I have not heard of the Dramatic either but it could have been a legit house.
There were also a number of silent downtown Miami theatres that closed after the big mid-twenties hurricane when the city was almost wiped off the map.
I may be able to help if you can narrow the scope. Are you looking for every booking at each theatre in New York? Manhattan?
Are you looking for specific dates?
If you are just looking film releases during this period IMDB, boxofficemojo and the Variety website have lists. Chances are the film played NY somewhere even for a day if it was released to theatres at all.
I originally thought the CANAL had closed in the mid-fifties but a CANAL theatre appears in an ad for TELEFON in the NYT in January 1978. Does anyone know the final closing date?
For the record, I was just trying to narrow the scope for the date on the photo. My memory plays tricks on me all the time and I don’t think I am crazy either, but I can contribute by looking some stuff up easily at my end.
I wasn’t born yet when Leroy was a doorman at the Astor & Victoria and I would not think of belittling his valuable first-hand accounts in any way.
I never make mean spirited comments as I am just not wired that way.
Leroy, I think your memory is playing games. How could MEET ME IN LAS VEGAS have played prior to THE ROSE TATTOO when it opened in March 1956? The sign over the theatre in the photo even announces the date.
THE ROSE TATTOO opened in December 1955 as Warren stated.
Since the marquee mentions Oscar nominations, that places the photo after February 19, 1956 and before March 13 when MEET ME IN LAS VEGAS opened at the Astor. Magnani won that year on March 21. Sinatra didn’t win for the movie with the Saul Bass logo.
“When it was announced that the Cinerama was going to be demolished and an office building put in its place, it was also stated there would be a new multiplex theatre in the basement, similar to what happened with the Loews State. However, once the old theatre was down, the developer stated that plans changed and there would be no new theatre in the building at all. I doubt there was ever a plan for a new theatre, and it was a BS story on the part of the developer just to get the theatre down without a lot of noise from the public. The old theatres closing came at the same time as RKOs takeover by the Canadians (who were scrambling to get office space set up at 126 E. 56th St 20th flr. The RKO offices had been upstairs of the Cinerama Theatre). When the announcement came that there would be no new theatre, there was no fuss made about it by the Canadians in the trades.
posted by dave-bronx on Oct 15, 2004 at 1:05pm
Although the “demolish and replace†deal was signed with RKO, Cineplex Odeon was the beneficiary of the settlement when the developer failed to build the basement multiplex. C was happy to accept the settlement as they had already sigedn the World Wide site.
“Although no x-rated movies played at the Strand/Warner, they certainly played at the Cine Orleans, built on the old Strand stage with its entrance on 47th Street. I remember the Cine’s facade was elaborate grillwork in the New Orleans style, but I never went inside.
posted by saps on Mar 2, 2005 at 4:28pmâ€
As the CINERAMA TWIN this site played many x-rated films including edited version of hard-core films such as BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR.
I suspect that since Hollywood was producing so many pro-Soviet films during the war at the government’s request, it was a worthy investment at the time.
Only six films ran more than a week at the Roxy in 1935. Distributors rarely enforced a contractual second week if attendance is not there because of the house nut guarantee. The two week minimum contract goes out the window on a flop even today. It was even less common with distributor owned depression era theatres.
The Capitol had generally longer runs in 1935 with DAVID COPPERFIELD running five weeks and MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY running four weeks).
CHINA SEAS, ANNA KARENINA and A NIGHT AT THE OPERA ran for three weeks each.
The engagement was three weeks but it was hampered by a weak film title (Columbia admitted it was expecting Sinatra to bring in the crowds) and missing dates when Sinatra developed laryngitis shortly after opening.
Although the Rialto was an action and horror house for most of the forties, it was not an exclusive Universal outlet except mostly for those double-feature re-releases. Exploitation B films from all distributiors played here.
In 1931 DRACULA premiered at the Roxy and FRANKENSTEIN at the Mayfair.
