RE Peoples Cinema. My English professor grew vup in this neighborhood.His parents were socialists who supported “Uncle Joe” in the 1930s and became full fledged communists after WWII.He had some memories of his parents saying that they used to see Soviet made films there in the 30s and early 40s.By the time he was about 9 or 10 in the late 40s, the theater changed its policy and started to show more mainstream Hollywood and foreign films. He said this neighborhood had many Jewish intelluctials and Bohemian types and others who supported leftist activities. He says the theater went mainstream probably due to the fear of the then current “red scare' that came right after WWII.He also remembered pro Julius and Ethel Rosenberg demonstrations that were held here after they were convicted of giving the Soviets infomation on the nuclear bomb in the early 50s.
P Koch… you are exactly right.This is a “warehouse” type of store that sells cut rate furniture, clothes, jewelry, toys and electronics.Marshalls-where the former Oriental theater was ain`t much better. -hit stores indeed!
More bad Bensonhurst news. The Oriental Manor, the catering hall and Brooklyn legend directly across from the former theater has now been closed. Even though the decor is still there,a new cut rate “schlock shop” has opened there as of 2 weeks before this post.
Warren- I quess that you pretty much have nailed the boundaries of downtown Jamaica. My mother remembers Goodwins vividly. It kind of resembled Mays in downtown Brooklyn. How about Macy`s? Remember that? We used to refer to it as “the department store from the Twilight Zone”.
Remember going to the Hillside in the summer of 64 with my cousin Patricia{who lived not too far away} to see the Beatles in their first{unfortunately, not their last} movie "A Hard Days Night".Cant say I liked the movie, but the theater was fairly clean and well kept. Im not sure if Loews ran it at the time, but it DID resemble a Loews theater due to the first class design elements that went into it. A few months later, I visited it again with my father and younger brother to see "First Men in The Moon"- a British made Sci-Fi with Ray Harryhausen FX. I remember it was probably around Thanksgiving because my mother and aunt went shopping at Gertz dept store. Remember that? Anyway, this area was never really too safe at night. It was also somewhat transient because it was near the LIRRs main station where most commuters had to transfer to other trains for their trip home to Long Island.Even though that was bad enough {for the time} the area went completely to hell in the early 70s when drugs, street crime, and urban decay made its appearence. This pretty much “finished off” Jamaica like so many other “downtown” areas across the USA, but slowly it is turning itself around. The long closed theaters remain a mute testiment to this once decent area.
Regardless of whatever print was screened, it WAS a good show, and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. I remember seeing it on a rented video a few years ago. It was on two tapes. The color and quality of tape 1 was good, but it looked like all the color was bleached out on tape 2.I intend to buy it on DVD. I just hope the transfer is good, and it has a lot of “extras” like interviews with the cast, shooting scenes and other “bling”.
Saw “Its A Mad Mad Mad Mad World at the Jersey 6-9. Although the print was not the Cinerama version, it was pretty decent anyway. After it was announced that there might be some minor sound and color problems, they never materialized and it turned out to be a fine show all around. Truly an epic comedy in every sense of the world. I never realized how funny it was until I saw it on the big screen again- after more than 40 years since the times I saw it as a pre-teen in the 60s. As usual, the audience was well behaved. About 200 people showed up. noticed many younger people, who were probably not born when the film was new, but judging by the laughter from the audience, they seemed to be having a great time with it. I enjoyed it so much that I did not even realise the air conditioning was not working. A great way for the Jersey to end the season. Wonder whats in store for September?
Prehaps the purple prose placed on the Prince of Pitkin placed positive projections ,providing that the principal posturing promoted pride, prejudice and passion concerning the princley palace the Pitkin was purported to be. “Euphonious” anyone?
I was only at the Pitkin once. It was late in 68. I went to see "Rosemarys Baby" with my uncle Rocco and cousin Cosmo.The theater was absolutely beautiful- be it a “wonder theater” or nor. You could have spent days in there just exploring the statuary work and the details that were incorporated into it.Although the neighborhood was predominately Jewish{with a smattering of Italians}, it was sinking faster than the Titanic back then.From what I understand, there were many fine theaters in this nieghborhood, but the Pitkin WAS the prince! God only knows what the inside looks like now.
Beautiful theaters- both of them. The 46th. St was designed in a combination combining neo classical elements with “movie palace gothic' styles of the era. The Boro Park, wich was older took a classical European approach. It resembled an Opera house that one would see in Italy, Paris or Vienna. Those box seats at orchestra level not too far behind the screen gave it that look. Though much more conservatively styled than the 46th. St, it was a beautiful theater just the same. The real tragedy is that it was leveled to build a post office. The balcony of the 46th. St still survives intact, but the ultra Hassidic manager of the furniture store absolutely will not let ANYBODY in to see it.The mosque, wich has been there for years is not in the theater proper. It is on a top story of one of the businesses that was incorporated into the fascade of the theater.
