Dave-bronx, I wondered the same thing as I took those photos a couple of weeks back. Perhaps Warren knows the answer to that (in fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the answer has already been posted on this page, somewhere above).
I agree with you, Lost. Most books on theatrical architecture list theatres by the name under which they were opened. To decide upon the most popular (or even the longest running) name might require a judgment call that would still cause debate. I still think that would be preferable to the current policy – which is NOT adhered to 100% of the time, by the way… Otherwise, the Rivoli Theatre listing would be changed to the depressingly generic “UA Twin.”
Going all the way back to Lost Memory’s post of April 27, 2005… Lost notes that ownership is listed as Blue Man Group Productions. I know that the Blue Man Group show is currently at the Astor Place Theatre on Lafayette Street, and has been for a number of years. Could this have been an earlier performance space for that group? I know they started in a club somewhere in downtown Manhattan, so perhaps it was at during the building’s years as the “G-Spot.” Or perhaps the old theatre is (or was) used as a rehearsal or audition space for road editions of Blue Man Group? Is there any activity at all there these days?
There is some comfort knowing that a professional such as yourself is still able to practice his craft on a full time basis – but, at the risk of embarrassing you, I’d say that your impeccable credentials have placed you in very rarefied air. What makes it all so bittersweet is knowing that you ply your trade for a very narrow audience of “industry insiders” and that the general public is rarely treated to any semblance of the showmanship in which the very best of your profession take such great pride.
I like what you say about CT filling in the role of a memoir. I’ve often thought of gathering all of my comments here to create a sort of moviegoing journal for myself. Of course, in my case, I’d be doing so for the narrowest of audiences – myself! In any event, I’m grateful that you’ve taken the time to post your thoughts and memories here – as I’m grateful for the contribution of all the industry professionals who regularly visit this site. Thanks!
REndres, you ought to write a book about your experiences at the Hall and in the business in general. It may have a narrow audience, but I think it would be much appreciated by all of us who are interested in such matters!
It was definitely called Rio and definitely at the end of its run. I don’t think it was Rio Theatre, but simply “Rio,” but I can’t remember for sure. I actually saw a concert there in 1984.
I’m not sure about that, Lost. I think the articles in Newsday are simply referring to the name by which the theatre had operated in its final couple of years. Perhaps the name “Rio” was still up on that “dilapidated” marquee until the very end. My estimation is that the theatre survived as a late-run discount cinema until around 1982 or ‘83. It was definitely operating as a live concert venue under the Rio name by 1984 and I suspect those operations ceased within a year or two (or at most until 1987 when Re and Attiretano purchased the property with the idea of erecting a mini-mall on the site). The structure itself then sat vacant for 10 years before finally falling to the wrecker’s ball in '97.
If I ever find time to get to the library and look up that 2/4/90 Newsday, I’ll try and make a copy of the photo that ran with the article.
LuisV… I know this has veered too far off topic, so I will end my piece by pointing out that it is not “we” who “pick and choose the pieces we want to keep from the past and which to let go.” Sort of like how profit seeking insurance companies choose what kind of medical care you and I can receive (and not our doctors), the decisions as to which parts of our architectural and pop-cultural heritage remain are made by wealthy corporations whose only motivation is to increase their wealth.
Many excellent points, Louis. I guess many of us tend to romanticize a certain hard edge that NYC has always had through the years. The problem with the gentrification of NYC is that any semblance of character has been bled out of most of Manhattan many parts in the outer boroughs. “Character” does not necessarily have to go hand in hand with crime and decrepitude, but it should not mean the wholesale conversion of the entire borough into a chic and high-class shopping mall. I wouldn’t presume to argue that we should go back – part and parcel – to the NYC of the 1970’s or ‘80’s (who in their right mind would want to return to four-digit annual homicide rates?)… but does the betterment of the City have to go hand in hand with placing a Starbucks on every damned corner and blanching all the urbanity out of the main strips? There is no balance… it’s all swinging in one direction. I still love this City and enjoy its cultural and culinary perks to the max – but whenever I walk in Manhattan these days, I find myself feeling more alienated from the vibe on the streets of its many neighborhoods. I feel like… well, a tourist in my own town! It’s hard to explain, but back in the day I felt a connection with my fellow New Yorker in most neighborhoods I would frequent. I mean, there were always those areas where you felt almost as if you were trespassing through a rich country club enclave (the shops on Fifth Avenue or the Upper East Side, for example) if you came in from the outer boroughs or other downtown or uptown Manhattan nabes… but today, it’s like the entire island is one big playground for tourists and the very wealthy – and I’m sort of on the outside looking in.
