i just came from the 10am screenings of the film festival. the experience of seeing a movie again ,in 35mm on a 40 foot screen , at the st.george theatre was awesome. it was hard to concentrate on the features, i was too busy looking around at the magnificently restored theatre. in my youth they almost always had the balcony closed or only the forward lower level would be open. now sitting in the top row , the height was enough that one could almost feel a bit dizzy. i’m almost tempted to go back for the 2pm screenings. the festival is showing “narrative features” and short films , so i can’t really recommend the fare. but to anyone who is a fan of old theatres or who went here in the old days it is well worth it. if they ever do movie nights showing classics like “the big sleep” or “the godfather” i will definetly be there.
Anthony , i don’t recall the theatre ever being twinned. it was too small and no additions were ever added , the building looks the same today as when it was built.
i have to agree that an art house would not last on s.i. Before the UA 14 closed they tried booking a few art or foreign films . I went to a couple of screenings and you could count the patrons on one hand. The high rents that dfc spoke of would be tough to meet for any business opening there. Also , i was in the area last saturday , it was practically a ghost town. I recall years ago it would take a half hour to drive down new dorp lane on a weekend due to high traffic…
i passed by over the weekend, new signs have been posted pushing for a sale of the premise. i would like to mention to vito , the glass doors visible behind the front gate look like the same ones from when it was a functioning theatre. i wouldn’t be too hopeful of a sale, after noticeing that many of the other businesses in the area are either closed or moving to a new location….
i was there over the weekend , the place was noticeably cleaner , although on several seats i tested the springs were shot. also , only 1 of the cinemas was more than ¼ full , and the rest only had about 10 patrons. it could be the end, although the girl at the popcorn counter said they may be looking at the adjacent and now closed toys-r-us store to expand to. time will tell….
i was there again last week. i have no complaints. there is additional renovation/construction going on. the owner is very much on his game , this is appreciated on s.i. with the loss of the UA 14.
i don’t think the problem in my case was caused by the subway , there was no rumbling noise. it was more of a vibration you get from cheap speakers , and occured mostly when mr. hoffman playing capote ( with the approprate nasal voice )was speaking. i could live without the surround for this type of movie. but the terrible sound lessened my enjoyment of mr. hoffman’s performance. i’m almost tempted to return at a later date to see what is done about the problem….
i went there for the first time yesterday , to see “capote”. while the theatre overall was acceptable , i was stunned by the poor quality of sound , at least in cinema 1 where my film was playing. there were speakers along both walls , but they either weren’t working or were there as props, for the only sound came from up front. those front speakers would occasionally vibrate which was very distracting. i complained to the manager who said she would have the projectionist check it out , and that no other patron had ever made such a complaint. at $10.75 admission price i will not rush back there. also , the unpadded armrests were uncomfortable …
while driving by today i actually stopped and got a good look at the exterior of the Empire , it is in surprisingly good shape compared to other shuttered theatres. i suppose farrell lumber maintains it well since it is a storage facility. i was hoping the employees would be going in to retrieve supplies , i was going to ask to have a look around as a movie theatre enthusiast . maybe next time…..
i recently saw the film “2046” here , the theatre was huge compared to cinema village and the quad. however i was also stunned by the paper receipt, as were other posters….
i was there today for the first time in 31 years , the place has been done over but the individual cinemas are pretty much the same. if i recall correctly , even back then the floors in the cinemas were slanted for an early stadium seating effect. the popcorn was fresh if a bit salty. one thing , i am 5'9 and 180 pounds , and i barely fit in my seat comfortably. i’m not sure a large person would find the seating adequate…
with the closing of the staten island 14 theatre i wonder how this place is doing. haven’t been there in over a year , and it was fading even then. uncomfortable seats and teenage slackers running the show. predictions , anyone?…
korvettes was in the location that formerly pergament and now best buy stands. most of these theatres closed in 1987 when the travis multiplex opened. that multiplex now appears doomed itself , as is the amboy multiplex in n.j.– sad – why didn’t they ever convert to stadium seating?…..
i recall seeing “jaws” and “the stone killer” here , it was a decent theatre. as for the travis multiplex , it appears about to close soon. however i don’t think it ever was decreased by half , it has had 14 screens for a number of years now.
vito , i agree with your decision not to see any movie not presented in a film format. i want to support the st. george but i don’t care to see dvd projections of films , at least not until the reviews come in of how good the presentation was.
vito , i live in the area and pass by very often , i have seen no activity at all. i will check with local business owners to see if there are any updates.
i just came from the 10am screenings of the film festival. the experience of seeing a movie again ,in 35mm on a 40 foot screen , at the st.george theatre was awesome. it was hard to concentrate on the features, i was too busy looking around at the magnificently restored theatre. in my youth they almost always had the balcony closed or only the forward lower level would be open. now sitting in the top row , the height was enough that one could almost feel a bit dizzy. i’m almost tempted to go back for the 2pm screenings. the festival is showing “narrative features” and short films , so i can’t really recommend the fare. but to anyone who is a fan of old theatres or who went here in the old days it is well worth it. if they ever do movie nights showing classics like “the big sleep” or “the godfather” i will definetly be there.
