You all remmember the manager Mr. Shine? I can still see his face…always reminded me of a grouchy, but kind waiter in a deli in NYC. I believe his wife also worked at the theater.
There was a theater that you could see a double feature, usually Hopalong Cassidy, Tarzan flicks plus several serials and multiple cartoons for 15 or 20 cents. Mr. Shine was the managers name and he was always there! The theater itself was not kept up and cleanliness was not on their agenda, but they filled the house with the neighborhood kids. Still there are fond memories of this little theater.
Does anyone know the name of the newsreel theater that was located on Broadway? I know there was one that was replaced by the Cinerama theater, but there was alittle one near the Astor, Horn and Hardart and Hectors? I’m trying to remember the name. Thanks!
Roy
The Colonial Theater wasn’t the only theater that we who lived in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn catered to. There was the “Decatur” where you could see a double feature, serial and cartoons for 15 cents. It wasn’t cleanest theater but it was fun to go there anyway. We had the RKO Bushwick, Loews Gates, Monroe and the Alhambra theaters. Every once in a while they would have 8 act of vaudeville at the Gates. Those were fun times.
The Colonial I feel was the one theater every body escaped to especially on those hot summer days. The managers and matrons (not called ushers) would basically manage the theater. They would know most of us who lived near by by name. Theaters today don’t have that feel anymore.
Are there any theaters that have a cafe for food and drink?
I wasn’t in town for the whole summer of 1958. It’s funny how the streets look not as attractive if they are not wet. Something about
night shots,especially in B&W need the wet look. So many films do that when they are shooting at night.
I saw the “East of Eden” premiere from the two-disc set of East of Eden’s DVD. Things have improved so much since then directorily (meaning the TV coverage of the premiere). The segment of the premiere did not do justice for a world premiere that was televised and on radio at the same time. I always have the visual of “Singin in the Rain” as the ultimate premiere. I can be seen in the footage of disc number 2. I’m the one by the curb in the full shot waiting for the next car to arrive. Later they have a good shot of Ron Greenwald, Tommy Harris and Johnny O'Neil. In the Marilyn Monroe video of her life there is a short segment that is shown from the area where I was. I could be seen briefly but the other guys got a full picture. I worked the world premiere of “A Star is Born” and Monroe came to that also. She dropped her hankechief when coming out of the Limo. I had the honor of giving it to her people. If anyone know if there is any film coverage of that premiere I would be most grateful.
Looking at all this as a 16 year old going on seventeen seeing all the celebrities and never knowing that I would be working with a few of them in my career in theater. One that comes to mind is Carol Channing. I left the show “Coco” with Hepburn to spend nearly a year in London with Carol Channing. My guess at that time was who is Carol Channing? I wasn’t aware of her status when I worked that premiere. What does a kid from Brooklyn know! See ya!
I was working as a ticket taker at the Victoria Theater for “The Big Knife” for the 10am opening performance. A woman wearing a trench coat with a kerchief wrapped around her head asked to see the manager. Our orders were to ask anyone who requests to see the manager to inquire for what purpose. So I said, “are you inquiring about a postion or is this personal?”. She smiled and said it is personal!. She then said…“ I would like to see the movie and I want to see if I can get in without paying!” Much to my chagrin the woman was Shelley Winters. I sure was embarassed. At the Astor Rod Steiger and Karl Malden would always be let in without paying when “On the Waterfront” was playing. The opening morning performance of ‘Waterfront" was inundated with Longshoremen with hooks and the rest of their regalia. For a 16 year old it was quite an experience.
The irony here with Shelley Winters is that she and I taught acting at the same studio. I told her the story and she remembered seeing “The Big Knife” at the Victoria and hazily remembered the incident.
My wife keeps telling me to write a book about my 30 years of experiences in theater. I do have some great stories just working at the Astor and Victoria theater. My professional experiences are quite unique. Maybe I will!
Roy
I feel the very same way. I was lucky to do my Broadway work in the 60’s and 70’s. The biggest problem then was the porno problem. The theaters were great without implanted microphones on the actors. It definitely was a different world. My wife and I just finished directing “Stalag 17” the play. Doing it was a blast, especially brining me back to the 50’s when I worked at the Astor when Stalag was playing.
Your image of Las Vegas is a true depiction of how Times Square is today. But when I think of the alternative of the trash that 42nd Street was for a long time…I would rather have it the way it is today. Thanks for the comments!
Roy
My brother and I worked at the Astor Theater from July 15, 1953 to August of 1956. I was a doorman for the East of Eden premiere. I saw a clip in the Marilyn Monroe video-bio that showed a glimpse of me when she arrived. I’m not sure which premiere it was. I would love to know where I can get a copy of the DVD you mentioned. My email is The website to our studio is www.actorsplace.org They sure were great times. Broadway had an energy then it does not have now. I was younger at that time and maybe I saw things with new-opened eyes. I’m happy that the Times Square area has cleaned up. It was a real mess for a long time. Miss the old Gaety Deli and Hectors!
