Comments about Bijou Cinema in New York, NY

AlAlvarez on March 9, 2010 at 4:53 pm

The First Film Forum was at 256 west 88th Street. I am not sure when they had screenings here although I do not doubt they probably did.

http://www.filmforum.org/mission.html

ziggycrone on August 13, 2009 at 6:48 pm

has any body bin by latly

MagnumForce on July 10, 2008 at 10:33 pm

For sure, it is open at this date (July 11, 2008)
I have been there a couple and now is looking more neat and cleaner after certain renovations.

pmullinsj on February 7, 2008 at 2:29 pm

No phone number and it is still closed.

Drizz on February 7, 2008 at 2:09 pm

Does anyone have the phone number for this place and also are they still open?

pmullinsj on January 12, 2008 at 6:16 pm

Opening post is confusing, indicating this ‘Bijou’ was open at this location at the same time the Bijou which was on 3rd Avenue for a good many years between 12th and 13th (I believe). Says owned by same people, but I knew about the 3rd Avenue one during the 80s and 90s, not about this one. Thanks

pmullinsj on January 12, 2008 at 6:14 pm

It was in November of this year, I went there, and it was indeed a nice space. I’ve heard that it has been recently closed due to flooding (it’s a basement). Would like to know more, as I had thought it would become a hangout for me.

mark700 on March 1, 2007 at 4:55 am

Does anyone know if this theater is still around?

lostmemory on July 12, 2006 at 2:13 pm

Is that what they mean by “Tinkling The Ivories”? LOL

Just to confirm the location of this theater, the NY Songlines website states the following:

“82 E. 4th Street-was the 82 Club, drag bar for tourists; now The Bijou, which shows old movies to gay patrons who aren’t watching them”.

Ed Solero on July 12, 2006 at 2:04 pm

Well if nothing else, I’m glad my question started some digging around on this theater’s history. Funny… I just recently watched a very entertaining TMC documentary about Erroll Flynn. No mention of his pre-Tommy Lee antics with the 82 Club piano!

KenRoe on July 12, 2006 at 1:45 pm

Thanks for that great link Lost Memory: It sure has had a colourful history. So it all started here with Errol Flynn playing piano with his d**k! and so it continues…..

KenRoe on July 12, 2006 at 1:39 pm

Here is a photograph I took in June 2006 of the entrance doorway to the Bijou Cinema.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/188372803/

The roller shutter is down, because it is daytime and the cinema is closed. When the Bijou opens in the evenings, the roller shutter is rolled up to reveal a large black metal door.

lostmemory on July 12, 2006 at 12:44 pm

This website has some background on Club 82 which they claim opened in 1953. Scroll about ¾ of the way down the page and look for “Sunday, September 04, 2005 – What a drag—too many snags”.

Ed Solero on July 12, 2006 at 7:01 am

Ken… your comment that it became known as the Film Forum has me puzzled. When was this? I remember the old Film Forum was down on Watts Street off 6th Ave before they relocated to their current spot on West Houston sometime in the late ‘80’s or early '90’s. They were definitely on Watts Street by 1981 or '82. Was this an even earlier location? Or is it even affiliated at all with the current Film Forum?

Bijou Cinema

82 East Fourth Street, New York, NY 10003

82 East Fourth Street,
New York, NY 10003