They never put an office building on the site. It is now a Holiday Inn hotel. When RKo closed the Stanley theater in Phila in 1969 they also promised to build twin theaters and it never happened. The theater stayed closed and borded up for years. They finally put the stock market building on the site.
The theater did run films concurrent with the World in Phila. I rememebr they showed Romeo and Juilet and A Man For All Seasons in the miuddle 60’s. At that time the theater was operated by William Goldman chain not RKO Stanley Warner.
Craig
I sure do rememebr you. I worked at the Festival on and off from 80-82. My manager there was tranferred to the Baronet/Coronet around 81. His name was Joe Torres. It makes me sick to see what they have done with all the old movie theaters in NYC. I am glad I moved from there in 1983 because it would be very difficult to see the buildings gone. I worked at Bowery Ssavings when they were on the corner of 60th and 3rd so I knew that area very well. I ate at the Chinesse restaurant above the Coronet all the time. Would love to chat more, email me at
Yes the subway stops right up the street on Fordham Road. I agree it would be like going to Madison Sq Garden on the subway.I just heard the neighborhood is terrible. It may not be safe to walk.
They should look at the success of the Delsea Drive which reopened in Vineland, Nj after many years. It was the first drive in theater in NJ in over 20 years. Irememebr seeing the Westbry Drive in from the LIE expressway when I lived in NYC and traveled to the island.
I hope they will put the theater back to the original way it was before Walter Reade ruined it by twinning it. Has anybody heard any details on the inside?
The theater did not close in 1959 as listed above. I grew up in the Phila area. I saw 2001 A Space Odyssey (great steophonic sound) there in 1968. The theater closed in the early 70’s. The last film to play there was a double feature and one of the movies was Charlotte’s Web. It was demolished and became a Gino’s hamburger joint. When Gino’s went out of business it became a Popeye’s Fried Chicken.
I lived in NYC from 76-83 and I don’t rememebr this theater. The only thing I remember on seventh ave is the Embassy 2,3,4. Can anybody shed any light onmy memory?
Why doesn’t the Ritz just take over the Sameric 4. I am sure the large thetaer which is preserved as a landmark and can’t be split would need some work, but the other 3 theaters shouldn’t be that bad since they were opened in the early 80’s.
I remember seeing a rerelease of Grease in 70mm and For Your Eyes Only in the downstairs and Enter The Dragon in the upstairs thetaer. The drapes upstairs opened up and down instead of across. I think the downstairs drapes were blue.
I went to Loews web site and they are showing the State as a first run house now not a discount theater. Maybe they are going to put a regular marquee.
Maybe Loews took into consideration my nasty letter to them when they abrubtly closed the Astor Plaza. I told them that they should consdier using the State as a first run theater and not let it sit empty.
They never put an office building on the site. It is now a Holiday Inn hotel. When RKo closed the Stanley theater in Phila in 1969 they also promised to build twin theaters and it never happened. The theater stayed closed and borded up for years. They finally put the stock market building on the site.
Does this mean the Elmwood is reopening as a theater?
I think they played a film in the 80’s by John Waters called Polyester.
The theater did run films concurrent with the World in Phila. I rememebr they showed Romeo and Juilet and A Man For All Seasons in the miuddle 60’s. At that time the theater was operated by William Goldman chain not RKO Stanley Warner.
Craig
I sure do rememebr you. I worked at the Festival on and off from 80-82. My manager there was tranferred to the Baronet/Coronet around 81. His name was Joe Torres. It makes me sick to see what they have done with all the old movie theaters in NYC. I am glad I moved from there in 1983 because it would be very difficult to see the buildings gone. I worked at Bowery Ssavings when they were on the corner of 60th and 3rd so I knew that area very well. I ate at the Chinesse restaurant above the Coronet all the time. Would love to chat more, email me at
JOhn
Add me to the list also. My e mail is
Yes the subway stops right up the street on Fordham Road. I agree it would be like going to Madison Sq Garden on the subway.I just heard the neighborhood is terrible. It may not be safe to walk.
They should look at the success of the Delsea Drive which reopened in Vineland, Nj after many years. It was the first drive in theater in NJ in over 20 years. Irememebr seeing the Westbry Drive in from the LIE expressway when I lived in NYC and traveled to the island.
I hope they will put the theater back to the original way it was before Walter Reade ruined it by twinning it. Has anybody heard any details on the inside?
Does anybody know what is happening with this theater?
I saw Snow White there in 1983 before I moved to Florida.
The theater did not close in 1959 as listed above. I grew up in the Phila area. I saw 2001 A Space Odyssey (great steophonic sound) there in 1968. The theater closed in the early 70’s. The last film to play there was a double feature and one of the movies was Charlotte’s Web. It was demolished and became a Gino’s hamburger joint. When Gino’s went out of business it became a Popeye’s Fried Chicken.
I lived in NYC from 76-83 and I don’t rememebr this theater. The only thing I remember on seventh ave is the Embassy 2,3,4. Can anybody shed any light onmy memory?
The theater does not exist. Hollywood mall closed many years agoa nd was just reopened as a flea market type mall.
Why doesn’t the Ritz just take over the Sameric 4. I am sure the large thetaer which is preserved as a landmark and can’t be split would need some work, but the other 3 theaters shouldn’t be that bad since they were opened in the early 80’s.
Is the screen currently in the theater the original screen or did they install a new one?
I agree Robert about the marquee. When they took the neon one I was hoping that’s what they were doing.
Thanks theater fan. I am hoping this change in policy back to a first run house puts the State back in action.
Nobody answered my post from 9/24.Have they added a marquee to the front of the Loews State?
Does anybody know if they have changed the front anymore since the other day?
If they put a regular marquee that may help them. Time will tell.
I remember seeing a revival of Gone With The Wind in the 80’s.
I remember seeing a rerelease of Grease in 70mm and For Your Eyes Only in the downstairs and Enter The Dragon in the upstairs thetaer. The drapes upstairs opened up and down instead of across. I think the downstairs drapes were blue.
I went to Loews web site and they are showing the State as a first run house now not a discount theater. Maybe they are going to put a regular marquee.
Maybe Loews took into consideration my nasty letter to them when they abrubtly closed the Astor Plaza. I told them that they should consdier using the State as a first run theater and not let it sit empty.