A 1970 night-time view of the Victory can be seen here. That’s a capture from a video clip on YouTube which is a segment from an A&E documentary on Times Square.
In 1990, the Selwyn was still showing movies as evidenced by this image that I captured from a video clip on YouTube about how these grind houses were fast disappearing from the Duece. In fact, by this time only the Selwyn, Lyric, Harris and Rialto (using its Seventh Ave entrance) were still hanging on. By 1992, only the Harris would remain.
This image from the same video shows the Selwyn’s marquee beckoning folks to bring the entire family down to 42nd Street to enjoy a movie. Ha! Ri-iiight…
My guess is that with the City reclaiming the property for redevelopment at the time, management at the Harris was allowed to advertise (perhaps at a fee) on the Liberty marquee in an effort to leave some life on the block during transition. The Selwyn at the time (still running films) used the front panel of its marquee to beckon folks to see a movie on 42nd Street – and bring the family! And then once those theaters closed, there were those interim artistic marquee and lobby installations up and down the block while plans for the future of the Duece were being solidified.
I hope this shot hasn’t already been posted here – although I know that many similar shots from this vantage point have been posted on CT. I date this one to sometime in the second half of 1985. The Rialto II marquee is depicted here showing a triple bill of Kung-Fu flicks from China.
Here’s a fleeting glimpse of the New Amesterdam’s marquee from 1970. I captured this image from a video clip I found on YouTube (part of an A&E documentary on Times Square). Looks like the Richard Harris western “A Man Called Horse” was the attraction that evening.
Here’s a vidcap from a clip I found on YouTube. The shuttered Empire can be glimpsed to the right and the Liberty (also shuttered) is now directing folks to attractions at the Harris Theater down the block.
Here’s a vidcap from an A&E documentary on Times Square. Judging from the titles glimpsed on the Anco’s marquee (“Ice Station Zebra” and “Where Eagles Dare”), the year would be 1969.
So, can anyone confirm that this was the theater building?
In any event, movie listings show this was on Century’s late-run discount circuit by 1980 (probably a few years earlier than that) and continues to pop up in movie listings I have in 1982, 1985 and as late as October of 1986. So the theater lasted at least that long.
Hi Gary. Yup, I recognize your comments from the Ziegfeld page as well. I’ve bemoaned the present condition of the Lynbrook over on its CT page, particularly after having recently given it another couple of visits in the last month or so. Never been to the Malverne.
Hey BrooklynJim, PKoch and frankie! Sorry I missed you guys when you all hooked up at the Ridgewood recently. Peter, sorry I didn’t return your call, been sidetracked by an occupational dilemma of late! When the dust settles here, I’ll be in touch!
The ESPN mini-series you guys are talking about is based on a terrific book of the same name that came out in 2005, I believe. I highly recommend it. A fascinating year in NYC history, to be sure.
Just to polish off an thread that’s been dormant nearly a full year, I pulled [url=http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Manhattan%20Movie%20Theaters/New%20Cinema%20Playhouse/PeepShowWurlitzerBldgVidCap.png]this vidcap from a short video on YouTube about Times Square porn in the 1970’s. Apparently, the video clip itself is credited as being part of a longer A&E documentary on Times Square.
In any event, I thought the image fit the discussion here (even if it’s a year late) as it shows the highly visible advertisement hung from the old Wurlitzer Bldg inviting the public to watch the filming of a pornographic peep-show within! Seems like a completely different world out there today, eh? Particularly in this part of NYC!
I found this ad from the 12/12/1980 Daily News for a late run double feature booked into the Criterion 2. The ad refers to the theater as “K.B.’s Criterion.” K.B. Theaters also owned The Movies in Bellmore, the Roslyn and the Westbury (as well as others, I’m sure).
Here’s a 12/9/1980 ad from Newsday, by which time the Central had been triplexed and under the stewardship of B.S. Moss along with the Belair Twin in not too distant Valley Stream.
This Daily News ad for “Flash Gordon” comes just a few days later and identifies the theater as a B.S. Moss house.
