Thanks. I went to the Guiness Museum some years back, before I even realized it was a theater….but don’t remember ANY theater ornamentation inside, but that could be because I really wasn’t looking either. But if it was blantant, I would have noticed it.
Here’s a link to an article and current photo of the Chopin being converted to Starbucks I just found on google. Thanks Luis for drawing this to our attention!
I have a question, here’s an aerial view of the Hollywood. When looking at the aerial image, the building with the Hollywood marquee appears to be a low building, and attached, actually on Highland Ave, appears to be a large theater building with windows knocked into it. I have never been in the Hollywood when it was still a theater, is this the case. Is that large building the actual auditorium, perpendicular to the old lobby area?
Here’s the location from the air. There is a soundstage for the studio, and that looks like it could have been a theater, but it’s set back from Melrose. So this should answer if the theater was demolished. Is the Soundstage the theater? View link
Yeah, the phrarmacy is right under the balcony. The cashiers are in the old lobby area. You can actually still feel the flow of the theater walking in, through the lobby, inner lobby area (although doors gone), and then entrance into the theater. They did an outstanding job.
Wow, great article! Heaven only knows what the inside of the Joy looks like now after the flood. My hotel was just a few blocks up from the Joy when I stayed in New Orleans las, but it was already closed. We would pass it a few times a day to and from the hotel, on the walk down Canal St to Bourbon St or the River. I haven’t been back to New Orleans since the flood. The Saenger across the street was heavily damaged in the flood, and that was an in use theater. I had seen photos of the outside of the Joy during the flood, and the water was quite high in front of the theater,. ANd the big problem with any of the theaters (the Orpheum was also damaged), is that by design, theaters slope down from street level towards the stage….which makes it a nightmare, as if the street level is flooded, just picture all that water cascading towards the stage, so a theater would have much higher waterline from the floor, as even if it was just just a few feet on the street, the slope of the floor in a theater would be several feet below street level, making a bad situation worse.
Bob Diamond’s trolley is dead. The whole thing came to a crashing halt, and not a nice crash either. The whole thing was shrouded in controversy, and the trolleys I believe were haulded off in defalt or something. The whole thing was a mess. Not a pretty sight. Too bad.
The whole intro may need to be changed, as while I wish it wasn’t true, the Commodore is gone. And of course the intro says it’s in “pretty good shape despite the wear of time”, which probably wasn’t accurate since it closed in 2003. SAD, but unfortunately true. I wish the opening statements still held true. A sad ending for a grand old landmark.
Speaking of bowling, and to stay on topic….my first bowling experience was at the converted Glenwood Theater in Ridgewood. The converted the Glenwood Theater to a bowling alley, I guess in the 60’s. It was torn down around 1980 to build the Ridgewood post office.
Yeah, today bowling is an expensive proposition. I went with a couple friends a few months ago…. A few games later, and a couple pitchers of beer, and our bill was well over $100. Bowling is certainly not the “poor” man’s sport anymore….
I think that is a side chamber wall. The procenium may have been to the right of that, but I can’t figure out perspective of what part of the theater that is. Anyone know of any historic photos of the Commodore’s interior?
Also, Billburg, you should submit some of those photos to the site as a News Item. There may be many people that would love to see them, as well as know the fate of the Commodore, but may not have an email notification to the Commodore’s page. Just look at the links for news items on this site.
I am sure they will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks. I went to the Guiness Museum some years back, before I even realized it was a theater….but don’t remember ANY theater ornamentation inside, but that could be because I really wasn’t looking either. But if it was blantant, I would have noticed it.
Here’s a link to an article and current photo of the Chopin being converted to Starbucks I just found on google. Thanks Luis for drawing this to our attention!
View link
Thanks! That’s what I thought, but got confused when I looked at the aerial photo. So the Hollywood wasn’t all that big of a theater it appears.
