Bill: I really can’t recall the exact time, although a year seems like a long time ago; sometimes the “imminent end” of something goes on a bit longer than expected. I do recall that it was very popular with the tourists because of the name recognition. By the way, does anyone recall another Automat in the Times Square area as well?
William, it’s odd that both of those Howard Johnson’s are either closed or revamped since they are still listed in the NYC Yellow and White page telephone directories for 2006!
You are probably correct, but I think if it did exist back in ‘66, by now it is probably either a fast food place or, worse yet, a Duane Reade Drugstore! They seem to be on every other corner in NYC.
Vincent, there is a Howard Johnson’s in Times Square which has been there for a long time (at least since the ‘70s) and it sort of reminds me of an old-time diner. A bit run down but I always see lots of people in it as I walk to work. (Address is 1551 Broadway at W. 46th Street.) There is also a Howard Johnson’s Motor Lodge down the block from my office at 851 Eighth Avenue at W. 51st Street, so take your pick!
p.s. to vincent-thanks for placing Molly Brown for me. I was only 13 at the time so my recollection is a bit fuzzy. My mom was a huge Doris Day fan and I also recall seeing several of her movies there.
p.s. to EdSolero – thanks for the update on the H&H building. Since I am within walking distance at work to both Radio City and H&H, I will make it a point to get out more at lunchtime to see for myself. I tried to explain to my 20-something sons how the Automat worked and how much fun it was to go there, but they just looked at me as if I was from another planet!
In the early ‘60s, during the Easter school break, my mom would take my brother and me to the Easter show at Radio City Music Hall. We would meet my aunt from New Jersey in front of the Hall and I remember seeing “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” with Debbie Reynolds (1964). After the show, we would walk over to 57th Street and 6th Avenue and eat at the Horn & Hardart’s Automat which, to me, was more fun than seeing the show!
The Loew’s Willard Theatre, on Jamaica Avenue and 96th Street (formerly Willard Street) opened on November 24, 1924 as a vaudeville and motion picture house with a capacity of 2500. I got this info from a book called “The Story of Woodhaven and Ozone Park”.
I attended St. Thomas the Apostle Church on 88th Street in Woodhaven. The church became so overcrowded that the parish purchased the Roosevelt Theatre and converted it into a church auditorium where masses were said in addition to the masses in the original church. The auditorium was named “Monsignor John Mulz Hall” after the priest who ran the Church until 1966. We sat on folding chairs during the mass and the Church also held their basketball games there. I also remember going to Friday night “teen” dances at that hall during my high school days. Needless to say, except for the high ceilings, all remnants of it ever being a movie theater were gone!
ps to BrooklynJim-I very well remember Brian Hyland, since we grew up on the same street (78th Street in Woodhaven) His house was directly across the street from P.S. 65 where I went to school in fourth grade. Brian was a bit older than me but his brother Bruce was the same age as me and we were in the same grade. I also recall him having another brother Barry. (I think all the kids were named after the letter “B”.) I remember meeting Brian at the home of my friend who’s brother and he were good friends. He gave me his autograph. Once Brian became famous, the family moved to Long Island. Last I heard, Brian was living in California.
As a kid, we would all go to the Haven to see the Saturday afternoon cartoon matinees, especially if it was a rainy Saturday. I remember the elderly matron of the theatre who was very, very strict and you didn’t dare speak once the movie started or she would throw you right out of the theatre! A bit run down towards the end……..my dad used to call it “the itch”.
I graduated in 1969 from Franklin K. Lane High School in Brooklyn and our graduation ceremony was held at the RKO Albee, such a majestic theatre! Needless to say, we all got a bit of stage fright when we had to walk up to that stage and pick up our diplomas!
I remember going to the Keith during the 60’s to see the Dave Clark Five perform. The place was packed with screaming teenagers and I caught a glimpse of the band through the ladies' room window as they were coming down the alley to the back door. Needless to say I became one of those screaming teenagers as soon as I saw how close they were! I also remember going to Jahn’s and, if you brought your birth certificate on your birthday, you got a free sundae! No matter how many of us went to Jahn’s and ordered the ‘kitchen sink’, we could never finish it! Most of us wound up with a brain freeze….
