Strand Theatre
1579 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
1579 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
32 people
favorited this theater
The Strand Theatre was opened in 1914 for the Mitchel Mark Realty Company and was under the early direction of Samuel “Roxy” Rothapfel as the Mark Strand Theatre. It originally had a seating capacity of 2,989.
The Strand Theatre began its life with stage shows in addition to movies and also had one of the largest stages in the city in 1914. After stage shows were dropped in 1929, seating was reduced to 2,750. In the late-1930’s stage shows (and vaudeville) were brought back.
After dropping stage shows on July 3, 1951, the Strand Theatre was renamed Warner Theatre, and opened with “Stangers on a Train”. During 1952 to 1953, the theatre closed, was renovated and renamed Warner Cinerama Theatre. Cinerama films moved here from the Broadway Theatre, starting with “This Is Cinerama” in 1953.
In 1963, the auditorium was equipped with a 81 foot wide, 30 feet tall screen to show “Its a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World”. World Premiere’s of 70mm films included “Porgy and Bess”(June 24, 1959), “Exodus”(December 15, 1960), “The Greatest Story Ever Told”(February 15, 1965), “Grand Prix”(December 21, 1966 and “Camelot”(October 25, 1967).
On July 30, 1968, the theatre reopened as a triplex. The Warner Cinerama Theatre with 1,000 seats occupied the main floor. The former balcony became the 1,200 seat Penthouse Theatre. A third theatre built in the old Strand’s stagehouse was also opened, called the Cine Orleans, which had its own entrance on W. 47th Street. In the early-1980’s the Cinerama Theatre and Penthouse Theatre were remodeled and renamed the RKO Warner Twin Theatre.
Unfortunately, on February 8th 1987, after a long and eventful life, one of the greatest movie palaces of New York City closed and was demolished.
Contributed by
Cinema Treasures, Warren, Orlando Lopes
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater
Recent comments (view all 372 comments)
Crowds outside the Strand during the 1936 engagement of “Anthony Adverse”: boxofficemagazine
In 1949, Milton Berle on screen, with Desi Arnaz topping the stage show: boxofficemagazine
As Warner Theatre, featured in this 1960 trade ad for one of the lowpoints of Bing Crosby’s illustrious career: Boxoffice
I never heard of that movie High Time, but it has a good pedigree — directed by Blake Edwards, written by Charles Brackett and based on a story by Garson Kanin. The premise that Bing goes back to college seems to have a lot of potential. And it did introduce that lovely standard The Second Time Around.
Mr. Crowther in the NY Times starts his review with his tongue-in-cheek: “It has been a long time since Bing Crosby was seen in a college comedy, sporting the customary beanie and crooning romantic melodies. But things haven’t changed much in the colleges favored by Bing in all those years, to judge by the one he is attending in his latest picture, "High Time.”
Birth of triplets described in this 1968 trade article: Boxoffice
Orleans facade pictured here: Boxoffice
Plans for the Strand’s grand opening described in this 1914 trade article: archive
Premiere of WB’s “G-Men” described in this 1935 trade article: Boxoffice
Auditorium pictured in this 1940 trade ad. By this time, the Strand had resumed stage shows, with an emphasis on big bands and “name” singers: Boxoffice
Tinseltoes: What are the chances of that? I’m English, and attached in the photo section is a photo I took on vacation in America in 1986, and just like the Tax Photo you’ve posted, the movie showing at the time was ALIENS (which incidentally I went into the cinema to watch):–) http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/2975/photos/65838