Hi Lorenzo. I used the “Loews” just to identify it. It can be searched as Astor Plaza. (This may have to do with the fact that it was built by Walter Reade but opened by Loews.) I remember this discussion a while back for classic cinemas that were now churches with performance spaces. The folks at CT seem to feel that new members trying to find what a building used to be were more likely to search that those who already knew where classic cinemas were located and what they were now. I can see the logic.
Cinema Treasures usually lists the latest name on top if the venue is still operating as a theatre of sorts. Hence, the Loews Astor Plaza in New York is listed as the Playstation. If you search for the Astor Cinema, the NEW theatre will appear at the bottom as an option.
Mike, those grand systems were bastardized within years and featured many classic films. Today, they are bastardized within weeks, keep the high prices, and expect the latest hyped super hero stinker to rip off the public for them. Some people seem willing to pay extra to sit in the trunk of a car BEHIND the screen as long as they can tell everyone online that they “saw” the latest.
By the way, I will never forget the audience approval applause at the THX sound silence certified screenings when the un-properly secured wall sound panels rattled loudly for their enjoyment. That, they said, was some AWESOME sound they would gladly pay extra for.
Mike (saps), although I originally shared your frustration (and that other gone rude angry poster) about these trivial comments, I now kind of disagree. I think the idea that these posters care about what latest gimmick these forgettable films will be shown in when even the cinemas and distributors don’t, is historically fascinating, and it will mean something in the future. Will X-MAN 22: CALIGULA" play in TINKLE-SMELL-O-RAMA this weekend? Or will “STAR WARS: CHAPTER 7a NINJA TURTLES” show in FEEL-O-RAMA THX/1138, with sound or just digital video with tingling smelly seats? I just hope they remember that John Holmes porn films once opened on 42nd street in “70MM: 3D: FEEL ME, SMELL ME-O-RAMA, NOW”. And so few cared to make it such an AWESOME cinema treasurable memory at the time.
cbranstool, I do not have a copy of the 1914-15 Motion Picture Directory, so I believe that information was added by Cinema Treasures. I have posted a Paramount Week ad from 1918 in the photo section.
deleted user
[Deleted] on July 24, 2004 at 1:20 pm
William, thank you for mentioning “Porgy and Bess” and “Camelot”. I attended the World Premiere of “The Greatest Story Ever Told” at the Warner on Monday, 15 February 1965 and the Los Angeles premiere at Pacific’s Cinerama Theatre on Wednesday, 17 February 1965. The film was an extraordinary cinematic work of art when seen in the curved screen 70mm Ultra Panavision process for Cinerama. My notes at the time clocked the film in at 221 minutes and a 15 minute intermission The running time was the same for the UA pre-screenings at the Warner even with the Alfred Newman (composer) music deletions and Handel and Verdi substitutes. The first edit-down was requested by UA in April 1965 (197 minutes) and UA made a final “bastardized” version March 1967 (141 minutes).
In an effort to brag about the changes they have brought to The Deuce, the New 42nd Street Redevelopment group have actually recreated the old sleaze with almost lifesize photo fronts. You decide.
Bil, there was a three week festival of Kirk Douglas films in rotation in the fall of 1986 before “TOUGH GUYS” opened. I went with whatever was playing Fridays.
Because of the 1978 strike, a subrun of “GREASE” is possible. Maybe someone with a historic Variety subscription online can check up on that.
I’ve started working on a more recent release list. Unfortunately (and ironically) the newer lists are more difficult to compile than the old ones because the films changed more often, timeclocks were less reliable or missing and the ads were sometimes not even bought.
I recreated an excel version from the original post. If you want a copy of that, just write to me at . Mind you, the opening dates are NOT exact. I only search weekly Sunday papers.
Hi Lorenzo. I used the “Loews” just to identify it. It can be searched as Astor Plaza. (This may have to do with the fact that it was built by Walter Reade but opened by Loews.) I remember this discussion a while back for classic cinemas that were now churches with performance spaces. The folks at CT seem to feel that new members trying to find what a building used to be were more likely to search that those who already knew where classic cinemas were located and what they were now. I can see the logic.
Cinema Treasures usually lists the latest name on top if the venue is still operating as a theatre of sorts. Hence, the Loews Astor Plaza in New York is listed as the Playstation. If you search for the Astor Cinema, the NEW theatre will appear at the bottom as an option.
