I went to the double bill screening of “Crack in the World” & “ Invasion of the Body Snatchers” last night. Great show, despite a slight delay starting the main feature due to a projector ‘gate’ problem. Excellent prints considering the ages of the movies.
It’s been 3 years since I last took a look around the theatre and I am most impressed with the improvements, care and enthusiasm that is being taken to restore the theatre. Nice to see the console of the organ is sitting in the orchestra pit awaiting its completion to be available to be played again. On the exterior the marquee is a-blaze with light again as the neon name flashes on and off!
There was a low turnout for this programme (the friends I was with said there had been be much larger audiences on previous screenings they had attended), was it the rainy evening that put people off attending? I know if I had a ‘gem’ like the Loew’s on my doorstep (London, UK) I would be there every opportunity. Come on you New Yorkers and New Jerseyites! Give them some support! It is so easy to get to on the PATH train which has a station just across the street from the theatre and is only 10 minutes from World Trade Center station in Manhattan.
Great to see another Cinema Treasures member attending; ‘saps’. Thanks for coming over and saying ‘Hi’. I enjoyed our chat. Keep in touch.
The 1930 edition of Film Daily Yearbook gives a Tiffany Theatre located at 357 Chester Street, Brooklyn, which maps out not too far from Livonia Avenue. It is listed as having a seating capacity of 680
However>>>
A theatre that maps closer to Livonia Avenue and Christopher Avenue is the Livonia Theatre, 382 Livonia Avenue, Brooklyn, already listed on Cinema Treasures /theaters/11180/
MikeH;
I got my information on the Strand Theatre from the Theatre Historical Society of America. There was a short piece written in their ‘Marquee’ magazine. Of course the information they had could be incorrect as well, depending on their source. Local town planning offices will probably have archive records that give all relevent information, or local newspaper archives.
Film Daily Yearbook’s from 1941 have it listed as the Franklin Theatre. Does anyone have earlier editions so we can put a year on when the name change occured?
The Loma Theatre closed in 1988. One of its last operators, if not the last was Mann Theatres. In its heyday it was part of the Fox West Coast Theatres chain.
John;
Just to let you know that I have just done a count on the current seating plan on offer on the website. Total seating is currently 302 + 6 disabled spaces in the orchestra level. Seating is currently split as 222 in the orchestra and 80 in the balcony.
I know FDY’s can vary from edition to edition, my copy of the 1943 FDY also gives 300 seats. The 1941 edition gives the Palace name, but no seating capacity, usually this indicates a new theatre that hasn’t sent its data into FDY.
I wish I could down there sometime on one of my visits to the USA, it looks like a real ‘cinema treasure’.
The Capitol Theater opened on 11th March 1929 with the MGM silent movie “The Garden of Allah” starring Alice Terry. The original seating capacity was given as 2,200. It was equipped with a Fitton & Haley 2Manual/27Stop theatre organ that was opened by J.A. Ainsworth.
In the mid'1970’s the cinema was taken over by Classic Cinemas and re-named Classic. Bingo began to be played in the stalls area on some days and evenings of the week and films were screened less often, now viewable only from the original balcony seating when bingo wasn’t being played below. This situation only lasted a short time, as by 1977 Mecca had taken over and it had become a full time bingo hall which remains in use today.
The Capitol Cinema opened on 11th February 1929 with the movie “Man, Woman, Sin” starring John Gilbert which was supported by a stage show and organ interlude. The Capitol was re-named ABC in December 1968. After the ABC closed as a cinema on 13th October 1973 (with the double bill “Scarecrow”/“Class of ‘99”), it became a Mecca bingo club which closed December 1996.
It stood unused until the Weatherspoon’s chain of pubs purchased the building and refurbished it into one of their pubs, now called The Capitol. It retains most of the decor of the cinema, both externally and internally.
The Hippodrome Theatre went over to film use as the Tudor Picture House on 6th October 1930, operated by Northern Cinemas, although there was still some occasional live stage shows.
In 1958 it was taken over by the Essoldo chain and re-named Essoldo. It was during their tenure in 1967 that the fire happened. The cinema was re-built, opening again in July 1969. The Essoldo chain was taken over by Classic Cinemas in 1972 and it was re-named Classic Cinema who added a second screen on the stage area. 10 years later in 1982 it was acquired by the Cannon Cinemas and was re-named for the final time.
After final closure as the Cannon Cinema (date unknown at present), it was converted into the current use as a bar, named the Rat & Parrot in Spring 1999.
I omitted the date for closing with the Stir Crazy/Blue Lagoon double bill, it was 11th September 1982. I have now found that the Cameo re-opened under new ownership on 16th August 1986 and continues today.