I submitted a while back how I ushered at the Valencia Theatre in Jamacia, NY when I was in Junior High School. When I went to my sophmore year at Boy’s High my twin brother and I got a job at the Astor Theatre in 1953. The movie “Stalag 17” was playing at the Asor and I believe that “The Moon is Blue” was playing at the Victoria. During the 3.5 years working full time during the summer and full weekends during school. It was an exciting period.
Because my brother and I were tall we were doorman as well as ushers with the white gloves and sharp uniforms. We had the opportunity to work all the world premiers including “East of Eden”, “On the Waterfront”, “The Star is Born” and many more. We were even called in from school to be the doorman for the opening of “Guys and Dolls” at the Capitol Theatre where they used doorman from all the different theatrs including the Paramount, Loew’s State, Criterion and the Roxy. Had met Bob Hope, Marilyn Monroe, Shelly Winters, Raymond Massey, George Montgomery, Karl Malden amd many more.
I still vividly remeber the smells, the feeling of the air conditioning, the alley between the Astor and Victoria and best of all the stairs to the locker room. A lot of fond memories. By 1958 my brother and I worked professionally with Bob Hope and I had a wonderful career in theatre and television. Working there was a great place for a fledgling actor. Nearly every Saturday morning Karl Malden would drop by 1545 to Kermit Bloomgarten’s office. He would always call me “Butch”! Lee Strassberg me tho 1545 to teach some of his classes. Ben Gazzara, Shelly Winters, Richard Davalos would be some of the attendees. A few years later I would be studying with Lee Strasberg. Funny world!
I still remember the managers…Mr. Bloom, Mr. Cusack, Mr. Shaeffer, Mr. Whitney, Captain of ushers, Ms. Camarda and Mr. Gallagher. I can go on forever about working there. A lot of fond memories.
Dodger G if you could give me a line at rbarry@actorsplace .org would be greatly appreciated. I am trying to place you. I was there when you were working.
You all remmember the manager Mr. Shine? I can still see his face…always reminded me of a grouchy, but kind waiter in a deli in NYC. I believe his wife also worked at the theater.
Roy from Cooper Street…3 sewer champ!
What theater did “Singin in the Rain” premiere? Was it Radio City?
There was a theater that you could see a double feature, usually Hopalong Cassidy, Tarzan flicks plus several serials and multiple cartoons for 15 or 20 cents. Mr. Shine was the managers name and he was always there! The theater itself was not kept up and cleanliness was not on their agenda, but they filled the house with the neighborhood kids. Still there are fond memories of this little theater.
Does anyone know the name of the newsreel theater that was located on Broadway? I know there was one that was replaced by the Cinerama theater, but there was alittle one near the Astor, Horn and Hardart and Hectors? I’m trying to remember the name. Thanks!
Roy
The Colonial Theater wasn’t the only theater that we who lived in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn catered to. There was the “Decatur” where you could see a double feature, serial and cartoons for 15 cents. It wasn’t cleanest theater but it was fun to go there anyway. We had the RKO Bushwick, Loews Gates, Monroe and the Alhambra theaters. Every once in a while they would have 8 act of vaudeville at the Gates. Those were fun times.
The Colonial I feel was the one theater every body escaped to especially on those hot summer days. The managers and matrons (not called ushers) would basically manage the theater. They would know most of us who lived near by by name. Theaters today don’t have that feel anymore.
Are there any theaters that have a cafe for food and drink?
Roy
Warren,
I wasn’t in town for the whole summer of 1958. It’s funny how the streets look not as attractive if they are not wet. Something about
night shots,especially in B&W need the wet look. So many films do that when they are shooting at night.
I saw the “East of Eden” premiere from the two-disc set of East of Eden’s DVD. Things have improved so much since then directorily (meaning the TV coverage of the premiere). The segment of the premiere did not do justice for a world premiere that was televised and on radio at the same time. I always have the visual of “Singin in the Rain” as the ultimate premiere. I can be seen in the footage of disc number 2. I’m the one by the curb in the full shot waiting for the next car to arrive. Later they have a good shot of Ron Greenwald, Tommy Harris and Johnny O'Neil. In the Marilyn Monroe video of her life there is a short segment that is shown from the area where I was. I could be seen briefly but the other guys got a full picture. I worked the world premiere of “A Star is Born” and Monroe came to that also. She dropped her hankechief when coming out of the Limo. I had the honor of giving it to her people. If anyone know if there is any film coverage of that premiere I would be most grateful.
