St. George Theatre
25 Hyatt Street,
Staten Island,
NY
10301
25 Hyatt Street,
Staten Island,
NY
10301
25 people
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Showing 26 - 50 of 245 comments
NBC television show SMASH filming at theatre again today.Seems this theatre will be used for the filming of musical numbers and some theatre interiors
Thank you garth. It seems that many bookings were also going to the Fox on Hylan, The Jerry Lewis Cinema, and for a while a theatre run by the Century chain.
Isnt it ironic that some of those multi-plexes that replaced the great palaces are now gone themselves?
On the Amboy page it says it didnt open until ‘79 and the UA was some time in 1980 , so both the St.George and Paramount had actually already shut down. With what it must have cost for heating and air conditioning in those huge theatres I’m not surprised. According to the S.I. Advance at the time the Paramount was supposed to continue as an adult movie house. When word got out the move was protested and the theatre closed for good (as a movie house).
I seem to recall them closing in ‘77 or '78. What did them in was the opening of new multiplexes in the area. First the Amboy Multiplex in Perth Amboy , NJ and then UA Staten Island 14 in Travis. Ironically both of those are now long gone. They did not have stadium seating , and the Amboy started sinking cause it was built on marshland.
According to ads in the Village Voice, December 1976, and January 1977 saw a booking of the film"In Search of Noahs Ark". The Paramount seemed to be getting the prime bookings by then.
Were both theatres not run by Fabian?.Was St George more of a problem than Stapleton by then?
Found some 1974 bookings
Jan 1974-“Mean Streets”
April 1974-“The Last Detail”
June 1974-“The Lords of Flatbush”
July 1974-“The Exorcist” -in its 3rd big week!
When exactly did this theatre first close? Did the Paramount stay open a bit longer?
OK Thanks.
garth you can use google news archive search
garth I am going through back issue of the Village Voice online.
These are great history lessons. The old movie and theatre ads,plus reviews. Not to mention just being able toread about the city from back then
Back then on weeknights the film would be shown twice, with a matinee on Wednesday afternoon. Then the continous showings on weekends but the only midnight shows would be special features like Rocky Horror. I don’t recall the St. George having any of these midnight shows. rivoli may I ask where you are getting the info on the bookings?
Still on top.
March 1973- “Childs Play” on a double bill w/ “The First Circle”
Nov 1973- “Billy Jack”
A question. During the week was there only one showing per evening, and then on weekends multiple showings?
Talk about your highs and lows. From “Frogs” in July 1972,to “Lady Sings The Blues” in November , 1972
Thank you garth,I appreciate the info. I just came across an engagement in July 1972 for the film “Frogs”.
Seems the St George suffered the same fate as the two theatres in my Long Island hometown. The Grove and The Freeport
rivoli , in the ‘70s they alternated between major releases and occasional grindhouse fare. I recall seeing “The Exorcist” and “The Longest Yard” there, along with “Ilsa: She-wolf of the SS” and a double bill of “Mark of the Devil” and “Last House on the Left”. Also some blaxploitation flicks such as “Hit!” with Billy Dee Williams.
And I have friends in the series, so I will keep an eye out. Thank you
Seems the St. George was still booking rather big in the early 70s.
Jan 1971-“Catch-22”
April- 1971- “Tora! Tora! Tora!”
The filming last week was for a new TV series called “Smash” , a Spielberg production about aspiring theatre performers.
St George I worked on that booth a few years back and left in usable two projector operation. Some additional work was recomended on the gear train on projector #2 and the scope lenses were mising but it was a workable operation The sound system, stage speaker and lamp houses were all working fine. What has happened up there since?
This past week the interior of the theatre was being used as a location for the filming of some feature, could not see what the title was. Lots of activity though
Have always been interestd in what films have played at this theatre. Recently came across some listings, “Rosemarys Baby”, in 1969 a re-issue of “Camelot"and as per the Village Voice, on Oct.1,1970 "Hello, Dolly!”.
Am very happy for the restoration and re-opening of this theatre. Please, the marquee needs to be replaced, it is awful to look at.
Yes, unfortunately the projection booth is still in a state of disrepair and we (for the time being) still have to settle for DVD presentations. However, it’s still exciting to see a film like The Exorcist on the big screen in such a spectacular theatre!
StGeorge , thanks for the info on the larger screen. Do you know if The Exorcist was still a DVD presentation? If not I would have attended had I known.
Just a couple of corrections: The St. George address is 35 Hyatt, not 25; seating capacity is now only 1,786 and movies are rarely shown. However, The Exorcist was just shown for Halloween and the theatre just obtained a new, larger screen so hopefully more films are on the way! Recent sell-out shows included Paul Anka, Dianna Ross, Brett Michaels and Liza Minnelli.
Just want to correct some information in my comment of October 19, 2010.
The Rock ‘n Roll show I was in took place in November 1961, not in October 1960. That would have made me 15 years old, not 14 years old.
And, in case anyone really cares, the group I was with was called, Tommy Tucker & The Lullabyes.
Sorry for the previous error.
This is my flickr photoset for the St. George Theatre for all to enjoy. It is courtesy of Michael Perlman of the Four Borough Neighborhood Presrvation Alliance:
http://bit.ly/StGeorgeTheatre
or
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8095451@N08/sets/72157627341876769/
Oh and also during the afternoon screenings some of the (10) people there were fielding cel phone calls. And a baby was there. It has become impossible to not be a part of other people’s lives. I think I’ll make a documentary on this and be part of next year’s festival.