Proctor's Palace

Yonkers, NY

53 S. Broadway

, Yonkers, NY, United States

(map)

Status:	Closed
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Unknown

Function:	Office Space, Retail
Seats:	2030
Chain:	RKO

Architect:	William E. Lehman
Firm:	Unknown

The theatre first opened on January 16, 1916, primarily as a vaudeville house, with short movies shown only as a prologue to the live programs. Architect W.E. Lehman used a blend of French, Italian and Flemish styles for the auditorium, which was situated behind a six-story office building that contained the theatre's entrance and lobby.

Movies gradually took over at Proctor's Palace, which became part of the RKO circuit in 1929. At that time, "Palace" was dropped from the name and the theatre became known as RKO Proctor's, though in the circuit's newspaper advertising it was listed as the Yonkers to denote its location. Of four RKO theatres in Westchester County, all but the White Plains were built by F.F. Proctor.

RKO Proctor's Yonkers closed in 1973 and was later converted into office and retail space.

Contributed by Warren G. Harris

YOUR COMMENTS

This theatre is already listed at http://cinematreasures.org/theater/6876/

posted by Roger Katz on Jun 1, 2004 at 12:46pm

You're right, Roger,and I was the one who posted it, based on the sketchy information that I had at the time. I suggest that this one be retained and the other removed if they can't be easily combined.

posted by Warren G. Harris on Jun 1, 2004 at 1:40pm

Here are two views of the auditorium:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/131-3104_IMG.jpg

posted by Warren G. Harris on Aug 11, 2005 at 4:24am

CORRECTION: This theater did not close in 1973. Closed around 1975 or 1976. I saw "Snuff" in this wonderful theater that supposedly still has it's stage intact per comments from city officials who are exploring reopening it as a playhouse. This theater ran some big first runs into the early 1970's like "The Exorcist" and "The Godfather" etc. On the north side of the building, "RKO Proctors" is still painted in white and visible to this day.

posted by TommyR on Sep 12, 2005 at 10:56am

To promote his new film "The Ladies Man," Jerry Lewis appeared on stage at this theater on July 12, 1961.

posted by Bob Furmanek on Feb 23, 2006 at 8:43am

I saw Robert Mitchum and Shirley MacLaine onstage at the Proctor's to promote "Two for the Seesaw." Also saw "House of Wax" in 3-D and "House on Haunted Hill" where a skeleton slid down a wire from the balcony to the stage toward the end of the movie.

posted by Joan Jennings on Aug 8, 2006 at 3:35am

A Wurlitzer theater organ opus 1467 style H NP was installed in Proctor's Theater on 10/5/1926.

posted by Lost Memory on Sep 12, 2007 at 6:53pm

On Friday January 26, 1962, the Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly-Joe DeRita) embarked on a three day promotional tour for their latest feature film, THE THREE STOOGES MEET HERCULES. They were accompanied by "The Herculean Giant" (almost 8 foot tall Dave Ballard) and popular DJ Clay Cole, who was one of the stars of the co-feature, TWIST AROUND THE CLOCK.

On Saturday January 27, they appeared at the RKO Yonkers at 3:10 PM.

posted by Bob Furmanek on Feb 4, 2009 at 12:03pm

Here is a 1968 photo.

posted by Lost Memory on Apr 16, 2009 at 6:29pm

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Proctor's Palace

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