…The Cortlandt and West Street corporation in conjuction with Solomon & Khan, builders, have altered their plans, drawn by Gronenburg & Leuchtag, architects, and are now erecting on their plot at the southeast corner of Cortlandt and West Street a moving picture theatre of approximately 5,000 square feet with exits on West and Washington Street…
Does anyone have any idea what theatre this may have eventually been?
According to a New York Times June 1991 article, theatre historian Michael R, Miller claims this opened as the Pastime in 1908 and was designed by a Henry G. Harris. It was demolished in 1958.
If Manhattan theatres still get paid house nuts, it would cost Paramount more to stay on screen at the Zieg after week four than the box office could bring in. It makes more sense to stay on two or three screens on 42nd Street with staggered show times and pull the Ziegfeld print. This is reason it often goes dark between engagements.
During the Cineplex Odeon days there were several distributors willing to support keeping it open, hence the exclusives and the long runs to empty seats.
The Art opened on October 7, 1940 with the first-run of the 1933 French film “Whirlpool” (“Remous”) which was allegedly based on the banned novel LADY CHATTERLEY’S LOVER.
My 1934 Yearbook lists that Village as well but the Paramount Week 1923 ad lists a York Theatre at that address and a Village theatre at 15th and 8th Avenue. That latter one maps as the 115 Eighth Avenue address while the 189 Eighth Avenue location would be closer to 20th and arguably no longer in the Village.
Although as Warren has mentioned, those Paramount ads are not really reliable.
The Greenwich and Hudson were at 121 Christopher Street. The Village was at 115 Eighth Avenue. I don’t have anything on a Greenwich at eighth Avenue although that may have been a name change for the Village after the Christopher Street location became the Hudson.
It appears the Village has a richer movie past than I thought. I have entered the Greenwich Village Theatre (Sheridan Square) but I am looking for more info on the Greenwich (Christopher), Village (8th Ave), Rose (Bleecker & Thompson), Film Charas (10th Ave) and Casino (2nd Ave).
Wikipedia lists it as opening in 1953 as Theatre de Lys but that was just a remodel of the movie theatre. New York Map Portal dates the building to 1940 so I suspect it was rebuilt then.
I was always under the impression The Saint served only overpriced juice and people brought their own stash.
The city seemed to feel that second avenue was already too congested and they did not want movie crowds blocking the sidewalk.
The Hell’s Angels seem to rule that area as their headquarters were on 3rd street. The local police kept their distance. I believe this is still the case today.
Among the problems that kept Cineplex Odeon from creating a multiplex here was a demand by the city that the entrance be moved to 6th Street, not 2nd Avenue, a requirement opposed by local residents for obvious reasons.
I do not recall any concerns about preserving the interior since that had been already dramatically altered during its time as The Saint.
I went in several times for water tank inspections while Cineplex held the lease. At the local police’s request, the Hell’s Angels were our security guards.
During the leasing of the New Law in March 1922, a blurb in the NYT lists two Mayers and a Schneider as the directors of M & S.
E. Mayer, C. Mayer and L. Schneider.
The Gate showed movies here for two years (1967-68), probably longer than the Jean Renoir or the Camelot ever operated.
Gate should be added as an aka and 162 Second Avenue should finally be added as the best likely address.
This from the New York Times July 12, 1927:
…The Cortlandt and West Street corporation in conjuction with Solomon & Khan, builders, have altered their plans, drawn by Gronenburg & Leuchtag, architects, and are now erecting on their plot at the southeast corner of Cortlandt and West Street a moving picture theatre of approximately 5,000 square feet with exits on West and Washington Street…
Does anyone have any idea what theatre this may have eventually been?
For the sake of consistency, this name should be changed to The Pearl Theatre Company.
It ran as the Film Guild for a little over a year, changing to the 8th Street Playhouse in May 1930.
According to a New York Times June 1991 article, theatre historian Michael R, Miller claims this opened as the Pastime in 1908 and was designed by a Henry G. Harris. It was demolished in 1958.
According to a New York Times June 1991 article this was designed by Hoppin & Koen.
This link provides some insight into this socially unique “treasure” as well as Show World across the street.
http://dilettantepress.com/BOASNEWYORKSEX.html
The address was once the popular Oyster Restaurant but that may have been a previous building or the 8th Avenue back of the old Astor Hotel.
There was also a short-lived IMAX inside the Trocadero that may have used this same space.
Advertised as the Village Theatre in a Paramount Week ad for 1919.
If Manhattan theatres still get paid house nuts, it would cost Paramount more to stay on screen at the Zieg after week four than the box office could bring in. It makes more sense to stay on two or three screens on 42nd Street with staggered show times and pull the Ziegfeld print. This is reason it often goes dark between engagements.
During the Cineplex Odeon days there were several distributors willing to support keeping it open, hence the exclusives and the long runs to empty seats.
This intro should be corrected as follows;
The Art opened on October 7, 1940 with the first-run of the 1933 French film “Whirlpool” (“Remous”) which was allegedly based on the banned novel LADY CHATTERLEY’S LOVER.
There was also the small cinema on the side street.
/theaters/2582/
The Trocadero still has a cinema.
/theaters/16993/
Please do, LM. Maybe others will help fill in the gaps.
Hmmm! I am now even more confused than ever.
My 1934 Yearbook lists that Village as well but the Paramount Week 1923 ad lists a York Theatre at that address and a Village theatre at 15th and 8th Avenue. That latter one maps as the 115 Eighth Avenue address while the 189 Eighth Avenue location would be closer to 20th and arguably no longer in the Village.
Although as Warren has mentioned, those Paramount ads are not really reliable.
The Greenwich and Hudson were at 121 Christopher Street. The Village was at 115 Eighth Avenue. I don’t have anything on a Greenwich at eighth Avenue although that may have been a name change for the Village after the Christopher Street location became the Hudson.
It appears the Village has a richer movie past than I thought. I have entered the Greenwich Village Theatre (Sheridan Square) but I am looking for more info on the Greenwich (Christopher), Village (8th Ave), Rose (Bleecker & Thompson), Film Charas (10th Ave) and Casino (2nd Ave).
LM, I show a Village movie theatre at that address in 1919 but it is not listed here yet.
Wikipedia lists it as opening in 1953 as Theatre de Lys but that was just a remodel of the movie theatre. New York Map Portal dates the building to 1940 so I suspect it was rebuilt then.
There was also a Greenwich Theatre at this address in 1923 which may pre-date this building.
According to Terry Miller’s book GREENWICH VILLAGE AND HOW IT GOT THAT WAY, the structure that houses the IFC Center was once a church.
If this is so, the Waverly was that rarest of animals; a church that became a movie theatre.
I was always under the impression The Saint served only overpriced juice and people brought their own stash.
The city seemed to feel that second avenue was already too congested and they did not want movie crowds blocking the sidewalk.
The Hell’s Angels seem to rule that area as their headquarters were on 3rd street. The local police kept their distance. I believe this is still the case today.
Does anyone have any recollection of the Harlequin Caffe Playhouse running films in 1960?
View link
Among the problems that kept Cineplex Odeon from creating a multiplex here was a demand by the city that the entrance be moved to 6th Street, not 2nd Avenue, a requirement opposed by local residents for obvious reasons.
I do not recall any concerns about preserving the interior since that had been already dramatically altered during its time as The Saint.
I went in several times for water tank inspections while Cineplex held the lease. At the local police’s request, the Hell’s Angels were our security guards.