So, we need an AKA above for “Central Triplex.” I’d also enter the address as 445 Central Ave (until other evidence to the contrary comes to light) and update the zip.
I made a visit to the former Central today with my camera in hand. There are some stores at street level, but the main purpose of the building itself seems to be office space. A sign in the front entryway indicates that plenty of space is available within. I was very surprised to see how large the theater structure is – this must have been around a 1500-seater and probably the largest theater built in the Five Towns area. Folks probably had to travel to Rockville Centre or Lynbrook to find a larger house.
It doesn’t appear that there was ever any stage-loft space, so I doubt this was ever anything other than a cinema. You can glimpse what appears to be a curved glass rooftop structure in the third photo that was presumably installed when the building was gutted for conversion to office/retail space. The pink facade is a pretty lightweight material that has a stucco-like surface and feels hollow to the touch. I imagine the original facade was stripped down to bare brick.
The address of the building is now 445 Central Avenue (can’t say for sure that the theater used the same #) and the zip would be 11516.
I’d never been to Cedarhurst before and was delighted to find such a vibrant and hopping commercial strip here in what seems to be a thriving and largely Orthodox Jewish community.
Thanks Warren. Little doubt that the Tower would have likely remained to this day, had it been built. Just as likely, however, that the theater within would have suffered the same fate as the rival Paramount just a few blocks to the south.
Thanks, Dunn. I wasn’t able to make it down to the church after all. I might call up tomorrow and ask if there is a church archivist (whether official or otherwise) who might be willing to share info or photos with me in addition to whatever is displayed at St. Raymonds.
This video on youtube is a collection of filmed advertisements (were these ever on TV?) for some “leisure spas” popular in NYC in the 1970’s. The last of these is for the Orleans Theater – which was the XXX pornhouse created out of the old backstage space of the Strand Theater. The ad plays up the Orleans' inexpensive (for porn) $2.49 price policy for its triple-bill fare.
Swung by the theater today with my camera, which I pressed up against the filthy glass front of the theater to get these shots into the lobby (and even one of the theater doors):
Looks like they unceremoniously ripped out all the light fixtures and the entire drop ceiling (grid, panels and all) from the lobby. At least one pane of glass is cracked in a large shatter pattern (but it hasn’t broken to shards) and the windows could definitely use a wash, but overall this seems to be in pretty good shape. Anyone know what the shiny metallic looking square is at the end of the aisle in the photos into the right auditorium? Looks like this is where the screen should be – could it be part of the speaker system?
Anyway… I saw many movies here in the early ‘80’s when I lived in relatively nearby Laurelton, Queens. The only one that comes to mind after all these years is Brian DePalma’s “Blow Out” back in 1981. I think I also saw David Lynch’s “The Elephant Man” here – but that might have been the RKO in Lawrence.
Both theaters were single aisle down the center, so you always sat to one side or the other of the dead center sweet-spot a lot of folks loved. And at matinees, if someone opened the door to the lobby, the image on screen would get partially washed out by sunlight streaming through the mostly-glass facade! Now that I’m thinking of it, I’m trying to remember if this theater placed the aisle slightly off center so that one section was a bit wider than the other and would therefore offer a center-screen sightline for those who could get those seats early enough. I might be thinking of one of those auditoriums formed by the split of a larger single screen (like the Lynbrook) – it’s all rather fuzzy nowadays!
A 1970 night-time view of the Victory can be seen here. That’s a capture from a video clip on YouTube which is a segment from an A&E documentary on Times Square.
In 1990, the Selwyn was still showing movies as evidenced by this image that I captured from a video clip on YouTube about how these grind houses were fast disappearing from the Duece. In fact, by this time only the Selwyn, Lyric, Harris and Rialto (using its Seventh Ave entrance) were still hanging on. By 1992, only the Harris would remain.