I have a question, here’s an aerial view of the Hollywood. When looking at the aerial image, the building with the Hollywood marquee appears to be a low building, and attached, actually on Highland Ave, appears to be a large theater building with windows knocked into it. I have never been in the Hollywood when it was still a theater, is this the case. Is that large building the actual auditorium, perpendicular to the old lobby area?
View link
Here’s an aerial view of the Theater, “Stich” is on the marquee….
View link
Here’s an aerial view of the Galaxy:
View link
Here’s an aerial view of the Chinese:
View link
Here’s an aerial view of the former Holly:
View link
Here’s an aerial view of the theater:
View link
Here’s a view of the Fox from the air:
View link
Here’s the location from the air. There is a soundstage for the studio, and that looks like it could have been a theater, but it’s set back from Melrose. So this should answer if the theater was demolished. Is the Soundstage the theater?
View link
Here’s an aerial view of the Theater:
View link
Here’s a link to a photo of the Cinerama from the sky:
View link
Those are some of the best photos I have seen yet.
Yeah, the phrarmacy is right under the balcony. The cashiers are in the old lobby area. You can actually still feel the flow of the theater walking in, through the lobby, inner lobby area (although doors gone), and then entrance into the theater. They did an outstanding job.
Wow, great article! Heaven only knows what the inside of the Joy looks like now after the flood. My hotel was just a few blocks up from the Joy when I stayed in New Orleans las, but it was already closed. We would pass it a few times a day to and from the hotel, on the walk down Canal St to Bourbon St or the River. I haven’t been back to New Orleans since the flood. The Saenger across the street was heavily damaged in the flood, and that was an in use theater. I had seen photos of the outside of the Joy during the flood, and the water was quite high in front of the theater,. ANd the big problem with any of the theaters (the Orpheum was also damaged), is that by design, theaters slope down from street level towards the stage….which makes it a nightmare, as if the street level is flooded, just picture all that water cascading towards the stage, so a theater would have much higher waterline from the floor, as even if it was just just a few feet on the street, the slope of the floor in a theater would be several feet below street level, making a bad situation worse.
Bob Diamond’s trolley is dead. The whole thing came to a crashing halt, and not a nice crash either. The whole thing was shrouded in controversy, and the trolleys I believe were haulded off in defalt or something. The whole thing was a mess. Not a pretty sight. Too bad.
Is this the place that’s almost right next to the Ameoba Music store?
Ooops. Wrong Bowling Alley! I remember now the sign saying “Van Wyck lanes”.
Woodhaven Lanes…..
Well, those old trainwrecks are gone…the station is gone…and the el is gone, but the Bowl still remains…
http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?2302
The whole intro may need to be changed, as while I wish it wasn’t true, the Commodore is gone. And of course the intro says it’s in “pretty good shape despite the wear of time”, which probably wasn’t accurate since it closed in 2003. SAD, but unfortunately true. I wish the opening statements still held true. A sad ending for a grand old landmark.
Speaking of bowling, and to stay on topic….my first bowling experience was at the converted Glenwood Theater in Ridgewood. The converted the Glenwood Theater to a bowling alley, I guess in the 60’s. It was torn down around 1980 to build the Ridgewood post office.
Yeah, today bowling is an expensive proposition. I went with a couple friends a few months ago…. A few games later, and a couple pitchers of beer, and our bill was well over $100. Bowling is certainly not the “poor” man’s sport anymore….
Bren, I can’t find the link to even the dark photo you mentioned. What’s the link, or what date was it posted on?
Hmmm, the more I look at this, the more I think this “may” be the Procenium location. Are we looking straight to the stage in this photo?
View link
I think that is a side chamber wall. The procenium may have been to the right of that, but I can’t figure out perspective of what part of the theater that is. Anyone know of any historic photos of the Commodore’s interior?
Also, Billburg, you should submit some of those photos to the site as a News Item. There may be many people that would love to see them, as well as know the fate of the Commodore, but may not have an email notification to the Commodore’s page. Just look at the links for news items on this site.
I am sure they will be greatly appreciated.