Loew's Victoria Theatre

The Victoria is located on 125th Street next to the Apollo theatre.

Believe it started out as Loew's 125 th Street and again architect was Thomas lamb

I visited the interior in 2002 during the annual convention of Theatre Historical Society of America. At that time, the management of the nearby Apollo had taken over the Victoria and was supposed to restore it into a single auditorium. Hoever, that project has since been tabled for financial reasons. Despite the multiplexing, much of the Victoria's original decor remains, and the partitioning looks like it could be removed without too many problems...The auditorium is quite similar to the one that Lamb designed for Loew's Gates in Brooklyn.

I think the multip-plexing was a cheap one? That would help in not ruining too much of the original theatre. What condition was the place in? Is downstairs all one large auditorium?

Loew's Victoria survived until 1975 or there abouts and when Loew's departed the theatre closed. Brandt's never operated this one. Most of the theatre survives with four boxes on the main floor and the balcony split in half (if my memory serves me correctly). The second level retains a lounge area with an oval ceiling of a painted goddess whose hand is reaching out, almost a 3-D effect. I was on the same tour as Warren and snapped a picture of the goddess before I heard someone downstairs bellow that no photographs were allowed. It would be nice if this jewel was polished and incorporated into the Apollo Theatre plan, but it will take a lot of money. The makeover from the Victoria to the Harlem Six was a hack job and that's why it lasted a short while. I am assuming that because of the area, those owners felt any conversion was better than no movies at all. They were wrong and that's why Magic Johnson's Harlem Multiplex is doing well.

The hack up was done by the people that for a short time had that multiplex on 42 street right?

Just to clarify a bit on the Victoria/MovieCenter - the original auditorium (or at least the original space occupied by the Victoria) was divided into five auditoriums, not six. (The still-existant frontage on the theatre's marquee bears this out.) After having been closed for about a year and having been rechristened as the Victoria - albeit as the Victoria 5 - it reopened in the fall of 1992 (with one of its initial offerings being the film 'South Central'). The new management offered up a policy of first-run films for about a year - while, at some point during that time, ceasing to program the Victoria as a fiveplex and instead as a quad - until closing up shop about a year later (and after months-plus runs of 'Malcolm X' - relatively logical - and, somewhat quizzically, 'The Firm'). For the next couple of years, more ethnically-based films (such as 'Sankofa') were programmed into the Victoria, on only one or two screens at a time, until the theatre closed once again. Since then, except for possibly sporadic events, the Victoria has been closed, waiting for a savior - and perhaps a stronger economy as well, at which point perhaps the management of the Apollo will revisit the merger plans which were being discussed a few years ago.

The whole Apollo/Victoria arts center concept was to be a project of Time-Warner, pre-AOL. It is my understanding that they've pulled out of the project completely, and it has stalled. A church group uses one or two of the Victoria's auditoriums from time-to-time.

I'm unfamiliar with this area and the theater itself, but I was wondering if anyone knows if this is the same theater that the Harlem Community Development Corporation is looking to redevelop? They released a public request for proposals last week (see below) but the address doesn't seem to quite match.

Victoria Theater Programming and Redevelopment Options
Description:
Harlem Community Development Corporation (“Harlem CDC”) is seeking a qualified architectural team to assist with the development of a functional and space program, inclusive of conceptual / pre-schematic design scenarios, for a mixed-use project to be developed at the site of the Victoria Theater located at 235-237 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027.

The architectural team will advise on development options that shall be financially feasible and self-sustaining, including adaptive reuse of the existing theater, adaptive reuse with new and infill construction, and total redevelopment of the site. The program to be developed will include allocating part of the site to community facility uses such as a multi-use performing arts, cultural and educational facility and part of the site to a commercial use that is consistent with Harlem CDC’s goals for the redevelopment. These goals relate to the economic development and civic needs of the community, including job creation and job training, enrichment of the cultural life of Harlem, promotion of tourism and increased visitor spending at business establishments in the area. As part of the assignment, the architectural team will review existing architectural plans and meet with potential users of the community facility space to determine common requirements which could be accommodated within a flexible, multi-purpose facility.

Yes, it's definitely this theatre. The proposal to integrate the Victoria with the nearby Apollo Theatre apparently fell through due to the Apollo management's ongoing financial problems.

