I’ve seen ‘The Playgirls and the Bellboy,’ an awful German import to which FFC added equally awful new scenes, on VHS and you will not get a Coppola laughs out of it, believe me. Both that and his dreadful ‘nudie-cutie’ ‘Tonight for Sure’ are strictly Francis Ford Crapola. You should get a Coppola laughs from his much better ‘You’re a Big Boy Now,’ which, while some bits seem dated, is still pretty funny today.
Thanks, Warren, for the 1932 Press clip. I didn’t attend the Island till the mid-50s or so but it still looked very much like those photos as I recall it. A fun, funky “nabe.” And better a church than a parking lot.
My fave Essex double bill, circa 1969—“The Astro-Zombies” and “The Undertaker and His Pals.” Last film I recall seeing there was “Hollywood Harry” in the late 80s, I believe with a Bronson movie. Not sure when the theater closed.
Re 42nd St. retitlings, my fave was when the Harlan Ellison-based sci-fi film A BOY AND HIS DOG was rechristened PSYCHO BOY AND HIS KILLER DOG. Nothing like a “Lassie”-sounding title to drive customers away, despite the lurid standees, lobby cards, et al to the contrary.
“This Island Earth” fans should scope out Sir Ben Kingsley’s hairpiece in “A Sound of Thunder”—looks like an homage to Jeff Morrow’s Metalunan ruler. The legacy lives on!
Thanks for posting that ad. That is a bizarre pitch, since the theaters listed below (including the Community about 3 blocks away, also a good-sized venue as I recall) all advertise double features as well.
Great stories by Usher back in 2005. I used to frequent all the Jamaica Ave. theaters in the late ‘50s & '60s but missed the Carlton, which closed just before my moviegoing days began. Remember it as the Regency Caterers and was always curious about its earlier theater history.
Saw scores of movies at this relaxed, intimate theater when I lived in BH in the ‘70s. Even when it wasn’t officially an arthouse, it usually seemed to have at least one indie, foreign or offbeat film playing. From the photos, it looks like it’s upheld that tradition, with the Indian import 'Water’ and the excellent indie film ‘The King.’ Nothing special architecturally, as I recall, but an inviting venue nonetheless.
Interesting article in today’s New York Times (Section A) about the thriving Indian movie fare screening at the Columbia Park Cinema 12, a venue apparently facing possible redevelopment problems.
Attended many double features here in the early and mid-60s (‘Portrait of a Mobster’/‘Fever in the Blood’ comes to mind for some reason); it was by far the largest venue in the area, though I never realized it had that many seats; somehow can’t picture a theater that size flourishing as an XXX house, though it probably afforded patrons ample ‘breathing’ room.
BTW: Boris (from ‘Tower of London’) graces the cover of the new issue of my magazine VideoScope (videoscopemag.com). I think ‘Tower’ represented one of his best performances, as the orderly executioner Mord. ‘The Body Snatcher’ is a great one as well; ditto ‘Bedlam’ and ‘The Black Cat.’
‘Space Children’ is a very prescient look at the 60s generation nearly a decade ahead of time—tykes who, with alien intervention, seek to sabotage a nuclear-weapons buildup; an excellent companion piece to ‘Invisible Boy’ on the ‘FP’ set. Unfortunately, it’s never been released on video. ‘Watch the Skies’ is very well-done. ‘Cache’ is excellent as well.
The Galleria is a pretty bland venue but it does sport a $5 matinee admission for first-run films and has, as cited above, a friendly vibe. Would be interested in seeing a per-room seating capacity; the rooms I’ve seen there have all been small.
Fondly recall catching soft-core b&w flicks at the Bryant in the late 60s, like Andy Milligan’s twisted ‘Tricks of the Trade,’ Robert Downey Sr.’s ‘Sweet Smell of Sex’ (it was no ‘Putney Swope’ or even ‘Chafed Elbows’), ‘Shocking Sex’ & others. Pretty tame fare but sometimes rich in camp value & occasionally innovative low-budget filmmaking techniques.
Spent a lot of time reviewing non-press-screened flicks (almost every Concorde movie from Roger Corman seemed to open there) in the Criterion basement rooms. Seemed amazing they could entice patrons (though usually not many) to pay $7 for the privilege of watching films there.
