I may have been the 6th person who saw the Hunger, but not at the Plaza, but at the Kips Bay with a double feature with a Viveca Lindfors film, Night Games. Both were dark, b/w, depressing, Scandinavian films, Per Oscarsson received accolades for his acting in the Hunger. Would certainly not want to sit through either one of these again.
A movie-going experience like no other. Warm and intimate, with dedicated and professional staff. Preferred it to the Sutton, and even the Beekman. Frequented it during the Rugoff-Cinema V era. Only recently did I learn that Ilya Lopert a reknown producer and foreign film importer was an owner preceding Rugoff. I recall an off-handed comment in the original Auntie Mame movie where the characters are returning from a classics matinee at the Plaza. Can’t fully describe what a unique experience it was to put the world behind you and be enveloped in the theatre’s rarefied atmosphere.
The coffee service in the art house chains was only practical when they were specializing in the showcasing of foreign language art films. When they started day & dating the Broadway houses with mainstream product and broad appeal, the free coffee was no longer practical.
Was just commenting yesterday standing on line in the freezing winter to see “They Shoot Horses Don’t They”. Back in the 60’s the Rugoff theatres were serving coffee in most of their lounges.
With all the arts activities going on in East Williamsburg you would think that someone could come up with a viable plan for a mixed-use venue. I’m assuming that the Rainbow is still being used as a house of worship and not subject to the temperature extremes afflicting the Ridgewood.
I strongly agree with John that the 88 photo collection of the 2nd Ave subway has special value in how it chronicles the communties along that transportation route. Particularly fascinating is the intricate grid of stations and trackworks, which raised noise levels and dust. Going into a movie theatre was indeed a respite in that era.
To think that 34 years ago before the advent of video & cable,you could open a speciality boutique mini-cinema and show vintage classics and edgy product. At least Ilene Kristen is still around, hamming it up on “One Life to Live” (at least for the time being!)
Be glad that many of the theatres have been converted into churches, many of which have been well maintained. Several years ago I attended a funeral in the Loew’s Bedford, which closed down as a movie theatre decades ago. The interior was well maintained and showed clear signs of its former grandeur. I have not seen the interiors of the Savoy or the Kameo both in Crown Heights, or the Albemarle on Flatbush Ave., but fortunately all three are still standing and serving a prime community function. Let’s not rule out the Brooklyn Parmount or the Loew’s Metropolitan.
There’s still hope for the Loew’s 175th St., and by a strectch, the Loew’s Kings. Too bad that that the renovation of the Prospect in the Bronx failed to attract an audience. Unsure what’s happening with the Loew’s Paradise.
Too bad this movie palace could'nt be saved. Every Main St. needs a brightly-lit movie marquee. Although Orange has a lively commerical strip, it’s somewhat forlorn without the Embassy.
Only time I was in this theatre was to see the showcase engagement of Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid. A Randforce house, it was not particularly distinguished and didn’t compare to the chain’s other venues including the Savoy, the Commodore or the Alba, and was totally out of league with the downtown flagship heavyweights such as the Fox, the Paramount, the Albee and the Metropolitan.
I never went to the Graham, but knew the Lindy well. Would never describe it as a palace, but as a kid I would frequently accompany the candy man who went up and down the aisles with his treats on a tray. In the mid 50’s Katz Drugs modernized their storefront and interior and was the showcase of the Graham Ave commercial strip.
I question the map location of the theatre based on the street address. Before the construction of the Lindsay Park Housing complex, Siegel Street began at Broadway, 2 blocks to the south. These blocks contained residential and light manufacturing units. The address listed for the Lyric would have placed it between B'way & Leonard St. and not at the corner of Manhattan Av.
The vintage bus forces me to real;ize that the photo was taken over 40 yrs. ago. I remember when the new marquee was installed and the sense that the Rugoff chain was finally trying to spruce up the place.
Harvey appears to have been an extraordinary individual with an acute sense of how to mold opinion and develop trends. Janus Films had a remarkable collection. Is the company still active? If so, who are the current owners?
Thanks John for spearheading this effort. It would mean a l;ot for a neighborhood that is in the process of rebuilding to have a landmark designation for this site.
Although a convenient neighborhood screen, this venue, due to location, did not have the transportation access or pedestrian traffic that generated large crowds. Quadding would not have helped. Occasionally a film like ET would do boffo business, but I suspect that was rare. The film palaces at the western end of Kings Highway had a critical mass of several theatres, in the middle of a major shopping district, served by a major express subway stop and numerous bus routes. Not so the Nostrand which was in a strictly residential area. No doubt the Waldbaums supermarket diagonally across KH had more weekly patrons than the Nostrand. Once the Loews Georgetown Twin and Centur’s Kings Plaza Twin opened, with suburban style parking and other amenities, the days of the Nostrand were numbered.
I may have been the 6th person who saw the Hunger, but not at the Plaza, but at the Kips Bay with a double feature with a Viveca Lindfors film, Night Games. Both were dark, b/w, depressing, Scandinavian films, Per Oscarsson received accolades for his acting in the Hunger. Would certainly not want to sit through either one of these again.
