68th Street Playhouse
1164 3rd Avenue,
New York,
NY
10065
1164 3rd Avenue,
New York,
NY
10065
6 people
favorited this theater
A former Upper Eastside institution, the 68th Street Playhouse, which showed a steady stream of indie and foreign films during its run, closed after a dispute between the property’s landlord and City Cinemas, a Manhattan-based exhibitor.
The theater has since been converted into a location for the clothing store chain ‘The Children’s Place’.
Contributed by
Dan Braun
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Recent comments (view all 67 comments)
That was a subsequent-run booking for “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.” The movie first opened exclusively at the Roxy (with stage show) and then played the RKO circuit before reaching lesser “nabes” like the 68th Street Playhouse. In that East Side area, its first-run had been at the RKO 58th Street and the RKO 86th Street.
I remember catching quite a few movies at this rather tiny and intimate theater.
Given the small space available, they really had to cram in as many seats as they possibly could in order to maintain a profitable capacity. This resulted in the first few rows being situated nearly under – only a mild exageration – the screen. On one occasion, the showing was full to near capacity and I could only find a seat in the first row. In order to view the film, I had to tilt my neck at a very extreme angle. While I have totally forgotten the film that I saw that day, I still occasionally am visited with neck pains derived – I am sure – from those two or so hours of trying to view it.
The moral of the story: NEVER sit in the first five rows in the 68th Street Playhouse! Beyond that point, however, this was a great place to take in a flick.
Dear Al and Tinseltoes,
Thank you so much for this information. I am in the UK although I have made a point of visiting the store where the theatre was on a visit to New York. Such a shame it has gone but the same think has happened in the UK where the young generation know mostly on Multi screen cinemas. However, we have a lovely restored one in my town that has plush seats where people can pass without you having to get up and they even have four two seater red sofas if you are lucky enough to book them! They also sell wine by the glass … very civilised. With regard to ‘A Tree Grows in Brooklyn’ how popular and widespread is it in contemporary popular culture. Is it still referenced and well-read. I noticed that there has been a recent stage revival. Was the film shown again later after the above dates do you know?
Thank you,
Margaret
Margaret, it is considered a classic novel and film and often shows on TV. The book was required high school reading at my school in the mid-seventies.
The film was often a second feature in later years and had a minor re-release in November 1947 but I can’t find any other dates at the 68th St. Playhouse.
“A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” was remade in 1974 for American television. I never saw it, but heard it was an insult to Elia Kazan’s orginal movie.
I saw so many good films there. What a shame it had to close. In 1986 I saw an excellent French film called Baiser Rouge. I think “The Gods Must Be Crazy"played there for two years.
Featured in this two-page trade ad in 1969: Boxoffice
I live on 64th St. & First Ave. & miss the old 68th St. Playhouse. I saw “Gods Must Be Crazy” & “Return of Martin Guerre” there in the 80’s among other things. I think the last thing I saw there was “Dangerous Liasons” in the 90’s which I remember seeing from the balcony. I’m a theater nut & love shared cultural experiences even if it is alongside strangers. It was a truly unique time that I’m glad I had the opportunity to experience before video began keeping most people home for their film experiences.
I saw La Cage Au Folles opening day there which ended up laying for over a year.
I saw La Cage there also. Had an aisle seat. Laughed so hard at one point that I wound up in the aisle.