Brilliant!!! The response was just as I expected â€" perhaps even better!
The purpose of MTV2’s “$2 Bill†concert series is to enable fans to see their favorite pop stars in concert for the mere cost of the bus fare needed to travel to the theatre. I doubt that the Paradise Theatre made much money from hosting this event…but the publicity it generated is PRICELESS.
An informal survey of websites (mostly in Spanish) revealed much “buzz†on the Internet, with one source reporting that tickets sold out in less that one hour!
What was the crowd like (appearance, age, behavior)? If anyone else passed by or attended, please share your observations and experiences â€" an event of this magnitude is just too difficult to ignore! I’ll be watching for it on MTV2 on Sunday, 18 June at 8:00 p.m. – a great opportunity to see this incredible theatre “in action”.
Hey “Rabbitâ€: do another “drive-by†and let us know whether or not the theatre is still “standing.†;–)
For those who are wondering who “Daddy Yankee†is… he performs Reggaeton (the musical equivalent of “Spanish rapâ€), is from Puerto Rico, and is one of the top Latino pop stars in the world today. If you STILL don’t know who he is, listen to any “Spanish”, “contemporary hitâ€, or “urban contemporary/rap†radio station …or just go to the Puerto Rican parade in NYC on June 11th… and you will eventually hear his music played (as in the mega-hit “Gasolinaâ€)
While I do have some concerns about the type of people his music may attract, I do not consider him or his audience as “hardcore†as some of those involved with “gangsta†rap (thank God). I have danced to his music in Latino nightclubs, and I can assure you, I found people there who enjoy type of music â€" they were non-threatening and having a good time
I have no doubt that with MTV behind this show “Mr. Yankee†will be arriving with an elaborate entourage that includes an army of “security†personnel who will bounce troublemakers out on a dime. NYPD will also be out in force. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some pot and drug busts and a few confiscated switchblades. Still, there is probably no better place in NYC for a show like this than a large theater in the Bronx â€" with a huge Puerto Rican and Hispanic population that is into “urban†music, MTV will certainly find its audience here. It is worth the risk â€" this is THE show that will put the Paradise Theatre “on the map†and establish it as a premiere concert venue.
Monday, June 5th will be a historic night for the “new†Paradise Theatre – a turning point.
Yippee! I Just saw the Jersey’s June offerings â€" now THOSE are the kinds of movies that I want to see on the big screen this summer. I can imagine the titles prominently displayed across the marquee of this great movie house. All rated PG, so they’re “family-friendly†entertainment (to me, anyway â€" I was almost 12 when I saw “Jawsâ€, and it didn’t scare or scar me for life). “American Graffiti†– a great nostalgia flick. “Grease†â€" OK, compared to the stage show, the film was so-so (I recall nodding off towards the end when I saw it first-run in 1978), but for sheer pop-culture status (especially the music) it ranks up there with the others – I guess I‘ll have to see it again to catch it all. Considering the venue, I should have no problem staying awake.
Good job Jersey â€" you should have no problem getting summertime audiences with this more “mass appeal†programming (especially for those my age, some of whom are on the verge of a “mid-life crisis†and want to relive their youth, and at the same time bring the wife and kids!). Especially good for today’s young adults (“tweens†and teens), who could learn a thing or two about what great movies we saw when WE were their age.
Now let’s all hope that June 2nd & 3rd are not scorchers and the air-conditioning works!
How ridiculous. Maybe they should have hired a high-school kid with spiked hair and ear, nose, eyebrow, tongue, and lip piercings instead (after all, that’s an attractive look, and one I’ve actually seen on a theatre employee) – everything but nose rings and plates in their lips.
I do realize that corporate appearance/dress codes exist, and they are enforced for certain reasons (examples: wearing revealing clothing or items that make political statements), but this was just plain frivolity on AMC’s part (not to mention a major PR mistake – firing a senior citizen AND war veteran?) What in the hell were they thinking?
All films were shown using tired old VHS equipment and a CRT projector. The manager did not have the resources (or know-how) to upgrade to a DVD player and movies. To him, VHS was probably state-of-the-art technology!
I recall one VHS deck being located up in the projection room, which was used mostly for storage, filled wall-to-wall with VHS tapes, piled everywhere.
Every time a movie ended, one of the theatre employees (i.e. “security” monitors) would be sent upstairs to put in the next tape. If the manager was working alone, there would be a empty screen and a wait of several minutes, as the old man needed time to hobble upstairs to change tapes!
As for the box office cashier “Paola†(formerly “Paoloâ€, no doubt), I honestly thought that she was a drag queen! That was one ugly broad, with a snippy attitude to match.
That whole place was a nightmare â€" facilities, management, staffing, customers…
As for the box office cashier “Paola†(formerly “Paoloâ€, no doubt), I honestly thought that she was a drag queen! That was one ugly broad, with a snippy attitude to match.
That whole place was a nightmare â€" facilities, management, staffing, customers…
All films were shown using tired old VHS equipment and a CRT projector. The manager did not have the resources (or know-how) to upgrade to a DVD player and movies. To him, VHS was probably state-of-the-art technology!
I recall one VHS deck being located up in the projection room, which was used mostly for storage, filled wall-to-wall with VHS tapes, piled everywhere.
Every time a movie ended, one of the theatre employees (i.e. “security” monitors) would be sent upstairs to put in the next tape. If the manager was working alone, there would be a empty screen and a wait of several minutes, as the old man needed time to hobble upstairs to change tapes!
It seems suspended in time. It has been closed since mid-February. In all probability, it will never reopen. Eventually, a buyer will come along and either make new use of tne space or demolish it.
The “status” in the profile is incorrect – it needs to be changed to “closed”.
The marquee just received an “upgrade” of sorts – workers recently repaired and replaced cracked frost glass and missing letters. The biggest change though is the new multi-color neon lighting installed around the face (it matches the pastel-colored tubes underneath that lead to the entry doors). Although not historically “true” to the original, it does add a bit of “punch” to the somewhat spartan and tired-looking old signage.
