Comments from Ken Roe

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Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Kings Cinema on Jun 14, 2006 at 4:18 pm

The Kings Cinema has been demolished and replaced by a parking garage to serve the adjacent newly built tower block at 250 W.50th Street.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Delmar Theatre on Jun 14, 2006 at 4:15 pm

Currently a McDonalds Restaurant only takes up the original entrance and part of the foyer space of the building. The auditorium has been converted into a bank and medical center.

I have Film Daily Yearbook editions 1926 and 1930 which list it as the Gotham Theatre with a seating capacity given as 2,500 and 2,600 respectively. By the 1941 edition of F.D.Y. it had been re-named Delmar Theatre with 2,250 seats and still the Delmar with 2,200 seats in the 1957 edition.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Grange Theatre on Jun 14, 2006 at 4:01 pm

The Grange Theatre building still exists, in use as retail on the street level and a church on the 2nd floor. The address of the church is given as 7-11 Hamilton Place and I have it listed in the Film Daily Yearbook;1926 edition as the Grange Theatre, 7 Hamilton Place with a seating capacity of 482. It is not listed in the 1930 F.D.Y. or beyond.

However, in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915 there is a double listing for a Hudson Fulton Theatre, West 136th Street & Broadway and also at 3 Hamilton Place. Now 3 Hamilton Place is on the corner of Hamilton Place, Broadway and W. 136th Street. Could this be the same theatre as the later named Grange? Looking at the actual corner site today(#3), it has been redeveloped into a small retail unit, but the other adjoining building remain, with numbers 7 thru 11 certainly looking like a former theatre.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Leader Theatre on Jun 13, 2006 at 3:33 pm

The Leader Theatre is currently split into 3 units. At the entrance foyer and rear orchestra end is a pharmacy and retail store. The central section is currently available to rent and the front orchestra section is a large Jewish restaurant.

Currently (June 2006) the auditorium is being ‘built over’, with a new (at least 3 storey) construction being erected above the auditorium. Supporting steelwork is currently in place.

The Casa Del Rey building on the corner is available to lease or for site redevelopment.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Academy Theatre on Jun 11, 2006 at 4:56 pm

Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook;1926 edition as having a seating capacity of 299.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Ridgewood Theatre on Jun 8, 2006 at 10:59 am

There was a Viennese Garden Theatre (an air-dome?) operating in 1923 in Brooklyn. But I doubt an air-dome would have installed a Wurlitzer theatre organ.

A possible answer could be that the proposed name of the theatre was going to be Weinwolf Theater and it actually opened with another name.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Teatro Principal on Jun 7, 2006 at 8:15 pm

That would be great Cecilia. I for one would love to see the original photos.

You can post them on here by scanning them into your Flickr.com account and then add a link to that page onto this page.

Looking forward>>>>>Thanks

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Lindy Theatre on Jun 7, 2006 at 8:47 am

The building at 118 Graham Avenue (current retail use as RAC-Rent-A-Center) is the former Variety/Progress/Lindy Theater. The former auditorium space at the rear of the store widens out and when viewed from the McKibbon Street side, the exterior brickwork of the auditorium can be seen.

There is currently no visible trace of any cinematic decoration to be seen either within or on the exterior.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Winthrop Theater on Jun 7, 2006 at 8:31 am

ken mc;
Film Daily Yearbooks can occassionally be found at specialist 2nd hand bookshops or by searching online used books sites. Average prices for later editions 1940’s-1950’s go for around $60.00. Earlier 1920’s and 1930’s editions go for $80.00 upwards.

The year 1926 edition was the first to list theatres. This continued for many years, but content and detail can vary from year to year. Some give actual street addresses (with numbers), some just the street in larger cities and other editions list just the theatre name and seating capacity.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Graham Theater on Jun 6, 2006 at 8:47 pm

This opened in 1914 as the Reel Theatre. The seating capacity given in the 1926 and 1927 editions of Film Daily Yearbook is 600. In 1928 it was re-named Graham Theater, F.D.Y. in 1930 gives a seating capacity of 587.

It was last known as the Capri Theatre from 1978.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Winthrop Theater on Jun 6, 2006 at 8:31 pm

I have an opening year of 1923 (which could be around Christmas 1922?) if an organ was installed November 1922. A seating capacity of 600 is given in Film Daily Yearbooks;1926 and 1927 editions.

The Winthrop Theatre closed in 1959 to become a supermarket two years later. The building now houses a MET supermarket with the address (corner entrance) at 131 Driggs Avenue.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Cinema Warsaw on Jun 6, 2006 at 8:16 pm

The Cinema Warsaw is located in the free standing building to the right of the corner building seen in the photo posted by LostMemory on Mar 26 2005.

The corner building is the offices of the Polish National Home at 261 Driggs Avenue. The Cinema Warsaw is located at 263 Driggs Avenue, although a notice on the coming attractions board outside the building (which contains the name ‘Cinema Warsaw’) lists an event to be held at 261 Driggs Ave.

