Back in the 70’s there was a minor league baseball park a few blocks from this drive in. From the last row of the stands you could see the movies on the screen. (No sound of course) There were still showing films there in 1982.
I think this building only dates to the 1920’s, 1928? Unless they totally redid the inside. The Benson, which I believe went up in the teens had a backstage area and an orchestra pit. The Deluxe did not. The screen was close to the back wall and there was no stage or pit. The building itself looks like a late 20’s early 30’s structure. I would guess the Montauk was torn down and the Deluxe (Bay) was put up in its place. Hopefully someone out there has some information. Also this was an indepent theatre during its entire regular run.
Originally it was called the Brooklyn Roll-O Rama. They also held wrestling shows there from the 50’s thru the 70’s. It then closed for a few years in the early 80’s and reopened under the name you saw. It was only a roller rink under this name for a few years.
As I remember the Marquee was different in the 50’s and 60’s. It was more squared off. I think the half circle marquee went up around 1969 or 70. The Deluxe’s orchastra section was about the same size as the Benson’s. It had a balcony section behind the orchastra section. (Similar to the one in the Astor Plaza but smaller) It did not have an orchestra pit like the one in the Benson. The lobby was also much smaller then the Benson’s.
The AMC Empire on 42st does the same thing. Slide shows, rock music and lots of commercials! The way they raise the ticket prices every 6 months (The AMC is now $10.50) you would think they could stop playing the same irratating commercials.
Saw Spider-Man 2 at this theatre yesterday. Will really miss that big red curtain that openend and closed before and after the show. Much better than seeing a slideshow. I hope something else plays there before Aug. 5 so I can make one more trip to this great theatre.
I never really like this theatre (The Oriental was much better) and once it was split up it was not a great place to see a movie. Did not like the sound in the upstairs theatres. By the way, I hope the cats ended up with someone.
The bathrooms were upstairs. Similar to the Loews Jersey, but smaller. There was also a plaque on the upper lobby wall dedicated to Marcus Loew. (had a small bust of his face on it) Wonder what happened to that. I believe part of the marble staircase still exists. If you go into the Marshall’s store there is a black door on the left wall with a window. If you look through the window you can see the staircase. I bet they still use the bathrooms upstairs.
It is the Benson Marquee. I have lived in the neighborhood all my life and you can not see the Oriental Marquee from 20th ave. I believe the Oriental does appear later in the film. Its like the chase scene from the “French Connection” (Also filmed in this neighborhood) If you watch closely they pass Lafayette High School several times during the chase. Sometimes the train is on the center track, sometimes its on a different track. By the way, what year was the Oriental twinned? If it was in the late 1970’s then they could not have shown Rocky and Network in 1976. The last film I saw at the Oriental was Dick Tracy in the main (downstairs) theatre. Untill its demise the entire orchestra section was intact as one theatre. Several rows of seats were missing here and there so you had great leg room in many of the rows. It really is a shame it had to close.
I think either All The President’s Men or Network should have been the Best Pic winner in 1976. Rocky is not in the same class as those films. I would agree with Giant or 10 Commandments over 80 Days but I could understand them picking 80 Days as a Best Picture winner. It’s a fun picture.
I have heard from old-timers that they did have some Vaudville shows there in the early 1930’s. Al Jolson made a personal appearance and performed at this theatre before a screening of “Jolson Sings Again” He toured several Loews theatres on the same day in the New York area.
I saw How The West Was Won at this theatre. It was a great theatre. If you went to the top of the theatre and pulled the curtain you could see rows of the original seats still in place. Lobby was spectacular. If there was one NY theatre they could have kept it should have been this one. I never got to the Roxy so I can not compare them.
Back in the 70’s there was a minor league baseball park a few blocks from this drive in. From the last row of the stands you could see the movies on the screen. (No sound of course) There were still showing films there in 1982.
Does anyone have information on a drive-in theatre several blocks away from the Forrest? Its closed but the screen is still there.
