Good question – and post – Astyanax… and does anyone know why the Walter Reade Organization sold off its theatres (and, perhaps as well, the history of the Walter Reade Organization and how it came to be involved in motion picture exhibition)?
Caspers42: are you asking about what the side of the building itself facing east, or the side of the rooftop theatre facing east, looked like prior to the construction of 5 Times Square (a.k.a., the Ernst and Young Building)?
During a conversation I had with him in late 1996, legendary New England-area film booker and consultant Frank Mansour mentioned that the Kendall Square Cinemas were an indirect replacement for the Orson Welles Cinemas, which were located relatively nearby on Massachusetts Avenue between Central and Harvard Squares until they were destroyed by a fire in May of ‘86.
Who was it who handled the booking of the occasional concerts, plays, etc., which were presented in some of the old 42nd Street theatres (specifically the Victory, Lyric, Liberty, and Selwyn come to mind as such venues) between the time they stopped screening films on a regular basis and their renovations and/or conversions into other uses? The city, I know, came to eventually own all the Deuce moviehouses, but did they assume control of each of them as soon as each individual theatre closed for regular business?
br91975
commented about
Cine 42on
Jan 13, 2005 at 10:53 pm
Just a random thought – I wonder what ever became of those beautiful street-entrance doors which once graced patrons and passersby of the Empire (tossed in a dumpster, I fear, but I hope I’m wrong). By the time I became aware of them, they were coated with years of grime, but that didn’t take away from their unique detail.
br91975
commented about
Cine 42on
Jan 13, 2005 at 10:48 pm
There was also a scene – if memory serves, the one following the scene saps makes mention of – set within, I believe, the interior of the then-rundown Empire (or at least a fascimile of a theatre which had seen better days).
Both are in the Candler building, Bryan. The McDonald’s occupies what were formerly several retail spaces, all of which were vacated in the mid- to late-‘90s as part of the redevelopment of 42nd Street.
The former Harris Theatre is actually next door, to the right of the McDonald’s featured in the photo Bryan links to; its one-time (and entirely gutted interior) space is currently occupied by the New York branch of Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum.
br91975
commented about
Cine 42on
Jan 13, 2005 at 10:13 pm
About the most impressive thing – heck, make that the ONLY impressive thing – in the Arnold Schwarzenegger flick ‘The Last Action Hero’ (from which the photo Bryan links to is derived from) are the multiple shots of the 42nd Street (and Deuce-area) grindhouse marquees illuminated at night.
br91975
commented about
Cine 42on
Jan 13, 2005 at 5:03 pm
It’s difficult to imagine Disney – the owner of the former Cine 42 property – preserving what were two rather unspectacular cinemas. My guess is they’ve probably been gutted and the space which formerly housed them has been converted for alternate uses (i.e., offices).
After the AMC Fenway opened in June of 2000, the Circle Cinemas were still doing strong business, especially with the Boston College crowd and the immediate and surrounding neighborhoods to draw upon. My sense – and it’s nothing more than that; I have no inside connections to draw upon – is that National Amusements will either hold onto the Circle Cinemas or, should they decide to sell the property, will build a new venue somewhere in the general vicinity.
I second saps and Ron’s opinion. If the software which keeps this site up-and-running allows it, maybe an on-screen history of 20-25 unique recently added to theatre comments pages would be a good compromise… again, as long as the software allows for it.
Thanks for posting that information, Ron – and thank you for giving the time it took to post it. I’ll do whatever research I can from here in NYC (i.e., Google), then hopefully have a morning or afternoon to spare in one of the Boston or Cambridge Public Library branches when I’m next in the area. Again, thank you…
A month after its grand reopening, the Metro is currently showing two move-over engagements – ‘The Motorcycle Diaries’ and ‘What the Bleep Do We Know?!’ – deep into their runs and likely not doing too much business at this point; kind of a surprising way for Peter Elson to go when one considers the glut of other quality, more recent films just released around and during the holiday season, such as ‘The Aviator’, ‘Kinsey’, ‘Sideways’, and ‘The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou’, all of which are drawing healthy box office in Manhattan and around the country and all of which cater perfectly to UWS audiences.
Thanks for that info, Ron. I live in New York but I head back to Boston every few months to visit family who still live in the area. When I have time during one of those trips home, I’ll stop by one of the local libraries and see what I can find.
Doing some research at the local library a couple of years ago on the former Cinema 1 & 2 in Medford Square, I came across some articles about and photographs of the Granada. After the fire Ian mentioned in his initial description, the entrance was cinderblocked. The theatre was a knock-out – the auditorium, the lobby… stunning design within both; its closing and subsequent demolition totaled a true loss. Presently the space is occupied by in some, or perhaps total, portion by offices, all or at least part of are associated with the Malden Public Schools.