I passed by the building today and spoke with the caretaker who told me that has not screened films for a couple of years now, but the projectors and equipment are still in situ. The building still has the seating, but this is currently re-configured (around the side-walls possibly) and weekly dances are held in the building. He told me there is only one level (no balcony).

The Polish National Home have operated from this site since 1914 according to a plaque on the wall of their office building.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Green Street Arcade Theater on Jun 6, 2006 at 7:37 pm

Further information I have found:
This may map as George Apen Street, but the actual street still bears signage of it’s original name;Green Street.

A motion picture theatre is listed as operating at this address (153 Green Street) in Throw’s Business Directory 1911 & 1912. No name given for the theatre but it is operated by Patrick Kelly. This could possibly have closed for some years and then re-opened in 1926 as the Arcade Theater and is listed in the Film Daily Yearbook; 1926 edition with 475 seats. In the 1927 edition of F.D.Y. it is listed as the Green Street Arcade Theater with a seating capacity of 400.

I have notes that it finally closed in 1927. The building has been in use recently as an electrical warehouse, but is currently (June 2006) offered ‘For Rent’.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Empress Theater on Jun 1, 2006 at 6:20 pm

LOL>>>Lost Memory. Well I have been plodding around the mean streets of NYC again for the past week (another 4 to go!). Glad we have yet another theatre wrapped up ‘in the can’ so to speak.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Empress Theater on Jun 1, 2006 at 4:03 pm

I have just looked at this building. It is located at 529 Empire Boulevard on the corner of Balfour Place. (Film Daily Yearbook’s in 1930 & 1931 incorrectly give 829 as the street number). Listed as the Empress Theatre in 1941(closed). In 1942 it became the Crown Theatre and closed in around 1951.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Odeon Corby on May 24, 2006 at 1:41 pm

A vintage view of the exterior of the Odeon Corby. I am unable to date it, but possibly mid-1950’s:
View link

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Odeon Ilford on May 24, 2006 at 1:33 pm

A couple of vintage photographs of the Odeon:
In November 1949 as the name is being changed to ‘Odeon’:
View link
In April 1971:
View link

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about ABC Ilford on May 24, 2006 at 1:21 pm

A more recent photograph showing the Ilford Cinema sign and entrance (a former balcony exit) and the main foyer in use as a pub:
http://www.moviebunker.com/ilford_cinema.htm

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about ABC Ilford on May 24, 2006 at 7:47 am

A scan of a photograph I took of the building in the summer 1994, when was operating as ‘The Island’ concert venue:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/152495563/

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Weber's Theatre on May 24, 2006 at 3:06 am

OOOPS sorry, here is that link again:
View link

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Weber's Theatre on May 24, 2006 at 3:04 am

A 1913 photograph of Weber’s Theatre screening “The Climax” and the adjacent Daly’s Theatre on live shows:
View link

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on May 24, 2006 at 2:59 am

Sorry about the duplication Al; Here is a photo from 1913 with Weber’s Theatre screening “The Climax” and Daly’s Theatre’s on live shows:
View link

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Broncho Theatre on May 23, 2006 at 2:16 am

The Film Daily Yearbook;1950 edition lists two seperate theatres in Edmond, OK. The Broncho Theatre, Main Street with 590 seats and the Gem Theatre, Main Street with 324 seats.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Cinart Theatre on May 22, 2006 at 1:35 pm

Theatres listed on Court Street, Brooklyn in the following years:

American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915
Melville Theatre, 551 Court Street
St. George Theatre, 222 Cort Street (mispelt possibly?)
Remsen Theatre, Court Street & Remsen Street

Film Daily Yearbook 1926
Borough Hall Theatre, Court Street. 600 seats
Lido Theatre, Court Street. 600 seats
Paras Court Theatre, Court Street & Union Street. 600 seats

Film Daily Yearbook 1927
Same details as 1926

Film Daily Yearbook 1930
Borough Hall Theatre, 102 Court Street. 598 seats
Court Theatre, Court Street & Smith Street. 589 seats
Gloria Theatre, 395 Court Street. 599 seats
Lido Theatre, 265 Court Street. 530 seats
Paras Court Theatre, 292 Court Street. 600 seats

Film Daily Yearbook 1941
Borough Hall Theatre (as above)
Gloria Theatre, 395 Court Avenue (a misprint?) 550 seats
Lido Theatre, 265 Court Street. 500 seats
Paras Court Theatre, 292 Court Street. 570 seats

Film Daily Yearbook 1943
Borough Hall Theatre, 102 Court Street. 585 seats
Gloria Theatre, 395 Court Avenue (still misprinted?) 594 seats
Lido Theatre, 265 Court Street. 550 seats
Paras Court Theatre, 292 Court Street. 593 seats

Film Daily Yearbook 1950
Boro Hall Theatre, 102 Court Street. 585 seats
Gloria Theatre, 395 Court Street. 594 seats
Lido Theatre, 265 Court Street. 512 seats
Paras Court Theatre (as above)

Film Daily Yearbook 1957
Lido Theatre, 265 Court Street. 512 seats

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Odeon Haymarket on May 20, 2006 at 11:28 am

A colour view of the auditorium. Image by Bridget Smith – 1995:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/149904482/