Regarding GerryC’s comment of the 10th on altruism. Do you think that Loew’s, RKO, Fox, Paramount or any of the old theatre chains were altruistic? They built these places for one reason; TO MAKE MONEY! If some faceless nameless corporation is now willing to restore some theatre for less than altruistic reasons I, for one, am happy about it.
How did you manage to get inside? I’ll be visiting home this summer and one of my goals is to get to NYC and see the inside of the Paradise. Do you just sneak in while the contractors are at lunch (this has worked for me before) or what?
I think re-opening the balcony is a great idea! What needs to be done in order for the public to be allowed in? Also, what do you mean there’s no air conditioning. Surely the theater must have had it at one time. Is the plant currently non-functioning, or has it been removed?
Hello Will Dunkin. Your comments on the Lensic have reminded me of how unhappy I was with the renovation/desecration that’s been done there. One thing I remember is that under the balcony, along the sidewalls, there is a small arcade on each side of the auditorium. Obviously they were originally decorated to appear as if one were looking through the arcade to to “outside”. After the renovation, the arcades were painted beige (as per your comment)and in each archway was a giant painted letter so that it spelled out the name of the theatre. If that wasn’t bad enough, there are only 3 arches on each side, so that on one side of the theatre is “L – E – N”, and on the other side is “S – I – C”. The effect was so ridiculous that I have to laugh even now!
The Paramount is on this site. It might be listed under “Picadilly”, which was its original name, but I thinks it’s listed under the name “Paramount”. The Coronet is still standing, (well, it was a year ago when I drove past it) but is vacant. I remember when they were trying to run it as an art house. I saw “Napoleon” there. The Cinema (nee Clinton) is still going strong as a neighborhood house.
Especially if you look at photos number 4, 5, and 21. You can look down through the opening in the mezzanine and see the main floor of the theatre is covered with stuff being stored. Photo number 21 is on the main floor and you can see it cluttered with junk.
Except that in the photos you can see the main floor of the theatre is loaded with boxes and such. Maybe it wasn’t gutted after all. I’ll have to stop by Allentown sometime soon and see what I can see.
I just went to the Library of Congress site. What a beautiful theatre! Obviously inspired by the original Rialto built in 1916 at Times Square. I wonder how old the photos are? It was in a great state of preservation when they were taken. You should be glad it’s at least used for storage, maybe that means the building is kept heated and watertight.
Up in the corner, where it says “search”, type in “oriental theatre”, be sure to spell it “theatre” rather than “theater”. The first link on the list of links should be to 31 photos of the Portland Oriental.
Hi Rochester Pete,
I’d love to hear more of your memories of theatres in Rochester. I went to the Monroe to see “The Sound of Music”, but was only 6 at the time, and don’t remember much about the theatre. It’s nice to know that it’s still intact. If only someone could reopen it as a movie theatre again. I think the Monroe Avenue neighborhood and the East side in general would really go for a Little Theatre type presentation house.
Wow! I remember seeing “Imitation of Life” on the television (did you know it’s a remake of a 1930’s Claudette Colbert film?), far from being a tearjerker, it now comes across as a bit of a snoozefest.
Unfortunately in this great land of ours (and I DO love the U.S., so please don’t get me wrong on that statement) the bottom line is all that most people care about. The reason that the Ambassador was torn down for a driveway is likely that the property taxes for a driveway were considerably less.
Hey! I wasn’t slamming the Stanley Theatre! I’ve admired the place ever since the first time I glimpsed its marquee from the PATH train. I was only commenting on people who get to write articles without doing research. The same series of articles on Jersey City history mentions the “gold leaf brocade” in the lobbey of Loew’s Jersey. Well, brocade is a type of expensive fabric, and gold leaf is a faux metallic finish for plaster and wood. So which is it? I think these theatres, and Jersey City, deserve better write-ups that are factual and accurate. It’s annoying to see someone get paid good money to do a lousy job. Anyway, as I said, I think the Stanley is great, the article about it is not so great.
Nice photo of the marquee in that article, but the article itself starts out with such a blatantly false statement you have to wonder if anything in it is factual. They state the Stanley was the 2nd largest theatre in the country when it opened, with Radio City Music Hall being the largest. That’s a neat trick since RCMH wouldn’t be built for another 4 years, and right in Manhattan were the Roxy and Capitol, both larger than the Stanley.