The owner’s “zest” for color lately has also resulted in some rather tacky interior redecoration of the lobby area as well (a god-awful amateurish hand-painted “rainbow” mural whose theme or concept eludes me, along with the existing hodge-podge of both modern and traditional furnishings, lamps, fake palms, Egyptian statuary, fish tanks, Christmas lights and fiber-optic “objets d’artâ€). Before, the walls were painted a relaxed, low-key basic black and dotted with small black & white framed photos of Hollywood stars (such as Laurel & Hardy, The Marx Brothers, Charlie Chaplin, Mae West and Lana Turner) – this made sense given the theatre’s “old-time” style and history and lent the place a bit of “vintage” charm and aesthetic as well.
Incidentally, the programming has also changed a little – in the main auditorium, they are breaking up the non-stop horror, action/adventure and martial arts films with the occassional latest home video new release – they were not getting the response to these films that they wanted, and quite frankly the regular patrons (who literally spend hours at a time in this place) were probably getting bored with it all (I know I was).
Press reports indicated that during the showing, there was “not a dry eye in the houseâ€.
Many in the audience were relatives of Flight 93 victims, for whom the show was an emotional experience. It was received positively by those who attended.
Congratulations to the Ziegfeld for contributing to the film festival, and for coming through on the first day by taking risks and demonstrating a leadership role in cinematic presentation, with bold and intriguing programming â€" again.
Note: the Tribeca Film Festival was created largely as a response to the economic impact of the events of 9-11. It was intended to regenerate business activity and public interest in Lower Manhattan. It has succeeded and this year expands its coverage to other parts of Manhattan.
This infuriates me. I was born and grew up in Elmhurst 1963-1969. My parents took me to the 1964 World’s Fair in a stroller. I have no recollection of it, but because key monuments were saved, a historical link has been preserved, and as an adult I can today appreciate local history that I missed as a child. We can largely thank “master builder†Robert Moses for this, when he had the fairgrounds donated as a park to the people of Queens.
The stainless steel Unisphere (the largest representation of planet Earth ever constructed) is recognized globally as a symbol of Queens and NYC. The NYS Pavilion remains (even though its distinctive observation towers stand abandoned) as does the New York Hall of Science building. Even the Port Authority Heliport & Exhibit was successfully converted into an operational catering hall (Terrace on the Park). Why couldn’t the same be done for this theater and its historic facade? Even though it was not an official component of the 1939 World’s Fair, it is about the only visual reminder that remains.
Mind you, the 1964 fair was not “officially sanctioned†by the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE), whereas the 1939 World’s Fair was. Interestingly, the Fair Theater on Astoria Boulevard was also named in honor of that event, although it contains no visual elements that would connect it. The only “on-site†structure remaining intact (that I know of) is the New York City Building, now home to the Queens Museum of Art.
What angers me most is that the current owners of the theater could care less about all of this, even though the education center they are building is part of the Queens community. Although the new immigrants it will serve have no historical ties with the borough, the building itself does! Why should someone have to be “forced†to preserve a building by “threatening “ to place landmark status on it in the first place?
How ironic that an icon of “the world of tomorrow†is being treated as “trash of the past.â€
I passed by the theatre again yesterday afternoon – nothing has really changed â€" it is still closed. There was no signage of any kind indicating what its status is. I looked inside and the double-doors were open, but the lobby was so dark that I could not make out any details. By all appearances, everything looked intact â€" no signs of major demolition going on (I even checked around back for dumpsters or debris â€" nothing).
The only things I saw (in the entry hallway, against a wall) were some open buckets filled with garbage, a big old round air-conditioning vent, and a very large, tall white metal “box†(with small vents on the bottom and an electrical cord) that resembled a refrigeration unit (?) of some kind. I could not make out the labels on the buckets, but they looked like they contained some type of black liquid, perhaps tar or asphalt sealant (which makes sense, since the roof leaked) â€" if this is the case, then they could be making repairs to the building (as opposed to demolishing it), but for what ultimate reason is anybody’s guess
Not too long ago, the village of Westbury received a grant for a much-needed revitalization of its shopping/commercial district. Many changes have already taken place, and the plan has sparked residential development – two upscale condominiums (92 and 90 units, most of which I believe are one-bedroom) are either under construction or near completion, and other developers are expressing interest to build as well. These are attracting mostly young urban professional types who like the location for its walking-distance proximity to shopping and mass transit, as well as retirees who are “downsizing”. The housing is an “affordable” alternative (relatively speaking) for those who work in NYC and want convenient access to it without having to live in or near it. This housing alone is expected to attract almost 600 new residents to the village.
If only those idiotic owners hadn’t turned the theatre into a pile of garbage, they could have capitalized on all of these changes. Still, it’s better off now that it’s out of their insanely incompetent hands – someone might actually come in now, renovate and make a successful go of it. Considering what developments are occuring in the village, it could be a prime opportunity.
All of this is happening despite the fact that just directly to the east is unsavory New Cassel, for years a depressed “minority” neighbourhood that over time has become permeated with drugs, gangs and [illegal] immigrants (I would advise against travelling through there, especially at night). A blight on the landscape and boil on the backside of one of Long Island’s most vibrant and popular shopping destinations – the Westbury/Carle Place/Garden City area.
My wording in my previous post was off. What I meant to say was…I was surprised that as much as half of the audience responded that they had NEVER seen these movies before, and this was only their FIRST time. I would have expected that most everyone there were big classic movie and/or James Dean fans and had already seen these films, and came mainly to experience viewing them on a huge screen in an authentic movie palace setting.
The fact that this was their first time tells me that, for many of them, these movies have the same draw power and appeal as do the newest theatrical releases, maybe even more so. Given the current quality of Hollywood’s latest releases (with a few exceptions), I can see where older films would actually be a first choice for those seeking quality movie entertainment.
Except for a few of this year’s Oscar picks, there is nothing coming out that even remotely interests me, either in theatrical or home video new release, and I have felt this way for quite some time.
