This was the first Christmas season since the USA entered WWII. Waiting lines for the Strand Theatre often extended around the corner of 48th Street as far west as Eighth Avenue.
UFA’s first sound feature, produced in four languages and titled in English as “Melody of the Heart,” became an international success and started a vogue for operettas.
The dual engagement of “King Kong” at both Radio City showplaces ran for one week only, with the Music Hall switching to “Christopher Strong” and new revue while the Big Ape and its stage show continued at the New Roxy.
This photo from a 1940 Italian film magazine is identified at top left as Cinema Principe di Piemonte, Viareggio, which must be one of the unlisted Viareggio theatres mentioned in the Overview. However, it could be Cinema Odeon if building date of 1949 is not correct.
With Warner Oland in his second appearance as “Charlie Chan,” the B&W mystery also had Bela Lugosi, now coasting on his fame from “Dracula,” in a major role.
This was reportedly the last silent feature released by UFA. The cinema was one of the most celebrated in Germany, with its premiere engagements advertised in glossy magazines as well as newspapers.
“Harlem of the West,” a recent book tracing the history of jazz in the Fillmore neighborhood, frequently cites the Ellis Theatre. Previously as the Princess, it was one of the first vaudeville theatres in San Francisco to book black entertainers. The Depression-enforced conversion to movies as the Ellis reduced the theatre to late-run status. To combat the arrival of home TV, management introduced a weekly talent night, when amateurs could compete for cash prizes. Pianist Federico Cervantes recalled: “A radio personality named ‘Fatso Perry’ ran the shows, and as his name indicates, he was quite obese. I got on the musical map by winning a prize of $50, big money at that time. After that, I was hired as the pianist for a little band that played for contestants. The Ellis was usually crowded. A lot of people dropped in for the chance to perform, and their friends came to cheer them on. Everybody would dress up.” Teen vocalist Polaya Ballington Davis is probably the most famous of the Ellis contest winners. The legendary Johnny Otis, who happened to be in the audience that night, was so impressed that he signed her to a recording contract and numerous hit singles under the new name of Sugar Pie Desanto.
The booking at the DeMille for “Roman Empire” was specifically aimed at taking advantage of the Easter holidays and opening season of the World’s Fair. Unfortunately, the epic failed to live up to expectations and was switched to continuous performances at “popular prices” starting on May 29th to include that year’s Memorial Day weekend.
Hopes were high for the reserved-seat enagement, which would benefit from the Easter holidays in April and tourists flocking to NYC for the World’s Fair that opened later in that month.
Jane Birkin, the Anglo/French actress, singer, and fashion icon, has been traveling around the world with this stage presentation that honors the works of French composer Serge Gainsbourg, the great love of her life.
The four brothers returned to the Albee in January, 1932 with ad displayed here
This was the first Christmas season since the USA entered WWII. Waiting lines for the Strand Theatre often extended around the corner of 48th Street as far west as Eighth Avenue.
UFA’s first sound feature, produced in four languages and titled in English as “Melody of the Heart,” became an international success and started a vogue for operettas.
The arch below the atmospheric ceiling in the rear balcony contained ventilators for the air-cooling system.
The dual engagement of “King Kong” at both Radio City showplaces ran for one week only, with the Music Hall switching to “Christopher Strong” and new revue while the Big Ape and its stage show continued at the New Roxy.
This was the final week of a four-week package of ‘Oscar’ winners that started with this ad
This photo from a 1940 Italian film magazine is identified at top left as Cinema Principe di Piemonte, Viareggio, which must be one of the unlisted Viareggio theatres mentioned in the Overview. However, it could be Cinema Odeon if building date of 1949 is not correct.
With Warner Oland in his second appearance as “Charlie Chan,” the B&W mystery also had Bela Lugosi, now coasting on his fame from “Dracula,” in a major role.
This was reportedly the last silent feature released by UFA. The cinema was one of the most celebrated in Germany, with its premiere engagements advertised in glossy magazines as well as newspapers.
Total of $112,000 would be equivalent to about $1.6 million in 2020.
Listed as Criterion Center, which isn’t mentioned in the subsequent names for the Criterion Theatre on the main entry page.
Bailey Theatres listed first in alphabetical directory of circuits presenting the once-a-week newsreel, which was produced in Chicago.
An exterior photo and a newspaper ad suggest that this should be listed as the 81 Theatre (instead of with the number written out).
Lettering for Loew’s Commodore can still be seen across the top of the marquee.
Pathe’s talkie thriller, starring the future “Hopalong Cassidy,” can be viewed in its entirety here
“Harlem of the West,” a recent book tracing the history of jazz in the Fillmore neighborhood, frequently cites the Ellis Theatre. Previously as the Princess, it was one of the first vaudeville theatres in San Francisco to book black entertainers. The Depression-enforced conversion to movies as the Ellis reduced the theatre to late-run status. To combat the arrival of home TV, management introduced a weekly talent night, when amateurs could compete for cash prizes. Pianist Federico Cervantes recalled: “A radio personality named ‘Fatso Perry’ ran the shows, and as his name indicates, he was quite obese. I got on the musical map by winning a prize of $50, big money at that time. After that, I was hired as the pianist for a little band that played for contestants. The Ellis was usually crowded. A lot of people dropped in for the chance to perform, and their friends came to cheer them on. Everybody would dress up.” Teen vocalist Polaya Ballington Davis is probably the most famous of the Ellis contest winners. The legendary Johnny Otis, who happened to be in the audience that night, was so impressed that he signed her to a recording contract and numerous hit singles under the new name of Sugar Pie Desanto.
The “mere $12,000” was Variety’s estimated first week gross for this lengthy double-feature revival, not for “The Boatniks.”
The cost would be equivalent to about $843,000 in 2020.
The booking at the DeMille for “Roman Empire” was specifically aimed at taking advantage of the Easter holidays and opening season of the World’s Fair. Unfortunately, the epic failed to live up to expectations and was switched to continuous performances at “popular prices” starting on May 29th to include that year’s Memorial Day weekend.
Hopes were high for the reserved-seat enagement, which would benefit from the Easter holidays in April and tourists flocking to NYC for the World’s Fair that opened later in that month.
Jane Birkin, the Anglo/French actress, singer, and fashion icon, has been traveling around the world with this stage presentation that honors the works of French composer Serge Gainsbourg, the great love of her life.
The State’s “His Girl Friday” was a move-over from Radio City Music Hall, where it had been part of the showplace’s first program change in 1940.
And with both features in CinemaScope and Color by Deluxe!
Rumors are circulating about a possible sale of the property, including one of conversion into a church. More here
The subterranean cinema listed here as Loews Paramount.