This followed a successful trial run of the 3-D version at Loew’s Metropolitan in downtown Brooklyn. The MGM musical had been shown “flat” in its premiere engagement at Radio City Music Hall.
“Kiss Me Kate” had previously been shown “flat” at Radio City Music Hall due to technical considerations. After a successful run at the Metropolitan, the 3D version moved on to the Loew’s neighborhood circuit.
During this period, the Egyptian rarely had exclusive runs of new movies. “The Postman Always Rings Twice” also opened on the same day (5/07/46) at the downtown Los Angeles Theatre and at the Fox Ritz in Mid-Wilshire.
A “bonus” at all three cinemas was a Tom & Jerry Technicolor cartoon, “Trap Happy.”
“The Trial” also opened on February 20th at the Guild 50th Street in Rockefeller Center. This was the shared American premiere engagement for the B&W adaptation of Franz Kafka’s classic.
The “new” RKO 23rd Street first opened on the night of February 19th, 1963, with the invitational premiere of Orson Welles' “The Trial,” and with star Anthony Perkins among many celebrities in attendance. Regular continuous performances started the next day. NYC was in the grip of a prolonged “strike” against the major newspapers, so the cinema’s premiere passed largely unnoticed.
What seemed an ideal Independence Day/July 4th attraction became part of the “Great Christmas Show” in 1972. And the opening date of November 9th also made the patriotic musical the Thanksgiving holiday offering for that year.
This was the first Cinerama feature to actually premiere at the Warner Theatre. “This Is Cinerama” had been a move-over from the Broadway Theatre, which returned to “legit” playhouse.
Dedication of the new “Wurlitzer Hope James Unit Orchestra,” claimed to be the largest theater organ in the world. Cost more than $100,000, and took a year to build.
This photo has been “faked” in some way, but I can’t say how. The Gaiety and Globe were both on the same side of Broadway, but separated by 46th Street. In the photo, the Globe appears to be around the corner from the Gaiety, which isn’t possible.
This was added during the Depression when a retail store became available and was turned into a low-ceilinged lobby that connected to the auditorium…Photo taken in 1947.
This became an auxiliary entrance/exit, used mainly for display purposes and a second box office at busy times.
The main entrance had been switched to Third Avenue when a retail store became available that could be turned into a low-ceilinged lobby connecting to the auditorium.
In the Depression spring of 1935, exhibitor Walter Reade found himself in desperate financial straits. He lost the Astor Theatre to its mortgage holders, and couldn’t get major product for the Mayfair, which he’d been running since RKO Theatres gave up management. Loew’s made him an offer that he couldn’t turn down— a ten-year lease for a rent of $55,000 per annum.
The Jamaica was dark at the time, awaiting the arrival of “Diamond Lil,” which was in its final day at the Brighton in Brooklyn.
The Grand was considered the top Loew’s theatre in the Bronx until the arrival of the larger and more sumptuous Paradise on the Grand Concourse.
This followed a successful trial run of the 3-D version at Loew’s Metropolitan in downtown Brooklyn. The MGM musical had been shown “flat” in its premiere engagement at Radio City Music Hall.
“Kiss Me Kate” had previously been shown “flat” at Radio City Music Hall due to technical considerations. After a successful run at the Metropolitan, the 3D version moved on to the Loew’s neighborhood circuit.
World premiere engagement opened December 14th, 1944…The movie was in Technicolor, the dominant process then and in limited wartime supply.
Elliptical dome still had original chandelier.
During this period, the Egyptian rarely had exclusive runs of new movies. “The Postman Always Rings Twice” also opened on the same day (5/07/46) at the downtown Los Angeles Theatre and at the Fox Ritz in Mid-Wilshire. A “bonus” at all three cinemas was a Tom & Jerry Technicolor cartoon, “Trap Happy.”
$23,000 would be equivalent to about $181,000 in 2016.
“The Trial” also opened on February 20th at the Guild 50th Street in Rockefeller Center. This was the shared American premiere engagement for the B&W adaptation of Franz Kafka’s classic.
The “new” RKO 23rd Street first opened on the night of February 19th, 1963, with the invitational premiere of Orson Welles' “The Trial,” and with star Anthony Perkins among many celebrities in attendance. Regular continuous performances started the next day. NYC was in the grip of a prolonged “strike” against the major newspapers, so the cinema’s premiere passed largely unnoticed.
Yes, “1776” did return in the bicentennial year of 1976 for two weeks only as replacement for the disastrous “Blue Bird,” keeping the same stage show.
The B&W comedy had previously played at Radio City Music Hall, with support from a stage revue.
The future Yuletide evergreen was originally released in the USA during the summer of 1947.
The legendary four-day collaboration between Hollywood Legend and Gossip Queen started on January 22nd, 1964.
What seemed an ideal Independence Day/July 4th attraction became part of the “Great Christmas Show” in 1972. And the opening date of November 9th also made the patriotic musical the Thanksgiving holiday offering for that year.
Advertised on July 2nd, 1942…Olympia featured in top group with “Reap the Wild Wind,” which had been the Easter holiday film at Radio City Music Hall.
This was the first Cinerama feature to actually premiere at the Warner Theatre. “This Is Cinerama” had been a move-over from the Broadway Theatre, which returned to “legit” playhouse.
“Bavu” was a Russian revolutionary portrayed by Wallace Beery.
Marquee of RKO Columbia can be seen at far left.
Single floor, with stadium section at rear.
Dedication of the new “Wurlitzer Hope James Unit Orchestra,” claimed to be the largest theater organ in the world. Cost more than $100,000, and took a year to build.
This photo has been “faked” in some way, but I can’t say how. The Gaiety and Globe were both on the same side of Broadway, but separated by 46th Street. In the photo, the Globe appears to be around the corner from the Gaiety, which isn’t possible.
This was added during the Depression when a retail store became available and was turned into a low-ceilinged lobby that connected to the auditorium…Photo taken in 1947.
This became an auxiliary entrance/exit, used mainly for display purposes and a second box office at busy times. The main entrance had been switched to Third Avenue when a retail store became available that could be turned into a low-ceilinged lobby connecting to the auditorium.
In the Depression spring of 1935, exhibitor Walter Reade found himself in desperate financial straits. He lost the Astor Theatre to its mortgage holders, and couldn’t get major product for the Mayfair, which he’d been running since RKO Theatres gave up management. Loew’s made him an offer that he couldn’t turn down— a ten-year lease for a rent of $55,000 per annum.