There is only two theatres located on that block. Yes, It is the Victoria Theatre they are asking about.

Has there been any mention of historic preservation, or is the Harlem CDC not interested?

I just did a painting of this building. I'd love to do a painting of the inside... how do I get in?

(you can see the art here: http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=205032 )

A news brief in The New York Times of 11/14/04 (page 38) said that the theatre's current owner, the Harlem Community Development Corporation, and its parent organization, the Empire State Development Corporation, are seeking ideas for the future of the property: "They invited developers to submit proposals that could involve preserving, incorporating or demolishing the theater. The deadline for submissions is December 13."

From today's (February 1, 2005) New York Times:

February 1, 2005
Groups Vie to Reimagine Historic Theater in Harlem
By ROBIN POGREBIN

For years, the Loew's Victoria Theater, a once-elegant vaudeville house and movie palace, has languished on West 125th Street in Harlem.

Just a few doors down from its famous neighbor the Apollo Theater, the Victoria went from being celebrated as one of the city's largest and most beautiful theaters to failing as a five-screen multiplex that opened in 1987 and closed just two years later. Since then, the theater's Ionic columns and terra-cotta rosettes have decayed and the stage has remained bare, except for occasional small theatrical productions or church services. The marquee recently advertised a lingerie sale across the street.

Now, seven teams of developers, hoteliers and cultural organizations are competing to reimagine the site as a major new entertainment-hotel-residential complex. New York State, which owns the property, is interviewing the applicants and expects to make a decision in March.

The Empire State Development Corporation, which is evaluating the proposals with the Harlem Community Development Corporation, its subsidiary, declined to identify the applicants or describe their proposals.

But documents obtained by The New York Times show that the state has narrowed the field to seven groups. Under terms set by the state, each team has enlisted an arts organization as part of its proposal, like the Bottom Line, the jazz club that recently closed in Greenwich Village; or the Jazz Museum in Harlem, which has yet to find a home. The development teams include hoteliers like Starwood and Ian Schrager; architects like Fox & Fowle, Davis Brody Bond and Lee Harris Pomeroy; and developers like Related Companies and Apollo Real Estate Advisers, which together built the Time Warner Center.

"This is a great opportunity for Harlem and more specifically for 125th Street as it inches toward becoming an even grander destination," said Derek Q. Johnson, chairman of Integrated Holdings, which has partnered with Related.

But development projects involving historic buildings are often magnets for controversy, and the Victoria is no exception. While the theater has been deemed eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, it is not a designated landmark - and the state is not requiring that the neo-Classical theater, with its ornate moldings and ceilings, be preserved.

"That is effectively a smack in the face to the community," said City Councilman Bill Perkins, who represents parts of Harlem. "There is going to be a little bit of a fight on this, I can guarantee you."

"That's a historic theater, and we'd like to see proposals recognize that," he continued. "The preservation issue is compatible with the development issue."

At a meeting on Friday of the Harlem Community Development Corporation, the issue of preservation was addressed. While all of the proposals would involve retaining the facade, only two specify restoring some interior features. Michael Henry Adams, the Harlem historian and author of "Harlem: Lost and Found" (Monacelli Press, 2002), said he found this troubling. "Whatever happens, I would like it to incorporate the beautiful interiors of this historic Harlem theater," he said.

In particular, Mr. Adams cited the elliptical anteroom on the second floor, the bas-relief decoration on the theater's saucer dome ceiling, the long mirrored lobby and the theater's gilded bronze and crystal chandeliers.

The 2,394-seat Victoria was designed in 1917 by Thomas W. Lamb, who built dozens of Loew's theaters around the world and several Broadway houses. "It should not be allowed to be destroyed," Mr. Adams said. "Were it restored, it would be one of the most distinguished theaters in New York."

Over the last few years, Harlem has seen an explosion of commercial development, from a new Marriott Hotel to Harlem U.S.A., a retail center, both on 125th Street. Developers say there is still a demand for more hotel rooms as well for apartments to accommodate professionals. But some people who live and work in Harlem are concerned that the influx in large-scale development will compromise the neighborhood's character and displace longtime residents.

