When you think of all the theatre chains in the NYC area that have come and gone such as: RKO, Fox Metropolitan, Century, Paramount, Skouras, Brandts, Interboro, Randforce, Golden, Stanley-Warner, I’m glad the name Loews still exists albeit as a very pale imitation of it’s former glorious past in the NYC metro area.
Sony Theatres was a silly name, when you think of the movies you think “LOEWS”. When I think of my tv set or walkman I think of Sony. I’m glad they got rid of the name Sony Theatres.
Back in 2000, when Loews Cineplex was still a publicly traded company they featured a vintage picture of the Loews Astor Plaza in their annual report. It was being used for the world premier of the film “Funny Lady” which came out in 1975, the theatre must have been around for a year at this point. The very front of the marquee said LOEWS Astor Plaza in big red letters. In what year did Loews drop the name Loew’s and start using just plain Loews?
Your welcome Bill!
I was there for the 2001 reissue, It was something that all fans of huge 70mm roadshow films should get to experience. I still have my ticket tucked away someplace, gotta go find it. I plan on going there one last time to see the village, will any of you cinematreasures folks be there as well?
Your welcome Bill!
I was there for the 2001 reissue, It was something that all fans of huge 70mm roadshow fans should get to experience. I still have my ticket tucked away someplace, gotta go find it. I plan on going there one last time to see the village, will any of you cinematreasures folks be there as well?
Plus the AMC Empire 25 & Loews Ewalk 13 are only eight blocks away, I agree it was not the best location for a movie theatre.
Now back to the Astor Plaza, anyone have any memories they would like to share? I’ll always remember seeing Apocalypse Now, 2001 & 2010, Indiana Jones & Titanic in the Astor Plaza, It will be cherished memories I will never forget. It’s just not the same seeing movies in a shoebox cookie cutter multiplex nowadays!
Apparently Loews Cineplex is trying to increase patronage for the Astor Plaza on its last weekend as a movie theatre. I received this in an email from them:
Our Gift To You for Three Decades of Movie Magic At Loews Theatres Astor Plaza 1. Visit Astor Plaza 1 in Manhattan at 1515 Broadway during its closing weekend (July 30 – August 1, 2004) and you will receive a handout with three coupons valid for Loews Theatres 34th St.:
– Buy One, Get One Free Mid-Week Ticket
– One Upgrade to Reserved Seating
– $1.00 Off A Super Value Bucket
In addition, Loews will conduct a raffle for an Annual Pass. The Astor Plaza 1 will be screening the highly anticipated new blockbuster from M. Night Shyamalan (“The Sixth Sense,” “Signs”), “The Village”, starring Joaquin Pheonix. See Coupon for details
Is this the best they could do for a 70’s era deluxe movie palace? Try to drum up business for the 34th Street. Sheesh!!! What about a Film retrospective for the true fans of the Astor Plaza?
I agree with you YankeeMike, this building does not look like it dates back to 1914, it could have been partially torn down and rebuilt. In checking Brooklyn Eagle ads from the 1950’s I could find no reference of the Deluxe being part of a circuit, such as Interboro or Randforce.
I think this theatre was an independent theatre it’s whole regular run until the XXX era. As a kid I can remember the moms of the PTA protesting the movie posters for xxx movies on the outside of this theatre, later there were black bars placed strategically on the posters, and finally they were all moved inside. Also at one point they stopped putting xxx film titles on the marquee, because some of those were dirty as well, and P.S. 200 is only a block away.
Thanks YankeeMike, I remember for years after the United Skates closed the star symbol logo was visible on the side of the roof. Does anybody remember going here when it was the Stillwell Theatre?
Thanks Warren, as always you are a wealth of information. This must have been a very small nabe house in comparison with the nearby Benson and Oriental. YankeeMike do you remember the 1950’s era Deluxe Theatre Marquee and was it the same stainless steel half circle marquee that I remember in the 70’s and 80’s?
When this theatre was a roller rink, it was called “United Skates of America”. I think Consumers took over the roller rink area as a storage space when they opened in the late 80’s. The Genovese Drug Store (now Eckerd) opened in late 83.
Unfortunately this theatre was doomed from the start. It opened nine years after the original Loew’s State was closed. You could hardly make out from the sign outside to let you know there was a movie theatre inside the Virgin Megastore, you had to go down two retail levels in order to even get to the box office. It was opened as a quad when in today’s movie going economy the more screens the better. And it just missed the stadium seating craze that enveloped theatres in the late 90’s. Loews cineplex tried to unload this property a few years back, nobody wanted it and with good reason. One just has to look at the other Virgin Megastore in Union Square to see a successful Theatre, The UA Union Square 14 (Now Regal) opened it 1998 a mere two years after the State, it has its own entrance, 14 screens with stadium seating (first in NYC) and digital surround sound and it makes a ton on money.
