There’s a “Board & Paint” event Sunday, 8/20/17 to re-secure the theatre. The Buffalo Young Preservationists posted the info on Facebook, along with a new set of photos (the interior is pretty far gone now, a combination of vandals and the elements). Don’t know how to link the post here.
I’m with Niagara Falls Historic Preservation. Would you be willing to offer a tour to our members to generate some positive buzz? We could post pics and info on our website. Tried to view yours, but couldn’t find it.
I don’t remember those blocks north of the old Ramada (subsequently the Days Inn, now the Hilton Garden Inn) as being part of “the strip”. I remember waiting at the bus stop across from the Adonis at night, and the area was dead.
On another note, just finished reading a new book, “Andy Warhol’s New York City”. It mentions the Tivoli as one of the late-60s temporary locations of “Film-makers' Cinematheque”. It was a famous showcase for experimental (often controversial) films, like Warhol’s, that had to keep changing locations due to legal and financial issues. Too lazy to read all the comments to see if that’s already been noted!
To the left of the screen was a tiny metal spiral stairway (about 18" wide — so narrow that you always had to back up or back down if someone was coming toward you) leading to a large upstairs “lounge”, with a darkroom off to the side.
It seems like there’s a lot still intact that would be of interest to an architectural salvage company. Wish they’d strip it before they knock it down (though it doesn’t seem likely).
In 1976 or 77, my parents brought me to NYC to look at colleges (Cooper Union and Columbia). One night after dinner, they let me go out alone to visit “record stores”. My real plan was to go to the Adonis, which I’d either seen or read about. I walked from the Tudor Hotel (42nd and 1st), no short jaunt. I sat down in the middle of the main floor to watch the movie (which, I swear to God, involved a guy doing things to himself with produce). Couldn’t figure out why everybody kept walking around and changing seats while the movie was playing. (OK, I was 16 or 17.) Don’t remember much about the theater, or how long I stayed. Mostly remember how freaked out my parents were when I got back to the hotel hours later (man, that walk back was looong!).
Moved to NYC in ‘77, and visited the Adonis many times. I vividly remember the oval cutout in the upper lobby, and I think there were urns at each end of it with plastic flowers. Could be wrong. Also recall the Mens room, down a couple of steps from the main floor. It was really big, with intricate tile work and dim lighting. I think the Ladies room was reserved for the staff.
What an incredible theater. What a sad loss.
Well, curiosity got the best of me. Drove by this week, and it’s now the “Town of Ramapo Cultural Arts Center”. Don’t know the extent or quality of the restoration, but there seem to be a decent number of events on the schedule. Currently has 465 seats. The address is 64 N. Main St. Interested parties may schedule a tour by calling (845)357-6100. If I didn’t live 400 miles away, I’d call myself!
I lived in the neighborhood in the 70s/80s. I remember I always felt disoriented when I walked in. Rather than entering from the back of the house, you’d open the door and be standing in the side aisle in the dark. The screen was on your right, I believe, and I’d feel confused. Every time.
If this is the old theater on the main drag in Spring Valley, it was operational at least into the late 90s (maybe early 00s). You could tell it was a grand old theater in its day. Big balcony and lobby, grand staircase, and a large lounge area downstairs. All in a horrendous state of neglect. I remember, on one of my last visits, walking in to find the cashier trimming his toenails in the lobby. Really set the scene.
But I think it was one of the last surviving huge porn palaces (very reminiscent of NYC’s Adonis) in the country. Last I heard, it was sold to a local non-profit that intended to restore and reopen as a “performing arts centre”. Gonna be a tough sell in that neighborhood. It’s a busy street, but the immediate residents are pretty rough (and predominantly recent immigrants — you see the day-laborers lined up along the highway in the morning), and I’d only venture there during the day.
I thought there’d be a lot of activity on this listing. Somebody must know more than I do.
I remember going there once as a 17yr old in the 70s. They were showing a gay-themed film starring Fannie Flagg called, I believe, “Some Of My Best Friends Are”. I remember getting all dressed up on a cold winter weeknight, thinking I was going to meet other cool gay people there. I drove in from the country, to this (in retrospect) iffy neighborhood, and parked my dad’s new car in (I think) an empty parking ramp. There were six bored, neighborhood folks in the theater. Movie was totally untittilating. Drove home unscathed. Said I went to K-Mart (the latest-open place I could think of!).
When I worked in this dreary, non-descript building in the 1980s, the address was 1120 Avenue of the Americas (in case anyone goes searching for the site).
I saw “Salo” here, too. It was a weeknight, and the ticket-window girl was reading and wouldn’t look up. An usher pssst-ed me over, took my 5 bucks, and let me in. I was one of maybe four patrons in the theater that night. Didn’t the owner think it was odd that the takings were, like, zero?
One of the few times I had to briefly close my eyes during a movie (and, believe me, I’m not a prude!!!): “Salo”, the endings of “Day of the Locust” and “Star 80”, and anything with Marisa Tomei.
Was this (or the David) the theater across from City Center? With bathrooms on the second floor above the lobby? I had my wallet stolen in a scuffle in a darkroom behind the screen in 1980ish (and I still haven’t gotten it back!). WTF?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/929189663802358/permalink/5773817559339520/?mibextid=Nif5oz
It seems unlikely the Adonis would have had 3D projection equipment.
There’s a “Board & Paint” event Sunday, 8/20/17 to re-secure the theatre. The Buffalo Young Preservationists posted the info on Facebook, along with a new set of photos (the interior is pretty far gone now, a combination of vandals and the elements). Don’t know how to link the post here.