I guess that’s just the way of things in a capitalist society, eh? Gun to my head, I wouldn’t want to live under any other system and I surely wouldn’t want to live in any other town… but I still miss the edge and diversity that more and more is being swept out to the fringes in New York.
In case anyone has access to ProQuest or gets to a library before I can, an article in the February 4, 1990, edition of Newsday apparently includes a photo of the vacant Rio Theatre – as it is called in the story. The article refers to the stalled plans (apparently first announced in 1987) to convert the site into a mini-mall and mentions how the “dilapidated marquee that juts out over the sidewalk” is an eyesore that distracts folks passing by in cars from the existence of neighboring retail shops.
And finally this lead line from a Newsday article from January 22, 1997:
“After 75 years as a downtown Valley Stream landmark – the last 15 as an eyesore – the Rio Theatre is scheduled to be demolished.”
The owner at the time is notes as Steve Lerner of New Jersey, who had worked out permission from the village to demolish the building and remove it from the tax rolls for 36 months while he decided what to do with the site.
Here is a photo of the “improvements” Lerner finally decided to build. Ugh.
An article was published in Newsday back on August 6, 1994, reporting that a local businessman by the name of Dan Lehner had an interest in restoring the Valley Stream Theatre for use as a late-run discount cinema. The owners at the time, Edward Re and Joseph Attiretano, had planned to demolish the theatre and build a mini-mall on the site – but the zoning board denied their permits due to a lack of adequate parking space and the property went into foreclosure. The theatre is described as being vacant and is referred to as the Rio in the article. The article also notes that Lehner had specifically planned this as a late-run house because the theatres at Green Acres Shopping Mall had exclusive rights to all first run releases in the area at the time. Lehner is also notes as having invested in theatre restoration projects in Hempstead and Greenport, Long Island.
An earlier article from October 3, 1985, notes that the theatre was already a vacant and run-down target for grafitti artists and that the adjacent alley and parking lot where hang-out spots for rowdy teens – according to complaining retailers along Rockaway Avenue.
I could not access the entirety of either article online wihtout paying a fee – I’ll have to get to a library when time permits to follow up – but I thought I’d report these facts here all the same as they offer some sort of rough time line for the building’s demise.
Memories being hazy as they are for me, I can’t 100% trust that I’ve pegged this theatre accurately as having been a twin. The thought has creeped into my mind that perhaps the two sets of XXX twin-bills that I recalled seeing way back in the summer of 1980 were shown on an alternating basis at the Flick on a single screen? The only reason I suggest this is that I do have a recollection of sitting in the theatre just about dead center of the room and remembering the auditorium as reasonably big. I dunno. Seems more likely it was a twin. Just posting to see if any Vegas locals might join in and confirm any information about the Flick’s history.
The photo that KenRoe posted above would appear, on first glance, to show the theatre under the Molly Picon name. However, I think what we’re seeing in that image is the very prominently displayed top billing for Ms. Picon in the 2nd Avenue Theatre’s current production at the time.
Warren… It’s all relative. Surely the numbers are not even in the same universe as those for, say, “American Gangster” or “Bee Movie.” Considering the number of screens on which the movie is playing, however, I think “Blade Runner” has had – indeed IS having – a wonderful run. Clearly, its success is far more than the distributor ever anticipated. I expected the film to play out its two-week theatrical engagement and then run its course on home video. The DVD will be available on December 18th, yet there is still sufficient popular demand to extend its theatrical run by at least 3 weeks in both NYC and LA – not to mention expand that release to Seattle and possibly other cities. I would consider the release to be a great success.
Perhaps I’m more pleased than happy… I just think its nice to know that audiences will respond to a classic film. A film that assumes its audience has an attention span greater than 30 seconds; that allows the audience to soak in its rich atmosphere without disorienting jump-cuts or rapid-fure editing; that is designed so that the narrative can be visually conveyed without the need for excessive expository dialogue. Surprising? Yes. But also restores my faith that there is some intellectual curiosity out there in the movie-going public. In fact, moreso than the major Hollywood studios are willing to give credit.
Any reports on how the “Blade Runner” engagement is faring in Seattle? The NYC engagement has been extended into its 5th week and expanded to an additional house as of this past Friday.
