Paramount Columbus Circle

15 Columbus Circle,
New York, NY 10019

Unfavorite 12 people favorited this theater

Showing 1 - 25 of 65 comments

Astyanax
Astyanax on October 26, 2024 at 10:00 am

Rugoff premiered some of his Cinema 5 releases. I recall seeing the Hellstrom Chronicles at this venue.

ridethectrain
ridethectrain on October 25, 2024 at 8:25 pm

Please add to previous chains, it opened under Cinema 5 before Loews took the theatre over in the early 1980’s

Mikeoaklandpark
Mikeoaklandpark on October 23, 2024 at 12:36 pm

The name should be the Paramount. It was only Sony for a short time. I saw The Blue Lagoon here in 70MM

Lionel
Lionel on October 22, 2024 at 11:41 pm

Thank you M for your input about 70mm. Your articles and compilations have always been very enriching. I’m surprised to learn that The Star Chamber and Dead Poets Society benefitted from a 70mm release, quite unexpected in my opinion for films like these.

MSC77
MSC77 on October 22, 2024 at 3:27 pm

“Gettysburg” (1993) appears to have been the only 70mm presentation held here during the period it went under the Columbus Circle name. As the Paramount, they ran the following in 70mm: “Patton” (1972 return run), “The Blue Lagoon” (1980), “Divine Madness” (1980), “Quest for Fire” (1982), “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1983 return run), “The Star Chamber” (1983), “Gandhi” (1983 return run), “Amadeus” (1984), “A Chorus Line” (1985), “Spaceballs” (1987), “Willow” (1988), and “Dead Poets Society” (1989 moveover). A history/chronology of 70mm presentations and theaters in New York City can be found here.

Lionel
Lionel on October 14, 2024 at 11:48 am

Thanks Al. If it was one of the few having Dolby SR for six-track magnetic sound on 70mm then it was truly a well equipped theater and I would assume the screen wasn’t that small vs auditorium size.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on October 14, 2024 at 11:33 am

Lionel, it was equipped for 70mm with six-track Dolby SR. I don’t know the screen size.

Lionel
Lionel on October 13, 2024 at 1:59 am

Was this cinema equipped for 70mm? What was the screen size? Which Dolby processor?

JoelWeide
JoelWeide on April 23, 2023 at 10:02 am

I always thought it was such an unique theatre being underground the way it was. But then that is what New York City is all about so it fit in quite well!!

SethLewis
SethLewis on April 23, 2023 at 9:55 am

A class act of a theatre…Saw Little Big Man Murder on the Orient Express (Albert Finney) Eight Men Out The Manchurian Candidate (original re-issue) here

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on April 23, 2023 at 9:55 am

Sony had purchased Loews and rebranded to Sony for awhile. When acquired by Cineplex Odeon, the rebranding made no sense, so was changed back to Loews & became part of new Loews Cineplex which eventually itself was acquired by AMC. AMC ran the Tower East until it eventually vacated.

m00se1111
m00se1111 on April 23, 2023 at 5:45 am

From 1994-1996 some theatres went from Loews to Sony to Loews Cineplex

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loews_Cineplex_Entertainment

stang119
stang119 on April 22, 2023 at 12:10 pm

I went here a few times. The auditorium was cool! The walls were shaped like bellows of an old camera and the curtain looked like the lens and shutter. As if we were inside the camera! I don’t think the theatre was ever called the Sony Columbus Circle.

woody131
woody131 on December 11, 2022 at 2:09 pm

Because of vibration from adjacent subway lines the auditorium was built on springs or big rubber shock absorbers.

ridethectrain
ridethectrain on July 4, 2021 at 3:04 pm

Please update, theatre closed on March 30, 1995

Mikeoaklandpark
Mikeoaklandpark on August 25, 2017 at 6:30 pm

I saw the Blue Lagoon there and it may have been a 70MM print

moviebuff82
moviebuff82 on August 25, 2017 at 6:13 pm

Was this film shown in 70mm dolby stereo or just 35mm?

AdamBomb1701
AdamBomb1701 on January 21, 2016 at 8:47 am

They ran “Star Trek – The Motion Picture” in this theater back in 1979. On a advance-ticket, reserved seat engagement, despite the film opening in 400 other theaters nationwide (including 40-50 in the N.Y. metro area) on the same day – December 7, 1979. After eight weeks, when most theaters dropped the film, the Paramount still ran it. On a general admission basis, though.

mariaconfetti
mariaconfetti on August 14, 2014 at 8:45 am

I went to see Tootsie on opening day & saw Dustin Hoffman when I was leaving. I do remember the winding staircase. It was nice.

moviebuff82
moviebuff82 on July 6, 2014 at 8:23 am

20 years ago today Forrest Gump came out at this theater and others.

marklyons
marklyons on November 15, 2013 at 2:00 pm

I saw The Breakfast club there, it was one of my favorites….

SeaBassTian
SeaBassTian on September 3, 2012 at 6:28 pm

As a teenager in the 80’s, I considered this weird venue a fun place to catch a flick. I have a vague memory of a spiral escalator transporting you downstairs? I didn’t visit often, but I remember going for Making Mr. Right.

Ed Miller
Ed Miller on March 10, 2012 at 1:39 am

Oddly, my usual steel-trap memory recalls nothing innovative about the auditorium at all. Of course, I was only there once, and it was a long time ago; yet I remember everything else about that evening as if it were yesterday.

RobertEndres
RobertEndres on March 5, 2012 at 4:33 am

Actually, the auditorium was more interesting than described above. My predecessor at Radio City, Bill Nafash, did the installation in both the theatre and the two Paramount screening rooms in the offices at the top of the building. All of the projectors were 70mm, and before they were installed Radio City took three of them to get “Airport” opened on time. Three of the machines were in the theatre, and Bill said it was really really unique, at least in concept. The auditorium was designed to look like the bellows of a camera narrowing as it got closer to the screen. The “curtain” at the front was designed to look like a camera lens when the curtain was closed. Bill said originally strobe lights were installed in the coves in the “bellows” designed to look like camera flash bulbs going off. Alas the effect was too successful triggering discomforting effects in the audience. The flashes were soon eliminated. The travelling attraction sign above the entrance was also one of the first in New York to not feature fixed sign letters. That too was an idea who’s time may not have come since they were limited to incandescent bulbs with all their limitations. In all the theatre was probably a result of form over function, and while the design concepts may have worked better on paper than in reality, at least the idea was more interesting than indicated above.

RobertR
RobertR on March 4, 2012 at 10:00 pm

@Tinseltoes I remember that “shadowbox” effect on the recessed screen when the theatre was new.