Academically speaking, the arrival of vcr’s and videotapes on the adult scene lit the proverbial fuse of destruction for the porno houses. This advent meant that you didnt have to throw your raincoat on for a night at the sticky cinema. I was 19 when I went to my first and only porno house,The Harem on 42nd Street in NYC (possibly now BB Kings).It wasn’t a 16mm or 35mm projection-they had a video projector, which sort of goes with that conversation in Boogie Nights with Jack Horner, Floyd Gondola and The Colnel about how the future of porn was video.
Lets not forget about the delicious Yonah Schimmel Knishes next door, My favorites are the Red Cabbge ,Cabbbage, Sweet Potato and Regular… I remember the Sunshine when it was a wharehouse, often I would pass by the Sunshine on the way to Yonah Schimmels on Chrystie and Houston Street..I’d see the door open up and would glance in. In fact I bought fireworks in there in 1995 (as a wharehouse ofcourse)…its great to see a movie over there.
When I was a little fellow, my uncle used to rent a beach house with his friends in Bradley Beach, I think we even seen a show here in the 1980’s. Is Nardi’s Italian Restaurant still around?
Its great to see a movie theatre lasting this long-so many theatres-I have been to in my 31 years have ceased.. (UA Astoria, Boulevard, Chopin Theatre, Commodore Theatre..etc)
According to RobertR’s Jan'68 “Carmen,Baby” article,The Sunnyside Center (then called Rugoff’s Center) was showing porn? Can anyone tell me what kind of porno was “Carmen,Baby”– was it softcore, hardcore, bondage, fetish…I am amazed that porn was showing up the block from the Sunnyside Jewish Center.
Ian,
Any idea what kind of movies would be shown there, I am kind of curious if any propoganda films might enter into the scheme of things in that neck of the woods.
History is amazing.
I had no idea that there was ever a movie theatre at this stripmall.
I briefly hung out in Canarsie from about 1992-1995.I would be in that stripmall for knishes at “KingDavids” (now a laundromat).
Does anyone know if the Russian Banquet Hall that turned into the Rite-Aid drug store- which is in the western corner of the stripmall was the theatre?
Sadly I was only able to experience the Apollo Theatre as its final incarnation of The Academy and fortunate enough to even make it into the backstage area and into a few of the afterparties…it was a great place to see shows.
In order to get into the venue, you would enter through the 239 West 43rd Side. ..in reality that must have been the emergency exit for this venue during its earlier days.
The main West 42nd Street entrance and lobby became the makeshift storage area for roadcases (boxes that would transport the equipment)
and whatever else needed to be stored away from the eyes of the concert-goers…garbage dumpsters etc.
The bathrooms were reached by descending down a flight of stairs into the basement. They were poorly kept (well atleast the mens room was).Grafitti and urine were prevalent everywhere.
Next to the bathroom stairs was the merchandise stand…I picked up some
nice stuff here (that doesnt fit anymore- as alot happens in 10 years)
The stage that acts used was a temporary stage- it wasn’t an original stage. The stage was made of plywood platforms, which were painted black and set upon construction grade steel scaffolding.They hung a black tarp along the bottom of the stage surface, which touched the floor.I made note of all of this walking backstage, where I was able to catch a side-view of the stages skeleton.
The backstage area was reached by a set of stairs. Each dressing room was a tiny 8x8 (in comparison Roseland on W.52nd St. has huge basement dressing rooms) There were about 1 or 2 dressing rooms per level, I imagine there were about 5 levels.
Whenever they had an afterparty it was usually in the balcony section bar.
The baclony was reached from the main level (orchestra) by a set of stairs on each side.
I began going there in 1994,I met a few of the big names in metal- Pantera, Crowbar, Biohazard, Suicidal Tendencies, Down.The parties were always ill-maintained and if you made it upstairs before the security started locking the place down for the invittaion-only afterparty.You were set.
