Comments from Al Alvarez

Showing 1,601 - 1,625 of 3,454 comments

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Big Cinemas Manhattan on Feb 19, 2010 at 4:38 am

In 1973 the Cine Malibu was a Walter Reade Theatre.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Quad Cinema on Feb 18, 2010 at 4:07 pm

That looks great! Perhaps we will finally lift the veil of hypocrisy and start looking at the Burlesque era with a little more clarity.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about New Victory Theater on Feb 18, 2010 at 2:13 pm

Does anyone know where the first Roxy was located an whether this was it?

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For comparison, here is the Roxy Twin at 244 West 42nd street.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Cine 42 on Feb 17, 2010 at 4:22 pm

This theatre first appears in ads in November 1974. It was twinned at Christmas 1978.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Bryant Theatre on Feb 17, 2010 at 4:20 am

The Cameo opened during Christmas week 1921.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Radio City Music Hall on Feb 16, 2010 at 5:23 pm

The commitment to take down the Sixth Avenue El was made in 1924, way before the Music Hall began construction. Portions were already down when the theatre opened but the project was not completed until 1939.

Much of the scrap metal was sold to Japan who then turned it into war materials against us.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Avon 42nd Street Theatre on Feb 16, 2010 at 3:33 am

City pressure on landlords to double the rent forced the closing of the Avon 42 (live sex shows) and the Avon-At-The-Hudson (X films at the Hudson)to close down in 1975.

The Hudson X movies just moved over to the Henry Miller for several more years.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Academy of Music on Feb 16, 2010 at 3:19 am

Showing movies as The Palladium in 1975.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Brandt's Murray Hill Theatre on Feb 16, 2010 at 2:59 am

The Airlines name makes even more sense now. Seating and location all match although the mailing address was once on 42nd street. This theatre opened on October 18, 1940 as the Airlines Newsreel and had the same publicity agent as the Grand central Newsreel inside the terminal.

From 1949 it was a late run double feature house. In February 1951, after the Loew’s 42nd Street (aka Murray Hill) had closed, this became Brandt’s Murray Hill.

Airlines and Murray Hill should be added as aka names.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about New Cinema Playhouse on Feb 15, 2010 at 2:22 pm

Once the Filmmakers' Cinematheque had to vacate these premises they apparently went into ‘exile’ at other venues.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about New Douglas Theatre on Feb 14, 2010 at 6:56 pm

A 1917 article in the New York Times makes reference to a motion picture theatre located at 308 West 143rd Street.

Does anyone have any more information or at least a name?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about New Yorker Theater on Feb 14, 2010 at 3:46 am

The New Yorker appears in the 1941 Film Daily Yearbook. It is gone after that.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Koster & Bial's Music Hall on Feb 14, 2010 at 3:33 am

The Manhattan Opera House at 311 West 34th Street mentioned in the previous 2005 posts was showing German War Films in 1915 and is still standing today.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan_Center

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Bay Cinema on Feb 14, 2010 at 3:01 am

Closed on January 6, 1994.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Roosevelt Theatre on Feb 13, 2010 at 3:50 am

The architect was Charles Goodman.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Uptown Theatre on Feb 13, 2010 at 3:44 am

The Uptown opened in 1920.

The architect was George M. Pollard.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Reo Theater on Feb 13, 2010 at 1:56 am

You have to love this story:

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Harlem Opera House on Feb 12, 2010 at 7:39 pm

Still listed as open in the 1953 Film Daily Yearbook.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Gotham Theatre on Feb 12, 2010 at 5:27 am

This theatre had a history of being raided by police for presenting scantily clad women (1930’s style) in live burlesque shows.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Orient Theatre on Feb 12, 2010 at 3:25 am

The Orient was already operating in 1915.

In 1952 part of the theatre was converted into a men’s wear and appliance store owned by Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about United Palace of Cultural Arts on Feb 12, 2010 at 12:58 am

Here’s my favorite:

/theaters/290/

You can’t do any New York research without stumbling on the Village East with some other name.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about New Pearl Theatre on Feb 12, 2010 at 12:53 am

That must be yet another one Ken. This one was definitely on 114th street.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about United Palace of Cultural Arts on Feb 12, 2010 at 12:46 am

There is some consistency at CT. If it is still used as a theatre, they use the new name.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about Loew's 72nd Street East on Feb 12, 2010 at 12:42 am

Nope. That was the Paris.

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Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez commented about United Palace of Cultural Arts on Feb 11, 2010 at 9:48 pm

Advanced search. It still is a theatre AND a church.