The one-week engagement of “Blade Runner: The Final Cut” has not only been twice extended, but – as of this past Friday – is now day-and-dating at the Sunshine Cinema. And the movie has also been given midnight only showings back at the Ziegfeld for the past couple of weeks. What a great success story this has been! What started out as a two-week, two-city engagement has been extended into its 5th week (at least here in NYC) and has expanded its number of screens. I understand that an engagement at the Seattle Cinerama began on October 26th.
While “Blade Runner: The Final Cut” continues its midnight showings at the Ziegfeld, the engagement has been extended and expanded to the Sunshine Cinema, where it will day-and-date with the AMC Empire 25 (where it was moved over from the Ziegfeld back on October 19th). Is anyone else as happy as I am with the smashing success of this new-old release (I’ll pause at calling it a re-release since this is an altered version)? It is now in it’s 5th week in NYC and has expanded upon the number of screens (although, I assume that the combined number of available seats in both the Empire and Sunshine auditoriums are less than half than that number at the Ziegfeld)!
Is it still playing in LA as well? And how are things going in Seattle, I wonder?
Starting this past Friday, the digital presentation of Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner: The Final Cut” has been expanded to include the Sunshine Cinema on a day-and-date basis with the AMC Empire 25. The movie intially opened on October 5th in an exclusive two-week engagement at the Ziegfeld Theatre. That engagement was moved over to the Empire beginning October 19th due to popular demand. The movie is also being presented at the Ziegfeld for midnight only showings (while “Bee Movie” plays by day). While not technically a re-release (there are significant changes from the original release edit), I’m quite thrilled that a 25 year old film can be such a smashing success at the box office!
Jazzara… you can go to an image-hosting website such as photobucket.com and join up for a free account. From there you can upload your photos and then post a link to the images in your comment on this site.
WH… “Add a Photo” hasn’t worked in ages. You can go to photobucket.com or some other image-hosting site and get a free account. From there, you can post a link to your image here in your comment – just as RobertR did back on Jan 28th of this year.
Dave-bronx, I wondered the same thing as I took those photos a couple of weeks back. Perhaps Warren knows the answer to that (in fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the answer has already been posted on this page, somewhere above).
I agree with you, Lost. Most books on theatrical architecture list theatres by the name under which they were opened. To decide upon the most popular (or even the longest running) name might require a judgment call that would still cause debate. I still think that would be preferable to the current policy – which is NOT adhered to 100% of the time, by the way… Otherwise, the Rivoli Theatre listing would be changed to the depressingly generic “UA Twin.”
Going all the way back to Lost Memory’s post of April 27, 2005… Lost notes that ownership is listed as Blue Man Group Productions. I know that the Blue Man Group show is currently at the Astor Place Theatre on Lafayette Street, and has been for a number of years. Could this have been an earlier performance space for that group? I know they started in a club somewhere in downtown Manhattan, so perhaps it was at during the building’s years as the “G-Spot.” Or perhaps the old theatre is (or was) used as a rehearsal or audition space for road editions of Blue Man Group? Is there any activity at all there these days?
There is some comfort knowing that a professional such as yourself is still able to practice his craft on a full time basis – but, at the risk of embarrassing you, I’d say that your impeccable credentials have placed you in very rarefied air. What makes it all so bittersweet is knowing that you ply your trade for a very narrow audience of “industry insiders” and that the general public is rarely treated to any semblance of the showmanship in which the very best of your profession take such great pride.
I like what you say about CT filling in the role of a memoir. I’ve often thought of gathering all of my comments here to create a sort of moviegoing journal for myself. Of course, in my case, I’d be doing so for the narrowest of audiences – myself! In any event, I’m grateful that you’ve taken the time to post your thoughts and memories here – as I’m grateful for the contribution of all the industry professionals who regularly visit this site. Thanks!
REndres, you ought to write a book about your experiences at the Hall and in the business in general. It may have a narrow audience, but I think it would be much appreciated by all of us who are interested in such matters!
It was definitely called Rio and definitely at the end of its run. I don’t think it was Rio Theatre, but simply “Rio,” but I can’t remember for sure. I actually saw a concert there in 1984.