There was a suicide here during a March 26th 1996 Black 47 performance, an off duty cop shot himself in the heqd and the bullet, went through another 2 people (some Kennedy magic bullet action)
That might have been the last time I was there March 26th 1996
So the now former parking lot at the corner of 8th Avenue & W. 42nd was the former site of the Anco theatre.Thats amazing I too parked my car in there. I never even knew or even thought that a theatre could have been on that spot.After reading this its completely plausible.
I first went to this theatre in 1992- I seen a billing of Taxi Driver and Midnight Cowboy for like $8 dollars- maybe even cheaper as I was a High School student in my junior year. I also seen a double billing of Five Easy Pieces and The Last Detail around then also.
In my senior year of high school my English teacher Bobby Glynn, assigned us Chauncer’s Canterbury Tales…there was a showing of
the filmed version of Canterbury Tales with Bonnacio’s (sp?) Decammeron Nights..that was in 93. That was awesome.
The screen was a squared 1:44:1 Full Frame- (as Kubrick would say) and I believe there was rear projection- because I used to sit kind of close and never noticed my shadow on the screen- no handpuppet action there.
I recall the upcoming features were always printed on colored legal lettersized paper (8.5x14)..each month was a different color…I recall Red, Blue, Orange, Yellow, Green and White.
And yes Hardbop, the King verdict was announced on a friday.
I first went to this theatre in 1992- I seen a billing of Taxi Driver and Midnight Cowboy for like $8 dollars- maybe even cheaper as I was a High School student in my junior year. I also seen a double billing of Five Easy Pieces and The Last Detail around then also.
In my senior year of high school my English teacher Bobby Glynn, assigned us Chauncer’s Canterbury Tales…there was a showing of
the filmed version of Canterbury Tales with Bonnacio’s (sp?) Decammeron Nights..that was in 93. That was awesome.
The screen was a squared 1:44:1 Full Frame- (as Kubrick would say) and I believe there was rear projection- because I used to sit kind of close and never noticed my shadow on the screen- no handpuppet action there.
I recall the upcoming features were always printed on colored legal lettersized paper (8.5x14)..each month was a different color…I recall Red, Blue, Orange, Yellow, Green and White.
And yes Hardbop, the King verdict was announced on a friday.
My first movie ever there was in 1979ish, it was Peter Sellers last
film- they found him dead soon after- “Fu Manchu” was the name of the movie -or some derivation there-of.
I am happy to have an opportunity to see movies there again…I think the last time I seen a movie at the Waverly was in 2000, that was the Blues Brothers 2000…it was in the lower level…then I seen some movie with Stephen Bauer (Manny from Scarface ‘83) there also.
Last year I seen exterior work being done including the demolition
of the marquis and facade.I said to myself “Oh No- these real-estate developers want to close down another theatre”
If you were to walk down West 41st Street going from 8th Avenue to Bway- the side closer to 42nd…there is an old movie theatre…sort of in the back of the Empire monstrosity, its near a hotel.I seen the interior of the theatre one day as daylaborers were doing some sort of work and had the doors opened up…there was a stage and a lower level of seating and a small set of upper balcony seating- The seats seemed to be a dark brownish/burgundy type..I noticed some ornate plasterwork beneath the balcony section.
my spanish being bad- I could not communicate properly the need to go in and explore….
Could this be the Anco…or does anybody know what theatre that was.
there might be a clock on the facade?It has perplexed me…
ChrisB and Hoppy would you send me your shots also..
Academically speaking, the arrival of vcr’s and videotapes on the adult scene lit the proverbial fuse of destruction for the porno houses. This advent meant that you didnt have to throw your raincoat on for a night at the sticky cinema. I was 19 when I went to my first and only porno house,The Harem on 42nd Street in NYC (possibly now BB Kings).It wasn’t a 16mm or 35mm projection-they had a video projector, which sort of goes with that conversation in Boogie Nights with Jack Horner, Floyd Gondola and The Colnel about how the future of porn was video.
Lets not forget about the delicious Yonah Schimmel Knishes next door, My favorites are the Red Cabbge ,Cabbbage, Sweet Potato and Regular… I remember the Sunshine when it was a wharehouse, often I would pass by the Sunshine on the way to Yonah Schimmels on Chrystie and Houston Street..I’d see the door open up and would glance in. In fact I bought fireworks in there in 1995 (as a wharehouse ofcourse)…its great to see a movie over there.
