I’m looking at a NY Times article dtd 2/17/72 welcoming the Ritz back to Broadway. Other than a brief porn mention there is nothing about the screening of films. Maybe the porn was 16mm.
As far as mainstream films the RFK had special matinee programs of mainstream films but the prime ad found for same listed these as being screened at the Bert Wheeler Theatre (is that on CT) on 43rd Street. Most RFK events were members only, and the small number of
members they had doomed the operation.
Al, since you have located an ad for Jaws at that site would you please direct me to it.
I’d like to know more about the movies shown. Were they just screened for members or at an event or were they regularly scheduled and advertised to the general public. If not the latter I don’t see the Kerr as an appropriate listing for CT.
Well, then, the former Royale, whatever it’s now called, should qualify since it was the site of the road show introduction of the movie Gigi. And more qualified than that would be the Hilton Theatre, former Ford Center for the Performing Arts, which combined the adjacent Lyric and Apollo theatres on 42nd street. And just down the street is the American Airlines which, for many years, showed movies as the Selwyn.
And, if I remember correctly, from the AT This Theatre column in a Playbill for one of the shows I saw there, the theatre was built in record time, only a couple of months. That’s hard to believe, even for just the shell.
From the posting there is no indication that this theatre ever showed a movie – it was legit, radio, tv, children’s theatre and legit again. So why is it on the Cinema Treasures site? Are we now going to carry every Broadway and Off Broadway Theatre that ever was?
A great source of “Lost Broadway Theatres” is a book of that same name. The difference there is theatres are generally shown when they were intact, in use, as opposed to so many on CT which are linked to really depressing pictures of derelect buildings.
According to the manager the season is generally April to October but others factors may influence those dates, particularly the availability of a film that he particularly wants to screen. He also said the theatre goes back to the 70’s which surprises me.
UGH. The one thing I hate about too many of the picture links is shots like this. The trashed marquee. The boarded up facade, etc. etc..How did it get so trashed? There are other theatres that closed that have remained fairly pristine.
To gfm8959. The Amity was in the on the right hand side of the strip mall. I believe it was at the end of the building. If my mind serves me correctly, the shopping center was levelled and all was built anew. The left hand side with the Pathmark had a Grand Union, which was about the last tenent in the center. The Apple Bank, if that’s still there, was an add on to the center and was all that remained during the many years when Breslin never got his act together and built the new center. That was a big issue. It dragged on for years.
I’m not getting any mail from you at all. The only reason I’m responding to this is I got the notice from CT that someone had responded, etc.. And I’m getting a lot of other Email so I’m in a receiving mode. If you didn’t get the dreaded Daemon, where did it go. A thought, if you are willing to give me your EMail I’ll send a note to you and you can reply with photos and beat the system.
There is a way to put things on this site but I’m not a techie. If you have the capability to EMail then you have sufficient tools to add a photo to this site, that much I know. If you’d like to send me a personal copy I’m
What I’d like to see is a photo of the original marquee, that big boxy affair with hundreds of yellow incandescent running lights and the red and orange in the front.
Of course a ‘78 photo would be nice because the new marquee would not have been trashed by that truck.
They’ve got something new – “Church at the Movies”. They even have a van to transport people. I went past last Sunday and they really had a crowd. I wonder if films do as well.
Thanks Warren. Now, I’ll go back to the Library page – I see they haven’t corrected the address yet – to see what components you picked up to achieve the link and then I’ll try one of my own.
Very interesting film. But, what I don’t understand is why is the theatre still intact and yet it’s listed as a restaurant. From the photo posted by Lost Memory it appears that the auditorium is to the left of the restaurant. Were there multiple auditoriums and the one now houses the restaurant? The posting says single screen. Bryan, could you clarify this please.
So Dan, why do you presume this is the last National Amusements megaplex? Their financial condition, the economy, all the other factors which will eventual reduce the number of theatres? It would seem that Clearview is the only healthy company out there. They have a reputation for improving any property they acquire – maybe that’s the key. Tney acquire – I don’t think they do much or any building.
I’m looking at a NY Times article dtd 2/17/72 welcoming the Ritz back to Broadway. Other than a brief porn mention there is nothing about the screening of films. Maybe the porn was 16mm.
As far as mainstream films the RFK had special matinee programs of mainstream films but the prime ad found for same listed these as being screened at the Bert Wheeler Theatre (is that on CT) on 43rd Street. Most RFK events were members only, and the small number of
members they had doomed the operation.
