Fair Theatre
90-18 Astoria Boulevard,
Jackson Heights,
NY
11369
90-18 Astoria Boulevard,
Jackson Heights,
NY
11369
11 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 372 comments found
They just opened up the balcony.
My kind of guy!
full length mirrors, that’s an interesting concept. I would’ve loved to attend the Super Bowl party at the Fair, wow. Porn, football, donuts and socializing – just like my activities at home…
The Fair has been sprucing up! Full length mirrors have been added to the booths. All the furniture (couches and chairs) have been replaced in the front, making things alot more comfortable. The theatre hosted both Super Bowl and Oscar parties, showing both events on the big screen. Along with this,free pizza, donuts and coffee. As a friend of mine said, at only 5 bucks a pop (if you buy a discount book) this place is the best bargain in NYC! Aside from the Staten Island Ferry of course!
Donuts, too?!
And I thought the Castro here in San Francisco had a decent sense of community! I’m profoundly impressed.
The donuts are excellent too! I’ll be sampling some more tomorrow.
This theatre is celebrating an anniversary of sorts – 40 years since it became the “Adult Fair” in 1971 (although it has been quite a few years since it dropped the “adult” from its name, probably when it tried to disassociate itself from porn by discontinuing XXX movies on its main screen). However, it still carries on to this day with porn in its smaller theatres and viewing rooms. Truly a survivor!
Much to my surprise – as a “Thank you”, management is treating its loyal customers to free donuts and pastries (every morning and into the day) and pizza slices (Friday & Saturday nights only, 8-9 PM, delivered from Airways Pizza across the street – in my opinion, some of the best pizza in NYC)!
Here’s to another 40 plus!
One VERY noticeable change is the marquee â€" it could be used as a landing marker for nearby LaGuardia Airport. The old “Edison-style†(incandescent) tinted bulbs that spelled “FAIR†have been replaced with incredibly bright screw-base CFLs in a ghastly yellow-ochre color. You could spot it from a plane, not to mention the far depths of Astoria Boulevard!
Upon close inspection, the bulbs don’t even look suitable for outdoor use (they are the unprotected “cone-shaped†type commonly used indoors and in enclosed outdoor fixtures). They were installed this summer – how they will operate or survive in extreme cold or harsh winter weather conditions is anyone’s guess. This isn’t the first time that the owners have made questionable (i.e. tacky) choices that are supposed to pass as “upgradesâ€.
I applaud management’s initiative for trying to save energy AND at the same time brighten up the old marquee, but to me it’s extreme overkill. Couldn’t they have used lower-wattage bulbs in a more subdued color? (To my eyes, it loses its authenticity) In comparison, the older bulbs, with their soft orange-amber glow, made the marquee look somewhat dull and tired, yet at the same time warm and inviting – that was part of its vintage charm.
Speaking of excess…they should remove the numerous oversized Indian movie posters that are randomly hanging above the marquee. They are covering up the facade’s decorative brickwork – and the movies aren’t even playing there anymore.
If you want to “dress up” the place, start by cleaning the brickwork, then install some decorative (yet tasteful) architectural accent lighting.
I was just there today. The security is there basically to keep the place clean. You can go into a booth with whoever you want and have plenty of privacy. Just can’t do anything in public spaces.
Aw okay I see I will go this weekend, although I heard the place is loaded with security watching every step u make!……thanx
Just pay your money and walk in.
I live like a mile down, and wanna go For the first time, do i go and say “can I get a ticket to view porn?”.lol its not everyday one finds himself visiting adult theatre! or is it a standard fifteen and just go in to whereever?
maybe, they’re just not as fun!
Gay booths or straight booths, aren’t wives cheaper?
Interesting Reading.
I was just there today. The place was packed. Too packed. There were no booths available for hours. The price isn’t hurting them on weekends at all. Many people buy the 50 dollar/10 admissions coupon books. That works out to 5 bucks per admission, which is a real bargain.
Oops, I just called and the price of admission is still $15. It’s not worth going back. Business has dropped off considerably. I understand that the owners have to maintain the place, though. And they do a very good job.
So they lowered the price of admission? That’s a good movie. I remember going before they raised the price and it was jumping. But once they raised the price to $15 many people stopped going. I was there about two weeks ago on a Saturday afternoon and it was far from packed. I am going there tonight.
Based on signage throughout the theatre (and using simple math and deduction), one can conclude that management has reduced the cost of a regular single admission by one third – from 15 to 10 dollars. Discount booklets of 10 tickets are priced at 50 dollars each (or five dollars per ticket), with the signs stating “save 50% off regular admissionâ€.
Given the current economic climate, and a steady downturn in business over the past few years, this is a more reasonable pricing policy that should at least maintain the current customer base, and perhaps bring back those put off by the perceived poor value for the money. Consider the reduction in amenities provided – they no longer offer free coffee and cookies, and have abandoned the concessions counter (with its inexpensive popcorn and candy offerings) in favor of over-priced vending machine snacks and beverages.
Observations made during this past Sunday’s visit (my most recent after an absence of many months) indicate that this pricing strategy may be working â€" business was steady (and perhaps slightly better) compared to other visits in the past.
Also, despite the posters and banners on display, they seem to have abandoned Indian movies and are screening Asian/martial arts flicks (and an occasional older Hollywood release) in the main auditorium. Adult movies continue to show throughout the other areas of the building.
I was at the Fair today, and somebody told me there was a guy there with a digital camera the other day taking pictures of everyone there. I’d like to go on record that if this ever happened to me, I would grab the camera and smash it on the floor.
Apparently back in business: http://www.fairtheatre.com/
Pardon my English, but “There isn’t any playing movie currently”:
http://www.fairtheatre.com/
The introduction should reflect the fact that Shea Stadium has been replaced by Citi Field, which opened last year on adjacent ground as the new home of the New York Mets. Neither are really that close to the Fair Theatre, and certainly not within batting or throwing distance. Even on foot it would be quite a long walk.
Glad to hear the mighty Fair is still in operation..thanks for the update! I’ll miss New York, but I’ve been visiting some incredible theaters here in San Francisco, such as the legendary Castro.
Viva la Fair!
coupon book prices have dropped to 50 dollars again, possibly just for the holidays. I was there last Saturday and the place is going strong! I don’t have any photos, but the theater looks the same.