Sunshine Cinema
143 E. Houston Street,
New York,
NY
10002
143 E. Houston Street,
New York,
NY
10002
25 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 72 comments found
Few exterior photos from July 2010.
Landmark is seeing to provide food and liquor service at this theater, according to this article.
How does the sunshine compare with other indie houses in NYC?
Sunshine in the 1980s from the NYC Department of Records.
bigjoe – Houston Street was widened in the 1930s when the subway was built beneath it.
Tree of Life is playing at this theater before it goes nationwide soon. It’s been selling well. Is Landmark showing it in digital projection or regular 35mm film?
i find the photo posted by jflundy on 1/5/08 most interesting. first off it was neat to see the theater with a big ornate old fashion marquee. but what i find most fascinating is that date given for the. photo 6/23/29. unless NYC widened Houston St. subsequent to the photo being taken the street in front of the theater is wayyyyyyyyyyyy to narrow to be Houston Street. is it at all possible that the photo is not of the Sunshine Cinema that exists today?
This theatre had the New York premiere of Paranormal Activity (before the film before popular).
This was showing Slavic films in 1937-1938 as the Chopin.
Photo of the Sunshine courtesy of Nick’s Classic American Theatres.
View link
Here is another photo.
The historical drama THE CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI was shown here at this theater on May 23, 2008.
I also forgot to mention that the dramatic film THE VISITOR was shown at this theater on April 18, 2008.
SUNSHINE CINEMA movie list from 2002 to today
2/22/02- MONSOON WEDDING
3/15/02- KISSING JESSICA STEIN
5/31/02- THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
9/20/02- BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE
9/20/02- SPIRITED AWAY
11/1/02- COMEDIAN
11/15/02- TALK TO HER
11/29/02- RABBIT-PROOF FENCE
12/19/02- ADAPTATION
3/14/03- BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM
4/11/03- BETTER LUCK TOMORROW
7/4/03- SWIMMING POOL
8/15/03- AMERICAN SPLENDOR
10/17/03- PIECES OF APRIL
10/24/03- IN THE CUT
11/21/03- THE BARBARIAN INVASIONS
11/26/03- THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE
12/12/03- GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING
12/19/03- HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG
2/6/04- THE DREAMERS
6/11/04- NAPOLEON DYNAMITE
9/24/04- THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES
11/12/04- KINSEY
11/19/04- BAD EDUCATION
11/24/04- A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT
12/17/04- THE SEA INSIDE
12/24/04- THE WOODSMAN
3/18/05- MELINDA AND MELINDA
5/13/05- LAYER CAKE
5/13/05- MAD HOT BALLROOM
6/10/05- HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE
6/17/05- MY SUMMER OF LOVE
11/11/05- BEE SEASON
11/11/05- PRIDE & PREJUDICE
11/16/05- BREAKFAST ON PLUTO
12/14/05- THE THREE BURIALS OF MELAQUIDES ESTRADA
12/23/05- CACHE (HIDDEN)
1/20/06- LOOKING FOR COMEDY IN THE MUSLIM WORLD
2/17/06- NIGHT WATCH
5/24/06- AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH
6/9/06- A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION
7/7/06- A SCANNER DARKLY
9/8/06- THE PROTECTOR
9/15/06- THE U.S. vs JOHN LENNON
9/22/06- FEAST
9/27/06- THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND
10/20/06- RUNNING WITH SCISSORS
11/3/06- VOLVER
11/10/06- COPYING BEETHOVEN
11/17/06- FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
11/23/06- BOBBY
12/20/06- LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
12/29/06- MISS POTTER
12/29/06- PAN’S LABYRINTH
1/26/07- BREAKING AND ENTERING
4/20/07- JINDABYNE
5/4/07- AWAY FROM HER
5/18/07- ONCE
7/13/07- INTRODUCING THE DWIGHTS
7/13/07- SUNSHINE
8/10/07- ROCKET SCIENCE
8/17/07- THE 11TH HOUR
8/17/07- DEATH AT A FUNERAL
9/7/07- THE HUNTING PARTY
9/21/07- INTO THE WILD
9/28/07- LUST, CAUTION
10/12/07- SLEUTH
10/12/07- WE OWN THE NIGHT
10/19/07- RESERVATION ROAD
12/7/07- GRACE IS GONE
12/14/07- THE KITE RUNNER
12/14/07- YOUTH WITHOUT YOUTH
12/28/07- THE ORPHANAGE
1/18/08- CASSANDRA’S DREAM
3/7/08- SNOW ANGELS
4/18/08- THE LIFE BEFORE HER EYES
4/25/08- THEN SHE FOUND ME
6/6/08- MONGOL
6/20/08- BRICK LANE
7/25/08- AMERICAN TEEN
7/25/08- BAGHEAD
A brief note on the architects: Lorenz F.J. Weiher was responsible for the 1917 renovation.