I’m not sure about that, Lost. I think the articles in Newsday are simply referring to the name by which the theatre had operated in its final couple of years. Perhaps the name “Rio” was still up on that “dilapidated” marquee until the very end. My estimation is that the theatre survived as a late-run discount cinema until around 1982 or ‘83. It was definitely operating as a live concert venue under the Rio name by 1984 and I suspect those operations ceased within a year or two (or at most until 1987 when Re and Attiretano purchased the property with the idea of erecting a mini-mall on the site). The structure itself then sat vacant for 10 years before finally falling to the wrecker’s ball in '97.
If I ever find time to get to the library and look up that 2/4/90 Newsday, I’ll try and make a copy of the photo that ran with the article.
LuisV… I know this has veered too far off topic, so I will end my piece by pointing out that it is not “we” who “pick and choose the pieces we want to keep from the past and which to let go.” Sort of like how profit seeking insurance companies choose what kind of medical care you and I can receive (and not our doctors), the decisions as to which parts of our architectural and pop-cultural heritage remain are made by wealthy corporations whose only motivation is to increase their wealth.
Many excellent points, Louis. I guess many of us tend to romanticize a certain hard edge that NYC has always had through the years. The problem with the gentrification of NYC is that any semblance of character has been bled out of most of Manhattan many parts in the outer boroughs. “Character” does not necessarily have to go hand in hand with crime and decrepitude, but it should not mean the wholesale conversion of the entire borough into a chic and high-class shopping mall. I wouldn’t presume to argue that we should go back – part and parcel – to the NYC of the 1970’s or ‘80’s (who in their right mind would want to return to four-digit annual homicide rates?)… but does the betterment of the City have to go hand in hand with placing a Starbucks on every damned corner and blanching all the urbanity out of the main strips? There is no balance… it’s all swinging in one direction. I still love this City and enjoy its cultural and culinary perks to the max – but whenever I walk in Manhattan these days, I find myself feeling more alienated from the vibe on the streets of its many neighborhoods. I feel like… well, a tourist in my own town! It’s hard to explain, but back in the day I felt a connection with my fellow New Yorker in most neighborhoods I would frequent. I mean, there were always those areas where you felt almost as if you were trespassing through a rich country club enclave (the shops on Fifth Avenue or the Upper East Side, for example) if you came in from the outer boroughs or other downtown or uptown Manhattan nabes… but today, it’s like the entire island is one big playground for tourists and the very wealthy – and I’m sort of on the outside looking in.
I guess that’s just the way of things in a capitalist society, eh? Gun to my head, I wouldn’t want to live under any other system and I surely wouldn’t want to live in any other town… but I still miss the edge and diversity that more and more is being swept out to the fringes in New York.
In case anyone has access to ProQuest or gets to a library before I can, an article in the February 4, 1990, edition of Newsday apparently includes a photo of the vacant Rio Theatre – as it is called in the story. The article refers to the stalled plans (apparently first announced in 1987) to convert the site into a mini-mall and mentions how the “dilapidated marquee that juts out over the sidewalk” is an eyesore that distracts folks passing by in cars from the existence of neighboring retail shops.
And finally this lead line from a Newsday article from January 22, 1997:
“After 75 years as a downtown Valley Stream landmark – the last 15 as an eyesore – the Rio Theatre is scheduled to be demolished.”
The owner at the time is notes as Steve Lerner of New Jersey, who had worked out permission from the village to demolish the building and remove it from the tax rolls for 36 months while he decided what to do with the site.
Here is a photo of the “improvements” Lerner finally decided to build. Ugh.
An article was published in Newsday back on August 6, 1994, reporting that a local businessman by the name of Dan Lehner had an interest in restoring the Valley Stream Theatre for use as a late-run discount cinema. The owners at the time, Edward Re and Joseph Attiretano, had planned to demolish the theatre and build a mini-mall on the site – but the zoning board denied their permits due to a lack of adequate parking space and the property went into foreclosure. The theatre is described as being vacant and is referred to as the Rio in the article. The article also notes that Lehner had specifically planned this as a late-run house because the theatres at Green Acres Shopping Mall had exclusive rights to all first run releases in the area at the time. Lehner is also notes as having invested in theatre restoration projects in Hempstead and Greenport, Long Island.
An earlier article from October 3, 1985, notes that the theatre was already a vacant and run-down target for grafitti artists and that the adjacent alley and parking lot where hang-out spots for rowdy teens – according to complaining retailers along Rockaway Avenue.