Mr. Perkins argues that the Victoria development project - indeed, the overall influx of commercial building in Harlem - should not be mistaken for a larger revival. "These days, 'renaissance' is defined by real estate," he said. "It's not a term to describe an intellectual, cultural, educational rebirth."

"What these people want us to do is be grateful that deals are being made," he said. "The easy way out is to tear something down and put something up."

Tensions are also brewing between the two agencies responsible for choosing a development plan for the site. Keith L. T. Wright, chairman of the Harlem Community Development Corporation, said his organization had been excluded from decision-making by the Empire State Development Corporation. "There has been no consultation whatsoever," said Mr. Wright, also a state assemblyman whose district includes Harlem. "It's plantationism at its best."

"This is the last big development piece on 125th Street," he said. "I just want to make sure some of my community groups are taken care of. They want a piece of the action."

But Deborah Wetzel, a spokeswoman for the Empire State Development Corporation, said that the Harlem Community Development Corporation had been fully consulted. "We've been working very closely with them," she said. "We're assisting them every step of the way; they sit in on every meeting and their board has final approval." The Harlem Urban Development Corporation, a precursor of the community development corporation, acquired the Apollo and the Victoria in the mid-1980's to save them from conversion to nontheater use.

Two of the proposals feature the Jazz Museum, which was founded four years ago to present exhibitions and further jazz education.

The proposal submitted by the RD Management Corporation, a real estate investment and development company, calls the Jazz Museum "the jewel in the crown" of its $116 million multi-use development. The proposal plans to retain the theater's façade with a new marquee and overall design by Fox & Fowle Architects.

Taking a page from the new Jazz at Lincoln Center building at Columbus Circle, which - in addition to its main stage - includes a jazz club and a theater with a glass wall overlooking Central Park South, the proposal calls for a "jazz cafe" on the second floor for small ensembles. A bandstand would be framed by a large window on the 125th Street side of the building.

Now that Jazz at Lincoln Center is open in the Time Warner Center, the proposal says, momentum has been created for a Harlem-based jazz institution "whose aesthetic will be informed by the sensibilities of the uptown community."

RD Management's submission also includes a 150-room hotel that would house a gallery for African-American art and a Harlem-themed restaurant. "For example," the proposal says, "the menu might offer a Zora Neale Hurston salad, a Romare Bearden pasta, a Miles Davis omelette and a Denzel burger."

The Jazz Museum would also be the cultural centerpiece of a $123 million proposal by Integrated Holdings and Related for a 150-room boutique hotel - with Inter-Continental as a possible operator - and 90 residential condominium units.

Apollo Real Estate Advisers, along with Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, has proposed a $103 million W Hotel with 156 rooms, 58 residential condominiums and 4,000 square feet of office space for the Apollo Theater Foundation. The Apollo Theater space would include rehearsal and education areas, a black box theater and an Apollo cafe. The architect on the project is Davis Brody Bond.

A proposal by the Victoria Tower Development suggests a $150 million B. B. King Entertainment Center with a jazz dinner club; an art gallery run by the Studio Museum in Harlem; and a five-star, 304-room hotel. The other groups in the running are Full Spectrum, which has proposed a $111 million complex including 78 luxury condominiums and two clubs - Victoria Small's Paradise and 930 Blues Cafe with programming that reflects black and Latino culture.

Thor Equities, which specializes in urban real estate projects, proposes a $70 million complex, including boutiques like Armani Exchange, Club Monaco and Kay Jewelers; a revived Bottom Line club, possibly with a recording studio; and a 238-room hotel.

Danforth Development Partners proposes creating a $113 million new Savoy Ballroom with banquet space for 300 people, a 90-room hotel designed by Mr. Schrager and two new theaters for Harlem-based performing arts companies like Classical Theater of Harlem, Bill T. Jones Dance Group and the Harlem School of the Arts.

At the meeting on Friday, it was clear that several Harlem Community Development Corporation board members were worried that a treasured neighborhood landmark would be erased. One board member asked, "Can this theater be demolished?"

Diane P. Phillpotts, president of the corporation, replied that substantial changes to the building would require consultation with the New York State Historic Preservation Office.

"I understand the importance of preservation," she said. "We also have to balance that against the economic development potential of the property."