All the more reason to preserve this theatre and the fine “alternative” entertainment experience that it provides. As long as the motion picture studios continue producing mindless, low-quality drivel, I can only expect (and hope) that audiences here will continue to grow.
Attended the James Dean “double-feature†Saturday night (March 11th â€" “Rebel Without a Cause†and “East of Edenâ€) and had a terrific movie-going experience. This has to be one of the biggest entertainment bargains out there (10 dollars for two movies â€" and good ones at that!). The time just flew by (and these were full-length, almost two-hour-long features).
The picture was clear (projection quality was consistent for both films – steady and focused throughout); the “sound stage†was just right (volume, tone, spaciousness and balance, well-anchored dialogue â€" loved the slight echo “slapping†off the walls). Every seat in the house was a good one.
The crowd was varied in age and composition â€" everyone from just a few young “20-somethings†to senior citizens (the vast majority were around my age: “30-somethings†and early 40s, mostly young urban professional types). It was a nice sampling of the local population, and with a decent turnout (I estimated about 300 for each film) shows that there is interest in the community and an audience for these films. During the Q&A session following “Rebel†(a nice touch), the audience was asked “How many of you saw this movie for the first time?†Surprisingly, only about half of the audience raised their hands! This theatre presents an incredible opportunity for introducing younger audiences to classic cinema. Thankfully, it succeeds at attracting a more “serious†sophisticated lot (well-behaved, quiet, courteous â€" unlike the “multiplex†and “mall rat†crowds). It is a historical and cultural icon that must be preserved! It is part of the busy Journal Square shopping district, and fits right in with its surroundings. City officials would be foolish to let all of this go to waste.
What this place needs is more programming and much better publicity and promotion â€" it has so much potential for use. Yes, it’s in Jersey, but so what? Come on you “city†people…get over your “it’s not Manhattan†attitude and take a chance on this place. It has so many positives in its favor, even by “city†standards â€" uniqueness, location, transportation/access and especially cost value. There are NO excuses:
(1) Easy, fast access: The PATH train station is JUST ACROSS THE STREET in Journal Square.
(2) Convenient, cheap parking: DIRECTLY BEHIND the theatre (at the end of Magnolia Ave) is the Square Ramp garage. One gripe: the theatre does NOT do enough to inform their customers that they are entitled to HALF-PRICE parking! (They have a special deal with the garage, but customers have to hunt for the vouchers – I found them in a small pile on the snack counter next to the Milk Duds and Reese’s). They should be prominently displayed on an “information table†or by the entrance where tickets are sold, so that we can see them on our way in and out. With the voucher, I only paid $3.50 for five hours â€" a bargain!
(3) Safety: there is plenty of activity and street traffic during “business hoursâ€, and the side alleyway allowing quick access to the garage is brightly lit and under security camera surveillance.
(4) Atmosphere and character: how many old movie palaces still exist and operate in NYC, and how many show classic (or any) films?
How about announcements or listings in the New York Times or Village Voice (print and online), not to mention numerous other local arts and entertainment media? I have never seen any, and if there were some, I didn’t notice them. Be creative! You have a unique, colorful venue â€" you need to engage in variety of promotional activities to showcase it.
I made an evening of it with an acquaintance of mine (who just happens to live in Jersey City). He says he has passed this place dozens of times en route to the PATH train station and never gave it a second thought. After attending the shows, he remarked “What a great way to spend a Saturday night.†So impressed was he by this “tarnished jewel†of a building and the efforts of the staff (many of them volunteers, busy at “work†making everyone feel welcome and comfortable) that he has expressed interest in offering suggestions and help with future programming and activities, and donating some time as a volunteer.
This theatre’s website lists a salsa concert date of March 3rd (rescheduled from February due to a snow storm), but the Village Voice’s online “nyc guide” listing shows the same event as March 10th. Which is correct?
We would appreciate any reviews from those attending. This is a venue I would consider visiting
(I know someone who lives near the theatre).
Just like straights, there are some gay people who need to synchronize the speed of their mouths (and keyboards) with their brains.
George W. Bush, although not exactly the sharpest tack on the board, really has nothing to do with this. However, with regards to the world’s problems, he has far exceeded his personal quota.
Are you serious? Perhaps you have never seen …â€Pattonâ€, “Tora!Tora!Tora!â€, “Full Metal Jacketâ€, “Apocalypse Nowâ€, “Platoonâ€, “The Deer Hunterâ€, “Good Morning, Vietnamâ€, “Gloryâ€, “The Tuskegee Airmenâ€, “Black Hawk Downâ€, “Saving Private Ryanâ€, “Pearl Harborâ€â€¦not to mention oldies like “All Quiet on the Western Front”, “Bridge On the River Kwaiâ€, “Stalag 17â€, “The Great Escape†and every John Wayne, Henry Fonda or John Ford WWII movie ever made. Just go to IMDb.com and search under the genre “war†— I think you’ll find something from the 5,464 titles listed there.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but if I follow your “a tit for a tat†train-of-logic, I suppose then that Hollywood would have to produce approximately 5,464 gay-themed movies, just to make the playing field “evenâ€. Calling all gay actors! (Shouldn’t be any problem finding too many of those.)
What I do believe is that these organizations are trying to advocate fair and equal treatment in housing, accommodations, and the workplace, and protection under the law from those that try to deny these rights (and in a modern democratic society, these are basic rights, not privileges). Acceptance is a pipe dream, because it is ultimately a personal choice that cannot be decided or regulated by someone else, and I’m not sure what a “normal†lifestyle is, because normalcy has no universal definition. However, if one’s daily lifestyle means living in fear of losing one’s job, being denied insurance benefits, or having the tar beaten out of them in public, then compared to the rest of society (i.e. the “majorityâ€), I would have to say that it is definitely not “normalâ€.
All gay people should NOT expect or deserve special treatment, just fair treatment. All gay people should NOT expect everyone to like them, but should expect others to let them live without fear or harm.
