I’ll echo some of the sentiments above on what a great little village RVC is. Great restaurants in a hopping little business district that is always clean and brightly lit. I’ve never had a problem with parking – a lot of some kind always seems to be within walking distance of wherever your headed. There is a lot behind the Fantasy multiplex, another across Sunrise Hwy and yet another behind the storefronts that are on the other side of the street from the Fantasy. As for not being able to park in front of your own house – part of living in an incorporated village on Long Island is that you have to move your cars off the street and into your driveway (which everyone has) between the hours of 3AM and 5AM. Residents of apartment complexes can either rent spaces in their complex' lot or park at nearby Village lots with permits or cheap overnight metered rates (a dollar for 12 hours is not uncommon).
The parcel at the corner of Jackson Ave and 45th Avenue is a 50x100 lot encompassing addresses from 24-25 through 24-29 Jackson. I found a build date of 1931, but that is not Building Dept info so it could very well be in error.
Here is a local.live view of the structure – with wraparound yellow awning – which stands in the shadow of the Citibank skyscraper across 45th Ave (to the right in this image). Jackson Ave is actually the main thoroughfare depicted here. The theater actually sat on a short access lane formed by the triangle at the acute intersection of Jackson and 45th. The small vintage photo that Warren posted on Feb 6, 2006, shows the row of brownstones in the background that once lined the blockfront now occupied by the Citibank tower.
The building depicted is situated on two lots. The triangular portion of the storefronts on the left are situated on an adjacent lot. I imagine these are separate structures that have had their facades “unified” over time through renovation.
The C/O for this theater – dated January 20, 1930 – lists toilets and lounge in the cellar with a Motion Picture Theatre with accommodations for 266 persons on the 1st story, 202 persons in the “Stadium” and 64 persons in “Boxes.” Total occupancy of 532 (though this should not be necessarily taken as a seat count).
Previous to that, in 1920, a C/O was issued for an Auction Room on the 1st and 2nd stories over cellar storage.
The first temp C/O for an eating and drinking establishment here shows up in 2000.
Per the Buildings Dept records, it appears this building is protected by Landmark status (perhaps exterior only?)
Here’s an image from local.live of the multiple storefronts at 101-115 West 116th Street. Looks like the sort of limestone facade and casement window design that are found along many of the older commercial thoroughfares around the boroughs of NYC. The Crown would have been towards the middle of the block at the left most lot line in this image (assuming # 101 is at the corner of Lenox).
It would also have been just about directly across the street from the Empress Theater, which operated briefly during the same period in the small low lying building to the left of the mosque (the corner building with the large green bulb on top) also shown in the image.
Here’s a view from local.live of the block front were the Empress was situated. The address corresponds to the storefronts immediately adjacent to the Temple of Islam building on the corner of Lenox Avenue – which is the big yellow and buff 3-story structure with the large green bulb on top.
The Empress would have been in the low lying building on the Temple’s right – with 1 green storefront and 1 yellow and white upper facade. If, in fact, this is the same structure.
Good point, saps. I don’t know. It’s entirely possible that the house is used for exhibits. I suppose we’ll have to wait and see to find out for sure. If that is to be the case, I wonder how respectful the alterations will be to the original character of the auditorium. The Harris auditorium was completely destroyed to make way for Madam Tussaud’s Museum.
No, wait. That is not the Regent Theater on Fifth Avenue. The Regent building is on Seventh Avenue. I can’t recall the name of this theater, but I know Ken Roe once told me what it was when I inquired elsewhere on this site having just recently passed by in my car. Perhaps he would be so kind as to identify it once again for me.
Here’s an aerial view of the former Jewel Theater. With empty lots on either side, the theater building has managed to elude the wrecker’s ball over the years. The former Regun Theater is just down the block to the left and across the street (out of view in this image) and I believe that’s the historic Regent Theater builfing (with the two fire escapes) on the corner of 116th and Fifth Avenue just out of frame on the right. You might have to scroll a bit to the right depending on how large the local.live window opens on your monitor.
In any event, residents in this part of Harlem had their fair share of moviegoing choices back in the early half of the 20th Century, eh?
Just have to figure out about the email accounts… Patrick, will email notification accounts be re-set based on the settings we had in place prior to the server switch? I’m noticing that I’m only getting notifications on pages I’ve visited and checked-off since the server change. No one wants to clog up the theater listings with extraneous comments made solely in order to turn on the notification feature.
