Paree Adult Cinema and Live Show
753-59 Seventh Avenue,
New York,
NY
10019
753-59 Seventh Avenue,
New York,
NY
10019
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Perhaps one of the most disreputable establishments of the “Adult Cinema” variety in its very short day, the Paree opened in November, 1970, on Seventh Avenue between 49th and 50th Street on the site where NY theater impresario Earl Carroll had built two eponymous showplaces that operated during the 1920’s and ‘30’s (the second of which was a stunning 2500-seat art deco palace that lasted only a few years before conversion to a restaurant/night club).
The Paree actually opened on the second floor of the office building that housed the Earl Carroll’s entrance and ticket lobby (the Carroll theater itself ran parallel to 50th Street behind this structure) in space that had previously been a pool hall. Admission was $3.00 and patrons were offered a continuous program of hard-core films and live sex acts as well as “massages” at $10.00 per half hour.
When management of Rockefeller Center discovered on the day before Thanksgiving, 1972, that they were the principal landlords of the Paree, they quickly announced that a deal to buy-out the establishment’s lease would be arranged and that the theater would be closed the next day. However, the theater’s operators took advantage of the holiday to sneak in for one last day of business before being closed by workers that Friday.
The operator of the Paree was N. Carroll Mallow, who (according to a 1972 NY Times article about the closing) “also operated the San Francisco sex cinema at 1541 Broadway and the Doll Theater at 719 Seventh Avenue”.
Contributed by
Ed Solero
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Recent comments (view all 43 comments)
Saps, I understand your well intended contribution. It is what makes cinematreasures work for many of us.
Moviemanforever, what are you afraid of? It happened already, buddy! Please tell us what your roll was or stay away and deny.
“It was really unique and will never be duplicated.”
I have to agree….
MovieMan, too bad you missed the entire Times Square experience — from visiting the Lyric and New Amsterdam on 42nd Street, up the square to the Paramount, State, Criterion, Astor, DeMille, Rivoli and especially the Capitol. And why not stop in at the Adonis, Cameo, Tivoli, Pussycat, World and Victory, all old movie theaters repurposed in their last years for the adult trade. Nobody ever got an STD sitting in a theater seat admiring the proscenium.
That’s the Times Square experience I meant — the lights, the sounds, the sights, with a hint of danger and excitement around every corner. The roar of the greasepaint, the smell of the crowd….“Annie” playing next to “Anal Intruders!” It was really unique and will never be duplicated.
…And how!
Mr. Alvarez, who said anything about fear? I didn’t have a “role” in transmitting AIDS or any of the other diseases. There’s nothing to for me to deny; everything is in my comments. Fear and denial; I hope you’re not one of those fat, honkie, lesbian social workers who wants to save the world.
Mr. Saps, the theaters repurposed for the adult trade provided a location where people transmitted AIDS and STDs. That’s the “Times Square Experience” I am referring to, and I seriously doubt if anyone in an adult theater spent any time admiring the proscenium.
When I uploaded my initial post for this theater, I didn’t expect to get into a pissing match; that’s probably why they have that rule about not making personal attacks. Now, there’s you and two others making unsolicited comments.
You have two cheerleaders who agree with you; please contact them.
“I seriously doubt if anyone in an adult theater spent any time admiring the proscenium.”
Check out the Adonis page and you will find out you are also wrong about that, aside from being homophobic, racist and apparently fattist.
You remain a pompous boor. You are the only one making personal attacks (calling me trashy, promiscuous, imperious and low-class. I resent being called imperious!)
When it comes down to it, you can get an STD at the Waldorf-Astoria if you'e with the wrong partner, so don’t be so lofty.
Anyway, you said in a previous post that you went to two adult theaters and never touched anyone and never went back. (You went dancing instead — how was all the drug use and unsafe behavior in THOSE venues?)
In reality, you never even considered having your so-called “Times Square Experience” in any event. (It seems every city and town in America had porno theaters at the same time; nothing unique to Manhattan.)
There was (is) so much more to the area than merely hooking up. That is the Times Square Experience we have spent years here discussing. And plenty of our members DID just sit there and admire the architecture. (Ed, that’s your cue…)
Listen, I’m only a cheerleader, but I spent many hours in the movie houses that once lined W. 42nd Street, Broadway and Seventh Avenue back in the ‘80’s. Pornography was never my thing – Kung Fu and horror films were my usual vices. I enjoyed seeing films at these theaters for a variety of reasons, including the fact that admissions were cheap, the bill of fare included double and even triple features along with red-band trailers (never got those in Queens!) and the often hilarious running commentary from folks in the audience. And, yes, I would sometimes find myself looking past the grime and decay and admiring some of the stunning architecture within those dirty walls.
For a budding cineast such as myself, Times Square was a wonderland. The history of the area is frequently sordid but it is also endlessly fascinating – and I’m happy to have been able to experience some of it while I was able. In fact, I still patronize many of the surviving and re-born establishments whenever I get the chance.
Also, I notice that someone posted a photo of the Frisco and Avon 7 Theatres, which were located across Seventh Avenue and a block to the south of the Paree. I guess any old porn marquee will do?
Anyone who would dismiss Times Square based on their disapproval of what may be happening on the fringes is seriously closed minded, and this poster had already admitted to that. Most of it still happens today behind the facade of the new Disneyscape, as vice never dies.
I never understood the mindset that could blame a sexuality transmitted disease on a building. I suppose if we shut down the Port Authority in Times Square it would end teenage prostitution in America.
AIDS is still thriving in many parts of the world without a porn cinema in sight, including sections of NY and LA.