at the academy on 14th st....my first was electric hot tuna in '73....the downstairs bathroom was like an opium den...came out of the late show and saw a car burning in the street...went to a lou reed show, grabbed a dealers bag and got punched in the face before the show....we rolled on the ground in front of the place....i remember muddy waters, johnny winter, kinks, lou reed, hot tuna, jeff beck, allmans, ...lots more....i can't beleive they tore it down....it was classic...

The Saint was probably one of the greatest discos New York ever had and kept the Commodore from being torn down back in the early 80's. While most of the interior was painted black, it was not "gutted" for The Saint. It was quite beautiful and will not ever be replaced. The dome over the dance floor with stars projected above was a sight to behold and an experience to remember. Even better: there were only 4 entrances to the dance floor and no drinks were allowed to be brought inside the dome! The entrances were carefully monitored. It's a shame that The Commodore didn't make it into the 21st Century. It will be truly missed.

Pictures of the dome. http://www.saintdisco.com/

WOW! Thanks, shoeshoe14! That brought back a rush a fabulous memories. It really was an incredible place and was my absolute favorite disco (and I got around to most of them in my day!) Just like I lament the fact that today's youth will never truly know what it was like to attend movies regularly in the wide array of palaces that we had in our youth, I also lament the fact that they will not have the elaborate discos that we had as well (many of the most prominent in former movie palaces like The Palladium, Studio 54, Xenon's, Club USA and, of course, The Saint!

The clubs kept these theaters open a few years longer than they might otherwise have been. Unfortunately, only Studio 54 was spared the wrecking ball and arguably, it was the least worthy of this elite group of theaters. Nonetheless, I'm greateful that we still have it and has been returned to the public as a legitimate Broadway House.

On another note: The introduction to this page should include The Commodore's history as palying home to The Saint for over 10 years. As the link provided by shoeshoe14 shows, The Saint was an incredible club that was both historic and culturally influential. It should be ackowledged.

Sadly, The Saint has also become a tragic symbol of the AIDS epidemic that swept New York City in the 1980s and eventually caused the gay disco's closure. It has been estimated that more than 50% of its clientele died from AIDS or related illnesses. Even The Saint's owner was one of the victims.

Yes, Warren. That too is part of the legacy. I'm one of the lucky ones.

Was that dome a part of the original Commodore design elements? Photos I've seen of the interior from the Fillmore East days reveal a Colonial motif that I wouldn't have imagined capped with a dome. I can't recall seeing any images of the Fillmore's ceiling.

the dome was added as part of the saint....the dome was later sold off before the building was vacant again....i got that info from bob herman, the guy who tried to save the fillmore east. when i went into the building a few years before it was torn down, the place was stripped...black walls, a lot of dancefloor left...debris everywhere.
the 1st balconey had been removed...the upper balconey had a set of spiral stairs leading up to it....the upper balconey had been stripped down to the concrete risers....the facade of the upper balconey was black....the only original thing left inside i saw was the procineum ? arch artwork around the outline of the stage....i was alone, and i didn't feel like getting killed that day, so i got out.pretty dark in there, and homeless were in there...

I remember The Saint had a huge (at least 8 foot tall) golden winged Angel as you were climbing the steps to get to the orchestra section where the dance floor was. It was very impresive.

I can also confirm that The Saint's dome had been sold well before the destruction. After the official 2 day "Closing Party", the Dome was sold off by the owner. Several months later, the Saint reopened periodically for special event parties sans the dome. It closed for good (I believe) in 1991 (could be 1990). It wasn't the same without the dome, but it was still an incredible place! The Commodore deserved better.

Here is a website dedicated to The Saint, with pages of history and photographs as well as streaming videos:
http://www.saintdisco.com/

I scanned pages of a booklet issued by The Saint, and some photographs - you can see them in my album at Photobucket

Among those items are floor plans of the main floor, the added mezzanine containing the dance floor, and the upper part of the sheared-off balcony.