Anthony , i don’t recall the theatre ever being twinned. it was too small and no additions were ever added , the building looks the same today as when it was built.
i have to agree that an art house would not last on s.i. Before the UA 14 closed they tried booking a few art or foreign films . I went to a couple of screenings and you could count the patrons on one hand. The high rents that dfc spoke of would be tough to meet for any business opening there. Also , i was in the area last saturday , it was practically a ghost town. I recall years ago it would take a half hour to drive down new dorp lane on a weekend due to high traffic…
evidently they are building condos on the municipal lot across the street , wonder if this will accelerate development of the site?…..
will they ever have a classic movie night? (no dvd projections please)….
i passed by over the weekend, new signs have been posted pushing for a sale of the premise. i would like to mention to vito , the glass doors visible behind the front gate look like the same ones from when it was a functioning theatre. i wouldn’t be too hopeful of a sale, after noticeing that many of the other businesses in the area are either closed or moving to a new location….
i was there over the weekend , the place was noticeably cleaner , although on several seats i tested the springs were shot. also , only 1 of the cinemas was more than ¼ full , and the rest only had about 10 patrons. it could be the end, although the girl at the popcorn counter said they may be looking at the adjacent and now closed toys-r-us store to expand to. time will tell….
thanks to KenRoe for this , i live in the area and had no idea there was once a theatre there. i’ll have to stop in there and look around….
i was there again last week. i have no complaints. there is additional renovation/construction going on. the owner is very much on his game , this is appreciated on s.i. with the loss of the UA 14.
the theatre was fair at best, and is not missed.
i don’t think the problem in my case was caused by the subway , there was no rumbling noise. it was more of a vibration you get from cheap speakers , and occured mostly when mr. hoffman playing capote ( with the approprate nasal voice )was speaking. i could live without the surround for this type of movie. but the terrible sound lessened my enjoyment of mr. hoffman’s performance. i’m almost tempted to return at a later date to see what is done about the problem….
i went there for the first time yesterday , to see “capote”. while the theatre overall was acceptable , i was stunned by the poor quality of sound , at least in cinema 1 where my film was playing. there were speakers along both walls , but they either weren’t working or were there as props, for the only sound came from up front. those front speakers would occasionally vibrate which was very distracting. i complained to the manager who said she would have the projectionist check it out , and that no other patron had ever made such a complaint. at $10.75 admission price i will not rush back there. also , the unpadded armrests were uncomfortable …
while driving by today i actually stopped and got a good look at the exterior of the Empire , it is in surprisingly good shape compared to other shuttered theatres. i suppose farrell lumber maintains it well since it is a storage facility. i was hoping the employees would be going in to retrieve supplies , i was going to ask to have a look around as a movie theatre enthusiast . maybe next time…..
i recently saw the film “2046” here , the theatre was huge compared to cinema village and the quad. however i was also stunned by the paper receipt, as were other posters….
i was there today for the first time in 31 years , the place has been done over but the individual cinemas are pretty much the same. if i recall correctly , even back then the floors in the cinemas were slanted for an early stadium seating effect. the popcorn was fresh if a bit salty. one thing , i am 5'9 and 180 pounds , and i barely fit in my seat comfortably. i’m not sure a large person would find the seating adequate…
with the closing of the staten island 14 theatre i wonder how this place is doing. haven’t been there in over a year , and it was fading even then. uncomfortable seats and teenage slackers running the show. predictions , anyone?…
my local source states the owner plans to sell the property to a developer for conversion to apartments.
the theatre has officially closed as of october 11 , according to the staten island advance.
korvettes was in the location that formerly pergament and now best buy stands. most of these theatres closed in 1987 when the travis multiplex opened. that multiplex now appears doomed itself , as is the amboy multiplex in n.j.– sad – why didn’t they ever convert to stadium seating?…..
i recall the popcorn tasting like cardboard.
i recall the popcorn tasting like cardboard.
i recall seeing “jaws” and “the stone killer” here , it was a decent theatre. as for the travis multiplex , it appears about to close soon. however i don’t think it ever was decreased by half , it has had 14 screens for a number of years now.
vito , i agree with your decision not to see any movie not presented in a film format. i want to support the st. george but i don’t care to see dvd projections of films , at least not until the reviews come in of how good the presentation was.
the s.i. advance states the building has been sold and the theatre “may” close , i’d say that’s a pretty safe bet.
vito , i live in the area and pass by very often , i have seen no activity at all. i will check with local business owners to see if there are any updates.