A movie-going experience like no other. Warm and intimate, with dedicated and professional staff. Preferred it to the Sutton, and even the Beekman. Frequented it during the Rugoff-Cinema V era. Only recently did I learn that Ilya Lopert a reknown producer and foreign film importer was an owner preceding Rugoff. I recall an off-handed comment in the original Auntie Mame movie where the characters are returning from a classics matinee at the Plaza. Can’t fully describe what a unique experience it was to put the world behind you and be enveloped in the theatre’s rarefied atmosphere.
Sad loss of a lovely auditorium.
I was unable to open the photo of the lounge area, but I fondly recall the comfortable lounge areas of the Little Carnegie and the Beekman.
The coffee service in the art house chains was only practical when they were specializing in the showcasing of foreign language art films. When they started day & dating the Broadway houses with mainstream product and broad appeal, the free coffee was no longer practical.
Was just commenting yesterday standing on line in the freezing winter to see “They Shoot Horses Don’t They”. Back in the 60’s the Rugoff theatres were serving coffee in most of their lounges.
With all the arts activities going on in East Williamsburg you would think that someone could come up with a viable plan for a mixed-use venue. I’m assuming that the Rainbow is still being used as a house of worship and not subject to the temperature extremes afflicting the Ridgewood.
I strongly agree with John that the 88 photo collection of the 2nd Ave subway has special value in how it chronicles the communties along that transportation route. Particularly fascinating is the intricate grid of stations and trackworks, which raised noise levels and dust. Going into a movie theatre was indeed a respite in that era.
To think that 34 years ago before the advent of video & cable,you could open a speciality boutique mini-cinema and show vintage classics and edgy product. At least Ilene Kristen is still around, hamming it up on “One Life to Live” (at least for the time being!)
Be glad that many of the theatres have been converted into churches, many of which have been well maintained. Several years ago I attended a funeral in the Loew’s Bedford, which closed down as a movie theatre decades ago. The interior was well maintained and showed clear signs of its former grandeur. I have not seen the interiors of the Savoy or the Kameo both in Crown Heights, or the Albemarle on Flatbush Ave., but fortunately all three are still standing and serving a prime community function. Let’s not rule out the Brooklyn Parmount or the Loew’s Metropolitan.
Since I don’t get into the Bronx often was curious how often this venue was in use.
There’s still hope for the Loew’s 175th St., and by a strectch, the Loew’s Kings. Too bad that that the renovation of the Prospect in the Bronx failed to attract an audience. Unsure what’s happening with the Loew’s Paradise.
The destruction of the Roxy and the original Penn Station were indeed criminal acts!
Too bad this movie palace could'nt be saved. Every Main St. needs a brightly-lit movie marquee. Although Orange has a lively commerical strip, it’s somewhat forlorn without the Embassy.
Across from Katz Drugs there was a kosher deli, Adelman’s(?), which was a regular stop for a hot dog after the Lindy matinee.
Only time I was in this theatre was to see the showcase engagement of Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid. A Randforce house, it was not particularly distinguished and didn’t compare to the chain’s other venues including the Savoy, the Commodore or the Alba, and was totally out of league with the downtown flagship heavyweights such as the Fox, the Paramount, the Albee and the Metropolitan.
I never went to the Graham, but knew the Lindy well. Would never describe it as a palace, but as a kid I would frequently accompany the candy man who went up and down the aisles with his treats on a tray. In the mid 50’s Katz Drugs modernized their storefront and interior and was the showcase of the Graham Ave commercial strip.
The marker should actually be closer to B'way.
Is the interior now completely gutted?
Before being acquired by the Rugoff Becker circuit and becoming the flagship of the Cinema 5 chain, who were the orignal owners?
I question the map location of the theatre based on the street address. Before the construction of the Lindsay Park Housing complex, Siegel Street began at Broadway, 2 blocks to the south. These blocks contained residential and light manufacturing units. The address listed for the Lyric would have placed it between B'way & Leonard St. and not at the corner of Manhattan Av.
The vintage bus forces me to real;ize that the photo was taken over 40 yrs. ago. I remember when the new marquee was installed and the sense that the Rugoff chain was finally trying to spruce up the place.
Harvey appears to have been an extraordinary individual with an acute sense of how to mold opinion and develop trends. Janus Films had a remarkable collection. Is the company still active? If so, who are the current owners?
Thanks John for spearheading this effort. It would mean a l;ot for a neighborhood that is in the process of rebuilding to have a landmark designation for this site.
Although a convenient neighborhood screen, this venue, due to location, did not have the transportation access or pedestrian traffic that generated large crowds. Quadding would not have helped. Occasionally a film like ET would do boffo business, but I suspect that was rare. The film palaces at the western end of Kings Highway had a critical mass of several theatres, in the middle of a major shopping district, served by a major express subway stop and numerous bus routes. Not so the Nostrand which was in a strictly residential area. No doubt the Waldbaums supermarket diagonally across KH had more weekly patrons than the Nostrand. Once the Loews Georgetown Twin and Centur’s Kings Plaza Twin opened, with suburban style parking and other amenities, the days of the Nostrand were numbered.