Thanks for sharing that, dave-bronx. I noticed that one passage from the text of that scanned booklet refers to the building having been at one time the "flagship" of Loew's Theatres. As Warren would say, "What rot!" I'd imagine that the Commodore was never more than a late run nabe. In NYC - particularly in Manhattan - I'd imagine the flagship of the chain would have been the Loew's State in Times Square for most of the Commodore's existence as a cinema.

I agree that the Commodore was never Loew's flagship house. That booklet was a marketing tool to promote membership in the club, and we all know that when marketing a product there is a tendency to over-embellish the facts of that product. Or, it could have been an innocent error, associating the former name of the place, Commodore, with the word "flagship".

Loew's Commodore was never a "flagship" except for its area of the Lower East Side, where it was considered more important than Loew's Canal, Loew's Delancey, Loew's Avenue B, Loew's Apollo, and the short-lived Loew's Hollywood. The Capitol (which did not carry the Loew's banner for most of its life) and Loew's State were the Loew's flagships of the Greater New York area. The Commodore was in the first rung of Manhattan Loew's theatres that got the movies right after their Broadway premiere engagements. I'm talking about the period before the early 1960s, when showcase distribution changed everything forever. Theatres that had been favored for one reason or another became equalized.

Photographs and trivia about memorials to the Fillmore East can be found here: www.forgotten-ny.com/SLICES/2nd%266th/fillmore.html

This is another case of "r" before "e" in the last two letters of the "t" word-- Loew's Commodore Theatre (not Loew's Commodore Theater). The circuit was called Loew's Theatres (not Loew's Theaters), and "Theatre" (not "Theater") was used for individual houses.

In the recent movie they used a theatre that was supposed to be the Fillmore East.

Let me try this agian, In the recent movie August Rush they used a theatre that was supposed to be the Fillmore East.

The Loew's Commodore Theatre/Fillmore East on 2nd Ave. was mentioned in Andy Warhol's film, "Trash." That's the scene where Holly Woodlawn brings a boy home then later tells Joe Dellesandro she picked him up in front of the Fillmore East. Total TRASH!

Well, whenever you are presented with a theatre, go to imdb to confirm with the shooting locations. For August Rush...http://imdb.com/title/tt0426931/locations

For the exterior shots the Olympic Theater Concert Hall was used. Here is a photo.

WHEN I WENT IN THE OLD THEATER BEFORE IT WAS TORN DOWN IT WAS GUTTED....IT WAS A SHELL OF THE SAINT, NOT THE FILLMORE EAST...IT WAS BLACK, NO BAR, NO STAGE, NO STAIRS EXCEPT THE SPIRAL STAIRS FROM THE SAINT, TO THE UPPER BALCONEY....IT STILL COULD HAVE MADE A COOL CONCERT SPACE...THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEVER WOULD HAVE ALLOWED IT. BOB HERMAN TRIED TO SAVE IT...NOBODY WOULD GET INVOLVED....ITS A SHAME REALLY...

I co-stage managed the last Black Party at the Saint. And did the same w/ a video premiere party around the same time. Both events were within the last year of the club. I remember the wall-to-wall crowds, and people hanging out on the floor of the balcony, which had no seats. The place was amazing. Unfortunately, I can't remember the year, but the Saint was the most popular club in the country, if not the world, one all the others tried to copy, even moreso than the Palladium on E. 14th.

For those who would like to see some film footage of the exterior and interior of the theater as the Fillmore East, go to YouTube and type into the search window: "Welcome to the Fillmore East" to see some clips from the 1970 documentary made for New York Public Television. The late Bill Graham gives a brief introduction for a rebroadcast done in the 1980s.

Wow. Thanks. It's virtually impossible to find elements of the theatre other than a column here or there.

Maybe you could post a link to that because when I type it with quotes and without I don't get what you talk about.

Leave off the qoutes and the word East and just type: Welcome to the Filmore. That will also bring up a better print of the clip. There are two posted but one is of a poorer quality. I'll go back and get you a link. There appears to be three clips from the documentary posted. This Part I shows bands being listed on the marquee and a shot of the large church up the street, crews working inside with a view of one of the box seats on the South side, Bill Graham on the phone and talking about his criteria for booking bands, a shot of the audience in the balconies and up through the orchestra section from the stage, Graham encouraging the audience to register to vote and introducing the Byrds with them decending a spiral staircase from the dressing rooms, the band playing "Jesus Is Just Alright," and a brief snippet of Albert King on stage.

