I visited this theater when my wife and I “discovered” it during a day trip about 5 years ago, on our honeymoon.
We wished that we could have returned for an evening showing.
We did meet the cinema’s caretaker and we tried in vein to communicate with him. I even tried to purchase the lobby cards on display. He was trying to sell us on returning that evening for “GLADIATOR” which would have been real cool to see in this setting.
www.fillmore-east.com appears to have been abandoned. Does anyone know of a definitive website dedicated to the Fillmore. Especially a complete listing of the concerts. jerry the k
AlAlvarez,
Although I wasn’t looking for the Apollo (42nd Street), I do have a few ad copies from the NY Times microfiche of the 1950s. So you should see a bundle of them out there. jerry
Any listings from the 50s, Al? The escaped female lifers sounds like a better screenplay, Will. Did the November ‘57 story have any photos of the theater, Al? jerry
An ad depicting better times in 1959. Two movies. 11 cartoons, free photo of Edd “Kookie” Byrnes. Throw in a hot dog heated under a light bulb, grape soda right from the machine (make sure the cup comes down straight), bon-bons and I’m there. jerry View link
An ad depicting better times in 1959. Two movies. 11 cartoons, free photo of Edd “Kookie” Byrnes. Throw in a hot dog heated under a light bulb, grape soda right from the machine (make sure the cup comes down straight), bon-bons and I’m there. jerry View link
Searching all of the NY tImes from the 50s, I see only one mention of The Terrace. Unfortunately, it is this. I can’t imagine this theater showing an “art” film. jerry
After my beloved RKO 23rd Street closed in 1960, we had to go to the 58th St. RKO for this Christmas show. 3 movies (my hero Audie & Francis!!!)& cartoons, the day after Christmas 1960. WOW. jerry
I’m sure they weren’t there since I remember calling the theaters. And as I mentioned on one of the sites, that wasn’t easy, since they had one line and a person answering the phone. Imagine that!
Sometimes, Dad would be working up that way and he’d come home with a written list of the films.
But you’re right, part of the thrill was coming up the subway on 8th Avenue and feverishly scanning the marquees. Can’t remember too many times, where one of the ten didn’t have something to see. Great times. jerry
Thanks, Bill. I just loaded 7 new ones about 5 minutes ago. I’ll be posting them on the appropriate theater site but if you head back to my photobucket site they should all be there. Also, if you are interested in double features, as I am, I have an excel spreadsheet that I can email you. Many of the “misspent childhood” double features that I caught in my NYC days in the early 50s-late 60s. These are the ones that I have been able to document over the past few years. I know….get a life. But it’s been a fun hobby. Genealogy for movie nuts. email me at .com
Still looking for a way to research the Empire and Victory theaters (pre-porn)and the Terrace down on 23rd St during that time period (early 50s-late 60s). They’re not listed in the NY Times or Cue magazine. jerry the k
Here’s a flyer that apparently was mailed to advertise all of the Brandt theaters on the Deuce. This one for the Apollo in 1952. Anyone know during what period this was done and where I can find more? jerry
This shot is geared toward the Empire but if you look down the street, the ANCO is showing Jimmy Stewart’s Far Country and Chief Crazy Horse with Victor Mature. A pairing of two U-I westerns from 3-4 years earlier.
Ed,
When we crank up that Time Machine, drop me off on the “old 42nd Street” in the late 50s to late 60s. It was more “mainstream” than your time in the 70s-80s but with some of the most creative programming in town. Mostly, geared for the blue collar audience. (With the exception of the Apollo).
The Empire was already known for eclectic double/triple bills even before The Undertaker & His Pals/Corpse Grinders days.
Check out my July 2005 posting for their double bill celebrating the Debbie Reynolds-Eddie Fisher-Liz mess.
I can recall individual films that I saw back then but piecing the double features together is tough. I’ve checked all of the NY Times from the 50s-60s and Cue Magazines from the 60s and cannot find any listings for the Empire. Too bad but the quest continues. Any leads are appreciated.