I pass by this theatre practically everyday and it looks like a porno spot. This article indicated that the seven proposers only want to preserve the facade. The theatre is not only the facade, craftsmanship of this kind should be preserved. In their own (ESDC)correspondence they indicate that it is eligible for landmark status (nylovesbiz.com), but no one is pushing for it. Developers tend to stay away from landmark buildings thus you have D. Phillpotts saying that preservation is all fine and good but money is the bottom line. For who? I don't see any community involvement or consideration for the neighborhood and the structure that they want to place on top does not blend in with the facade or the neighborhood. There is no respect for the History in Harlem only lip service. The community needs to speak out against these proposals and demand landmark status as there a few in Harlem.

I have spoken to the people at council member Bill Perkins office. The councilman is very supportive of historical preservation. He had a piece about landmark preservation in his latest newsletter which I coincidently received yesterday.
I asked the people at Mr. Perkins office if there was anything I could do, being a local business owner (Broadway & 105th street anyway), a member of Cinema Treasures.org, the THSOA as well as being the biggest Thomas W. Lamb fan (I took great umbrage when Jim Rankin refered to "the staid designs of Thomas Lamb"). The woman I spoke to was very receptive. We both agreed that Harlem has lost too many of it's theatres and New York City has lost too much of Thomas Lamb's work.
Maybe something can come of Mr. Perkins involvement.
Ms.Pogrebin is a customer of mine and our daughters are friends. She might be a help to this cause as well.

wow!

The Haarlem Victoria Restoration Group, Kingsdale LLC was founded by Ethel Bates. Our mission is to get NYC Land Mark Preservation Comm. to designate Loew's Victoria aka Loew's 125th Street as a historical land mark. We need your letters of support. Send your letters to
Haarlem Victoria Restoration Group
P. O. Box 462
New York, NY 10027
or contact us by phone: 212-749-7299 or our website
www.haarlemvictoria.com

See Stanley Crouch's column of March 27 in the NY Daily News regarding a proposed interactive Jazz Museum bidding for the use of the Victoria (against several hotel chains.... who, I'm guessing, would be much less likely to preserve the existing strucure in any meaningful way...)

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ideas_opinions/story/293969p-251706c.html

An illustrated article about the history of the Victoria with comments by Michael Henry Adams is on line at www.villageviews.org Christabel Gough

THANK YOU M_ACEVEDO & CHRISTABEL GOUGH for the information

Club Isis/ Haarlem Victoria

This was still Loew's Victoria when "Williard" opened
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/Williard.jpg

Here's a May, 1948 image of the exterior. On the front of the marquee, the bottom line reads: MODERN COOLING SYSTEM NOW BEING INSTALLED. I wonder if the theatre had any air conditioning before this?:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/130-3069_IMG.jpg

Does anyone know if this is the theatre used in the movie "The Guru"?In the film Jim Mistry and Heather Graham do a fanatasy paraody of Bollywood films to a song from "Grease" and it takes place in a huge gilded theatre. On the commentary tract Mistry says the theatre is in Harlem but doesn't name it nor do the closing credits. It's a huge place with a grand staircase.

BobT;
The location work done for "The Guru" (2002) UK/France/USA was filmed inside the Thomas Lamb designed Loew's 175th Street Theatre, Manhattan.

Exterior shots and some scenes in the earlier part of the movie were filmed on location outside and around the RKO Keith's Richmond Hill, Queens. The marquee was renovated on this theatre by the film production company.

Both theatres are listed on Cinema Treasures.

I love this movie, it's fun and light hearted and it's got great shots of the theatres too!

Thanks KenRoe. It was suprising it was shot here. The theatre definitely fit in and looked like it would be in India. The gold, the carpets and huge carved doors. Kudos to the location scout. Gonna check out the Loew's 175th Street Theatre posts.

An article about Vicotria 5 was featured in this day's, 9/23/05, Daily News.Plans are being considered to convert the theatre into some combination of hotel or condos with a cultural component. The Victoria was built by the Loews theatre chain as a classical beauty, with a domed ceiling, large murals and a deep balcony. Silent screen star Elsie Ferguson was the guest of honor on opening night in 1917. Irving Berlin and Fatty Arbuckle were also there that night.

