I saw some movies here around 1980 when I lived in Flushing; it was already a triplex then, and I remember a summer matinee show wherein the theater was icy cold and nearly emnpty. I was sorry to see it demolished some time later.
I also saw the ad and read the comments about Porky’s, which I saw at the Keith’s — it previewed at Prospect but opened at Keith’s?
And this is now an AMC house and that’s how this should be listed.
The one thing I don’t like about this plasce is the three theatres in the basement, which makes sneaking into them very difficult.
But the upstairs is fantastic and one you’re in the door you can go anywhere you like. Usually.
The theater’s website says there are 276 seats. They closed the balcony in 1975 and it has since been removed. (I wonder if they removed it or just sealed it off.)
It was the only grindhouse in town after the Harris was shuttered. I liked the switching auditoriums, walking in and out of different movies. And they weren’t all on the same floor, which means you had to do a little research to see the movies you wanted.
I remember, though, that the theaters weren’t as darkly lit as their forebears — and the ushers more vigilant — which made some patrons a bit self-conscious about smoking weed right in the theater. Luckily there was an open fire escape in the rear that filled the bill.
“It was the summer of ‘92 and he had invited me up to his shabby digs at the old Bristol Hotel. Curiosity about his faded treasures (EC comic books? lobby cards?) had got the best of me and I agreed to meet my old English teacher there despite the long bus ride down the seedy streets near Jamaica Avenue. As I climbed the worn-down marble stairs — the smell of stale piss and body odor and old tobacco hanging in the air and my stomach in knots — little did I realize how this visit would change my life forever…”
At the 42nd street theaters, with the booths way up high, the screens were tilted back a bit so the light was disbursed more evenly. It was a strange sight to sit in the balcony and see the screen at such an angle, but I guess they knew what they were doing.
Hey Craig! We’re expecting a grade-A presentation tonight! Make sure you’ve got a pro in the booth!
Ask Bloop — he seems to know the lay of the land out there.
I think I saw Rocky Horror Picture Show here.
Even the New Victory, built in 1900, has only two balconies.
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I kinda liked ALL the nudity in that sexually-charged movie.
It was in the right side of the divided autditorium, but still a pretty big screen, even though the seats faced slightly to the left!
When Variety used to give individual theater grosses, or top grossing sites, (do they still do that?) this was always on the list.
I am forbidden to go to this theater, or to the Sunrise Multiplex, by concerned family memebers.
I saw some movies here around 1980 when I lived in Flushing; it was already a triplex then, and I remember a summer matinee show wherein the theater was icy cold and nearly emnpty. I was sorry to see it demolished some time later.
I also saw the ad and read the comments about Porky’s, which I saw at the Keith’s — it previewed at Prospect but opened at Keith’s?
I heard they had some nice brass fans in there.
Shouldn’t the description and former names be updated on this house?
Any photos of this house during its Elgin days?
Thanks for sharing.
That photo’s from Ed Solero’s collection, though it has been in other scrapbooks, too.
Too bad about the curtain in “Loews.” How many seats in that room?
And this is now an AMC house and that’s how this should be listed.
The one thing I don’t like about this plasce is the three theatres in the basement, which makes sneaking into them very difficult.
But the upstairs is fantastic and one you’re in the door you can go anywhere you like. Usually.
The theater’s website says there are 276 seats. They closed the balcony in 1975 and it has since been removed. (I wonder if they removed it or just sealed it off.)
Which article?
It was the only grindhouse in town after the Harris was shuttered. I liked the switching auditoriums, walking in and out of different movies. And they weren’t all on the same floor, which means you had to do a little research to see the movies you wanted.
I remember, though, that the theaters weren’t as darkly lit as their forebears — and the ushers more vigilant — which made some patrons a bit self-conscious about smoking weed right in the theater. Luckily there was an open fire escape in the rear that filled the bill.
I almost never see the Larkfield listed in movie ads, but here’s one I swiped, 1977’s Telefon paired with Carrie. (Thanks Ed)
And Lance, the Larkfield used to run weekly stand-alone ads about 1 inch by 1 inch in Newsday…can you find any of those and post them here?
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If your orientation is confused it’s because of that English teacher of yours.
“It was the summer of ‘92 and he had invited me up to his shabby digs at the old Bristol Hotel. Curiosity about his faded treasures (EC comic books? lobby cards?) had got the best of me and I agreed to meet my old English teacher there despite the long bus ride down the seedy streets near Jamaica Avenue. As I climbed the worn-down marble stairs — the smell of stale piss and body odor and old tobacco hanging in the air and my stomach in knots — little did I realize how this visit would change my life forever…”
OK, Ed, fill in the rest.
At the 42nd street theaters, with the booths way up high, the screens were tilted back a bit so the light was disbursed more evenly. It was a strange sight to sit in the balcony and see the screen at such an angle, but I guess they knew what they were doing.
I think they should raise the roof and install a proper balcony. Now, THAT would be a showplace.
Could someone please fix the opening remarks.