I guess the title for this “Treasure” should be changed to Regal E-Walk"! I’ll miss the beautiful Loew’s sign. It won’t be the same if they change it to Regal.
Hey Ed, I have lived in New York all my life and I think it would be like Sundays back in the 70’s when Blue Laws had virtually all retail closed on the “Lord’s” day of rest. I don’t hear much clamoring for a return to those days!
I think I saw Creep Show here in the early 70’s when it was already a divided theater. Has anyone been able to determine if any of the detail is still left behind the drop ceilings, store walls etc. Is this theater a diamond in the rough?
I believe in TOTAL separation of Church and State. As a christian, I am not the least bit offended that theaters are open on Christmas Eve or Easter Sunday or Good Friday, etc…and therefore, I don’t believe all theaters should be dark for Jewish holidays. Soon there will be people clamoring for the Muslim Holidays, and Hindu. Where does it stop? It should stop now by not favoring ANY religion. I say show the films whenever they want. If people don’t go, then they will make future decuisions on economic reasons and not religious ones.
Gene r…..Thanks for all of that info. I lived in South Ozone Park for 17 years on 111th Avenue and 117th St. I moved to Manhattan in ‘87. I loved growing up there and will always treasure the memories. I’m amazed that there was more than one theater on Rockaway Blvd, but your explanation makes sense. I don’t know when it opened, but you left out the Casino theater on Liberty as an additional theater option. The RKO Keith’s was already closed by the time I first saw it, but I definitely use to visit Jahn’s! My favorite was “The Kitchen Sink”!!! Thanks also for the history of OLPH! Can’t wait to tell my sisters and parents about it. Did they build the entire campus at that time (schurch, school, convent, rectory). They look like they all belong to the same period.
Finally, when I didn’t see a movie that I wan’t to see playing at the Leffert’s, Casino or Cross Bay, I headed on the Q-41 to Jamaica and the fabulous Loew’s Valencia! Occasionally, the RKO Alden accross the street. Those were theaters!
To Gene R: Thanks for your info regarding the theater on Rocakway. I posted earlier that I moved to South Ozone Park in 1970 and saw no evidence of a theater at that location. Do you know what happended to that theater? How big was it? Who ran it? I don’t think it has a separte listing on this web site.
I still think it was a terrible location for a theater, but that’s probably why it didn’t last.
My Parish was OLPH. I knew that church was built in the 1940’s, but didn’t know that the old one had burnt to the ground. Was the church built on the original site or did it move after the fire to 114th St?
We’re taliking theaters, not tunnels or chuches or train terminals…..Theaters! This club was amazing and was an important part of the life of this theater whether you liked it or not.
Wow! I think that’s a great idea! There was a poll done on this web site a month or so ago as to what changes you would like to see on this web site. This is something I would like to see!
Thanks for the update! It probably never was a movie theater, but nevertheless it does have the look and feel of one. I remember it being quite ornate and it is quite a large facility. I had no idea it was that old and it would be great to know more of its history.
I know the name of this web site is cinema treasures, but I feel a diservice is done to those beautiful structures that hosted only legitimate theatrical productions and not cinema. After all, there are many, many listings on this site for theaters that were built for legitimate theater, showed films for years, and are still around today because they have gone back to legitmate use. Legit theater has saved many a movie palace but I guess lines have to be drawn somewhere.
One more thing……In listing the fabulous discos that were once theaters I left out the most amazing one of them all……The Saint! (aka Fillmore East, aka Loew’s Commodore) in the East Village.
At that club, the owners installed a planetarium dome in the orchestra section and while you danced the stars and other assorted lazers and the like were projected overhead. This was the absolute best Theater/Disco conversion I have ever experienced and I’m sure it will not be eclipsed.
One more thing I liked…..No drinks were allowed on the dance floor! Since there were only four entrances to the dome it was easy to control. No spills, no cups, just a fabulous dance space. It lasted as a disco for over 10 years! Now, it’s a bank. How sad.
Yes Ed, it was me! I was commenting on The Acadeemy of Music (aka Palladium) page and you directed me to the Movieland (aka Club USA) page. I realized that I never posted my thoughts here so I finally did it! :–)
I can’t believe no one has talked about this theater’s Disco Days as Club USA in the early 90’s! This fabulous club lasted until about 1996. The entrance to the club was on the side street pretty much where the W Hotel entrance is now. There were two dance floors, the main one, was where the orchestra section was. The other was two levels higher though it was not part of a balcony. The upper dance floor was known as the Tierry Mugler room and was designed by its namesake. There was a huge staircase that led to nowhere. It was a great place to sit and people watch. In additon, there was a wonderful roofdeck where you could see and hear the cacophany of Times Square. One of my favorite features of this club though was the winding slide that went from the balcony, out over the dance floor and down to the orchestra level. For $1 you got a potato sack and slid down to the main action below. The theater was beautifully adapted for use as a disco.
