Palace Theatre
1564 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
1564 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
20 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 264 comments
Hello-
thanks to robboehm for your reply. my astonishment was not so much on the length of TDOAF’S reserved seat rum at the Palace but that in S.F. it wasn’t even a roadshow run at all. it has always fascinated me why a studio would open a film on a roadshow run in one city but not others. I always assumed if a film opened on a roadshow run in Manhattan it did so I every city it opened in.
bigjoe59-NYC has a large Jewish population. That was probably a factor in the level of popularity.
YouTube link with the premiere of “Citizen Kane” in 1941, and a link with one exterior photo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94Yxv_jik_k
https://www.historytoday.com/archive/premiere-citizen-kane
Hello-
I find it fascinating how classic Oscar winning films faired in different markets. for example The Diary of Anne Frank played here on a two performance a day reserved seat engagement for was it 6? months. in San Francisco the film’s sole 1st run engagement was a 2 week one at the Fox where it ran on a continuous performance basis.
Hello-
what changes if any are they doing to the theater’s
auditorium?
Palace Theater photo added to gallery, circa 1940 NYC Tax Photo.
Blah…!
Dozens of photos and renderings in that link to IMBY but I didn’t see any of the proposed new 47th Street entrance and marquee…
The last remaining movie palace in Times Square should have been left in it’s place. What an insult to New Yorkers! I guess fire escape evacuation is not important anymore. There’s a reason for street level fire escapes. The safety and protection of lives. I hope the owners are below the THEATRE WHEN THEY RAISE IT, SHOULD IT FALL, IT SHOULD FALL ON THEM!
Really TERRIFIC article about the plan and technology being used to raise the Palace. The theatre will also receive a good deal of long overdue maintenance and technology upgrades in the process. Long and comprehensive article, but it contains lots of photos and illustrations. Quite an amazing project!
https://newyorkyimby.com/2015/11/palace-theater-to-be-lifted-29-feet-for-expanded-facilities-and-retail.html
Is there any word or information on how long this theater will be closed to do this really stupid redevelopment. Raising the theater to make retail space underneath is the most stupid idea I ever heard of. I can' only hope the building survives. It is a legend in Times Square.
1982 Getty Image, Palace in the background.
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/men-mack-truck-in-motion-on-construction-lot-site-news-photo/50609936
There were no newspaper movie clocks then and the RKO listings did not have show times, so I can’t tell.
Hello-
to Al A. I see what you mean by it being sold as a
light comedy based on the critics quotes you quoted.
another question about 55 Days at Peking. you said based on the screening times given in the ad for its run at the Trans Lux 85 St. that theater probably didn’t use an intermission. now the other day I was listening to the 55 Days….. soundtrack album and it does have a track titled “Intermission”. so did the Palace run it with an intermission?
bigjoe, they used quotes that described the film as “a joyous hit” and “rich in humor”. I am sure the locals knew exactly what that story was about.
Hello-
to Al A.. you have been most helpful with replies to my many questions but I simply can not believe TDOAF was sold in Miami as a light comedy. that would have been an insult to any Holocaust survivors living in the Miami area.
In Miami Beach it was sold as light comedy, so go figure!
Hello-
recently I watched TDOAF on blu-ray and its a quite well made touching film. i don’t know if its non- success every place except NYC and Miami is a sign of subliminal anti-semitism or people just didn’t want too see such a depressing film no matter how good is was.
Variety stated back then that THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK had bombed everywhere except New York and Miami Beach.
bigjoe59….I don’t have a subscription to Variety online to double check this in their archives but just unearthed my Preston Kauffman hardbound Fabulous Fox book which has every film listed that played there by year (including weekly grosses) from opening to closing of the theatre. The Diary of Anne Frank played there during the 30th and 31st weeks of 1959 – sometime in late July. It was released on March 18, 1959, (the premier was at the Palace?). So wondering if that indeed was a first run engagement. Or if so, it may have been moved over to another smaller theatre. It grossed $12,652 the first week and $10,198 the 2nd, about average for films that played this 4651 seat theatre during a time of declining movie attendance. The highest grossing film that year was The Shaggy Dog which had a $26,151 1st week gross (and played a 3 week run). Throughout the time the Fox was open (1929-1963) 1 and 2 week runs were the norm. The longest running films (at 9 weeks) were The Robe and The King and I.
Hello-
as always thanks to Al A. for your info. I can’t help but wonder why 55 Days…… went the continuous performance route whereas Kings of Kings, El Cid, The Fall of the Roman Empire and Circus World had traditional roadshow engagements.
you’ll find this interesting assuming of course I
understood my friend out in Calf. correctly. whereas
The Diary of Anne Frank had a roadshow engagement at
this theater that lasted 5? months its sole first
run engagement in San Francisco was a 2 week run at
the S.F. Fox.
The other three theatres were the RKO 23rd St., Trans-Lux 85th St., and the RKO Albee in Brooklyn. Judging by the show times at the Trans-Lux, I suspect there was no intermission.
Hello-
to Al A. thanks for the info on 55 Days at Peking. It seems odd that of the five big epics Bronston produced from 1961-64 its the only one not exhibited on a roadshow engagement. if you don’t mind 2 additional questions-did it even have a intermission and if you know what were the other three NYC theaters many thanks in advance.
The whole idea is a waste of time and money and a threat to one of Broadways finest theaters. That hotel is not even 30 years old. The theater was closed from 87-91 when they reopened with The Will Rogers Follies. What a waste. I can’t believe the Neederlanders agreed to this. They must not own the property. UGH
What happened to the plan to raise the theater one story to provide retail space? They keep booking shows there.