Looking at all this as a 16 year old going on seventeen seeing all the celebrities and never knowing that I would be working with a few of them in my career in theater. One that comes to mind is Carol Channing. I left the show “Coco” with Hepburn to spend nearly a year in London with Carol Channing. My guess at that time was who is Carol Channing? I wasn’t aware of her status when I worked that premiere. What does a kid from Brooklyn know! See ya!
Roy
I was working as a ticket taker at the Victoria Theater for “The Big Knife” for the 10am opening performance. A woman wearing a trench coat with a kerchief wrapped around her head asked to see the manager. Our orders were to ask anyone who requests to see the manager to inquire for what purpose. So I said, “are you inquiring about a postion or is this personal?”. She smiled and said it is personal!. She then said…“ I would like to see the movie and I want to see if I can get in without paying!” Much to my chagrin the woman was Shelley Winters. I sure was embarassed. At the Astor Rod Steiger and Karl Malden would always be let in without paying when “On the Waterfront” was playing. The opening morning performance of ‘Waterfront" was inundated with Longshoremen with hooks and the rest of their regalia. For a 16 year old it was quite an experience.
The irony here with Shelley Winters is that she and I taught acting at the same studio. I told her the story and she remembered seeing “The Big Knife” at the Victoria and hazily remembered the incident.
My wife keeps telling me to write a book about my 30 years of experiences in theater. I do have some great stories just working at the Astor and Victoria theater. My professional experiences are quite unique. Maybe I will!
Roy
Warren,
I feel the very same way. I was lucky to do my Broadway work in the 60’s and 70’s. The biggest problem then was the porno problem. The theaters were great without implanted microphones on the actors. It definitely was a different world. My wife and I just finished directing “Stalag 17” the play. Doing it was a blast, especially brining me back to the 50’s when I worked at the Astor when Stalag was playing.
Your image of Las Vegas is a true depiction of how Times Square is today. But when I think of the alternative of the trash that 42nd Street was for a long time…I would rather have it the way it is today. Thanks for the comments!
Roy
Warren and Dodger,
My brother and I worked at the Astor Theater from July 15, 1953 to August of 1956. I was a doorman for the East of Eden premiere. I saw a clip in the Marilyn Monroe video-bio that showed a glimpse of me when she arrived. I’m not sure which premiere it was. I would love to know where I can get a copy of the DVD you mentioned. My email is The website to our studio is www.actorsplace.org They sure were great times. Broadway had an energy then it does not have now. I was younger at that time and maybe I saw things with new-opened eyes. I’m happy that the Times Square area has cleaned up. It was a real mess for a long time. Miss the old Gaety Deli and Hectors!
Roy
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Warren and Dodger G.
I submitted a while back how I ushered at the Valencia Theatre in Jamacia, NY when I was in Junior High School. When I went to my sophmore year at Boy’s High my twin brother and I got a job at the Astor Theatre in 1953. The movie “Stalag 17” was playing at the Asor and I believe that “The Moon is Blue” was playing at the Victoria. During the 3.5 years working full time during the summer and full weekends during school. It was an exciting period.
Because my brother and I were tall we were doorman as well as ushers with the white gloves and sharp uniforms. We had the opportunity to work all the world premiers including “East of Eden”, “On the Waterfront”, “The Star is Born” and many more. We were even called in from school to be the doorman for the opening of “Guys and Dolls” at the Capitol Theatre where they used doorman from all the different theatrs including the Paramount, Loew’s State, Criterion and the Roxy. Had met Bob Hope, Marilyn Monroe, Shelly Winters, Raymond Massey, George Montgomery, Karl Malden amd many more.
I still vividly remeber the smells, the feeling of the air conditioning, the alley between the Astor and Victoria and best of all the stairs to the locker room. A lot of fond memories. By 1958 my brother and I worked professionally with Bob Hope and I had a wonderful career in theatre and television. Working there was a great place for a fledgling actor. Nearly every Saturday morning Karl Malden would drop by 1545 to Kermit Bloomgarten’s office. He would always call me “Butch”! Lee Strassberg me tho 1545 to teach some of his classes. Ben Gazzara, Shelly Winters, Richard Davalos would be some of the attendees. A few years later I would be studying with Lee Strasberg. Funny world!
I still remember the managers…Mr. Bloom, Mr. Cusack, Mr. Shaeffer, Mr. Whitney, Captain of ushers, Ms. Camarda and Mr. Gallagher. I can go on forever about working there. A lot of fond memories.
Dodger G if you could give me a line at rbarry@actorsplace .org would be greatly appreciated. I am trying to place you. I was there when you were working.
Thanks!
Roy Barry