Ed, it would have to be the Criterion but I wouldn’t discount the Playpen simply because it didn’t use film. There is hardly any film used in Times Square today and the Playpen was 17 years older than the Criterion.
I think the 50th street location switched to the Guild name when it started showing features in the late forties, early fifties, sometimes advertising as the Embassy Guild. Prior to that it was indeed the Embassy Newsreel.
If I remember correctly, the parking lot entrance was right on 441 and the front looked a little like Loews Bay Harbor, which was built by the same original owner.
That December “DOLITTLE was at the State, "GONE WITH THE WIND” was at the Rivoli, “FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD” at the Capitol, “THE AMBUSHERS” at the De Mille and “CAMELOT” at the Warner.
I think the intro is confusing this theatre with the Canal Cinema (Major/Cinema Giglio) which was still operating in the late seventies. This Canal was closed in the late fifties.
Fifty-one years ago today, Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” opened its NYC premiere engagement at the DeMille and the Baronet on the East Side, both then under Walter Reade management. The booking is still remembered for its innovative “No one admitted after the start of a performance” policy.>
Actually “All About Eve” had used the same gimmmick ten years before “Psycho” and had to abandon it after one week when audiences refused to show up on time.
“Once is Not Enough” Just because it was playing at other theatres doesn’t mean it was not a move-over from the Astor Plaza where it had been playing for three months.
MARK TRIPLEX (as per the intro) The triplex opened in December 1976 so the marquee could not have been up in 1975. “In Search of Noah’s Ark” was a first-run opening feature. By September 1977 the Mark was closed.
EMBASSY 2,3,4 (as per the intro) Opened in December 1977 with “A Piece of the Action” on move-over from the Criterion on two screens.
“Apocalypse Now” This August 1979 release moved from the Ziegfeld to the Cinerama Twin in November 1979 in the 70mm print version. In late December 1979 it opened on all three Embassy screens, now three years old, in 35mm.
Ed, it would have to be the Criterion but I wouldn’t discount the Playpen simply because it didn’t use film. There is hardly any film used in Times Square today and the Playpen was 17 years older than the Criterion.
Techman, it was advertised as the Embassy Guild and Embassy Guild Newsreel in 1950/1951 even when showing feature films.
I think Ed is correct and Norman Elson took over the Embassy (46th St) and Guild AFTER leaving Trans-Lux.
I think the 50th street location switched to the Guild name when it started showing features in the late forties, early fifties, sometimes advertising as the Embassy Guild. Prior to that it was indeed the Embassy Newsreel.
If I remember correctly, the parking lot entrance was right on 441 and the front looked a little like Loews Bay Harbor, which was built by the same original owner.
Robert, since the Embassy 1 closed before this did, its last name was Embassy 1, 2, 3.
ChasSmith, it was showing there then.
I doubt the building is still there.
Times Square porn theatres circa summer 1970.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Jkbx53LjKU&feature=related
Open theatres were often used for this during weekday morning hours in Florida.
“Dinner” premiered at the Victoria and Beekman.
That December “DOLITTLE was at the State, "GONE WITH THE WIND” was at the Rivoli, “FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD” at the Capitol, “THE AMBUSHERS” at the De Mille and “CAMELOT” at the Warner.
The Forum was showing “THE PRESIDENT"S ANALYST”.
I think the intro is confusing this theatre with the Canal Cinema (Major/Cinema Giglio) which was still operating in the late seventies. This Canal was closed in the late fifties.
A New York Times blurb lists it as the St. BRENDAN HOTEL.
<Tinseltoes on June 16, 2011 at 7:08 am
Fifty-one years ago today, Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” opened its NYC premiere engagement at the DeMille and the Baronet on the East Side, both then under Walter Reade management. The booking is still remembered for its innovative “No one admitted after the start of a performance” policy.>
Actually “All About Eve” had used the same gimmmick ten years before “Psycho” and had to abandon it after one week when audiences refused to show up on time.
The map above doesn’t seem to be any where near LeJeune Road.
This google shot shows what a crime it was to open a cinema here.
Please add Liberty City Drive-In as an aka.
This location showed films as the Fulton.
‘Rutgers’ as far I can see.
If you look closely it is a slide for Disney’s “SANTA CLAUS 2” (2002) and Pepsi probably sponsored the slide show.
Although it does not show the Ziegfeld at its best it is an interesting snap-shot of a short-lived part of movie history in the pre-digital age.
It’s not really a balcony. It is simply stadium seating in the back.
The Night Shift had a separate address upstairs but the Moulin Rouge (3 screens, 1985) may have encompassed both.
Well TV ownership was insignificant until the fifties and the main flight to the suburbs also occurred after the war.
You left out the competition from new palaces with live entertainment at depression prices.
“Once is Not Enough” Just because it was playing at other theatres doesn’t mean it was not a move-over from the Astor Plaza where it had been playing for three months.
MARK TRIPLEX (as per the intro) The triplex opened in December 1976 so the marquee could not have been up in 1975. “In Search of Noah’s Ark” was a first-run opening feature. By September 1977 the Mark was closed.
EMBASSY 2,3,4 (as per the intro) Opened in December 1977 with “A Piece of the Action” on move-over from the Criterion on two screens.
“Apocalypse Now” This August 1979 release moved from the Ziegfeld to the Cinerama Twin in November 1979 in the 70mm print version. In late December 1979 it opened on all three Embassy screens, now three years old, in 35mm.
I don’t think Warner gutted the Beacon interior. I suspect they redesigned it for sound.
My guess would be the depression. Some theatre owners couldn’t discount enough to compete.
“The Blue Max” was a two shows a day Roadshow at the Sutton.