AMC Empire 25

In many cases the 42nd Street theatres would play the same film as the Broadway houses at reduced prices. Case: In August of 1968, “Hang ‘Em High” plays at the Victoria (46th & B'way) and at the Lyric 42nd St. The “exclusive engagement” ad lists only the Victoria, Loew’s Orpheum and Loew’s Cine theatres.

This is just one case. Now, when the film hit wide or showcase release, sometimes the 42nd Street house would be listed, but never in the “exclusive engagement” listing.

Don,
Even in the 1950s, some 42nd St theaters appeared in ads placed by the distributor (ala “showcase”). I’m looking at ads for Pinocchio (‘53 release) that lists the Selwyn; Some Like It Hot (New Amsterdam). Some ads (House on Haunted Hill) mention that the film is at the New A but will play the following week at the Harris.

The Apollo advertised a lot since its art-house programming was geared toward the “non-typical” 42nd Street crowd.

The re-release theaters (Empire, Victory, Anco, Liberty)with the most eclectic programming do not appear in any ads that I can find from the ‘50s. The Anco & Liberty pop-up on occasion in the 60s when they would do the 3rd week of a popular booking, after the New A. & Harris.

I am still looking for booking info on these “re-release” theaters from the 50s-60s. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know. Jerry

Hardbop…
I remember this theatre even though I’d never gone inside only because it just looked real seedy. From what I recall it had six screens and the strangest thing of it all was the fact that for some odd reason this theatre was never listed in any of the newspapers adds of movies being played there at the time. So on paper the theatre didn’t exist.

There was a multiplex on the site where the AMC moved and I assume it was demolished to make way for the AMC ‘plex. I forget the name of it, but they played first-run films and charged a price a couple of dollars cheaper than other theatres in NYC. And they weren’t strict about allowing people to move to another theatre without buying a second admission. I usually was afraid to walk on that block and wouldn’t step foot in any of those 42nd Street theatres, but do remember seeing one film there in '94 called JASON’S LYRIC. It was probably the only place the film was playing so I was forced to brave the block. I remember the woman in the ticket booth sat there couting and recounting cash as I waiting to buy a ticket, which caused me to miss the beginning of the film. It was the first and last time I went there. Anyone remember this theatre?

I couldn’t open that link from woody, so I just joined the Cinema group at this link instead. Instant membership, no waiting.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cta-uk

The timing would be about right, i took the pic of the doors through the filthy security grill in early 1995, and last action hero filmed in 1993
wonder what became of the doors, they were amazing and looked very authentic

Check this link to the UK Cinema Theatre Association CTA Online Yahoo group.Ive added six photos of 42nd st area cinemas, including a 1995 photo of the Adonis, the David, the Empire, Cine 42, New Amsterdam and Harem
As well as two postcards one of 42nd street in the snow in all its eighties sleazy glory and one very early eighties one of it at night…enjoy!

View link
posted by woody on Jan 29, 2005 at 3:42pm

Here are some comments about this theater posted on the Cine 42 page:

About the most impressive thing – heck, make that the ONLY impressive thing – in the Arnold Schwarzenegger flick ‘The Last Action Hero’ are the multiple shots of the 42nd Street (and Deuce-area) grindhouse marquees illuminated at night.
posted by br91975 on Jan 13, 2005 at 10:13pm

I recall that they created an elaborate facade for the Empire, which they crashed into or something. It was a beautiful version of how the Empire could have looked at one time.
posted by saps on Jan 13, 2005 at 10:23pm

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).
posted by br91975 on Jan 13, 2005 at 10:48pm

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.
posted by br91975 on Jan 13, 2005 at 10:53pm

It’s nice to discuss something other than the Roxy and the Music Hall.

You know it’s ironic that AMC saved and used the Empire in its redevelopment and creation of the new multiplex on 42nd St. in NYC. Yet, the Empire Theater in Kansas City, which sits four blocks from the AMC headquarters here, sat empty and rotting for since 1986. AMC had owned the Empire here in KC at one time.

Now that the Empire is being restored as part of the new entertainment district being developed here by Cordish, AMC still has no part in the saving of the Empire. All the new residents of renovated downtown buildings constantly dream of having a movie theater downtown again. There’s hope that Cordish will bring a new theater to downtown. It won’t be the Empire, since it’s being restored for use as a live music venue. AMC is willing to spend millions salvaging an old theater in NYC, but hasn’t done the same in its hometown. Especially sad since AMC executives have to drive by the Empire every day.

Jerry the K: I believe the book you are looking for is called “Lost Broadway Theatres” It is availble in both Hard And Soft cover versions. I have seen it in many NYC library branches. It has many exterior and interior photos of Broadway area theatres going back to the turn of the century.

Jerry the K: I know for a fact that a book exists that gives the history of most of the existing and lost theaters in the Broadway theatre district. I don’t know the name of the book offhand, but if you do a search of public libraries, you are sure to come across it. I found it in the Kansas City Public Library. It’s an older book.

>>All that’s left is the front facade. a shame
posted by D on Jul 25, 2004 at 6:53pm

The entire theater was restored: Walls, balconies, murals, proscenium arch; and is now used as the lobby of the new AMC Empire 25.

I agree about the eclectic billing here. Once in the early 1980’s the second or third feature was Hitchcock’s Psycho from 20 years earlier. At a rock-bottom evening price of 85 cents, who could resist going in. It was the first time I’d seen Psycho on the big screen, and what a setting! I think half of Norman Bate’s family was in the audience. We all go a little mad sometimes, no doubt.

I saw the Empire when it was being moved down the street on the rails. It was an incredible feat. I remember reading ahead of time that they were planning to do this as part of the redevelopment of 42nd Street, and couldn’t believe they were attempting it. I remember thinking at the time why didn’t they just leave the remaining portion of the Empire where it was and build around it in that location? Why was it necessary to move it 200 ft. west? It just seemed to me that they could have built the multiplex at the original location, and placed the Madame T’s Wax Museum on the west side of the multiplex instead of the east side.

I’m glad they did though, because—at the very least—it saved a portion of the old theater. I think the good will to preserve theaters on 42nd Street had been used up by the time the Empire was moved. The New Amsterdam up the street was undergoing an extensive restoration by Disney, and the Ford Center on the north side of the street had taken two old theaters and did a re-adaptive use, but saved the front facade. Next door to it, the New Victory Theater had been restored.

Quite frankly, I’m very surprised that The New Amsterdam; the New Victory; the old part of the Ford Center (can’t think of the name of the original theater(s)); and the Empire didn’t all get torn down in one fell swoop. I had lived in the East Village just prior to redevelopment, and two old theaters in my neighborhood had been demolished. One was the old Fillmore East (which I think had been a movie theater or Jewish playhouse earlier). The other one was along 13th Street near Second or Third Avenue if I recall. At the same time, the Palladium on E. 14th St. was demolished. Now, that was a big shock to me, because I thought the Palladium would be saved. I know it had been a nightclub and concert venue for years, but had originally been a movie theater?

I was torn about the 42nd St. redevelopment too. Part of me liked the seediness of the street. One got a trill just walking down it late at night. However, it is in one of the primary tourist areas of the city, and having it in that condition reflected badly on the city. I’m just so glad the New Amsterdam got restored. I would have hated to lose that marquee.