But that was not your original point. You seemed to be saying that you are tired of the movies (and mass media) being used as a vehicle of sorts to push some specialized homosexual “agenda†(or dare I say “propagandaâ€) of “normalcy†to mainstream society, and that gay rights groups play an influential role in this. Actually, if one watches or reads the news regularly, one would probably conclude that it is the rest of society’s behavior that needs to be “normalized†first in order for ANYBODY to get along.
We all have choices, and you will find many more movies out there that do NOT make it a point of advocating tolerance towards gays or promoting “the gay lifestyle†** anymore than they do so for blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Jews or women, and you are more than welcome to view those movies, regardless of whether you are gay, straight, or anything in-between. If you or I feel that we are being relentlessly “assaulted†by messages with the words “bigot, “racist†or “discriminationâ€, we have the right to say so, but we also have the right to ignore those messages by changing the channel, turning the page, ignoring the movie, or simply walking away. Democracy may not be perfect, but at least we have it.
** I’ve always found humor in people using this phrase, since those same people have yet to define “the straight lifestyle.â€
“Agenda� Hmm…I never received a memo from the “home office†about any agenda. I must be out of the loop!
As for “normalizingâ€â€¦I didn’t realize it was abnormal in the first place (the American Psychological Association recognized that 32 years ago).
Well, it was certainly a surprise to me and to everybody else who was watching it at our little “Oscar partyâ€. Let’s face it, it was truly a handicapper from the start:
(1) its release date (May 8, 2005) – it barely made it in “under the wire†as an eligible candidate;
(2) by industry standards, this movie was already “old news†â€" when the nominees were announced, it had already been released on home video for several months (since September 6, 2005), whereas other nominees were just beginning wide theatrical release and are still in theaters today (and are only now being released on home video â€" a smart “post-Oscar†marketing move);
(3) a low-budget ($6.5M) and low-profile film, from a Hollywood production and publicity standpoint (and yet it did a respectable $55M box office when compared with Brokeback Mountain’s current $79M take, which will undoubtedly continue to go higher).
Looking at the nominees across all categories, you could say that the playing field was “loadedâ€. Three out of the biggest contenders focused on themes and characters that were either gay (“Brokeback Mountainâ€, “Capoteâ€) or trans-gendered (Transamerica). Perhaps it was more gayness than even Hollywood could handle all at once.
Sorry to say, but in these “p.c.†times, it seems that excellence can also be a liability: “Brokeback Mountain” received SO much buzz, hype and critical acclaim (not to mention many other “best†awards – and deservedly so) that the Academy must have felt that a vote for it would have been perceived as an obvious “no-brainer” pressure bow to popular consensus. From an image standpoint, they must have felt it better to deliberately “go against the grainâ€, shock everyone, pick an underdog and err on the side of “political correctness†– the Academy at its “liberal†best: “edgy†and at the same time “safeâ€.
Ironic (and disappointing) actually, because so much of America still has a hard time accepting or acknowledging issues of sexual orientation or identity on ANY level, and being gay or trans-gendered is ANYTHING but popular or mainstream. If the Academy REALLY wanted to make a genuine statement about “tolerance†on awards night, they could have stepped up to the plate and voted the way so many others have. Besides, don’t they have ANY clue as to who Oscar’s most loyal audience is???
Ah, there’s nothing like Academy Awards night â€" the second biggest gay national holiday (after Halloween, of course!) :–)
The latest episode in WNET-TV’s “Walking Tour” series, “A Walk Through the Bronx” (filmed in 2005), showcases this grand old theatre in a brief segment discussing the history of the Grand Councourse. The theatre is presented as the centerpiece in the revival of this area, and the footage features an interview with local historians in the grand lobby. What magnificent views! Bravo for featuring it, when other television programs about NYC fail to even mention it. Its importance as part of the historical, cultural and economic fabric of this city cannot be ignored!
This gem of a building holds a lot of history and memories. My parents were born and raised in the Bronx (Soundview), and their teenage years in the 1940s coincided with this theatre’s heyday. I never thought of it before, but I’ll bet they created a few “memories” of their own in that theatre, although I’m afraid to ask what they were!
Visit WNET-TV’s website, which includes background information and highlights from this program. A profile of this theatre can be accessed directly at: http://www.thirteen.org/bronx/sites15.html (The “Resources” page even includes a link to the theatre’s own homepage – the same one included in the Cinema Treasures profile: http://www.theparadisetheater.com/en/defaulten.htm))
With the Polk closed as of Feb. 20th (Presidents Day), this is now the only remaining “adult theatre” in Queens, and one of only two (that I know of) still operating within NYC limits (Kings Highway Cinema is the other).
Hard to believe for a city of this status, size and population!
Consider: Newark, NJ has the same number of XXX theatres (on the same street, only blocks apart, in an undesirable locale…yet both are doing “respectable” business).
The Tribeca Cinemas will be hosting a Q&A meeting tonight (Feb. 27th, 7-8 p.m.) for those interested in volunteering at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival.
Location: 54 Varick Street at Laight Street
Transit directions: Take the #1, #9, A, C or E subway trains to Canal Street.
Festival department heads as well as the Volunteer Manager will be on hand to give a preview of what it’s like to work at the Festival and to answer questions.
You can fill in an application on the spot for a place on the volunteer team.
Brilliant!!! The response was just as I expected â€" perhaps even better!
The purpose of MTV2’s “$2 Bill†concert series is to enable fans to see their favorite pop stars in concert for the mere cost of the bus fare needed to travel to the theatre. I doubt that the Paradise Theatre made much money from hosting this event…but the publicity it generated is PRICELESS.
An informal survey of websites (mostly in Spanish) revealed much “buzz†on the Internet, with one source reporting that tickets sold out in less that one hour!
What was the crowd like (appearance, age, behavior)? If anyone else passed by or attended, please share your observations and experiences â€" an event of this magnitude is just too difficult to ignore! I’ll be watching for it on MTV2 on Sunday, 18 June at 8:00 p.m. – a great opportunity to see this incredible theatre “in action”.
