Nova Theatre
3589 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10031
3589 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10031
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Here is an undated photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2zd74t
Does anyone have creative entertainment phone number?
Wow, what an influz of new information! Good job guys. I thought things had dried up around here……….
Interesting story on the “Tapia” name, and how the Nova inherited it’s marquee. As far as the neighborhood itself, the theater was and is located on Hamilton Heights, which at the start of the 20th Century was apparently occupied by Whites until they began leaving in the ‘30’s and '40’s as African-Americans began moving West into Harlem. Beginning in the '50’s Hispanics and Latin Americans gradually began moving into the area until it became a predominently Hispanic area by the '80’s (which is when Jesus Nova took over the Tapia). I dunno exactly about the history of the demographics in this neighborhood, but I’m guessing that’s about right.
Also interesting is how the Bunny incarnation of the theatre had a rooftop theater during warmer weather. Very novel idea. Don’t know if it survived into it’s later incarnations, I doubt it did.
Thank you Lost Memory for the name, it was driving me crazy.
Movieplace
There was a theater on Fort Washington Avenue, right at the begining of the Avenue. It was practically right behind the Rio. It is still there as a church. I have forgotten the name. Do you remember?
Thanks,
Movieplace
That’s the one! Thanks guys, I will figure it out some day.
My previous post appears to be missing, but anyway, the Tapia name I was enquiring about appears in ads in the early seventies.
The only other one I can think of is the RKO Hamilton at 3560 Broadway.
Alvarez, I wrote to you a couple days back. Hope you got it.
Ace, I have the book and can send you a scan if you write to me at:
Wow, I’d really like to see a scan of that photo if you guys get your hands on the book.
Looking at the photo of the Nova at the top of the page, I also wonder if that was the facade’s original paint scheme. I bet it was (considering the New Coliseum has never been painted) and the new proprietors painting the facade entirely tan only added insult to injury.
I think you’re right, Joe. In the photo there is a vertical sign affixed to the center portion of the facade which featured a large and fanciful oval caricature of a rabbit to compliment the two carved bunnies found at either end of the upper facade.
Ace: I can’t recall for certain, and I don’t have access to my books right now so I can’t check, but I think there was a period photo of Manhattan’s Bunny Theatre in David Naylor’s “American Picture Palaces.” Maybe somebody reading this who has the book at hand can check it and respond. I do know I’ve seen a photo of this theatre in one book or another, and Naylor’s book is the most likely.
Here’s a current view of the Bunny/Nova Theater, scroll down about ¾ of the page:
View link
Ace, I can confirm that it was still operating as the Bunny (and Bunny Roof) well into the thirties. By the late forties and early fifties it was known as the Dorset.
The sixties and seventies remain a mystery to me but by 1981 it was already the Nova and it became a twin around 1989-1990.
My father’s uncle is listed in the NY City Directory as manager of the Bunny Theater in 1920-21. He later managed the Endicott Theater in Brooklyn. I’m looking for whatever information I can find on him and these places.
I’d been hoping to hear from someone who had ties in one way or another to the Nova. (See my post from this past September 2nd.) Even though I never saw a film at the Nova, I was saddened when it closed – to think a movie theatre could last 89 years and then, in a matter of months, just disappear into the streetscape and become just another 99-cent store… what a shame. When did your father work there, Lissy? Are there any memories he’d be willing to share?
My dad managed this movie theatre also. Mr. Nova had 4 theatres that I know of, The Alpine, The Nova, The Riverdale Twin and finally the Colliseum. My dad worked at all 3.
Thanks for answering my questions; I’d long wondered about those booking and advertising policies and it’s great to finally have some clearance. Again, thank you…
Newspaper ads that list all theatres in the area showing that movie are called co-op ads. Theatres have to pay to be placed in these ads. We had an average of $9,000 a week to be placed an ad for Friday-Sunday.
This is why many owners be placed in the time clock which is free in most papers.
An agreement is made with all studios for first run and second run along with the contracts you get when you first open. I operate several theaters one is a twin and we have “Racing Stripesâ€. Warner states that when we got the picture when hade to keep it four weeks. We got the movie January 14th on the National
Release date. We could not split the movie for the first three weeks. This Friday it will show with a split with “National Treasure†which we are bringing back for one showing nightly. â€Racing Stripes “ will still show twice on weekdays and three times this weekend.
An agreement is made with all studios for first run and second run cinemas.
Along with the contracts you get when you first open. I operate several theaters one is a twin and we have “Racing Stripesâ€. Warner states that when we got the picture we hade to keep it for at least four weeks.
We got the movie January 14th on the National
Release date. We could not split the movie for the first three weeks. This Friday it will show with a split with “National Treasure†which we are bringing back for one showing nightly. “Racing Stripes” will still show twice on weekdays and three times this weekend.
Actually, sorry, that was THREE questions; thanks in advance for your answers (or those of someone else of equal reliability)…
There are two other film booking questions I have, Robert, that perhaps you (or someone else in the know) can answer for me:
1) Is there a standard length of engagement agreement between the major studios for all their releases and the exhibitors or is it negotiated on a per-film basis?
2) Prior to a film’s release, can an exhibition agreement be broken? I’ve noticed the theatres a film is scheduled to open in vary sometimes from what’s listed within advance-release print ads and the theatres in which it actually opens. One recent example involves ‘Coach Carter’ and ‘Racing Stripes’, both of which were scheduled to open at the New York Twin; ‘Racing Stripes’, though, opened at the 64th & 2nd/Gemini instead…
3) Sunday newspaper print ads, specifically those which run in the NY Times, Post, and Daily News, don’t always list every Manhattan theatre in which the film opens – commonly, the Nova was left off and the New Coliseum continues to be with regularity. Any idea why this tends to be so?
Robert that is very true Kent is a triplex but often “shows
4 movies” playing on the recording at 12,220,440,7,930 a few weeks back and even around the first week or so of December they listed 5 movies.Coliseum sometimes has six movies playing at or around the same time (8:45,9:10,9:15,9:25,9:40).