‘Nude on the Moon’ is a certified hoot—not to be missed by bad-movie buffs. Trying to recall if the following passage hails from Queen of Outer Space:
“How could a bunch of women come up with a gizmo like that? And even if they could, how could they aim it?"
Or maybe from some other golden oldie.
Exploitation auteur Doris Wishman really hit her surreal stride with ‘Nude on the Moon,’ a totally jaw-dropping sci-fi “nudie cutie.” Believe Something Weird Video has it on DVD.
PKoch—‘Teenage Doll’ isn’t a ‘shrinker’ like ‘Cyclops’ or ‘Puppet People’ (though that could’ve been fun—the opposite of the outsized youths in ‘Village of the Giants’) but a dark slice of teenage noir hell starring June Kenney and the ever-exotic Ziva Rodann. Well ahead of its time and worth seeing (and even affordable via Amazon).
‘Crab Monsters’ actually holds up pretty well, though the ideas (from writer Charles B. Griffith) outweigh the execution. ‘Not of This Earth’ and ‘Teenage Doll’ are other Corman winners from the same year (‘57).
Coincidentally enough, ‘Attack of the Crab Monsters’ will screen tonight at the newly reopened Paramount Theater in Asbury Park, NJ. Definite treat to see films at this roughly 1500-seat venue. See their upcoming schedule at:
asburyparkconventionhall.com
The German movie ‘Liane’ did play theaters—I believe as an alluring adults-only film. Today (and even then) it’s pretty tame and mostly lame, but for fans of Liane (Marion Michael), it’s worth catching for her creative jungle apparel (and lack thereof)and to see what exhibitors could pass off as ‘daring’ fare back in the day.
I recall waiting many months for the MoviePlex 42 to finally open. A poster for Chuck Norris in Hellbound seemed to be up there forever before the plex finally opened. The place didn’t have much atmosphere and represented a sad harbinger of things to come (and all too quickly at that) but was better than nothing during the short time it existed.
I’ve seen ‘The Playgirls and the Bellboy,’ an awful German import to which FFC added equally awful new scenes, on VHS and you will not get a Coppola laughs out of it, believe me. Both that and his dreadful ‘nudie-cutie’ ‘Tonight for Sure’ are strictly Francis Ford Crapola. You should get a Coppola laughs from his much better ‘You’re a Big Boy Now,’ which, while some bits seem dated, is still pretty funny today.
Thanks, Warren, for the 1932 Press clip. I didn’t attend the Island till the mid-50s or so but it still looked very much like those photos as I recall it. A fun, funky “nabe.” And better a church than a parking lot.
My fave Essex double bill, circa 1969—“The Astro-Zombies” and “The Undertaker and His Pals.” Last film I recall seeing there was “Hollywood Harry” in the late 80s, I believe with a Bronson movie. Not sure when the theater closed.
Sounds like it might be CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST (1985), now available on DVD.
Re 42nd St. retitlings, my fave was when the Harlan Ellison-based sci-fi film A BOY AND HIS DOG was rechristened PSYCHO BOY AND HIS KILLER DOG. Nothing like a “Lassie”-sounding title to drive customers away, despite the lurid standees, lobby cards, et al to the contrary.
“This Island Earth” fans should scope out Sir Ben Kingsley’s hairpiece in “A Sound of Thunder”—looks like an homage to Jeff Morrow’s Metalunan ruler. The legacy lives on!
Thanks for posting that ad. That is a bizarre pitch, since the theaters listed below (including the Community about 3 blocks away, also a good-sized venue as I recall) all advertise double features as well.
Great stories by Usher back in 2005. I used to frequent all the Jamaica Ave. theaters in the late ‘50s & '60s but missed the Carlton, which closed just before my moviegoing days began. Remember it as the Regency Caterers and was always curious about its earlier theater history.
Saw scores of movies at this relaxed, intimate theater when I lived in BH in the ‘70s. Even when it wasn’t officially an arthouse, it usually seemed to have at least one indie, foreign or offbeat film playing. From the photos, it looks like it’s upheld that tradition, with the Indian import 'Water’ and the excellent indie film ‘The King.’ Nothing special architecturally, as I recall, but an inviting venue nonetheless.
