I saw the comments above about the neighborhood being a disadvantage and have to strongly disagree. If anything, this theater has a huge advantage, particularly if the right promoter comes in and starts promoting rock and pop shows. The theater is six blocks from the Fordham stop on two separate lines for Metro-North. The Harlem Line, which runs all through Westchester and Putnam counties, and the New Haven Line, which runs through southeastern Connecticut. This is a rock-and-roll goldmine. Hundreds of thousands of college-aged kids living and/or going to school in these exurbs who would love to hop on a train and take it to Fordham, thereby spending less than it would take to go all the way into Grand Central, to see their favorite band at this magnificent venue that blows the overpriced Beacon away. And, if they went to see a show at Irving Plaza or the Gramercy, they’d have to spend another 4 bucks on the subway. Here, they can just walk. It would also be a boon to Fordham Road, as they would patronize the restaurants along that strip pre-show.
Recently there was a boomlet of rock venues opened in Manhattan – Highline, United Palace, Blender at Gramercy, Coda. Too many venues in too small a space, and Coda already went out of business as a result. The Paradise would stand out by being the only venue like it in the Bronx and that much easier to get to for people from the north and east. And you can still get there from Brooklyn and Manhattan on the 4, B, and D.
The Allmans always make a big deal out of their March residency at the Beacon, but I know several people who won’t go there anymore because of security and management. If you can get another big band to establish a residency at the Paradise, and pay attention to the details so the customers feel like it is a real “experience,” there is no reason for this venue not to succeed.
Wow, hard to imagine there being a theater there and yet…
The lot is empty now. If Madison Marquette ever rebuilds the Asbury Casino, that lot would be a perfect spot for a new theatre. Plenty of foot traffic from both directions on the boardwalk. Not mainstream, first-run, since you’d be competing with Middlebrook. But more independent, art house stuff, mixed in with retro classics.
Surprised to see only one passing reference to Vic’s. That’s what made (makes?) this the go-to spot for birthday parties on the shore. You and the 20-40 kids from your class go to the theater to see Star Wars or the Right Stuff after school, then go across the street to Vic’s, where the class mothers order up 8 to 10 pies and you get to tear into your presents. Classic.
Not sure why this would be listed in Cinema Treasures since they’ve never shown movies here. (Although Jack Nicholson would hang out in the basement as a teenager when it was known as the Spring Lake Canteen.)
The building still stands. There’s a collection agency in the lobby and, I think, a storefront church just to the left of that.
It would be great if ArtsCAP could get a hold of it. AP is no longer dead, but a fully functioning theater could bring a much needed spark to the other businesses around there, especially the restaurants.
I saw “Return of the Jedi” and “E.T.” here around 25 years ago. It should not be listed as an Asbury Park Theatre though. Seaview Square is in Ocean Township, on the west side of Route 35.
The ice cream parlor, originally Hill’s Pharmacy but now the Sundae Times, was to the right of the Ritz, at 17 Atlantic. From that pic in the Patricia Colrick book, it looks like the Ritz was torn down and replaced with the small apartment house that’s there now. There has been a pretty good bike shop there on the first floor for many years.
I saw the comments above about the neighborhood being a disadvantage and have to strongly disagree. If anything, this theater has a huge advantage, particularly if the right promoter comes in and starts promoting rock and pop shows. The theater is six blocks from the Fordham stop on two separate lines for Metro-North. The Harlem Line, which runs all through Westchester and Putnam counties, and the New Haven Line, which runs through southeastern Connecticut. This is a rock-and-roll goldmine. Hundreds of thousands of college-aged kids living and/or going to school in these exurbs who would love to hop on a train and take it to Fordham, thereby spending less than it would take to go all the way into Grand Central, to see their favorite band at this magnificent venue that blows the overpriced Beacon away. And, if they went to see a show at Irving Plaza or the Gramercy, they’d have to spend another 4 bucks on the subway. Here, they can just walk. It would also be a boon to Fordham Road, as they would patronize the restaurants along that strip pre-show.
Recently there was a boomlet of rock venues opened in Manhattan – Highline, United Palace, Blender at Gramercy, Coda. Too many venues in too small a space, and Coda already went out of business as a result. The Paradise would stand out by being the only venue like it in the Bronx and that much easier to get to for people from the north and east. And you can still get there from Brooklyn and Manhattan on the 4, B, and D.
The Allmans always make a big deal out of their March residency at the Beacon, but I know several people who won’t go there anymore because of security and management. If you can get another big band to establish a residency at the Paradise, and pay attention to the details so the customers feel like it is a real “experience,” there is no reason for this venue not to succeed.
Well, except for the recession.
Wow, hard to imagine there being a theater there and yet…
The lot is empty now. If Madison Marquette ever rebuilds the Asbury Casino, that lot would be a perfect spot for a new theatre. Plenty of foot traffic from both directions on the boardwalk. Not mainstream, first-run, since you’d be competing with Middlebrook. But more independent, art house stuff, mixed in with retro classics.
Surprised to see only one passing reference to Vic’s. That’s what made (makes?) this the go-to spot for birthday parties on the shore. You and the 20-40 kids from your class go to the theater to see Star Wars or the Right Stuff after school, then go across the street to Vic’s, where the class mothers order up 8 to 10 pies and you get to tear into your presents. Classic.
Not sure why this would be listed in Cinema Treasures since they’ve never shown movies here. (Although Jack Nicholson would hang out in the basement as a teenager when it was known as the Spring Lake Canteen.)
The building still stands. There’s a collection agency in the lobby and, I think, a storefront church just to the left of that.
It would be great if ArtsCAP could get a hold of it. AP is no longer dead, but a fully functioning theater could bring a much needed spark to the other businesses around there, especially the restaurants.
I saw “Return of the Jedi” and “E.T.” here around 25 years ago. It should not be listed as an Asbury Park Theatre though. Seaview Square is in Ocean Township, on the west side of Route 35.
The ice cream parlor, originally Hill’s Pharmacy but now the Sundae Times, was to the right of the Ritz, at 17 Atlantic. From that pic in the Patricia Colrick book, it looks like the Ritz was torn down and replaced with the small apartment house that’s there now. There has been a pretty good bike shop there on the first floor for many years.