This image from the same video shows the Selwyn’s marquee beckoning folks to bring the entire family down to 42nd Street to enjoy a movie. Ha! Ri-iiight…
My guess is that with the City reclaiming the property for redevelopment at the time, management at the Harris was allowed to advertise (perhaps at a fee) on the Liberty marquee in an effort to leave some life on the block during transition. The Selwyn at the time (still running films) used the front panel of its marquee to beckon folks to see a movie on 42nd Street – and bring the family! And then once those theaters closed, there were those interim artistic marquee and lobby installations up and down the block while plans for the future of the Duece were being solidified.
I hope this shot hasn’t already been posted here – although I know that many similar shots from this vantage point have been posted on CT. I date this one to sometime in the second half of 1985. The Rialto II marquee is depicted here showing a triple bill of Kung-Fu flicks from China.
Here’s a fleeting glimpse of the New Amesterdam’s marquee from 1970. I captured this image from a video clip I found on YouTube (part of an A&E documentary on Times Square). Looks like the Richard Harris western “A Man Called Horse” was the attraction that evening.
Here’s a vidcap from a clip I found on YouTube. The shuttered Empire can be glimpsed to the right and the Liberty (also shuttered) is now directing folks to attractions at the Harris Theater down the block.
Here’s a vidcap from a 1990 clip I found on YouTube.
A few vidcaps from some video clips I found on YouTube:
1990 marquee neon
1990 under canopy
1970 night shot
Here’s a vidcap from an A&E documentary on Times Square. Judging from the titles glimpsed on the Anco’s marquee (“Ice Station Zebra” and “Where Eagles Dare”), the year would be 1969.
Here are a few shots I took yesterday:
Matty’s Toy Shop
Long shot
Mall signage
So, can anyone confirm that this was the theater building?
In any event, movie listings show this was on Century’s late-run discount circuit by 1980 (probably a few years earlier than that) and continues to pop up in movie listings I have in 1982, 1985 and as late as October of 1986. So the theater lasted at least that long.
Hi Gary. Yup, I recognize your comments from the Ziegfeld page as well. I’ve bemoaned the present condition of the Lynbrook over on its CT page, particularly after having recently given it another couple of visits in the last month or so. Never been to the Malverne.
Hey BrooklynJim, PKoch and frankie! Sorry I missed you guys when you all hooked up at the Ridgewood recently. Peter, sorry I didn’t return your call, been sidetracked by an occupational dilemma of late! When the dust settles here, I’ll be in touch!
The ESPN mini-series you guys are talking about is based on a terrific book of the same name that came out in 2005, I believe. I highly recommend it. A fascinating year in NYC history, to be sure.
Here’s a vidcap from that Orleans commercial I posted about on September 4th.
I only wish the Cinemart itself was a better physical facility. My thoughts on the place stand pretty much as I posted on March 26th above.
Ugh. Sorry. Here’s the clip.
Just to polish off an thread that’s been dormant nearly a full year, I pulled [url=http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Manhattan%20Movie%20Theaters/New%20Cinema%20Playhouse/PeepShowWurlitzerBldgVidCap.png]this vidcap from a short video on YouTube about Times Square porn in the 1970’s. Apparently, the video clip itself is credited as being part of a longer A&E documentary on Times Square.
In any event, I thought the image fit the discussion here (even if it’s a year late) as it shows the highly visible advertisement hung from the old Wurlitzer Bldg inviting the public to watch the filming of a pornographic peep-show within! Seems like a completely different world out there today, eh? Particularly in this part of NYC!
Here are a few shots I took today:
Building profile and former entrance
Auditorium side wall
Lobby wall
I found this ad from the 12/12/1980 Daily News for a late run double feature booked into the Criterion 2. The ad refers to the theater as “K.B.’s Criterion.” K.B. Theaters also owned The Movies in Bellmore, the Roslyn and the Westbury (as well as others, I’m sure).
This NY Post ad from 3/10/1982 shows a late booking here for “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
My collection of local newspapers doesn’t pick back up until September & October of 1985, by which time the Criterion disappears from all listings.
Here’s a 12/9/1980 ad from Newsday, by which time the Central had been triplexed and under the stewardship of B.S. Moss along with the Belair Twin in not too distant Valley Stream.