Id say there were closer to 450 people for Sunset Boulevard. Although I have seen this masterpiece many times on TV, experiencing it on the Jerseys big screen was like being in movie heaven. Great intro and QA session by Mr. Hirsch too. The print was scratchy at times, but in the light of this remarkable experience at the Jersey that night, it was easily overlooked. Miss Desmond is exactly right when she asserts that the “pictures have become smaller”. Show me just about any of the current releases playing at the `plexes and she made her point!
Saps…. you are so right! I really dont care if the show starts a few minutes late. Big deal!Not everybody who comes drives in. Many are at the mercy {if this word can be used} of public transportation. The more time I spend here only gives me more time to study this magnificent theater in detail.Then again, it also gives me some more time to talk with the patrons that Im getting to know. God forbid if anybody does this during the show!That`s why the Jersey experience is unique.
Kind of dissapointed that GWTW is going to be the afternoon show at the Jersey, with Cassablanca the evening show.Should have been the other way! GWTW is definately a “Saturday Night” movie. I quess that kills my chances of seeing it, but I`m sure the hard core Jersey goers will post their thoughts and comments on it.
I remember going to the Cinema Kings Highway in the early to mid late 60s with my parents. This theater made a foreign film fan out of me! Unusual for Brooklyn, this theater seemed more at home on Manhattans upper East or West side. In those pre multiplex, video, dvd, pay for view, Speilbergian , Dolby, CGI days people seemed to have more intelligence in film going than today. Anyway, I remember seeing films like “Two Women”,“Marriage AND Divorce Italian Style”, the Italian shockumentary"Mondo Cane", French fare like “Umbrellas of Cherbourg”, “Hiroshima Mon Amour”,and “Weekend”, British films like “Alfie”, “The Wrong Box”,“Billy Liar”, and “Bedazzled”. Also those great films from Czechoslovakia from the “Prague Spring” era like “Closely Watched Trains”, “The Fireman1s Ball”, “Lovrs of a Blonde” and the great “Shop on Main Street”. This theater was rather small and nondescript, but it served its purpose well. There was usually a good audience for Saturday and Sunday night shows. Things started to go downhill in late `69 and early 70 when they started to show porn, but I did get to see “Marat/sade” here in March of 1970.After the theater went porn, you had to go to Manhattan to see films like these. In retrospect it was amazing that this theater even showed these films in the first place, but the memories were pricrless.
Remember seeing “Barry Lyndon” shortly after it was released. It was a beautifully photographed period piece and O`Neal was quite good.However if memory serves, I had a hard time trying to stay awake for it.
Vincent… a good point and one well taken.Prehaps GWTW is racist in spots, but this was the general situation in the South during the Civil war and Reconstruction eras. As for Kubrick calling Miss Leighs peformance the worst hes ever seen? Dare I mention Tom Cruise in his own “Eyes wide shut”? Anyway, back to GWTW. I am definately going to see it. Wether the print be good, bad or indifferent. I quess I`ll take my chances and post my opinion after the show.Critics-what do they know?
Vincent…Im sure the people who obtain and screen the prints at the Jersey DO give a damn.Staying home and watching it on VHS or DVD just does not have the same impact as seeing it on the big screen. Most of the films that Ive seen at the Jersey over the last 2 years I do have on Vhs or Dvd, but there is just no comparison . This is a non-factor for me. I will pay to see a great film at a great theater.Besides that, I consider the Jersey experience a great night out, and one that I look fowards to when a fine show is planned.
Thanks Peter. I hope so. I remember when this film was re released in late 1974- possibly its last re-release before going to TV.I went to see it at the Highway and De Luxe theaters in Brooklyn- 2 long closed `nabes. The print was sharp and crisp and the Technicolor was beautiful.
Re GWTW…I understand from some of the posts that I`ve read that the version screened was not of the highest quality.I really would like to go see it at the upcoming screening. Can anybody out there help me and tell me just how good- or bad the last screening of it was? How was the color and the sound? I remember seeing it at Radio City Music Hall in the mid 70s.The print screened- wich was obviously “blown up” for the big screen looked like all the color was bleached out of it. Mostly dull reddish browns and yellows. I did not enjoy it at all. Hope the Jersey can do better and present this landmark film in a better print.
Ato… was there too for the African Queen. After a slight- but audiable hum was worked out of the film after a few minutes, the presentation was first rate. Can`t say for sure wich “noirs” will be shown, but Double Indemnity is one. Hard to believe the Jersey can not obtain a copy of Star Wars!