There was a theater at this address in 1917. A C/O was issued to a building at this address on November 10, 1917. The certificate only reads, a 2499 seat theater. It doesn't specify a motion picture theater. I don't know why it is listed that way. As a five screen theater the seating is given as:

Theater#1--449 seats
Theater#2--465 seats
Theater#3--350 seats
Theater#4--359 seats
Theater#5--340 seats

Total--1963 seats

In April, 1940, "Buck Benny Rides Again" had its world premiere at Loew's Victoria, one night prior to the film's opening engagement at the Times Square Paramount. Jack Benny and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, two of the film's stars, headed a contingent of celebrities that traveled to Harlem's 125th Street Station via a charted train from Grand Central Terminal. "Rochester" wore an all-white cowboy outfit and rode horseback in a parade to the theatre.

Those were pretty good size auditoriums as a five-plex. Anyone know why it did not do well? It closed quite a while before the Magic Johnson opened up.

The theaters did not do well because the former owners and those who leased it did not conduct business intelligently. They were more for profit and let the theatre go, so the state got a hold of it and here we are.

Warren, thank u for that piece of info, I have been looking for that for a while now. Can u elaborate on where u got it?

Also, it is rumored that the theater is to be sold to the Apollo Group for development. They will destroy the theater and cut it up. Harlem needs this theater to be Landmarked and restored. Please log on the www.haarlemvictoria.com and sign the petition and write to the representives and HCDC. We can't let them get away with this.

The introduction has some incorrect information. Loew's Victoria first opened on the night of October 1, 1917, with stage luminary Elsie Ferguson's debut film, Artcraft's "Barbary Sheep," and eight acts of vaudeville. Miss Ferguson, comedian Fatty Arbuckle, and composer Irving Berlin were among many celebrities attending as guests of Marcus Loew. The movie was second-run, having previously been shown at the Rialto Theatre in Times Square.

There is another glaring error in the introduction. This was known from the start as Loew's Victoria. It was never called Loew's 125th Street.

lostmemory: - could it be that in 1917 theatres were not specifically designated as motion picture theatres? It probably had a working stage and presented vaudville as well as movies. Modern NYC C of O's indicate motion picture theatre when there is no stage, fly-loft, scenery, an abundance of draperies and high-voltage stage lighting boards, or performers using candles or cigarettes. The combination of those elements in the past have been the source of many disasterous theatre fires that resulted in large losses of life. A C of O for a motion picture theatre requires less in the way of fire supression equipment and slightly less restrictive regulation by the FDNY.

This theatre was last known as Movie Center 5 so that should at least be the alternate name.

This photo from the Depression era (1938) reportedly shows a homeless person lodging in a side exit of Loew's Victoria, but it looks more to me like someone who had passed out drunk. I suppose that he could have been both:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/lovic.jpg

I caught the end of an item on the news last night (I think WABC channel 7 here in NYC) about a plan that has been finalized to redevelop the Victoria building. I didn't catch the details at all, but there will be a building rising above the theater and - while it will not be restored to single screen theatrical use - as much of the architectural elements and detail work will be retained and restored as possible. Not sure if this will prove to be another RKO Keith's project in the making. I know that they've been looking for a developer and taking bids on this site for at least the past year or more. I couldn't find the story on the net, but I admit I didn't really search all that hard. I tried the NY Times sight, as well as WABC and WNBC sites. I also Googled a few variations on the topic, but didn't find anything. Anyone have details on the current plans?

Two proposals have been accepted for consideration. One is from Victoria Tower Development, which plans a $115 million design of 25 stories that would include a hotel with condos, a ballroom, community theatre, exhibition space for Harlem's Studio Museum, and a B.B. King nightclub. The other is from Ian Schrager's Danforth Development Partners for a $113 million hotel, banquet hall, and spaces for cultural groups. Both finalists said they would "preserve as much of the original classical design of the Victoria" as possible. Seems to me like a sequel to the Keith's Flushing fiasco. A story by Paul D. Colford was published in the NY Daily News of 1/16/06, and might be viewable at the paper's website.

Thanks Warren. And without a single square inch of the Victoria granted landmark designation, the developers are beholden to no one as to their vision of "preservation."