I never got to attend the Academy of Music (Palladium), Studio 54, Webster Hall or Movieland (Club USA) when they were actual theaters, but I spent many a evening in my younger days dancing the night away at these palaces. I miss those days! Discos kept the Palladium and Movieland theaters open a few more precious years. Studio 54 has returned to legitimate stage use and Webster Hall still goes on as a disco on E. 11th? Does anyone know the original name for Webster Hall? I remember it was known as the Ritz in the mid 80’s, but have not found a listing for this theater on this site. It’s a fairly large theater with 4 different dance floors. Perhaps it was never a movie house. If anyone can help solve the mystery I’d appreciate it! Luis
I foolishly assume that if people talk about plans for a certain theater on the website that they would follow up with updates as they find out. That is what I would do. So yes, I do rely on others just as I would expect others to rely on me if the shoe were on the other foot. :–)
The el is still there! I grew up going to the Crossbay 1 or is it 2? The older one and while apparently it was much better than the multiplex, I still think it was a dumpy theater. It was no Valencia, RKO Keiths (Flushing or Richmond Hill), Elmwood, TriBoro, Alden, the list of quality old theaters in Queens is long. The Crossbay is not in that company.
Hey Will, thanks for your comment. Since I came back I’ve done a little research on the history of Asbury Park and I am amazed at how many buildings of historic importance have been lost. They don’t seem to really have the will in Asbury Park. If they did, things would be different. If they can’t do things as simple as a plaque I don’t have much faith they can handle anything more taxing. What a shame.
Amen to that!!!!
I guess the title for this “Treasure” should be changed to Regal E-Walk"! I’ll miss the beautiful Loew’s sign. It won’t be the same if they change it to Regal.
Hey Ed, I have lived in New York all my life and I think it would be like Sundays back in the 70’s when Blue Laws had virtually all retail closed on the “Lord’s” day of rest. I don’t hear much clamoring for a return to those days!
I think I saw Creep Show here in the early 70’s when it was already a divided theater. Has anyone been able to determine if any of the detail is still left behind the drop ceilings, store walls etc. Is this theater a diamond in the rough?
I believe in TOTAL separation of Church and State. As a christian, I am not the least bit offended that theaters are open on Christmas Eve or Easter Sunday or Good Friday, etc…and therefore, I don’t believe all theaters should be dark for Jewish holidays. Soon there will be people clamoring for the Muslim Holidays, and Hindu. Where does it stop? It should stop now by not favoring ANY religion. I say show the films whenever they want. If people don’t go, then they will make future decuisions on economic reasons and not religious ones.
Gene r…..Thanks for all of that info. I lived in South Ozone Park for 17 years on 111th Avenue and 117th St. I moved to Manhattan in ‘87. I loved growing up there and will always treasure the memories. I’m amazed that there was more than one theater on Rockaway Blvd, but your explanation makes sense. I don’t know when it opened, but you left out the Casino theater on Liberty as an additional theater option. The RKO Keith’s was already closed by the time I first saw it, but I definitely use to visit Jahn’s! My favorite was “The Kitchen Sink”!!! Thanks also for the history of OLPH! Can’t wait to tell my sisters and parents about it. Did they build the entire campus at that time (schurch, school, convent, rectory). They look like they all belong to the same period.
Finally, when I didn’t see a movie that I wan’t to see playing at the Leffert’s, Casino or Cross Bay, I headed on the Q-41 to Jamaica and the fabulous Loew’s Valencia! Occasionally, the RKO Alden accross the street. Those were theaters!
Thanks for making me smile! Luis
To Gene R: Thanks for your info regarding the theater on Rocakway. I posted earlier that I moved to South Ozone Park in 1970 and saw no evidence of a theater at that location. Do you know what happended to that theater? How big was it? Who ran it? I don’t think it has a separte listing on this web site.
I still think it was a terrible location for a theater, but that’s probably why it didn’t last.
My Parish was OLPH. I knew that church was built in the 1940’s, but didn’t know that the old one had burnt to the ground. Was the church built on the original site or did it move after the fire to 114th St?
We’re taliking theaters, not tunnels or chuches or train terminals…..Theaters! This club was amazing and was an important part of the life of this theater whether you liked it or not.