I think this building only dates to the 1920’s, 1928? Unless they totally redid the inside. The Benson, which I believe went up in the teens had a backstage area and an orchestra pit. The Deluxe did not. The screen was close to the back wall and there was no stage or pit. The building itself looks like a late 20’s early 30’s structure. I would guess the Montauk was torn down and the Deluxe (Bay) was put up in its place. Hopefully someone out there has some information. Also this was an indepent theatre during its entire regular run.
Originally it was called the Brooklyn Roll-O Rama. They also held wrestling shows there from the 50’s thru the 70’s. It then closed for a few years in the early 80’s and reopened under the name you saw. It was only a roller rink under this name for a few years.
As I remember the Marquee was different in the 50’s and 60’s. It was more squared off. I think the half circle marquee went up around 1969 or 70. The Deluxe’s orchastra section was about the same size as the Benson’s. It had a balcony section behind the orchastra section. (Similar to the one in the Astor Plaza but smaller) It did not have an orchestra pit like the one in the Benson. The lobby was also much smaller then the Benson’s.
I went to this theatre in the 1950’s and it was The Deluxe. When was it called The Bay Theatre?
The AMC Empire on 42st does the same thing. Slide shows, rock music and lots of commercials! The way they raise the ticket prices every 6 months (The AMC is now $10.50) you would think they could stop playing the same irratating commercials.
Saw Spider-Man 2 at this theatre yesterday. Will really miss that big red curtain that openend and closed before and after the show. Much better than seeing a slideshow. I hope something else plays there before Aug. 5 so I can make one more trip to this great theatre.
The building was not demolished. They gutted the interior to put in offices and added a third floor but the original building stands.
I never really like this theatre (The Oriental was much better) and once it was split up it was not a great place to see a movie. Did not like the sound in the upstairs theatres. By the way, I hope the cats ended up with someone.
The bathrooms were upstairs. Similar to the Loews Jersey, but smaller. There was also a plaque on the upper lobby wall dedicated to Marcus Loew. (had a small bust of his face on it) Wonder what happened to that. I believe part of the marble staircase still exists. If you go into the Marshall’s store there is a black door on the left wall with a window. If you look through the window you can see the staircase. I bet they still use the bathrooms upstairs.
Yes, you are right. I thought the later marquee looked better than the original one.
They replaced the original seats with the orange ones when they twinned the balcony theatre.
It is the Benson Marquee. I have lived in the neighborhood all my life and you can not see the Oriental Marquee from 20th ave. I believe the Oriental does appear later in the film. Its like the chase scene from the “French Connection” (Also filmed in this neighborhood) If you watch closely they pass Lafayette High School several times during the chase. Sometimes the train is on the center track, sometimes its on a different track. By the way, what year was the Oriental twinned? If it was in the late 1970’s then they could not have shown Rocky and Network in 1976. The last film I saw at the Oriental was Dick Tracy in the main (downstairs) theatre. Untill its demise the entire orchestra section was intact as one theatre. Several rows of seats were missing here and there so you had great leg room in many of the rows. It really is a shame it had to close.
I think either All The President’s Men or Network should have been the Best Pic winner in 1976. Rocky is not in the same class as those films. I would agree with Giant or 10 Commandments over 80 Days but I could understand them picking 80 Days as a Best Picture winner. It’s a fun picture.
Any chance when the restoration is finished that they would consider showing classic films?
There seems to be scafolding up around the Waverly. Anybody know what work is being done there?
I believe abot twelve years ago they had a classic film series at Radio City. Does anyone remember if it was well attended?
It is going to be a Kohls. The signs are already there.
I believe there was also a faded sign on the 46st mentioning Vaudeville shows.
I have heard from old-timers that they did have some Vaudville shows there in the early 1930’s. Al Jolson made a personal appearance and performed at this theatre before a screening of “Jolson Sings Again” He toured several Loews theatres on the same day in the New York area.
I saw How The West Was Won at this theatre. It was a great theatre. If you went to the top of the theatre and pulled the curtain you could see rows of the original seats still in place. Lobby was spectacular. If there was one NY theatre they could have kept it should have been this one. I never got to the Roxy so I can not compare them.
In the late 70’s the Hudson was a dollar theatre showing double features of second run films.
Does anyone know when this theatre is closing?
AMC!, maybe two years ago. Not now. The Fox movie channel is OK.