Two photographs taken in July 2003:
Facade and marquee:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/142173254/
Detail in close-up:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/142173666/

Postal addresses in Manhattan don't use the names of neighborhoods (such as Harlem, Greenwich Village, Washington Heights, Chelsea, or whatever). The address for this theatre is 233 West 125h Street, New York, NY.

Warren is correct. That goes for all of NYC except Queens. While including the neighborhood is nice for folks looking to narrow down a search or those interested in a specific geographic locality, it doesn't help to map the theater at all. Perhaps in some future update of the website, a seperate neighborhood tag can be included for searching purposes. I have noticed that many of the theater updates going on lately have been to include a zip code in the address. Ultimately, searching by zip will probably be the best way of targeting neighborhood theaters in a search.

Nice photo's, Ken. I took the liberty of clicking through the album for a nice little tour of former theater sites in upper Manhattan.

While its true that you don't need to include the neighborhood name in the address for NYC theaters, it doesn't really do any harm. Google will map this theater correctly with or without "Harlem" in the address. Keep in mind that people from all over the world use this site and they might be interested in which neighborhood the theater was located. I'm more concerned with theaters that are missing zip codes. It would make searching alot easier if every U.S. theater listing included a zip code.

It wasn't so long ago that including neighborhoods in the address (or the word "Queens" in Queens addresses) would be problematic with mapping theater addresses above. I guess Google has updated its software to correct this issue. As I said, looks like theaters are slowly but surely being updated on this site so that their addresses include zip codes. I only wish the inclusion of neighborhoods was more consistent here.

Discouraging news:
www.nytimes.com/2006/05/17/nyregion/17harlem.html

I don't believe there's been any movement on this project since the last post. Should we expect change of direction now that Spitzer and the Democrats are now in power in Albany?

FOUR WOMEN FINED FOR FILM PROTEST; One Admits Calling on Irish to Leave Theatre, Holding Picture to Be Insulting.

NY Times August 28, 1927

Four women paid fines of $5 each when arraigned before Magistrate Farrell in Washington Heights Court yesterday for their part in interrupting the showing of the film, "The Callahans and the Murphys," at Loew's Victoria Theatre, 223 West 125th Street, the night before.

Update on the Victoria Theater's redevelopment plans. This excerpt comes from the July 26th 2007 edition of The New York Sun about all of the development projects underway in Harlem;

"Real estate and community leaders expect the Empire State Development Corporation and its subsidiary, the Harlem Community Development Corporation, to finally select a developer for the Victoria Theater site on West 125th Street. As reported in The New York Sun last month, the Jazz Museum in Harlem is part of a bid by Danforth Development Partners to renovate the Victoria Theater. The Jazz Museum would get between 10,000 and 20,000 square feet of exhibition space. The buildings would include two theaters to be used by the Classical Theater of Harlem, the Bill T. Jones & Arnie Zane Dance Company, and the Harlem School of Arts."

This is great news as it appears that the theater will in fact be restored and will once again become a performing arts space. This is wonderful for Harlem and the City of New York.

This is a recent photo of Movie Center 5. Was Victoria 5 an "official" name for this theater?

Here is a more recent photo of the Movie Center 5 building. How about this question, is Movie Center one word or two?

Two words.

Later on, it went back to the old name but with a slight change, as the Harlem Victoria (found this through New York Times microfilm).

here are some interior photos of this theater
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.ny0781

it includes some information on the architect, date, who built it, the suppliers of the building materials, etc.

Here is a close-up view of the marquee.

I just noticed "Style: Unknown" in the description. Shouldn't it be Adam?

Article in today's AM New York. The Danforth tower plan involves further cutting up the interior space and making two small theaters; the community would like to see the theater restored.

"Gone With the Wind" had its first Harlem engagement here in April, 1940, soon after Hattie McDaniel won an Academy Award for her performance. She's the only cast member of "GWTW" mentioned in this ad: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/lovic40.jpg

Welcome to Harlem.

How depressing! :-)

Anyone know what the latest is on the redevelopment of this theater?

You can see more of the building in this recent photo.

Renewing link.

As the Loews.

http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=new+york&catpageindex=27&catpagesize=25&ProductID=31067

Before its rebirth as Movie Center 5
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c32%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=133&ProductID=31068

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ManchildInThePromisedLand

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cf/ManchildInThePromisedLand.jpg