Opened as the King’s Cinema on 8th January 1914 with a seating capacity of 650. It was re-named Cameo from 25th March 1949 becoming an art house cinema. By the mid 1960’s it had gone over to screening mainstream movies such as “Tom Jones” and seasons of Woody Allen movies. It closed with the double bill “Stir Crazy” starring Gene Wilder & “The Blue Lagoon” starring Brook Shields.
I have not located what it became after closing, but it is now re-opened as ‘woody’ states in his posting above.
Opened as the Majestic Cinema on 27th July 1936, it had an original seating capacity given as 1,600. Soon after opening it was taken over by Oscar Deutsch’s Odeon Theatres chain and re-named Odeon.
It closed on 24th October 1981 and was converted first into a bingo hall and in recent years has been a night club named Caesar’s Palace.
The only cinema in Rothwell listed in Kinematograph Yearbook’s through the 1930’s and 1940’s is the 900 seat, Picture Palace located on Ingram Parade and operated by Rothwell Public Service Ltd. No mention of an ‘Empire’ during these years and by the mid 1960’s there is no listing at all for a cinema in Rothwell.
The Picture House opened on 13th October 1921. In May 1928 it was taken over by Denman/Gaumont Theatres and in December 1928 the cinema was enlarged to 1,800 seats(original seating capacity is not known).
It was re-named Gaumont from 1st May 1950 and closed by the Rank Organisation on 8th June 1968. It was demolished and a Littlewood’s department store was built on the site.
The Palace Cinema was opened in 1914 by the Albany Ward circuit. It had a seating capacity of 635. It was taken over in February 1929 by the Provincial Cinematograph Theatres circuit (who were later merged into the Gaumont British circuit).
The Palace was closed on 27th February 1937 and a new Gaumont Theatre built on the site (this too has now been demolished)
I see from the website (posted above by edward on Oct 22, 2003), that the upper balcony is now used as a ‘Private VIP’ section, where you can watch the movie from a private box or on loungers located on 3 levels. Obviously the best place to see the movies without having others invade your ‘comfort zone’.
In the Film Daily Yearbook, 1941 edition it was named the Diana and by the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. it had become the Savoy. It was re-named Roxy in 1975.
I went to the double bill screening of “Crack in the World” & “ Invasion of the Body Snatchers” last night. Great show, despite a slight delay starting the main feature due to a projector ‘gate’ problem. Excellent prints considering the ages of the movies.
It’s been 3 years since I last took a look around the theatre and I am most impressed with the improvements, care and enthusiasm that is being taken to restore the theatre. Nice to see the console of the organ is sitting in the orchestra pit awaiting its completion to be available to be played again. On the exterior the marquee is a-blaze with light again as the neon name flashes on and off!
There was a low turnout for this programme (the friends I was with said there had been be much larger audiences on previous screenings they had attended), was it the rainy evening that put people off attending? I know if I had a ‘gem’ like the Loew’s on my doorstep (London, UK) I would be there every opportunity. Come on you New Yorkers and New Jerseyites! Give them some support! It is so easy to get to on the PATH train which has a station just across the street from the theatre and is only 10 minutes from World Trade Center station in Manhattan.
Great to see another Cinema Treasures member attending; ‘saps’. Thanks for coming over and saying ‘Hi’. I enjoyed our chat. Keep in touch.
The 1930 edition of Film Daily Yearbook gives a Tiffany Theatre located at 357 Chester Street, Brooklyn, which maps out not too far from Livonia Avenue. It is listed as having a seating capacity of 680
However>>>
A theatre that maps closer to Livonia Avenue and Christopher Avenue is the Livonia Theatre, 382 Livonia Avenue, Brooklyn, already listed on Cinema Treasures /theaters/11180/
MikeH;
I got my information on the Strand Theatre from the Theatre Historical Society of America. There was a short piece written in their ‘Marquee’ magazine. Of course the information they had could be incorrect as well, depending on their source. Local town planning offices will probably have archive records that give all relevent information, or local newspaper archives.
If you find out anymore, please let us know.
Film Daily Yearbook’s from 1941 have it listed as the Franklin Theatre. Does anyone have earlier editions so we can put a year on when the name change occured?
The Loma Theatre closed in 1988. One of its last operators, if not the last was Mann Theatres. In its heyday it was part of the Fox West Coast Theatres chain.
John;
Just to let you know that I have just done a count on the current seating plan on offer on the website. Total seating is currently 302 + 6 disabled spaces in the orchestra level. Seating is currently split as 222 in the orchestra and 80 in the balcony.
I know FDY’s can vary from edition to edition, my copy of the 1943 FDY also gives 300 seats. The 1941 edition gives the Palace name, but no seating capacity, usually this indicates a new theatre that hasn’t sent its data into FDY.
I wish I could down there sometime on one of my visits to the USA, it looks like a real ‘cinema treasure’.
