Loews Festival Theatre
6 W. 57th Street,
New York,
NY
10019
6 W. 57th Street,
New York,
NY
10019
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Loews, Walter Reade Theatres
Architects: Simon B. Zelnik
Functions: Retail
Previous Names: Festival Theatre
Nearby Theaters
This theatre opened on June 23, 1963, as as an art house theatre on W. 57th Street between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue. It was a conversion of a former Milgram store by Embassy Theatres. Seating was provided for 600 in orchestra and balcony levels.
It closed as Loews Festival Theatre on August 25, 1994 with “Four Weddings and a Funeral”. It is now used for retail space.
Contributed by
Jamal p. Savage
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Recent comments (view all 59 comments)
I workd at this theater in 81 and 82.
The architect’s surname is Zelnik, not Selnik. His surname is spelled correctly on the Playhouse Theatre and Joyce Theatre pages, but his middle initial is missing from both.
A two-page article about the Festival Theatre with photos appeared in the July, 1963, issue of International Projectionist. See it at this link.
I uploaded the June 24th, 1963 grand opening ad as well as the photo from the International Projectionist.
Hello-
i went to the Festival many times during its reign as one of Manhattan’s leading art houses. this is especially true since many of its engagements were exclusive runs but there was one thing about the theater i didn’t like. in virtually all theaters when you enter the auditorium from the back the floor is flat as you walk toward the screen or in other instances actually declines as you walk toward the screen. but in the Festival the floor actually inclined as you walked toward the screen. it was rather uncomfortable if you got stuck with a seat in the first row.
I remember now, but had forgotten, that oddity of the Festival being relatively flat for a major Manhattan first-run art house.
I worked at this theater in the early 80’s Joe Torres was the manager and Martha was one of the cashiers as was Irene Cara’s mom Maria.
I worked at the festival when it was under walter and then cinaplex odeon. 1984-87.before tha it was the little carnegie.all the old time theatres are gone.so are the good people that worked them.mr.john walgamot,mr.dan wallach,teresa rosenburgh. and many many more…
Please update, theatre closed August 25, 1994
I worked at the Festival Theater during the seventies and eighties. During the years, in between at other art house theaters. I came back to the Festival, in the mid eighties. I decided to leave after a short while, be of poor management.
Marcy
After Joe Torres got transferred the next few managers Vincent and Daisy sucked. Daisy went onto manage the Criterion Center.