There was also – don’t remember the name of it – a movie theatre in Everett which operated at least into the late ‘70s, and perhaps most likely into the early '80s. Does anyone remember the name of it or have any info as to what became of the building which housed it? (What I wouldn’t give to get my hands on one of those ads which used to run in The Boston Globe through the early '80s and, once a film entered second-run, listed alphabetically – by city and town, I think – in list format, as opposed to the more common block listings, the theatres where that particular film was then showing in. Most of them were community theatres and I’d love to do the research and find out what became of the ones which closed… which, of course, would be most of them… )
Too little, too late… the Sutton has been demolished and is now nothing more than a pile of rubble and a series of memories for everyone who loved this cool little moviehouse. The fight now is on to save the Beekman and Cinema 1-2-3; check out those theatres' pages on this site, along with the news stories on the front page, to find out why and how these gems became endangered and about the resultant efforts to save them.
One minor correction – the name of the individual who is the majority owner of the Regal Entertainment Group (and also counts Qwest Communications, Walden Media, and the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, among his other holdings) is Philip Anschutz.
What theatre did Clear Channel renovate and restore in New York? The Ford Center/Hilton Theatre on 42nd Street was created and constructed in the mid- to late-‘90s under the aegis of Livent which, at that time, was still an independent company.
There already is an effort underfoot to save the Beekman – a community group, the Friends of the Upper East Side Historic District, have submitted an application with the LPG. In addition, there has been a fair amount of media coverage the last couple of days – in the NY Post and via a report broadcast on Fox-5, along with an article in today’s Post about the now threatened Cinema 1-2-3, and a vow of assistance in the attempt to preserve both the Beekman and Cinema 1-2-3 from Harvey Weinstein.
Disney didn’t quite ‘ban’ ‘Song of the South’ in this country. Instead of opting to use the film to spur intelligent dialogue among adults (and children) about how racial (and, to a broader base, cultural) perceptions have changed and evolved since the time of the film’s creation and initial release, they’ve opted to shelve it indefinitely, since its last U.S. theatrical run in November of ‘86. It has been (or, at least, was) available on video in the U.K. (and perhaps other international territories as well) in the years since.
Good question – and post – Astyanax… and does anyone know why the Walter Reade Organization sold off its theatres (and, perhaps as well, the history of the Walter Reade Organization and how it came to be involved in motion picture exhibition)?
Caspers42: are you asking about what the side of the building itself facing east, or the side of the rooftop theatre facing east, looked like prior to the construction of 5 Times Square (a.k.a., the Ernst and Young Building)?
Right – George Mansour. Having always lived in walking cities, I’ve never thought of 30-45 minutes as much of a hike, but I can see your point.
During a conversation I had with him in late 1996, legendary New England-area film booker and consultant Frank Mansour mentioned that the Kendall Square Cinemas were an indirect replacement for the Orson Welles Cinemas, which were located relatively nearby on Massachusetts Avenue between Central and Harvard Squares until they were destroyed by a fire in May of ‘86.
Who was it who handled the booking of the occasional concerts, plays, etc., which were presented in some of the old 42nd Street theatres (specifically the Victory, Lyric, Liberty, and Selwyn come to mind as such venues) between the time they stopped screening films on a regular basis and their renovations and/or conversions into other uses? The city, I know, came to eventually own all the Deuce moviehouses, but did they assume control of each of them as soon as each individual theatre closed for regular business?
Just a random thought – I wonder what ever became of those beautiful street-entrance doors which once graced patrons and passersby of the Empire (tossed in a dumpster, I fear, but I hope I’m wrong). By the time I became aware of them, they were coated with years of grime, but that didn’t take away from their unique detail.
There was also a scene – if memory serves, the one following the scene saps makes mention of – set within, I believe, the interior of the then-rundown Empire (or at least a fascimile of a theatre which had seen better days).
Both are in the Candler building, Bryan. The McDonald’s occupies what were formerly several retail spaces, all of which were vacated in the mid- to late-‘90s as part of the redevelopment of 42nd Street.
The former Harris Theatre is actually next door, to the right of the McDonald’s featured in the photo Bryan links to; its one-time (and entirely gutted interior) space is currently occupied by the New York branch of Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum.
About the most impressive thing – heck, make that the ONLY impressive thing – in the Arnold Schwarzenegger flick ‘The Last Action Hero’ (from which the photo Bryan links to is derived from) are the multiple shots of the 42nd Street (and Deuce-area) grindhouse marquees illuminated at night.