That’s nice Barry Lee, but I find it very offensive that I have to pay seven or more dollars to watch 20 or more minutes of commercials. It’s stuff like this that keeps me away from the movies entirely.
The PATH stops right at Journal Square, literally across the street from the Loew’s. If the PATH trains are convenient for you I would definitely take them. Wish I could be there with you all tonight.
Hi Patsy. Sorry to be so tardy about answering your question of November 23rd regarding why I’m familiar with the area. I don’t get to this site everyday and miss a lot of posts that way. I’m originally from Rochester and go back to visit in the summers. As far as why I was in Westfield, I just enjoy driving around because I think that Upstate/Western New York has some of the most beautiful scenery in the entire country. That’s how I happened to stumble into Westfield. Just the sort of little town I would love to move to.
I stopped in St. Louis while on my way to New Mexico (where I now live, alas!), and made a special side trip to see the outside of this theatre. While parking the truck my friend and I noticed a couple of people at the stage door. When we asked if we could see the inside of the theatre they not only said “yes”, they gave us a personal tour! What a spectacular building! It’s always amazing to me how much photography utterly fails to convey anything but the slightest suggestion of the magnificence of a place like this. I want to return and see a show (preferably a silent movie). I hope the folks in St. Louis realize what a national treasure is sitting in their back yard.
I don’t remember the woman’s name who gave us the tour. I wish I did so I could thank her again.
Interesting comments regarding signage. Of course the Loew’s Paradise marquee has been (beautifully) integrated into the facade, so that it actually is part of the building design rather than something simply stuck on the roof. This may help it to be protected under the building’s landmark status. I don’t know. By the way Robbie, your last post was very clever. You’re so bright, I bet your mother called you “son”.
Regarding GerryC’s comment of the 10th on altruism. Do you think that Loew’s, RKO, Fox, Paramount or any of the old theatre chains were altruistic? They built these places for one reason; TO MAKE MONEY! If some faceless nameless corporation is now willing to restore some theatre for less than altruistic reasons I, for one, am happy about it.
Hi Divinity,
How did you manage to get inside? I’ll be visiting home this summer and one of my goals is to get to NYC and see the inside of the Paradise. Do you just sneak in while the contractors are at lunch (this has worked for me before) or what?
Well, if this goes through then I have one less reason to ever visit Lombard.
I think re-opening the balcony is a great idea! What needs to be done in order for the public to be allowed in? Also, what do you mean there’s no air conditioning. Surely the theater must have had it at one time. Is the plant currently non-functioning, or has it been removed?
Hello Will Dunkin. Your comments on the Lensic have reminded me of how unhappy I was with the renovation/desecration that’s been done there. One thing I remember is that under the balcony, along the sidewalls, there is a small arcade on each side of the auditorium. Obviously they were originally decorated to appear as if one were looking through the arcade to to “outside”. After the renovation, the arcades were painted beige (as per your comment)and in each archway was a giant painted letter so that it spelled out the name of the theatre. If that wasn’t bad enough, there are only 3 arches on each side, so that on one side of the theatre is “L – E – N”, and on the other side is “S – I – C”. The effect was so ridiculous that I have to laugh even now!
The Paramount is on this site. It might be listed under “Picadilly”, which was its original name, but I thinks it’s listed under the name “Paramount”. The Coronet is still standing, (well, it was a year ago when I drove past it) but is vacant. I remember when they were trying to run it as an art house. I saw “Napoleon” there. The Cinema (nee Clinton) is still going strong as a neighborhood house.
I’ll be in the Northeast from late June to early August. I would like to meet with you.
Especially if you look at photos number 4, 5, and 21. You can look down through the opening in the mezzanine and see the main floor of the theatre is covered with stuff being stored. Photo number 21 is on the main floor and you can see it cluttered with junk.
Except that in the photos you can see the main floor of the theatre is loaded with boxes and such. Maybe it wasn’t gutted after all. I’ll have to stop by Allentown sometime soon and see what I can see.
I just went to the Library of Congress site. What a beautiful theatre! Obviously inspired by the original Rialto built in 1916 at Times Square. I wonder how old the photos are? It was in a great state of preservation when they were taken. You should be glad it’s at least used for storage, maybe that means the building is kept heated and watertight.