Bill: I really can’t recall the exact time, although a year seems like a long time ago; sometimes the “imminent end” of something goes on a bit longer than expected. I do recall that it was very popular with the tourists because of the name recognition. By the way, does anyone recall another Automat in the Times Square area as well?
William, it’s odd that both of those Howard Johnson’s are either closed or revamped since they are still listed in the NYC Yellow and White page telephone directories for 2006!
You are probably correct, but I think if it did exist back in ‘66, by now it is probably either a fast food place or, worse yet, a Duane Reade Drugstore! They seem to be on every other corner in NYC.
Vincent, there is a Howard Johnson’s in Times Square which has been there for a long time (at least since the ‘70s) and it sort of reminds me of an old-time diner. A bit run down but I always see lots of people in it as I walk to work. (Address is 1551 Broadway at W. 46th Street.) There is also a Howard Johnson’s Motor Lodge down the block from my office at 851 Eighth Avenue at W. 51st Street, so take your pick!
p.s. to vincent-thanks for placing Molly Brown for me. I was only 13 at the time so my recollection is a bit fuzzy. My mom was a huge Doris Day fan and I also recall seeing several of her movies there.
p.s. to EdSolero – thanks for the update on the H&H building. Since I am within walking distance at work to both Radio City and H&H, I will make it a point to get out more at lunchtime to see for myself. I tried to explain to my 20-something sons how the Automat worked and how much fun it was to go there, but they just looked at me as if I was from another planet!
In the early ‘60s, during the Easter school break, my mom would take my brother and me to the Easter show at Radio City Music Hall. We would meet my aunt from New Jersey in front of the Hall and I remember seeing “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” with Debbie Reynolds (1964). After the show, we would walk over to 57th Street and 6th Avenue and eat at the Horn & Hardart’s Automat which, to me, was more fun than seeing the show!
The Loew’s Willard Theatre, on Jamaica Avenue and 96th Street (formerly Willard Street) opened on November 24, 1924 as a vaudeville and motion picture house with a capacity of 2500. I got this info from a book called “The Story of Woodhaven and Ozone Park”.
I attended St. Thomas the Apostle Church on 88th Street in Woodhaven. The church became so overcrowded that the parish purchased the Roosevelt Theatre and converted it into a church auditorium where masses were said in addition to the masses in the original church. The auditorium was named “Monsignor John Mulz Hall” after the priest who ran the Church until 1966. We sat on folding chairs during the mass and the Church also held their basketball games there. I also remember going to Friday night “teen” dances at that hall during my high school days. Needless to say, except for the high ceilings, all remnants of it ever being a movie theater were gone!
ps to BrooklynJim-I very well remember Brian Hyland, since we grew up on the same street (78th Street in Woodhaven) His house was directly across the street from P.S. 65 where I went to school in fourth grade. Brian was a bit older than me but his brother Bruce was the same age as me and we were in the same grade. I also recall him having another brother Barry. (I think all the kids were named after the letter “B”.) I remember meeting Brian at the home of my friend who’s brother and he were good friends. He gave me his autograph. Once Brian became famous, the family moved to Long Island. Last I heard, Brian was living in California.
As a kid, we would all go to the Haven to see the Saturday afternoon cartoon matinees, especially if it was a rainy Saturday. I remember the elderly matron of the theatre who was very, very strict and you didn’t dare speak once the movie started or she would throw you right out of the theatre! A bit run down towards the end……..my dad used to call it “the itch”.
I graduated in 1969 from Franklin K. Lane High School in Brooklyn and our graduation ceremony was held at the RKO Albee, such a majestic theatre! Needless to say, we all got a bit of stage fright when we had to walk up to that stage and pick up our diplomas!
I remember going to the Keith during the 60’s to see the Dave Clark Five perform. The place was packed with screaming teenagers and I caught a glimpse of the band through the ladies' room window as they were coming down the alley to the back door. Needless to say I became one of those screaming teenagers as soon as I saw how close they were! I also remember going to Jahn’s and, if you brought your birth certificate on your birthday, you got a free sundae! No matter how many of us went to Jahn’s and ordered the ‘kitchen sink’, we could never finish it! Most of us wound up with a brain freeze….