Palladium Times Square
1515 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
1515 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10036
33 people
favorited this theater
Showing 226 - 250 of 577 comments
When I was in Phila in June of 2000, there was another theater closed by UA, Eric’s Place that was for sale or lease. It was originally a Trans Lux theater. The Midtown thetaer was closed by AMC, but is now a legit theater caleed the Prince Arts.
Yes, I went to see movies there when it was the Sam Eric Quad, gosh UA really ran that place into the ground. Believe me if this can happen in other cities like the Loew’s Jersey in Jersey City and the Opera House in Boston it can happen in Philly. I believe that the Boyd is the only real surviving movie palace still left in Center City.
I am originally from Phila and there is a fight now to save the only theater left in center city the Sameric/Boyd. UA closed it a few years ago and Clear Channel is supposed to turn it into a legit theater if enough funds can be raised. The same thing happened to the theaters in Atlantic City. When the casino’s, came down went the theates. Most were torn down and parking lots were made. The last year that most were in operation were 1973.
Land values being what they are in Midtown Manhattan, there really was no way to save these theatres, also lets remember the preservation movement had yet to be started, they wanted to tear down Grand Central and replace it with an ugly office building as well. Other Cties have seemed to save at least one former palace and use it for preforming arts centers, I wish New York had been able to, well at least we have Radio City.
Like what Theatrefan said “The land they were sitting on had much more value than the actual building”.
Thats why theatres in this city like the Roxy, Rivoli, Capital, Warner, Paramount were all razed or as in the case of the Paramount gutted for office use. They were just built too big for movie exhibition of today.
Hi Mikeoaklandpark,
Yes the original Loew’s Orpheum was knocked down to make way for an apartment bulding with modern cinemas uderneath. The 3rd Avenue entrance to the theatre is gone. Since this theatre has opened they have redone the lobby, because the ticket booth area used to be outside. The inside of this theatre is like the other Loews of this era ala the 84th St, Village 7, and 19th Street East. The one unique feature is the marquee is sort of a throwback to the old fashioned ones of yesterday, it had a curved hump in the front.
Unfortunately like all other theatres the land they were sitting on had much more value than the actual building.
Hey TheaterFan. I was only in the Orpheum one time in 1982 to see Annie. Did they totally knock down the theater and rebuild it to make it 7 theaters? When I lived in NYC, it was 2 theaters. The balcony theater had it’s enterance on 3rd ave and at one point was called Loews Cine.
There is a magazine called “Scene” being give out at Loews theatres to celebrate the chain’s centenial 1904-2004. As soon as you open the front cover there is a picture of the Astor Plaza hosting the premiere for Funny Lady from 1975. I got my issue at the Loews Orpheum yesterday, you might want to check for it at your local Loews theatre. It also contains an interesting article and photos that chronicle the last 100 years of the Loews Theatre Chain.
I went by the Astor Plaza last night, everything that Loews could salvage they took, as you look into the lobby, all of the Poster Cases that used to hang on the walls are gone, all that remains is their outline on the wall and wires dangling loose. The boxoffice ticketing system and microphone are gone, as is the schedule for what the movie and showtimes are. The marquee still has the Village sign on it, but it is dark. It’s a sad sight indeed! If anyone wants a outdoor shot of the theatre now is the time to take it.
Also you might want to check this article out from Fridays Daily News:
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That would be placed under Special Venue type theatres. Even if they show 35mm film sometimes.
The largest screen screen in NYC I would have thought woule be the IMAX at the Loew’s Lincoln Square.
The two largest auditoriums at the AMC Empire 25 are Theatres 1 & 6. I was told by the manager that the screens were the same size but not the size of them.
The screen at Radio City Music Hall which still is tucked above the procenium in front of the gridiron is the record at 70'
No, it was when the Astor Plaza closed. The largest is the Loews auditorium in Loews Lincoln Square at 62.5' The second biggest are all 62' and are as follows: Loews Kips Bay Auditorium 10, Loews Ewalk, Auditoriums 12 & 13. The Ziegfeld was the sixth largest at 52'. The magazine I am getting this info from does not say which ones are 3 & 4, but one of them has to be in the AMC Empire 25 and falls between 61' & 62'
Keep in mind that the Lincoln Square opened in 1994, Kips Bay & Ewalk in 1999 and the Empire in 2000, so before all these theatres were around the Astor Plaza was the biggest in NY.
Do you mean when the theater opened? And could you give us the top 4?
The Loews Astor Plaza movie screen at 61' was the fifth biggest in New York City.
Longest run at the Astor Plaza: “Star Wars” – 65 weeks in 1977-78. “Grease” was supposed to open here but it had to change to the Loew’s State because of the ongoing popularity of “Star Wars”.
Now that the Astor Plaza is sadly no more, can someone at Cinema Treasures please edit this page – separating out the true comments about the theatre…and the memories…shifting the gossip and the asides about 70mm to another page…This theatre deserves a concise updated history – key pictures opening here, long runs, and links to relevant news articles (maybe even some NY Times bits from the trouble pre-history as the Reade and then the opening as the Astor Plaza.
Thanks
You can also get to the Lafayette by bus (Short Line) from Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan:
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Can’t wait to see this place in Sept. I’m sure it will be nothing short of spectacular.
PATH to Hoboken station, then NJT train to Suffern —– about four short blocks away from the Lafayette. An easy trip.
I have heard about this theatre. Is there anyway to get there using public transportation?
RIP: Astor Plaza…It’s gone. The people at Loews didn’t do anything special because even though the people here made a big deal of the closing, they figured that as usual, it will all die down after the closing…and it will. I am so glas I went last week to see Spiderman2 there. We’re in a losing battle guys, and we lost this one. It’s time to say goodbye to a great theater. It’s just unfortunate that because of multiplexes and bad movies that make alot of money and stupid teens, that culture has to suffer.
I’ve never been to Loews jersey City, the showtimes never worked out for me but hope to….BUT….
A great theater does exist. THE LAFAYETTE THEATER, in Suffern NY…all this talk of 2001…on Sept. 12, 2004 they will be showing 2001 with an appearance (in-person) by both Kier Dullea AND Gary Lockwood…if that’s not enough, that same afternoon, they’re showing PLANET OF THE APES with an appearance by NOVA..Linda Harrison…it’s all part of their Sci-FI festival from Sept. 10-12, the next week begins the Big Screen Classic Series with …THE CAINE MUTINY…9/18
so, yes,, I too am bummed about the Astor Plaza but luckily, I have The Lafayette to have great films “experienced” as oppossed to viewed. I urge all here to go to The Lafayette and see what I’m talking about. For me, the theater has become a haven…see it on… www.bigscreenclassics.com
You would think they could have booked something special if they were only going to be open for the weekend. Or at least announce that they were closing on Sunday. I had planned to go on Thursday even know I did not really want to see the “Village.” Lets hope the Ziegfeld stays open but I always felt the Astor was a better theatre.
It’s no suprise to me that they were ripping the place apart right after the 10:15 showing of the Village. When I was here Friday nignt I spoke with the manager, whom I remember from the Kips Bay, he said that they have to be totaly cleared out from this space by Thur. From what Shade said they were probably working all night to take out all the theatre equipment.
You guys are right the Loew’s Jersey is an terrific place to see movie, they turn 75 in September so I hope something special is planned.