R. Thomas Short was sort of “house” architect for the circuit eventually known as Century, which turned the meeting hall into a cinema and was the first to run it.
I suspect that Short was responsible for the renovations, and not “architect” from the ground up.
Kings listed in upper Loew’s portion with “Gorgo” as main feature. Being booked day-and-date with so many other Brooklyn cinemas under Loew’s or other management was a main cause of the Kings' demise.
Kings listed with “Random Harvest,” a lengthy blockbuster being presented by Loew’s as a single feature and with an unmentioned slight increase of ticket prices.
Although the Kings was equipped for wide screen and stereophonic sound in the autumn of 1953, it had to wait until Easter of the following year to present its first feature in the CinemaScope process. This was due to the product split between Loew’s and the RKO circuit, with the latter enjoying an exclusive on 20th-Fox and Warner Bros, the first studios to release CinemaScope features. “Knights of the Round Table,” which had also been the first CinemaScope feature at Radio City Music Hall, was produced by MGM, still one of Loew’s chief suppliers until anti-trust decisions could be fully complied with.
Kings coupled with Triboro with “Corsican Brothers” in this ad for Loew’s nabes in Brooklyn and Queens. Pitkin also showing “Corsican,” but listed separately with a different co-feature.
Too late for the ad to be pulled, the beloved team had to cancel due to Oliver Hardy’s sudden illness. Dave Apollon, the Russian-born comedian and mandolin virtuoso, was hurriedly hired as replacement.
Special newspaper ad placed by MGM to supplement the smaller text ads that the Music Hall itself ran most days of the week with program information and starting times of feature and stage show.
Both “major” features at top of ad had already proved box office flops in their NYC debuts, “Blue Bird” as a road show at the Hollywood Theatre, and “Abe Lincoln” at Radio City Music Hall. “Blue Bird” had also done a move-over to the Roxy, but with no improvement in business.
Opened as the Queensboro in late 1928, the spacious atmospheric theatre was closed for most of the Depression and WWII years. Occasional attempts to revive it as a “Bingo” hall or as a link to “Subway Circuit” stage plays quickly failed.
Next month, the Tribeca Film Festival will include two special screenings at the Beacon Theatre to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Brian De Palma’s “Scarface” (April 19th) and the 25th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List” (April 26th). More details here
What’s now known as the Lyric Theatre had been closed for a year for EXTENSIVE auditorium renovations for the stage spectacular “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” which is currently in previews and expected to replace “Hamilton” as hottest (and priciest) ticket in town. Seating capacity was reduced by 400 seats, from 1,900 to 1,500, according to press reports, which also claim that the Lyric’s main entrance has been moved around the block to 43rd Street.
R. Thomas Short was sort of “house” architect for the circuit eventually known as Century, which turned the meeting hall into a cinema and was the first to run it. I suspect that Short was responsible for the renovations, and not “architect” from the ground up.
Historical report in Queens news weekly can be viewed here
Kings listed in upper Loew’s portion with “Gorgo” as main feature. Being booked day-and-date with so many other Brooklyn cinemas under Loew’s or other management was a main cause of the Kings' demise.
Peak attendance was still ahead, since Easter Sunday arrived late that year on April 14th.
This was an advance ad, published on April 1st, the Easter Sunday of that year.
Opening day ad displayed here
To bolster the small midweek ad, MGM also placed this announcement on the same page
Exterior photo of the event displayed here
The Jersey City and Newark sites had a different co-feature with “Killer McCoy.”
No mention of supporting fare, but perhaps one of the superstar’s own feature movies.
This was the Roxy’s Easter holiday presentation for that year.
Kings listed with “Random Harvest,” a lengthy blockbuster being presented by Loew’s as a single feature and with an unmentioned slight increase of ticket prices.
In this view of 14th Street towards Union Square, the marquee of the City Theatre can be seen to the right of the Academy of Music.
“Popular” prices for “Casablanca” were higher than “regular,” but less than “roadshow.”
Although the Kings was equipped for wide screen and stereophonic sound in the autumn of 1953, it had to wait until Easter of the following year to present its first feature in the CinemaScope process. This was due to the product split between Loew’s and the RKO circuit, with the latter enjoying an exclusive on 20th-Fox and Warner Bros, the first studios to release CinemaScope features. “Knights of the Round Table,” which had also been the first CinemaScope feature at Radio City Music Hall, was produced by MGM, still one of Loew’s chief suppliers until anti-trust decisions could be fully complied with.
Kings coupled with Triboro with “Corsican Brothers” in this ad for Loew’s nabes in Brooklyn and Queens. Pitkin also showing “Corsican,” but listed separately with a different co-feature.
Too late for the ad to be pulled, the beloved team had to cancel due to Oliver Hardy’s sudden illness. Dave Apollon, the Russian-born comedian and mandolin virtuoso, was hurriedly hired as replacement.
Special newspaper ad placed by MGM to supplement the smaller text ads that the Music Hall itself ran most days of the week with program information and starting times of feature and stage show.
Both “major” features at top of ad had already proved box office flops in their NYC debuts, “Blue Bird” as a road show at the Hollywood Theatre, and “Abe Lincoln” at Radio City Music Hall. “Blue Bird” had also done a move-over to the Roxy, but with no improvement in business.
Opened as the Queensboro in late 1928, the spacious atmospheric theatre was closed for most of the Depression and WWII years. Occasional attempts to revive it as a “Bingo” hall or as a link to “Subway Circuit” stage plays quickly failed.
The Technicolor circus epic went on to win an “Oscar” as Best Picture of that year.
Resumed continuous performances policy, following a year of reserved-seat roadshow for “Hawaii.”
Next month, the Tribeca Film Festival will include two special screenings at the Beacon Theatre to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Brian De Palma’s “Scarface” (April 19th) and the 25th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List” (April 26th). More details here
Five views of the interior renovations for “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” can be found here
What’s now known as the Lyric Theatre had been closed for a year for EXTENSIVE auditorium renovations for the stage spectacular “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” which is currently in previews and expected to replace “Hamilton” as hottest (and priciest) ticket in town. Seating capacity was reduced by 400 seats, from 1,900 to 1,500, according to press reports, which also claim that the Lyric’s main entrance has been moved around the block to 43rd Street.