This Daily News ad for “Flash Gordon” comes just a few days later and identifies the theater as a B.S. Moss house.
So, we need an AKA above for “Central Triplex.” I’d also enter the address as 445 Central Ave (until other evidence to the contrary comes to light) and update the zip.
I made a visit to the former Central today with my camera in hand. There are some stores at street level, but the main purpose of the building itself seems to be office space. A sign in the front entryway indicates that plenty of space is available within. I was very surprised to see how large the theater structure is – this must have been around a 1500-seater and probably the largest theater built in the Five Towns area. Folks probably had to travel to Rockville Centre or Lynbrook to find a larger house.
Facade
Rear view
New rooftop glass atrium
View from down Central Ave
Building profile
It doesn’t appear that there was ever any stage-loft space, so I doubt this was ever anything other than a cinema. You can glimpse what appears to be a curved glass rooftop structure in the third photo that was presumably installed when the building was gutted for conversion to office/retail space. The pink facade is a pretty lightweight material that has a stucco-like surface and feels hollow to the touch. I imagine the original facade was stripped down to bare brick.
The address of the building is now 445 Central Avenue (can’t say for sure that the theater used the same #) and the zip would be 11516.
I’d never been to Cedarhurst before and was delighted to find such a vibrant and hopping commercial strip here in what seems to be a thriving and largely Orthodox Jewish community.
Thanks Warren. Little doubt that the Tower would have likely remained to this day, had it been built. Just as likely, however, that the theater within would have suffered the same fate as the rival Paramount just a few blocks to the south.
Thanks, Dunn. I wasn’t able to make it down to the church after all. I might call up tomorrow and ask if there is a church archivist (whether official or otherwise) who might be willing to share info or photos with me in addition to whatever is displayed at St. Raymonds.
Warren, my wife said the exact same thing to me when we drove by this particular Sleepy’s last week! Thanks for the “OK!”
This video on youtube is a collection of filmed advertisements (were these ever on TV?) for some “leisure spas” popular in NYC in the 1970’s. The last of these is for the Orleans Theater – which was the XXX pornhouse created out of the old backstage space of the Strand Theater. The ad plays up the Orleans' inexpensive (for porn) $2.49 price policy for its triple-bill fare.
Swung by the theater today with my camera, which I pressed up against the filthy glass front of the theater to get these shots into the lobby (and even one of the theater doors):
Through the doors of the “blue” auditorium
Right side of refreshment stand
Head-on refreshment stand
Box Office window
Made in Brooklyn
Four adults for the 7:30 showing of Blow Out, please
Right (blue) side of lobby
A ghostly view through the doors
What is that metallic object in the distance?
Under the canopy
Exclusive Agent
Looks like they unceremoniously ripped out all the light fixtures and the entire drop ceiling (grid, panels and all) from the lobby. At least one pane of glass is cracked in a large shatter pattern (but it hasn’t broken to shards) and the windows could definitely use a wash, but overall this seems to be in pretty good shape. Anyone know what the shiny metallic looking square is at the end of the aisle in the photos into the right auditorium? Looks like this is where the screen should be – could it be part of the speaker system?
Anyway… I saw many movies here in the early ‘80’s when I lived in relatively nearby Laurelton, Queens. The only one that comes to mind after all these years is Brian DePalma’s “Blow Out” back in 1981. I think I also saw David Lynch’s “The Elephant Man” here – but that might have been the RKO in Lawrence.
Both theaters were single aisle down the center, so you always sat to one side or the other of the dead center sweet-spot a lot of folks loved. And at matinees, if someone opened the door to the lobby, the image on screen would get partially washed out by sunlight streaming through the mostly-glass facade! Now that I’m thinking of it, I’m trying to remember if this theater placed the aisle slightly off center so that one section was a bit wider than the other and would therefore offer a center-screen sightline for those who could get those seats early enough. I might be thinking of one of those auditoriums formed by the split of a larger single screen (like the Lynbrook) – it’s all rather fuzzy nowadays!
Sorry… Here’s that photo I wanted to link to in my last post.