Here is a sad shot of the vacant RKO site during construction of the ILGWU Co-Ops aka Monolith Monsters. Should be around late 1960 – early 1961. Another great neighborhood theater, The Terrace, was located west of the Cornish Arms hotel, but had closed in the late 1950s. Haven’t found anyone yet on CT who recalls that one. Jerry
Bryan, not to steal Bob’s thunder but I have the ad from that day. My dad took me for my birthday. Lewis was listed in the ad to visit these theaters on the previous day:
86th St…11:30am
Regent….12:15pm
Hamilton….12:45pm
Coliseum…1:15pm
Marble Hill…1:45pm
Yonkers… 2:15pm
White Plains…..3:15pm
New Rochelle….4:00pm
Mt Vernon…4:30pm
Castle Hill….7:15pm
Chester….7:45pm
Fordham….8:30pm
Franklin….9:00pm
Royal….9:30pm
86 St….10:15pm
This should total 15; the next day he “only” did 13 including the 58th St at 9:45pm. If I recall, they interrupted the 2nd feature, Love in a Goldfish Bowl with Fabian, when Jerry arrived. He did 5 minutes of schtick and took off. The ad features a signed letter from the RKO managers proclaiming their admiration of Jerry. No wonder, he sold a lot of popcorn for them. jerry
I added this theater about 18 months ago and am still amazed that a Manhattan theater hasn’t received one posting from someone who remembers this great Chelsea theater. Help! I’m still looking for photos, booking info. Anything. Thanks.
I visited this theater when my wife and I “discovered” it during a day trip about 5 years ago, on our honeymoon.
We wished that we could have returned for an evening showing.
We did meet the cinema’s caretaker and we tried in vein to communicate with him. I even tried to purchase the lobby cards on display. He was trying to sell us on returning that evening for “GLADIATOR” which would have been real cool to see in this setting.
Hope to get back. jerry
www.fillmore-east.com appears to have been abandoned. Does anyone know of a definitive website dedicated to the Fillmore. Especially a complete listing of the concerts. jerry the k
AlAlvarez,
Although I wasn’t looking for the Apollo (42nd Street), I do have a few ad copies from the NY Times microfiche of the 1950s. So you should see a bundle of them out there. jerry
Any listings from the 50s, Al? The escaped female lifers sounds like a better screenplay, Will. Did the November ‘57 story have any photos of the theater, Al? jerry
Here is that ad I mentioned last year. Imagine doing this for 1 DAY!!!
Sorry about the duplicate post above; I received an error message on the first submit. jerry
View link
An ad depicting better times in 1959. Two movies. 11 cartoons, free photo of Edd “Kookie” Byrnes. Throw in a hot dog heated under a light bulb, grape soda right from the machine (make sure the cup comes down straight), bon-bons and I’m there. jerry
View link
An ad depicting better times in 1959. Two movies. 11 cartoons, free photo of Edd “Kookie” Byrnes. Throw in a hot dog heated under a light bulb, grape soda right from the machine (make sure the cup comes down straight), bon-bons and I’m there. jerry
View link
Searching all of the NY tImes from the 50s, I see only one mention of The Terrace. Unfortunately, it is this. I can’t imagine this theater showing an “art” film. jerry
View link
One of the double features that I was able to re-trace was The List of Adrian Messenger one during the summer of 1963. Here’s the ad. jerry
View link
After my beloved RKO 23rd Street closed in 1960, we had to go to the 58th St. RKO for this Christmas show. 3 movies (my hero Audie & Francis!!!)& cartoons, the day after Christmas 1960. WOW. jerry
View link
Ed,
I’m sure they weren’t there since I remember calling the theaters. And as I mentioned on one of the sites, that wasn’t easy, since they had one line and a person answering the phone. Imagine that!
Sometimes, Dad would be working up that way and he’d come home with a written list of the films.