Hey “Rabbitâ€: do another “drive-by†and let us know whether or not the theatre is still “standing.†;–)
For those who are wondering who “Daddy Yankee†is… he performs Reggaeton (the musical equivalent of “Spanish rapâ€), is from Puerto Rico, and is one of the top Latino pop stars in the world today. If you STILL don’t know who he is, listen to any “Spanish”, “contemporary hitâ€, or “urban contemporary/rap†radio station …or just go to the Puerto Rican parade in NYC on June 11th… and you will eventually hear his music played (as in the mega-hit “Gasolinaâ€)
While I do have some concerns about the type of people his music may attract, I do not consider him or his audience as “hardcore†as some of those involved with “gangsta†rap (thank God). I have danced to his music in Latino nightclubs, and I can assure you, I found people there who enjoy type of music â€" they were non-threatening and having a good time
I have no doubt that with MTV behind this show “Mr. Yankee†will be arriving with an elaborate entourage that includes an army of “security†personnel who will bounce troublemakers out on a dime. NYPD will also be out in force. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some pot and drug busts and a few confiscated switchblades. Still, there is probably no better place in NYC for a show like this than a large theater in the Bronx â€" with a huge Puerto Rican and Hispanic population that is into “urban†music, MTV will certainly find its audience here. It is worth the risk â€" this is THE show that will put the Paradise Theatre “on the map†and establish it as a premiere concert venue.
Monday, June 5th will be a historic night for the “new†Paradise Theatre – a turning point.
Yippee! I Just saw the Jersey’s June offerings â€" now THOSE are the kinds of movies that I want to see on the big screen this summer. I can imagine the titles prominently displayed across the marquee of this great movie house. All rated PG, so they’re “family-friendly†entertainment (to me, anyway â€" I was almost 12 when I saw “Jawsâ€, and it didn’t scare or scar me for life). “American Graffiti†– a great nostalgia flick. “Grease†â€" OK, compared to the stage show, the film was so-so (I recall nodding off towards the end when I saw it first-run in 1978), but for sheer pop-culture status (especially the music) it ranks up there with the others – I guess I‘ll have to see it again to catch it all. Considering the venue, I should have no problem staying awake.
Good job Jersey â€" you should have no problem getting summertime audiences with this more “mass appeal†programming (especially for those my age, some of whom are on the verge of a “mid-life crisis†and want to relive their youth, and at the same time bring the wife and kids!). Especially good for today’s young adults (“tweens†and teens), who could learn a thing or two about what great movies we saw when WE were their age.
Now let’s all hope that June 2nd & 3rd are not scorchers and the air-conditioning works!
How ridiculous. Maybe they should have hired a high-school kid with spiked hair and ear, nose, eyebrow, tongue, and lip piercings instead (after all, that’s an attractive look, and one I’ve actually seen on a theatre employee) – everything but nose rings and plates in their lips.
I do realize that corporate appearance/dress codes exist, and they are enforced for certain reasons (examples: wearing revealing clothing or items that make political statements), but this was just plain frivolity on AMC’s part (not to mention a major PR mistake – firing a senior citizen AND war veteran?) What in the hell were they thinking?
All films were shown using tired old VHS equipment and a CRT projector. The manager did not have the resources (or know-how) to upgrade to a DVD player and movies. To him, VHS was probably state-of-the-art technology!
I recall one VHS deck being located up in the projection room, which was used mostly for storage, filled wall-to-wall with VHS tapes, piled everywhere.
Every time a movie ended, one of the theatre employees (i.e. “security” monitors) would be sent upstairs to put in the next tape. If the manager was working alone, there would be a empty screen and a wait of several minutes, as the old man needed time to hobble upstairs to change tapes!
As for the box office cashier “Paola†(formerly “Paoloâ€, no doubt), I honestly thought that she was a drag queen! That was one ugly broad, with a snippy attitude to match.
That whole place was a nightmare â€" facilities, management, staffing, customers…
As for the box office cashier “Paola†(formerly “Paoloâ€, no doubt), I honestly thought that she was a drag queen! That was one ugly broad, with a snippy attitude to match.
That whole place was a nightmare â€" facilities, management, staffing, customers…
All films were shown using tired old VHS equipment and a CRT projector. The manager did not have the resources (or know-how) to upgrade to a DVD player and movies. To him, VHS was probably state-of-the-art technology!
I recall one VHS deck being located up in the projection room, which was used mostly for storage, filled wall-to-wall with VHS tapes, piled everywhere.
Every time a movie ended, one of the theatre employees (i.e. “security” monitors) would be sent upstairs to put in the next tape. If the manager was working alone, there would be a empty screen and a wait of several minutes, as the old man needed time to hobble upstairs to change tapes!
It seems suspended in time. It has been closed since mid-February. In all probability, it will never reopen. Eventually, a buyer will come along and either make new use of tne space or demolish it.
The “status” in the profile is incorrect – it needs to be changed to “closed”.
The marquee just received an “upgrade” of sorts – workers recently repaired and replaced cracked frost glass and missing letters. The biggest change though is the new multi-color neon lighting installed around the face (it matches the pastel-colored tubes underneath that lead to the entry doors). Although not historically “true” to the original, it does add a bit of “punch” to the somewhat spartan and tired-looking old signage.
The owner’s “zest” for color lately has also resulted in some rather tacky interior redecoration of the lobby area as well (a god-awful amateurish hand-painted “rainbow” mural whose theme or concept eludes me, along with the existing hodge-podge of both modern and traditional furnishings, lamps, fake palms, Egyptian statuary, fish tanks, Christmas lights and fiber-optic “objets d’artâ€). Before, the walls were painted a relaxed, low-key basic black and dotted with small black & white framed photos of Hollywood stars (such as Laurel & Hardy, The Marx Brothers, Charlie Chaplin, Mae West and Lana Turner) – this made sense given the theatre’s “old-time” style and history and lent the place a bit of “vintage” charm and aesthetic as well.