Mike, those grand systems were bastardized within years and featured many classic films. Today, they are bastardized within weeks, keep the high prices, and expect the latest hyped super hero stinker to rip off the public for them. Some people seem willing to pay extra to sit in the trunk of a car BEHIND the screen as long as they can tell everyone online that they “saw” the latest.
By the way, I will never forget the audience approval applause at the THX sound silence certified screenings when the un-properly secured wall sound panels rattled loudly for their enjoyment. That, they said, was some AWESOME sound they would gladly pay extra for.
Mike (saps), although I originally shared your frustration (and that other gone rude angry poster) about these trivial comments, I now kind of disagree. I think the idea that these posters care about what latest gimmick these forgettable films will be shown in when even the cinemas and distributors don’t, is historically fascinating, and it will mean something in the future. Will X-MAN 22: CALIGULA" play in TINKLE-SMELL-O-RAMA this weekend? Or will “STAR WARS: CHAPTER 7a NINJA TURTLES” show in FEEL-O-RAMA THX/1138, with sound or just digital video with tingling smelly seats? I just hope they remember that John Holmes porn films once opened on 42nd street in “70MM: 3D: FEEL ME, SMELL ME-O-RAMA, NOW”. And so few cared to make it such an AWESOME cinema treasurable memory at the time.
David, the daytime flea market became more popular than the Drive-in and it reminded everyone that they were the same location.
It closed in 1997.
The Temple showed movies from 1926 to 1929 and again in 1940. At some point it was also known as the Federal.
This link has a 1975 Boxoffice magazine article about Miami movie-going during the silent era:
http://www2.boxoffice.com/the_vault/issue_page?issue_id=1975-1-27&page_no=40#page_start
1973-1974 First Avenue Screening Room
1975-1979 Byron Cinema
1980-1981 EastWorld
1982-1990 Art East
1991 York
1992-1994 back to Art East
cbranstool, I do not have a copy of the 1914-15 Motion Picture Directory, so I believe that information was added by Cinema Treasures. I have posted a Paramount Week ad from 1918 in the photo section.
deleted user [Deleted] on July 24, 2004 at 1:20 pm
William, thank you for mentioning “Porgy and Bess” and “Camelot”. I attended the World Premiere of “The Greatest Story Ever Told” at the Warner on Monday, 15 February 1965 and the Los Angeles premiere at Pacific’s Cinerama Theatre on Wednesday, 17 February 1965. The film was an extraordinary cinematic work of art when seen in the curved screen 70mm Ultra Panavision process for Cinerama. My notes at the time clocked the film in at 221 minutes and a 15 minute intermission The running time was the same for the UA pre-screenings at the Warner even with the Alfred Newman (composer) music deletions and Handel and Verdi substitutes. The first edit-down was requested by UA in April 1965 (197 minutes) and UA made a final “bastardized” version March 1967 (141 minutes).
Are you all just discovering PRODUCT SPLITTING? It has always been very common and has also been very illegal.
The Irving Place Theatre on 15th Street. Showed movies in 1916 and then again from 1939 to 1952.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/11996
Loews Paramount (Columbus Circle), Loews New York Twin, and Loews 34th St. Showplace were the only city runs.
You’ve got the wrong Trans-Lux, rickmarin. “CALIGULA” opened at the Trans-Lux East.
So they destroy in the interiors as much as possible and then claim they are not worth preserving any more, rewarding the vandal owners. Good grief
In an effort to brag about the changes they have brought to The Deuce, the New 42nd Street Redevelopment group have actually recreated the old sleaze with almost lifesize photo fronts. You decide.
Nice find, David.
Never heard of this one before.
Bil, there was a three week festival of Kirk Douglas films in rotation in the fall of 1986 before “TOUGH GUYS” opened. I went with whatever was playing Fridays.
Because of the 1978 strike, a subrun of “GREASE” is possible. Maybe someone with a historic Variety subscription online can check up on that.
…and the Paris ran Hollywood arty ‘blockbusters’ like “ROMEO AND JULIET” and “HOWARD’S END”.
I have placed the lists here in an easier to read format. Let me know if you find any omissions or errors and I will correct them.
I’ve started working on a more recent release list. Unfortunately (and ironically) the newer lists are more difficult to compile than the old ones because the films changed more often, timeclocks were less reliable or missing and the ads were sometimes not even bought.
I recreated an excel version from the original post. If you want a copy of that, just write to me at . Mind you, the opening dates are NOT exact. I only search weekly Sunday papers.
Thanks for digging those up, Bill. I no longer have them.