But you’re right, part of the thrill was coming up the subway on 8th Avenue and feverishly scanning the marquees. Can’t remember too many times, where one of the ten didn’t have something to see. Great times. jerry
Thanks, Bill. I just loaded 7 new ones about 5 minutes ago. I’ll be posting them on the appropriate theater site but if you head back to my photobucket site they should all be there. Also, if you are interested in double features, as I am, I have an excel spreadsheet that I can email you. Many of the “misspent childhood” double features that I caught in my NYC days in the early 50s-late 60s. These are the ones that I have been able to document over the past few years. I know….get a life. But it’s been a fun hobby. Genealogy for movie nuts. email me at .com
Still looking for a way to research the Empire and Victory theaters (pre-porn)and the Terrace down on 23rd St during that time period (early 50s-late 60s). They’re not listed in the NY Times or Cue magazine. jerry the k
Here’s a flyer that apparently was mailed to advertise all of the Brandt theaters on the Deuce. This one for the Apollo in 1952. Anyone know during what period this was done and where I can find more? jerry
View link
View link
A snow covered Fascination marquee; shot from the Anco. 1968. jerry the k
View link
Thanks, saps. It is a labor of love. If anyone has any images of the Deuce in the 50s-60s, please contact me. jerry the k
Here’s a shot of the Harris & Lyric taken from outside the Victory in 1961. jerry
View link
Forgot to add this marquee image from the Anco, around 1961.
Crank up the Time Machine, I’m going back! jerry
View link
Here'a a shot of Fascination (I think). 15 games…$.50!
I seem to remember another one, Ed, on the west side of Broadway. Around 48th sounds right.
View link
jerry
This shot is geared toward the Empire but if you look down the street, the ANCO is showing Jimmy Stewart’s Far Country and Chief Crazy Horse with Victor Mature. A pairing of two U-I westerns from 3-4 years earlier.
View link
Ed,
When we crank up that Time Machine, drop me off on the “old 42nd Street” in the late 50s to late 60s. It was more “mainstream” than your time in the 70s-80s but with some of the most creative programming in town. Mostly, geared for the blue collar audience. (With the exception of the Apollo).
The Empire was already known for eclectic double/triple bills even before The Undertaker & His Pals/Corpse Grinders days.
Check out my July 2005 posting for their double bill celebrating the Debbie Reynolds-Eddie Fisher-Liz mess.
I can recall individual films that I saw back then but piecing the double features together is tough. I’ve checked all of the NY Times from the 50s-60s and Cue Magazines from the 60s and cannot find any listings for the Empire. Too bad but the quest continues. Any leads are appreciated.
Here is a sad shot of the vacant RKO site during construction of the ILGWU Co-Ops aka Monolith Monsters. Should be around late 1960 – early 1961. Another great neighborhood theater, The Terrace, was located west of the Cornish Arms hotel, but had closed in the late 1950s. Haven’t found anyone yet on CT who recalls that one. Jerry
View link
Bryan, not to steal Bob’s thunder but I have the ad from that day. My dad took me for my birthday. Lewis was listed in the ad to visit these theaters on the previous day:
86th St…11:30am
Regent….12:15pm
Hamilton….12:45pm
Coliseum…1:15pm
Marble Hill…1:45pm
Yonkers… 2:15pm
White Plains…..3:15pm
New Rochelle….4:00pm
Mt Vernon…4:30pm
Castle Hill….7:15pm
Chester….7:45pm
Fordham….8:30pm
Franklin….9:00pm
Royal….9:30pm
86 St….10:15pm
This should total 15; the next day he “only” did 13 including the 58th St at 9:45pm. If I recall, they interrupted the 2nd feature, Love in a Goldfish Bowl with Fabian, when Jerry arrived. He did 5 minutes of schtick and took off. The ad features a signed letter from the RKO managers proclaiming their admiration of Jerry. No wonder, he sold a lot of popcorn for them. jerry
Alto, in the 30s The New Amsterdam was home to the Ziegfeld Follies where Gypsy Rose Lee appeared. jerry
Anyone know the exact years of the Laffmovie? jk
I added this theater about 18 months ago and am still amazed that a Manhattan theater hasn’t received one posting from someone who remembers this great Chelsea theater. Help! I’m still looking for photos, booking info. Anything. Thanks.