Incidentally, the programming has also changed a little – in the main auditorium, they are breaking up the non-stop horror, action/adventure and martial arts films with the occassional latest home video new release – they were not getting the response to these films that they wanted, and quite frankly the regular patrons (who literally spend hours at a time in this place) were probably getting bored with it all (I know I was).
It was “opening day†at NYC’s Tribeca Film Festival, where many movies vying for box office success are débuting (with the hope that the hype, prestige and exposure the event provides will launch them into popularity with national audiences at “mainstream†venues). The Ziegfeld has done its part as a participating theater, with a gala showing of only one movie â€" the one considered to be the most controversial of all: “United 93â€.
Press reports indicated that during the showing, there was “not a dry eye in the houseâ€.
Many in the audience were relatives of Flight 93 victims, for whom the show was an emotional experience. It was received positively by those who attended.
Congratulations to the Ziegfeld for contributing to the film festival, and for coming through on the first day by taking risks and demonstrating a leadership role in cinematic presentation, with bold and intriguing programming â€" again.
Note: the Tribeca Film Festival was created largely as a response to the economic impact of the events of 9-11. It was intended to regenerate business activity and public interest in Lower Manhattan. It has succeeded and this year expands its coverage to other parts of Manhattan.
This infuriates me. I was born and grew up in Elmhurst 1963-1969. My parents took me to the 1964 World’s Fair in a stroller. I have no recollection of it, but because key monuments were saved, a historical link has been preserved, and as an adult I can today appreciate local history that I missed as a child. We can largely thank “master builder†Robert Moses for this, when he had the fairgrounds donated as a park to the people of Queens.
The stainless steel Unisphere (the largest representation of planet Earth ever constructed) is recognized globally as a symbol of Queens and NYC. The NYS Pavilion remains (even though its distinctive observation towers stand abandoned) as does the New York Hall of Science building. Even the Port Authority Heliport & Exhibit was successfully converted into an operational catering hall (Terrace on the Park). Why couldn’t the same be done for this theater and its historic facade? Even though it was not an official component of the 1939 World’s Fair, it is about the only visual reminder that remains.
Mind you, the 1964 fair was not “officially sanctioned†by the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE), whereas the 1939 World’s Fair was. Interestingly, the Fair Theater on Astoria Boulevard was also named in honor of that event, although it contains no visual elements that would connect it. The only “on-site†structure remaining intact (that I know of) is the New York City Building, now home to the Queens Museum of Art.
What angers me most is that the current owners of the theater could care less about all of this, even though the education center they are building is part of the Queens community. Although the new immigrants it will serve have no historical ties with the borough, the building itself does! Why should someone have to be “forced†to preserve a building by “threatening “ to place landmark status on it in the first place?
How ironic that an icon of “the world of tomorrow†is being treated as “trash of the past.â€
I passed by the theatre again yesterday afternoon – nothing has really changed â€" it is still closed. There was no signage of any kind indicating what its status is. I looked inside and the double-doors were open, but the lobby was so dark that I could not make out any details. By all appearances, everything looked intact â€" no signs of major demolition going on (I even checked around back for dumpsters or debris â€" nothing).
The only things I saw (in the entry hallway, against a wall) were some open buckets filled with garbage, a big old round air-conditioning vent, and a very large, tall white metal “box†(with small vents on the bottom and an electrical cord) that resembled a refrigeration unit (?) of some kind. I could not make out the labels on the buckets, but they looked like they contained some type of black liquid, perhaps tar or asphalt sealant (which makes sense, since the roof leaked) â€" if this is the case, then they could be making repairs to the building (as opposed to demolishing it), but for what ultimate reason is anybody’s guess
The Montauk Theatre is located in Passaic, not Newark.
The Little Theatre and Cameo Twin are in Newark.
Not too long ago, the village of Westbury received a grant for a much-needed revitalization of its shopping/commercial district. Many changes have already taken place, and the plan has sparked residential development – two upscale condominiums (92 and 90 units, most of which I believe are one-bedroom) are either under construction or near completion, and other developers are expressing interest to build as well. These are attracting mostly young urban professional types who like the location for its walking-distance proximity to shopping and mass transit, as well as retirees who are “downsizing”. The housing is an “affordable” alternative (relatively speaking) for those who work in NYC and want convenient access to it without having to live in or near it. This housing alone is expected to attract almost 600 new residents to the village.
If only those idiotic owners hadn’t turned the theatre into a pile of garbage, they could have capitalized on all of these changes. Still, it’s better off now that it’s out of their insanely incompetent hands – someone might actually come in now, renovate and make a successful go of it. Considering what developments are occuring in the village, it could be a prime opportunity.
All of this is happening despite the fact that just directly to the east is unsavory New Cassel, for years a depressed “minority” neighbourhood that over time has become permeated with drugs, gangs and [illegal] immigrants (I would advise against travelling through there, especially at night). A blight on the landscape and boil on the backside of one of Long Island’s most vibrant and popular shopping destinations – the Westbury/Carle Place/Garden City area.
My wording in my previous post was off. What I meant to say was…I was surprised that as much as half of the audience responded that they had NEVER seen these movies before, and this was only their FIRST time. I would have expected that most everyone there were big classic movie and/or James Dean fans and had already seen these films, and came mainly to experience viewing them on a huge screen in an authentic movie palace setting.
The fact that this was their first time tells me that, for many of them, these movies have the same draw power and appeal as do the newest theatrical releases, maybe even more so. Given the current quality of Hollywood’s latest releases (with a few exceptions), I can see where older films would actually be a first choice for those seeking quality movie entertainment.
Except for a few of this year’s Oscar picks, there is nothing coming out that even remotely interests me, either in theatrical or home video new release, and I have felt this way for quite some time.
All the more reason to preserve this theatre and the fine “alternative” entertainment experience that it provides. As long as the motion picture studios continue producing mindless, low-quality drivel, I can only expect (and hope) that audiences here will continue to grow.
