Crown Gotham Theatre
969 3rd Avenue,
New York,
NY
10022
969 3rd Avenue,
New York,
NY
10022
13 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 39 comments
An interesting factoid about the Trans-Lux East is that starting on February 1, 1980 Penthouse International which at the time owned Penthouse Magazine leased out the Trans-Lux East in order to screen their controversial film Caligula since main stream circuits like General Cinemas, RKO Century Warner and United Artists etc… refused to screen the films due to its controversial nature and the fact that the film’s executive producer and Penthouse Magazine owner/publisher Bob Guccione refused to submit it to the Motion Picture Association of America for fear that it would get an X rating. Caligula had some big hit actors including Malcolm McDowell, Teresa Ann Savoy, Helen Mirren, Peter O’Toole and Sir John Gielgud.
Thank you. It was an excellent print. People are bemoaning the quality of the bluray so I’m wondering why a better bluray is not possible.
I’d like to know what happened to that print.
vindarpar, it opened on August 20, 1993 and played for two weeks.
Does anyone know when the restored El Cid played here in 70mm?
Please update, theatre closed March 29, 2001. Last film was Blow Dry. Also uploaded, first film No formal grand opening ad.
Memorable for seeing first run of WOODSTOCK there, for which a special upgraded rock concert sound system was installed.
I always liked this theater the best of all the 3rd avenue cinemas (on and off) between 57th & 60th. I didn’t have an occasion to go here too many times, but I do remember seeing Big here and then sneaking out of class early to see a matinee of Say Anything the day before it closed.
An elegant theater where I saw El Cid and The Sound of Music in beautiful prints. And though it did not have a huge screen they were satisfying experiences.
$5.00 though was not unheard of. Roadshow movies were charging more than that for the best seats since ‘64.
“Did they ever show a Batman film there?”
The Trans-Lux East had its grand opening on the night of April 10th, 1963, with the invitational premiere of “The Ugly American.” The Marlon Brando starrer started continuous performances the next day, in a dual engagement with the Rivoli Theatre in midtown.
According to the book “The Beatles: The Ultimate Recording Guide” by Allen J. Wiener, “Give My Regards To Broad Street” starring Paul McCartney premiered on Wednesday October 25, 1984 at the Gotham.
The theatre was unique for the big lobby and balcony, the lobby had a big sitting area, very few theatres that are around in 2015 like this one, the staff was always nice and even remembered people who were frequent guests there. The first movie I saw there was on 10/27/84 was the Paul McCartney film Give My Regards to Broadstreet. I also saw Wall Street, The Pick Up Artist and others.
Google NY Times Archive and you get a selection screen.I have only looked up movie reviews, not sure if the old ads are there. Check it out, there is a wealth of info.
I know I saw “Zardoz” here in 1974, because according to the NY Times it was the only Manhattan theatre showing the film upon its premiere. I also saw “Caligula” on its debut in 1980, when it was called The Penthouse.
A photo shortly before closure here:–
GOTHAM CINEMA
The TransLux East was singular for its intimate sense of luxury with its posh red and gold appointments and classical architectural details. When it reopened as the Gotham this was lost and was replaced with a sleek, yet cold ambiance. Other than Last Tango In Paris, the TLE could never compete with Cinema 1 or the Coronet for the exclusive mainstream bookings. The fourwalling of Caligula, and subsequent distribution patterns probably reuined it as a prime first run venue.
Opening ad;
“…and by all means bring the ladies.”
View link
Architect was Drew Eberson. The Greek sculpture were copies from the ruins of various Greek buildings of the fifth century. They were executed by Mr. Shirley W. E. Simmons, a noted sculptor at the time. The 600-seat house actually cost $350,000 by one report. Other credits were:
Air cond: Carrier
Carpet: Alexander Smith
Decorator: Peggy Eberson
Draperies, curtain track: Novelty Scenic
Marquee: Adler, Artkraft Strauss
Lamphouses: Strong
Projector/soundhead: Century
Rectifiers: Ashcraft
Screen: Trans-Lux (of course)
Seats: Heywood-Wakefield
As the Gotham.
View link
Penthouse East should be an aka name here.
The “East” was most likely used to avoid any confusion with the Penthouse in Times Square which changed its name in 1975 to the Cinerama-2 and had no affiliation to Guccione.
Exterior picture whilst still operating here:–
View link
A November 1971 reissue
View link
Did he call it the Penthouse West in some sort of pornographic answer to Bill Graham’s great Fillmore rock venues?
Guccione also four-walled SRO’s Holly Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. for the Hollywood engagement of “Caligula” which at the time charged around $7.50-$8 for admission.
Here’s an ad for Guccione’s “Caligula” from December 1980 boasting of the film’s “11th record-shattering month in NY!” Huh? Didn’t roadshow films in the late ‘50’s and early '60’s run well over a year in a few instances?
For Mature Audiences Only
The film was still being four-walled at the temporarily re-christened “Penthouse East”, but the movie clock from that day’s paper (check out the “Movie Directory” at the bottom center of the image below) clearly shows that it had already widened its distribution to a number of nabe houses like the Center in Sunnyside and the Walker and Kent in Brooklyn:
Movie Clock Daily News 12/14/80
Interesting how the Penthouse East listing says “Exclusive Engagment” even though the movie was in several other NYC theaters. Perhaps exclusive to Manhattan?