I have to retract a comment I made above based on viewing these most recent photos from Warren. I was positive that of the two 42nd Street marquees for the Rialto, the one closest to the corner of Seventh Ave was the auxilliary marquee and entrance for the main ground level theater. I am obviously wrong about that as one can plainly see that marquee is advertising a different X-rated feature (“Hard Candy”) that must have been playing in the basement-level Rialto II auditorium. The title “Heat Wave” advertised on the Seventh Ave marquee matches the 42nd Street marquee further to the east.
At some point in the ‘80’s, the entrances on 42nd Street must have been re-configured. The ground level Rialto stopped advertising on 42nd Street and exclusively used the Seventh Ave entrance once it went with more mainstream product under the Warner Theater name and the former auxilliary marquee started advertising the martial-arts grinders that screened in the basement level auditorium. There’s no doubt in my mind about that.
The building located at 60-62 West 116th Street that houses the Regun Theater still stands today – albeit completely gutted and altered for retail space – and is listed with a build-date of 1913.
Here is a local.live.com view of the block, looking towards the north side of the street. The building is on the south side just to the left of that structure with the rainbow colored roof. You can’t really get a good image of the 116th Street facade because the mid-rise apartment building across the street blocks the view.
The NYC Buildings Dept site has a C of O issued July 25, 1917, that lists an “existing theater” on the 1st floor and mezzanine and a “roof garden” with occupancy not to exceed 950 persons “at one time in the entire building.” The building’s owners are listed as Jacob Feuchtwanger and Jesse Ehrich of 31 Liberty Street.
There are numerous alterations noted (but not available for view) throughout the 1910’s and into the 1940’s as well as a number of “unsafe building” reports over the decades. The next available C of O is from 1986 for a Retail Store on the 1st floor with an accessory office in the mezzanine. In 1998, the retail store was carved up into three commercial units – it seems multiplexing caught up with the Regun after all those years anyway! The building today cuts all the way through the block, with frontage on 115th Street. Not sure if that’s the original configuration or if the building was extended over time. That sure would have made for a long and narrow auditorium!
I took this photo on Friday night. It shows the marquee being installed for the new Ripley’s. It will actually be twice as wide as any canopy or marquee that ever existed in the past for the Liberty, since it is spans the original theater entrance as well as the adjacent space to the left.
It would be nice if the existing advertising framework above the marquee were to come down in order to show off the restored facade, but I’m sure the revenue generated by those advertisements is far too lucrative.
Doesn’t look like there was any damage to the marquee – I think the scaffolding in place is merely to protect pedestrians while the sign was refitted. Looks like the canopy was somewhat redesigned as well. Compare the photos above to this photo
from this past December. The Regal design actually has more flair to it.
It would also seem that the “42nd St.” sign that came down from the center projection of the canopy was removed on purpose. Evidently, the name of the theater is to be the matter-of-fact non-descript “Regal Cinemas 13.” I hate to say it – if only because at least the old name gave this place a unique identity – but the name at the top of this page should probably be updated to reflect that.
I just gave the new server the ultimate CT speed test – opening the Ridgewood Theater page! It broke all records, by my account! Thanks, Patrick and Ross!
Good luck – to us all – on the server upgrade! Many thanks again, Patrick and Ross, for providing this FREE service! I’m sure it comes at no small personal expense and that is most assuredly very much appreciated!
Matt… If you’re in the NYC area, you should take a trip to the American Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens. On display there is a cutaway scale model of the entire Roxy Theater interior, from Seventh Avenue entrance straight back to the proscenium and stage. It’s quite beatuiful in its attention to detail. Well worth the trip to Astoria and the price of admission.
Hey saps… While 234 West 42nd was the Duece address for the Liberty, that was only the theater entrance foyer and lobby. The auditorium itself sat (and still sits) on 41st Street. I’m not sure if Ripley’s is taking over the auditorium space at all. The 42nd Street facade of the Liberty is still intact – check out the photos I posted on May 5th, 2006 – but the space within had been gutted for an internet-cafe. I’m sure this space will be used by Ripley’s but I wonder about the theater itself, which is part of the adjacent Hilton Hotel site.
I’ll echo some of the sentiments above on what a great little village RVC is. Great restaurants in a hopping little business district that is always clean and brightly lit. I’ve never had a problem with parking – a lot of some kind always seems to be within walking distance of wherever your headed. There is a lot behind the Fantasy multiplex, another across Sunrise Hwy and yet another behind the storefronts that are on the other side of the street from the Fantasy. As for not being able to park in front of your own house – part of living in an incorporated village on Long Island is that you have to move your cars off the street and into your driveway (which everyone has) between the hours of 3AM and 5AM. Residents of apartment complexes can either rent spaces in their complex' lot or park at nearby Village lots with permits or cheap overnight metered rates (a dollar for 12 hours is not uncommon).
