Luis, you are correct, and the New Amsterdam is the perfect example. It should never have been a movie theater to begin with….but thankfully, since it had been “downgraded” for a time to show movies, even though it has thankfully reverted back to the gem it is today, we can discuss the New Amsterdam….
You can walk right in, it’s a porn shop/theater now. It’s pretty freaky in the back though, as there are just naked and half dressed women just standing around towards the front of the old theater. I only went in once to check the theater out, got freaked out, and left, it’s so weird inside…. But if you can get past that, it’s pretty interesting.
Luis, I agree completly, I am intereted in theaters in general. At this time though, the site’s focus is on cinema. Perhaps if the software is ever upgraded, they may consider that who knows, as a subset, but do remember the site is called “Cinema Treasures”….
There are so many worthy, unbelivable legit theaters out there, and I have to say that it’s a shame there’s no place on the web to really discuss them. The ones that were “downgraded” to show cinema at some point found a home here…but many that stayed the course, and putter on as legit houses are unrecognized anywhere.
I always heard they use the most recent name if it is still a theater, cinema or not. There are a few theaters that used to be cinemas, yet now are legit theaters, yet they have the legit theater name listed as the main name.
As for St John the Divine Church, it wouldn’t be listed on the site unless if showed cinema at one time. AFIK, they never showed movies in St John the Divine, so there would be no reason to list it here regardless if they do concerts. The basic criteria that any theater on this site needs to have is that it MUST have shown movies at least briefly for it to be listed. There are PLENTY of worthy theaters or “palaces” that could be listed on the site…but they can’t be because many legit theaters never showed film. A currently legit theater can be listed, so long as it at showed movies at some point….after all this is “Cinema Treasures”, not “Theater Treasures”.
Right, that’s what I meant to say, if it didn’t come out right. Theater 13 is the original indoor drive in theater. Obviously, the refreshment stand on the back wall (that is cemented over now) is not needed, as that was the refreshment stand for the outdoor drive in.
No, Theater 13 IS the former indoor drive in theater. If you drive to the back of the building, you can even see the cemented up concession stand for the drive in on the wall of what is now Theater 13 of the multiplex.
Yes, I think the site usually uses the most current name the theater operated under. The most current name, or the last one it used when still a theater. The 175th St may have to become an aka name.
I agree that some of the other ones like the Island Grill are better, but I wouldn’t say the California is the worst diner I ever ate at….although granted, it’s been a while since I have eaten there.
I’ve eaten there more times than I can count, and have never had a problem. You’d probably never eat out again if you knew what was in most kitchens, of even the best of restaurants….
The Movieland Cinemas in Mastic is just as bad: /theaters/8564/
It’s almost a joke. It was built out of an A&P supermarket, and still has the pointy peak fascade, standard to all old A&P supermarket buildings. It’s almost humerous.
As I said, the auditoriums are pure utilitarian, ans small, and the walls are painted cement blocks. I can’t speak for the Cineplex, but it sounds like it was just as much a joke.
This must have had similar auditoriums as the Movieland Cinemas in Mastic, which also took a shopping center, and converted it into theaters. The theaters are pure utilitarian, with concrete block walls, etc. Strange, the usual progression is a theater being turned into retail…here we had retail converted into a theater.
Thanks! Yes, that’s the one I meant….I know about the Fresh Meadows too, that’s on the other side of the expressway….
Anyway, as for the Lowes Cineplex…I didn’t realize it was torn down until now, although, I have been through on the expressway often…I guess out of sight, out of mind. Thanks again for clearing that up!
BTW, the local live images must be older than 2005, as thats when it was torn down.
So not that we got that all cleared up, anyone know what the name of the theater with the murals painted above the long marquee was, that I linked above, further down the LIE?
Thanks jeffrey. I was confused with the theater in the second link.
So you are talking about the building linked below, where Loermann’s used to be in?
Peter, here’s what I think is that theater we are thinking of with the murals. I have no idea if it’s still open or not, or what it is/was called though. Anyone know?
Wow, Lost, that rendering doesn’t look like anything I remember! The appearance must have changed by the 80’s, as I certainly would have remembered that passing by on the LIE.
Peter, I must be confused then. I am thinking of the theater with the painted murals on the side, of Superman, Star Trek, etc. Hmmm, what theater are we thinking of then.
That being said, I still recognize the theater in passing that I linked the aerial photo of to. You are right, the one with the murals is not this one.
From the look of the building in the aerial photo, it doesn’t look like any store occupies it. I can’t even find a sign for a store no matter which direction I position the aerial photo. Of course, it may look different from the ground, but usually you even get a glimpse of a sign or something.
Has the theater been gutted?
This site is not connected with the management of the Jamaica Center multiplex. You should probably take it up with them, not here, as no one here has any connection to this theater whatsoever.
Ken, is this it?
/theaters/1357/
I haven’t a clue if it’s only women. Don’t take my word, I was only in that place that one time.