The link to the clip, Part I, is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cswbMis-bR4
Also in the clip is a view south down Second Avenue, as well as north toward the church, an explaination of one of the components of the Joshua Light Show, and a view across the orchestra seats from left to right, or toward the east. Above I said a box seat on the south side, but, of course, that would have actually been the west side as the auditorium stood parallel to Second Avenue with only the lobby portion and it's upper floors (which still stands) abutting Second Avenue.

Here is another link that many of you will enjoy: http://www.davidgallery.net
When you arrive at the site, click on Photographers, then Amalie R. Rothchild. She was one of the theater's official photographers for two years, and among the five pages devouted to her here are shots of many of the artists who performed at the Fillmore East in action on stage, but there is also a nice shot of the stage taken from the right, or east, during a performance of the Grateful Dead, with the box above stage right that was used by the sound crew; a shot from the back of the upper balconey down at the stage as jimmi Hendrix and The Band of Gypsies rehearse; and a nice shot of the main entrance shot from across Second Avenue.

Jerry Kovar, above, asked about a listing of all the concerts at the Fillmore East. If you go back to the www.fillmore-east.com Website and look down the left side, click on the tab labled Show Listings for a complete list of the shows from the begining, March 8, 1968 until the end, June 27, 1971. Also of interest to readers on the subject of this theater as the Fillmore East and in it's previous decades as a movie palace, go down the left side and click on Artifacts, then click on Artifacts 4 to see a layout of the seating for the theater.

Those of you with an intimate knowledge of this theater will, no doubt, recognize that some of the above information is incorrect. For one thing, the theater did not sit parallel to Second Avenue it sat parallel Sixth Street and the side exits of the theater opened out onto the sidewalk along Sixth. The auditorium sat, essentially, on the same footprint as the apartment building that sits on the site today, Hudson East. I was initially thrown off by an old aerial photo of that corner, which made the building look like it lay the other way. I've since bought a copy of Amalie R. Rothchilds wonderful photo memoir, "Live At The Fillmore East," which contains many excellent interior and exterior shots of the FE.

Only the narrow lobby portion of the building opened up onto Second Avenue, with an outside lobby covered in small tiles and display cases of, first, coming movie attractions, and, later, coming bands. This went indoors to an outer lobby (ticket window) and then an inner lobby (concessions).

Continuing straight, to the west, you walked into the auditorium. Here is another mistaken piece of intormation. Looking from this pont toward the stage, the box seat that held the sound board was on your right (stage left)--not on the other side, as I mistakenly said--and the box seats that held the light board was on your left (stage right). Both boxes were at about the second storey level, and directly above them at third storey level were oepnings on either side for the spotlight operators.

VIPs watched the show from the sound box, sitting behind the crew where they were screened from view by the audience below. John Lennon & Yoko Ono, who were spending time in New York prior to making the move official, came to some shows, and at 2 a.m. on the morning of June 5, 1971 (or was that the morning of the 6th?) came down on stage with Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention to play three songs. Bob Dylan, who had moved his family back down from upstate and was living in the Village in the early '70s, is said to have watched some shows from the sound box as well.

Among the problems that kept Cineplex Odeon from creating a multiplex here was a demand by the city that the entrance be moved to 6th Street, not 2nd Avenue, a requirement opposed by local residents for obvious reasons.

I do not recall any concerns about preserving the interior since that had been already dramatically altered during its time as The Saint.

I went in several times for water tank inspections while Cineplex held the lease. At the local police's request, the Hell's Angels were our security guards.

Why would the city want the Cineplex entrance on the residential street when, as a theatre, it was always on the commercial avenue? The Saint used 6th St. for the main entrance (except for 'special occasions') after they got a liquor license, and changed their address to 233 E. 6th St., but that was because there was a church opposite the main entrance on 2 Av. The Liquor Authority will not allow a licensed premises within x-number of feet of a church. The first several years they had no liquor license and served no liquor, they just gave away beer.