The parcel at the corner of Jackson Ave and 45th Avenue is a 50x100 lot encompassing addresses from 24-25 through 24-29 Jackson. I found a build date of 1931, but that is not Building Dept info so it could very well be in error.
Here is a local.live view of the structure – with wraparound yellow awning – which stands in the shadow of the Citibank skyscraper across 45th Ave (to the right in this image). Jackson Ave is actually the main thoroughfare depicted here. The theater actually sat on a short access lane formed by the triangle at the acute intersection of Jackson and 45th. The small vintage photo that Warren posted on Feb 6, 2006, shows the row of brownstones in the background that once lined the blockfront now occupied by the Citibank tower.
The building depicted is situated on two lots. The triangular portion of the storefronts on the left are situated on an adjacent lot. I imagine these are separate structures that have had their facades “unified” over time through renovation.
Hilarious, Lost. Thanks for the laugh!
The C/O for this theater – dated January 20, 1930 – lists toilets and lounge in the cellar with a Motion Picture Theatre with accommodations for 266 persons on the 1st story, 202 persons in the “Stadium” and 64 persons in “Boxes.” Total occupancy of 532 (though this should not be necessarily taken as a seat count).
Previous to that, in 1920, a C/O was issued for an Auction Room on the 1st and 2nd stories over cellar storage.
The first temp C/O for an eating and drinking establishment here shows up in 2000.
Per the Buildings Dept records, it appears this building is protected by Landmark status (perhaps exterior only?)
Sheer genius, Theaterat. LOL!
Who was the winning bidder?!?
That’s what I was thinking as well, Lost. Can’t be certain, of course, but it’s a reasonable assumption.
Here’s an image from local.live of the multiple storefronts at 101-115 West 116th Street. Looks like the sort of limestone facade and casement window design that are found along many of the older commercial thoroughfares around the boroughs of NYC. The Crown would have been towards the middle of the block at the left most lot line in this image (assuming # 101 is at the corner of Lenox).
It would also have been just about directly across the street from the Empress Theater, which operated briefly during the same period in the small low lying building to the left of the mosque (the corner building with the large green bulb on top) also shown in the image.
Here’s a view from local.live of the block front were the Empress was situated. The address corresponds to the storefronts immediately adjacent to the Temple of Islam building on the corner of Lenox Avenue – which is the big yellow and buff 3-story structure with the large green bulb on top.
The Empress would have been in the low lying building on the Temple’s right – with 1 green storefront and 1 yellow and white upper facade. If, in fact, this is the same structure.
Good point, saps. I don’t know. It’s entirely possible that the house is used for exhibits. I suppose we’ll have to wait and see to find out for sure. If that is to be the case, I wonder how respectful the alterations will be to the original character of the auditorium. The Harris auditorium was completely destroyed to make way for Madam Tussaud’s Museum.
That’s the one! Thanks, Lost. I even posted a B&W image I found of the building’s sidewall with the fire escapes on the Mt. Morris page.
No, wait. That is not the Regent Theater on Fifth Avenue. The Regent building is on Seventh Avenue. I can’t recall the name of this theater, but I know Ken Roe once told me what it was when I inquired elsewhere on this site having just recently passed by in my car. Perhaps he would be so kind as to identify it once again for me.
Here’s an aerial view of the former Jewel Theater. With empty lots on either side, the theater building has managed to elude the wrecker’s ball over the years. The former Regun Theater is just down the block to the left and across the street (out of view in this image) and I believe that’s the historic Regent Theater builfing (with the two fire escapes) on the corner of 116th and Fifth Avenue just out of frame on the right. You might have to scroll a bit to the right depending on how large the local.live window opens on your monitor.
In any event, residents in this part of Harlem had their fair share of moviegoing choices back in the early half of the 20th Century, eh?
Yes William. Sorry! The one further to the WEST was the auxilliary to the main theater entrance.
Just have to figure out about the email accounts… Patrick, will email notification accounts be re-set based on the settings we had in place prior to the server switch? I’m noticing that I’m only getting notifications on pages I’ve visited and checked-off since the server change. No one wants to clog up the theater listings with extraneous comments made solely in order to turn on the notification feature.