This theatre at one time was called The Bay Theatre, it later changed it’s name to the Deluxe. XXX movies were the bill for this theatre from the late 70’s until 1999 when it closed due to laws preventing such establishments operating near a public school (P.S. 200).
Warren, it’s a shame that we live in a time where unfortunately that has to happen. I did do this a few years ago so it could be possible that the policy is the same at the Oriental Marshall’s.
yes, I’ve been in that store and asked to use the bathroom, once they open the door, you go up the original marble staircase on what would have been on the left side. I’m not sure if the right staircase is still intact but from the looks of things on the main selling floor it actually might be. I agree with Mark that the balcony are might still exist as a secondary floor. It’s sad that there are drop tiles everywhere hiding anything original.
I remember what crummy shape the seats were in the last time I was in the upstairs theatre, when you sat down the whole row would rock back and forth with you. Remember the big marble staircase leading up to the former balcony sections, I think the bathrooms were in the upstairs section just like the Kingsway, so much for being ADA friendly.
And, if you look up at the facade of the buiding today you will see the initials “B” for Benson flanking either side of where the original Benson entrance would have been.
Check with your local libraries regarding the “Memoirs of a Movie Palace” documentary, one of the branches here in New York City has it for loan and I was able to borrow it and watch it. It’s really is quite an experience to see this video. I do hope the NYC Economic Development Corp. is finally able to do something with this former Loew’s Movie Palace, unfortunately it will cost millions of dollars to restore it to its original splendor.
I was there on the last day of business, May 23 and saw Van Helsing. The place was in pretty much good shape, the seats fairly new, the carpets clean, the staff was pleasent, the sound and pictue quality great. It’s a shame this theatre had to close, now all we have is the Park Slope Pavillion (formerly the Sanders).
No 12 screen cinema for this area Mark, the renovation of the Marboro is all that we can hope for. The site of the former Clairidge will be occupied by luxury condos.
When you think of all the theatre chains in the NYC area that have come and gone such as: RKO, Fox Metropolitan, Century, Paramount, Skouras, Brandts, Interboro, Randforce, Golden, Stanley-Warner, I’m glad the name Loews still exists albeit as a very pale imitation of it’s former glorious past in the NYC metro area.
Sony Theatres was a silly name, when you think of the movies you think “LOEWS”. When I think of my tv set or walkman I think of Sony. I’m glad they got rid of the name Sony Theatres.
Back in 2000, when Loews Cineplex was still a publicly traded company they featured a vintage picture of the Loews Astor Plaza in their annual report. It was being used for the world premier of the film “Funny Lady” which came out in 1975, the theatre must have been around for a year at this point. The very front of the marquee said LOEWS Astor Plaza in big red letters. In what year did Loews drop the name Loew’s and start using just plain Loews?
Does anyone out there know is this theatre set up to do 70mm?
Your welcome Bill!
I was there for the 2001 reissue, It was something that all fans of huge 70mm roadshow films should get to experience. I still have my ticket tucked away someplace, gotta go find it. I plan on going there one last time to see the village, will any of you cinematreasures folks be there as well?
Your welcome Bill!
I was there for the 2001 reissue, It was something that all fans of huge 70mm roadshow fans should get to experience. I still have my ticket tucked away someplace, gotta go find it. I plan on going there one last time to see the village, will any of you cinematreasures folks be there as well?
Plus the AMC Empire 25 & Loews Ewalk 13 are only eight blocks away, I agree it was not the best location for a movie theatre.
Now back to the Astor Plaza, anyone have any memories they would like to share? I’ll always remember seeing Apocalypse Now, 2001 & 2010, Indiana Jones & Titanic in the Astor Plaza, It will be cherished memories I will never forget. It’s just not the same seeing movies in a shoebox cookie cutter multiplex nowadays!
Apparently Loews Cineplex is trying to increase patronage for the Astor Plaza on its last weekend as a movie theatre. I received this in an email from them:
Our Gift To You for Three Decades of Movie Magic At Loews Theatres Astor Plaza 1. Visit Astor Plaza 1 in Manhattan at 1515 Broadway during its closing weekend (July 30 – August 1, 2004) and you will receive a handout with three coupons valid for Loews Theatres 34th St.:
– Buy One, Get One Free Mid-Week Ticket
– One Upgrade to Reserved Seating
– $1.00 Off A Super Value Bucket
In addition, Loews will conduct a raffle for an Annual Pass. The Astor Plaza 1 will be screening the highly anticipated new blockbuster from M. Night Shyamalan (“The Sixth Sense,” “Signs”), “The Village”, starring Joaquin Pheonix. See Coupon for details
Is this the best they could do for a 70’s era deluxe movie palace? Try to drum up business for the 34th Street. Sheesh!!! What about a Film retrospective for the true fans of the Astor Plaza?