And, the Hell's Angels being referred by the NYPD? What's up with that?

Cineplex Odeon had to be the worst theatre chain in the world. Their houses were poorly designed crap. They didn't have a clue, that's for sure!

I was always under the impression The Saint served only overpriced juice and people brought their own stash.

The city seemed to feel that second avenue was already too congested and they did not want movie crowds blocking the sidewalk.

The Hell's Angels seem to rule that area as their headquarters were on 3rd street. The local police kept their distance. I believe this is still the case today.

The Saint gave away the juice and draft beer. BYOB was not allowed. There is (or was) some kind of loophole where they could give away the beer, but if they sold it a license was required. Plus, the members paid about $350 for the season, entitling them to pay only a $12 door charge as opposed to $25 door charge for guests of members. Since there was no choice of libation they sort of had to provide something free of charge.

Bill Graham has headaches with the Hell's Angels, as he did out in Frisco as well. One night a bunch of them came into the outer lobby and demanded to be let in. Graham came out and told them that the show was sold out, and anyway, no one was getting in without a ticket. At which one of the "Angels" threw a heavy chain at him, striking Graham above the bridge of his nose and drawing blood. But Graham stood his ground and the bikers soon stood down and dispersed. He didn't have trouble with them after that. At least, that's how Graham relates the story in the biography composed of interviews with him and those associated with him over the years titled "Bill Grafham Presents." Of even greater trouble for Graham was the neighborhood's group of hippie, anarchist squatters who called themselves the Mother[fornicators]. But that's a story for another day.

In regard to dave-bronx's comments, The Saint did not use 6th Street as an entrance. I always entered through the lobby on Second Avenue, as that is where admission was collected. That may have changed after the dome was removed in 1988 and the place went on for another two years, but I doubt it. The 6th St. exits were off the bar/lounge area and could not accomodate the entering crowd.

I am pretty confident that the design of The Saint was to be an experience much like entering Radio City Music Hall. The idea being to guide the patron into an ever expanding space, from the intimacy of the lobby to the expanse of the dance floor.

I remember the first year's membership fee to The Saint was $125.00.

Correction - The first year's membership fee to The Saint was $150.00

I went to The Saint for the first time in 1988. The dome was still there and I distinctly remember entering at a side door on 6th Street. The Saint closed and then reopened for a couple of years for special events. I went to several of those and the entrance for those events was always at the main entrance on 2nd Avenue through the original theater entrance (as it always should have been).

I'm only saying that the one time I went while the dome was still up, we entered via 6th Street.

p.s. Very Best Disco......EVER!

Did any of you out there work for either incarnation of the theater as a Rock concert hall after Bill Graham closed the Fillmore East? First it was called the N.F.E. Theater--much to Bill Graham's chagrin--perhaps in operation from late '71 on into '72, then it was called The Village East, of which a photo can be seen of it above in '73. Witnesses from the neighborhood describe above that by '76 it was closed, the theater was abandoned, and homeless people were squatting in it and trashing the interior. So my question is: Why did it fail as a concert venue when Graham and company had made it such a success? The Capital Theater over in Pasaic, N.J., was a successful concert venue of similar size from 1971-'84, and even managed to attract some of the very bands that Graham thought he could no longer get now that they could play the Garden. So what went wrong for this lovely old concert hall? Did subsequent owners not have Graham's flair for business and concert promotion?

Hey aarfeld

I was a house electrician there when Barry Stuart re-opened it as NFE.
I worked for "Shadow" who was Barry's personal assistant and my personal friend.
Jonn Wire was the head electrician....

I was not really privvy to why it failed as a venue, but it was one of my most memorable experiences along with McSorleys and Club 82 in
that area.

I have some clippings and other stuff buried in a box of memories in the attic....

Is one able to post images here or links to them?
I will scan them when I find them

Hi depaul420,
What was the atmosphere like working there in the early '70s? After having been such a storied venue, what was the place like in the wake of the Graham years? Did they still present shows with a light show? Was the staff still comprised largely of students from neighboring arts and technical college; is it NYU? I'm not remembering at the moment.

