The Art theater showed foreign and independent films throughout the 50’s and 60’s. then in the mid-1970’s like the “old Allen” (Astor) downtown, it began showing porn films. It’s former status as an Art theater made it the more legit choice of couples — even a trendy place to take a spouse. But porn is porn, and the clientelle soon dwindled to the typical porn house crowd of older gents and giggling tipsy college kids. It never lost its attractive, beautifully upholstered and carpeted lustre, so many preferred it to the older and less reputable Astor downtown.
The Art theater showed foreign and independent films throughout the 50’s and 60’s. then in the mid-1970’s like the “old Allen” (Astor) downtown, it began showing porn films. It’s former status as an Art theater made it the more legit choice of couples — even a trendy place to take a spouse. But porn is porn, and the clientelle soon dwindled to the typical porn house crowd of older gents and giggling tipsy college kids. It never lost its attractive, beautifully upholstered and carpeted lustre, so many preferred it to the older and less reputable Astor downtown.