Wow! I think that’s a great idea! There was a poll done on this web site a month or so ago as to what changes you would like to see on this web site. This is something I would like to see!
Thanks for the update! It probably never was a movie theater, but nevertheless it does have the look and feel of one. I remember it being quite ornate and it is quite a large facility. I had no idea it was that old and it would be great to know more of its history.
I know the name of this web site is cinema treasures, but I feel a diservice is done to those beautiful structures that hosted only legitimate theatrical productions and not cinema. After all, there are many, many listings on this site for theaters that were built for legitimate theater, showed films for years, and are still around today because they have gone back to legitmate use. Legit theater has saved many a movie palace but I guess lines have to be drawn somewhere.
Thanks Ed and Ron!
One more thing……In listing the fabulous discos that were once theaters I left out the most amazing one of them all……The Saint! (aka Fillmore East, aka Loew’s Commodore) in the East Village.
At that club, the owners installed a planetarium dome in the orchestra section and while you danced the stars and other assorted lazers and the like were projected overhead. This was the absolute best Theater/Disco conversion I have ever experienced and I’m sure it will not be eclipsed.
One more thing I liked…..No drinks were allowed on the dance floor! Since there were only four entrances to the dome it was easy to control. No spills, no cups, just a fabulous dance space. It lasted as a disco for over 10 years! Now, it’s a bank. How sad.
I guess I should post this on the Commodore site!
Yes Ed, it was me! I was commenting on The Acadeemy of Music (aka Palladium) page and you directed me to the Movieland (aka Club USA) page. I realized that I never posted my thoughts here so I finally did it! :–)
I can’t believe no one has talked about this theater’s Disco Days as Club USA in the early 90’s! This fabulous club lasted until about 1996. The entrance to the club was on the side street pretty much where the W Hotel entrance is now. There were two dance floors, the main one, was where the orchestra section was. The other was two levels higher though it was not part of a balcony. The upper dance floor was known as the Tierry Mugler room and was designed by its namesake. There was a huge staircase that led to nowhere. It was a great place to sit and people watch. In additon, there was a wonderful roofdeck where you could see and hear the cacophany of Times Square. One of my favorite features of this club though was the winding slide that went from the balcony, out over the dance floor and down to the orchestra level. For $1 you got a potato sack and slid down to the main action below. The theater was beautifully adapted for use as a disco.
I never got to attend the Academy of Music (Palladium), Studio 54, Webster Hall or Movieland (Club USA) when they were actual theaters, but I spent many a evening in my younger days dancing the night away at these palaces. I miss those days! Discos kept the Palladium and Movieland theaters open a few more precious years. Studio 54 has returned to legitimate stage use and Webster Hall still goes on as a disco on E. 11th? Does anyone know the original name for Webster Hall? I remember it was known as the Ritz in the mid 80’s, but have not found a listing for this theater on this site. It’s a fairly large theater with 4 different dance floors. Perhaps it was never a movie house. If anyone can help solve the mystery I’d appreciate it! Luis
Thanks for letting us know!
I foolishly assume that if people talk about plans for a certain theater on the website that they would follow up with updates as they find out. That is what I would do. So yes, I do rely on others just as I would expect others to rely on me if the shoe were on the other foot. :–)
So…..was this theater ever turned into a nightclub as per the posting of 10/19/05?
Still no answer, huh?
Alameda’s web site has no interior pictures which I find quite odd. Is this theaters claim to fame all exterior?
I think this theater status should be changed to closed! It looks abandoned and nothing has played there in well over a year.
Are there any interior shots? Were they destroyed when it was divided?
Does anyone know what’s going on with The Paramount?
The el is still there! I grew up going to the Crossbay 1 or is it 2? The older one and while apparently it was much better than the multiplex, I still think it was a dumpy theater. It was no Valencia, RKO Keiths (Flushing or Richmond Hill), Elmwood, TriBoro, Alden, the list of quality old theaters in Queens is long. The Crossbay is not in that company.
Ummmm! Lestat closed weeks ago. It was one of the worst things I’ve ever seen on Broadway. (The tickets were free). The theater….beautiful!!!!
Hey Will, thanks for your comment. Since I came back I’ve done a little research on the history of Asbury Park and I am amazed at how many buildings of historic importance have been lost. They don’t seem to really have the will in Asbury Park. If they did, things would be different. If they can’t do things as simple as a plaque I don’t have much faith they can handle anything more taxing. What a shame.
So What’s the latest? Is the demolition on or has it been saved?
Also, there are so many posts above and yet not one photo of the interior or exterior! If anyone has photos please post!