Cinema 1, 2 & 3 by Angelika

Have they closed the third screen in this cinema. The Times listings in Friday’s “Weekend” section listed only Cinema 1 & 2 Third Avenue and only two movies are listed. It could mean one of the movies is playing on two screens, but it also may mean the tiny cinema is closed. I was there a year ago and the little theatre in the back on the second floor was looking awful tawdry.

City Cinema’s site shows they are still showing movies.
“Down in the Valley”, “Friends with Money” and “The Promise” as of today. The site only shows dates 8 days in advance.

We knew it was coming, that leaves the theatre on 1st Avenue and the Imagasian (Griffith) in an area that once burst with cinemas.

I remember seeing a number of movies here in the early 1980’s including the terrific Aussie flick “Breaker Morant” in the early winter of ‘81. Then there was Jessica Lange in the biopic “Frances” which had a one week Oscar-qualifying run here in December of '82 before its general release in January or February. I also saw Lumet’s epic police drama “Prince of the City” here as well as Bill Forsythe’s charming Scottish comedy “Local Hero” and John Lurie’s bizarre road flick “Stranger than Paradise.” I believe that was the last film I saw at the Cinema I and II – was that 1984? I remember while I was in the neighborhood for either “Local Hero” or “Breaker Morant” it was so cold out that I ran into Alexander’s to buy myself a cheap scarf and pair of gloves. I seem to recall when you walked up out of the subway you came up right in front of theater practically under the Cinema II marquee, with the Cinema I marquee just a few steps ahead of you and the Baronet/Coronet marquee beyond that further down the block.

Anyway… It certainly wasn’t the theater’s modern design and physical specifications but the wonderful programming that kept me coming back.

The curtains were put up in 1988 during the renovation. They did use them for a time, but now they stay open because they have those stupid advertising slides at intermission – a revenue-generating program.

Not only were they great theatres but I had forgotten those legendary block marquees. They should have added a 3rd one for the triplexing but instead put that abortion that is there now. At this point it’s all over anyways, its days are numbered.

These are great photos Dave. Appreciate very much you sharing them with us.
One correction. The 1962 photos had to be taken in 1965. “How To Murder Your Wife” is being shown at the Cinema 1. I assume the 1962 date refers to the completion of the theater being built and not when the photos were taken.
Never the less, these are splendid photos. As I view the photos wonderful memories flood my head reliving the many times and terrific movies I saw at these theaters.

Dave Thanks great job as always Frank

Playing at Cinema 1, 2, 3 this past week: The Brothers Grimm, Must Love Dogs and Wedding Crashers.

About the most obscure film I ever saw at Cinema II was the 1963 Ladybug Ladybug, about a rural school that believes there is a about to be a nuclear attack. It was directed by Frank Perry, of David and Lisa fame, but it bombed at the boxoffice and was hardly seen much again.

I do recall seing Resnais' ‘Providence’ at The Cienma 3 at a lower level alongside The Plaza Hotel.

Dave: The V-8’s at the Murray Hill came from Cinema I originally. They were installed for “Heaven’s Gate”, and then moved to the Murray Hill for the first “Superman” film. They were installed at the Murray Hill by Altec Service, and I remember one of the men on the crew telling me how they worked all night to get the projectors ready for the first show early the next morning. They started the show for a house full of kids and when they changed to the second reel there was no sound. They went crazy trying to find the problem, and finally threaded the second reel on the first projector to discover that someone on the West Coast had not sounded the reel! The showings were cancelled until another reel could be shipped in. There may have been a second set of V-8’s installed in Cinema I after that, so both theatres could have had them at the same time. I seem to remember “Oklahoma” playing there as a re-release at 30 f.p.s.

Thanks DAVE…The Dolby 500 and SDDS 3000 are both equipped with this feature. They work in a slightly different fashion from each other, but offer the same results – lower for the trailers, proper volume for the feature.