RE Peoples Cinema. My English professor grew vup in this neighborhood.His parents were socialists who supported “Uncle Joe” in the 1930s and became full fledged communists after WWII.He had some memories of his parents saying that they used to see Soviet made films there in the 30s and early 40s.By the time he was about 9 or 10 in the late 40s, the theater changed its policy and started to show more mainstream Hollywood and foreign films. He said this neighborhood had many Jewish intelluctials and Bohemian types and others who supported leftist activities. He says the theater went mainstream probably due to the fear of the then current “red scare' that came right after WWII.He also remembered pro Julius and Ethel Rosenberg demonstrations that were held here after they were convicted of giving the Soviets infomation on the nuclear bomb in the early 50s.
P Koch… you are exactly right.This is a “warehouse” type of store that sells cut rate furniture, clothes, jewelry, toys and electronics.Marshalls-where the former Oriental theater was ain`t much better. -hit stores indeed!
More bad Bensonhurst news. The Oriental Manor, the catering hall and Brooklyn legend directly across from the former theater has now been closed. Even though the decor is still there,a new cut rate “schlock shop” has opened there as of 2 weeks before this post.
Why?
The Park Cinema is the theater that Amir and Hassan go to in the novel “The Kite Runner”.
Warren- I quess that you pretty much have nailed the boundaries of downtown Jamaica. My mother remembers Goodwins vividly. It kind of resembled Mays in downtown Brooklyn. How about Macy`s? Remember that? We used to refer to it as “the department store from the Twilight Zone”.
Remember going to the Hillside in the summer of
64 with my cousin Patricia{who lived not too far away} to see the Beatles in their first{unfortunately, not their last} movie "A Hard Days Night".Cant say I liked the movie, but the theater was fairly clean and well kept. Im not sure if Loews ran it at the time, but it DID resemble a Loews theater due to the first class design elements that went into it. A few months later, I visited it again with my father and younger brother to see "First Men in The Moon"- a British made Sci-Fi with Ray Harryhausen FX. I remember it was probably around Thanksgiving because my mother and aunt went shopping at Gertz dept store. Remember that? Anyway, this area was never really too safe at night. It was also somewhat transient because it was near the LIRRs main station where most commuters had to transfer to other trains for their trip home to Long Island.Even though that was bad enough {for the time} the area went completely to hell in the early 70s when drugs, street crime, and urban decay made its appearence. This pretty much “finished off” Jamaica like so many other “downtown” areas across the USA, but slowly it is turning itself around. The long closed theaters remain a mute testiment to this once decent area.Regardless of whatever print was screened, it WAS a good show, and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. I remember seeing it on a rented video a few years ago. It was on two tapes. The color and quality of tape 1 was good, but it looked like all the color was bleached out on tape 2.I intend to buy it on DVD. I just hope the transfer is good, and it has a lot of “extras” like interviews with the cast, shooting scenes and other “bling”.
Saw “It
s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World at the Jersey 6-9. Although the print was not the Cinerama version, it was pretty decent anyway. After it was announced that there might be some minor sound and color problems, they never materialized and it turned out to be a fine show all around. Truly an epic comedy in every sense of the world. I never realized how funny it was until I saw it on the big screen again- after more than 40 years since the times I saw it as a pre-teen in the 60s. As usual, the audience was well behaved. About 200 people showed up. noticed many younger people, who were probably not born when the film was new, but judging by the laughter from the audience, they seemed to be having a great time with it. I enjoyed it so much that I did not even realise the air conditioning was not working. A great way for the Jersey to end the season. Wonder whats in store for September?Thanks Ed!
Prehaps the purple prose placed on the Prince of Pitkin placed positive projections ,providing that the principal posturing promoted pride, prejudice and passion concerning the princley palace the Pitkin was purported to be. “Euphonious” anyone?
That is what my uncle told me! He STILL insists that this was the best theater in the neighborhood.
I was only at the Pitkin once. It was late in
68. I went to see "Rosemarys Baby" with my uncle Rocco and cousin Cosmo.The theater was absolutely beautiful- be it a “wonder theater” or nor. You could have spent days in there just exploring the statuary work and the details that were incorporated into it.Although the neighborhood was predominately Jewish{with a smattering of Italians}, it was sinking faster than the Titanic back then.From what I understand, there were many fine theaters in this nieghborhood, but the Pitkin WAS the prince! God only knows what the inside looks like now.Beautiful theaters- both of them. The 46th. St was designed in a combination combining neo classical elements with “movie palace gothic' styles of the era. The Boro Park, wich was older took a classical European approach. It resembled an Opera house that one would see in Italy, Paris or Vienna. Those box seats at orchestra level not too far behind the screen gave it that look. Though much more conservatively styled than the 46th. St, it was a beautiful theater just the same. The real tragedy is that it was leveled to build a post office. The balcony of the 46th. St still survives intact, but the ultra Hassidic manager of the furniture store absolutely will not let ANYBODY in to see it.The mosque, wich has been there for years is not in the theater proper. It is on a top story of one of the businesses that was incorporated into the fascade of the theater.
I
d say there were closer to 450 people for Sunset Boulevard. Although I have seen this masterpiece many times on TV, experiencing it on the Jerseys big screen was like being in movie heaven. Great intro and QA session by Mr. Hirsch too. The print was scratchy at times, but in the light of this remarkable experience at the Jersey that night, it was easily overlooked. Miss Desmond is exactly right when she asserts that the “pictures have become smaller”. Show me just about any of the current releases playing at the `plexes and she made her point!Saps…. you are so right! I really don
t care if the show starts a few minutes late. Big deal!Not everybody who comes drives in. Many are at the mercy {if this word can be used} of public transportation. The more time I spend here only gives me more time to study this magnificent theater in detail.Then again, it also gives me some more time to talk with the patrons that Im getting to know. God forbid if anybody does this during the show!That`s why the Jersey experience is unique.Mark700…This neighborhood{wich is predominately Syrian Jewish and Russian is a safe neighborhood. I would not worry about my car over here.
Kind of dissapointed that GWTW is going to be the afternoon show at the Jersey, with Cassablanca the evening show.Should have been the other way! GWTW is definately a “Saturday Night” movie. I quess that kills my chances of seeing it, but I`m sure the hard core Jersey goers will post their thoughts and comments on it.
I remember going to the Cinema Kings Highway in the early to mid late 60s with my parents. This theater made a foreign film fan out of me! Unusual for Brooklyn, this theater seemed more at home on Manhattans upper East or West side. In those pre multiplex, video, dvd, pay for view, Speilbergian , Dolby, CGI days people seemed to have more intelligence in film going than today. Anyway, I remember seeing films like “Two Women”,“Marriage AND Divorce Italian Style”, the Italian shockumentary"Mondo Cane", French fare like “Umbrellas of Cherbourg”, “Hiroshima Mon Amour”,and “Weekend”, British films like “Alfie”, “The Wrong Box”,“Billy Liar”, and “Bedazzled”. Also those great films from Czechoslovakia from the “Prague Spring” era like “Closely Watched Trains”, “The Fireman1s Ball”, “Lovrs of a Blonde” and the great “Shop on Main Street”. This theater was rather small and nondescript, but it served its purpose well. There was usually a good audience for Saturday and Sunday night shows. Things started to go downhill in late `69 and early 70 when they started to show porn, but I did get to see “Marat/sade” here in March of 1970.After the theater went porn, you had to go to Manhattan to see films like these. In retrospect it was amazing that this theater even showed these films in the first place, but the memories were pricrless.
Remember seeing “Barry Lyndon” shortly after it was released. It was a beautifully photographed period piece and O`Neal was quite good.However if memory serves, I had a hard time trying to stay awake for it.
Vincent… a good point and one well taken.Prehaps GWTW is racist in spots, but this was the general situation in the South during the Civil war and Reconstruction eras. As for Kubrick calling Miss Leigh
s peformance the worst hes ever seen? Dare I mention Tom Cruise in his own “Eyes wide shut”? Anyway, back to GWTW. I am definately going to see it. Wether the print be good, bad or indifferent. I quess I`ll take my chances and post my opinion after the show.Critics-what do they know?Vincent…I
m sure the people who obtain and screen the prints at the Jersey DO give a damn.Staying home and watching it on VHS or DVD just does not have the same impact as seeing it on the big screen. Most of the films that Ive seen at the Jersey over the last 2 years I do have on Vhs or Dvd, but there is just no comparison . This is a non-factor for me. I will pay to see a great film at a great theater.Besides that, I consider the Jersey experience a great night out, and one that I look fowards to when a fine show is planned.Thanks Peter. I hope so. I remember when this film was re released in late 1974- possibly its last re-release before going to TV.I went to see it at the Highway and De Luxe theaters in Brooklyn- 2 long closed `nabes. The print was sharp and crisp and the Technicolor was beautiful.
Re GWTW…I understand from some of the posts that I`ve read that the version screened was not of the highest quality.I really would like to go see it at the upcoming screening. Can anybody out there help me and tell me just how good- or bad the last screening of it was? How was the color and the sound? I remember seeing it at Radio City Music Hall in the mid 70s.The print screened- wich was obviously “blown up” for the big screen looked like all the color was bleached out of it. Mostly dull reddish browns and yellows. I did not enjoy it at all. Hope the Jersey can do better and present this landmark film in a better print.
Ato… was there too for the African Queen. After a slight- but audiable hum was worked out of the film after a few minutes, the presentation was first rate. Can`t say for sure wich “noirs” will be shown, but Double Indemnity is one. Hard to believe the Jersey can not obtain a copy of Star Wars!