Luis, you are correct, and the New Amsterdam is the perfect example. It should never have been a movie theater to begin with….but thankfully, since it had been “downgraded” for a time to show movies, even though it has thankfully reverted back to the gem it is today, we can discuss the New Amsterdam….
Any photos of the interior before it’s too late?
You can walk right in, it’s a porn shop/theater now. It’s pretty freaky in the back though, as there are just naked and half dressed women just standing around towards the front of the old theater. I only went in once to check the theater out, got freaked out, and left, it’s so weird inside…. But if you can get past that, it’s pretty interesting.
Luis, I agree completly, I am intereted in theaters in general. At this time though, the site’s focus is on cinema. Perhaps if the software is ever upgraded, they may consider that who knows, as a subset, but do remember the site is called “Cinema Treasures”….
There are so many worthy, unbelivable legit theaters out there, and I have to say that it’s a shame there’s no place on the web to really discuss them. The ones that were “downgraded” to show cinema at some point found a home here…but many that stayed the course, and putter on as legit houses are unrecognized anywhere.
I always heard they use the most recent name if it is still a theater, cinema or not. There are a few theaters that used to be cinemas, yet now are legit theaters, yet they have the legit theater name listed as the main name.
As for St John the Divine Church, it wouldn’t be listed on the site unless if showed cinema at one time. AFIK, they never showed movies in St John the Divine, so there would be no reason to list it here regardless if they do concerts. The basic criteria that any theater on this site needs to have is that it MUST have shown movies at least briefly for it to be listed. There are PLENTY of worthy theaters or “palaces” that could be listed on the site…but they can’t be because many legit theaters never showed film. A currently legit theater can be listed, so long as it at showed movies at some point….after all this is “Cinema Treasures”, not “Theater Treasures”.
Right, that’s what I meant to say, if it didn’t come out right. Theater 13 is the original indoor drive in theater. Obviously, the refreshment stand on the back wall (that is cemented over now) is not needed, as that was the refreshment stand for the outdoor drive in.
No, Theater 13 IS the former indoor drive in theater. If you drive to the back of the building, you can even see the cemented up concession stand for the drive in on the wall of what is now Theater 13 of the multiplex.
Yes, I think the site usually uses the most current name the theater operated under. The most current name, or the last one it used when still a theater. The 175th St may have to become an aka name.
I agree that some of the other ones like the Island Grill are better, but I wouldn’t say the California is the worst diner I ever ate at….although granted, it’s been a while since I have eaten there.
I’ve eaten there more times than I can count, and have never had a problem. You’d probably never eat out again if you knew what was in most kitchens, of even the best of restaurants….
Here’s a photo I found online:
View link
The Movieland Cinemas in Mastic is just as bad:
/theaters/8564/
It’s almost a joke. It was built out of an A&P supermarket, and still has the pointy peak fascade, standard to all old A&P supermarket buildings. It’s almost humerous.
As I said, the auditoriums are pure utilitarian, ans small, and the walls are painted cement blocks. I can’t speak for the Cineplex, but it sounds like it was just as much a joke.
This must have had similar auditoriums as the Movieland Cinemas in Mastic, which also took a shopping center, and converted it into theaters. The theaters are pure utilitarian, with concrete block walls, etc. Strange, the usual progression is a theater being turned into retail…here we had retail converted into a theater.
Have they built anything new on the site of the old theater here yet?
Thanks! Yes, that’s the one I meant….I know about the Fresh Meadows too, that’s on the other side of the expressway….
Anyway, as for the Lowes Cineplex…I didn’t realize it was torn down until now, although, I have been through on the expressway often…I guess out of sight, out of mind. Thanks again for clearing that up!
BTW, the local live images must be older than 2005, as thats when it was torn down.
So not that we got that all cleared up, anyone know what the name of the theater with the murals painted above the long marquee was, that I linked above, further down the LIE?
View link
Here’s a better link looking west:
View link
Thanks jeffrey. I was confused with the theater in the second link.
So you are talking about the building linked below, where Loermann’s used to be in?
View link
Peter, here’s what I think is that theater we are thinking of with the murals. I have no idea if it’s still open or not, or what it is/was called though. Anyone know?
View link
Wow, Lost, that rendering doesn’t look like anything I remember! The appearance must have changed by the 80’s, as I certainly would have remembered that passing by on the LIE.
Peter, I must be confused then. I am thinking of the theater with the painted murals on the side, of Superman, Star Trek, etc. Hmmm, what theater are we thinking of then.
That being said, I still recognize the theater in passing that I linked the aerial photo of to. You are right, the one with the murals is not this one.
Re: Lost Memory’s comment 10/27/06…
From the look of the building in the aerial photo, it doesn’t look like any store occupies it. I can’t even find a sign for a store no matter which direction I position the aerial photo. Of course, it may look different from the ground, but usually you even get a glimpse of a sign or something.
Has the theater been gutted?
This site is not connected with the management of the Jamaica Center multiplex. You should probably take it up with them, not here, as no one here has any connection to this theater whatsoever.