This is a terrible drive in theater. A lot of the screens are xtremly small and the largers ones are not big enough for cinemascope films. Part of the picture hangs off the sides of the screens when they are showing a scope film. Last year one night the Thunderbird name on the back of the original screen (theater 9) was actually lit.
Maybe they will reopen the Ventnor. I lived in Atlantic CIty from 67-78 for the summer. They actually ruined this theater plus some in Ocean City and Wildwood when they twined and made multiple theaters out of most.
What are they doing to the Strandm making stadium seating? Frank theaters ruined that theater years ago when they made 5 theaters out of that beautiful single auditorium. They did the same thing to all the theaters in Wildwood, NJ. When I worked for them back in 1976 they sucked.
The information about the closing date is incorrect. The theater closed in the late 60’s and reopened for a short time down the street around 17th and Market. The theater didn’t last very long after it reopened.
The original World showed Romeo and Juliet and A Man For All Seasons in the middle to late 60’s. They along with the Bryn Mawr theater showed the same films
VEyoung are you sure about the date the cinerama was installed? I remmeber seeing The King and I there in the early 60’s and they had a regular flat screen. When I went back in 68 they had a large curved screen with orange/redish cutains.
Dennis, the twin was terrible, small theaters and flat horrible screens with no curtains
Dennis
When I saw Man Of La Mancha in the early 70’s they had a curved screen. When I went back in 75, to see the rerelease of GWTW, the screen was flat and remained that way. The last time I was there was in 1991 to see Hook.
The theater was built in the late 60' sbut was originallybuilt by RKO/Stanley Warner called the RKO Route 38 Twin. It became an Eric theater when they purchased the chain in the early 70’s
Yeah I was lucky. We went to AC every summer from 67-78. We spent a lot of time at the Steel Pier. We went almost every week in the latter years. We saw some roadshow films. We saw The Bible and Oliver at the Shore, Funny Girl at The Center. Do you remember Wildwood and Ocean City? All the theaters there were ruined too. Wildwood closed all the theaters except for one. This was after Frank Theatres runied them by twinning and quading the 4 theaters. They did the same to the Ocean City Theaters in 1989 when they got there hands on those theaters
I know and you probibly rememebr steel pier. That was so much fun. When Hamid sold that to the owners of the Million Dollar Pier they ruin it. They knocked down the big vaudeville hall and the smaller Tony Grant theater to make way for International thrill rides. Well they got screwed becuase hurricane Gloria ruined it
George Hamid closed the Roxy too after the 1973 season. In 1974 he converted it into a small museum called movie world that his son ran. They only used the inner lobby for the theater and the main auditoirm was left intact. The following year it was turned into an indoor amusement park and in 1980 or 81 it burned to the ground.
The Apollo closed in Auf 1973 when there lease was up. The following year it was turned into the Apollo burlesque and porno theater.The Hollywood opened Memorial Day weekend 1977 with King King and closed for good a week later with no explanation.The Strand lasted until 1979 and than was closed. The casino’s ruined AC.
Yeah I agree Vincent. I always thought it was a great palace inside and it wasn’t. I was very disappointed the only time I went when they had Hello Dolly in 1970. A shot of this theater all boarded up can be seen in the movie Atlantic City with Burt Lancaster.
Actually the Center theater on Atlantic Ave was beautiful and had a large curved screen and beautiful curtains. I also would love to know about My Fair Lady. 1971 was the last year the Shore was open.It too had no curtains or masking but did have a balcony.
Oliver opened May 29th at the Shore theater in 35mm and Funny Girl opened May 23 at the Center in 70mm. The Shore, Hollywood, Center and the Charles (For The Lion In Winter), the Apollo (Last Tango In Paris) were roadshow engagements.I saw Hello Dolly in 1970 and the theater was in decent shape. Geogre Hamid operated all these theaters along with the Roxy. The Virgina did not have curtains or masking which was very strange for a roadshow house.I would also be interested in where some of the other roadshow films played. I do know My Faur Lady played non roadshow at the Margate. I agree the Roxy would have made a much better theater for roadshow engagements.
I too spent my summers in Atlantic City from 67-78. The Embassy was a classy first run house when we first started going. The first year we were there, they had Rosemary’s Baby all summer until Labor Day weekend when they swaped with the Strand and started showing Where Were You When The Lights Went Out.I never could figure out why they did that.
Great news. At least one theater got a reprieve. Was city cinemas going to operate the theater in the new high rise?
This is great news that Harvey Weinstein is involved. He is very strong headed and if he has anything to say the Beekman may have a fighting chance.
This is a terrible drive in theater. A lot of the screens are xtremly small and the largers ones are not big enough for cinemascope films. Part of the picture hangs off the sides of the screens when they are showing a scope film. Last year one night the Thunderbird name on the back of the original screen (theater 9) was actually lit.