I’m with Niagara Falls Historic Preservation. Would you be willing to offer a tour to our members to generate some positive buzz? We could post pics and info on our website. Tried to view yours, but couldn’t find it.
From the broken windows, I’m guessing no.
This is an extremely ambitious project. Do you have more details? Links to other articles? Is financing in place?
I don’t remember those blocks north of the old Ramada (subsequently the Days Inn, now the Hilton Garden Inn) as being part of “the strip”. I remember waiting at the bus stop across from the Adonis at night, and the area was dead. On another note, just finished reading a new book, “Andy Warhol’s New York City”. It mentions the Tivoli as one of the late-60s temporary locations of “Film-makers' Cinematheque”. It was a famous showcase for experimental (often controversial) films, like Warhol’s, that had to keep changing locations due to legal and financial issues. Too lazy to read all the comments to see if that’s already been noted!
To the left of the screen was a tiny metal spiral stairway (about 18" wide — so narrow that you always had to back up or back down if someone was coming toward you) leading to a large upstairs “lounge”, with a darkroom off to the side.
Theater is For Sale today on Craigslist. Ad says rock venue closed four years ago, and building needs work.
Property is listed For Sale on CraigsList today. Contact for info.
Nothing in Zimbabwe is working.
It seems like there’s a lot still intact that would be of interest to an architectural salvage company. Wish they’d strip it before they knock it down (though it doesn’t seem likely).
In 1976 or 77, my parents brought me to NYC to look at colleges (Cooper Union and Columbia). One night after dinner, they let me go out alone to visit “record stores”. My real plan was to go to the Adonis, which I’d either seen or read about. I walked from the Tudor Hotel (42nd and 1st), no short jaunt. I sat down in the middle of the main floor to watch the movie (which, I swear to God, involved a guy doing things to himself with produce). Couldn’t figure out why everybody kept walking around and changing seats while the movie was playing. (OK, I was 16 or 17.) Don’t remember much about the theater, or how long I stayed. Mostly remember how freaked out my parents were when I got back to the hotel hours later (man, that walk back was looong!).
Moved to NYC in ‘77, and visited the Adonis many times. I vividly remember the oval cutout in the upper lobby, and I think there were urns at each end of it with plastic flowers. Could be wrong. Also recall the Mens room, down a couple of steps from the main floor. It was really big, with intricate tile work and dim lighting. I think the Ladies room was reserved for the staff.
What an incredible theater. What a sad loss.
Well, curiosity got the best of me. Drove by this week, and it’s now the “Town of Ramapo Cultural Arts Center”. Don’t know the extent or quality of the restoration, but there seem to be a decent number of events on the schedule. Currently has 465 seats. The address is 64 N. Main St. Interested parties may schedule a tour by calling (845)357-6100. If I didn’t live 400 miles away, I’d call myself!
I lived in the neighborhood in the 70s/80s. I remember I always felt disoriented when I walked in. Rather than entering from the back of the house, you’d open the door and be standing in the side aisle in the dark. The screen was on your right, I believe, and I’d feel confused. Every time.
If this is the old theater on the main drag in Spring Valley, it was operational at least into the late 90s (maybe early 00s). You could tell it was a grand old theater in its day. Big balcony and lobby, grand staircase, and a large lounge area downstairs. All in a horrendous state of neglect. I remember, on one of my last visits, walking in to find the cashier trimming his toenails in the lobby. Really set the scene.
But I think it was one of the last surviving huge porn palaces (very reminiscent of NYC’s Adonis) in the country. Last I heard, it was sold to a local non-profit that intended to restore and reopen as a “performing arts centre”. Gonna be a tough sell in that neighborhood. It’s a busy street, but the immediate residents are pretty rough (and predominantly recent immigrants — you see the day-laborers lined up along the highway in the morning), and I’d only venture there during the day.
I thought there’d be a lot of activity on this listing. Somebody must know more than I do.
The only existing “theater” in Niagara Falls (I believe) is the Rapids on Main Street. I don’t see any activity there. Maybe inside.
I remember going there once as a 17yr old in the 70s. They were showing a gay-themed film starring Fannie Flagg called, I believe, “Some Of My Best Friends Are”. I remember getting all dressed up on a cold winter weeknight, thinking I was going to meet other cool gay people there. I drove in from the country, to this (in retrospect) iffy neighborhood, and parked my dad’s new car in (I think) an empty parking ramp. There were six bored, neighborhood folks in the theater. Movie was totally untittilating. Drove home unscathed. Said I went to K-Mart (the latest-open place I could think of!).
I parked in that lot yesterday, and had no idea!
Two underpaid immigrants pushed said organ back and forth between theatres for each performance.
Yeah. Common mistake.
Building has retail tenants now.
When I worked in this dreary, non-descript building in the 1980s, the address was 1120 Avenue of the Americas (in case anyone goes searching for the site).
Yes.
I saw “Salo” here, too. It was a weeknight, and the ticket-window girl was reading and wouldn’t look up. An usher pssst-ed me over, took my 5 bucks, and let me in. I was one of maybe four patrons in the theater that night. Didn’t the owner think it was odd that the takings were, like, zero?
One of the few times I had to briefly close my eyes during a movie (and, believe me, I’m not a prude!!!): “Salo”, the endings of “Day of the Locust” and “Star 80”, and anything with Marisa Tomei.
Was this (or the David) the theater across from City Center? With bathrooms on the second floor above the lobby? I had my wallet stolen in a scuffle in a darkroom behind the screen in 1980ish (and I still haven’t gotten it back!). WTF?