Embassy 1 Theatre
1560 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
1560 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
6 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 121 comments found
Yesterday (11/2) marked the 83rd anniversary of the grand opening of the Embassy as the first cinema in America to show sound newsreels exclusively. It was the brainchild of William Fox, with Fox Film Corporation as the Embassy’s new management. All of the many thousands of feet of film that were shot weekly for the Fox Movietone and Hearst Metronone newsreels would be available to the Embassy, which could cover major events in more detail than the “pruned” versions in the conventional theatrical newsreels. More about this can be found in an article in The New York Times of November 2nd, 1929, page 11.
I’ve never heard that term used to describe ANY movie theatre before. By that description, you could have called Loew’s State, Loew’s Capitol. Criterion, etc., “legit houses”.
Oh well, I guess all the movie theatres today could be described as “illegitimate theatres”.-LOL
The Embassy’s original policy was all seats reserved, with two performances daily, similar to “legit” houses except that the latter usually had only two matinees per week.
It’s interesting that the Embassy is referred to as “Broadway’s newest ‘legitimate’ theatre”.
I don’t know why they’re referring to it as a “legitimate theatre”. Does anyone know the answer?
Here’s a view of the Embassy’s gala opening night, with Von Stroheim’s silent “The Merry Widow” as the premiere attraction. Note marquee billing for the Embassy’s first managing director, Gloria Gould, a high society princess related to one of America’s wealthiest families: archive
That was one of the most interesting articles I have ever read on this site. Thanks so much for posting it. (I sure miss the old days even though I wasn’t even born then.)
Here’s a link to an illustrated article about the Embassy’s initial sucess as a newsreel house: archive
Hey RobertR… You posted a photo for this theater, but the image is actually of the Trans-Lux 49th Street, which later became the Grand Pussycat Cinema porn-house in the ‘70’s.
bigjoe59, You could have missed it being called the Mark I, II and III because it was only open with that name for a short period of time. After that when Peter Elson took it over it was renamed the Embassy 2, 3 and 4.
Al, “Once Is Not Enough” could have run in September, but I wouldn’t call it a “move over” from the Astor Plaza since it played along with 25 other theatres listed in a film company ad.-LOL
As for the “Walking Tall”, the only thing I’m certain of is that it ran at the DeMille before the fire, while the theatre was still being operated by Walter Reade. After the fire, the theatre was closed for nearly a year and re-opened with “Once Is Not Enough”. Clark only had the theatre for a few months as I recall. Under a deal with the union he wasn’t supposed to use the balcony, but from day one there were more people sitting in the balcony then in the orchestra and was a constant battle. It was after the theatre closed under Clark that I left. At one point, Hank Rosenberg, the owner of the twin theatres (I can’t remember the name of the theatres) a few doors down to the left of the DeMille was also looking to buy the building and multiplex the theatre.
to either see a new film at one of the large movie theaters or a Broadway show i have been a frequent visitor to the Times Square area most of my adult life. to which my question- i don’t remember the former Mayfair/DeMille ever having The Mark as its name on the marquee. so i’m guessing it was a proposed name change that never made it to the marquee.
I found the ads for “ONCE IS NOT ENOUGH”. It played at the DeMille subrun in September on move-over from the Astor Plaza.
Al, that’s definitely not correct. As I said, BEFORE it ever became the Embassy 2,3,4 (or whatever numbers they called them), it was reopened after the fire by Leonard Clark as a SINGLE theatre. As I said, he opened with “Once Is Not Enough”. The picture played along with a bunch of other theatres in a company ad. After Clark screwed the two owners, Koppel & Levine, the theatre closed again (which is when I left) and THEN was reopened as a (poorly designed) triplex. I am certain up until Clark was thrown out because after that, friends of mine had a deal to purchase the building from Koppel & Levine and were negotiating with Krim & Benjamin from UA to open the theatre and run UA product exclusively, but the deal fell through after a meeting with James Velde a UA V.P.
techman, “Once Is Not Enough” opened at the Astor Plaza in June 1975. “Walking Tall” was not released in New York until 1974.
The DeMille re-opened as the Mark 1-2-3 in 1976.
Al, while I’m not sure of the exact date, I’m absolutely certain I ran the original “Walking Tall” at the DeMille and I believe it would have to be earlier than 1974. The reason I believe it had to be before 1974 is because in late 1973 or early 1974 is the year of the fire and the theatre didn’t open again until somewhere around June 1974 under the management of a guy named Leonard Clark who also ran one theatre on 42nd Street. When the DeMille reopened after the fire, the first picture was “Once Is Not Enough”, of that I am positive.
“Walking Tall” opened here in February 1974. the New York premiere was almost a year after the rest of the country.
Garth, I know that I ran the original “Walking Tall” with Jo Don Baker at the DeMille theatre around 1972 or 1973.
I’m sure I saw the original Walking Tall here in the early “70s. I intend to check out the visitor’s center / theatre.
Saps – That’s a very interesting interpretation from Guys & Dolls. Do you also talk to yourself?
The People’s Court commentary is taped on the Third Street Promenade @ Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica, California now.
Techman, I hope this helps:
What’s playing at the Roxy?
I’ll tell you what’s playing at the Roxy.
A picture about a Minnesota man falls in love with a Mississippi girl
That he sacrifices everything and moves all the way to Biloxi.
That’s what’s playing at the Roxy.
What’s in the Daily News?
I’ll tell you what’s in the Daily News.
Story about a man bought his wife a small ruby
With what otherwise would have been his union dues.
That’s what’s in the Daily News.
What’s happening all over?
I’ll tell you what’s happening all over.
Guy sitting home by a television set
That used to be something of a rover.
That’s what’s happening all over.
(Or so sayeth Frank Loesser!)
Thanks. It appears that Harvey Levin got tired of going back and forth between NY & LA and is now doing the commentary from LA. The judge, Marilyn Milian lives in Florida and I wondered since Levin was doing his work from LA, maybe she got them to tape in Florida. But, they appear to still have a New York State flag behind her. But if they tape on 38th ST, then I gues they never used the Embassy as a studio. It’s been so long since I’ve been to Times Square that I don’t know what’s going on there anymore.
I believe the People’s Court is taped on 38th street and only the commentary is done in Times Square.
Thanks Al. Do you know if they actually are using the theatre itself as a studio for The Peoples Court, or are they just using the front for Harvey Levin’s follow-up?
I think you are correct, techman.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/noahcoad/5396962675/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jblough/422536912/
Does anyone know if it’s the Embassy they are (or were) using as a studio for “The People’s Court”? It appears that until recently, Harvey Levin (from TMZ), does the follow up standing outside what appears to be the Embassy.