Thanks Bway,
The link is actually fascinating, I had no idea how ornate this former theater really was, the site itself has some amazing images.
Bway,
your hyperlink of 8/24/04 was incorrect…
you had one to many .asp (Active Server Pages)extensions.
Heres the correct address:
http://www.revike.org/history.asp
When I was a little fellow, my uncle used to rent a beach house with his friends in Bradley Beach, I think we even seen a show here in the 1980’s. Is Nardi’s Italian Restaurant still around?
Its great to see a movie theatre lasting this long-so many theatres-I have been to in my 31 years have ceased.. (UA Astoria, Boulevard, Chopin Theatre, Commodore Theatre..etc)
Congrats
Happy 80th
According to RobertR’s Jan'68 “Carmen,Baby” article,The Sunnyside Center (then called Rugoff’s Center) was showing porn? Can anyone tell me what kind of porno was “Carmen,Baby”– was it softcore, hardcore, bondage, fetish…I am amazed that porn was showing up the block from the Sunnyside Jewish Center.
who wants to go bowling with me.
I am dead serious here.
I am compelled to check this place out.
I fall asleep in the movies all the time, atleast this time they have a mattress for me.
I am amazed at knowing that a movie theatre is entombed inside a hotel.
Ian,
Any idea what kind of movies would be shown there, I am kind of curious if any propoganda films might enter into the scheme of things in that neck of the woods.
Thankyou for the update though.
Vlad (a/k/a Greenpoint)
Hi I passed by the theatre on October 6th and was surprised to see it closed.
I was so in disbelief that I decided to snap a few pics with my
camera phone and here they are.
http://www.feedbacknyc.com
The site is still barebones, nothing on there but these 2 pics.
Hopefully I’ll be getting over to that neck of the woods to snap some more pics ASAP.
Ps
I made a mental note to myself to always carry my digital in case i happen to spot other note-worthy items.
History is amazing.
I had no idea that there was ever a movie theatre at this stripmall.
I briefly hung out in Canarsie from about 1992-1995.I would be in that stripmall for knishes at “KingDavids” (now a laundromat).
Does anyone know if the Russian Banquet Hall that turned into the Rite-Aid drug store- which is in the western corner of the stripmall was the theatre?
Sadly I was only able to experience the Apollo Theatre as its final incarnation of The Academy and fortunate enough to even make it into the backstage area and into a few of the afterparties…it was a great place to see shows.
In order to get into the venue, you would enter through the 239 West 43rd Side. ..in reality that must have been the emergency exit for this venue during its earlier days.
The main West 42nd Street entrance and lobby became the makeshift storage area for roadcases (boxes that would transport the equipment)
and whatever else needed to be stored away from the eyes of the concert-goers…garbage dumpsters etc.
The bathrooms were reached by descending down a flight of stairs into the basement. They were poorly kept (well atleast the mens room was).Grafitti and urine were prevalent everywhere.
Next to the bathroom stairs was the merchandise stand…I picked up some
nice stuff here (that doesnt fit anymore- as alot happens in 10 years)
The stage that acts used was a temporary stage- it wasn’t an original stage. The stage was made of plywood platforms, which were painted black and set upon construction grade steel scaffolding.They hung a black tarp along the bottom of the stage surface, which touched the floor.I made note of all of this walking backstage, where I was able to catch a side-view of the stages skeleton.
The backstage area was reached by a set of stairs. Each dressing room was a tiny 8x8 (in comparison Roseland on W.52nd St. has huge basement dressing rooms) There were about 1 or 2 dressing rooms per level, I imagine there were about 5 levels.
Whenever they had an afterparty it was usually in the balcony section bar.
The baclony was reached from the main level (orchestra) by a set of stairs on each side.
I began going there in 1994,I met a few of the big names in metal- Pantera, Crowbar, Biohazard, Suicidal Tendencies, Down.The parties were always ill-maintained and if you made it upstairs before the security started locking the place down for the invittaion-only afterparty.You were set.