I have to retract a comment I made above based on viewing these most recent photos from Warren. I was positive that of the two 42nd Street marquees for the Rialto, the one closest to the corner of Seventh Ave was the auxilliary marquee and entrance for the main ground level theater. I am obviously wrong about that as one can plainly see that marquee is advertising a different X-rated feature (“Hard Candy”) that must have been playing in the basement-level Rialto II auditorium. The title “Heat Wave” advertised on the Seventh Ave marquee matches the 42nd Street marquee further to the east.
At some point in the ‘80’s, the entrances on 42nd Street must have been re-configured. The ground level Rialto stopped advertising on 42nd Street and exclusively used the Seventh Ave entrance once it went with more mainstream product under the Warner Theater name and the former auxilliary marquee started advertising the martial-arts grinders that screened in the basement level auditorium. There’s no doubt in my mind about that.
The building located at 60-62 West 116th Street that houses the Regun Theater still stands today – albeit completely gutted and altered for retail space – and is listed with a build-date of 1913.
Here is a local.live.com view of the block, looking towards the north side of the street. The building is on the south side just to the left of that structure with the rainbow colored roof. You can’t really get a good image of the 116th Street facade because the mid-rise apartment building across the street blocks the view.
The NYC Buildings Dept site has a C of O issued July 25, 1917, that lists an “existing theater” on the 1st floor and mezzanine and a “roof garden” with occupancy not to exceed 950 persons “at one time in the entire building.” The building’s owners are listed as Jacob Feuchtwanger and Jesse Ehrich of 31 Liberty Street.
There are numerous alterations noted (but not available for view) throughout the 1910’s and into the 1940’s as well as a number of “unsafe building” reports over the decades. The next available C of O is from 1986 for a Retail Store on the 1st floor with an accessory office in the mezzanine. In 1998, the retail store was carved up into three commercial units – it seems multiplexing caught up with the Regun after all those years anyway! The building today cuts all the way through the block, with frontage on 115th Street. Not sure if that’s the original configuration or if the building was extended over time. That sure would have made for a long and narrow auditorium!
I took this photo on Friday night. It shows the marquee being installed for the new Ripley’s. It will actually be twice as wide as any canopy or marquee that ever existed in the past for the Liberty, since it is spans the original theater entrance as well as the adjacent space to the left.
It would be nice if the existing advertising framework above the marquee were to come down in order to show off the restored facade, but I’m sure the revenue generated by those advertisements is far too lucrative.
I was on the Duece with the kiddies for our last show of the season at the New Vic on Friday night and I snapped these shots of the new Regal signage:
Regal 1
Regal 2
Regal 3
Regal 4
Regal 5
Doesn’t look like there was any damage to the marquee – I think the scaffolding in place is merely to protect pedestrians while the sign was refitted. Looks like the canopy was somewhat redesigned as well. Compare the photos above to this photo
from this past December. The Regal design actually has more flair to it.
It would also seem that the “42nd St.” sign that came down from the center projection of the canopy was removed on purpose. Evidently, the name of the theater is to be the matter-of-fact non-descript “Regal Cinemas 13.” I hate to say it – if only because at least the old name gave this place a unique identity – but the name at the top of this page should probably be updated to reflect that.
Lost, I always knew you had multiple personalities!
I just gave the new server the ultimate CT speed test – opening the Ridgewood Theater page! It broke all records, by my account! Thanks, Patrick and Ross!
Great photo, Life! Thanks for finding it and sharing.
Good luck – to us all – on the server upgrade! Many thanks again, Patrick and Ross, for providing this FREE service! I’m sure it comes at no small personal expense and that is most assuredly very much appreciated!
Matt… If you’re in the NYC area, you should take a trip to the American Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens. On display there is a cutaway scale model of the entire Roxy Theater interior, from Seventh Avenue entrance straight back to the proscenium and stage. It’s quite beatuiful in its attention to detail. Well worth the trip to Astoria and the price of admission.
Hey saps… While 234 West 42nd was the Duece address for the Liberty, that was only the theater entrance foyer and lobby. The auditorium itself sat (and still sits) on 41st Street. I’m not sure if Ripley’s is taking over the auditorium space at all. The 42nd Street facade of the Liberty is still intact – check out the photos I posted on May 5th, 2006 – but the space within had been gutted for an internet-cafe. I’m sure this space will be used by Ripley’s but I wonder about the theater itself, which is part of the adjacent Hilton Hotel site.