P.S.
It appears that a man named Dick Morgenstern bought the theater from Graham first in June 1972, but quickly realized that he was in over his head and put it back on the market before even hosting the first show. See article at: http://www.fillmore-east.com/artifacts10.htm

Here is a link to an article about Mr. Stuart's purchase of the theater, with his plans to continue its use as a concert venue: http://www.fillmore-east.com/artifacts13.htm

aarfeld....
It was amazing just being on the same stage that Jimi Hendrix performed on..lol
The atmosphere was incredible. Even tho' I was there to work, it was a party.
I found some stuff..( I also have the "artifacts 13" newspaper clipping.
I will post another program later.
In the mean time, here is another newspaper clipping and the First Day Program.

Great momentos! Have you got any photographs of the theater as the N.F.E.?

I spent some of the best years of my youth at the Fillmore East. I later moved to San Francisco and ended up working as a freelance photographer in the music industry. I shot many shows for Bill Graham in the '70s and early 80s.

Thanks to some of you in earlier posts, I discovered the video on YouTube that WNET broadcast from 9/23/70. Does anyone know
know if this is available for sale in DVD or VHS (even if someone recorded if off the air)?

To aarfeld....

No..unfortunately I personally do not....

but....

there was a fellow electrician there, Albert ( the guy got me the job there) and he was a phptographer and i'm sure he took hundreds of photos....
I havent been able to track him down for years and hope this convo comes up in a google search...rotf....( and if he's still alive)

Loew's Commodore used the "re" ending for the "t" word-- Loew's Commodore Theatre (not Loew's Commodore Theater).

Hey Warren... or anyone...

I'm working on a book about the history of the various Fillmores (FAuditorium and FWest in SF, FEast, and more recent places to carry the name)and I'm very thankful for the info I've gotten from this site (as well as from some interviews I've done). The one fact I want that I haven't been able to nail down definitively is the year that the Commodore changed hands from M&S control to Loew's...

Also, when did the "Village" name start being used? '63 or '65?

From the opening remarks: "The building was used spasmodically for a couple of years for live events..."

Were the walls shaking? Maybe it's a good thing they tore it own...

Unless, of course, they were only shaking sporadically.

:-)

Of all of the discos that have come and gone, gay and straight, none has truly compared to The Saint. The combination of a faded movie palace with a planetarium dome over the dance floor that literally allowed you to "dance under the stars" has never been equaled and probably never will. I'm glad I had the opportunity to experience it.

I don't have an exact date for the Loew's take-over of the Commodore, but it was in late 1927 or early in 1928. Loew's acquired the Commodore from M&S in exchange for the Canal, which first opened in September, 1927. The Commodore is listed in the 1927 Film Daily Year Book as an M&S theatre and in the 1928 volume as Loew's. The Canal was later re-purchased by Loew's in a public auction when M&S went bankrupt in the Depression.

Ah, the Canal. I still think that theater is still in cocooned behind the boraded up facade on Canal Street.

Thanks, Warren...

depaul420:
Here's a question for you, or anyone else who knows the answer: When did the theater, as The Village East, go out of business? One person from the neighborhood commented above that by 1976 he noticed that the theater was abandoned and homeless people were squattng inside. When did Village East officially fold?

Article in today's NYTimes Arts section on the Allman Brothers annual residency at the newly refurbished Beacon. It marks their 40th year together and the 20th playing at the Beacon. Mentions of the Fillmore East as well. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/09/arts/music/09allman.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=allman&st=cse

Here is a photo of the Fillmore East from the 1970s.

I'm guessing that the photo was taken in 1972 because the marquee shows further signs of deteriation from its condition when Fillmore East Closed, Bill Graham's name above the theater name has been painted out with black paint, and sometime in either 1972 or '73 the name on the marquee was changed to the name of the new venue: Village East.

This site has a number of photos of the Fillmore East.

Great site posted by Lost Memory,went on looking for the Loews Commodore end up seeing the Doors @ Fillmore East.