PARAMOUNT December 30, 1942-January, 1943
STAR SPANGLED RHYTHM on screen
BENNY GOODMAN and his Orchestra
RADIO ROGUES
MOKE AND POKE
Extra added attraction! Frank Sinatra
January 26 at 6pm only – Extra! JACK BENNY
PARAMOUNT January 27, 1943- February 23, 1943
STAR SPANGLED RHYTHM on screen
JOHNNY LONG and his orchestra
RADIO ROGUES
MOKE AND POKE
Extra added attraction! Frank Sinatra
I can’t find any record of Frank Sinatra performing live at the Paramount in 1947 but he did appear at the Capitol in November of that year with “petite comedienne” LORRAINE ROGNAN and SKITCH HENDERSON & his piano & orchestra.
How about SAMMY KAYE and his orchestra with IT HAPPENED IN BROOKLYN starring Sinatra at the Capitol in early March?
THE INK SPOTS and ELLA FITZGERALD took over the Paramount in February of 1947 with EASY COME, EASY GO on the screen.
Louis, that is actually the Florida State Theatres FLORIDA – just west of the TOWN on Flagler street. I have not seen a photo of this theatre for years.
It was a Cinerama house for a while and I saw THIS IS CINERAMA there. I also remember seeing THE ODD COUPLE, ROSEMARY’S BABY and the original NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD.
Fine Arts should be listed as an alternative name for this location although it was only for a short time in the early nineties.
So it appears this opened in 1921, was tripled in 1976, quaded in 1978 and was closed/demolished in 1985.
This was still operating as the Canal Cinema in the summer of 1978.
I have not heard of the Dramatic either but it could have been a legit house.
There were also a number of silent downtown Miami theatres that closed after the big mid-twenties hurricane when the city was almost wiped off the map.
When you consider there are over 200 screens and over 75 films playing weekly in Manhattan alone this list would be overwhelming without more detail.
I may be able to help if you can narrow the scope. Are you looking for every booking at each theatre in New York? Manhattan?
Are you looking for specific dates?
If you are just looking film releases during this period IMDB, boxofficemojo and the Variety website have lists. Chances are the film played NY somewhere even for a day if it was released to theatres at all.
I originally thought the CANAL had closed in the mid-fifties but a CANAL theatre appears in an ad for TELEFON in the NYT in January 1978. Does anyone know the final closing date?
Good grief! Thanks Ed.
For the record, I was just trying to narrow the scope for the date on the photo. My memory plays tricks on me all the time and I don’t think I am crazy either, but I can contribute by looking some stuff up easily at my end.
I wasn’t born yet when Leroy was a doorman at the Astor & Victoria and I would not think of belittling his valuable first-hand accounts in any way.
I never make mean spirited comments as I am just not wired that way.
Leroy, I think your memory is playing games. How could MEET ME IN LAS VEGAS have played prior to THE ROSE TATTOO when it opened in March 1956? The sign over the theatre in the photo even announces the date.
THE ROSE TATTOO opened in December 1955 as Warren stated.
Does anyone know if Ralph Donnelly was the brains behind Cinema 5 distribution?
They had a short but brilliant run of hit films in the late sixties/early seventies and their ad campaigns were way ahead of their time.
Since the marquee mentions Oscar nominations, that places the photo after February 19, 1956 and before March 13 when MEET ME IN LAS VEGAS opened at the Astor. Magnani won that year on March 21. Sinatra didn’t win for the movie with the Saul Bass logo.
A 1977 NYT ad for “The Renoir” lists the address as
100 7th Avenue So. Nr. Sheridan Square.