Maybe they will reopen the Ventnor. I lived in Atlantic CIty from 67-78 for the summer. They actually ruined this theater plus some in Ocean City and Wildwood when they twined and made multiple theaters out of most.
Does anybody know what became of the Margate Twin? I know it’s been closed for many years.
What are they doing to the Strandm making stadium seating? Frank theaters ruined that theater years ago when they made 5 theaters out of that beautiful single auditorium. They did the same thing to all the theaters in Wildwood, NJ. When I worked for them back in 1976 they sucked.
The information about the closing date is incorrect. The theater closed in the late 60’s and reopened for a short time down the street around 17th and Market. The theater didn’t last very long after it reopened.
The original World showed Romeo and Juliet and A Man For All Seasons in the middle to late 60’s. They along with the Bryn Mawr theater showed the same films
Is the Strand still open or did they close for the winter. I know since they made it 5 theaters ( and ruined it) they stayed open all year round
Is this any connection to the former RKO Route 38 twin that opened in the early 70’s and became a Sameric theater in the middle 70’s?
They must have falttened it after Funny Girl
You guys were lucky I never got to this theater.
VEyoung are you sure about the date the cinerama was installed? I remmeber seeing The King and I there in the early 60’s and they had a regular flat screen. When I went back in 68 they had a large curved screen with orange/redish cutains.
Dennis, the twin was terrible, small theaters and flat horrible screens with no curtains
Dennis
When I saw Man Of La Mancha in the early 70’s they had a curved screen. When I went back in 75, to see the rerelease of GWTW, the screen was flat and remained that way. The last time I was there was in 1991 to see Hook.
Was Vistavison like cinemascope? I am to young to remember it.
Dan
Would you also e mail me the pic.
Thanks Rick. I was’t sure when I posted that.
The theater was built in the late 60' sbut was originallybuilt by RKO/Stanley Warner called the RKO Route 38 Twin. It became an Eric theater when they purchased the chain in the early 70’s
Yeah I was lucky. We went to AC every summer from 67-78. We spent a lot of time at the Steel Pier. We went almost every week in the latter years. We saw some roadshow films. We saw The Bible and Oliver at the Shore, Funny Girl at The Center. Do you remember Wildwood and Ocean City? All the theaters there were ruined too. Wildwood closed all the theaters except for one. This was after Frank Theatres runied them by twinning and quading the 4 theaters. They did the same to the Ocean City Theaters in 1989 when they got there hands on those theaters
I was also very young when all this was happening. I was born in 57 so a lot of what went on I don’t remember to well if t was the early 60’s.
I know and you probibly rememebr steel pier. That was so much fun. When Hamid sold that to the owners of the Million Dollar Pier they ruin it. They knocked down the big vaudeville hall and the smaller Tony Grant theater to make way for International thrill rides. Well they got screwed becuase hurricane Gloria ruined it
George Hamid closed the Roxy too after the 1973 season. In 1974 he converted it into a small museum called movie world that his son ran. They only used the inner lobby for the theater and the main auditoirm was left intact. The following year it was turned into an indoor amusement park and in 1980 or 81 it burned to the ground.
The Apollo closed in Auf 1973 when there lease was up. The following year it was turned into the Apollo burlesque and porno theater.The Hollywood opened Memorial Day weekend 1977 with King King and closed for good a week later with no explanation.The Strand lasted until 1979 and than was closed. The casino’s ruined AC.
Oh yeah Vincent, TSOM and GWTW did play in 70mm and steo sound. The revival of SOM also played in 70mm
Yeah I agree Vincent. I always thought it was a great palace inside and it wasn’t. I was very disappointed the only time I went when they had Hello Dolly in 1970. A shot of this theater all boarded up can be seen in the movie Atlantic City with Burt Lancaster.
Actually the Center theater on Atlantic Ave was beautiful and had a large curved screen and beautiful curtains. I also would love to know about My Fair Lady. 1971 was the last year the Shore was open.It too had no curtains or masking but did have a balcony.
Oliver opened May 29th at the Shore theater in 35mm and Funny Girl opened May 23 at the Center in 70mm. The Shore, Hollywood, Center and the Charles (For The Lion In Winter), the Apollo (Last Tango In Paris) were roadshow engagements.I saw Hello Dolly in 1970 and the theater was in decent shape. Geogre Hamid operated all these theaters along with the Roxy. The Virgina did not have curtains or masking which was very strange for a roadshow house.I would also be interested in where some of the other roadshow films played. I do know My Faur Lady played non roadshow at the Margate. I agree the Roxy would have made a much better theater for roadshow engagements.
I too spent my summers in Atlantic City from 67-78. The Embassy was a classy first run house when we first started going. The first year we were there, they had Rosemary’s Baby all summer until Labor Day weekend when they swaped with the Strand and started showing Where Were You When The Lights Went Out.I never could figure out why they did that.