Interesting article in today’s New York Times (Section A) about the thriving Indian movie fare screening at the Columbia Park Cinema 12, a venue apparently facing possible redevelopment problems.
Attended many double features here in the early and mid-60s (‘Portrait of a Mobster’/‘Fever in the Blood’ comes to mind for some reason); it was by far the largest venue in the area, though I never realized it had that many seats; somehow can’t picture a theater that size flourishing as an XXX house, though it probably afforded patrons ample ‘breathing’ room.
BTW: Boris (from ‘Tower of London’) graces the cover of the new issue of my magazine VideoScope (videoscopemag.com). I think ‘Tower’ represented one of his best performances, as the orderly executioner Mord. ‘The Body Snatcher’ is a great one as well; ditto ‘Bedlam’ and ‘The Black Cat.’
‘Space Children’ is a very prescient look at the 60s generation nearly a decade ahead of time—tykes who, with alien intervention, seek to sabotage a nuclear-weapons buildup; an excellent companion piece to ‘Invisible Boy’ on the ‘FP’ set. Unfortunately, it’s never been released on video. ‘Watch the Skies’ is very well-done. ‘Cache’ is excellent as well.
The Galleria is a pretty bland venue but it does sport a $5 matinee admission for first-run films and has, as cited above, a friendly vibe. Would be interested in seeing a per-room seating capacity; the rooms I’ve seen there have all been small.
Fondly recall catching soft-core b&w flicks at the Bryant in the late 60s, like Andy Milligan’s twisted ‘Tricks of the Trade,’ Robert Downey Sr.’s ‘Sweet Smell of Sex’ (it was no ‘Putney Swope’ or even ‘Chafed Elbows’), ‘Shocking Sex’ & others. Pretty tame fare but sometimes rich in camp value & occasionally innovative low-budget filmmaking techniques.
Spent a lot of time reviewing non-press-screened flicks (almost every Concorde movie from Roger Corman seemed to open there) in the Criterion basement rooms. Seemed amazing they could entice patrons (though usually not many) to pay $7 for the privilege of watching films there.
‘Nude on the Moon’ is a certified hoot—not to be missed by bad-movie buffs. Trying to recall if the following passage hails from Queen of Outer Space:
“How could a bunch of women come up with a gizmo like that? And even if they could, how could they aim it?"
Or maybe from some other golden oldie.
Exploitation auteur Doris Wishman really hit her surreal stride with ‘Nude on the Moon,’ a totally jaw-dropping sci-fi “nudie cutie.” Believe Something Weird Video has it on DVD.
Apparently, the Baronet going retro grindhouse with some upcoming shows featuring Fulci, Joe D'Amato flicks & Eraserhead. See:
asburybaronet.com
PKoch—‘Teenage Doll’ isn’t a ‘shrinker’ like ‘Cyclops’ or ‘Puppet People’ (though that could’ve been fun—the opposite of the outsized youths in ‘Village of the Giants’) but a dark slice of teenage noir hell starring June Kenney and the ever-exotic Ziva Rodann. Well ahead of its time and worth seeing (and even affordable via Amazon).
‘Crab Monsters’ actually holds up pretty well, though the ideas (from writer Charles B. Griffith) outweigh the execution. ‘Not of This Earth’ and ‘Teenage Doll’ are other Corman winners from the same year (‘57).
Definitely—it’s only $5 to see it on the big screen!
Coincidentally enough, ‘Attack of the Crab Monsters’ will screen tonight at the newly reopened Paramount Theater in Asbury Park, NJ. Definite treat to see films at this roughly 1500-seat venue. See their upcoming schedule at:
asburyparkconventionhall.com
The German movie ‘Liane’ did play theaters—I believe as an alluring adults-only film. Today (and even then) it’s pretty tame and mostly lame, but for fans of Liane (Marion Michael), it’s worth catching for her creative jungle apparel (and lack thereof)and to see what exhibitors could pass off as ‘daring’ fare back in the day.
I recall waiting many months for the MoviePlex 42 to finally open. A poster for Chuck Norris in Hellbound seemed to be up there forever before the plex finally opened. The place didn’t have much atmosphere and represented a sad harbinger of things to come (and all too quickly at that) but was better than nothing during the short time it existed.