Up in the corner, where it says “search”, type in “oriental theatre”, be sure to spell it “theatre” rather than “theater”. The first link on the list of links should be to 31 photos of the Portland Oriental.
Hi Rochester Pete,
I’d love to hear more of your memories of theatres in Rochester. I went to the Monroe to see “The Sound of Music”, but was only 6 at the time, and don’t remember much about the theatre. It’s nice to know that it’s still intact. If only someone could reopen it as a movie theatre again. I think the Monroe Avenue neighborhood and the East side in general would really go for a Little Theatre type presentation house.
Wow! I remember seeing “Imitation of Life” on the television (did you know it’s a remake of a 1930’s Claudette Colbert film?), far from being a tearjerker, it now comes across as a bit of a snoozefest.
Hi Rochester Pete,
Thank you, thank you, thank you for those wonderful photos!!
As a German, I never found this movie demeaning to Germans. It’s naziism that is demeaning. People that make fun of it are to be applauded.
I don’t have any memories of Balaban & Katz theatres because I didn’t grow up in Chicago, but I sure would like to know when the book comes out!
Unfortunately in this great land of ours (and I DO love the U.S., so please don’t get me wrong on that statement) the bottom line is all that most people care about. The reason that the Ambassador was torn down for a driveway is likely that the property taxes for a driveway were considerably less.
Hey! I wasn’t slamming the Stanley Theatre! I’ve admired the place ever since the first time I glimpsed its marquee from the PATH train. I was only commenting on people who get to write articles without doing research. The same series of articles on Jersey City history mentions the “gold leaf brocade” in the lobbey of Loew’s Jersey. Well, brocade is a type of expensive fabric, and gold leaf is a faux metallic finish for plaster and wood. So which is it? I think these theatres, and Jersey City, deserve better write-ups that are factual and accurate. It’s annoying to see someone get paid good money to do a lousy job. Anyway, as I said, I think the Stanley is great, the article about it is not so great.
Nice photo of the marquee in that article, but the article itself starts out with such a blatantly false statement you have to wonder if anything in it is factual. They state the Stanley was the 2nd largest theatre in the country when it opened, with Radio City Music Hall being the largest. That’s a neat trick since RCMH wouldn’t be built for another 4 years, and right in Manhattan were the Roxy and Capitol, both larger than the Stanley.
That’s nice Barry Lee, but I find it very offensive that I have to pay seven or more dollars to watch 20 or more minutes of commercials. It’s stuff like this that keeps me away from the movies entirely.
The PATH stops right at Journal Square, literally across the street from the Loew’s. If the PATH trains are convenient for you I would definitely take them. Wish I could be there with you all tonight.
Hi Patsy. Sorry to be so tardy about answering your question of November 23rd regarding why I’m familiar with the area. I don’t get to this site everyday and miss a lot of posts that way. I’m originally from Rochester and go back to visit in the summers. As far as why I was in Westfield, I just enjoy driving around because I think that Upstate/Western New York has some of the most beautiful scenery in the entire country. That’s how I happened to stumble into Westfield. Just the sort of little town I would love to move to.
I stopped in St. Louis while on my way to New Mexico (where I now live, alas!), and made a special side trip to see the outside of this theatre. While parking the truck my friend and I noticed a couple of people at the stage door. When we asked if we could see the inside of the theatre they not only said “yes”, they gave us a personal tour! What a spectacular building! It’s always amazing to me how much photography utterly fails to convey anything but the slightest suggestion of the magnificence of a place like this. I want to return and see a show (preferably a silent movie). I hope the folks in St. Louis realize what a national treasure is sitting in their back yard.
I don’t remember the woman’s name who gave us the tour. I wish I did so I could thank her again.
Interesting comments regarding signage. Of course the Loew’s Paradise marquee has been (beautifully) integrated into the facade, so that it actually is part of the building design rather than something simply stuck on the roof. This may help it to be protected under the building’s landmark status. I don’t know. By the way Robbie, your last post was very clever. You’re so bright, I bet your mother called you “son”.
I sure would love to hear your memories of this place Howard. If you read this, would you mind writing more?