Thanks TC;
Time is running out on me for this current trip to NYC (I leave for LA on Monday) but thanks for the offer of a ride around and directions to some NJ theatres. Hopefully we can do this together next time I am over next year?
I have done the Stanley, New Jersey tour a couple of times. It is wonderful. I also went to see the movies at the Leow’s, New Jersey last week, plus touring the Bronx, Brooklyn and Manhattan theatres. Still many more to go. Too little time, too many theatres!
Let me know if you ever come over to London…that goes for any other Cinema Treasures posters on here!
Now called the Playhouse Theatre. When I passed by the other day it was closed (nothing being staged) and the building is up for sale. It seems like it is a multiple use building with the Cafe Wha? restaurant in the basement, a theatre at first floor level and a reheasal space above
lostmemory;
I have just returned from taking a look at the Peerless Theatre. To my trained eyes, it is definitely the original building still there, currently in use as a church. The facade matches with others in the block along Myrtle Avenue and the rear of the auditorium (screen end) viewed from Waverly Avenue is certainly the original theatre auditorium. I took photos of both the entrance facade and auditorium exterior.
The Peerless Theatre opened pre-1920 and closed in 1961.
Well, I finally got to Passaic today, hoping to take in a movie at the Montauk Theatre, but found it to be ‘closed for renovation’. This must be quite a recent closure as there was no rubbish such as cigarette ends etc behind the roller shutter on the main entrance (which has a bus stop right outside), and the front glass doors were still freshly clean. Letters were still on the marquee proclaiming ‘New Policy. Top Films Mon & Thurs. Doors open 12.
At least I got to see the exterior of this ‘Cinema Treasure’ and just wish I had been in the USA a few weeks earlier so that I could have got inside.
If anyone is local to Passaic/NJ or NYC on Cinema Treasures, can you keep an eye on this one for us please.
Movies return to the former Warner Theatre next Wednesday 15th June 2005 for one night only when the Rita Hayworth movie “Cover Girl” is being screened as part of the LA Conservancy ‘Best Remaining Seats’ series of films ‘Classic films in Classic Theatres’.
The screening will be held in the former orchestra level of the theatre (1,100 seats). The balcony was split into 2 screens and access to the public cannot be given to this area of the theatre. I believe all tickets are sold out.
I stopped by today and took several exterior photos. The facade has been ‘modernised’ by having steel skin attached to it. The marquee now gives a re-opening date of 17th June 2005.
bway;
The theatre you mention above with photo’s, located at 882 DeKalib Avenue is the Palace Theatre which opened in 1913. By 1917 it was known as the Empire Theatre operated by C&S Amusement Company. It had disappeared from listings by 1926.
I will give it its own listing by adding it as a new theatre to the site.
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.
Thanks TC;
Time is running out on me for this current trip to NYC (I leave for LA on Monday) but thanks for the offer of a ride around and directions to some NJ theatres. Hopefully we can do this together next time I am over next year?
I have done the Stanley, New Jersey tour a couple of times. It is wonderful. I also went to see the movies at the Leow’s, New Jersey last week, plus touring the Bronx, Brooklyn and Manhattan theatres. Still many more to go. Too little time, too many theatres!
Let me know if you ever come over to London…that goes for any other Cinema Treasures posters on here!
Now called the Playhouse Theatre. When I passed by the other day it was closed (nothing being staged) and the building is up for sale. It seems like it is a multiple use building with the Cafe Wha? restaurant in the basement, a theatre at first floor level and a reheasal space above
lostmemory;
I have just returned from taking a look at the Peerless Theatre. To my trained eyes, it is definitely the original building still there, currently in use as a church. The facade matches with others in the block along Myrtle Avenue and the rear of the auditorium (screen end) viewed from Waverly Avenue is certainly the original theatre auditorium. I took photos of both the entrance facade and auditorium exterior.
The Peerless Theatre opened pre-1920 and closed in 1961.
The Tuxedo Theater is still in use today as a post office.
The Oxford Theatre is currently used as a school; PS 315. The address on the building is 2246 Jerome Ave, Bronx, NY.
The site of this theatre is now an empty lot.
Well, I finally got to Passaic today, hoping to take in a movie at the Montauk Theatre, but found it to be ‘closed for renovation’. This must be quite a recent closure as there was no rubbish such as cigarette ends etc behind the roller shutter on the main entrance (which has a bus stop right outside), and the front glass doors were still freshly clean. Letters were still on the marquee proclaiming ‘New Policy. Top Films Mon & Thurs. Doors open 12.
At least I got to see the exterior of this ‘Cinema Treasure’ and just wish I had been in the USA a few weeks earlier so that I could have got inside.
If anyone is local to Passaic/NJ or NYC on Cinema Treasures, can you keep an eye on this one for us please.
Movies return to the former Warner Theatre next Wednesday 15th June 2005 for one night only when the Rita Hayworth movie “Cover Girl” is being screened as part of the LA Conservancy ‘Best Remaining Seats’ series of films ‘Classic films in Classic Theatres’.
The screening will be held in the former orchestra level of the theatre (1,100 seats). The balcony was split into 2 screens and access to the public cannot be given to this area of the theatre. I believe all tickets are sold out.
bt91975;
The Fox(former Iris) still sits vacant and boarded up. It is the Ritz further along the boulevard that is now in use as a Latino church.
I’m going there today and will report back.
I stopped by today and took several exterior photos. The facade has been ‘modernised’ by having steel skin attached to it. The marquee now gives a re-opening date of 17th June 2005.
bway;
The theatre you mention above with photo’s, located at 882 DeKalib Avenue is the Palace Theatre which opened in 1913. By 1917 it was known as the Empire Theatre operated by C&S Amusement Company. It had disappeared from listings by 1926.
I will give it its own listing by adding it as a new theatre to the site.
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.