I agree with you YankeeMike, this building does not look like it dates back to 1914, it could have been partially torn down and rebuilt. In checking Brooklyn Eagle ads from the 1950’s I could find no reference of the Deluxe being part of a circuit, such as Interboro or Randforce.
I think this theatre was an independent theatre it’s whole regular run until the XXX era. As a kid I can remember the moms of the PTA protesting the movie posters for xxx movies on the outside of this theatre, later there were black bars placed strategically on the posters, and finally they were all moved inside. Also at one point they stopped putting xxx film titles on the marquee, because some of those were dirty as well, and P.S. 200 is only a block away.
Thanks YankeeMike, I remember for years after the United Skates closed the star symbol logo was visible on the side of the roof. Does anybody remember going here when it was the Stillwell Theatre?
Thanks Warren, as always you are a wealth of information. This must have been a very small nabe house in comparison with the nearby Benson and Oriental. YankeeMike do you remember the 1950’s era Deluxe Theatre Marquee and was it the same stainless steel half circle marquee that I remember in the 70’s and 80’s?
When this theatre was a roller rink, it was called “United Skates of America”. I think Consumers took over the roller rink area as a storage space when they opened in the late 80’s. The Genovese Drug Store (now Eckerd) opened in late 83.
Unfortunately this theatre was doomed from the start. It opened nine years after the original Loew’s State was closed. You could hardly make out from the sign outside to let you know there was a movie theatre inside the Virgin Megastore, you had to go down two retail levels in order to even get to the box office. It was opened as a quad when in today’s movie going economy the more screens the better. And it just missed the stadium seating craze that enveloped theatres in the late 90’s. Loews cineplex tried to unload this property a few years back, nobody wanted it and with good reason. One just has to look at the other Virgin Megastore in Union Square to see a successful Theatre, The UA Union Square 14 (Now Regal) opened it 1998 a mere two years after the State, it has its own entrance, 14 screens with stadium seating (first in NYC) and digital surround sound and it makes a ton on money.
From what the old-timers say it was called the Bay Theatre in the 1930’s and 1940’s.
This theatre at one time was called The Bay Theatre, it later changed it’s name to the Deluxe. XXX movies were the bill for this theatre from the late 70’s until 1999 when it closed due to laws preventing such establishments operating near a public school (P.S. 200).
How much more renovation work is needed on the Paradise? from what I’ve heard the guy renovating it got pretty far before it was stopped.
Warren, it’s a shame that we live in a time where unfortunately that has to happen. I did do this a few years ago so it could be possible that the policy is the same at the Oriental Marshall’s.
Does anyone out there know who the original architect of the Marboro was?
yes, I’ve been in that store and asked to use the bathroom, once they open the door, you go up the original marble staircase on what would have been on the left side. I’m not sure if the right staircase is still intact but from the looks of things on the main selling floor it actually might be. I agree with Mark that the balcony are might still exist as a secondary floor. It’s sad that there are drop tiles everywhere hiding anything original.
I remember what crummy shape the seats were in the last time I was in the upstairs theatre, when you sat down the whole row would rock back and forth with you. Remember the big marble staircase leading up to the former balcony sections, I think the bathrooms were in the upstairs section just like the Kingsway, so much for being ADA friendly.
And, if you look up at the facade of the buiding today you will see the initials “B” for Benson flanking either side of where the original Benson entrance would have been.
Check with your local libraries regarding the “Memoirs of a Movie Palace” documentary, one of the branches here in New York City has it for loan and I was able to borrow it and watch it. It’s really is quite an experience to see this video. I do hope the NYC Economic Development Corp. is finally able to do something with this former Loew’s Movie Palace, unfortunately it will cost millions of dollars to restore it to its original splendor.
I was there on the last day of business, May 23 and saw Van Helsing. The place was in pretty much good shape, the seats fairly new, the carpets clean, the staff was pleasent, the sound and pictue quality great. It’s a shame this theatre had to close, now all we have is the Park Slope Pavillion (formerly the Sanders).
No 12 screen cinema for this area Mark, the renovation of the Marboro is all that we can hope for. The site of the former Clairidge will be occupied by luxury condos.