I could not access the entirety of either article online wihtout paying a fee – I’ll have to get to a library when time permits to follow up – but I thought I’d report these facts here all the same as they offer some sort of rough time line for the building’s demise.
Memories being hazy as they are for me, I can’t 100% trust that I’ve pegged this theatre accurately as having been a twin. The thought has creeped into my mind that perhaps the two sets of XXX twin-bills that I recalled seeing way back in the summer of 1980 were shown on an alternating basis at the Flick on a single screen? The only reason I suggest this is that I do have a recollection of sitting in the theatre just about dead center of the room and remembering the auditorium as reasonably big. I dunno. Seems more likely it was a twin. Just posting to see if any Vegas locals might join in and confirm any information about the Flick’s history.
The photo that KenRoe posted above would appear, on first glance, to show the theatre under the Molly Picon name. However, I think what we’re seeing in that image is the very prominently displayed top billing for Ms. Picon in the 2nd Avenue Theatre’s current production at the time.
Hey Lost, what was the other downtown theatre being mourned according to that Times article?
Hey Ken… Did you poke your head inside for a peek, to see if any interior elements remain in the auto shop?
This local.live view offers a pretty good overhead look of the former Waldorf Theatre.
Warren… It’s all relative. Surely the numbers are not even in the same universe as those for, say, “American Gangster” or “Bee Movie.” Considering the number of screens on which the movie is playing, however, I think “Blade Runner” has had – indeed IS having – a wonderful run. Clearly, its success is far more than the distributor ever anticipated. I expected the film to play out its two-week theatrical engagement and then run its course on home video. The DVD will be available on December 18th, yet there is still sufficient popular demand to extend its theatrical run by at least 3 weeks in both NYC and LA – not to mention expand that release to Seattle and possibly other cities. I would consider the release to be a great success.
Perhaps I’m more pleased than happy… I just think its nice to know that audiences will respond to a classic film. A film that assumes its audience has an attention span greater than 30 seconds; that allows the audience to soak in its rich atmosphere without disorienting jump-cuts or rapid-fure editing; that is designed so that the narrative can be visually conveyed without the need for excessive expository dialogue. Surprising? Yes. But also restores my faith that there is some intellectual curiosity out there in the movie-going public. In fact, moreso than the major Hollywood studios are willing to give credit.
Any reports on how the “Blade Runner” engagement is faring in Seattle? The NYC engagement has been extended into its 5th week and expanded to an additional house as of this past Friday.
The one-week engagement of “Blade Runner: The Final Cut” has not only been twice extended, but – as of this past Friday – is now day-and-dating at the Sunshine Cinema. And the movie has also been given midnight only showings back at the Ziegfeld for the past couple of weeks. What a great success story this has been! What started out as a two-week, two-city engagement has been extended into its 5th week (at least here in NYC) and has expanded its number of screens. I understand that an engagement at the Seattle Cinerama began on October 26th.
While “Blade Runner: The Final Cut” continues its midnight showings at the Ziegfeld, the engagement has been extended and expanded to the Sunshine Cinema, where it will day-and-date with the AMC Empire 25 (where it was moved over from the Ziegfeld back on October 19th). Is anyone else as happy as I am with the smashing success of this new-old release (I’ll pause at calling it a re-release since this is an altered version)? It is now in it’s 5th week in NYC and has expanded upon the number of screens (although, I assume that the combined number of available seats in both the Empire and Sunshine auditoriums are less than half than that number at the Ziegfeld)!
Is it still playing in LA as well? And how are things going in Seattle, I wonder?
Starting this past Friday, the digital presentation of Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner: The Final Cut” has been expanded to include the Sunshine Cinema on a day-and-date basis with the AMC Empire 25. The movie intially opened on October 5th in an exclusive two-week engagement at the Ziegfeld Theatre. That engagement was moved over to the Empire beginning October 19th due to popular demand. The movie is also being presented at the Ziegfeld for midnight only showings (while “Bee Movie” plays by day). While not technically a re-release (there are significant changes from the original release edit), I’m quite thrilled that a 25 year old film can be such a smashing success at the box office!
Jazzara… you can go to an image-hosting website such as photobucket.com and join up for a free account. From there you can upload your photos and then post a link to the images in your comment on this site.
WH… “Add a Photo” hasn’t worked in ages. You can go to photobucket.com or some other image-hosting site and get a free account. From there, you can post a link to your image here in your comment – just as RobertR did back on Jan 28th of this year.