There was a suicide here during a March 26th 1996 Black 47 performance, an off duty cop shot himself in the heqd and the bullet, went through another 2 people (some Kennedy magic bullet action)
That might have been the last time I was there March 26th 1996
So the now former parking lot at the corner of 8th Avenue & W. 42nd was the former site of the Anco theatre.Thats amazing I too parked my car in there. I never even knew or even thought that a theatre could have been on that spot.After reading this its completely plausible.
Bryan,
Thank you for answering my question.
forgive the double entry- aol was cracking out on me (site not found…blah blah)
I first went to this theatre in 1992- I seen a billing of Taxi Driver and Midnight Cowboy for like $8 dollars- maybe even cheaper as I was a High School student in my junior year. I also seen a double billing of Five Easy Pieces and The Last Detail around then also.
In my senior year of high school my English teacher Bobby Glynn, assigned us Chauncer’s Canterbury Tales…there was a showing of
the filmed version of Canterbury Tales with Bonnacio’s (sp?) Decammeron Nights..that was in 93. That was awesome.
The screen was a squared 1:44:1 Full Frame- (as Kubrick would say) and I believe there was rear projection- because I used to sit kind of close and never noticed my shadow on the screen- no handpuppet action there.
I recall the upcoming features were always printed on colored legal lettersized paper (8.5x14)..each month was a different color…I recall Red, Blue, Orange, Yellow, Green and White.
And yes Hardbop, the King verdict was announced on a friday.
I first went to this theatre in 1992- I seen a billing of Taxi Driver and Midnight Cowboy for like $8 dollars- maybe even cheaper as I was a High School student in my junior year. I also seen a double billing of Five Easy Pieces and The Last Detail around then also.
In my senior year of high school my English teacher Bobby Glynn, assigned us Chauncer’s Canterbury Tales…there was a showing of
the filmed version of Canterbury Tales with Bonnacio’s (sp?) Decammeron Nights..that was in 93. That was awesome.
The screen was a squared 1:44:1 Full Frame- (as Kubrick would say) and I believe there was rear projection- because I used to sit kind of close and never noticed my shadow on the screen- no handpuppet action there.
I recall the upcoming features were always printed on colored legal lettersized paper (8.5x14)..each month was a different color…I recall Red, Blue, Orange, Yellow, Green and White.
And yes Hardbop, the King verdict was announced on a friday.
I sell the Pizzeria their non-carbonated beverages.
Woody-
“lonely sad naked guys” need love too.
That snippet of comment had to be the best thing I have ever read here…awesome!
I was going to some rave at the Ritz near the David in 93, I had no idea there were 2 Davids- I wonder which one the Ritz was near?
Thankyou Ross Melnick, for that awesome picture of the old Waverly.
Does anyone know if IFC is going to use the name Waverly in the new theatres name?
My first movie ever there was in 1979ish, it was Peter Sellers last
film- they found him dead soon after- “Fu Manchu” was the name of the movie -or some derivation there-of.
I am happy to have an opportunity to see movies there again…I think the last time I seen a movie at the Waverly was in 2000, that was the Blues Brothers 2000…it was in the lower level…then I seen some movie with Stephen Bauer (Manny from Scarface ‘83) there also.
Last year I seen exterior work being done including the demolition
of the marquis and facade.I said to myself “Oh No- these real-estate developers want to close down another theatre”
But Thankfully thats not the case.
If you were to walk down West 41st Street going from 8th Avenue to Bway- the side closer to 42nd…there is an old movie theatre…sort of in the back of the Empire monstrosity, its near a hotel.I seen the interior of the theatre one day as daylaborers were doing some sort of work and had the doors opened up…there was a stage and a lower level of seating and a small set of upper balcony seating- The seats seemed to be a dark brownish/burgundy type..I noticed some ornate plasterwork beneath the balcony section.
my spanish being bad- I could not communicate properly the need to go in and explore….
Could this be the Anco…or does anybody know what theatre that was.
there might be a clock on the facade?It has perplexed me…