Wow. Great image, J.F. Look at how narrow East Houston was back then! The entire row of buildings across from the Sunshine (and as far into the distance as can be seen down Houston in this image) were razed at some point when the street was widened. If I’m not mistaken a narrow traffic island exists where the opposing curb used to be situated. The street is at least twice as wide as it used to be – perhaps three times as much.
Here is a 1929 photo of the Sunshine Theater on E. Houston Street.
Check out that great marquee it once had. A Vitaphone Talkie was playing.
View link 028
Photo taken 6-23-1929
The 1913 accident at the Houston Hippodrome was the direct reason for the Board of Aldermen to pass a new building code. After careful examination the Fire Commissioner concluded that there had been no violation of the existing laws and that persistent rumors about overcrowding at the HH proved unfounded but most officials agreed that something needed to be done to make filmgoing safer. The new bill regulating moving picture exhibition and theatrical performances (especially vaudeville) had lingered on the council’s agenda since 1911. It was passed in July 1913.
Starting this past Friday, the digital presentation of Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner: The Final Cut” has been expanded to include the Sunshine Cinema on a day-and-date basis with the AMC Empire 25. The movie intially opened on October 5th in an exclusive two-week engagement at the Ziegfeld Theatre. That engagement was moved over to the Empire beginning October 19th due to popular demand. The movie is also being presented at the Ziegfeld for midnight only showings (while “Bee Movie” plays by day). While not technically a re-release (there are significant changes from the original release edit), I’m quite thrilled that a 25 year old film can be such a smashing success at the box office!
TWO DEAD, 20 HURT IN THEATRE PANIC; False Alarm of Fire Causes a Stampede from East Side Moving Picture Show.
NY Times February 3, 1913
Two women were crushed to death, twelve other persons were seriously hurt, and still others were crushed and bruised last night in a panic caused by a false alarm of fire in the moving picture theatre known as the Hippodrome, at the corner of Houston and Forsyth Streets. That many others were not killed by being trampled under foot was due wholly to the splendid work of firemen in breaking the jam at the doors.
Gosh Ms. Action Jackson, what a reactionary you are. You have absolutley failed to understand what I was trying to convey in my blog as well as demonstrated to all that are reading you possess a total lack of intellect and on top of that be a bit of a bigot yourself by the assumptions you’ve made about me. To set the record straight, I didn’t just come from Des Moines or Middle America or any Red State and I’ve lived in the Tri-State area for a good portion of my life. In my blog I never mentioned anything about the ethnicity of the staff at Sunshine but the inappropriate manner in which some of them conducted themselves. Movie Theatres are a business and with any other business you want to make sure you have the best possible staff and know how to behave appropriately. I’m sure if you ran a theatre you wouldn’t want your employees showing up to work with a rag and shoe lace on their heads. I’m sure you wouldn’t be happy about the disgusting washrooms or popcorn scattered everywhere while your staff chooses to lounge around screaming, cursing and playing games. And I really doubt you’d be pleased if someone were making advances on your boyfriend or husband right in front of you while he’s just tring to order you popcorn and soda. You can’t possibly believe that’s a proper way to run a business. And as for the “N” word, even if it’s among African-Americans, it’s not very professional to speak in that kind of language in the work place. Do what you want in your home but the rest of us don’t want to be subjected to that kind of garbage.
Here is a recent photo of the Sunshine Cinema.
Celluloid Fiend
Where are you from? Des Moines? I think the exotic urban landscape of NYC has you tripped out. I’m a (gasp) black woman with tattoos and piercings and I’ve never been incarcerated, on parole, or on welfare, but I can be loud! wink Not all black folks are bangers and slangers! I’m sure most the staff intend a life beyond taring theater tickets for you. And the so-called n-word is a common idiom such as ‘dude’ is to white boys. So what do you call that? The D-word? I have another one. Peckerwood.
I like the facade of this place, and its over-all structure. You could see the old ceilings on the 3rd floor which are reinforced by metal beams. Cool blow-up posters of the greats, on their walls by the stairs. Stadium seats are definitely a plus. Do they have stadium seating only in their downstairs theater? The theaters on the 3rd floor weren’t. Hands down, best projection I’ve seen in the city in years, arthouse or multiplex!
Recently I went to the Sunshine Cinemas for the first time in a while and was shocked to see how sloppy and disorganized everyone was. I knew I was in trouble when my date and I approached the concession stand and the attandant started hitting on her. Totally disrespectful and akward. Then we were given the wrong directions by the ticket ripper who didn’t seem to know which movies were playing where. Later on I witnessed two employees in a waiting area playing video games and fixing each other’s hair. On our way out through the lobby ushers were lounging around talking out loud yelling swear and racial slurs like the “N” word. Also, I noticed the appearance of piercings, tattoos and gang gear like silk rags on their heads. The first time I went to the Sunshine the staff was clean. couteous and knowledgeable. Now it looks as though they’ve recruited the staff from a nearby correctional facility.