The kung fu movies were playd at the Empire through the early 80’s. AMC took the lobby and front of the Empire and relocted it down the block which is where the Anco used to be. Brandt theaters ran the Empire, Selwyn,Anco, Times Square, Victory. The Neederlnder organization (Palace, Marquis, Lunt Fontaine, Richard Rogers, Neederlander) ran the New Amsterdamn.
I just read the post from May 13 and it is correct.The theater was originally run by William Goldman chain and in the middle to late 60’s it was taken over by Ellis theaters. The other two theaters in Upper Darby, the 69th St (Closed in 1965 reopened briefly in 1981) and the Terminal (taken over in the early 70’s by Sameric chain)were run by Stanley Warner
I never had the pleasure of going to the Stanley before it closed or the Fox. The only center city theaters I went to were the Randolph(closed in 1970) the Goldman when it was a single screen theater to see Funny Girl and after as a twin, the Regency once Sam’s Place, The Boyd/Sameric and Eric’s Place. I also hit Theater 1812 in 1975 when it was a porno theater.
Dennis
The Regency opened in 1967 with a movie called Divorce American Style with Dick Van Dyke. I think it was twined in the late 70’s. I was in there once to see The Godfather 2 and it was still a single screen theater. I still can’t belevie they twined the Midtown. That was a small theater with no balcony. I can imagine how small the theaters were when it got twined.
I find it really interesting that the Criterion was demolished to make way for Toys R Us which is now condiering closing all their stores after Christmas.A great theater was lost for nothing.
When the theater was tripled it was opened as the Mark 1,2,3 and didn’t stay open very long. Guild took over the theater and ran it for many years. The information above is incorrect.
The only thing I am not sure of is about the downstairs theater. I remember applying for a job at the Demille in 1975 when it went to a 2nd run house and there was a large stage. The two times I went to the theater after it was split there was no stage downstairs.I think that when it was first tripled, they took part of the orchestra and converted into a tore. As I rememebr the downstairs theater was not very large.
William
You would think that they would come down in the rent considering the building has been vacant for many years. Obviously these building owners in NYC have nothing but greed on their minds.
When I was in Phila in June of 2000, there was another theater closed by UA, Eric’s Place that was for sale or lease. It was originally a Trans Lux theater. The Midtown thetaer was closed by AMC, but is now a legit theater caleed the Prince Arts.
I am originally from Phila and there is a fight now to save the only theater left in center city the Sameric/Boyd. UA closed it a few years ago and Clear Channel is supposed to turn it into a legit theater if enough funds can be raised. The same thing happened to the theaters in Atlantic City. When the casino’s, came down went the theates. Most were torn down and parking lots were made. The last year that most were in operation were 1973.
Hey TheaterFan. I was only in the Orpheum one time in 1982 to see Annie. Did they totally knock down the theater and rebuild it to make it 7 theaters? When I lived in NYC, it was 2 theaters. The balcony theater had it’s enterance on 3rd ave and at one point was called Loews Cine.
I wrote Loews and blasted them. I can’t beleive they tore the theater apart on the last night. Ialso didn’t know they were showing movies again at the Loews Jersey City.
I think that really stinks Bill. They couldn’t put an exclusive film in there for a week. I think I ma going to e mail Loews and everybody should do the same.
I grew up in Clifton Hgts and would love to have follow up information on this theater.
The Roxy Deli is still very much alove in the lobby of the old Movieland. The information above is very incorrect> I don’t know about the disco part.
Is United Artists going to run this theater.
Thanks. I thought they moved only the lobby.Wow can u imagine a whole theater that is now serving as a lobby. Technology.
The kung fu movies were playd at the Empire through the early 80’s. AMC took the lobby and front of the Empire and relocted it down the block which is where the Anco used to be. Brandt theaters ran the Empire, Selwyn,Anco, Times Square, Victory. The Neederlnder organization (Palace, Marquis, Lunt Fontaine, Richard Rogers, Neederlander) ran the New Amsterdamn.
I just read the post from May 13 and it is correct.The theater was originally run by William Goldman chain and in the middle to late 60’s it was taken over by Ellis theaters. The other two theaters in Upper Darby, the 69th St (Closed in 1965 reopened briefly in 1981) and the Terminal (taken over in the early 70’s by Sameric chain)were run by Stanley Warner
I never had the pleasure of going to the Stanley before it closed or the Fox. The only center city theaters I went to were the Randolph(closed in 1970) the Goldman when it was a single screen theater to see Funny Girl and after as a twin, the Regency once Sam’s Place, The Boyd/Sameric and Eric’s Place. I also hit Theater 1812 in 1975 when it was a porno theater.
Dennis
The Regency opened in 1967 with a movie called Divorce American Style with Dick Van Dyke. I think it was twined in the late 70’s. I was in there once to see The Godfather 2 and it was still a single screen theater. I still can’t belevie they twined the Midtown. That was a small theater with no balcony. I can imagine how small the theaters were when it got twined.
Thanks theater fan, except when I click on it it says the site doesn’t exist anymore.
I find it really interesting that the Criterion was demolished to make way for Toys R Us which is now condiering closing all their stores after Christmas.A great theater was lost for nothing.
When the theater was tripled it was opened as the Mark 1,2,3 and didn’t stay open very long. Guild took over the theater and ran it for many years. The information above is incorrect.
The only thing I am not sure of is about the downstairs theater. I remember applying for a job at the Demille in 1975 when it went to a 2nd run house and there was a large stage. The two times I went to the theater after it was split there was no stage downstairs.I think that when it was first tripled, they took part of the orchestra and converted into a tore. As I rememebr the downstairs theater was not very large.
William
You would think that they would come down in the rent considering the building has been vacant for many years. Obviously these building owners in NYC have nothing but greed on their minds.
Theaterfan
There are still a few theaters of the old Sameric chain that are still operating. United Artists did close most of them.
When I was in Phila in June of 2000, there was another theater closed by UA, Eric’s Place that was for sale or lease. It was originally a Trans Lux theater. The Midtown thetaer was closed by AMC, but is now a legit theater caleed the Prince Arts.
I am originally from Phila and there is a fight now to save the only theater left in center city the Sameric/Boyd. UA closed it a few years ago and Clear Channel is supposed to turn it into a legit theater if enough funds can be raised. The same thing happened to the theaters in Atlantic City. When the casino’s, came down went the theates. Most were torn down and parking lots were made. The last year that most were in operation were 1973.
Hey TheaterFan. I was only in the Orpheum one time in 1982 to see Annie. Did they totally knock down the theater and rebuild it to make it 7 theaters? When I lived in NYC, it was 2 theaters. The balcony theater had it’s enterance on 3rd ave and at one point was called Loews Cine.
Can anybody verify that this theater is still open?
The theater was origianlly twined in the late 70’s not 1989 as it says above. I think the twin happened when RKO took over the theater.
Great. It’s been that way ever since I have been on Cinema Treasures.
How do we get Cinema Treasures to update the status of this theater to open. Why it is showing closed/renovationg is beyond me.
There was a rumor that the 72nd St East was going to receive the seats from the Astor Plaza. Has anyone confirmed this or heard any different?
I wrote Loews and blasted them. I can’t beleive they tore the theater apart on the last night. Ialso didn’t know they were showing movies again at the Loews Jersey City.
I think that really stinks Bill. They couldn’t put an exclusive film in there for a week. I think I ma going to e mail Loews and everybody should do the same.
Does anybody know the status of the Waverly? I heard IFC had purchased the theater. Walter Rede ruined the theater when they twined it.
Is this theater being used now or is it just sitting empty?