Attended the James Dean “double-feature†Saturday night (March 11th â€" “Rebel Without a Cause†and “East of Edenâ€) and had a terrific movie-going experience. This has to be one of the biggest entertainment bargains out there (10 dollars for two movies â€" and good ones at that!). The time just flew by (and these were full-length, almost two-hour-long features).
The picture was clear (projection quality was consistent for both films – steady and focused throughout); the “sound stage†was just right (volume, tone, spaciousness and balance, well-anchored dialogue â€" loved the slight echo “slapping†off the walls). Every seat in the house was a good one.
The crowd was varied in age and composition â€" everyone from just a few young “20-somethings†to senior citizens (the vast majority were around my age: “30-somethings†and early 40s, mostly young urban professional types). It was a nice sampling of the local population, and with a decent turnout (I estimated about 300 for each film) shows that there is interest in the community and an audience for these films. During the Q&A session following “Rebel†(a nice touch), the audience was asked “How many of you saw this movie for the first time?†Surprisingly, only about half of the audience raised their hands! This theatre presents an incredible opportunity for introducing younger audiences to classic cinema. Thankfully, it succeeds at attracting a more “serious†sophisticated lot (well-behaved, quiet, courteous â€" unlike the “multiplex†and “mall rat†crowds). It is a historical and cultural icon that must be preserved! It is part of the busy Journal Square shopping district, and fits right in with its surroundings. City officials would be foolish to let all of this go to waste.
What this place needs is more programming and much better publicity and promotion â€" it has so much potential for use. Yes, it’s in Jersey, but so what? Come on you “city†people…get over your “it’s not Manhattan†attitude and take a chance on this place. It has so many positives in its favor, even by “city†standards â€" uniqueness, location, transportation/access and especially cost value. There are NO excuses:
(1) Easy, fast access: The PATH train station is JUST ACROSS THE STREET in Journal Square.
(2) Convenient, cheap parking: DIRECTLY BEHIND the theatre (at the end of Magnolia Ave) is the Square Ramp garage. One gripe: the theatre does NOT do enough to inform their customers that they are entitled to HALF-PRICE parking! (They have a special deal with the garage, but customers have to hunt for the vouchers – I found them in a small pile on the snack counter next to the Milk Duds and Reese’s). They should be prominently displayed on an “information table†or by the entrance where tickets are sold, so that we can see them on our way in and out. With the voucher, I only paid $3.50 for five hours â€" a bargain!
(3) Safety: there is plenty of activity and street traffic during “business hoursâ€, and the side alleyway allowing quick access to the garage is brightly lit and under security camera surveillance.
(4) Atmosphere and character: how many old movie palaces still exist and operate in NYC, and how many show classic (or any) films?
How about announcements or listings in the New York Times or Village Voice (print and online), not to mention numerous other local arts and entertainment media? I have never seen any, and if there were some, I didn’t notice them. Be creative! You have a unique, colorful venue â€" you need to engage in variety of promotional activities to showcase it.
I made an evening of it with an acquaintance of mine (who just happens to live in Jersey City). He says he has passed this place dozens of times en route to the PATH train station and never gave it a second thought. After attending the shows, he remarked “What a great way to spend a Saturday night.†So impressed was he by this “tarnished jewel†of a building and the efforts of the staff (many of them volunteers, busy at “work†making everyone feel welcome and comfortable) that he has expressed interest in offering suggestions and help with future programming and activities, and donating some time as a volunteer.
It looks like we have another “convertâ€.
Their website’s URL has changed – it is now: http://ritztheatre.net/
This theatre’s website lists a salsa concert date of March 3rd (rescheduled from February due to a snow storm), but the Village Voice’s online “nyc guide” listing shows the same event as March 10th. Which is correct?
We would appreciate any reviews from those attending. This is a venue I would consider visiting
(I know someone who lives near the theatre).
Just like straights, there are some gay people who need to synchronize the speed of their mouths (and keyboards) with their brains.
George W. Bush, although not exactly the sharpest tack on the board, really has nothing to do with this. However, with regards to the world’s problems, he has far exceeded his personal quota.
Are you serious? Perhaps you have never seen …â€Pattonâ€, “Tora!Tora!Tora!â€, “Full Metal Jacketâ€, “Apocalypse Nowâ€, “Platoonâ€, “The Deer Hunterâ€, “Good Morning, Vietnamâ€, “Gloryâ€, “The Tuskegee Airmenâ€, “Black Hawk Downâ€, “Saving Private Ryanâ€, “Pearl Harborâ€â€¦not to mention oldies like “All Quiet on the Western Front”, “Bridge On the River Kwaiâ€, “Stalag 17â€, “The Great Escape†and every John Wayne, Henry Fonda or John Ford WWII movie ever made. Just go to IMDb.com and search under the genre “war†— I think you’ll find something from the 5,464 titles listed there.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but if I follow your “a tit for a tat†train-of-logic, I suppose then that Hollywood would have to produce approximately 5,464 gay-themed movies, just to make the playing field “evenâ€. Calling all gay actors! (Shouldn’t be any problem finding too many of those.)
Seriously though…
What I do believe is that these organizations are trying to advocate fair and equal treatment in housing, accommodations, and the workplace, and protection under the law from those that try to deny these rights (and in a modern democratic society, these are basic rights, not privileges). Acceptance is a pipe dream, because it is ultimately a personal choice that cannot be decided or regulated by someone else, and I’m not sure what a “normal†lifestyle is, because normalcy has no universal definition. However, if one’s daily lifestyle means living in fear of losing one’s job, being denied insurance benefits, or having the tar beaten out of them in public, then compared to the rest of society (i.e. the “majorityâ€), I would have to say that it is definitely not “normalâ€.
All gay people should NOT expect or deserve special treatment, just fair treatment. All gay people should NOT expect everyone to like them, but should expect others to let them live without fear or harm.