It’s difficult to imagine Disney – the owner of the former Cine 42 property – preserving what were two rather unspectacular cinemas. My guess is they’ve probably been gutted and the space which formerly housed them has been converted for alternate uses (i.e., offices).
After the AMC Fenway opened in June of 2000, the Circle Cinemas were still doing strong business, especially with the Boston College crowd and the immediate and surrounding neighborhoods to draw upon. My sense – and it’s nothing more than that; I have no inside connections to draw upon – is that National Amusements will either hold onto the Circle Cinemas or, should they decide to sell the property, will build a new venue somewhere in the general vicinity.
I second saps and Ron’s opinion. If the software which keeps this site up-and-running allows it, maybe an on-screen history of 20-25 unique recently added to theatre comments pages would be a good compromise… again, as long as the software allows for it.
Thanks for posting that information, Ron – and thank you for giving the time it took to post it. I’ll do whatever research I can from here in NYC (i.e., Google), then hopefully have a morning or afternoon to spare in one of the Boston or Cambridge Public Library branches when I’m next in the area. Again, thank you…
A month after its grand reopening, the Metro is currently showing two move-over engagements – ‘The Motorcycle Diaries’ and ‘What the Bleep Do We Know?!’ – deep into their runs and likely not doing too much business at this point; kind of a surprising way for Peter Elson to go when one considers the glut of other quality, more recent films just released around and during the holiday season, such as ‘The Aviator’, ‘Kinsey’, ‘Sideways’, and ‘The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou’, all of which are drawing healthy box office in Manhattan and around the country and all of which cater perfectly to UWS audiences.
Do you still have access to that article, Ron? What were the other theatres listed?
When did the RKO Keith’s Richmond Hill cease operations as a movie theatre? What was/were the final booking(s)?
Thanks for that info, Ron. I live in New York but I head back to Boston every few months to visit family who still live in the area. When I have time during one of those trips home, I’ll stop by one of the local libraries and see what I can find.
I remember distinctly the Pi Alley closing on a Sunday, so it must have been, as per Ron’s research, August 2, 1987.
Doing some research at the local library a couple of years ago on the former Cinema 1 & 2 in Medford Square, I came across some articles about and photographs of the Granada. After the fire Ian mentioned in his initial description, the entrance was cinderblocked. The theatre was a knock-out – the auditorium, the lobby… stunning design within both; its closing and subsequent demolition totaled a true loss. Presently the space is occupied by in some, or perhaps total, portion by offices, all or at least part of are associated with the Malden Public Schools.
There was also – don’t remember the name of it – a movie theatre in Everett which operated at least into the late ‘70s, and perhaps most likely into the early '80s. Does anyone remember the name of it or have any info as to what became of the building which housed it? (What I wouldn’t give to get my hands on one of those ads which used to run in The Boston Globe through the early '80s and, once a film entered second-run, listed alphabetically – by city and town, I think – in list format, as opposed to the more common block listings, the theatres where that particular film was then showing in. Most of them were community theatres and I’d love to do the research and find out what became of the ones which closed… which, of course, would be most of them… )
Too little, too late… the Sutton has been demolished and is now nothing more than a pile of rubble and a series of memories for everyone who loved this cool little moviehouse. The fight now is on to save the Beekman and Cinema 1-2-3; check out those theatres' pages on this site, along with the news stories on the front page, to find out why and how these gems became endangered and about the resultant efforts to save them.
One minor correction – the name of the individual who is the majority owner of the Regal Entertainment Group (and also counts Qwest Communications, Walden Media, and the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, among his other holdings) is Philip Anschutz.
What theatre did Clear Channel renovate and restore in New York? The Ford Center/Hilton Theatre on 42nd Street was created and constructed in the mid- to late-‘90s under the aegis of Livent which, at that time, was still an independent company.
There already is an effort underfoot to save the Beekman – a community group, the Friends of the Upper East Side Historic District, have submitted an application with the LPG. In addition, there has been a fair amount of media coverage the last couple of days – in the NY Post and via a report broadcast on Fox-5, along with an article in today’s Post about the now threatened Cinema 1-2-3, and a vow of assistance in the attempt to preserve both the Beekman and Cinema 1-2-3 from Harvey Weinstein.
Disney didn’t quite ‘ban’ ‘Song of the South’ in this country. Instead of opting to use the film to spur intelligent dialogue among adults (and children) about how racial (and, to a broader base, cultural) perceptions have changed and evolved since the time of the film’s creation and initial release, they’ve opted to shelve it indefinitely, since its last U.S. theatrical run in November of ‘86. It has been (or, at least, was) available on video in the U.K. (and perhaps other international territories as well) in the years since.