“When it was announced that the Cinerama was going to be demolished and an office building put in its place, it was also stated there would be a new multiplex theatre in the basement, similar to what happened with the Loews State. However, once the old theatre was down, the developer stated that plans changed and there would be no new theatre in the building at all. I doubt there was ever a plan for a new theatre, and it was a BS story on the part of the developer just to get the theatre down without a lot of noise from the public. The old theatres closing came at the same time as RKOs takeover by the Canadians (who were scrambling to get office space set up at 126 E. 56th St 20th flr. The RKO offices had been upstairs of the Cinerama Theatre). When the announcement came that there would be no new theatre, there was no fuss made about it by the Canadians in the trades.
posted by dave-bronx on Oct 15, 2004 at 1:05pm
Although the “demolish and replace†deal was signed with RKO, Cineplex Odeon was the beneficiary of the settlement when the developer failed to build the basement multiplex. C was happy to accept the settlement as they had already sigedn the World Wide site.
“Although no x-rated movies played at the Strand/Warner, they certainly played at the Cine Orleans, built on the old Strand stage with its entrance on 47th Street. I remember the Cine’s facade was elaborate grillwork in the New Orleans style, but I never went inside.
posted by saps on Mar 2, 2005 at 4:28pmâ€
As the CINERAMA TWIN this site played many x-rated films including edited version of hard-core films such as BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR.
I suspect that since Hollywood was producing so many pro-Soviet films during the war at the government’s request, it was a worthy investment at the time.
In 1935 the Roxy advertised a “Big Stage Show” with no headliners on hold-overs and the Capitol had stopped running stage shows altogether.
Only six films ran more than a week at the Roxy in 1935. Distributors rarely enforced a contractual second week if attendance is not there because of the house nut guarantee. The two week minimum contract goes out the window on a flop even today. It was even less common with distributor owned depression era theatres.
The Capitol had generally longer runs in 1935 with DAVID COPPERFIELD running five weeks and MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY running four weeks).
CHINA SEAS, ANNA KARENINA and A NIGHT AT THE OPERA ran for three weeks each.
THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN premiered at the ROXY and had a rare (for 1935) two week run.
The engagement was three weeks but it was hampered by a weak film title (Columbia admitted it was expecting Sinatra to bring in the crowds) and missing dates when Sinatra developed laryngitis shortly after opening.
Although the Rialto was an action and horror house for most of the forties, it was not an exclusive Universal outlet except mostly for those double-feature re-releases. Exploitation B films from all distributiors played here.
In 1931 DRACULA premiered at the Roxy and FRANKENSTEIN at the Mayfair.
According to the New York Times the multiplex was designed by the architectural firm of Beyer Blinder Belle.
Harriet Irgang, the director of Rustin Levenson Art Conservation, restored the mural originally painted by a French artist, Arthur Brounet.
PARAMOUNT December 30, 1942-January, 1943
STAR SPANGLED RHYTHM on screen
BENNY GOODMAN and his Orchestra
RADIO ROGUES
MOKE AND POKE
Extra added attraction! Frank Sinatra
January 26 at 6pm only – Extra! JACK BENNY
PARAMOUNT January 27, 1943- February 23, 1943
STAR SPANGLED RHYTHM on screen
JOHNNY LONG and his orchestra
RADIO ROGUES
MOKE AND POKE
Extra added attraction! Frank Sinatra
I can’t find any record of Frank Sinatra performing live at the Paramount in 1947 but he did appear at the Capitol in November of that year with “petite comedienne” LORRAINE ROGNAN and SKITCH HENDERSON & his piano & orchestra.
How about SAMMY KAYE and his orchestra with IT HAPPENED IN BROOKLYN starring Sinatra at the Capitol in early March?
THE INK SPOTS and ELLA FITZGERALD took over the Paramount in February of 1947 with EASY COME, EASY GO on the screen.
Davis, theatres avoid publishing this information as they often change screens according to demand or accommodate other screenings during the week.
Poor marketing was definitely a factor. I heard it was coming but never knew it was ever active.
Louis, that is actually the Florida State Theatres FLORIDA – just west of the TOWN on Flagler street. I have not seen a photo of this theatre for years.
It was a Cinerama house for a while and I saw THIS IS CINERAMA there. I also remember seeing THE ODD COUPLE, ROSEMARY’S BABY and the original NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD.