Savoy Theatre

Additional photo uploaded.

The commentary says the, at that time, Rialto, was the first theatre to be wired for sound in Queens. There was also a claim that the Arion in Middle Village was. Comments on the Arion site would lead one to believe that neither had that distinction. Inasmuch as “The Jazz Singer” opened at Fox’s Jamaica (later called the Cort and Carlton), it would seem that the Rialto (Savoy) was not even the first in Jamaica. When the renovated, renamed theatre opened in December, 1929 it boasted a new Western Electric sound system. Would that have been done if one had been put in place only a short time before when talkies first came out?

The Rialto opened on December 1, 1920. At a cost of a half million dollars it was hailed as: “one of the largest photoplay houses in New York bearing comparison with any other theatres on Broadway”. The opening film was “Something to Think About” with Gloria Swanson and Elliot Dexter. The house also boasted a twenty five piece orchestra and a gigantic pipe organ (mentioned in a much earlier comment on CT). There was a special exhibition agreement with Famous Players-Lasky and Paramount.

Although other references to this theatre show it as being built by Al Schwartz after the success of his Rialto in Brooklyn, it was purported to be a local project using a local architect and financing. It was to be operated by the Long Island Motion Picture Company, two of whose officers were the Alterman Brothers who are listed as the new owners when the theatre reopened as the Savoy in 1929.

Curious.

I was looking at the Century Brooklyn Rialto and found reference this “second” one built by Schwartz. Kind of unusual to have two theatres with the same name in a small local chain.

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Yes Mr. Doc, that feeling of loss can’t compare to the likely daily loss of patron’s bodily fluids that ensued on the floor and the seatbacks of the Savoy in it’s latter years. Tawk' about a sticky floor! DOH!!

To Jeffbackdoc, I managed to go once to this theatre during it’s final porno phase and you didn’t miss much. The fare was typical 42nd street grind house “soft” porn with bad grainy scratchy prints.What I was intrigued with more was the ghostly images of the decor that indicated the former grandure of the house.

Hey Warren, I beat you to it…and then some. Scroll up a few posts. Thanks for posting!

Lee

Lee…Thanks for putting the facade back into focus for me. It could have been that during my Savoy movie-going days in the 50’s, the facade was sort of overpowered by and lost in the shadows of the old Jamaica Avenue el.
In any event, the Savoy was quite unique and had a personality all its own.

Lee Tyler….Thanks for posting the picture of the Savoy, pre 1932, when it was the Rialto. As the Savoy, I recall that the marquee was a silver and black Art Deco design. However, for the life of me I cannot recall the facade above the Savoy marquee. Certainly not the imposing one as pictured above the Rialto marquee in the old photo. Was it changed at the time that the Savoy marquee was installed? Or has my memory gone south? Does anyone recall what the facade looked like during the 1950’s?
I do vividly recall the lobby which was oval or round and painted all white. They used to have great displays of the b/w stills advertising the upcoming triple features.

I lived in Jamaica from 1965 to 1978. I remember when the Valencia, Alden, Merrick and Savoy were still thriving. I actually have taken Valencia as one of my cyber names. Even in 1966 the Valencia was a beautiful theatre with most of its features still intact. It was there and the purchase of my first book, Best Remaining Seats got me interested in old theatres. I smoked my very first cigarette in the balcony at the Merrick. The Merrick was awesome even then. The ushers were still uniformed like they were at Radio City. The Alden was rather plain but serviceable. Now the Savoy at that time was in it’s last gasps. I must admit I was curious to take in what was then the “adult” show. On the screen was typical grainy 42nd Street porn, more soft core variety. Once was enough for me I had to leave. However I took in the decor, walls. fixtures and knew this was once a movie palace. The Savoy is long gone making way for York College. Jamaica now has a multiplex that replaces all the dead theatres. Valencia now is indeed a well kept church.

Looky heeya! I believe this is actually a photo from the 20’s or 30’s of the Savoy when it was still called the Rialto. Ya' think this is the one I was referring to? It was found on a site called QUEENSPIX.COM. Chime in if you can on this. Thanks! —-Lee

http://www.queenspix.com/jamthumbnails/jamaica.jpg