Al, since you have located an ad for Jaws at that site would you please direct me to it.
I’d like to know more about the movies shown. Were they just screened for members or at an event or were they regularly scheduled and advertised to the general public. If not the latter I don’t see the Kerr as an appropriate listing for CT.
LostMemory what about the Hilton? and the former Royale?
Well, then, the former Royale, whatever it’s now called, should qualify since it was the site of the road show introduction of the movie Gigi. And more qualified than that would be the Hilton Theatre, former Ford Center for the Performing Arts, which combined the adjacent Lyric and Apollo theatres on 42nd street. And just down the street is the American Airlines which, for many years, showed movies as the Selwyn.
And, if I remember correctly, from the AT This Theatre column in a Playbill for one of the shows I saw there, the theatre was built in record time, only a couple of months. That’s hard to believe, even for just the shell.
From the posting there is no indication that this theatre ever showed a movie – it was legit, radio, tv, children’s theatre and legit again. So why is it on the Cinema Treasures site? Are we now going to carry every Broadway and Off Broadway Theatre that ever was?
A great source of “Lost Broadway Theatres” is a book of that same name. The difference there is theatres are generally shown when they were intact, in use, as opposed to so many on CT which are linked to really depressing pictures of derelect buildings.
According to the manager the season is generally April to October but others factors may influence those dates, particularly the availability of a film that he particularly wants to screen. He also said the theatre goes back to the 70’s which surprises me.
UGH. The one thing I hate about too many of the picture links is shots like this. The trashed marquee. The boarded up facade, etc. etc..How did it get so trashed? There are other theatres that closed that have remained fairly pristine.
What are the chances of getting inside before they do and, possibly, getting some memorabilia?
According to the caption on the photo posted by ken mc on February 10, 2008 the auditorium burned down in the mid 60s.
And the price should still be ninety cents for the first show of the day.
Great pictures. Never had occasion to be inside. Never thought it would be so sleek.
To gfm8959. The Amity was in the on the right hand side of the strip mall. I believe it was at the end of the building. If my mind serves me correctly, the shopping center was levelled and all was built anew. The left hand side with the Pathmark had a Grand Union, which was about the last tenent in the center. The Apple Bank, if that’s still there, was an add on to the center and was all that remained during the many years when Breslin never got his act together and built the new center. That was a big issue. It dragged on for years.
The community has been trying to get rid of it for years but the owner keeps it as some sort of tax hedge.
I’m not getting any mail from you at all. The only reason I’m responding to this is I got the notice from CT that someone had responded, etc.. And I’m getting a lot of other Email so I’m in a receiving mode. If you didn’t get the dreaded Daemon, where did it go. A thought, if you are willing to give me your EMail I’ll send a note to you and you can reply with photos and beat the system.
Am I not correct in my presumption that the Sayville Theatre was virtually identical to the Brookhaven?
nothing
didn’t get it
There is a way to put things on this site but I’m not a techie. If you have the capability to EMail then you have sufficient tools to add a photo to this site, that much I know. If you’d like to send me a personal copy I’m
kitnoir could you also share the photo with the rest of us. The Bellerose was my home theatre for more than 25 years before I moved east.
What I’d like to see is a photo of the original marquee, that big boxy affair with hundreds of yellow incandescent running lights and the red and orange in the front.
Of course a ‘78 photo would be nice because the new marquee would not have been trashed by that truck.
They’ve got something new – “Church at the Movies”. They even have a van to transport people. I went past last Sunday and they really had a crowd. I wonder if films do as well.
Thanks Warren. Now, I’ll go back to the Library page – I see they haven’t corrected the address yet – to see what components you picked up to achieve the link and then I’ll try one of my own.
Aw, come on. That’s almost as bad as having a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas eve which we do in my church.
Very interesting film. But, what I don’t understand is why is the theatre still intact and yet it’s listed as a restaurant. From the photo posted by Lost Memory it appears that the auditorium is to the left of the restaurant. Were there multiple auditoriums and the one now houses the restaurant? The posting says single screen. Bryan, could you clarify this please.
So Dan, why do you presume this is the last National Amusements megaplex? Their financial condition, the economy, all the other factors which will eventual reduce the number of theatres? It would seem that Clearview is the only healthy company out there. They have a reputation for improving any property they acquire – maybe that’s the key. Tney acquire – I don’t think they do much or any building.