The Capitol Theater opened on 11th March 1929 with the MGM silent movie “The Garden of Allah” starring Alice Terry. The original seating capacity was given as 2,200. It was equipped with a Fitton & Haley 2Manual/27Stop theatre organ that was opened by J.A. Ainsworth.
In the mid'1970’s the cinema was taken over by Classic Cinemas and re-named Classic. Bingo began to be played in the stalls area on some days and evenings of the week and films were screened less often, now viewable only from the original balcony seating when bingo wasn’t being played below. This situation only lasted a short time, as by 1977 Mecca had taken over and it had become a full time bingo hall which remains in use today.
The Capitol Cinema opened on 11th February 1929 with the movie “Man, Woman, Sin” starring John Gilbert which was supported by a stage show and organ interlude. The Capitol was re-named ABC in December 1968. After the ABC closed as a cinema on 13th October 1973 (with the double bill “Scarecrow”/“Class of ‘99”), it became a Mecca bingo club which closed December 1996.
It stood unused until the Weatherspoon’s chain of pubs purchased the building and refurbished it into one of their pubs, now called The Capitol. It retains most of the decor of the cinema, both externally and internally.
The Ionic opened with a seating capacity of 562. It closed on 30th September 1999 (seating had been reduced to 518)
Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook, 1950 edition as having a seating capacity of 399.
Re-named the Grand Theatre from at least 1941 according to listings in editions of Film Daily Yearbook.
RockS;
Thanks for your corrections.
The Cannon Cinema closed on 23rd February 1995.
The Hippodrome Theatre went over to film use as the Tudor Picture House on 6th October 1930, operated by Northern Cinemas, although there was still some occasional live stage shows.
In 1958 it was taken over by the Essoldo chain and re-named Essoldo. It was during their tenure in 1967 that the fire happened. The cinema was re-built, opening again in July 1969. The Essoldo chain was taken over by Classic Cinemas in 1972 and it was re-named Classic Cinema who added a second screen on the stage area. 10 years later in 1982 it was acquired by the Cannon Cinemas and was re-named for the final time.
After final closure as the Cannon Cinema (date unknown at present), it was converted into the current use as a bar, named the Rat & Parrot in Spring 1999.
I omitted the date for closing with the Stir Crazy/Blue Lagoon double bill, it was 11th September 1982. I have now found that the Cameo re-opened under new ownership on 16th August 1986 and continues today.
Opened as the King’s Cinema on 8th January 1914 with a seating capacity of 650. It was re-named Cameo from 25th March 1949 becoming an art house cinema. By the mid 1960’s it had gone over to screening mainstream movies such as “Tom Jones” and seasons of Woody Allen movies. It closed with the double bill “Stir Crazy” starring Gene Wilder & “The Blue Lagoon” starring Brook Shields.
I have not located what it became after closing, but it is now re-opened as ‘woody’ states in his posting above.
Opened as the Majestic Cinema on 27th July 1936, it had an original seating capacity given as 1,600. Soon after opening it was taken over by Oscar Deutsch’s Odeon Theatres chain and re-named Odeon.
It closed on 24th October 1981 and was converted first into a bingo hall and in recent years has been a night club named Caesar’s Palace.
The only cinema in Rothwell listed in Kinematograph Yearbook’s through the 1930’s and 1940’s is the 900 seat, Picture Palace located on Ingram Parade and operated by Rothwell Public Service Ltd. No mention of an ‘Empire’ during these years and by the mid 1960’s there is no listing at all for a cinema in Rothwell.
The Picture House opened on 13th October 1921. In May 1928 it was taken over by Denman/Gaumont Theatres and in December 1928 the cinema was enlarged to 1,800 seats(original seating capacity is not known).
It was re-named Gaumont from 1st May 1950 and closed by the Rank Organisation on 8th June 1968. It was demolished and a Littlewood’s department store was built on the site.
The Palace Cinema was opened in 1914 by the Albany Ward circuit. It had a seating capacity of 635. It was taken over in February 1929 by the Provincial Cinematograph Theatres circuit (who were later merged into the Gaumont British circuit).
The Palace was closed on 27th February 1937 and a new Gaumont Theatre built on the site (this too has now been demolished)
I see from the website (posted above by edward on Oct 22, 2003), that the upper balcony is now used as a ‘Private VIP’ section, where you can watch the movie from a private box or on loungers located on 3 levels. Obviously the best place to see the movies without having others invade your ‘comfort zone’.
The original seating capacity of the Alhambra Cinema was 600.
The Film Daily Yearbook, 1941 edition has the Clifton Theatre listed with a seating capacity of 1,100.
In the Film Daily Yearbook, 1941 edition it was named the Diana and by the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. it had become the Savoy. It was re-named Roxy in 1975.
From the photo, this first opened as the Rivoli, then went through a series of name changes.