But that was not your original point. You seemed to be saying that you are tired of the movies (and mass media) being used as a vehicle of sorts to push some specialized homosexual “agenda†(or dare I say “propagandaâ€) of “normalcy†to mainstream society, and that gay rights groups play an influential role in this. Actually, if one watches or reads the news regularly, one would probably conclude that it is the rest of society’s behavior that needs to be “normalized†first in order for ANYBODY to get along.
We all have choices, and you will find many more movies out there that do NOT make it a point of advocating tolerance towards gays or promoting “the gay lifestyle†** anymore than they do so for blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Jews or women, and you are more than welcome to view those movies, regardless of whether you are gay, straight, or anything in-between. If you or I feel that we are being relentlessly “assaulted†by messages with the words “bigot, “racist†or “discriminationâ€, we have the right to say so, but we also have the right to ignore those messages by changing the channel, turning the page, ignoring the movie, or simply walking away. Democracy may not be perfect, but at least we have it.
** I’ve always found humor in people using this phrase, since those same people have yet to define “the straight lifestyle.â€
“Agenda� Hmm…I never received a memo from the “home office†about any agenda. I must be out of the loop!
As for “normalizingâ€â€¦I didn’t realize it was abnormal in the first place (the American Psychological Association recognized that 32 years ago).
“Brokeback Mountain” told a love story, plain and simple, without resorting to obvious clichés, “preachy-nessâ€, “in your face†language, or sordid sex scenes (unlike so many other movies).
No need to strive for “shock value†– the screenplay and dramatic elements speak for themselves, allowing a variety of perspectives and dimensions to emerge. Undeniably, this was an “unconventional†love, given the time, setting and social climate the characters found themselves in (the characters themselves were not your “usual†gay men – anything but stereotypical). Director Ang Lee and writers Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana did a masterful job of adapting Annie Proulx’s short story for the big screen – the fact that they didn’t “gay it up†is precisely why I loved this film!
“Love is a force of nature.†– movie tagline
Well, it was certainly a surprise to me and to everybody else who was watching it at our little “Oscar partyâ€. Let’s face it, it was truly a handicapper from the start:
(1) its release date (May 8, 2005) – it barely made it in “under the wire†as an eligible candidate;
(2) by industry standards, this movie was already “old news†â€" when the nominees were announced, it had already been released on home video for several months (since September 6, 2005), whereas other nominees were just beginning wide theatrical release and are still in theaters today (and are only now being released on home video â€" a smart “post-Oscar†marketing move);
(3) a low-budget ($6.5M) and low-profile film, from a Hollywood production and publicity standpoint (and yet it did a respectable $55M box office when compared with Brokeback Mountain’s current $79M take, which will undoubtedly continue to go higher).
Looking at the nominees across all categories, you could say that the playing field was “loadedâ€. Three out of the biggest contenders focused on themes and characters that were either gay (“Brokeback Mountainâ€, “Capoteâ€) or trans-gendered (Transamerica). Perhaps it was more gayness than even Hollywood could handle all at once.
Sorry to say, but in these “p.c.†times, it seems that excellence can also be a liability: “Brokeback Mountain” received SO much buzz, hype and critical acclaim (not to mention many other “best†awards – and deservedly so) that the Academy must have felt that a vote for it would have been perceived as an obvious “no-brainer” pressure bow to popular consensus. From an image standpoint, they must have felt it better to deliberately “go against the grainâ€, shock everyone, pick an underdog and err on the side of “political correctness†– the Academy at its “liberal†best: “edgy†and at the same time “safeâ€.
Ironic (and disappointing) actually, because so much of America still has a hard time accepting or acknowledging issues of sexual orientation or identity on ANY level, and being gay or trans-gendered is ANYTHING but popular or mainstream. If the Academy REALLY wanted to make a genuine statement about “tolerance†on awards night, they could have stepped up to the plate and voted the way so many others have. Besides, don’t they have ANY clue as to who Oscar’s most loyal audience is???
Ah, there’s nothing like Academy Awards night â€" the second biggest gay national holiday (after Halloween, of course!) :–)
The latest episode in WNET-TV’s “Walking Tour” series, “A Walk Through the Bronx” (filmed in 2005), showcases this grand old theatre in a brief segment discussing the history of the Grand Councourse. The theatre is presented as the centerpiece in the revival of this area, and the footage features an interview with local historians in the grand lobby. What magnificent views! Bravo for featuring it, when other television programs about NYC fail to even mention it. Its importance as part of the historical, cultural and economic fabric of this city cannot be ignored!
This gem of a building holds a lot of history and memories. My parents were born and raised in the Bronx (Soundview), and their teenage years in the 1940s coincided with this theatre’s heyday. I never thought of it before, but I’ll bet they created a few “memories” of their own in that theatre, although I’m afraid to ask what they were!
Visit WNET-TV’s website, which includes background information and highlights from this program. A profile of this theatre can be accessed directly at: http://www.thirteen.org/bronx/sites15.html (The “Resources” page even includes a link to the theatre’s own homepage – the same one included in the Cinema Treasures profile: http://www.theparadisetheater.com/en/defaulten.htm))
With the Polk closed as of Feb. 20th (Presidents Day), this is now the only remaining “adult theatre” in Queens, and one of only two (that I know of) still operating within NYC limits (Kings Highway Cinema is the other).
Hard to believe for a city of this status, size and population!
Consider: Newark, NJ has the same number of XXX theatres (on the same street, only blocks apart, in an undesirable locale…yet both are doing “respectable” business).
The Tribeca Cinemas will be hosting a Q&A meeting tonight (Feb. 27th, 7-8 p.m.) for those interested in volunteering at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival.
Location: 54 Varick Street at Laight Street
Transit directions: Take the #1, #9, A, C or E subway trains to Canal Street.
Festival department heads as well as the Volunteer Manager will be on hand to give a preview of what it’s like to work at the Festival and to answer questions.
You can fill in an application on the spot for a place on the volunteer team.
The cinemas’ official website is: http://tribecacinemas.com
The festival’s official website is: http://www.tribecafilmfestival.org